Steampunk Kaland: A Galapagos-képlet – Könyvajánló

A new steampunk adventure, A Galapagos-képlet (originally titled Unnatural History), has been released by Chameleon Comix. The story is set in 1997, but presents a drastically different world where the British Empire – Magna Britannia – continues to thrive at the end of the 20th century. Technological advancement is driven by complex steam-powered machinery, and humanity has conquered the solar system, establishing colonies beyond Earth.

Fantáziadús alternatív világ steampunk köntösben

The world is steeped in the Victorian era, with Queen Victoria having reigned for 160 years – in reality, she ruled the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 to 1901 – and continuing to exist with the aid of a steam-powered prosthetic throne. Unprecedented advancements have been made in medicine, differential engines, and cybernetics, following Charles Babbage’s creation of the first fully automated analytical engine.

The British Empire has become the “world’s workshop,” with massive Gothic factories producing goods everywhere, and live labour largely replaced by robotic workers. However, social inequalities have deepened, with slums reminiscent of Charles Dickens’ grim visions existing in the shadow of industrial facilities. The lands of the British Isles have become barren wastelands due to environmental destruction.

London is the largest metropolis on Earth, home to live dinosaurs in its zoo. Arthur Conan Doyle’s discoveries in The Lost World are not fiction in this reality, but a tangible truth. Explorations of the Congo’s jungles, South America’s plateaus, and the islands of the Indian Ocean have revealed the existence of prehistoric creatures and other ancient species.

A trón leghűségesebb ügynöke akcióban

The series centers on Ulysses Quicksilver, a true aristocratic adventurer. He is a gentleman of the Victorian era, possessing both charm and a willingness to use his fists when necessary. Quicksilver is described as the Victorian era’s James Bond, a secret agent for the throne undertaking dangerous missions. His loyal butler, Nimród, serves as a helpful companion, similar to Alfred Pennyworth for Batman.

The plot of A Galapagos-képlet begins with a seemingly simple break-in at the London Museum of Natural History: a night watchman is brutally murdered, and a renowned evolutionary biologist, Ignatius Galapagos, disappears. Ulysses Quicksilver, recently returned from an impossible mission, is tasked with investigating the case.

The professor’s daughter, Genevieve Galapagos, soon appears, hoping Quicksilver can find her father. The case is complicated by a rampaging, ape-like monster roaming the streets of London, and a mysterious red terrorist group, the Darwin Dawn, plotting against the established order. Leading the group is Quicksilver’s old adversary, the charismatic villain Jago Kane, who causes the dinosaurs of the London Zoo to escape into the capital’s streets.

The novel promises action, adventure, humour, secret conspiracies, political intrigue, betrayal, monsters, intelligent robots, underground (but actually above-ground) transportation, hidden bomb factories, and plot twists.

Szórakoztató kalandregény gőzzel és titkokkal

A Galapagos-képlet is described as an exciting, entertaining, and easily readable adventure novel set in a fantastical alternate historical context. The author, Jonathan Green, is known to Hungarian readers for his successful gamebooks, including A Krampusz éjszakája, Drakula – A vámpír átka, and Sötétség Arkham felett. He also co-authored a Fighting Fantasy volume, Salamonis titkainak. The publisher plans to release the second part of the Pax Britannia series, A feltámadó leviatán, by Christmas, with further Quicksilver adventures to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the setting of A Galapagos-képlet?

The story is set in 1997, but in an alternate reality where the British Empire still thrives, powered by steam technology and having expanded into the solar system.

Who is Ulysses Quicksilver?

Ulysses Quicksilver is the main character, described as a Victorian-era James Bond – a secret agent for the throne who undertakes dangerous missions.

What is the initial mystery in A Galapagos-képlet?

The story begins with a break-in at the London Museum of Natural History, where a night watchman is murdered and a renowned evolutionary biologist, Ignatius Galapagos, goes missing.