Leviathan series

I've just finished Scott Westerfield's series of steampunk books: Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath, and most enjoyable they were too.

Be Warned: these are Young Adult books and primarily centre around two youths caught up in a re-imagined WW1, so no complicated plot lines here.  But the best part of it is the background and detail that Westerfield has put into creating his alternate WW1 which in 1914 is setup exactly as the real world but for their technology

The Leviathan! From http://www.keiththompsonart.com/

The Allies are known as Darwinists and as the name suggests, utilise fabricated creatures to do everything.  So much so that mechanical power has been almost entirely replaced by beast power.  The main storyline focuses around a British Air Service airship, the Leviathan.  The Leviathan is a massive whale like creature which generates Helium and stores it in internal pockets, and has over a hundred symbiotic species that do other functions: glowworms for light without flame, flechette dropping attack bats, message lizards that provide a communications system, bees which harvest food from the environment and bring it back to the Leviathan to sustain it, etc.  The whole ecosystem approach and methods of controlling the beasties was pretty clever and was what grabbed me with this series.  The allies also have other awesomeness such as Kraken who hunt the seas, and massive attack bears and Mammoths in the Russian army.

Conversely, the Central Powers are known as the Clankers and embrace machinery.  As a result they have some very nifty toys from attack walkers to land battleships, and seagoing monitors mounting tesla cannons.

When the Navy Walked indeed! From http://www.keiththompsonart.com/

One of my favourite parts from Leviathan: German aerial stormtroopers! From http://www.keiththompsonart.com/

So overall I quite enjoyed this series of books for its wonderful WW1 flavour and the thoughtful divergence of technology.  Many, many modelling and gaming ideas here!  The only drawback is the young adult aspects, but then again these will be under Christmas tree for my lad so they also serve a different purpose!

Recommended!

PS When you've finished all three books, read the bonus epilogue chapter here - no peaking!

http://scottwesterfeld.com/books/leviathan/

My Scotland Yard Company

This week I caught up with long time friend and fellow Blogger Dux Homunculorum (see his Blog here).  We enjoyed an evening of beer, gaming shopping, chatting and German food (mostly but not all in that order) and whiled away a most pleasant evening indeed. He also also presented me with this wonderful set of miniatures, being the Scotland Yard force for In Her Majesty's Name which he very kindly acquired and painted for me while I was away.  Thank you again kind Sir, and look forward to seeing them take down some of Her Majesty's enemies in due course!  See more great pics of this force at The Dux's blog here.

Tripods Ahoy!

Earlier this year there was a kickstarter for "All Quite on the Martian Front" which I missed while I was away.  In catching up on my aethernet news I saw these smashing pictographs from Historican 2013 in July of these wonderful models in action!

These pics are not mine, all credits to:
http://1000footgeneral.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/historicon-2013-thursday.html
http://www.wwpd.net/2013/07/lukes-historicon-picture-dump.html
http://agamemag.com/archives/6025

The chronicles of Isambard Smith

Last year I spied the first novel by Toby Frost and decided I would take it, and the rest of the series, away with me on my expeditions to keep me amused in the quiet hours.  I was not disappointed!


This series is the most amusing saga of the heroic though inept Space Captain Smith of the British Space Empire of the 35th Century (which is very much a Victorian style setting).


Accompanied by his polite alien friend (with a penchant for collecting skulls in battle), his android pilot (who is a runaway pleasure 'bot) and a hippie chick with pyschic powers (who he is in love with), they undertake all sorts of adventures in Her Majesty's name, slay her enemies in droves and drink endless cups of tea along the way.

The series currently comprises three books: Space Captain Smith, God Emperor of Didcot, and Wrath of the Lemming Men.  I can best describe them as a blend of Black Adder and Galaxy Quest in aVSF style setting.  If that is your thing I strongly recommend these books to you.   If not, you'll enjoy it so read it anyway! I cant wait until the fourth book, a Game of Battleships, is released!

[EDIT: Well I finally got A Game of Battleships and it was similarly excellent!]

Read interviews with Toby Frost here and here
Visit his website here: http://spacecaptainsmith.com/
and true affectionados can register their support at the Captain Smith facebook page here

Villains, Heroes and Fiends

This week I have returned from adventures in Her Majesty's name far away.  Not only was I excited to find this little number waiting for me in months old, unopened post...

But I then found out that this is shortly to be released!

I have three factions in various stages of preparation (stand by for more on those), it bodes well for the servants of the Empire, and is a time of dread for her foes!!! You can read more about In Her Majesty's Nae at the official blog here:
http://inhermajestysname.wordpress.com/

Steam and Aether

I recently spied a new VSF project about the aethernet: Steam and Aether to be exact, by Meridian Miniatures.  They were funded through a kickstarter project earlier this year, and the author is continuing to develop his background at his blog.

I truly hope this enables him to build some interest and run another crowd funding project later on because these figs look gorgeous!

http://steamandaether.blogspot.co.uk/

Space 1889: Relaunch!

New life into a wonderful game!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/440453703/space-1889-sf-role-playing-in-a-more-civilized-tim

Brit Chap Wins Wimbledon!

Hurrah! The Empire celebrates this evening as that fine chappie Andy Murray beats some Central European cove at Wimbledon in three sets to claim the championship, the first chap from the mother country to win on home soil since 1936! Off to celebrate with a Pimms No. 1 cup and see if there are some Frenchmen one could give a good thrashing to...

Lions Maul Wallabies Down Under!

What ho! Chaps! Enjoying a fine pint of India Pale Ale here as I toast the brave chaps of the British and Irish Lions rugger team who have triumphed in their tour of Down Under stuffing the Aussies 41 to 16 in the third and decisive test! Hurrah for our boys! The Ashes next eh? Pip, pip!

Pax Britannia: A few more to Crow about

Its been a bit hard to update the blog of late, but that doesn't mean a chap has been slacking off on his VSF reading- Nossir it does not!  I've been steaming along at full speed with more of the jolly adventures of Dandy Adventurer and Hero of the Empire Ulysses Quicksilver, Esq.

Evolution Expects - a fiend from the past re-emerges, causing havoc and carnage in Londinium and Magna Brittania.  Can our Hero (and Nimrod of course) stop him in time from wrecking his vengeance?  And who is this flying vigilante - friend or foe?


Blood Royale - dastardly plots from distant realms sees the Agent of the Throne  travel to Imperial Russia and become entangled with Vampires, Werewolves and other nasties.  I really enjoyed this one and the sneak peak view of the world outside the isles of the United Kingdom.





Dark Side - Go off planet with Quicksilver as he travels to the moon and quickly becomes embroiled in more nefarious schemes and chased by danger and mayhem all over the satellite rock.  The ending is a cliff hangar, leading right onto the next installment which I'm devouring now...

Human Nature: Redux

The third book in the Pax Britannia series, Human Nature sees a couple of characters from previous penny dreadfuls pop up once more as dandy adventurer and Hero of the Empire Ulysses Quicksilver delves into the mystery of the Whitby Mermaid.  Adventure, excitement  swooning lovely ladies, bounders and cads all come together to make this another great yarn.

At the back of the book is a short story which will leave you worried next festive season!

Another great offering from Mssr Green that any VSF fan cant afford to pass up.

All Quiet on the Martian Front

Yes, another kickstarter, but one which VSF fans will enjoy - check it out!
http://www.martianfront.com/kickstarter

Leviathan Rising: Redux

They say worse things happen at sea, and they do indeed for dandy adventurer and servant of the throne Ulysses Quicksilver as he (and his faithful manservant Nimrod of course) enjoy the maiden voyage of the luxury submersible cruise liner Neptune.

Mssr Blease has commented on this book here before but I add my own commentary, some years later it must be admitted, as I am thoroughly enjoying this great series.

Leviathan Rising is a wonderful combination of the 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, Murder on the Orient Express and The Poseidon Adventure.  It will keep you on the edge of your chesterfield and in danger of spilling your cognac the whole way though.  Mystery, underwater cities, intrigue, giant beasties, conspiracy, murder and crevats- this ripping yarn has it all!  And as a nautical chap myself it struck a real chord with me.

Another cracking tale by Mssr Green which I most thoroughly enjoyed, leaving me again wondering why it has taken me this long to read it.  Then again, it means I can read them all in double quicktime without having to wait for the next release! Tally-Bally ho I say, as I recharge my snifter and eagerly reach for the next installment in the Quicksilver series, Human Nature.

Dynamite Gun Cruiser

In reading Angel of the Revolution, I came across a type of vessel I hadn't encountered before: the Dynamite Gun Cruiser.

The USS Vesuvius was a one of a kind experimental vessel commissioned in 1890.  She was fitted with three fixed elevation compressed air launchers which were aimed by physically turning the ship, and lobbed explosive charges.  In theory she could lob 30 charge in 30 minutes, giving a rate of fire, and a net explosive effect, significantly greater than any other vessel.

Vesuvius saw action in the Spanish American War, joining the Cuban blockade in 1898 and conducting a number of shore bombardments.  While the local Commander claimed she had 'great effect' a planned follow up vessel was never built as more conventional weapon technology overtook pneumatic weapons and made them redundant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vesuvius_(1888)
http://www.spanamwar.com/vesuvius.htm

A new journey begins

My sea chest has been packed into my stateroom and today we cast off all lines to set sail for new adventures!  I shall of course be incommunicado mostly but from time to time may be able to send the odd aethergram of news.