"Steampunk Soldiers: Osprey-Review" Topic

I pre-ordered this Osprey Dark title from Amazon and recently received my copy. Unlike most Osprey titles this is a hardback book with 156 pages. I'm uncertain if the "conceit" of hephaestium (this universe's version of "ghost rock" from Deadlands, Anti-Ice from the novel of the same name-a super high energy fuel to produce steam instead of coal) is original for this product or part of the ongoing Osprey Dark product line. Either way hephaestium fell to Earth in large quantities during a meteor shower in 1862. This material allows much higher energy densities and can power equipment that would be much more effective, efficient or smaller than traditional coal fueled steam versions. This is discussed in the opening section, and the origin of the drawings-found in a rediscovered period manuscript are also described therein.

From that point there is a bit of background for each of the Major Powers, (a continued American Civil War allows the Confederates to be one), as well as a number of "Minor Powers", some are fictional and some historic. There a total of over sixty uniform drawings all with a history of the unit and its place in the fictional universe. One quick caution; there are almost no crew served weapons or vehicles. They are mentioned but are not illustrated. There is a two place French walker armed with a Hotchkiss machine gun, which serves as a scout machine for the Foreign Legion. There are a few suits of "power armor" of various kinds as well as a power loader suit that looks nearly identical to the one Ripley used in Aliens. Many of the troops have steam or clockwork powered augmentation devices or prosthetics of one type or another. Even though firepower of individual weapons appears to have been vastly increased with many automatic, magazine fed or large caliber explosive throwing weapons being available advances in metallurgy have outstripped those improvements and both human warriors and their equine mounts are often partially or fully encased in metal plate armor.

With an Amazon price of under 20.00 this book is reasonably priced. Unless you are going to game in the Osprey universe as presented you will have a hard time getting everything in the book to match up to any other game universe (except Deadlands perhaps). Many of the soldiers depicted look too advanced in some eyes, but I agree with the basic premise that technology will be accelerated across the board in such an alternative history. One issue the authors' have is that I think they have attempted to please everybody. Steampunk is so diverse that there is absolutely no way to make everyone who has an interest in this sub-genre happy. If you want only hard science Victorian Science Fiction there are things in here that will be outside your vision. If you want really wild steam fantasy devices you may be more than a bit disappointed by much of this book. On the other hand there is probably enough that will match most settings to make the book worth buying for many steampunk shoppers.

Terry Sofian

I've no real interest in steam punk or vsf but got the Kindle edition a couple of day's ago for 99p after a heads-up on tmp.

At that price, it's an entertaining browse even for those not into the genre.

Doug

I received mine in the mail last week and am very pleased with the book. It's worth the money in my mind.

Sir Randall, there, was kind enough to share it's viewing with me. Thanks!

I found things I prefer to categorize as 'VSF', others as 'pulp', but as I'm interested in all that, works a spiff.

Now, of course, I must seek a copy for myself.

Doug

The Beast has it right, some are hard science VSF, some are Pulp and some are more fantasy steam punk. A little bit of something for everyone!

The Beast has it right,

Now you've done it; the stars are going out, one by one!

What? Dawn? Oh, never mind.

Doug