Crimson Clocks were delighted to be invited to the Second Surrey Steampunk Convivial on Saturday 23rd Feb.  Organised by Ben Henderson, aka Cubinoid, (and also the gentleman responsible for the cover illustration on my first Automata Wars novel The Home Front), this event was a steampunk oddity extraordinaire!

The animal kingdom was well represented with racing snails (clockwork), human snails (not to be confused with The Human Centipede), a belching, wolf-whistling parrot (mechanical), Boris Steamrat (stuffed) and Pockets Harper -Bear (stuffed), not to mention the Clocks own mythical Trevor the Cat (pussy).  The steampunk kingdom was even better represented by a host of immaculately turned out ladies and gents, all ready to sample a non stop programme of entertainment.

And it really was non-stop.  Major Jack Union (Kit Cox) shared his expertise on Sink Matter Monsters, and a whole host more.  Count Rostov challenged both the Major and Herr Doktor to a pun-off; and following a pun-ishing battle, Herr Doktor emerged victorious.  Then there was the film talk (nearly sabotaged by a 'premature human snail'), sea shanties, hat making...

The competitive amongst us were able to take part in tea duelling and gadget racing along with snail racing and the Best Cake in the World competition (won hands down by Lady M with a two tier Rum and Raisin/ Gin and Tonic flavour cake).  Throughout the day, a wandering minstrel with an incredible vocal range serenaded us.  Of course, a huge range of steampunk stalls were in attendance, selling everything from books, to headdresses, to clothes to hats to gadgets of nefarious purpose... While Herr Doktor's exhibition, mechanical parrot included, provided yet more for us to marvel at over the day.

A shadow puppet theatre began the evening's entertainment, followed by, in quick succession, bands Dirty Spoons, Moth, Crimson Clocks, Birthrite and Gladstone, who played to a backdrop of silent movies.  We were joined on stage for two numbers by Ceri (aka 'Random Dent'), a very talented percussionista - thanks for your help, and for your variety of guiro (frogs)!

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone, taking part in the day and performing, and equally, we hope everyone enjoyed Crimson Clocks' first venture down south.  We had to dash off before the end - you know how it is when you have to feed the cat - but we hope this event becomes a regular, and we'd love to come back again.  Hint, hint...

And finally, it just remains to say - thanks to Ben and to all involved for a fabulous day.  Having arranged events with far less going on, I know how much it can take out of you - you did a brilliant job, kept cool throughout, Moth were great, and  - well, hats off, sir.

This afternoon I am feeling a little chilly, but slightly smug as I have finally managed to submit volume 2 of the Automata Wars:  The Front Line, for editing.  Only two(ish) weeks behind schedule, too!

Of course, it's not done yet.  There's the post-edit work to do, once it comes back, and then there'll be cover art, publicity, all that sort of stuff to go.  Between you and me, though, look out for a summer launch event somwhere in the middle of England...

In the meantime,  I thought you might be interested in a recent review of the first volume of the Automata Wards, The Home Front.

Steampunk Chronicle corresepondent Nancy McCullough reviewed the Automata Wars on 5th February, offering a quite detailed description of the book.  You can read the full review here:
http://www.steampunkchronicle.com/ArticleView/tabid/238/ArticleId/372/Fighting-on-the-Home-Front.aspx

Final sentence quoted below.  Thanks, Nancy!

Last week, I asked for suggestions on what my next blog should be about.  Steve Cotterill's suggestion was selected by using the randomised double blind cat treat method.  This result has been authenticated by an independent adjudicator.  So without further ado, I bring you:

Bod:  Genius or Idiot Savant.

Picture, if you will, a boy.  He is hairless. He wears an ochre suit, not dissimilar to the style of suit worn by Chairman Mao.

This boy is Bod.

Bod lives in a village.  Four adults, quite literally, dance to his tune, arriving as if summoned by a pied piper.  His Aunt Flo pirouettes obsequiously as she nears him.  Clearly, this woman fears for her very soul.

Bod is no savant.  Bod is a genius.  A genius of the evil variety.

Witness:  In 'Bod and the Cherry Blossom', this child can make Aunt Flo happy or sad with a few simple words.

Witness:  In 'Bod and the Apple', this child can convince four adults to stand in a line and wait for an apple to fall from the sky.

Bod has power over these people.  He manipulates them with all the skill of a latter-day Charles Manson.

We assume that these adults are not weak-minded.  Aunt Flo is accompanied by Postman Frank, Farmer Barleymow and PC Copper.  All fine upstanding members of the community, all pillars of their society.

All under the thrall of the boy in the ochre suit.

Is there more to his evil than we can see?  It is clear from his head that the numbers 666 are not tattooed into his scalp.  But we do not know  whether his white shoes conceal demon trotters - what genuine child wears white shoes -  or whether the strange conical cut of his suit is styled so as to conceal a demonic tail.  We do know that when he threw the apple up into the air – it did not come down.  Not for some considerable time, at least.  OK, it hit him on the head when it finally fell.  But that was to lull the adults into a false sense of security.

You say Bod.  I say evil.  Evil, in its purest form.  Look on his cartoons, ye mighty, and despair...

(Note:  you may wish to study Bod’s Wikipedia entry to make up your own mind as to the motives of this shadowy 1970’s cartoon figure.  It should also be noted that Bod’s creators had Taoist link  I leave you to reach your own conclusion)

And the results are in for Blog Roulette!  (see the blog entry for last week for full details of what Blog Roulette entailed; but basically, I asked you to suggest a title for my next blog entry for me to interpret as I will, mwah ha ha ha...)

The draw was made at 12noon today, through the double blind cat treat method (if you're wondering, he has cataracts)

The Beast was charged with the solemn task of making the draw.  Entries were received mainly via Google+ and Facebook.  They ranged from the random to the downright weird.

Weirdness means nothing to The Beast.  He undertook his task with a degree of concentration rarely observed other than at feeding time.  He even preened his whiskers especially for the occasion, and as you can see, donned his best tuxedo.

Having scattered the suggestions to the winds, The Beast came to an unreasoned and totally random conclusion.  None of the pieces of paper on which the suggestions were written smelled more like fish than any of the others.  However, one definitely emerged as a clear winner.  The Beast moved in for the kill.

With the winner selected, The Beast squinted with the  satisfaction of another job well done (and a camera flash that was too bright for his eyes).

So my next blog will be on the following subject:

"Bod:  Genius or Idiot Savant?"


Thank you to all who offered suggestions, some of which would have been quite challenging (though I did have my Dalek cookie cutter primed for 'Bake Cookies'; and had been listening to Chas and Dave all week for the suggested Cockney song 'Carry On Up The Bottle').

Special mention goes to Mr Steve Cotterill*, for it was his suggestion that The Beast chose.  Thanks to you, we shall be able to discuss Bod in greater detail later this week!

I may repeat this experiment in the future - what do you think?  Could you have a title suggestion selected by The Beast on another occasion...?  Let me know if you think we should do this again!

*Mr Steve is also a writer in his own right - you can check out his blog page here:
http://shoresofnight.blogspot.co.uk/