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Author Topic: Aetheric Mechanics  (Read 3619 times)

Offline JollyBob

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Aetheric Mechanics
« on: March 07, 2010, 10:59:59 AM »
I don't think this has been mentioned before, but apologies if it has. I just got it, anyway:



By Warren Ellis, a quite short graphic novel, and technically not VSF as its set in 1907, but since it stars a not-Holmes and deals with Britain at war with Ruritania I figured this was the best place for it. Flying battleships in it too.

Malamute, you'd love it.  :)

And its cheap as chips on Amazon at the moment:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aetheric-Mechanics/dp/1592910483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267958452&sr=1-1

Offline Red Orc

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2010, 11:13:55 AM »
Looks smashing.

If it's got flying battleships and Ruritania, who cares if it's set in the ridiculously modern 1907?


Offline Fuzzywuzzieswiflasers

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2010, 07:47:41 AM »
Sounds interesting. Any more images we can see?

The up coming War of the Worlds: Goliath film is set around 1914-15. VSF can easily move into Edwardian times.
I generally cut off VSF at the start of WWI where it becomes the Pulp Era.
Crikey, sir. I'm looking forward to today. Up diddly up, down diddly
down, whoops, poop, twiddly dee - decent scrap with the fiendish Red
Baron - bit of a jolly old crash landing behind enemy lines - capture,
torture, escape, and then back home in time for tea and medals.
Blackadder 4

Offline Doc Twilight

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2010, 08:15:28 AM »
Eh, it's technically "Edwardian Science Fiction", but who cares? Looks like a good read:)

-Doc

Offline Malamute

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2010, 08:33:36 AM »
Sounds promising, thanks for the heads up ;D
"These creatures do not die like the bee after the first sting, but go on age after age, feeding on the blood of the living"  - Abraham Van Helsing

Offline Svennn

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2010, 09:41:29 AM »
I expected to see some wonderful conversions which you had called by a posh word I didn't understand ;D

Usually these things have fantastic cover art and then falldown in quality inside. This cover is not giving much away at all is it.

I may risk it just on your recommendation though as it does sound interesting.
"A jewelled sceptre plucked by order to serve their cause"

Offline JollyBob

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2010, 09:53:54 AM »
The inside artwork is all black and white line drawing, quite old school. I like it. For some reason it reminds me of Bob Burden's work in Mystery Men and Flaming Carrot.

As I said, the story itself is quite short - I wish it was a lot longer or that some sequels where in the offing but I don't think they are, worst luck. It really does leave you wanting more.

For a couple of quid, its definitely worth a punt for some groovy drawings of hovering hansom cabs, Ruritanian dive bombers and a quite demonic looking iron giant if nothing else.

Offline Svennn

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2010, 10:05:18 AM »
Hovering Hansom cabs - say no more.

why didn't you say that in the first post ;D ;D

Offline Thunderchicken

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2010, 10:26:58 AM »
It's all a bit tempting....
Don't!

Offline chantyam

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2010, 01:05:32 PM »
ok that my order in :D
gan canny kidder!

Offline fastolfrus

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2010, 01:18:07 PM »
And mine.
Got it through Abe Books - it was only about 20p cheaper (but four bob is still four bob)
Gary, Glynis, and Alasdair (there are three of us, but we are too mean to have more than one login)

Offline JollyBob

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2010, 02:28:34 PM »
Of course, now you've all gone and ordered it, if you think its crap it wasn't me that told you....  :-X

Offline Red Orc

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #12 on: April 04, 2010, 08:50:23 PM »
I didn't think it was crap. Like you I would have liked to have seen more; more of London and more of the war. Too short! Not enough Ruritania! But for the price, a very nice half-hour read, and couple of hours admiring the artwork. At that price, I'm considering getting a second (and maybe third!) copy to cut up and write notes on about conversions and scratchbuilds!

Offline Elprez

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2010, 03:04:56 AM »
If you enjoyed Aetheric Mechanics, can I also recommend Captain Swing and the Electrical Pirates of Cindery Island, by the same author, and with full colour art by Raulo Caceres, published by Avatar. The first part of four is out now.

Warren Ellis calls it "An Electrical Romance of a Pirate Utopia Thwarted". I enjoyed the first instalment, set in Victorian London and it features Spring-Heeled Jack. Theres a preview of the first issue here:-

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/02/24/avatar-plug-of-the-week-part-one-warren-ellis-captain-swing-and-the-electrical-pirates-of-cindery-island/

http://extraordinarygentlemensjournal.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/VSFMiniatures
Still, a chap ought to look smart in front of the men, don't you think?


Offline Red Orc

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Re: Aetheric Mechanics
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2010, 02:59:31 PM »
Yeah, Twrchtwyrth posted this over on 'inspiring books' a couple of days ago - I thought it looked groovy.

What's it like? As I say, I enjoyed Aetheric Mechanics, in spite of one jarring Americanism - no educated Englishman of 1907 would say 'how long had this man been laying here...' because the answer would 'Laying what? Carpet? Eggs? Foundations?'

In fact, I think it's unlikely that an educated American of 1907 would use 'laying' for 'lying' either.

But that aside I thought it was pretty smart (combining both British and American usage there). I'd certainly be interested in more of his stuff, and hell, Electrical Pirates, what's not to love about that?

 

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