In the winter edition of Meanjin, Katherine Wilson opens the velvet curtains onto the world of steampunk, Guy Rundle considers the state's relationship to culture and the implication of that for artists, Kate Crawford retracts from the overwhelming hum of the digital age and Michael Green brings to life the painful but constructive dialogue that is taking place between coal workers and the Greens in the Latrobe valley. Sophie Cunningham talks to graphic designer Alex Stitt about his iconic 'Life. Be in it' and 'Slip Slop Slap' campaigns, and Bob Charles and Oslo Davis collaborate on a tender, illustrated piece about the calamities of love and life-threatening illness.

And, as part of the Meanland project, Sherman Young tells us why he thinks digital books are here to stay but why that won't change much at all.