Jared Axelrod

Download here

Voice of Free Planet X, Episode 159: Meet Wigwam Bam from Jared Axelrod on Vimeo.
Tee Morris provides the talent and the skill to bring to life Wigwam Bam, one of the many alien puppets who will be at Aliens You Will Meet LIVE at Dragon*Con ‘08.

Thanks, Tee.

Tee Morris can be found at teemorris.com

More aliens can be found at aliensyouwillmeet.com

Title footage taken from the public domain film “Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe.”

The Voice of Free Planet X theme was written and performed by Russell Collins of www.clockworkaudio.net

1) Mur Lafferty’s PLAYING FOR KEEPS debuts on Amazon today, so now’s your time to get a copy. You may remember JR and I doing artwork for the podiobooks version awhile back, which I think speaks for itself as to the quality of this work.

Go on, buy a copy if you haven’t already. You won’t regret it.

2) Voice of Free Planet X has just gone video:
The Voice of Free Planet X, Episode 158: Gimmie Shelter from Jared Axelrod on Vimeo.This episode explores the experimental zombie-apocalypse role-playing game “Shelter In Place.” The game’s creator, J.R. Blackwell, is interviewed along with footage of the very first round of this scary, cinematic game.Watch it, and let me know what you think3) In addition to the Aliens You Will Meet LIVE show (Sat 05:30 pm at Rockdale) and the “Long and the Short of It” panel (Sun 04:00 pm at Manila / Singapore / Hong Kong) I’m also doing a reading on Saturday at 11:30 am in the Williams roomWhich is pretty awesome.

Trouble is, I have no idea what to read. “Grayson Boys?” “Even In Arcadia?” “Amelia Effective, Young Girl Detective?” Bits from “Way of the Dodo?”Any requests?

I feel like I should have all the puppets in one spot.

—————————————-VS———————————-

————————-WHO-WILL-WIN?—————————-

One of the puppeteers, Tee Morris was over at the house the other day–he and Philippa Ballantine are doing a signing a the Moravian Book Shop tonight, which is guaranteed to be a hoot and a half–and he gave a wondrous bit of improv with his puppet. I taped it, and will have it on the internets soon. Watching that character come to life like that made all the stress worth it. It’s really cool, having talented friends.

Something I should update on the site, in addition to Aliens You Will Meet LIVE on Saturday at 5:30 pm, I’m also on this panel:

Title: The Long and the Short of It
Description: How to write short stories, poetry, plays, and non-fiction within the realm of our genres–and get it published.
Time: Sun 04:00 pm
Length: 1 Hour

Which, you will note, is a writing panel. I’m not just a guest at Dragon*Con for my mad puppeting skillz, dontcha know? I also write stuff. And, as the panel notes, get it published. So there.

Also worth noting is that the SalonCon schedule is now up, with details about the salon JR Blackwell and I will be doing on the Victorian Sideshow. With the puppet show for Dragon*Con pretty much taken care off until we can get to the Con and rehearse, I should probably make sure all my needles are sharpened…

I’ve just been showing pictures of space pirates of late, but what about those who travel space without the need to pillage?

Captain Flash Shotner is arrogant, childish,  and not that bright.  But he does have boldness, daring, and a spandex uniform, which makes him a great captain.

Calm, intelligent, cerebral, Dr. Mars is everything Captain Shotner is not.  Which is probably why he’ll never be promoted.

Ensign Nomnom is a go-getter!  He’s ready to take orders, and, if necessary, follow them! I wish I could take credit for Ensign Nomnom, but he was made by J.R. Blackwell.

Oh, what the heck.  One more space pirate!

All pirate ships have an old guy named Smitty onboard.  Even space-pirate ships.  It’s required.

All these puppets–and the ones show previously–are going to be part of the ALIENS YOU WILL MEET live show at 5:30 on Saturday, August 30th, at Dragon*Con.  There will be video, but trust me, you don’t want to miss the live performance.

Download here

On Querylon, you will be asked to show your physical prowess by engaging in ritualistic combat with members of their warrior class.  Though the Querylon warriors are only one third of your size, they are still a force to be reckoned with.  Remember to aim low, and watch out for their tiny, tiny horses.

Download here 

By Andy Duncan.
Read by Jared Axelrod (of The Voice of Free Planet X).

“Fenneman?”

The studio audience laughed loudly, as it always did when Groucho turned, in mock desperation or annoyance, to his long-suffering, hopelessly square announcer. Groucho’s voice slightly increased in pitch whenever he said Fenneman’s name, as if he were just at the edge of losing his celebrated cool. This half-squawk had been funny in the stateroom scene of A Night at the Opera (”Steward! Steward!”), and it was still funny on You Bet Your Life twenty-five years later. He was a pro, Groucho was, and I did right by him; I modulated that pitch myself.

Rated R. Contains profanity, and real and simulated persons behaving badly.

Featured Site:
Playing for Keep

Download here

The Darlanians do not have travel as you know it, preferring instead to remove their consciousnesses from their bodies, and witness the world from a purely mental point of view.  As ghost-like apparitions, they will be very interested in your dependence on your physical body, and may attempt several ways to remove you from it.  It will be important to remember that the “body dematerializer device” that they will try to put you in does exactly what you might expect.

Download here

I chat with Nathan Paoletta about game writing, mechanics, theory, and his excellent games “Carry” and “Annalise.” If you’re thinking about writing your own games, are dedicated gamer, or are just curious as to how a game about the wrenching era of Vietnam can lead to an afternoon of enjoyable entertainment, do not miss this interview.

Nathan’s gonna be at GenCon, so if you see him there, tell him “Hi” for me.

More info about Nathan’s games can be found at www.hamsterprophetproductions.com. “Annalise” has her own corner of the web, annalise.hamsterprophetproductions.com.

The Voice of Free Planet X theme was written and performed by Russell Collins of www.clockworkaudio.net

The long-awaited second entry to my Millennium Canon column is now available for your perusal. It’s a meditation on BERLIN: CITY OF STONES by Jason Lutes, a graphic-novel that earns the label. It is, quite frankly, almost unbearably awesome.

But then, you knew that I wouldn’t be writing about it if it wasn’t.

Speaking of things that are almost unbearably awesome, here’s two crew members of “The Black Comet,” Saucy Polly’s ship:

Wigwam Bam, Saucy Polly’s brother and right-wing man. Yes, that is a Nerf gun, and yes, it will be fired during the show. But not at the audience

Geuse here is your go-to guy for dangerous missions. He is either fearless, or incredibly stupid. Geuse has become my favorite puppet ever since I realized he talks like a surfer-dude. A surfer-dude space pirate. With a giant raygun. Yes.

Download here

Though your tongue is still healing from your encounter with Soyrn cuisine, it will not hamper your interaction with the Crawbiwah.  The Crawbiwah have banished the spoken word from their culture, preferring instead to sit in silence.  While this makes it difficult to know when the meeting is over, rest assured that at some point, the meeting will end.  Bring a lunch.  And a dinner.  And a breakfast.  And another lunch.