Celebrate a Clockwork Spring with The Primgraph and win real life tickets to the Steampunk World's Fair!

Welcome to our special Automata issue of The Primgraph! We have been getting into a mechanistic mood here—as you will see. And there's an answer to the question, "Where does Saffia get her energy from?" Well, all I can say is—it all runs like clockwork!

And clockwork there is in plenty in our new issue! Mr Linus Lacombe supplies a History of Automatons, while Miss Jedburgh30 Dagger explores some fascinating instances of historical dolls. The Duchess of Loch Avie provides a fascinating history of automated musical instruments of varying kinds, while Miss Serafina Puchkina has come up with a great list of stores that you might wish to visit, if you are in search of Clockwork and Curiosities.

Meanwhile, Miss Beq Janus explores that most fascinating of automated cities, Steam Sky City in Caledon.

We have a special article by Miss Bellaluna Galaxy on The Steampunk World's Fair, to be held from Friday afternoon May 20th until Sunday evening May 22nd in Somerset, New Jersey, where guests will include Professor Elemental and the artist Bridgid Ashwood (see Winged Things and a Measure of String on Page 130 of our October 2009 issue).

And we have TWO FREE PASSES to the Faire in New Jersey to give away to one lucky reader. Just submit a short paragraph stating why YOU would like to attend to the.primgraph@gmail.com (heading it Steampunk World's Fair Competition) and giving the name of your Second Life avatar.

And there's another competition too - find the FIVE lucky horseshoes hidden in this issue of the magazine, send us a notecard telling us which pages they are on, and you could win L$500!

Also in the magazine, we have the opening part of a splendid tale from Mr Denny Kozlov, entitled "A Clockwork Romance," and for those seeking more fiction, we have discovered another Lost Chapter, this time the opening chapter of Great Expectations, recovered by Miss Eloisa Denimore, in which young Pip has a wholly unexpected encounter.

As ever, Frau Annechen Lowey is on hand to advise us of the pitfalls and pleasures of receiving and entertaining guests of a mechanised or clockwork kind. And I have been exploring the fashion secrets of the best dressed dolls—while we demonstrate that every gentleman, no matter how robotic, always needs his hat to be well turned out.

Our web comic, "The Quest for the Golden Prim," makes a welcome return to the magazine as we open Volume 2 (beautifully shot and designed by Mr PJ Trenton as always). And the question on everyone's lips is... what has happened to the Expedition, last seen making a perilous escape from the ash and flames of a volcanic eruption?

We also have a taster of our new Social Diary. Do you figure in its pages? Perhaps you were among the many fascinating or beautiful Automata to appear at the Primgraph/Steeltopia-sponsored Automata Ball in Steeltopia on April 2nd?

And there is another episode of "The Quest for the Crimson Pirates," as well as news of various events that have been taking place in the Steamlands over the last few months.

And to illustrate all this, our magnificent team of photographers: Mr PJ Trenton, Miss Twisted Lemon, Mr Wildstar Beaumont, and Miss Tricia Aferdita have captured some stunning images to supply a feast for your eyes.

So, with no shortage of fascinating articles and beautiful illustrations, we welcome you to this sixteenth issue of The Primgraph!

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How do I get my copy of The Primgraph?

Well, there are various ways to get The Primgraph!

Best of all, you can join our Subscribe-o-Matic group, which will deliver the magazine to you automatically when it is published.

The Subscribe-o-Matic kiosks are located in historical and steampunk sims across Second Life. And if you can’t find one in your favourite sim, why not ask the owner to install one?

It is also available through SLMarkpetplace (just search on the site for The Primgraph). This will deliver you a copy in the form of a book that you can rez and read inworld.

But if you prefer to read the magazine online but not inworld, there are choices too.

Firstly, there’s the wonderful Calaméo system, which allows you to moves smoothly through the pages, giving you the feeling of reading a real magazine. You’ll find Issue 16 here – and please do leave a comment!

But, if you like to download your magazines to read as you commute to work, or in the bath, or wherever, you can also obtain a standard pdf for downloading and printing.

So, really, you have no excuse for not reading The Primgraph. In fact, why aren’t you reading it now?