Books, COMICS, CREATIVE, JUST SAYING, Manga, RANDOMIZER9.COM, STEAMPUNK, WHATS GOING ON, WHISKEY-TANGO-FOXTROT, WORDS, Writing

Short Steampunk Subjects

Positively steamy!

I like things that are short. Quite a few of my favorite types of media are short: theatrical cartoons, Three Stooges shorts, Aesop’s fables, and Isaac Asimov’s short stories, to name a few. Curiously enough, my own writing consists mainly of short stories.

I initially kept my short stories to just one side of a page out of sheer habit, but as I write more I am finding myself becoming more comfortable with going beyond that self-imposed arbitrary limit. Curiously enough, my very first short story came in at 12 pages, which I felt was way too long, so there’s that, too.

There’s just something about quickly getting to the point. Sure, a one-page story doesn’t leave much room for character development, but it also means that a message can be delivered effectively without getting lost in the rest of the story. It also leaves armchair psychologists with little room to to find deeper meaning in between the lines.

It may also explain why I enjoy comic books. In addition to enjoying the exploits of Superman, the Green Lantern Corps and Mega Man each month, I have also taken a liking to the various Steampunk titles currently being printed by Antarctic Press. In addition to artwork relating to the book’s theme featuring comely lasses, each one has also featured two or three short comic stories featuring the works of Rod Espinosa, Fred Perry, and other creators.

I really enjoy those short comics. I read them, have a quick laugh or smile, and move on to other things. But unlike the one-issue comic stories I discussed previously, which are ‘fire and forget,’ those short comics (especially Perry’s) have me wondering about just what happened before and after the story. How did that Bad Guy end up as a pony? Who ended up winning the Fairyland Steampocalypse? Just why did Dr. Frankensteam create her Monster?

I also wonder if I am being given glimpses of a bigger tale that has been untold, or are these the scattered pages of a work that is not yet done even in the creator’s mind? Or perhaps, like myself, all they want to do is make a quick joke or point and move on without having to write a whole book. I can certainly relate to that!

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FURRY, ORIGINAL-GAMER.COM, RANDOMIZER9.COM, TECH, Videogames, WHATS GOING ON

An Editor’s Tail

You MUST play this game.

I am the Editor/Voice Guy of Original-Gamer.com and I all but handed in my resignation two weeks ago. I had become burned out having spent the last two years and change reviewing games, editing and writing articles about games, voicing over videos about games, going to game-related events, and actually having to PLAY a bunch of games. Video games had become work, and I had become sick of them to the point where even the Wii U announcement during E3 had failed to excite me. What little joy I could muster from videogames came from playing 3DS titles. Mighty Switch Force and Final Fantasy Theatrhythm were two recent titles that I had actually enjoyed.

I wanted videogames to be fun again, and so I told OG that I was done. That was it. Game Over. No mas. Bueno, bye. I would wrap up the games that were currently on my plate and be completely done with the site. I reconsidered it over the San Japan weekend and decided that I would stick around, but would no longer review games. This is part of a greater desire to cut back on ‘side projects’ so that I could concentrate on my writing.

I was happy to be getting a break from videogames. I only had one or two more to finish before clearing my plate of everything that I ‘had’ to play and then I could get back to playing games that I wanted to play. One evening while chatting, OG mentioned Dust: An Elysian Tail (or simply Dust). He said that he was enjoying it and that I probably would like it, too.

At first, I wasn’t sure that he was being serious. OG and I know each other well enough to mess with each other and I thought he was being all “you’ll like it because ITS FURRY LIKE YOU HURR HURR.” But no, he said: “it is pretty damn good, and it looks amazing,” which is pretty high praise, especially coming from him. I read up on the game, got excited, went to Ye Olde Electronics Store for a Microsoft-moon-money card and downloaded it the next day. I was curious to see if it was really as good as he had made it out to be.

It was. My socks were completely knocked off. I cannot remember the last time I have been blown away by a game like this, but I should mention that yeah, I have missed out on a lot of excellent games these past two years. Nearly every moment of Dust has been a joy to play so far: I have been laughing at the dialogue, gritting my teeth as I fight my way through enemies, marveling at the game’s beautiful world as I explore it and enjoying the story.

I think Dust has restored some of my faith in gaming. Its not that I’ve been playing nothing but bad games as part of my role at Original-Gamer. Far from it,. I have played games that were fun and that earned high scores for being fun, but they haven’t crossed that line from ‘this is fun’ to ‘this is AMAZING’ the way that Dust has.

Except for being (as far as I know) one of the few mainstream ‘furry’ games to emphasize its story, Dust really isn’t anything new. It is a 2D hack-and-slash ‘Metroid-vania’ game with RPG elements. That said, everything in Dust that I have seen so far has been executed very well: the art, animation and music combine to make a beautiful game to see and hear, the voiceovers have been very well done, the gameplay makes me feel like the mighty warrior that Dust is supposed to be, and the story is starting to suck me in.

At a time when everything seems to be recycled, rehashed or rebooted, it makes me feel good to know that a game can still come out of nowhere and move me the way Dust has. I haven’t finished it yet, but from what I have played so far, I can only hope that Dust ends up being only the first of many Elysian tales that I get to enjoy.

CAMPING, JUST SAYING, RANDOMIZER9.COM, WHATS GOING ON, WHISKEY-TANGO-FOXTROT, WORDS

Camping Journal #6 – Lights Out

July 14, 2012, just past midnight, in the tent

-sleepy-

It’s time for bed now, and I think that my ‘beta test’ was a success. Except for a slight sunburn, everything went well.

I don’t know how well the tent will be able to withstand Oklacon, but for South Texas, it seems to do just fine.

Mostly everything was able to fit into the Excelsior without dropping the back seats, and I can leave the table at home next time.

I might need to get a bigger ice chest, but other than that I think I’m ready to go for a 2-night stay.

I’ll just have to remember to get some flip-flops.

-ES

CAMPING, JUST SAYING, RANDOMIZER9.COM, WHATS GOING ON, WHISKEY-TANGO-FOXTROT, WORDS, Writing

Camping Journal #5 – Rain, Rain, Make Up Your Mind, Already!

July 13, 2012, 708pm, at camp

-perturbed-

About an hour and a half ago, the sky went grey, the wind picked up, the animals went silent…and nothing.

I had planned on going for another swim but instead, I battened down the hatches, put everything in my tent or in my vehicle, and waited for the skies to open up and unleash a torrent of water.

Nothing.

I’m not 100% certain that the threat is over, so I’m on a hair trigger, ready to dash into my tent and zip up the windows at the first sign of water.

Maybe going camping on Friday the 13th wasn’t the best idea in the world.

-ES

CAMPING, FURRY, RANDOMIZER9.COM, WHATS GOING ON, WORDS, Writing

Camping Journal #4: Their Turf

You can’t see me!

July 13, 2012, sometime before 5, at camp

-a little tired-

I should have bought a pair of flip-flops, because walking in or near the river was murder on my bare feet. I eventually put my tennis shoes on, and while that did make things easier, I now get to schlep my soggy shoes everywhere now.

As much as I’d like to take a nap, there is no breeze right now, and that means the inside of the tent is actually hotter than sitting on the picnic table.

I’ve seen a few animals today; two deer while driving back from the river, and a few lizards scurrying about the campsite upon my return. One lizard was perfectly camouflaged, I did a double-take when I realized I was looking at one that was masquerading as part of a tree. I then went for my camera and got a few shots before it scurried away.

The hustle and bustle of the city has been replaced by a cacophony of creatures. Birds, chicadas, and an army of flying bugs are constantly providing a steady stream of sound.

Its unnerving on a certain level, I find myself occasionally turning to find the source of some sound or noise. Sometimes there is something there, often, there isn’t, but I think its the thought that I am infringing on their domain instead of the other way around.

Like it or not, I’m on their turf.

-ES

CAMPING, JUST SAYING, RANDOMIZER9.COM, WHATS GOING ON, Writing

Camping Journal #3: Base Camped

Just like the picture on the box!

July 13, 2012, 110pm, Guadalupe State Park, Site #34

-content-

I woke up at 8, showered, packed my food, bought ice and hit the road. I stopped to gas up the Excelsior, grabbed some breakfast at Whataburger, and headed up 281 for Guadalupe State Park.

Going up 281, you really get to see a few hills, unlike I-35 to Austin. It was an uneventful drive, the park was easy to find and only a half hour’s trip from San Antonio. I paid the fee, got to my spot and set things up.

As a side note, the employees at the office were all women, as if I needed another reason to go camping.

The tent gave me a bit of trouble, mainly because I’ve never put up a ‘modern’ one, my experience was limited to the six-man Hillary tent my folks got from Sears many years ago. Its made of canvas, held up with aluminum poles and held down with railroad spikes.

They sure as hell don’t make them like that anymore.

This is my first time here, and I have to say that it is pretty nice. Each site has a table, a hook to hang your lantern from, a fire pit, and a designated spot for your tent.

The only downside I’ve found so far is that my spot would seem to be pretty far away from an easily accessible spot on the river for swimming. I took a hike to see the river and found myself on a ledge about 15 feet up overlooking it. Rats. I figured I’d follow the river until I found an area where I could get to the river itself.

An hour later, I found myself back at camp with sore feet and no closer to finding water. I had lunch and am about to hop into the Excelsior to see if I can find the ‘swimming hole.’

CAMPING, CREATIVE, JUST SAYING, RANDOM STOPS, WHATS GOING ON

Camping Journal #2: Just One More Thing?

I haven’t even gotten there yet!

Read Journal #1 here.

July 13, 2012, 937am, at Whataburger

-pensive-

As I eat breakfast before heading out, I keep wondering if I’ve forgotten anything. Yeah, I made a list, I’ve done this before (though not by myself) and I’m stopping at HEB up the road to get one or two last things, but the thought of “I forgot something” keeps popping in my head. I guess its only natural, and I’ll find out soon enough!

-ES

CAMPING, CREATIVE, JUST SAYING, RANDOM STOPS, TECH, WHATS GOING ON, WORDS, Writing

Camping Journal #1: (Semi) Roughing It

Lined paper! WHEE!

I took a camping trip recently and while I admittedly spent way too much time on my phone updating my Facebook status, I also bought along some paper to keep a written journal. As I’m pretty sure folks don’t want to decipher my awful handwriting, I’m transcribing them. Enjoy!

July 12, 2012: 5:13 pm, at work

-enthusiastic-

I’ve made my list, checked it twice and I’m heading out camping tomorrow for the first time in years. I used to love going to Lake Corpus Christi with my folks, family and friends Back In the Day, but this time I’m going alone.

I suppose that’s the downside of having a bunch of nerds for friends. I’m looking forward to it, though, and maybe sometime in the near future I’ll bring some friends along.

-ES

CAMPING, JUST SAYING, RANDOMIZER9.COM, WHATS GOING ON, WHISKEY-TANGO-FOXTROT

27 Things I Noticed About Camping

I camped out at Guadalupe River State Park last Friday. It was the first time I had been out camping in years. I used to go with my family to trips to Sunrise Beach at Lake Corpus Christi back in the day, and felt it was high time I rediscovered the Great Outdoors. So I bought a tent, a lamp and a stove and headed off to adventure! It was a fun trip, but I did notice a few things…

Just like the picture on the box!

I contemplated getting a dual-burner stove like the one my folks have, but remembered that I’m not a skilled enough cook to run 2 burners at once.
Propane sucks.
Its nice that Coleman stoves and lanterns can run off unleaded gas in a pinch, but did they have to stop making them green? 😦
Always remember to subtract one ‘man’ from the number of people a tent can supposedly hold.
I kept thinking: ‘should I get better stakes?’ ‘should I get better stakes?’ Yeah, I should have bought better stakes for the tent.
I don’t know if its because of the heat, but I get powerful thirsty when camping, I should maybe pack some Gatorade next time.
According to the map of the park, the river should have been nearby…it was, but the map didn’t mention the 15-foot drop to get to it.
Thus, I had to drive to the part of the river that you could swim in…it didn’t feel right somehow.
I purchased sunscreen, I took it with me, but did I use it? Nooooo.
I was both happy and sad to get a cell phone signal out there.
They also had Wi-Fi. Sign of the times, I guess.
If you go walking around the Guadalupe River with bare feet, you’re going to have a bad time.
So much for taking an afternoon nap. When there is no breeze, it’s actually hotter inside the tent
Nature is pretty noisy, but when things get really quiet, it feels like you’re in a horror movie.
Good to know I can still light a lantern and a camp stove.
As night fell, I could hear generators starting as I sat under my lantern…geez, people, for a few bucks more you can stay at a site with electricity.
I could have stayed ‘off the grid’ but no, I had to bring my laptop and use my smartphone as a hotspot. /shrug
I just had to go Beavis for awhile when the flame from my camp stove shot up a foot in the air after I lit it. FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!
The humidity at night had me tossing and turning, I’m totally not used to it.
The animals have not been very active at campsites I’ve been to before, so I was a bit surprised when that raccoon opened my food container at at 2 in the morning and swiped a loaf of bread.
I was even MORE surprised when he opened the cooler. Them’s smart critters.
In an unrelated note, instead of scrambled eggs for breakfast at camp, I had McDonald’s on the way home. Pbbbt.
How is there condensation on the BOTTOM of the tent when there is no grass?
The tent actually fit back inside of the case it came in -mind blown-
Nothing like that ‘am I sunburned or not?’ feeling.
Of course, the first time you step into a hot shower…you know for SURE.
Can’t wait to do it again!

COMICS, CREATIVE, FIRST STORM MANGA, FURRY, RANDOMIZER9.COM, WHATS GOING ON, WORDS, Writing

A Name On Paper

I do put BBQ sauce on my burgers…it’s like HE KNEW

I am old enough to remember when seeing your name in the newspaper was kind of a big deal. I think it has something to do with the idea that lots of people are seeing your name, even if it is alongside a bunch of other kids’ names on the honor roll or the perfect attendance list of your small-town newspaper. Or it could just be a small-town thing, who knows?

I still get a kick out of seeing my name in the newspaper and it has happened a few times since then. I submitted an idea to the “Pluggers” newspaper comic that was used (at right), and made a ‘guest appearance’ in the “My Cage” newspaper comic strip after winning a writing contest on MySpace (remember them?) and was mentioned in an article about First Storm Manga that appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.

We’re the ‘cool’ office

Every time it happened, I would buy a copy of the newspaper and cut out the article or comic in which my name appeared. I even have the My Cage strip hanging in my living room. I admit that it is a bit odd and probably the kind of thing that future generations won’t care much about as newspapers become less relevant in our increasingly connected world, but doggone it, its special to me.

I wrote a story named “San Japanic!” that became First Storm Manga’s first self-printed comic book. I remember smiling when I opened up a copy for the first time and saw “Lead Writer/Editor: Eduardo Soliz” at the bottom of the inside cover. While they weren’t my pictures, and not even many of my words, it was my story.

Art by Mary Mouse of micecomics.com

These days, as I try to get exposure as a writer, I have decided to send stories out to furry conventions in order to get my name out there. I think its a good deal: they want the content for their conbooks, I like writing short stories, and unlike my usual lackadaisical writing schedule of finishing stuff whenever I feel like it, I have a set topic or theme and a deadline to work around.

The first one I wrote was “Bedtime” for SonicCon 2010, but I never heard back from them, so to this day I have no idea if it ever made it into the book…or if there even was a book for that matter. The first one that I know was published was “All’s Well That Ends Well,” a short I wrote for Furry Fiesta that featured their mascot jackalopes.

I remember being at Furry Fiesta and eagerly opening my copy of the conbook after receiving it. I got that warm fuzzy feeling again as I saw my name near the top of page 28 in glorious black and white ink. More recently, “The Hunter” made its way into the AnthroCon conbook, and I once again smiled as I saw my story in print.

It is impossible for me to know exactly how many of the folks that received those books actually opened them up and read my story, but knowing that thousands of folks have it in their possession feels much more real to me than anything I’ve ever put on a computer screen.

There’s just something about seeing your name on paper.

Eduardo Soliz

IT Guy, short story author, podcaster, and furry!

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