Release Date: 20/11/14
Publisher: Osprey Adventures
SYNOPSIS:
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.
REVIEW:
As an avid reader, I’m always looking for things that help expand not only established genre but also give the reader something not only novel but concepts for your own work. This book, from Osprey really does hit the spot for not only readers of Steampunk tales but also writers and even cos-players.
The book has cracking illustrations, top notch written descriptions and all round I something that can be easily accessed if you’re looking for something novel to help boost your thoughts. To have it all collected into this one cracking volume will add numerous option for all manner of readers and to be honest, as a writer give you something that is going to be ideal in helping to visualise an epic Steampunk war alongside the chance to create a hero to rival the times.
Release Date: 20/08/14
Publisher: Osprey Adventures
SYNOPSIS:
For centuries, vampires have lurked in the shadows, preying upon the weak and defenseless. Now, with world population centers booming, the vampires have found rich new hunting grounds. But help is at hand, Vampires: A Hunter's Guide contains all the information necessary to recognize and combat the growing vampire threat. After exploring the origins of these dark and terrible creatures, it examines the numerous vampire species and subspecies that exist around the world today. Focusing on the hunters' weapons, tactics and skillsets, this book provides information on identifying and eliminating vampires, noting the best practices from the secretive, powerful and dedicated hunters from around the world, and throughout the ages. With full-color illustrations of predator and prey, this is the ultimate resource in the fight to save humanity from the vampires.
REVIEW:
Having read the Zombie guide a while ago, I was more than interested to see how the other supernatural races would fare in this series from Osprey. It brings a sense of history to an urban fantasy world with snippets from the past blending wonderfully with an unseen modern world where these creatures existence is hidden from the public.
The illustrations are wonderful, and with it written in a sense of a document for these special forces that combat the creatures of the night, all round gives you something that is a whole heap of fun to spend time around. I can’t wait to see what they do for the Shapeshifter and hopefully a title set around other’s to cover a lot of the creatures we may not be familiar with.
Release Date: 20/09/13
Publisher: Osprey Adventures
SYNOPSIS:
Osprey's hugely popular, Zombies: A Hunter's Guide returns in this deluxe, limited-edition hard cover. Bound in black leather with silver embossing and silver, gilt edging, this beautiful book is sure to be an instant collector's item. Zombies: A Hunter's Guide contains all of the information necessary to recognize and combat this growing threat. Beginning with an explanation of the historical origins of zombies, it follows their history through to the threat they pose to the world today. All varieties of zombie are catalogued and examined, giving their strengths and weaknesses, with a special emphasis on recognition and elimination. Finally, the book covers the tactics and equipment used in zombie fighting, from the man on the street with his sharpened hockey stick to the latest fully automatic grenade launchers and anti-undead armor employed by top-secret government "Containment Teams." Accompanied by numerous full-color reconstructions to help with identification, this book is a must for anyone on the frontlines of the Zombie Wars.
REVIEW:
This title is a good bit of fun for fans of the shuffling undead. It’s written to give them a huge running alternate history alongside giving the reader the chance to see the countermeasures placed by the governments of the time.
Its quirky, it’s a whole lot of fun and when added to the cracking illustrations really brings the whole thing, to life. Finally throw into the mix a writing style that just invites you in with its allure and all round it’s a book that I’m going to get a whole lot of fun from as well as some cracking Urban Fantasy writing project idea’s. Great stuff.
Release Date: 12/09/13
Publisher: Osprey Adventures
SYNOPSIS:
In the stories of the ancient Vikings, Thor is a warrior without equal, who wields his mighty hammer in battles against trolls, giants, and dragons. He is the god of storms and thunder, who rides to war in a chariot pulled by goats, and who is fated to fall in battle with the Midgard Serpent during Ragnarok, the end of all things. This book collects the greatest myths and legends of the thunder god, while also explaining their historical context and their place in the greater Norse mythology. It also covers the history of Thor as a legendary figure, how he was viewed by different cultures from the Romans to the Nazis, and how he endures today as a popular heroic figure.
REVIEW:
With all the interest in the Norse god since his recent film exploits, its always good to get to see the source material as well as having the tales explained to make sense to not only the modern reader but also gives you some solid factual information without th need for an info-dump. It’s well written, the method of bringing it over methodical and when added to a whole host of illustrations really make this a book that is one that’s going to be hard to beat. All round a great book and I really can’t wait to see what else Osprey will bring to the table.
Release Date: 06/03/13
Publisher: Osprey Adventures
SYNOPSIS:
The voyage of Jason and the Argonauts and their hunt for the Golden Fleece is one of the most enduringly popular of all of the Ancient Greek heroic myths. Accepting the quest in order to regain his kingdom, Jason assembled a crew of legendary heroes, including Hercules, Orpheus, Atalanta, and the twins Castor and Polydeuces. With this band of warriors and demi-gods, Jason set sail in the Argo on a journey across the known world. During their quest, the Argonauts faced numerous challenges including the Harpies, the Clashing Rocks, the Sirens, Talos, the bronze giant, the sleepless dragon that guarded the fleece, and, of course, the fickle will of the gods of Olympus. Filled with magic, monsters, sword fights, and sacrifice, this ancient adventure story is given new life by Neil Smith who also examines its historical context, its classical sources and its enduring legacy.
REVIEW:
Grab your swords and sandal’s as Neil Smith tackles the myth of Jason and the Argonauts in this cracking new title by Osprey Adventures. Using carefully researched material and presenting the story in a way that the modern reader will love, this title is a book to be savoured.
Back that up with cracking artwork, some wonderful still shots from the films and of course the writers own interpretation of the films and all round you are going to get something special. A cracking title and definitely a series I’m going to collect in order to share with my nephews.
Release Date: 06/03/13
Publisher: Osprey Adventures
SYNOPSIS:
With its fiery breath, scaly armour, and baleful, malevolent stare, the dragon became the ultimate symbol of evil and corruption in European folklore and mythology. Often serving as a stand-in for Satan, or the power of evil gods, dragons spread death and hopelessness throughout the land. Only heroes of uncommon valour, courageousness, and purity could hope to battle these monsters and emerge victorious. Those that did became legends. They became dragonslayers. The list of dragonslayers is small, but it is filled with great and legendary names. Hercules, Beowulf, Sigurd, and Saint George all battled to the death with dragons. Other heroes such as Cadmus, founder of the city of Thebes, Dieudonne de Gozon, the Knight of Rhodes, and the Russian warrior Dobrynya Nikitich might be less well known to western readers, but also fought and defeated dragons. This book retells the greatest legends of this select group of warriors, while examining the myth of the dragonslayer in historical, mythological, and even theological contexts.
REVIEW:
I’ve been a fan of Osprey for quite some time. I love the way that they bring beautiful artwork to historical knowledge giving the reader the chance to see as well as read all about the key points that have helped shape the world of today. So when I heard about them bringing out their own books of Myths and Legends I was quietly sat there hoping that the care and attention that they brought to the history would also be brought to this new series.
I really shouldn’t have worried. Within this book the reader gets cracking Dragon Slaying stories from Beowulf to Saint George as well as illustrations that will take your breath away. It has an authoritive writing style, some wonderful research and all round makes this a book that you will enjoy dipping into time and again making this a wonderful title to share with younger readers.
