Wild Wild West Con 2016
The Boys Take Old Tucson
We shared an author’s table with David Lee Summers again inside the vendor’s barn. We had a great spot right in-between the refreshment stand and the table for the band “The Men Who Will Not Be Blamed for Nothing.” David S. was selling his hot-off-the-press book “Brazen Shark,” which is the third in his steampunk series. You should definitely check it out if you missed picking one up at WWWC. Special thanks to his wife, Kumie, and his daughter, Verity, for keeping the commerce in action while we scampered back and forth to panels.
Vending Shenanigans
It’s always fun to see our friends exercising their steampunk chops.
Cirque des Bêtes in the Sun
League of S.T.E.A.M. with Their Rock Monster
David Lee Summers Does Victorian Astronomy
Lord Towers Rides Tall
Thomas Willeford is Hot, Literally
Don’t Ask!
(Crackitus from League of S.T.E.A.M. lovingly wipes his nose on Erasmus’ leathers)
Ice Cold Tea Duel Stare Down Cooling Off the Desert
We made some new friends including John Sprocket from The Cog is Dead.
John Sprocket entertained with lively songs and panache
John did us the honor of captaining Team Red for Hot Potato School of Writing™.
Quick — have the story include “The look of love evaporated from his face when he saw his own reflection in the dead woman’s glass eye”
Trip Hope and Justin Andrew Hoke helped us reprise our presentation of “Steampunk as a Global Influence.”
Did Someone Say, “Стимпанк?”
( Russian for “Steampunk” )
There was some creative new costuming including the return of color, particularly in the ladies’ costumes.
Lots of Crossovers
We got to see Splendid Teapot Racing live for the first time thanks to Madame Askew, The Grand Arbiter, and Stephen Chapman. The Texas Terror made a exceptionally fine showing, particularly over the teeter-totter of terror, no surprise there.
Splendid Teapot Racing
Of course, we had a session of Drake & McTrowell’s Theatre of the Historically Improbable™. We continue to be amazed by the willingness of steampunks to jump in with both feet and exercise their campy acting skills.
Chief Inspector / Director Erasmus Drake Shows the Company How It’s Done
Thespis Got Nothin’ on Steampunks
We saved the best for last. First, the League of S.T.E.A.M. screened the final episode of season 3, “The Invitation to Armageddon,” the musical! We’re incredibly honored to be credited as associate producers on this episode for our contribution to the season 3 Kickstarter. You’ll have to settle for a picture of the audience for now because the episode isn’t online yet. “Why,” you ask? Because it’s having its theatrical “work premiere” at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival on April 4th!
The Audience for “Invitation to Armageddon”
And then there was this! Oz Coppherchops proposed to Lady Ember Brennen Sparks with a little clandestine help from his friends. We love how verklempt she is in the first pic.
She Said, “Yes”
Our regular readers will know that the two of us have a post-con “thing”; we go out for Mexican food. Apparently, we both crave chile after a busy weekend of vending, entertaining, costuming, and hauling. At other cons, it’s usually just the two of us, but for the second year in a row at WWWC we and a bunch of steampunk friends took over the basement of El Charro. We drank a toast to Diana Given for putting on such an amazing con. Someone get that woman a foot massage and a libation; she’s earned them!
El Charro Chowdown
There were only about 20 of us; the wait staff says the basement will hold 70. Challenge accepted! See y’all next year on Sunday night after WWWC6 wraps!
