Zombtober photos

   Wow... these nasty fellows arrived very late to the Zombtober party.

      Actually, the minis were finished by the first week of October, and the photos were taken the last week of October. It's just taken me this long to post the photos.

   However, here at long last are the Todtruppen - re-vivified Prussian jaegers, serving the mysterious Society of Thule even in death!

The brass peg on the left arm is part of the Revivifier that reanimates the Todtruppen.

I really like the bare foot for some reason.

All four. From the Society of Thule boxed set.

Zeppelin of Zombies!

Good for either Pulp or VSF gmaing, and inspired by photos of this 28mm zeppelin table:

It's quite big, isn't it?

Notice the model of the zeppelin - epic touch of detail!

The Scenario:

  On your way home from an safari in the picturesque highlands of Bongolesia, a problem arises aboard the zeppelin carrying your group. One of the servants was apparently infected with a terrible tropical disease, and has died. Sadly, he did not stay dead, but has risen as a zombie. Infecting several passengers and crewmembers, the plague has spread throughout the vessel. Now, they all suffer from an insatiable hunger for flesh. Your flesh. Your tasks, in order, are:

1. Gather weapons. Luckily, you have just returned from safari, so there are guns in the baggage.
2. Keep the control cabin zombie-free until the pilots land the airship.
3. Make your way out of the zeppelin.
4. Finally, to prevent the spread of the infection, you must destroy the zeppelin and kill any zombies which escape the burning wreckage.

Good luck. You're going to need it.

Steampunk Book Reviews

Leviathan, by Scott Westerfield

The first book I am going to review for you today is called Leviathan. It is essentially a weird science alternate history novel. The setting is Europe, in 1914. Archduke Ferdinand and his wife have been poisoned in Sarajevo after two failed assassination attempts earlier in the day. Their only son, Aleksander, escapes into the night with two of his father's most rusted retainers in a battered old Stormwalker-class combat walker. Yep, diesel powered armored walking vehicles. I don't want to give any more of the plot or characters away.

You have the start of World War I, the clash between two technologies: Clankers, like Germany, Austro-Hungary, and the Ottomans, versus Darwinites, like France, Russia, and Great Britain. The Clankers rely on advanced machinery. Darwinists have created genetically engineered creatures to fulfill their needs. And they rush to war.

I really liked this book. If you like VSF or steampunk, I think you will, too. Although technically I guess it is dieselpunk.

See the trailer for the book here: Leviathan trailer

Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest

If you like air pirates, zeppelins, poisonous gas, mothers, sons, mad scientists, Indian princesses, and zombies, you'll like Boneshaker. If you don't, there is something so fundamentally wrong with you that I can't imagine why you read this blog in the first place.

Another alternate history/weird science kind of tale, the plot is basically pigheaded teen boy gets into dangerous situation and loving mother tries to save him. Add in all the yummy stuff I mentioned before. Especially the rotters. Love them.

Publisher's Weekly says:

"In an alternate 1880s America, mad inventor Leviticus Blue is blamed for
destroying Civil War–era Seattle. When Zeke Wilkes, Blue's son, goes into the
walled wreck of a city to clear his father's name, Zeke's mother, Briar Wilkes,
follows him in an airship, determined to rescue her son from the toxic gas that
turns people into zombies (called rotters and described in gut-churning detail).
When Briar learns that Seattle still has a mad inventor, Dr. Minnericht, who
eerily resembles her dead husband, a simple rescue quickly turns into a
thrilling race to save Zeke from the man who may be his father. Intelligent,
exceptionally well written and showcasing a phenomenal strong female protagonist
who embodies the complexities inherent in motherhood, this yarn is a must-read
for the discerning steampunk fan."

I say:

"It's a Sci-Fi Essentials book, and a Steampunk aficionado (sp?)
Staple. Read it. Now."

Oi! Its only been four days!

In the words of that MacArthur chap, "I have returned." Hmph. As if we wouldn't have known he returned, waht with all the film crews taping his wading ashore scene for the newsreels of the world. Man's an egomaniac, what?

Quite little to say on the gaming front. Thanks to a bout of illness, haven't been up and out to get any work done on anything. Hard to paint with a hacking cough, what? I am tempted to some zombie-blasting fun thanks to having read the excellent World War Z by Max Brooks over the weekend. Can you imagine redcoats dealing with these undead horrors?

Sergeant Bourne (to well-dressed zombie): "Right then, be a proper gentleman and put the vicar down, sir."
Private 116 Jones: "Oh, look Sergeant! 'E's gone and bitten the vicar!"
Sergeant Bourne (to soldiers): "That's two rounds rapid for you lot, then. And if you don't remember to aim for the head this time, I'll have you in front of the Colonel, I will!"

Now all I need are Victorian-era zombie figures. In 15mm. Or even some good Victorian civilians to zombify. I wonder if Ded Bob would be available to help with that?