Mr. Van Pelt's magnificent Victorian computer

[sergebroom]

Writer James Van Pelt wants a Victorian computer for Christmas and shows here how the magnificent contraption was built.

Comments

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Not Lucy Van Pelt?

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

They aren't related, as far as he knows, but he enjoys sharing the same family name..

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

And he uses Jim casually. He used to come to OMNI on AOL before he had published much. He wrote one of my favorite stories: The Ice-Cream Man.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Cool.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I haven't read that one yet, but I think it's in a collection of his that I bought not long ago. I especially enjoyed last year's short story How The Music Begins, about a high-school band abducted by aliens who are never seen and for mysterious purposes. It should have made it to the final Hugo list.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, I liked that one, too. In general, I like his stories.

[ohdawno.livejournal.com]

That is beautiful. If I had the right decor (instead of mishmash hodgepodge Target cheapo furniture) in my 'office' I'd love one just like it. I wonder about the utility and feel of the keyboard, though. Seems like it might take a lot of getting used to - I used to type on an old Royal my mom had with round keys like those I see, but not for ages and ages.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

What? No Ikea? Anyway, yeah, the keyboard might take some getting used to. Of course, this computer is one of those things that you acquire because of how they look, not because of practicality.