SonofThor,
No, interestingly enough, they are a more detailed variant of the inexhaustible TSATF, though the Martians are a whole 'nother smoke (as they used to say).
The core background of this "mythos" (I wish I knew a better word--too self-important) is based directly on Garret P. Serviss' seminal 1898 novel "Edison's Conquest of Mars," and as the title should suggest, it's a corker!
Serviss was a scientist himself, made famous in his time by his lectures and demonstrations to popularize the sciences for large audiences and help expand the minds of his contemporaries to the wonders to come in the next century.
"Conquest" is shamelessly full of contemporary historical personalities, modern nations, and--for the age--"could be" technology, especially after the boost given by HG Wells recently failed (same year, in fact) Martian invasion of Earth. Serviss was, in fact, the first writer to use the terms "Space Ship," and "Disintegrator Guns," and other terms that quickly became the boiler plate terminology of practically all SF for decades to come.
The book is available in print and on-line, and PDF's of the original edition are available. These are especially valuable as they have illustrations of Serviss' vessels, etc, as envisioned.
No more warmed over left overs of Verne, Burroughs, or everybody else's mimeographed Steam Punk, "Rough Riders On Mars," is an entirely original, and mountain-air-fresh take on Mars, Martians, and relations with Earth at the turn of the 19th Century, and while I'm not much of a VSF fan (for me, real History holds more wonders and characters than any fiction), even I have been intrigued by Serviss and the audacity of "Edison Conquers Mars."
When Chris starts running accounts of the battles already fought, and posting photos of the Martian terrain, cities, and not least, the Martians themselves (and they's a bunch o' types o' them ol' boys), as well as the Earther and Martian Space Ships and Flying Machines for Mars, I think you'll see what I mean.
And, yes, I HAVE substituted M&M's for Chris' meds until he's finished ALL the sculpts for all powers (Earther and Martian), all the relevant indigenous Martian fauna (and some flora, I believe), as well as the rest of the war and flying machines, etc. I think, perhaps, most are already done, but this is such an ambitious project (I mean, Good Lord, the Encyclopedia Martiana he's been writing is approaching 100 pages of maps, ethnic and biological information, political history, cultural information, etc), and I don't want him to come out of his fugue state until he's worked through this obsession and completed the job.
To TheBeast, I'll send you a PM with some random photos attached of stuff I have and you can form your own opinions.
TVAG