Intrepid Marksman John B. writes in with news of the twenty-ninth annual National Penny Farthing Championships in Evandale, Tasmania. So many great pictures!
Sadly, according to Australia’s ABC News, part of this year’s race was cancelled due to rain:
“Penny farthing bikes are fairly dangerous at any point and in these conditions it would just be impossible for us to go ahead.”
I’M SORRY DID YOU SAY FAIRLY DANGEROUS PENNY FARTHING
This was super-fascinating to me! Obviously book designers often use stock photographs and common motifs, but here are two blogs which systematically compile and showcase trends and copycats/similarities in cover design, including some which even use the exact same stock photos.
I was browsing Etsy the other day when I happened across these wonderful illustrations of “fanciful submarines” by Andrew George Brown (1950-1982). His daughter has remastered the art and is selling cards and giclée prints in her Etsy store.
There are twelve different submarine drawings and they’re all wonderful. The prints are a bit pricey (over $100) but the cards are only $7 CAD. Check out the cool designs!
I really enjoyed this: a parody gardening show written & performed by Sean Casey & Anne Gregory, comedians that I’ve gotten to know as teachers in the improv classes I’ve been taking for the last few months.
There are five five-minute episodes of “We Grow Together” and I recommend watching them all!
Girl Genius is a wonderful graphic-novel series about a steampunk — er, “gaslamp fantasy” — world run by mad scientists. You can read many, many years’ worth of the adventure online for free!
Today, Phil and Kaja Foglio are releasing their new Girl Genius novel, Agatha H. and the Airship City. I’m continually impressed by the multimedia empire the Foglios have developed: in addition to the comic series, and this new novel, they do a neat live radio-drama event at conventions and there is even an audiobook version of the new novel available too.
Inspired by our success with Machine of Death, they’re urging folks to buy Agatha H. on Amazon today — already they’re #1 in many subcategories and as of this writing, are up to #21 overall.
Phil and Kaja have long been kind and gracious supporters of Wondermark and I’ve already bought my copy of Agatha H. If you like the steampunkier side of Wondermark, or prefer your surreal Victoriana to have storylines, I recommend spending some time with Girl Genius!
Here’s the book on Amazon. Phil and Kaja are also doing book signings in Seattle tonight and throughout the week — more info on those events here.