From the creator of Dargrim's Dungeon comes Freerale, the world's premiere 'steamfunk' novel! Blending 19th Century technology with 1970s aesthetics, then throwing the whole shebang at a sprawling dusty arid Continent dominated by mysterious scraps of unknown machinery, Freerale sees ragtag have-a-go adventurer Lenny Freerale forging forth across the rails that link the independent city-states of his society, urgently endeavouring to reclaim the priceless 'Per-Mo' blueprint; designs for an engine of perpetual motion uncovered by his ambitious archaeologist father.
In a world powered by steam, coal, smoke and silliness, perpetual motion could be the saving grace for all of society. Resources grow increasingly thin on the ground, and with nobody in any rush to discover electricity, finding a limitless source of fuel could prove to be the most starkly desirable thing in the Greater Wastelands.
Lenny soon discovers this for himself, however, when power struggles roll into action as factions vie for control of the precious parchment he seeks.
Freerale features a host of comedic artistry, in keeping with its silly yet snarky world. Vibrant characters mesh with smoky environs as silhouettes bulge to the fore, stark and dark against colourful disco-themed backdrops. Each chapter of the book is headed by a trinket of artwork hinting at things to come; enjoy this selection of images, and see the full complement, alongside the storyline they describe, in the cult new indie-novel Freerale: Steamfunk in the 1870s.
Smoke, steam, sarcasm and action await in the world's first steamfunk novel!
In a world powered by steam, coal, smoke and silliness, perpetual motion could be the saving grace for all of society. Resources grow increasingly thin on the ground, and with nobody in any rush to discover electricity, finding a limitless source of fuel could prove to be the most starkly desirable thing in the Greater Wastelands.
Lenny soon discovers this for himself, however, when power struggles roll into action as factions vie for control of the precious parchment he seeks.
Freerale features a host of comedic artistry, in keeping with its silly yet snarky world. Vibrant characters mesh with smoky environs as silhouettes bulge to the fore, stark and dark against colourful disco-themed backdrops. Each chapter of the book is headed by a trinket of artwork hinting at things to come; enjoy this selection of images, and see the full complement, alongside the storyline they describe, in the cult new indie-novel Freerale: Steamfunk in the 1870s.
Smoke, steam, sarcasm and action await in the world's first steamfunk novel!
Freerale's front cover embodies the entirety of the steamfunk ethos, from the vibrant colours mixed with stark dark surroundings to the emphasis given to form and silhouette. Lenny Freerale himself takes pride of place, his immense sideburns at home in either the 1800s or the 1970s; fortunately for him, Freerale is a little of both and then some!
The further into the book you go, the higher the action threshold rises! Chapter Nineteen is one of many chapters set within a highly volatile superstructure. Gunfights scatter across suspended walkways as chases play out over, under and through various ramshackle buildings. Penny Piptrack herself takes centre stage for this chapter's art, blending confusion and determination in true Freerale style.
A teaser image used in Freerale's prewritten stages. Note Lenny's shorter hair and the scroll he clutches, the much-desired Per-Mo parchment itself. 'Summer 2011' refers to the planned release for the book, which launched at the end of July 2011.
One of my creative heroes is Shu Takumi, a designer of witty and intelligent videogames such as the Ace Attorney series and Ghost Trick. He claims that the source of his outlandish character designs is the importance of them being recognisable in the form of a silhouette; this inspired me to ensure the characters of Freerale had striking appearances, with their own postures, poses and body language.
Early concept art for Freerale had Lenny himself as a much thinner and moodier man. A few female friends seemed to find him rather becoming in spite of his grumpiness; I latched onto this and ran with it, despite not having had an attractive character in mind at the start. His character was subtly redesigned into the much more broad and rugged Lenny Freerale we see today, with wilder hair and a more rough and ready persona.
Freerale's back cover is dominated by Penny Piptrack, the leading lady of the book and one of the earliest characters conceived for the franchise. The imagery, phrases and blurbs establish steamfunk as its own identity and subgenre of comedic speculative fiction, and the mysterious glyph towards the bottom right side of the cover itself hints at the symbol that becomes hauntingly ubiquitous throughout the novel.
Though introduced earlier in the book, The Husk itself comes into play much later in the novel. The Freerale world is an arid wasteland, pocked with occasional cities and slinking railway lines between them, yet The Husk itself has dominated over humanity's efforts on the planet for as long as anyone can remember. Constructed of an impervious black material, it towers over all and sundry, truly immense and gargantuan. I'm not at liberty to reveal the true nature of this superstructure just yet, but rest assured this enigmatic artefact plays a key role in the Freerale storyline!
The initial concept art for Penny Piptrack. Notice that she's yet to have goggles strapped to her hat, and has a slightly different and more childlike facial structure. Her outfit in and of itself has since come to define the character, yet as she was written as a very deep and surprisingly complex young woman, later artwork would establish that she's far more than the exuberant hyperfeminine blonde girl this image suggests.
Chapter four is the shortest in the book, yet it's one I undoubtedly had a lot of fun with. Essentially very dialogue-heavy, there's a lot of bad blood between the characters involved, and the subsequent bickering is played for laughs. The lady in the front is the train station clerk with whom Lenny has a brief sardonic showdown. Note her nametag features writing not of our own world, further establishing Freerale as its own unique and deranged little corner of the multiverse!
A hasty plan to reclaim the Per-Mo document sees Lenny attending a posh party at the mansion of an eccentric museum magnate. This sees him crammed into his father's somewhat-too-small suit, yet when Penny suggests he 'looks hot' in it he's more than happy to take the compliment. Penny herself is presented as a little more raw in the artwork, since this chapter marks the beginning of Lenny's new perception of her, this being that beneath her giggling, mischief and mayhem she's actually more than her fair share of all kinds of sexy.
Lenny Freerale is far from unflappable, and I wanted the chapter artwork to convey this. A constantly grim, determined and unwaivering hero is no fun, and so Lenny comes to genuinely fear certain people he meets. Chapter fourteen sees one such person show up when absolutely least expected; given this same individual has tried to murder him several times within the last couple of hours of his life, he's understandably shaken.
A little more Freerale promotional material, which I liked so much I also featured on the front of the book! In keeping with the aforementioned silhouette aesthetic, one that runs heavily through Freerale's art, I experimented with Penny Piptrack to see if, even without her coat and hat being worn, she could be recognisable. It also leaves anyone not familiar with Freerale with an instant impression of the character; smart, resourceful, sexy and sunny. With her hat and coat ready to be donned, Penny's on the cusp of another bold adventure, and the snippet of featured dialogue helps round out her whimsical wit.
Slipping a fresh cigarette into his mouth, Lenny stands stark against the setting sun, a sprawling mishmash of Farglum City emblazoned behind him. The city itself was a crucial stage to set, and the decision to embed the entire metropolis into and around a valley gave a welcome sense of verticality that the franchise needed. As such, the multi-levelled metropolis becomes an ideal setting for adventurous escapades, and Freerale himself is pictured here calmly and wearily preparing for his next ordeal, no doubt dryly quipping as he does so just how bloody tiresome his life is getting in the process. Don't think for a minute I'm a sympathetic author; in the course of Freerale, I gleefully have circumstances kick seven shades of hell ot of Lenny at every opportunity. What defines him as a hero is that he gets up, dusts himself off, moans a bit and then JUST KEEPS GOING.
Earlier promotional art for Freerale; note the slimmer Lenny, the slightly smaller collars for each character's clothing and the book's original tagline 'A steamsome caper of derring-do', before its change to 'Steamfunk in the 1870s'. Nonetheless, the image conveys the stark contrast in personalities between Penny and Lenny each. Though it's something that's been done countless times before, Freerale takes a refreshed twist on the whole thing... almost as if Penny realises she's in a comedy book, yet Lenny's convinced it's a gritty, serious one. You can guess who has the most fun of the pair as they scuttle around in madcap hijinks!
Chapter two introduces Penny for the first time, and as such it was crucial that the artwork be an absolute example of her personality and appearance. Willowy and whimsical, convivial and conscientious, Penny Piptrack's character was a challenge I willingly took on board. With so many one-dimensional and unflattering female stereotypes in fiction, I wanted the conviction to be made clear; Penny is a free spirit, and if she appears silly, sexy, salubrious and smart, it's because it's her CHOICE to be so. It's hinted throughout the book that she has many hidden depths, though she scarcely talks about what it is she's running away from... yet if you know where to look, you'll find pretty clearly she's urgent to escape from SOMETHING. Nonetheless, what sets the tone is her expression; textbook Piptrack, inquisitive, cheerful and wild about life in general. Feminine, but not fanservice; kooky, but far from unintelligent; Penny Piptrack is as Penny Piptrack does, and though she's got flaws aplenty, they're never the ones people first think when they meet her.
My favourite personal part of Freerale is the scene in the mansion. Here, the farce-like plotlines flow freely, and disco barges in and takes command as steamfunk establishes itself as a fun and funky way to write! Chapter ten's artwork had a lot to convey; comedy, as Penny in her outlandish party attire becomes steadily more inebriated (not that this stops her gleefully mocking everything and everyone); exuberance, as Lenny finally comes out of his shell a little; and of course mystery, as the entire image is quietly dominated by a curly-haired woman with her hands on her hips. The mansion is what alters the storyline entirely, toying with your expectations and bouncing them around like ping-pong balls. In Freerale, frenzied chases are par for the course; but as for who you're running to and away from? I like to keep that under wraps, teasing and tickling the idea beneath your nose until the final revelation.
Not enough? Want more? Check out Freerale for the steamiest, smokiest, silliest escapade this side of The Husk - and don't forget! Carnidge sends her regards...
