Bec Says:

And you thought it was a passing phase… Steampunk is still piping hot and continues to fascinate and enthrall spec fic fans everywhere. A quick Google of the term will provide you with a mountain of info, sites, fashion tips, new music, and dedicated blogs. Following on from Bel’s recent Steampunk 101 post, I thought I’d update you with further info about this fascinating sub-genre.

From October 20-November 3, the sci-fi/fantasy blog Tor.com will focus on steampunk: its place in mainstream culture and where it appears to be heading in future. Check it out for guest bloggers, news about steampunk events, and some tasty giveaways. You can also download a nifty steampunk timeline.

Newteevee has news about the independent web series, Riese. If you’re interested in checking out this new steampunk series, episode 1 is being relaunched on SyFy.com. Catch their tweets here.

Gamers: Head here for BioShock Infinite updates or check out the following trailer (it looks incredible):

The Steampunk Tribune (‘reporting on Steampunk since 2007’) is a fantastic source of regularly updated news and trivia. For instance, I just learned that the League of Victorian Imagineers are holding an exhibtion entitled Steampunk: Tomorrow as it Used to Be, from 23rd. October – 5th. December 2010, in Oamaru, NZ.

For a very entertaining read, check out the Exhibition Hall Fanzine here. It includes writing art/literature/articles/updates from all over the world. PDFs of past issues are also available for download.

Beautify your boring old desktop with a bit of help from the steampunk wallpaper folks.

(Steam)pimp Your Desktop

Visit Parliament and Wake and prepare to be inundated with amazing imagery, ideas, and attitudes.

Have your say and interact with other steampunks at the Brass Goggles forum. And Brass Goggles is only one of many, many, many, MANY Steampunk blogs, let me assure you!

Interested in new steampunk releases? This November, check out The Horns of Ruin by Tim Akers. The fifth book in Stephen Hunt’s Jackelian series—Jack Cloudie—can be pre-ordered on Amazon.  Heartless, the latest instalment in Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series, is set for release in July, 2011. If you haven’t read any steampunk yet, this list of 20 core titles from Library Journal is a good place to start.

Bands such as Vernian Process, Abney Park, and Unextraordinary Gentlemen are making amazing retrofuturistic steampunk sounds that you really must investigate. You can also listen to live steampunk streaming via The Clockwork Cabaret, a weekly radio show featured on WCOM 103.5 (NC, USA). Hear what the show’s hosts have to say here:

Finally, check out some fab art from worth1000.com‘s recent Steampunk:Nature comp.

Steampunk Fly from worth1000.com

• Steampunk Music:  Rasputina – Gingerbread Coffin
• The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing – Goggles
• Abney Park – Sleep Isabella
• Johnny Hollow – Boogeyman

Bel Says:

I’ve been looking up survival guides on getting through Zombie invasions. You know what I’ve noticed?? Not one of the sites has a list on what to do if you fall for one of them.
I mean c’mon, there is a SERIOUS drought of single, well mannered, genteel, people of the male persuasion. Surely one of the rambling dead has to be a better bet than one of those drunk losers in the Valley, late on a Friday night. He would even open a car door for his lady friend. Yes, he may want to do it so he can get to you, but at least he opened the door. In today’s society, that’s classed as manners, which in my books shows higher brain function than the moron who tells you to shake that sweet ass on the dance floor at 3am.
So, I’m going to go through and reword the meanings of some of the more pertinent warnings or suggestions from a couple of the lists I found so that, if you do happen to be looking to fall for a Zombie, you’ll know what to do.
10. Don’t be a hero — The hero is the most irritating person in the room, thinking every Zombie is a bad guy, and trying to separate all the ‘damsels in distress’ from their possible hook ups. You may push people out of the way, but only in the pursuit of your one true love.
9. Think before you act — Always a good tip. Pick the freshest Zombie in the room. A gas mask isn’t exactly on the fashion must have list for summer.
8. The buddy system — Stick with your buddies, but avoid his.
7. Choose your weapons wisely — Glade is the key word here. The guy is a rotting corpse—you’ll need a wide range of deodorizers to aid in masking his musk. Avoid scents based on food. This may turn you off your favourite dessert if the relationship doesn’t last.
6. Be ready to move — Not everyone is going to be thrilled for you and your betrothed, you may have to take an extended leave to avoid those pesky lynch mobs.
5. Stay in Shape — Catch and ‘kiss’ may be his favourite game, so be ready to run… for your life.
4. Silence is golden — He’s lacking in the higher brain functions ladies—he’ll be the strong, silent type. The less he says, the less stupid he’ll sound.
3. Duct tape is silver — If anything like a finger or an arm falls off, you can’t get much better for reattachment than duct tape. Strong, durable and, as long as he’s not a gangster who wears lots of gold, he’ll be accessorized perfectly.
2. Fire — Why? Mainly because it’s romantic, but if he goes in for the kill and doesn’t take no or a good walloping for an answer, at least the best cure for a Zombie attack is close at hand.
1. Distance is key — Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so don’t let him near your brains and he’ll want you all the more for it.
Hope these tips helped. Good luck!

Music: White Zombie – More Human Than Human

17 year old Leslie is trying desperately to find a way to feel in control of her life. Her mother’s shot through, her father’s a drunk who is never around, and her brother quite happily uses her in any way he can to support his addictions. She’s broken, scared, and tormented; and, unbeknownst to her living on the cusp of the faerie world–one of her friends, Aislinn, is a faerie queen and the other’s half fae.

Leslie finds solace in the thought of getting “inked”, but little does she know that this will tie her to the dark court king, Irial, and that she will once again be be used for someone else’s gain. At the same time, she finds herself being drawn to Niall, a fae who is addictive to mortals.

Ink Exchange is the second title in the Wicked Lovely series, but the storyline is easy to grasp if you’re a newcomer to Marr’s work.

The characters are richly woven and easy to visualize. And the scenes are written in such a way that make you truly feel like you’re there and that, if you look out the corner of your eye, you might just see the fae hiding in the shadows. The tattoo scenes had me feeling as if it was my own skin being marked; I could almost smell the ink and feel the needle.

Ink Exchange gripped me from the beginning and didn’t let go. At times, I found myself holding my breath; at other times, I found myself wanting to jump through the pages and throttle both Irial and Niall. I just wanted to protect Leslie and find her a solution.

There are another three novels in the series, Wicked Lovely, Fragile Eternity, and Radiant Shadows, as well as a short story collection: Stopping Time parts 1 and 2 (which focuses more on Leslie’s continued journey).

Fans of Laurell K Hamillton’s Merry Gentry series will also enjoy this novel.

Ink Exchange – Melissa Marr

April 29, 2008 by HarperCollins, Australia

Hardback, 336 pages

ISBN: 9780061214684

Salem, Oregon, has become a safe haven for the monster community. What the ‘normies’ (regular people) don’t know, is some of the most famous monsters live amongst them, making HUGE changes to their lives to appear ‘normal‘.

Go Green is the message of this generation. Frankie Stein, consumer, student and RAD (Regular Attribute Dodger) is devastated when she finds out this message is referring to environmental awareness, and not, in fact, the colour of her body. She’s told to cover up her bolts, stitches and mint green skin by her parents, so she can attend Merston High, appearing to be a regular teenage girl.

While you’re running into the unapologetic plugs from every label and brand within popular teen culture like cobwebs on Halloween, there are important messages within the story.

Be yourself, if your friends don’t like you for who you are, they’re not really your friends.

Lisi captures the unrelenting battle to fit in every day accurately. I wanted to slap the monster parents for forcing their kids to assimilate. Teen years are hard enough without the added stress of having to hide your true self. The image of the poor werewolf having to go through constant waxing or suffer the wrath of PETA protestors for wearing real fur, was one that will stick with me.

Though there is a serious side, you will still be finding yourself giggling the whole way through.

I’ll be impatiently hanging out until April 2011 when the next installment of Monster High will be released along with Monster High merchandise by Mattel.  Sounds like a whole bunch fun to me.

http://www.monsterhigh.com

Monster High – Lisi Harrison
September 1, 2010 by Poppy
Hardcover: 272 pages
ISBN:  9780316099189
ISBN-10: 031609918X
ISBN-13: 978-0316099189