NO PLACE TO HIDE
I really like your idea for the setting. It's like the opposite of steampunk—more like greenpunk. I'm super interested in reading anything you write about it.
As for the pulp magazines, I'd imagine they'd write about the same things they wrote about in this world: cowboys, sailors, jungle explorers, private eyes, etc. The themes of pulp fiction are pretty universal: fighting wild animals and savage natives to find a Lost City in Darkest Africa is going to be the same whether or not the Mighty Whitey got there by steam or sail.
For that matter, how big is the world? There was plenty of intercontinental trade during the real world Age Of Sail. Heck, Europeans had established colonies almost everywhere on the planet by 1800, a good 100 years before steamships became the dominant form of sea travel. Is there some reason why this hasn't happened in your world?
You should flesh out more the economics, politics and society for your world. If industry appeared before the feudal aristocracy lost its power, who owns the factories: an independent capitalist class or those same aristocrats? How did bourgeois revolutions such as the French one happen in your world, and if they were less radical, what about freedoms and rights available to the general population - are there less? Who works on the factories, what is the ratio of workers to peasants?
In a world still going through it's version of TL 4(Age of Sail), an alchemical experiment with acids leads to the discovery of electricity followed by the invention of motors and generators. What follows is an industrial revolution powered not by steam or oil but by water and wind. Gradually power lines extend from the major rivers and plains areas to the factories where goods are produced on a far vaster scale than before with far less of an environmental cost.
At present? In terms of technology think the 1940s except ships are still driven forth by sail and powered flight has yet to be invented. Those societies linked by land developed together whereas those separated by ocean remained separate. What does this mean? There are multiple TL 6(Late Industrial) undergoing an Age of Exploration the likes of which was seen in the 1700s, with much of the world remaining Terra Incognita. Although few believe that magic could still be found in civilized lands, elsewhere? Entirely possible! Doubtless there has been a world war or two, and plenty of espionage to boot. Even though it hasn't been invented yet, powered flight is still conceivable enough that there are many trying to invent it and whoever does can expect to become very rich as with other "wonder-gadgets".
What I want to know is simple: In such a world as this, what sort of tales would the pulp magazines include? I figure that war and espionage between late industrial powers will give plenty of fuel, discovery of mysterious "lost worlds" also works, and there'll be more than a few tales about the bold inventor of the first flying machine and his wondrous adventures. What can you lot come up with?
edited 15th Dec '13 12:21:46 PM by goldenerasuburb