Unnatural History: Redux

Some time ago that splendid chap Mssr Blease posted his thoughts on this fantastical tale
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com.au/2010/09/pax-britannia-unnatural-history.html

Well blast me if I hadn't forgotten all about it since then, but recently my man servant was doing a bit of a tidy up in the Library and brought it to my attention.  I immediately corrected the oversight of not reading it before and dashed if it wasn't a ripping yarn of the highest calibre!  I went through it like a Gentleman's Club consumes cognac and it left me wanting more, which I will be enjoying rather shortly.

Do yourself a favour and make sure you don't miss the adventures of dandy adventurer and agent of the throne Ulysses Quicksilver, Esq and his servant Nimrod.

1 Week left for IHMN

Depending on what side on the International Date Line you dwell of course, there is only a week left to get ion on the new Steampunk Skirmish game, In Her Majesty's Name.

There are some gorgeous figures on offer - so much so in fact that the hardest decision is not if to get, but what to get!

The developers also have a blog up in which they discuss the development of the rules.  Have a gander here for more info
http://inhermajestysname.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/the-development-of-in-her-majestys-name/

Go on, and get onboard- you know you want to :-)
http://nstarmagazine.com/IN_HER_MAJESTYS_NAME.htm

Angel of the Revolution

Written in 1893, and now 120 years old, this book is a classic period piece of  'invasion literature' which I really enjoyed.  In many ways, Griffiths is quite prophetic in his vision of a Great War involving all the European powers.  One one side he has the aggressors of the Franco-Slavonian League, comprised of Russia, France, Italy, Spain (who were promised Gibraltar), Portugal (who are promised the Congo) and Serbia.  Matched against them is the Anglo-Teutonic Alliance of Britain, Germany and Austro-Hungary supported (in varying degrees of willingness) by Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.  So while he didn't quite get the alliances exactly right, he rightly forsaw the impact of such a titanic conflict, and the transition of warfare from one which involved personal heroism and gallantry into one of mechanised butchery. 

Add then to this mix, a fleet of newly invented dirigibles employed by the Tsar's and Gallic forces which can bomb the opposing armies unopposed (and without mercy of course) and make short work of them and their prepared fortifications.  Luckily though a third force lurks in the shadows - the Brotherhood of Freedom (better known throughout the world as Terrorists or Nihilists) who, thanks to their new and clever recruit, have solved the problem of aerial navigation and now possess the only real aerial fleet in the word.  Able to significantly outfly and outgun the war balloons of the Franco-Slavonian League, their support could change the course of the war but they elusively pursue their own ends... 

Wrapped around some wonderful British romanticism of the period, are some great descriptions of battles, particularly the second Battle of the Nile, the Russians forcing an exit from the Baltic and subsequently raiding the coaling station at Aberdeen, the RN Atlantic convoy system, and some major engagements in British Homewaters.  Two squadrons of French Aquanefs also make an appearance towards the end so there is something for everyone (but no Land Ironclads or Terranefs though I'm afraid).

Highly Recommended - if you haven't read it, go find yourself a copy and enjoy!

You can get this reprint from Heliograph here: http://www.heliograph.com/buy.shtml#angel

A Visit to the Moon

A Visit to the Moon is another VSF classic by George Griffith and available for free download here:

http://www.gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0602321h.html

What a clever looking chap eh?

Clean your chimney Guv'nor?

Engaged a stiff upper lip and got into a bit of a clean up around the old WWS Blog.  Removed dead links, added some new ones, bit of a stooge with the format, that sort of thing.

Making a bit of room for a new project hereabouts.  Going to be a good show but Mum's the word for now.  Cant be too careful with all those Boche spies and agents of the Tsar lurking about dont you know...

One development which might interest chaps of a literary bent is the 'Books in a White Wine Sauce' section in the left hand margin.  I've put together a list of VSF books, both period and modern, and would love to hear if any erudite readers have any further suggestions.  Cheers!

Happy Easter!

Hope you have a great one Chaps!

Well that is a little awkward...

It takes awhile for the steam packet to arrive from London and deliver the Times, so excuse my excitement in hearing of Brigade Models' Birthday Sale.  I had pulled out my 'wants and needs' list in a rush, somehow overlooking the fact that it was last month not this month.

Apologies to all and sundry, but my birthday wishes to Brigade Models remain undaunted!

Chin-chin!

Happy Birthday Brigade Models

and to celebrate, a 25% off sale  for the next 48 hrs only - Huzzah !!!

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Blog/2013/02/are-you-sitting-comfortably/

Reminiscences of a Volunteer

A free pdf download of George Chesney's classic tale is available at Book Depository here:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Battle-Dorking-George-Chesney/9781406591118

Sir George Tomkyns Chesney (1830-1895) was British Army general and brother of Colonel Charles Cornwallis Chesney. Educated at Blundell's School, Tiverton, and at Addiscombe, he entered the Bengal Engineers as second lieutenant in 1848. He was employed for some years in the public works department and, on the outbreak of the Indian rebellion of 1857, joined the Ambala column, was field engineer at the battle of Badli-ke-serai, brigade-major of engineers throughout the siege of Delhi, and was severely wounded in the assault (he received a medal and clasp and a brevet majority). In 1860, he was appointed head of a new department in connection with the public works accounts. His book Indian Polity (1868), dealing with the administration of the several departments of the Indian government, attracted wide attention and remains a permanent textbook. In 1871, he contributed to Blackwoods Magazine a highly influential short story called The Battle of Dorking: Reminiscences of a Volunteer, a vivid account of a supposed invasion of England by the Germans after their victory over France.

HM Airship 'Fearnought'

Lovely jubbly!
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234912362-edwardian-steam-airbattleship-hms-fearnaught/page-4

D'Orcy's Airship Manual

I've found a rather fascinating book online:
D'Orcy's Airship Manual: An International Register of Airships with a Compendium of the Airship's Elementary Mechanics 
Well worth the effort of a free download - enjoy! http://ia600302.us.archive.org/8/items/dorcysairshipman00orcyrich/dorcysairshipman00orcyrich.pdf

Airship Captain

A great cosplay image from the collection of Tom Banwell.  Check out more of his work here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/steampunkleather/pool/tombanwell/?view=lg

Empire of the Dead: Requiem

Halloo old beans! Well excitement abounds for you Little Wars chappies! There I was having enjoyed afternoon tiffin with the Memsahib when my poratble Babbage Engine burst into life. Gad! I nearly spilt my bumper of shandy-gaff! Anyhows it seems those coves at West Wind are releasing some more toy soldiers for their Empire of the Dead parlour game and would like some of your money as an investment to help their venture.

Now the boss there is a brick and I don't think we need to worry he is going to cabbage your silver so have a look at this chronophotographic advertisement and see if it gets your dander up! Harrumph! You can read more about their venture on your own Babbage Engine here. Toodle-pip.

In Her Majesty's Name

View Hallo Chaps! Gladstone's whiskers it's been a while but when Her Majesty calls ect. Harrumph! Any hows old beans some exciting news for you Little Wars fellas, you should be aware that those wags at Osprey Publishing are releasing one of your gamebooks in April entitled "In Her Majesty's Name" (stand straight there fella!) but new intel has appeared on my Babbage Engine about some toy soldiers to accompany it (all from those johnnies at North Star and post free for you fine chaps across the Empire in distant climes where the sun never sets like Australia).

Ragnarok 59

Is here - and a great issue it is too!  Thanks indeed to Steve B for stepping into the Editor's shoes for a third time to make it happen.  Contents include:

Aftermath - a Fantasy Warriors scenario

Burning Down The House - a Dirtside II scenario

The Drake Incident  - a Star Trek scenario

Mesing About on the Water - a generic fantasy campaign

To Keep Man, Man! - the Instrumentality of Mankind by Cordwainer Smith

The World Needs Heroes - inspiration for superhero wargaming

Aeronef Over Guahan - a secnario for Aeronef

Crush Your Enemies - recreating Conan the Barbarian in miniature

Assassination - a secnario for Kill Zone

Far Trader - Traveller ship statistics for Full Thrust

Fall of the Goblin Empire - a set of fantasy air wargame rules