The Last Days of Thunder Child: Victorian Britain in chaos! (The Martian Invasion of Victorian Britain.)

4.0 out of 5 stars Farewell, Thunder Child.ByRaymond Heueron July 13, 2015Format: Paperback | Verified PurchaseNice story about two "Boy Seamen" and a wimpy clerk from the Ministry of Defense in Victorian Britain. The author takes a few liberties, diverging from the original War of the Worlds' events. A really well-constructed story with a lot of details about the British Navy. 5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun and imaginativeByAlexRC77on March 11, 2015Format: Kindle Edition | Verified PurchaseI loved it. Very entertaining and the idea of pulling what was really a minor part of H G Well's story and creating a story around it with its own cast of characters you come to care about is brilliant. 5.0 out of 5 stars The Story Behind the StoryByRalph Vaughanon January 7, 2015Format: Kindle Edition | Verified PurchaseI don't how many times I've read "The War of the Worlds" over the years. Certainly more than a dozen, and that does not include the various editions abridged for younger readers, the Classics Illustrated comic (a reproduction cover of which I have framed in my office), or the various derivative works, both literary and illustrated. And I've seen all the various film adaptations of the novel--the updated George Pal 1953 opus, the ridiculous and intellectually insulting Steven Spielberg epic, the SyFy Channel's efforts (yes, all of them), and the exquisitely faithful and horribly under funded Pendragon production (the director later redeemed himself with a wonderful mockumentary). And we should not forget Jeff Wayne's musical version, which has formed the foundation of his career. In all of those works, only four--the original novel, the Classics Illustrated comic, the Pendragon film, and the Wayne musical version--included what I consider the pivotal scene within the tableau of the War of the Worlds, the conflict between three Martian war machines and the HMS Thunder Child, an old coastal defense vessel, a torpedo ram. Why do I think it so important? Because it shows the difference between us and the Martians, our innate human decency and the Martian rapaciousness, our ability to counter alien ruthlessness with self-sacrifice. The incident is briefly addressed in Wells' novel, necessarily limited because of the narrative form Wells chose to tell his tale and to keep the story moving, but I've always wished we could know more about brave men of HMS Thunder Child, who knew they were going to their deaths in an effort to save a boatload of refugees, but went anyway. Evidently I was not the only one who wanted to know about those stalwart British tars, for C.A. Powell has given us a splendidly well-written book in "The Last Days of Thunder Child," one which not only tells us the story behind the story, but also peoples that doomed ship with characters we can care about and affords insights into the British navy at the close of the Nineteenth Century. If you are a fan of Wells' novel, Powell's book is required reading. Unlike other works derived from the original, it takes nothing from Wells' story and adds so much more. You will enjoy it immensely, and might even shed a tear at the fates of those who sailed into hell, not because they were following orders but because their humanity demanded it. 5.0 out of 5 stars excellentBycasson December 28, 2014Format: Kindle Edition | Verified PurchaseHow we'll this fits in with the original book ! Especially if you have ever heard the Moody Blues recorded version about Fairwell Thunderchild . 5.0 out of 5 stars YOU WILL CHEERByJohn D. Kirtleyon March 18, 2014Format: Kindle Edition | Verified PurchaseThe story of that sea battle in War of the Worlds (H, G, WELLS). A page turner will that you can not put down. When you reach the chapter of the actual battle between the ironclad THUNDER CHILD and the alien machines, you can not help but cheer. The author truly gives you a ring side seat to the action And the moment when the THUNDER CHILD turns to engage will be with you for a long time. Mr Wells would have been proud of this work. Most highly recommended. RETRO SCIENCE FICTION ADAPTATION!Read a great retro science fiction story from an adaptation ofxa0War of the Worlds. The action packed tale is set in Victorian Britain of 1898;The Last Days of Thunder Childxa0follows the exploits of a British ironclad as she cruises around the southern coast receiving uncanny and unbelievable semaphore communications about a Martian invasion of Earth. Britain is being hit by alien life forms falling from the sky and leaving her gigantic navy of iron and steel obsolete.Lovers of steampunk or Gothic style settings might enjoy this yarn as it unfolds and leads the reader towards the ultimate confrontation betweenxa0HMS Thunder Child and three huge Martian tripod fighting machines.Be there and follow the crew of HMS Thunder Child in this epic adventure! From the Inside Flap Victorian Britain in chaos! Science Fictionxa0War of the Worlds AdaptationBritain 1898.The Martians really came and this is the alternative history of that dreadful event. Join the crew of HMS Thunder Child as she prepares to embark upon her doomed voyage, before her demise and courageous battle with three Martian tripod fighting machines at the River Blackwater in the county of Essex, England, UK. C.A. Powell was born in London's Bow district in 1961. He has a love of history and old classical stories. He resides in March, Cambridgeshire, UK. Read more