In years past Roswell has always celebrated it’s unique connection with other worldly visitors. It all began in July 1947 when a mysterious craft crashed not far from the sleepy little desert village.
The controversy and conspiracy theories have raged every since. However today sixty-eight years later Roswell is anything but sleepy.
The center of UFO study is also a Mecca for Sci Fi and comic fans and film buffs. Among them is a small but growing steam-punk society.
What I find interesting about Steam-Punk is how it can be applied like a new coat of varnish to any genera; Sc-Fi, horror, western, super heroes and so on. This application is more and more being used in film, video games, television and literature,
Actress Mary Morgan 'Parallelogram'
The state of New Mexico offers many great tax incentives for major film companies to come to the Land of Enchantment. Roswell city leaders are investing a lot in the town’s future in the film industry. The Roswell Film Festival is in its fifth year and growing in international fame. Roswell will soon be breaking ground on one hundred and twenty acres to build it’s very own film studio. Already local film makers get financing from the city’s lodgers tax. Here too steam-punk is fighting for recognition. A little film called Parallelogram produced by a rebellious group of local steam-punkers made its way into the film fest.
New Mexico has a long illustrious history with the aerospace industry from Unexplained sightings of strange aircraft to A-bombs to stealth fighters and now the Space Port America. So there is the background and setting but what of the people. New Mexico borders Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Old Mexico and draws heavily from that rich western influence. So too one will notice the occasional steam-punk gunslinger.
Numerous native tribes call New Mexico home. Their art, culture and food influence everything in the state. Hispanic culture also adds a bold flavor as well. What you may not know is how international New Mexico is. Visitors from all over the world and from beyond our atmosphere flock to the state in droves. Seekers of fine art, spicy food and awe inspiring sunsets come for the colorful life style but they also come because of the wonderful friendly people. New Mexicans will go an extra mile to help a stranger no matter where they hail from. It’s one of the reasons I call New Mexico home.
I personally suspect New Mexican’s DNA has been altered by alien geneticists to make them a little nicer than regular humans. It’s a radical theory one that will surly invoke controversy. But damn it how else can you explain how kind and considerate true New Mexicans are?
Here’s another steamy factoid about New Mexico. There are boiling geothermal hot-springs peculating all under the state. The town of Truth or Consequences is floating on geo-power. Another hot spot is Ojo Caliente a picturesque resort featuring hot mineral spas perfect for a time traveling steamer to relax in. Legend has it aliens would land and soak in the springs when they were in our quadrant. Ok, I just made that one up, but it could have happened.
Steam-punk is permeating pop culture; movies, games, art, comics. Is it a fondness for the Victorian age? Or a new fascination with hoop skirts and corsets? In Queen Victoria’s time the world was changing radically into a technological age. It was a time when coal was king, dirty but a power source that built empires. Coal fired steam pushed ships, trains and powered factories. Mad inventors were coming up with all kinds of wild ideas. Ecto plasm detectors and the vibrator, well one of those caught on.
However, modern day steamers are powered by electricity and they build their fantastic creations from recycled junk. I was amazed at the ingenuity of the craftsmanship I saw at the cosmicon. On display was repurposeing at its best.
What looks like a fantastic high-tech weapon or gadget, upon closer examination is really scraps of plumbing, welders goggles, nut, bolts, vintage clothing, wires, old watches and duct tape. I tell you steamers put Mcgyver to shame.
Aside from blowing my diet all to hell at the salsa bar. My primary objective at the cosmicon was to introduce my Crossbreed and Blood Moon novels to new readers. My traveling companion Macayo the Magnificent had one job. Attract attention to our booth and then let me do the talking.
Our first day on the convention floor started out with Macayo getting all the attention. Every one wanted pictures with him. So being the pirate that I am and smelling loot I found a big jar and put a tip sign in it, “Parrot and Pirate photos $1.00" Macayo’s jar filled up every day. The big ham bone squawked when I closed up every evening, he didn’t want to leave his fans.
Some of the high points of the con, were meeting legendary comic writer Don Glut {Savage Sword of Conan, New Adventures of Frankenstein.} He and Macayo became friends of the feather.
Actor Tommy Lister was on hand for autographs. You had a choice of stills from his many action films. My favorite was Fifth Element his portrayal of Earth’s president was superb. As he signed it he quipped, “When you see Obama, you tell him, I was the first black president.”
Another big star and I mean he was the biggest dude there. Was a giant wooky what a crowd stopper he was.
Their were some pretty awesome cosplayers but without a doubt the steam punks were the most creative. Judging by the crowds that gathered around their booths I would say they were the show favorites.
After the cosmicon I ran down to check out the UFO fest they had blocked off a long stretch of Main street for a carnival, live music, fireworks and a tent city of vendors. Uhmmm, Tripe tacos smothered in green chiles and foot long corn-dogs. Yeah I know, heart attack!
Macayo and I have had a blast these last few days from the festivals to the Steam Punk Ball it was total entertainment. We are looking forward to next year and now we’re on the road to Vegas to see what mischief we can find in Sin City.
Thank you for reading, your humble purveyor Karl Clay Vetter
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