As far as I’m concerned, one of the most fascinating aspects of the Victorian Science Fiction genre is exploring the predictions of the Victorians themselves, the ‘Historians of the Future’ as I.F. Clarke calls them*. After all, we wouldn’t have a genre to game in if it wasn’t for this century of anticipations. Anyway, I thought it might be rather good to have a thread dedicated to
Victorian-era Science Fiction (and, indeed, Science Fact, which is often just as good) and future predictions, as inspiration for our games...
First and foremost, a couple of stories.
The Battle of Dorking, published 1879. The Prussians invade Britain. Credited with beginning, or at least enhancing, the late Victorian/Edwardian 'invasion scare';
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0602091h.htmlThe Land Ironclads, 1903. Wells' tale of future armoured warfare which allegedly inspired the invention of the tank:
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0604041h.htmlThrough my university I’ve access to the British Library online newspaper archives, mostly 19th century stuff, which includes a lot of cuttings from
The Graphic. Whilst not Science Fiction per se, they nevertheless give us a glimpse of Victorian visions of future science (and war). After a bit of searching I found these:
April 9th, 1870:
January 12th, 1878 ('The War of the Future - Steam Sappers'):
Novemember 4th, 1882 ('School of Military Engineering, Chatham')
January 22nd, 1898 (German military airship):
1878:
January 9th, 1899 (Forecast of invasion; British soldiers capturing sea-sick Frenchmen who have come ashore in subs):
November 4th, 1882. This isn't VSF at all, but a sketch of the interior of the Ironclad train in the Egypt campaign, but as far as the Victorians were concerned, this was the war of the future:
To end, A cutting from the Pall Mall Gazette, December 27 1888. Land Ironclads, anyone?:
Finally, thanks to 'Donpimpom' for providing this link in the 'latest book' thread. A bit of proper VSF from Albert Robida:
http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2005/12/robidas-future.htmlAnyone else got any examples of Victorian-era Science Fiction, future wars or other anticipation pieces?
(And please note - NO STEAMPUNK! )*
http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/i_f_clarke_1_782204