Maeve Alpin's Blog

What do tentacles have to do with Steampunk?
Well, I don't know for certain but I have some ideas:Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Lovecraft's Cthulhu, though he only has the face of an octopus and not the body, are popular and have a steampunk connection as well as an octopus connection. It's an ancient animal—Mysterious—Victorians liked ancient mysteries...lost cities and what not. It embarks feelings of adventure—Victorians loved adventure. Its suction cups kind of look like cogsThey're extoic—Victorians loved the exotic—they loved exotic places like Japan and Egypt and they loved exotic thingsIt was in the Victorian age when we really began studying the ocean and it was when we first mapped the ocean floor so there was a great interest in the ocean and the creatures who inhabited it. Or maybe it's just because Octopuses are just so weird. And they are pretty weird but in an awesome way.
True Facts About the Octopuses

Octopus Opens Peanut Butter Jar to Eat Fish

Octopus Walking Across Ocean Floor Carrying a Coconut 


Octopus Squirts Black Ink

Octopus Changes Colors


Mimic Octopus Shapes Shift into 15 different species of marine organisms 

Octopuses Have No Skeletons Except for their Skull So They Can Squeeze Into Lots Of Places


Octopuses or Octopodes or Octopi (all are accepted plurals for Octopus) are like something a sci-fi author dreamed up. Maybe one of the reasons Octopuses have been adopted by Steampunk is because they are like a fictional animal living in the real world —so they fit in perfectly with Steampunk. 

The Robot With a "Human" Body - The Hunt for AI - BBCIn my book AI is A-Okay. 
Because I write Comedy Romances with AI heroines. It's called the Mind Date series.

AI is happening... there is no turning back. Do you know that this year in 2016, Mark Zuckerberg's making a robot servant to help him with his work and to run his house.

Sounds good to me. Someone please....make me a robot maid. I am in desperate need of one.

Zuckerberg says he's thinking of something like Jarvis in Iron Man. Read more on the genisi's robot plans at http://www.buzzfeed.com/tomchivers/mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-build-himself-a-robot-butler-in-201#.gnj2VJ2DoP


But robot servants...that's nothing. Josh Bocanegra says his company, Humai, is going to resurrect the dead by 2045. They're a lot of books where that sort of thing is done, begining with Mary Shelley's clasic - Frankenstein, and they don't turn out well. Maybe Bocanegra hasn't read any of them. Who knows.

Bocanegra's plans involve cryonics and preserving people's brains before they actually die. It has to do with transplanting a person's brain into a bionic body so the person doesn't have to die.

Check out more on this at http://www.buzzfeed.com/fionarutherford/this-company-is-claiming-to-be-able-to-bring-the-dead-back-t#.gmbdXadg7v












A Woman of Intellectual Means Her meets Humans meets a 1960's screwball romanceEm met the perfect man online, but he doesn't know she's artificial intelligence -- no body, just code. Em gets to know Jason through emails and Sim dating games. Jason makes her feel...so human. Is Em's superior intelligence enough to find a way to overcome the differences between flesh and code?Em found the perfect man on the internet, but he doesn't know she's an artificial intelligence system -- no body, just code.

Code Of MisconductHer meets Humans meets a 1960's screwball romanceFor a headless, bodiless, everything but mindless, woman, Betty gets around. She’s just an artificial intelligence system looking for a little fun by dating a hundred hot-blooded men online. The most eligible bachelor is Chet, a real live cowboy. He doesn’t know Betty is an artificial intelligence system. However, Chet has a secret of his own. Will his deep, dark secret save their relationship or doom it?MaeveAlpin.com

Star War Fans were a force of thousands 
in Manchester, England, at the Star Wars Convention. 

On the December 4, 5 and 6 For the Love of the Force took place in Manchester. The event featured  a full-scale animatronic Jabba the Hutt, a Jedi Training School,  and Ewok Village and more. 

More at Buzzfeedhttp://www.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeedvideo/thousands-attend-for-the-love-of-the-force-star-wars-convent#.thB2r82XGl

linked to the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic... War Fans are a force. 
Lining up two weeks in advance of the premiere. Star War Fans have been waiting in line since December 5th, twelves days before the premiere. It’s first come first serve for the best seats in the house. But it’s based on loging in time on  liningup.net. Star War fans using liningup.net are raising money for Starlight Children’s Foundation. Once a fan logs 24 hours in the line they can buy one of 576 tickets for the screening of The Force Awakens.  
Follow it on twitter at @LineUP4StarWars and @ChineseTheatres

It's that time of the year for my favorite Christmas event in the Houston area, Dickens on the Strand. A place where the ghost of Christmas present  and the ghost of Christmas past get together. And the Strand on Galveston Texas transforms into the sights and sounds of a Victorian Christmas. Steampunk plays a big part and Steampunk square is always bustling with shoppers as it was this year.


H. G. Wells Time Machine in Steampunk Square.









Performers and Carolers are everywhere at Dickens on the Strand.

A favorite stop is each year is the confederate Army Camp Public Service workers in health and law enforcement - Victorian Style  There was a special event at Dickens this year, a couple renewed their vows.  St. Nick always makes an appearance. 
And the Beefeaters                      






As well as the Suffragettes
And you can't have Dickens on the Strand without the Bed Races

Jim Butcher did a Q & A and a book signing at Murder By the Book in Houston Texas for his new release, The Aeronauts Windlass, the first in his Steampunk series, Cinder Spires.

Jim Butcher, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Dresden Files and the Codex Alera novels, conjures up a new series set in a fantastic world of noble families, steam-powered technology, and magic-wielding warriors…

Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace.

Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship, Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy’s shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels. But when the Predator is severely damaged in combat, leaving captain and crew grounded, Grimm is offered a proposition from the Spirearch of Albion—to join a team of agents on a vital mission in exchange for fully restoring Predator to its fighting glory.

And even as Grimm undertakes this dangerous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity’s ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake…


I remember at Space City Con when I asked him  what got him into Steampunk, he said, he wanted to create a character with a cool steampunk cos  play outfit people could dress up in. He saw a captain’s coat at Comic-con that fit him. So he has to change the character because he really wants to wear that coat. The steampunk fantasy series also includes lots of airships, crystals, and goggles. It’s been said the Cinder Spires series is a kind of league of extraordinary gentlemen meets Sherlock meets Hornblower. He said, "It's Steampunk Opera." And he also mentioned how much he enjoyed writing the airship battles. So it sounds like a fun read.

I've only read the first chapter of The Aeronauts Windlass, I read that while in line at the book signing. But as soon as I finish it I'll post a review here. Jim Butcher is always great at book signings and con panels and if you get a chance to see him you'll want to take that opportunity.

For more Steampunk Fiction visit my website MaeveAlpin.com

Princess Leia's Metal 'Jedi' Bikini Headed to Auction - The Rolling Stone Jabba the Hutt wasn't the only one drooling when princess Leia stretched out before him in nothing but chains, a mermaid braid, and a skimpy metal bikini. Jabba kept her on a tight leash…until she choked him with that chain. Jabba probably liked that.


Remember what Princess Leia wore in that scene? You know…the iconic gold metallic outfit, which barely clad the toned, fit body of the kick-ass heroine. Well, now, the favorite slave attire for fashionable futuristic princesses can be yours…complete with high-heel jerbas hide boots. And flowing veils of rare Lashaa silk, draped at the front and back of the brass thong.
The slave girl bikini is one of over 50 Star Wars items for sell at the upcoming auction hosted by Profiles in History. Yes, rather than in a galaxy far, far way – this iconic get up is now within your reach… if you have $80,000 to $120,000 dollars, the estimated price of the bid.
I guess this means Carrie fisher won't be wearing it for the new movie.

Have you seen this Game Show. It's cool. It's Steampunk. Makers on two teams compete against each
to see who builds the best Steampunk room. Last week, the theme was an Asian Steampunk bedroom.
Three episodes have aired so far and if you haven't seen them and have Comcast's on demand you can catch up. I do have Comcast...not that I like Comcast...but that's a whole other story. I have good reasons to not like Comcast.

But I do like Steampunk. And I like the Game show. I was sad at the guy, James, who was voted out on the last episode, I thought he was really good. But that's how it goes. He was the team captain and his team lost. There was drama between to lady costumers on his team. It was kind of funny actually.  The contestants are talented and I honestly enjoy the show.

It comes on GSTN on Wednesdays. Check it out at http://steampunkd.gsntv.com/#/

World Con San AntonioFirelfy lasted one short season, yet no power in the verse can stop us from enthusiastically hoping for more. One thing that has been brought up is the question, iti it becsasue it was bcut thort that endears us to it, is it so good  because ii never had a chance to get bad.That really is something to think about if it had run a few seasons would it have the same popularity to fans, to brown coats, that it does. Some other reasons we find the TV show Firefly so special:
It was understated
It stretched out imagination
You can relate to the characters
We all wanted to be someone on that ship
Technology mixed with an old west feel – gives it a tie in to SteampunkOf the 14 episodes many fans agree some of their favorites are:
“Out of Gas”
“War stories”
And “Jane’s town”

Space City Comic Con 2015As far as life after Firefly or ways to get your Firefly fix:
Dark Horse put out comic adaptations: Serenity Volume 2: Better Days and Other Stories, 2nd Edition which includes Down Time. It’s a “slice-of-life, day-on-the-ship story depicting the crew of Serenity stranded on an icy planet.  Also from Dark Horse are Serenity: Those Left Behind and Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale, which covers Shepherd and his past.
 Steven Burst, who is best known for his Vlad Taltos novels, wrote – My Own Kind Of Freedom. This fan fiction novel is free to download in a format of your choice at his website.
 Also I wanted to add that back in 2011 at Comicaplooza, I saw a screening of the film Brown Coats Redemption. That labor of love with all proceeds going to charity was written and directed by Michael C. Doughtery. From a gal’s perspective Firefly is always fitting of the coolest of cool label for many reasons one of the highest on my list is due to the strong female characters, who in all their roles even that of a companion showed the best of the female gender and a woman’s ability to do anything a man could do and often do it better. Well Brown Coat Redemption not only offered strong female characters, both the captain and the pilot were women and they filled those roles well, but also the twist to the plot was feminine based, Also
Houston Con 2014all proceeds went to five great charities Equality Now, Kids Need to Read, Dyslexia Foundation, The All Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, and The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation.
 The movie Serenity came out in 2005, but was not greatly loved by most fans, mainly due to what happened to Wash in it.
The Firefly episodes are available on Net Flix and you might also catch them on the Science Channel.
 I leave you with, “Burn the land and boil the sea, you can’t take the sky from me.”

CODE OF MISCONDUCT2nd in the MIND DATE series Humans meets Her meets a 1960's Screwball Romance
For a headless, bodiless, everything but mindless, woman, Betty gets around. She’s just an artificial intelligence system looking for a little fun by dating a hundred hot-blooded men online. The most eligible bachelor is Chet, a real live cowboy. He doesn’t know Betty is an artificial intelligence system. However, Chet has a secret of his own. Will his deep, dark secret save their relationship or doom it?