Although my time for video gaming is limited, there is something to be said about gaming concept art. This exceptional piece was created by James Paick and I wish I could find for what game it was for. Between the play of light and the strong fantasy storytelling elements, I felt it too good not to share.
Anyone know what game it comes from? Let me know in the comments.
There is a stunning piece of sculpture at the University of Montevallo created by Ted Metz, an art professor, and forty of his students. The piece, entitled “Becoming” is explained in a UM brochure in these terms:
“The younger hand, that of the student, reaches skyward. It’s pose and size suggest the potential for continuous growth and development.
The more mature hand, that of the teacher, appears to have been guiding the student’s hand but has now fallen back, representing a new role of support for the student.
The space separating the hands represents the student’s graduation, the event when the student takes what he as learned into the next phase of life.”
The sculpture was dedicated on February 15, 2003 on the UM campus opposite Bowers Colonnade on the corner of the King House quad.
Related articles:
Shelby County Reporter: ‘Becoming’ sculpture dedicated at UM
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I grew up reading Dr. Seuss books and loving them. In fact, one of the first books I remember reading by myself was “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” The pictures were fanciful and fun and the rhymes whimsical and silly. What was there not to love?
And then it hits me. They made a live-action, high-budget version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” with Jim Carrey no less, in one of the most horrific movie adaptation decisions of all time.
First of all, Dr. Seuss stories are simple and sweet and in no way adaptable into full-length feature films. The only one that I like, but not love, is “Horton Hears a Who,” and even then the writers went a little nuts bringing out the dark undertones of the story. It survives my cut because at least they had the wisdom not to try to use live actors and animals.
The Grinch, however, creeps me out. It fall squarely into the uncanny valley class of creepy where things are just messed up enough to make them repulsive. Yep, I’m creeped out by the Whos. It’s the same feeling I get when I see circus clowns. The Grinch himself was alright, at least they pushed his makeup effects far enough past the realm of normal that it doesn’t trigger the creeps. He’s just plain strange, and that’s ok. These guys on the other hand are down-right repulsive.
The original Whos are adorable and distinctly not human and were never meant to be. Check it out, Cindy Lou Who is so cute that I’d put her on a top ten cute Christmas icons list.
I’m biased – I like things that stay true to the original. You can keep your weird and creepy whos. I’ll take my guppy-tailed Cindy Lou any day.
All images are used here under Fair Use for discussion, review, and educational commentary. They belong to their respective copyright owners.
Lately I’ve been in a steampunk rut. It might have something to do with being in close contact with a publisher that specializes in steampunk novels and short stories. It’s been on my mind and I’ve even come up with a few cool steampunk story ideas. One day, when time permits, I’ll give it a shot.
In my quest to learn more about the genre, I’ve been searching around and talking to friends that are already into it. That is how I learned about Warehouse 13.
Last night I watched the pilot episode, and I’m impressed. They’ve got cool steampunk tools, but instead of the typical Victorian setting, it’s very modern-day – which makes the tools look even cooler. Gadgets so far include the Farnsworth, a cellphone alternative that does video chat at the touch of a button; the Tesla gun, which shoots electric bursts, stunning it’s target; the cool warehouse wagon that can run on human electric currents; and also Artie’s cool steampunk computer set with a super awesome old-timey typewriter style keyboard.
The story itself has the feel of X-Files meets Indiana Jones. Our main characters are two secret agents who were transferred to the mysterious and unfathomably massive Warehouse 13, affectionately referred to America’s attic on the show. The warehouse holds all the strange and wonderful things created over the centuries that have unexplained or dangerous properties, to keep them safe from the public, and to keep the public safe from them.
There are the usual hijinks between the characters, the agents currently hate each other but my writer sense is tingling and I’m pretty sure they’ll hook up within the first season. Their goal is to recover items that have these strange powers, neutralize them, and bring them back to the warehouse.
There is also Artie, the curator of the warehouse and mission control for our secret agents. He serves as the quirky comic relief and walking reference book for all the items contained in the warehouse.
You can check out Warehouse 13 on the Syfy channel or on their website.
Related articles and sites:
All images are used here under Fair Use for discussion, review, and educational commentary. They belong to their respective copyright owners.
Possibly the biggest thing that happened in the fantasy/scifi world this weekend is the release of the teaser trailer for the newest chapter in the Star Wars saga – if there was something bigger, fill me in.
Star Wars, the Force Awakens (episode 7, for those who are still counting) occurs 30 years after Return of the Jedi where the Death Star is taken out once and for all by the Rebel Alliance and Luke confronts Darth Vader and learns of his true lineage. It ends with the big party in the Ewok forest and life is good, or is it?
No real spoilers have leaked about this newest chapter but there are tons of theories floating around. Obviously there is some threat that requires the Jedi to return in force to handle it, most likely the Sith, since they are they only bad guys from the first six movies that could exist and grow stronger over the thirty year gap in the story. To face this threat the Jedi are going to need to do something to be sure they are strong enough to win.
Some of our favorite players are returning to their respective roles including: Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and Kenny Baker (R2-D2).
This episode is both directed and written in part by the illustrious and trend setting J.J. Abrams who brought new life into the Star Trek universe with his work on the movies Star Trek and Star Trek into Darkness. Let’s hope he can do the same for the Star Wars universe as well. And hey, who doesn’t love more lens flares?
Thankfully, John Williams has been enlisted once more to create the awesome music that has always been a part of the Star Wars saga. I’d be angry if they had found someone else, although I would love to see what Hans Zimmer or James Horner would have come up with.
Here is the link, enjoy!
Official Teaser Trailer #1:
Now that we have thankfulled and gratefulled everything to it’s fullest, it’s time to bring on all the Christmas cheer. Today we are setting up the tree and making gingerbread houses with the munchkins (and I’ve already been chewed out for being an OCD fun killing ogre…) Here’s to Christmas!
The before picture, after pictures to follow
Work it good lookin’
Bring it on.
Here we have come to the end of our story, Mike has found what he was looking for in the talented and charming Maybelle and now must bring her back to his home.
To read the previous episode, click here!
To start at the beginning, click here!
After leaving Auntie Marie’s burrow, Mike and Maybelle made their way down the grassy tunnel that bordered the hedgerow. Maybelle walked with a carefree lightness that Mike hadn’t seen during his stay at Willow keep; it made him smile. Any doubts he had about taking her from her home vanished the further they traveled away from that horrid place.
Her happiness took the edge off of Mike’s unease, but he was still wary. Dangers lurked along the way, Tilly had warned him of the snake that hunted along the hedge tunnel, and then there were those horrid cats that prowled the walkways. Even as he thought about it he felt the hair on his neck stand on end. They weren’t alone in the hedge, and he knew it.
Maybelle stopped and breathed in the fresh fall air. “You’ve been rather quiet, is everything alright?”
Mike leaned on his cane and glanced behind them once again, unable to shake the feeling of being watched. “It’s nothing, really. Just eager to get home I suppose.”
“You would tell me if there were something wrong, wouldn’t you?”
“If it were worth mentioning, yes.” He kept his eyes down and drew a lazy circle with his foot over the packed soil, trying his best to look more at ease.
Maybelle set her hands on her hips. “Listen, I know we haven’t known each other very long and I have a lot to learn about you, just as you have much to learn about me. We are both too old to be playing games with each other like this. I need you to be honest with me. I can’t stand it when people try to hide things, I always find out. Now out with it.” She spoke with sternness, but managed to sound kind as she did.
Mike stammered, his mouth working soundlessly before he could find what he wanted to say. “When I came this way before I was warned of –”
“Wait.” She stopped him with a hand, her head tilted toward the brush to their left. “Do you hear that?”
Mike froze and strained his ears for sounds of danger, specifically of the rustle of scale against dry leaf. He couldn’t make out anything unusual, but considering the possibility made his heart speed up and his mouth dry. “Hear what?”
She stepped toward the brush, her motions silent and concise. “Someone is crying.”
Mike peered into the brush. It was hard to make out anything in the dappled shadows until he caught a hint of red deep inside the hedge. Then he understood. “Tilly? Is that you?”
“Go away,” squeaked the tiny mouse from her hiding place.
“I promised to come back this way, I never forget a promise. I want you to meet Maybelle.” He climbed up closer.
A tiny nose peeked around the branch, followed by two curious eyes. “I don’t want to talk to you Mike Finnigan. You best go on home.” She sniffed again and dabbed at her face with her handkerchief.
“What’s happened, what’s wrong?”
“It’s not important.”
“Of course it’s important, it’s enough to make you sad so it must be.”
Maybelle placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s because of me. I think dear Tilly was hoping that you would return empty handed,” she whispered.
Mike’s eyes widened, the realization dawning on him. He didn’t want to admit Tilly’s fondness for him right away, he had heard saying things like that upset some women. “Why would you assume that?”
“I think I have some understanding of how another woman’s heart works.” She winked and then climbed up into the branches. Within minutes she had coaxed the field mouse down into the opening.
Tilly dabbed at her eyes again and gave Maybelle a nod before turning toward Mike. “She’s right, I was upset that you found someone. I know that’s silly but it’s true.”
Mike shuffled his feet, unsure if it would be appropriate to pull her into a hug. She looked as if she needed one, but in light of the situation he thought better of it and rested his hands over the top of his cane instead. “No, love is never silly. The heart sometimes makes choices that the mind cannot unmake. It must learn the hard way. I’m sorry that I caused you pain. You will always be a dear friend.”
Without warning, Tilly turned and wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. Mike pulled his arms free, letting his cane fall to the ground, and returned the embrace. When she had her fill she stepped back and straightened her scarf. “I’m glad to have known you Mike, be sure to come visit if you ever come this way again.”
“I promise, and you know I will keep it,” Mike said as he leaned over and retrieved his cane.
“You best be going, I’m sure you are anxious to get home.”
After Mike and Maybelle bid Tilly their farewells they continued on their journey through the grass-lined tunnel. They walked in an uncomfortable silence for quite some time. Mike felt like he needed to apologize, but wasn’t sure what for and didn’t want to appear foolish. In the end it was Maybelle who spoke first.
“Will we be meeting any more of your friends on the way?” she asked with a bemused smirk.
“No, no, I assure you. That’s it.”
Maybelle laughed out loud, a musical wonderful sound, and Mike knew all was right between them again. They left the park and climbed the hill to the yellow house with blush colored roses out front.
“This is home” Mike announced with a smile and his arms open wide. “Do you like it?”
Maybelle’s hands went to her mouth. “Oh, Mike – it’s beautiful!” She walked to a low hanging rose blossom and inhaled deeply before turning to him once more. “Haven’t you forgotten something?”
Mike racked his brain. What could he have forgotten? He had gotten them safely back to his home. What could he have missed? Maybelle twiddled her fingers, and made an act of being coy. He had to figure it out. Then, as if struck by lightning, he knew.
He knelt down on one knee before her. “Maybelle, will you marry me?”
She giggled and held out her hand, which he covered with kisses. “Of course.”
***
That’s the end of Mike Finnegan and his adventure. Thanks for reading! I realize that this story is super flawed and I apologize that the beginning and the ending don’t match at all. I think Mike lost his accent about 5 episodes in, whoops. As my first serial piece I learned a ton about what it takes to write serial fiction and just how many wrong turns I made. This is all in the name of learning something new, so even it it didn’t turn out as well as I would have liked it was worth the time to at least try.
Feel free to give me a thorough verbal thrashing in the comments!
I’ll admit, one of the coolest perks of being a writer is having access to books before their official release. I received a copy of Alyson Grauer’s novel On the Isle of Sound and Wonder in exchange for a fair and honest review here on this blog and on other book review sites.
First and foremost, check out the trailer-
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This is a book that has something for all audiences. There is action, adventure, peril, magic, love, loss, and a kiss of steampunk – just to keep things interesting. For those students of Shakespeare, this is a delightful romp through the classic story of The Tempest. The characters have been renamed and reimagined to appeal to today’s readers.
There are very few books that capture my attention where I find them hard to put down, this was one of them. Grauer has a knack for creating vibrant, well-developed characters that are a treat to read about. Everyone from the brooding magical Dante to the mechanical man Gonzo has an intriguing history where their motivations and desires feel natural in the development of the story. The story itself is well written with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting.
I loved Isle of Sound and Wonder and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Find Grauer on the web: Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Pinterest
Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway! There’s lots of awesome stuff being given away.
Sometimes it takes work to get my fantasy on, and this morning was no exception. My youngest decided I needed to be pulled out of bed five minutes before the alarm for his morning bottle, and that I needed to hang out with him while he snuggled in his blanket on the couch. Today also marked the start of school for my older two kids after being off track for the past two weeks, which means a school morning, which means rush and hustle and arguing and all that stuff that we’ve avoided for two weeks.
After all that I needed a little escape from reality.
This is where a short foray on Pinterest is very helpful. I put “fantasy” in the search and allow the software to deliver hundreds of examples of fantasy art and places. You can also follow the fantasy boards of pinners you like for a more customized experience.
Here are some of the gems I found today, the notes on the pins are from the pinners themselves and not me:
Anything inspired by Lord of the Rings, and especially the art of Alan Lee is bound to get my attention. I love the attention to detail and the fantasy armor.
I liked this one so much I followed this pinner’s board “Elemental Fire.”
Again, the attention to detail here is remarkable. There is a story here, he is protective of her, she trusts him. A little romance is good for the soul. Love it!
Where do you find your inspiration?
Jodi L. Milner, Author 