Steampunk Soldier: The American Frontier by Philip Smith and Joseph A. McCullough

Steampunk Soldiers
The American Frontier
by Philip Smith and Joseph A. McCullough
Illustrated by: Mark Stacey

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Publisher

Just released: May 24, 2016
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Genre: Art, Reference, Steampunk
Hardback: 96 pages
Rating: 4

Steampunk Soldiers series:
Uniforms & Weapons from the Age of Steam
The American Frontier

Even as the discovery and exploitation of hephaestium helped bring the Civil War to its close in 1869, the arms race it engendered resulted in a cold war just as bitter and violent as the open hostilities had been. With neither side willing to rely solely upon the talents of their scientific establishments, saboteurs, double-agents, and assassins found ample employment. Against this backdrop of suspicion and fear, thousands of Americans - Northerners and Southerners alike - headed west. Some to escape the legacies of the war, some to find their own land, some for the lure of that great undiscovered strike of hephaestium that would make them rich, and some simply to escape the law. Ahead of these pioneers stood the native tribes, behind them followed the forces of two governments, while to the north and south, foreign powers watched closely for their own opportunities.

This newly unearthed collection of the works of Miles Vandercroft fills a considerable gap in our knowledge of the travels of that remarkable individual, and also provides a fascinating guide to the costume and equipment of the forces active in the great drive westwards.


My two-bits:

This is a good companion to Steampunk Soldiers: Uniforms & Weapons from the Age of Steam. The format is the same with brief descriptions of mostly guns and garb along with color illustrations.

The focus is on "the look" in the United States of America which did not have too much of the steampunk metal look I am accustomed to seeing (in general). The various makes and models of the guns were emphasized.


~*~
* review copy courtesy of publisher

Steampunk Soldier: Uniforms and Weapons by Philip Smith and Joseph A. McCullough

Steampunk Soldiers
Uniforms and Weapons
by Philip Smith and Joseph A. McCullough
Illustrated by: Mark Stacey

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads

Published: 2014
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Genre: Art, Reference, Steampunk
Hardback: 156 pages
Rating: 4

Steampunk Soldiers series:
Uniforms & Weapons from the Age of Steam
The American Frontier

First sentence(s):
In this modern world of personal cmputrs, cybernetic prosthetics, and supersonic train travel, where wars are as often fought in cyberspace as in the real world, it can often be hard to imagine a past where machines were loud, clunky, and inefficient.

Between 1887 and 1895, the British art student Miles Vandercroft travelled around the world, sketching and painting the soldiers of the countries through which he passed. In this age of dramatic technological advancement, Vandercroft was fascinated by how the rise of steam technology at the start of the American Civil War had transformed warfare and the role of the fighting man.

This volume collects all of Vandercroft's surviving paintings, along with his associated commentary on the specific military units he encountered. It is a unique pictorial guide to the last great era of bright and colourful uniforms, as well as an important historical study of the variety of steam-powered weaponry and equipment that abounded in the days before the Great War of the Worlds.

My two-bits:

As steampunk is a genre that is popular due to its aesthetics, books such as this one that emphasize illustrations and visuals is perfect.

This book is a wonderful guide and reference to uniforms and weapons of soldiers from this genre representing several countries. Colorful images with brief descriptions of mostly the garb and guns run through this book.

I was amused with the description for a Highlander Battlesuit - "the suit also includes a built-in set of automatic bagpipes."

The illustrations were of frontal view of soldiers. In some instances, I would have liked to see more than one image. Different angles, back views and close-ups on the gear would enhance the guide - even if they were not Vandercroft originals.

~*~
* review copy courtesy of publisher

Stacking the Shelves - 4.16.16

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

~*~
Bought:

River of Flesh and Other Stories:
The Prostituted Woman in Indian Short Fiction
by Ruchira Gupta
-Short stories, Women's Studies
Amazon | Goodreads

=====> Book Passage, Corte Madera, hosted an event with Ruchira Gupta, author of River of Flesh. The audience was also treated to introductions from authors, Alice Walker and Jean Shinoda Bolen.

A Year in the World:
Journeys of a Passionate Traveller
by Frances Mayes
-Memoir, Travel
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> I joined a face-to-face book club that reads travel related books. This is the April book. I figured this would be a great way to feed the travel bug within until I can actually DO IT.

In Patagonia
by Bruce Chatwin
-Memoir, Travel
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> The MAY book for the travel book club.


For Review:

Friday Evening, Eight O’Clock
by Nino Gugunishvili
-Women's Fiction
courtesy of tour by I Heart All the Books - Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

The Double
by Alison Brodie
-Mystery, Thriller, Women's Fiction
courtesy of tour by I Heart All the Books - Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Love is Come
by Heather B. Moore
-Romance
courtesy of eBooks for Review
Amazon | Goodreads
OTHER things on my shelf: kinda book-related

Out of Print
The Book Necklace
by pulp~ink studio
=====> This was a gift from fellow book lovers! Thanks T & D :-)

Field Notes
special edition for the Tournament of Books 2016
also included were a pencil and sticker
=====> Got this as a memento for this year's event in which I attempted to read the short list (here). There are a couple I still plan to read before year's end -- including the winner, The Sellout by Paul Beatty.

AND watched: on DVD

Cloverfield (2008)
Director: Matt Reeves
Screenplay: Drew Goddard
Starring: Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan
-Action, Adventure, Horror | imdb | my rating: 5
A group of friends venture deep into the streets of New York on a rescue mission during a rampaging monster attack.

=====> Ended up watching this after 10 Cloverfield Lane which turned out alright because while there is a something that ties the two together you do not have to watch this for any back stories. Enjoyed it for the monster movie it turned out to be.

Super 8 (2011)
Director/Writer: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Elle Fanning, AJ Michalka, Kyle Chandler
-Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi | imdb | my rating: 5
During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.

=====> I picked this up on a whim. It was one I was wanting to watch for awhile. Coincidentally, it has a connection with the Cloverfield series. What a treat to watch!

The Scorch Trials (2015)
Director: Wes Ball
Screenplay: T.S. Nowlin
Based on book by: James Dashner
Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
-Action, SciFi, Thriller | imdb | my rating: 4
After having escaped the Maze, the Gladers now face a new set of challenges on the open roads of a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles.

=====> No doubt, I had to continue this series. Lots of stuff thrown into this one. The end left me with questions. And, wondering the fate of Minho.

Thunderball (1965)
Director: Terence Young
Screenplay: Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins, Jack Whittingham
Original story: Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham
Based on book by: Ian Fleming
Starring: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi
-Action, Adventure, Thriller | imdb | list | my rating: 4
James Bond heads to The Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme.

=====> Watching the James Bond series continues with this 3rd entry (here). Got some SPECTRE action. I found underwater fight scenes kinda boring. It was hard to tell who was who. The water just slows things down. Bond was sure handy with his knife though - probably the best weapon of choice for underwater fighting.

~*~
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Currently reading:

Steampunk Soldiers: The American Frontier
by Philip Smith & Joseph A. McCullough
Amazon | Goodreads

Stacking the Shelves - 4.2.16

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

~*~
Freebie: for kindle

Saven Deception
by Siobhan Davis
-SciFi, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> From Stacking Shelves post by Brmaycock's Book Blog (here).

The Crown and the Arrow:
A Wrath & the Dawn Short Story
by Renée Ahdieh
-New Adult, Romance
Amazon | Goodreads
For Review:

Steampunk Soldiers
Uniforms and Weapons
by Philip Smith and Joseph A. McCullough
Illustrated by: Mark Stacey
-Art, Steampunk
courtesy of publisher -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Steampunk Soldiers
The American Frontier
by Philip Smith and Joseph A. McCullough
Illustrated by: Mark Stacey
-Art, Steampunk
courtesy of publisher -Thanks!
Release date: May 24, 2016
Amazon | Publisher
UNBOXING:

From Owlcrate package (details & signup):
OwlCrate is a subscription service that sends you magical monthly boxes tailored to a chosen theme. Each OwlCrate will contain one new Young Adult novel, as well as 3-5 other bookish treats to help you get your nerd on. @owlcrate

MARCH Box includes:
- The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
- Note from author, Jeff Zentner
- 642 Tiny Things to Write About from Chronicle Books
- Custom pack of pins from Bookworm Boutique
- Banned Books Socks from Out of Print
- Quill pen from Kikkerland

The Serpent King
by Jeff Zenter
-YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life—at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father’s extreme faith and very public fall from grace.

He and his fellow outcast friends must try to make it through their senior year of high school without letting the small-town culture destroy their creative spirits and sense of self. Graduation will lead to new beginnings for Lydia, whose edgy fashion blog is her ticket out of their rural Tennessee town. And Travis is content where he is thanks to his obsession with an epic book series and the fangirl turning his reality into real-life fantasy.

Their diverging paths could mean the end of their friendship. But not before Dill confronts his dark legacy to attempt to find a way into the light of a future worth living.


AND watched: in theatre

Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)
Director/Writer: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Irene Bedard, Dakota Brown, Cat Clifford
-Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
With an older brother in jail and living with their single mother on Pine Ridge Reservation, Johnny and his sister Jashuan's lives develop new challenges when their absentee cowboy father suddenly dies. The loss prompts Johnny to strike out for Los Angeles, but would mean leaving behind his beloved sister.

=====> Loved getting a peek into the American Indian reservation world with beautiful cinematography of the landscape.

The director was in the theatre for Q&A - Thanks! The interesting thing revealed is that the movie was made based on all the film footage and very basic storyline (similar to Kar-Wai Wong's filming style). So, in some ways this fiction film felt like a documentary.

The Dark Horse (2014)
Director/Writer: James Napier Robertson
Starring: Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, Kirk Torrance
-Drama, New Zealand | imdb | my rating: 5
An emotionally charged and inspiring drama about a man who searches for the courage to lead, despite his own adversities - finding purpose and hope in passing on his gift to the children in his community.

=====> Interesting peek into living in New Zealand. Loved the references to chess and how it affected the lives of the community.

AND watched: on Netflix

Tangerine (2015)
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch
Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor
-Comedy, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart.

=====> Filmed using an Apple iPhone. <-- that was the draw to watch this film. Surprisingly, the story was just as amazing as the film format. What a life the two main characters lead. What a life!

The Wolfpack (2015)
Director: Crystal Moselle
Starring: Bhagavan Angulo, Govinda Angulo, Jagadisa Angulo
-Biography, Documentary | imdb | my rating: 5
Locked away from society in an apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Angulo brothers learn about the outside world through the films that they watch. Nicknamed, 'The Wolfpack,' the brothers spend their childhood reenacting their favorite films using elaborate homemade props and costumes. Their world is shaken up when one of the brothers decides to revisit the outside world and everything changes.

=====> Loved the mini-films these boys created while living in the state they were in. There is something to be said about escapism and creativity. Of course while watching this film you wonder, how in the world could something like this happen in America?

AND watched: on Drama Fever

Miss Granny (2014)
Su-sang-han geu-nyeo (original title)
Director and Adaptation: Dong-hyuk Hwang
Writers: Dong-ik Shin, Yoon-jeong Hong, Hee-seon Dong
Starring: Eun-kyung Shim, Mun-hee Na, In-hwan Park
-Comedy, Fantasy, Music, Korean | imdb | my rating: 5
A 74-year-old widow realizes she is becoming a burden on her family. She mysteriously regains her physical appearance from the age of 20.

=====> I haven't been able to sit and binge watch South Korean drama, so I tried a movie. Loved it! This one had a nice blend of fantasy, music and fun moments.

AND watched: on DVD

The Maze Runner (2014)
Director: Wes Ball
Screenplay: Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, T.S. Nowlin
Based on book by: James Dashner
Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
-Action, Mystery, SciFi | imdb | my rating: 5
Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape.

=====> I thought watching this would be a good and quick way to catch up with this series as I have not been able to get around to reading it.

Loved this dystopia story. The cliffhanger ending sure got me hooked. And now, I will go backwards and start reading the book series before the third film installment is released in 2017.

~*~
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways offers