Steampunks for Obama

Braving the riotous streets of the Mission district (President-elect Obama!), steampunk fans gathered at Borderlands Books to hang out with Ann and Jeff VanderMeer and Richard Bottoms. The future of steampunk was a hot topic, with all three panelists agreeing that steampunk is a vibrant movement that embraces social, artistic, and activist elements (even as they had differing visions of how the movement would evolve). Richard announced the 2009 Steam Powered convention as well as a number of other exciting steampunk-related projects (will keep you posted on those as they develop).

During the panel discussion, there was increasingly raucous honking and cheering from outside the store. At 8 p.m. there was a giant roar, as Obama was officially announced as the election winner. Elated San Franciscans poured into the neighborhood, and while Ann, Jeff, Jacob, Rina, and I had dinner, a peaceful and very enthusiastic flash mob of hundreds blocked off the intersection of 19th and Valencia, dancing (and yes, some drinking) in the streets. A cool way for the VanderMeers to finish their Bay Area visit (though I wish they would stay longer, or perhaps move here...).