Wings of Steam

Today is International Air Kraken Awareness Day, the day on which steampunks around the world have chosen to inform the public of the menace which awaits in the skies. In order for you to be better informed for this task, we at Wings of Steam have prepared the following informational content for you:

The first recorded sighting of the air kraken was in 1913 when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published an account of a run-in with the creature in his short story, “The Horror of the Heights“.

There have been many sightings over the years, and activity seems to be on the rise, especially in the skies over England, where there have been three sightings in the last fourteen months alone:

In January 2009 the air kraken destroyed a wind turbine near the town of Louth. Local resident John Harrison described witnessing the creature:

“It was huge” he said “At first I thought it must have been a hole where the moon was shining through but then I saw the tentacles – it looked just like an octopus.

“It was an incredible site; I have never seen anything like it before. I have no idea what it was, all I can say is what I saw”.

The recent claim that the air kraken sports a form of bioluminescence is supported by another sighting in May 2009, when a family of air krakens were spotted over Burntwood, as reported by Michael Bardsley and several neighbors.

He said the underside of the UFOs were like the underbelly of a jellyfish in appearance. Two neighbours from across the road watched the spectacle with the family. Michael managed to catch the bright lights on his phone camera, but the pictures do not show the craft in detail.

“We could not understand what they were,” Michael told The Post. “We couldn’t hear any engines.”

In June 2009 the air kraken left the above crop circle in a farm field in Oxfordshire. There has been much speculation by many people as to what it means, but as one who has been studying the air kraken, the answer is quite clear: it seems to be a mating display. If true, England’s troubles may just be beginning, as with displays such as these, the number of air krakens is surly soon to rise.

And this is where it comes to you, dear fellow steampunks. Don’t let your dirigible be caught off guard Go forth and spread awareness of the air kraken! Fly squid-shaped kites in parks! Hand out fliers! Inform the public! And most importantly, don’t end up like these poor souls:

Here’s a few steampunk horror films for your Halloween…

First up is Jasper Morello, the first episode of an animated series available only in New Zealand. A worldwide release is expected after the four episode series is complete.

Following this is Fallen Art, a super twisted CG animation from Poland. In an old forgotten military base far from civilization, a group of deranged military officers nurture their insanity.

Final is The Macabre Opera of Elysium Grove, an artistic student film in five parts, shot on a $5000 budget. Unfortunately, this is a film where each part needs explaining and doesn’t make sense otherwise, so please read the description for each part before watching it.

The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello

Fallen Art

The Macabre Opera of Elysium Grove: The Scorned Bride

A man alone and wrought by his need for love creates a bride for himself out of previous wives he has married and murdered on his wedding night. However, when he sees what he has created – it is not as pure as the memory he is trying to bring to life … jaded by this, he rejects his creation in search for another bride.

See the rest of The Macabre Opera.