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: 20/09/13
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: 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.
