A fascinating collection of tales.

This beautifully bound and printed book is a collection of Victorian Science Fiction tales.
Edited by Mike Ashley, these tales have wonders that even today's Steampunk authors are hard put to equal.
From the forward:

The assemblage of these unjustly forgotten stories... provides us with a chance to divest ourselves of a century of preconceptions, misconceptions and misprisions, and to return to the dawn of a literature, when the future-- our present-- still shone with a numinous radiance.
--Paul Di Filippo

There are tales of airships, robots, aerocars, submarines, fearsome weapons, marvelous adventures and catastrophic dangers. These are tales of the future from a time "when everything seemed not only possible but inevitable."

Although the book is entitled "Steampunk" these are not Steampunk tales anymore than Jules Verne or H.G. Wells tales are Steampunk. These are indeed "Extraordinary Tales of Victorian Futurism", as the subtitle states, and show that imagination is a gift we all share whether in Victorian times or now.

This book is also a jewel as a physical object, the cover is gorgeous, nearly every page is bordered by gears and colours, and the tales are illustrated with fanciful and period illustrations. The colours are vibrant. The pages are fairly thick paper which complements the illustrations and text, giving this book a heft that is a joy to hold and read.

Truly a marvelous addition to anyones library of fiction.

Alas I was only lent this beauty, thank you Monica, so it must return to its owner but I will certainly keep on the lookout to add it to my collection.

Keep your sightglass full, your firebox trimmed and your water iced.
KJ

Title
Steampunk
Extraordinary Tales of Victorian Futurism

Author
Various
Edited by Mark Ashley

Publisher
Fall River Press

Date
2012

ISBN
978-1-4351-4193-3

A massive book this!

Recently acquired on a trip out to the fabulous used book mecca of Sydney BC this book is nearly 3 kg of awesomeness!

Originally published as a set of five annual paperbacks for the US Department of the Navy for the Centenary of the Civil War, starting in 1961 and continuing until 1965, each volume covered one year of the conflict. A further volume published in 1966 contained a detailed index and a collection of eye witness accounts and  other details to support the previous volumes. My copy was published as a single consolidated volume in 1971 and is in mint condition.

Clocking in at over 1000 pages this book is filled with photos, maps, diagrams and detailed accounts of nearly every naval action of the Civil War. A true treasure for anyone interested in the Civil War but also a fascinating look at the transition from sail to steam, from the old "Wooden Ships and Iron Men" of the Napoleonic era to the age of steam and armour that defined the shifting technological world of the Navy in the 19th Century.

The photos are reproduced in fairly good detail, if a little dark, and the text is also illustrated with period maps and photos of actual documents, diaries, letters and sketches.

Definitely not a good book to try to read in bed unless you have a block and tackle to hold it though!

Keep your sightglass full your firebox trimmed and your water iced.
KJ


Title
Civil War Naval Chronology

Author
Various

Publisher
Naval History Division
US Department of the Navy

Date
1961-66
Consolidated volume 1971

Adventure!

Found this at Steampunk Canada

The Ruffus Steampunk Adventure is a new web series that is raising funds through IndieGoGo. It's an epic tale about the quest for a mysterious mechanical book that is the key to global domination for a nefarious Robber Baron and it falls to our heroes to save the world.

YOU can help make the adventure happen by visiting: http://igg.me/at/steampunkruffus - Find out more! Contribute if you can! Share the news! Save the world!

Or at least help us save the world from the excessive use of exclamation marks.

Thank you.

Looks like it will be fun!

Keep your sightglass full, your firebox trimmed and your water iced.
KJ

Wonderful


A fabulous little short film from 2010.
This grim and gritty tale has some excellent "Frontier Steampunk" looks in it.
Enjoy.



Keep your sightglass full, your firebox trimmed and your water iced.
KJ

Steampunk!

I so want to see this when completed.



Keep your sightglass full, your firebox trimmed and your water iced.
KJ

Memoirs of a real Airship Pilot!

I acquired this wonderful book a month ago at a "Antique Mall" in Airdrie Alberta.

Written by T.B. Williams and published in 1974. This book chronicles the his adventures after joined the Royal Navy in 1915 to become an Airship pilot. In the days before the fixed wing heavier than air craft became the standard military aircraft, the hydrogen filled airship, non-rigid and semi rigid were the mainstay of the Royal Navy for scouting and convoy protection from submarine attack near the coast of England. No convoy suffered a loss from submarine attack when one of these airships was in attendance during their approach.

Williams was awarded Airship Pilot Certificate no 28 in 1917. He was instrumental in the training of other pilots as well as being on the crew of the Italian semi-rigid that was the first aircraft to ever fly from Italy to England. He eventually was promoted to Captain.

A fascinating look at the uses that the Royal Navy, and later the Royal Airforce put these primitive but very useful craft too.

Captain Williams also chronicles the post war decline and attempted resurrection of the Airship, for commercial use including the R100 and R101.

The book is filled with interesting photographs and has an extensive bibliography of books that will be very useful to track down.

A must read for anyone interested in this unsung chapter of military aviation.

Keep your sightglass full, your firebox trimmed and your water ived.
KJ

Title
Airship Pilot No.28

Author
Captain T.B. Williams A.F.C.

Publisher
Willia Kimber and Co.
London

Date
1974

ISBN
07-183-0153-6

A fun short film!

The trials of being an inventor.



Keep your sightglass full, your firebox trimmed and your water iced.
KJ