Retro Brit

Déjà vu McGrew and his Tank Crew

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Thu, 8 Jul 2021 09:33:00 -0700

Sergeant McGrew is a rough-cut man from Belfast. His crew are everything to him. New recruits are regarded with superstition. There are reasons why. Four of the five-man crew, have been with the tank commander for over four years. McGrew and his surviving troopers have witnessed many traumatic events, including the tragic deaths of various friends along the bloody journey through World War II. From North Africa, Italy and finally Northern Europe. It is now early February 1945. A few days prior to the Reichswald Forest Campaign. They have a new recruit and once again the superstitious feelings of dread and loss begin to grow in McGrew and his seasoned trooper’s minds. Are the veterans going to witness another recruit perish before the finishing line of a costly war? Or will the likeable young trooper make it? -!zcDKfSNYH5DFa

A Modern Day Fairy Tale.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 04:35:00 -0800

Why did the late Mr. Ballantyne continuously speak of such radiance caused by the presence of strange little fairy folk? Why did no one believe him? https://amzn.to/3fj5BOe #Supernatural #Fairy #Mythical #LegendaryCreature #Pixie #Sprite #Horror #Thriller

Artist (Peter Moran) impression of HMS Thunder Child from War of the Worlds.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 23:31:00 -0700

Artist (Peter Moran) impression of Thunder Child.

How the aging ship of HMS Thunder Child may have looked from the science fiction novel of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. 

It was a great adventure fantasizing about such a ship and I would imagine it was splendid fun designing the interior along the lines of the Devastation class ship built-in 1871 with a sister ship named HMS Thunderer to follow. 

This interior design was done by the book's cover artist Peter Moran. I love the detail of this and it does make for a very atmospheric feel. It sat very low in the water and there is a small ram to the front, below the waterline. 

You will notice, in the image, that the revolving turret still has its short stubby muzzle loading guns. In history, muzzleloaders were obsolete in the Royal Navy by the time of 1898, when the alien invasion story is roughly set. 

On a whim, I took unashamed liberty to still have one ship using muzzleloaders for this science fiction pastiche story.  I think I did this because the Devastation class sister ship HMS Thunderer had a terrible accident using the muzzle loading guns in 1879 during a gunnery exercise. Plus the ship's names are similar. 

Because of this accident, the admiralty ended all muzzleloaders, and ships were converted to longer barrelled breech loaders. 

As this is a science fiction story and with an emphasis on the fiction aspect, I wanted to use a poetic license and bend the rules for the 'make-believe' HMS Thunder Child - our Martian fighting fictional ship. 

I know there is a hoard of HMS Polyphemus fans out there. I've often had comments on such. I appreciate them, but I have chosen to indulge in the Devastation presentation with a small ram. Therefore, for all Polyphemus fans, fair play to you all, but I like the older idea of this fictitious almost like a Devastation class ship.

Peter Moran undertook a great project of presenting the ship's interior. I love this image. I hope you good people do too. 😃👍    

#WarOfTheWorlds #sciencefiction #readers #scifiart #scifihorror #scifi #scifibooks Grinning faceThumbs up

The Last Days of...

1. Thunder Child https://buff.ly/2NkEbbQ

2. The Fighting Machine https://buff.ly/2MNil1N

3. Purgatory https://buff.ly/2Lkls0B

Three War of the Worlds Adaptation Novels.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Mon, 11 May 2020 05:41:00 -0700

Victorian Britain in Chaos!
Three pastiche #WarOfTheWorlds
#sciencefiction #readers #scifiart #scifihorror #scifi #scifibooks 😀👍

The Last Days of...
Thunder Child https://buff.ly/2NkEbbQ
the Fighting Machine https://buff.ly/2MNil1N
Purgatory https://buff.ly/2Lkls0B

1. Did you enjoy the dreadful thought of the War of the Worlds Tripod Fighting Machines from Mars?

2. What About the War of the Worlds 1953 Radio Broadcast?

3. Or the Jeff Wayne War of the Worlds Musical?

Imagine it from the cool maths game point of view. The Martians did not make an allowance for a world of warships. Therefore, war and thunder spitting from the ironclad's guns would take the complacent Martians, in their fighting machines, by surprise.

Science Fiction Lovers Indulge This Thought.

Imagine, if you will, how it would have been to be a Victorian sailor from retro British times of 1898. You are on board HMS Thunder Child and the ship is picking up strange semaphore messages from the shore stations. Invaders from Mars are striding about and destroying the entire fabric of our nation. Would you believe such outrages things? The entire ship would be alive with speculation and disbelief. These sailors were destined to see three Martian fighting machines and confront the colossal edifices in battle.

As an impressionable young lad, I always found myself pondering such things.

I would walk about in my dream thinking, “If I was in that story, I would do this or that.” I found myself wishing for all sorts of adventures.

When I read H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, I remember getting a tremendous lift out of the short excerpt when an ironclad called H.M.S. Thunder Child attacked three Martian tripods in the River Blackwater to save a paddle steamer full of refugees.

It was not more than half a page and the uplifting and brave event was short-lived. Yet it achieved great admiration from me as a young and impressionable avid reader. Anyone who has read War of the Worlds or listened to Jeff Wayne's musical adaptation will know.

In my mind's eye, I wanted to know more about the crew and the bold ironclad. I found myself reinventing a small section of the story from a whole new perspective. I wondered what it would have been like to be on such a ship that cruised into legend, blazing away at the Martian abominations in defense of mankind.

The Last Days of Thunder Child.

(Science Fiction Fan's Pastiche Story.)

Have you ever enjoyed H.G. Wells War of the Worlds, an all-time classic Science Fiction story written in 1898? It tells of a Martian invasion that begins in Britain in the County of Surrey just South West of London. Close to a town called Woking. In fact, if you ever visit the town there is a statue of a Martian tripod in the shopping center. If you have read this story, you will know of the ironclad H.M.S. Thunder Child that is forced to defend the paddle steamer full of refugees. Do you wonder what it would be like to join the crew a few days before the event? You could follow the brave men on their terrible journey around the coastline and up the River Blackwater to Maldon and the final confrontation with three Martian tripods?

From Mars, the meteorites shot through space-bound for Earth and conquest over all life forms that live there. The Martians were unfeeling towards mankind as humans are to sheep or other lesser creatures.

The meteorites land in fields and woodland. After a time, there emerges the terror of mankind. Colossal tripods, before which, humanity flees as the onslaught of the fighting machines begins. People are destroyed by heat rays and black toxic gas. Those that survive are forced to flee the pursuing devastation.

Aboard H.M.S. Thunder Child, the crew is blissfully unaware of the savage terror. Only the new Captain knows and only upon the journey, at sea, do the crew begin to learn the unbelievable news from semaphore stations.

Fear grips the population and hordes of refugees make for the coastline to flee the country. Their world is gone and only death and destruction follow. Ships of all nations and sizes must aid the mass evacuation...

Amid all of this, the mighty little ironclad, H.M.S. Thunder Child must play her role to the full and rely on the bravery of a small crew.

War of the Worlds pastiche

Britain in 1898.

The Martians really came and this is the alternative history of that dreadful event. Join the crew of HMS Thunder Child as she prepares to embark upon her doomed voyage, before her demise and courageous battle with three Martian tripod fighting machines at the River Blackwater in the county of Essex, England, UK.

Captain McIntosh and his brave crew can hardly believe the semaphore messages sent from the shore stations. The news is so uncanny and fantastic that none can accept the stories of Martians falling from space. All hands of HMS Thunder Child must keep a dreadful appointment with destiny as they cruise towards the dire outcome awaiting them.

The War of the Worlds first terrified audiences in book form in 1898, as the first-person narrator tells us the adventures of an unnamed protagonist and his brother as Martians invade Earth. But there were other characters with stories to tell.

C. A. Powell delves into H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds and offers fans of the original novel a brand new perspective on the invasion of Earth. In The Last Days of Thunder Child, we see this classic through the eyes of the Royal Navy crew members of HMS Thunder Child and the land-based Ministry of Defence. With this pastiche novel, you will have an even greater understanding and appreciation of the original classic.

Find out what happens and read: The Last Days of Thunder Child By C.A. Powell

Richard III Still Wants a Horse.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Wed, 6 May 2020 11:09:00 -0700

Richard III Still Wants a Horse.

Tonight, I shall watch Ian McKellen’s adaptation and portrayal of Richard III. This is an alternative Richard III that takes place 450 years after the actual event.

It is set in an alternative England of the late 1930s. The Lancastrians and the Yorkists are at each other’s throats again. Obviously, there is no United Kingdom because King James the VI of Scotland has not become King James I of England yet. Not for about another 120 years. It’ll happen in about 2058. lol

I’ve seen and enjoyed the old Laurence Olivier movie, but I’m especially looking forward to this rendition because it has the retro art deco and almost steampunk feel to it.

Instead of Knights in shining armour we have soldiers that look like they are from a 1930s fascist movement. The mounts are replaced by tanks, jeeps, and airplanes.

Counter Measures - Series 3. Big Finish (A Great set of Audio stories)

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Mon, 4 May 2020 10:14:00 -0700

A very well presented Audible. This is the third series I have listened to while at work. I particularly liked the last story. Some splendid ideas for uncanny mystery and scientific manipulation in dangerous areas. All set in Britain of 1965. Everything seems to work well within the confined limits of that time and place. Very entertaining and well worth listening to. It is also very atmospheric too. I will listen to all the other Counter Measures on Big Finish. I'm a fan all the way.

HARDWARE - 1990 science fiction film.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Mon, 4 May 2020 10:06:00 -0700

Richard Stanley wrote and directed the script for the British science fiction movie called Hardware. There were some noted cameo roles from Rock Stars of the time. Three of them being Iggy Pop as the radio presenter and the strange desert traveler who finds the robot parts played by Carl McCoy of Fields of the Nephilim rock band. Then there was Lemmy of Motörhead and Hawkwind fame.

The two main stars were Dylan McDermott and Stacey Travis. American actors who gave the movie a broader range of audience appeal.

The desert wanderer has unknowingly found parts for a self-repairing robot. It is some form of military hardware and once it repairs its self after being sold to an out of work creative artist, the diabolical machine goes on a killing spree. The original version had a number of grisly murders in it. However, it was edited before release and many of the more gruesome scenes were omitted.

It has since become a cult movie but it did cause a great deal of controversy when the British comic group 2000 AD saw the film. There was a court case of plagiarism issued and by Fleetway comics because it was from a short story called SHOCK! It was in the 1981 Judge Dredd Annual. The case was successful and certain monies had to be paid and on-screen credits to the story of SHOK! are included in screening, etc.

The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future and was made on a budget of £950,000 and grossed in excess of 5.2 million at the box office. Some of the close camera work and lighting gave the film some good authenticity.

Mr Jago meets Oscar Wild and also meets his wordy match. (Jago and Litefoot -season 4)

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Sat, 2 May 2020 06:10:00 -0700

Jago and Litefoot go Season Fourth.

I can't help loving a bit of pretentious flowery dialogue. In these Jago and Litefoot stories, we have it in abundance. Especially from the Victorian theatre manager, Mister Jago. Professor Litefoot does not do bad either with his pretentious wit. Now we have the Doctor Who character of Leela thrown into the mix with her Sevatean warrior straight talk.

It all makes for splendid dark humour and a wonderful uncanny season 4 jaunt. This series had two fine stories out of the four. I must confess to being not to keen on the first tale set in Brighton. But the second and third just blew me away with fiendish cleverness on the part of whoever wrote the scripts. The fourth was hijacked and I felt our friends went backstage for long periods.

One of the stories, I liked, involves Oscar Wilde. The creepy tale is very clever and an absolute peach of a listen. A diabolical conundrum that is splendidly thought out. I know I am always raving about the wonderful dialogue between Jago and Litefoot but I honestly can't express how much I love it all.

In one part of the tale, Jago heaps colourful and pretentious praise upon Oscar Wild. The arrogant writer casually bats back a culinary machine gun of pretentious words that leaves Jago dumbfounded and gulping. For once the theatre manager is at a loss for words. Furthermore, he has been raked by several words that he has never heard before. It was excellent humour.

Then, to top it all, the actual story was fabulously dark and ghastly. Science fiction - horror and Gothic shivers at its sublime best. Whoever sat down and thought out this plot was very good indeed.

Then the fourth seemed to bomb a little. Jago and Litefoot are the stars and in this story, they seemed to be pushed in the background. Therefore despite having one of the most enjoyable of the stories so far, it also had one that was not so good. I might have given it three stars out of five, but I did enjoy the Oscar Wild story. That got a six out of five - lol. The overall performance earns the entire series 4 a four-star in all.

Counter Measures - Series 2 (Doctor Who - spin-off)

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Fri, 1 May 2020 20:35:00 -0700

Counter-Measures: Series 2 Box Set by Matt Fitton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very well presented Audible. This is the second series I have listened to while at work. I particularly liked the last story. Some splendid ideas for uncanny mystery and scientific manipulation in dangerous areas. All set in Britain of 1963. Everything seems to work well within the confined limits of that time and place. Very entertaining and well worth listening to.

View all my reviews

Jago and Litefoot Series 3 - with Leela from Doctor Who.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 09:41:00 -0700

Jago & Litefoot: Series 3 by Andy Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This third series spreads its wings a little more and each of the four stories draws to a dynamic climax in the fourth tale.

Leela of Doctor Who fame turns up on Professor Litefoot's front door. She has been sent on an important mission by Romana (Another Doctor Who companion)

Leela has a device that measures the fabric of time and there are holes and distortions around Victorian London. She needs the help of Jago and Litefoot to put the anomalies to right. This our intrepid duo agree to do and off we all go on some splendid uncanny adventures.

Great fun and highly recommended to any Big Finish fans or Doctor Who spin-off fans. I know I keep mentioning it, but the dialogue between Jago and Litefoot as complete quality. I love it bits.

View all my reviews

Future Shock - 2000 AD Comic.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 05:24:00 -0700

I saw a splendid documentary about a well-known British comic last night. I downloaded it from Amazon Prime etc. The documentary was about an hour and forty-five minutes with all these creatives from writing, artwork and editorial of a comic. The comic in question is 2000 AD and I’m sure many of us will remember when it first came out in the late seventies. I certainly do and I remember many of the first Judge Dredd stories along with a host of other characters.

As I recall, it was a time of upheaval in Britain. There were strikes. Wilson and then Callaghan Prime Ministers were going to the IMF for loans and the Punk Rock trend was metamorphosing into a rage of anti-authoritarian discontent. And then Margaret Thatcher came along.

(I'm not having a pop at any of the politicians that I'm mentioning. They were all in this circumstance as we all were.)

This documentary is a series of interviews about how the British comic 2000 AD went against the grain and was also disestablishment with many of its stories. The artist and writers were a mishmash bunch who foresee the decline of the average comic in the newsagents. They wanted to go against the grain a produce something edgier and darker.

I got to listen to the views of these 2000 AD founders as various creative people spoke about the survival of the comic through good and bad times. How it is still doing well to this day. The big-name creative comic writers and artist were Pat Mills, Dave Gibbons, John Wagner, Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman, Brian Bollard, Dan Abnett, Alan Grant and Carlos Esquerra. Also, a among guests was Karen Berger of Dark Horse and Vertigo comics.

It was a very interesting look at how so many of the other British comics did not like this new 2000 AD comic and often tried to stop the creation for all manner of reasons. But 2000 AD rode the storm, especially Pat Mills who has stayed the distance. A great listen if you have the time.

1. How many of you people remember reading 2000 AD back in the day?

2. What did you think?

3. Who were your favourite characters? 😃👍

The Watchman Movie - (The Ultimate Cut is Three Hours and Thirty-Five Minutes.)

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 05:21:00 -0700

The Ultimate Cut is Three Hours and Thirty-Five Minutes.

Last night I watched a film called; The Watchmen. This was a second time around. I had enjoyed it some years back even though I did not entirely understand all of it. In parts, it was rather deep and dark but I think much of this aspect is what I liked.

Because it was a directed by Zack Snyder and he was in the Future Shock 2000 AD documentary that I had watched recently, I decided to give the movie a second shot.

I noticed there was an Ultimate cut. This was a mammoth three hours and thirty-five minutes on Amazon prime.

Therefore, I downloaded and did the goggle-box thing yesterday evening. I thought it was very alluring and loved the retro theme of the film. There were parts set back in this retro American 1940s and then on to episodes of 1959 and to the 1970s of an alternative President Nixon and Doctor Kissinger time.

The actual problem for our retired Superheroes is set in the mid-1980s when the former Soviet Union is in Afghanistan and we are moving towards an all-out nuclear war. Our superheroes are rather flawed which gives over to empathy for the viewer to indulge. We have a retired 40 something man whose name is Daniel Dreiberg. He was once Night Owl II, obviously a mark II from one of the retro heroes from the 1940s decade. We also have a woman who is called Silk Spectre II. Her name is Laurie Jupiter. Her older mother was a superhero and I’m presuming she was Silk Spectre I. (The original from the 1940s decade.)

In one scene, from this ultimate cut, Laurie Jupiter and Daniel Dreiberg wander down a side alleyway like Bruce Wayne’s Mother and Father once did. A group of street gang muggers come before them. Obviously, the gang does not know the civilians are retired out of costumed superheroes.

The fight scene was absolutely wicked and ferocious, to say the least. The woman, Laurie Jupiter (Silk Spectre II) it breaking arms and legs while Daniel Dreiberg is punching and slinging these urban villains all over the place. It was fast and brutal. I was sitting there thinking, “Oh my word.” I think they call it choreographing a fight scene? Well, they did it very well.

There are a whole host of other characters like Rorschach. A man that wears a white mummy type mask. There are pitch black stains that move around the front of the mask constantly changing all of the time.

Then there is this man called Doctor Manhattan. He looks like Silver Surfer but is a highly advanced atomic and quantum scientist who has become so advanced that humans are almost becoming irrelevant to him. His condition is because of an accident with a radiation blast back in 1959.

We have an old and blighted superhero called The Comedian. He is from the 1940s group but is still around in the mid-1980s as the story starts. A washed-up and past his sell-by date bloke who does not want to accept it.

Even though they are parading about in these outrageously strange outfits and are full of surreal personal problems I was compelled by it visually. The fight scenes are dynamic and rather violent. I can’t completely understand the entire film but I think most people can immerse themselves in it. I’ll definitely watch it again because I believe it is a story whereby you can learn extra things each time you watch it. Also, the Ultimate Cut version has a number of people and scenes edited out of the original film.

A Dieselpunk Soviet Union.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 03:34:00 -0700

I was chatting with someone about Steampunk and Dieselpunk. They are often art concepts of people of the past imagining these types of art deco worlds of the future. A future that might have been or a future that never came to be.

Often the artist is of today imagining things from a past perspective point.

I rather like this upbeat image of a prosperous Soviet Union society. The futurist 1930s where there was no Starlin etc. Here is a splendid look of a more perfect Soviet Union than we might expect. A world where the Soviet Union is prosperous on an encouraging panoramic urban level. Better perhaps, than any of the Socialist Rupubilics' actually was.

1. Could such a socialist dream have been realised?

2. What would have needed to happen besides no oncoming World War Two?

3. Perhaps in this world, the democracies became urban decaying crime-ridden areas and the East was prosperous?

4. Could such a thing ever have happened?

Delicious Dialogue with Words that are a Culinary Delight.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 01:57:00 -0700

Jago & Litefoot: Series 2 by Andy Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The second outing with Jago and Litefoot. The Victorian would-be sleuths of anything strange, paranormal or other extraordinary phenomena. Their paths and friendship brought about by an encounter with Doctor Who and his companion Leela. These dark and humorous stories are developed from The Talons of Weng Chiang.

Jago and Litefoot are a bumbling force to be reckoned with as they endeavour to put the world to right. Very enjoyable and will do the rest of the audiobooks over time. Splendid fun and a delicious dialogue between the two that is akin to a culinary delight. Splendid fun.

View all my reviews

Judge Anderson - The Abyss by Alec Worley (2000 AD comic character)

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 04:24:00 -0700

Judge Anderson of Mega-City One – (2000 AD)

Many of us are Judge Dredd fans from 2000 AD comic strip and we have seen this character bloom into novels, graphic novels, audiobooks and films etc. I’ve now read a number of his stories and will, no doubt, read more and hopefully enjoy future on-screen entertainment too.

What I liked about the second movie called simply, Dredd was the introduction of another character named Judge Anderson. I was intrigued by her psychic ability. I knew of her image in comic strips but had never read much about her. Her image is often on front covers but I was more interested in Dredd’s cold character. Because of the movie, I developed a better interest in the Anderson character and wanted to know more. I thought the actress who played Anderson in the film did look like the comic strip images I have seen.

Anderson, as a character, has an approach that differs from Dredd’s. She can’t help having empathy with some of Mega-City One’s millions of citizens. This is because she sees deep and hears all the inner voices. She can’t help getting caught up in the reason and consequence aspect of things. Though she is still a hard arse when the occasion demands. We always get see t the face of Anderson because the helmet interferes with her psychic ability etc. Therefore she removes it when getting off of her law-master motorbike.

The Dystopian World of the Judges.

This huge metropolis of Mega-City One is surrounded by the poison Earth and people can be arrested and sent to isolation cubes for pro-democracy relays. This overcrowded and claustrophobic society is always on the edge having been through an atomic world war. There is ninety per cent unemployment and huge tower blocks are turf areas controlled by various crazy urban gangs. Large numbers of residents feel loyalty towards the blocks they live in. The Judges are often hated. Yet they are needed. The whole society of the numerous Mega Cities around the world have similar setups with these Judges ruling the areas as a police state. They are undermanned and so the police become Judges as well. Obviously, they have wide-ranging powers. They can catch criminals and pass judgement and sentence on the spot. Including on the spot execution, there and then, if deemed necessary.

It all makes for a disturbing dystopian future where extremist policemen, from our own perspective, are necessary anti-heroes. Democratic well-intentioned believers (who really could not control such an overpopulated and variable decaying urban world) are the villains.

And In Such A World Judge Anderson Must Function.

In this Judge Anderson story audiobook, I enjoyed yesterday, (It is called the Abyss by Alec Worley) the female psychic judge is sent to a prison hospital to evaluate a woman who is the head of a political movement to bring about the end to the harsh rule of the Judges. In effect, she is a terrorist in this dystopian world. Her underground group are called Bedlamists.

The terror leader’s name is Moriah Blake and Judge Anderson do a psychic evaluation of the sedated prisoner in the hospital wing of a huge prison block. Anderson needs other psychic police colleagues to put a strong mind shield around her thoughts to stop the other many prison inmates from breaking into her concentration etc.

A raid of Bedlamists terrorists brings about a consequence whereby Judge Anderson is trapped in the Asylum hospital and is in the corridors when all the hundreds of prison cubes are opened. Spilling out into the corridors are hundreds of the drug-crazed psychopaths, murders, rapists and many other types of criminals of Mega-City One’s finest nut jobs. The building is under siege in a Mexican stand-off between Bedlamists and Judges. The terror group is searching for Judge Anderson via the TV monitors before power is shut down. Judge Anderson must discard her uniform and dress like the mad inmates and mingle. She must also try to find the source of a huge bomb.

This is a real on the edge of your seat listen as Anderson builds a psychic wall to hold off the disturbed minds she is forced to move amongst. She can also hear some inmates who are incarcerated for not filling out a tax form on time, a young lad who evaded paying a traffic offence and a student nurse who’s been in a prison cube for a year, awaiting an evaluation, because her student boyfriend was arrested at a pro-democracy rally. Such people are among the more extreme criminal elements. We are in a world where society can’t afford democracy and some people are mere collateral damage to the extreme law system. Democratically minded people are terrorists. It’s all total dystopian horror for us, the listeners, who are rooting for the extremist right-wing Judges. This world needs them.

Jago and Litefoot by Andy Lane. (Doctor Who character's Spin-off.)

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 09:55:00 -0700

Jago & Litefoot: Series 1 by Andy Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Does anyone remember two characters form Tom Baker's Doctor Who story - The Talons of Weng Chiang?

The One Fly in the Ointment.

My only beef about these audio delights is the ridiculously high price that is charged for them if you are not a member of Audible. I have the monthly credit membership thing going with Audible. But £52.49 for an audiobook is far too much. I am certain this would put many people off. But my one credit monthly membership secured it and the others will do so on other future credits. Getting that gripe off my chest, I can begin.

Their names are Jago and Litefoot from Doctor Who's Talons of Weng Chiang. I do like to give some spin-offs tales a try. Especially Doctor Who. These first set of stories of Jago and Litefoot are absolute peaches. I've been listening while working. My job is very rural and I can function while listening.

There are four tales in all. Each about an hour and ten minutes. Each one, as said, is very entertaining. The dark humour between the theatre manager Jago and Professor Litefoot is colourful. An amusingly overindulgent use of splendid words makes for gorgeous dialogue. The Victorian characters have become a double act investigating strange phenomena problems after their brief and dangerous adventure with the Doctor and Leela.

What follows in the Jago and Litefoot association is a general all-round romp of sinister and diabolical fun in Victorian London. The spooky tales are wonderful modern-day penny dreadfuls set in the time when penny dreadfuls were two a penny (Well on some stalls perhaps.) SciFi, strange phenomenon pulp stories. Each diabolical tale oozes with atmosphere and is very exciting. I have now listened to all of series one. My favourite being number three (The Spirit Trap).

Has anyone else listened to Jago and Litefoot? Does anyone remember the characters from Doctor Who? If yes to either question, what do you people think?

View all my reviews

Victorian Britain Falls to the Martian Invasion.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 10:51:00 -0800

You can enjoy The Last Days of Thunder Child (A War of the Worlds Pastiche) in paperback or Kindle and KindleUnlimited. And now, the entire adaptation story is on Audible too.

Be there when HMS Thunder Child confronts the Martian Fighting Machines.

Plus, it does not end there. Another Martian post-apocalyptic story is available in paperback, Kindle and KindleUnlimited.

Read, The Last Days of the Fighting Machine.

A small village attracts the attention of the diseased and dying Martians in their tripod fighting machine. What follows is an epic battle between human survivors and the blighted Martians inside their hideous machine.

Enter the world of the Martian fighting machines in these pastiche novels of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. Two adaptations, soon to be followed by a third story set in a post-apocalyptic Victorian Britain.

The Last Days of Thunder Child - Now on Audible!

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Wed, 5 Feb 2020 10:25:00 -0800

Finally, The Last Days of Thunder Child pastiche novel of War of the Worlds is now available on Audible.

To go straight to the Audible page please CLICK HERE

Enjoy the splendid narration by Jack Wynters as the characters come to life aboard the Victorian ship. HMS Thunder Child must confront three Martian Fighting machines in this War of the Worlds adaptation.

War of the Worlds Spin-Off.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 20:49:00 -0800

I've listened to the audio version of The Last Days of Thunder Child. I was very pleased with it. Very pleased indeed. It is now going through the audio process of being put online with Audible. This will take up to 14 days starting from yesterday. The narrator is Jack Wynters and he reads with a gripping voice. He also does all the accents of each individual character. The whole pastiche story was brought to life in a very gratifying way. Once it is up and running on Audible, I will give it a shout out. 😀

Are You Fascinated with Steampunk Concept?

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 21:05:00 -0800

Are You Fascinated with Steampunk Concept? Learn Why!

As we turn over the pages of history, we came across the developments and industrial revolution of the 19th century but a little-known fast known by the masses, steampunk trend for the furniture and ornaments have enriched the market in the last ten years. Think of gadgets, large mechanical pumps and other ornaments coming out of the strangest objects - turned into classy steampunk style furniture.

The steampunk style cannot be called the most popular style when it comes to interior designs. But by far it is one of the most popular among the masses who are fascinated by the 19th-century developments and classy styles. However, when you hear the word steampunk, you’re immediately transported to visions of the Victorian era, including all the inventions and ideas that were prevalent back then. However, this representation cannot be considered complete if you don’t add in the industrial details.

Maybe you are one of the those who is fascinated by the steampunk style and when it comes to an interesting piece of furniture and ornaments, there isn't anything which can get you more excited. Today we are going to dig deep into the concept of steampunk and what makes people so much fascinated about it.

The History

You may think - why getting into the history of steampunk is all important?

Well it’s not basically the steampunk but to understand any concept, studying and understanding its history provides us with the insights into the cultures and origin of any particular subject.

The word steampunk developed its own subculture and values in the last decade, the heritage of the concept is rooted back in the Victorian Era. The word "Steampunk" was firstly coined in the 1970s to relate to the adventurousness tales of the development of an amazing period of time i.e. Technological Progressiveness of the Victorian Era; the genre actually first came into being at the same time as the scientific romance, an early name for science fiction.

Writers of that era wrote fascinating stories and adventurous tales upon the work and discoveries of the leading scientific minds of that time. However, by the span of World War - I, the romance between the scientific advancements and the fiction became less popular and was replaced by the fictional stories of the superheroes. But now as time passes, the concept of steampunk has become reached his highest peak in popularity among the masses and is still growing.

The Ultimate Rise of the Concept

Amazing trends and concepts from steampunk furniture continue to rise into the mainstream and every day the cultural masses are getting amused with the perfect blend of creativity and style. Let's rise to the big question, why is steampunk so popular? What is it about the thought of steam-powered Victorians that people find so fascinating? How it is possible for any particular type of technology innovated for a particular period of time suddenly became so popular that it’s a fully-fledged genre now.

No wonder that Steampunk rattles in an alternate history, placing the utmost importance on real life inventors such as Nikolai Tesla or Charles Babbage who were the forefathers of the inventions i.e. air shops and old age computers that run on a clockwork and steam power.

Needless to say, it takes a unique – and seemingly random – combination of ingredients to end up with Steampunk. So how did we get there and, more importantly, what can we learn from the genre’s creation?

The Science Behind the Cogs

Clockwork plays an enormous half in steampunk technology, and it’s not simply there as a result of it's sensible. There’s one thing concerning the mechanism that humans notice comprehensible. Cogs move cogs and while we have a tendency to might not perceive the intricacies, we will see for ourselves that that’s how a tool works. Likewise, steam power produces satisfying amounts of noise, nice belches of steam from large devices, that matches how we have a tendency to feel an enormous machine ought to work.

Contrast that with current technology, silent electricity and unfathomable microchips, and you'll be able to see what steampunk offers readers. Fantastical although it should be, steampunk is smart. The machinery works in an exceeding manner that usually feels more real than our own world.

Coupled with a strict, rule-based society like the Victorian era this type of technology sets up a world that even the most recent reader instantly appears like they perceive. Steampunk logic is busy with its history. we tend to believe mechanism and steam power work as a result of we all know, vaguely, that they do. they're real parts of our historical past. within the same manner, basing characters on real emotional drives and process characteristics can produce a strong resonance to that readers can respond.

Steampunk Home Decor

It is pretty much understandable to this point that there are not many different and innovative styles of furniture and decor people will get inspiration from as they struggle to place marking the effect over their interior decoration in their home which can reflect their personality and style.

However, one uncommon style to which the general public isn’t tuned in to is that the steampunk interior decoration. As soon as you hear the word “steampunk,” what’s the primary factor that pops in your mind? fiction, adventure, technology or any may be something more relevant.

Usually, with Steampunk we have a tendency to imagine the Victorian era and every one the good and tremendous inventions from that specific period of time. Steampunk conjointly plays a district in cosplay.

You see engaging females dressing up in animal skin corsets paired a crinoline, and that they complete the whole outfit by adding pilot spectacles and barrel a barrel gun. Yup, that what steampunk fashion is.

Even though steampunk remains new and elusive once it involves home style, it's step by step starting to show its influence within the world of the interior coming up with. Steampunk will merely be outlined because of the mix of each class and machinery.

The Relation of Steampunk with Interior Designing

The steampunk methodology cannot be referred to as one of the most liked and desired style when it involves interior styles. However, why is that exactly? Maybe it’s because most of the people don’t even apprehend the essential facts encompassing the idea of steampunk.

When you hear the word steampunk, you’re forthwith transported to visions of the Victorian era, as well as all the inventions and concepts that were prevailing previously. However, this illustration cannot be thought-about complete if you don’t add within the industrial details.

You can realize the steampunk style influences in interior style particularly in Gothic-Victorian fashion and decorations.

But as the trend, if populating and lifting towards the general masses, it is becoming more common and people having a specific acknowledgement towards the word steampunk often gets fascinated with it. Within the last decade the steampunk style of furniture and ornaments are becoming more and more essentials parts of interior designing and people are attracting towards this specific style of furniture as the market grow.

How to Steampunk Your Home

If you’re trying to form a completely new look and overhaul in your home, then the steampunk interior design style is the perfect way to amuse your family and friends and to showcase a completely new look to your interior design thanks to go. many folks have drawn inspiration from this sense of style to form totally different that slot in well with a steampunk-inspired interior.

Here’s a glance at a number of the exceptional qualities of the steampunk interior design style that you just will note of and make the most of especially if this can be the kind of fashion you’ve been on the lookout for.

The Martians v HMS Thunder Child

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:42:00 -0700

War of the Worlds pastiche

Britain in 1898.

HMS Thunder Child cruises into action.

Find out what happens and read: The Last Days of Thunder Child By C.A. Powell

The Martians are Here!

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 00:19:00 -0700

Alien invaders lay waste to Victorian Britain! One ship defies the pitiless assault. H.M.S. Thunder Child steams towards her glorious destiny in this 'War of the Worlds' pastiche! The War of the Worlds contains a small section on the Thunder Child battleship that attacks three tripods to save a paddle steamer. This story takes place a few days before the event and leads up to the final dramatic moment. The clever build-up leads to this final battle of ironclad v three Martian tripods. The story moves between the crew of the HMS Thunder Child at sea, and Mister Stanley, the low-grade clerk from the War Office. He is moving across the land to various semaphore stations. He is linked to the ship because he delivered the mission orders before the story starts. If you have read War of the Worlds and enjoyed it, you will like this story too.

For THE LAST DAYS OF THUNDER CHILD - click the widget below:

The Martians were on the rampage all across Queen Victoria's Britain. Nothing man possessed could stop them. But then the huge fighting machines began to slow down and lumber to a halt. One by one, the Martians inside the giant machines began to die. Soon there were just scattered and failing remnants of the once-mighty tripods wandering here and there among the derelict monuments. Even the red weed was dying as Mother Earth began to reclaim her own. The human survivors became emboldened and they emerged from the hiding places intent on fighting back.

For: THE LAST DAYS OF THE FIGHTING MACHINE - click the widget below.

Two War of the Worlds Science Fiction Adaptations.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Tue, 8 Oct 2019 23:59:00 -0700

A second War of the Worlds adaptation in the form of a disease-ridden and battle-damaged Martian fighting machine.

Read, THE LAST DAYS OF THE FIGHTING MACHINE.

First came, The Last Days of Thunder Child.

Now we have The Last Days of the Fighting Machine.

1. Did you enjoy the dreadful thought of the War of the Worlds Tripod Fighting Machines from Mars?

2. What About the War of the Worlds 1953 Radio Broadcast?

3. Or the Jeff Wayne War of the Worlds Musical?

Science Fiction Lovers Indulge This Thought.

As an impressionable young lad, I always found myself pondering such things.

I would walk about in my dream thinking, “If I was in that story, I would do this or that.” I found myself wishing for all sorts of adventures.

Coming Soon - A Second War of the Worlds Pastiche.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Tue, 1 Oct 2019 15:44:00 -0700

Coming soon!

THE LAST DAYS OF THE FIGHTING MACHINE.
By
C. A. Powell

(The Martians are Dying)

A War of the Worlds Pastiche.

The terrifying Martian apocalypse of Queen Victoria's Britain was in full swing. Then the Martian invasion suddenly broke down. The once competent battle formations of the fighting machines become uncoordinated. Large numbers of tripod machines simply halted.

Britain is now a nation littered with giant motionless three-legged edifices. Inside most of these machines, is the blight riddled bodies of dead alien beings from Mars. The Martians that survive, have become dwindling remnants of a mechanised army in disarray.

One such battered Martian fighting machine wanders into the small remote village of Paglesham Churchend in Essex. The tripod stands like a sentinel against the church tower.

For the desperate human survivors, it is time for a reckoning. A village policeman, a poacher and other local residents join forces with a group of shipwrecked French sailors. They decide to fight back against the disease-ridden Martians inside their crippled fighting machine.

All Hell is about to break loose in the remote little English village of Pagelsham Churchend.

Granddaughters Millie and Rosie with Carole at the Crooked Cottage in Manea.

capowell54@hotmail.com (escole61) — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 01:26:00 -0700

I forgot I had this photo on my phone. It was taken back in August on a rather hot day. Carole and I took Granddaughters, Millie and Rosie to the bird hides. We passed the rickety old cottage along the way and I thought it a good excuse to take a photoshoot on the mobile.