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67th out of 471 books
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2,479 voters
The Warlord of the Air (Oswald Bastable #1)
Suppose that a few of our present inventions had been made earlier, and others not discovered at all? How would the last century have evolved differently?
This is the story of Oswald Bastable, a Victorian captain who found himself in such alternate worlds. It is based on notes handed down to Michael Moorcock from his great-grandfather. It's a story of a world of empires sec...more
This is the story of Oswald Bastable, a Victorian captain who found himself in such alternate worlds. It is based on notes handed down to Michael Moorcock from his great-grandfather. It's a story of a world of empires sec...more
Mass Market Paperback, 192 pages
Published
January 1st 1971
by Ace Books
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Very good, if your into steampunk, which i very much am. It was so neat to read some that was written in the 70's and compare it with the steampunk genre today. This is the first book in a 3-novel volume i'm reading about Oscar Bastable called The Nomad of Time, if you have a more recently published copy, it is now called The Nomad of the Time Streams.
Moorcock's story, if it wasn't for the fantastical aspects, very much reminded me of George Orwell actually, in the way it covered British coloni...more
Moorcock's story, if it wasn't for the fantastical aspects, very much reminded me of George Orwell actually, in the way it covered British coloni...more
Moorcock doing what I think he does best. Taking characters from his giant toybox of “Eternal Champion” archetypes and throwing them into Hx, then shaking them about into alternate realities and times.
Bastable meets some old favourites (Una and I think Jerry have cameos), and some real characters (Joseph Conrad as airship captain, Mick Jagger as soldier) as he travels through time and gets caught up in revolution.
Presented as a found manuscript, by his grandfather, this may be the opium addled r...more
Bastable meets some old favourites (Una and I think Jerry have cameos), and some real characters (Joseph Conrad as airship captain, Mick Jagger as soldier) as he travels through time and gets caught up in revolution.
Presented as a found manuscript, by his grandfather, this may be the opium addled r...more
As ever, Moorcock is a wry, clever author full of ideas and insights, but he ends up rushing from one moment to another when I wish that he would let his stories play out. The characters and their relationships were intriguing and promising, but Moorcock tends to fall back on exposition instead of showing the development of his characters and plot through interaction and carefully-constructed scenes. The scope of his tales rarely seem to match the length of his books.
I have great appreciation fo...more
I have great appreciation fo...more
5 likes · like · see review
Originally published on my blog here in January 2000.
The War Lord of the Air is one of my favourite Moorcock novels. It inspired by turn of the century adventure stories with a fantastic element, with influences such as Buchan, Haggard and Wells as well as the tradition exemplified by (say) Lanier's Brigadier Ffellowes stories. It is a precursor of the genre known as "steampunk", with its additional element of alternate history centred around alternate technology.
Whilst on a mission to a remote...more
The War Lord of the Air is one of my favourite Moorcock novels. It inspired by turn of the century adventure stories with a fantastic element, with influences such as Buchan, Haggard and Wells as well as the tradition exemplified by (say) Lanier's Brigadier Ffellowes stories. It is a precursor of the genre known as "steampunk", with its additional element of alternate history centred around alternate technology.
Whilst on a mission to a remote...more
Oswald Bastable IS steampunk. There may have been earlier examples of the genre, and perhaps there are later examples that more solidly explore the ideas behind steampunk, but the Nomad of the Timestreams trilogy is the definition of steampunk to me.
While a dimension hopping, time traveling Oswald Bastable might seem to be a hard pill to swallow, it is written with such an honest face that not only could I suspend my disbelief, I could almost turn full circle and believe that I was reading a his...more
While a dimension hopping, time traveling Oswald Bastable might seem to be a hard pill to swallow, it is written with such an honest face that not only could I suspend my disbelief, I could almost turn full circle and believe that I was reading a his...more
Only half liked it. It begins rather prospectivelly with the somehow esotheric time travel experience into the future by the protagonist Oswald Bastable. It is an interesting glimpse into a possible present world, not driven by fossil fuel but by steam, electricity and airships. However, the glorious utopia is quickly dispelled by the notion that the ideological disparitirs are still very much alive. No utopia can end political, racial and economical conflicts, seething under the seemingly impro...more
Nov 24, 2009
Architeuthis
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1970s,
fiction-that-speculates
The Warlord of the Air is an early example of steampunkery, written in the early seventies. I've never read Michael Moorcock before, nor have I read much SF from the seventies. In fact, I haven't read much steampunk, either. So, that combination of factors may color my response to the book.
The story: guy goes to temple in India in 1902, gets transported to the same temple in the seventies. Gets picked up by an airship, and starts to realize where he is--well, WHEN he is, I guess. He discovers t...more
The story: guy goes to temple in India in 1902, gets transported to the same temple in the seventies. Gets picked up by an airship, and starts to realize where he is--well, WHEN he is, I guess. He discovers t...more
Moorcock takes me back to the days of my misspent youth. Summer days sitting in an old wing-backed chair, a book in my lap, and Tony Orlando bellowing Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree. I enjoyed the Elric of Melniboné saga and almost anything from the pen of Michael Moorcock.Like a blast from the past Titan Books will re-print some classic Moorcock steampunk, The Warlord of the Air.
If you are familiar with Moorcock’s eternal champions, you should see some familiar Moorcock magic. I’ve...more
If you are familiar with Moorcock’s eternal champions, you should see some familiar Moorcock magic. I’ve...more
Sep 23, 2012
Parson
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Moorcock fans, political science fiction fans
Shelves:
science-fiction
(As a side note, I read this while sick so I wasn't able to take more detailed notes for a more thorough review...)
For those who enjoy political science fiction, this is a good book to pick up. It reads very quickly. Some parts are a bit dragging -- held up in too much detail and/or side remarks -- but on the whole it was an enjoyable read.
In some ways, this book can be placed side-by-side with Animal Farm. Now, this is not a comparison as these two works are completely different beasts all toge...more
For those who enjoy political science fiction, this is a good book to pick up. It reads very quickly. Some parts are a bit dragging -- held up in too much detail and/or side remarks -- but on the whole it was an enjoyable read.
In some ways, this book can be placed side-by-side with Animal Farm. Now, this is not a comparison as these two works are completely different beasts all toge...more
После этого я оставил его и никогда больше не встречал.
Освальд Бастэйбл
После прочтения аннотации единственная мысль, жалобно трепетавшая в голове — это что за бред?!
Но повествование, стоит признать, не оставляет настолько бредового ощущения. Хотя «фантастическое допущение» - перемещение во времени — уж больно притянуто за уши. Ближе к концу складывается ощущение, что всё затевалось исключительно ради описания альтернативного варианта истории.
Мистер Бастэйбл упорно представляется в качестве эдак...more
Освальд Бастэйбл
После прочтения аннотации единственная мысль, жалобно трепетавшая в голове — это что за бред?!
Но повествование, стоит признать, не оставляет настолько бредового ощущения. Хотя «фантастическое допущение» - перемещение во времени — уж больно притянуто за уши. Ближе к концу складывается ощущение, что всё затевалось исключительно ради описания альтернативного варианта истории.
Мистер Бастэйбл упорно представляется в качестве эдак...more
May 09, 2013
Matti Karjalainen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
scifi,
1970-1999,
aikuiset,
kotikirjasto,
gbr-kans,
steampunk,
aikamatkailu,
vaihtoehtohistoria
Vuonna 1903 syrjäiselle saaripahaselle vetäytynyt englantilaismies saa oudon vieraan, joka kertoo tulevansa seitsemänkymmenen vuoden päästä tulevaisuudesta, aikakaudelta jolloin sodat ovat historiaa ja suurvallat ovat jakaneet maailman siirtomaihin, joita pidetään tiukassa otteessa lentävien ilmalaiva-armadoiden avustuksella.
Oswald Bastableksi esittäytyvä vieras alkaa kertoa tarinaansa, joka sisältää niin mielikuvituksellisia visioita, ettei voida varmuudella sanoa, ovatko ne vain oopiumilla mie...more
Oswald Bastableksi esittäytyvä vieras alkaa kertoa tarinaansa, joka sisältää niin mielikuvituksellisia visioita, ettei voida varmuudella sanoa, ovatko ne vain oopiumilla mie...more
First published on Radiant Attack - Sci fi, fantasy, weird and big freakin' squid
The rise and rise of steampunk has seen an almost astronomical amount of books featuring airship captains in battle for the sky. But in 1971 Michael Moorcock wrote the original airship novel, The Warlord of the Air. Moorcock’s novel, written under the guise of his fictional grandfather (also called Michael Moorcock), makes comment on colonialism and the alternate futures of the British colonies.
Taking the character...more
The rise and rise of steampunk has seen an almost astronomical amount of books featuring airship captains in battle for the sky. But in 1971 Michael Moorcock wrote the original airship novel, The Warlord of the Air. Moorcock’s novel, written under the guise of his fictional grandfather (also called Michael Moorcock), makes comment on colonialism and the alternate futures of the British colonies.
Taking the character...more
Aug 10, 2009
Leif Schenstead-Harris
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Steampunk lovers.
Hey man! Yeah! Moorcock can write more than just really good dark fantasy, he can write killer steampunk too. I was also surpised by the (at times transparent) ideas which he's working with - reading only Elric I had no idea of his political bent. Anyway, this short but still rambling "review" should convey to you that, while clumsy at times, this is still a really neat story of a (now classic?) steampunk setting. I would also think it's fairly influential, so if you're digging something like Al...more
I'm interested in the origins of the "Steampunk" genre and this novel is often cited as influential in that area. It's actually a trilogy gathered together as A Nomad of the Time Streams and consists of Warlord of the Air, The Land Leviathan, and The Steel Tsar. Moorcock seems to be channeling Edgar Rice Burroughs and Jules Verne as the narrative voice is very similar to those earlier works. It's really an alternate reality series (at least so far) and there's little attempt to explain how this...more
En ole itse aiemmin lukenut kovin paljon vaihtoehtohistoriaa, joten lähdin lukemaan Ilmojen sotaherraa uteliaana ja kiinnostuneena. En joutunut pettymään.
Pidin siitä, että kirjassa on aitoa seikkailun meininkiä. Kerronta on aika nopeatempoista, ja lyhyehkössä romaanissa ehtii tapahtua yllättävän paljon. Kapteeni Oswald Bastable seikkailee tulevaisuuden maailmassa, vaihtoehtoisessa vuodessa 1973. Hän näkee monenlaisia ihmeitä (etenkin ilmalaivoja!), kokee kaikenlaista ja joutuu miettimään mielipi...more
Pidin siitä, että kirjassa on aitoa seikkailun meininkiä. Kerronta on aika nopeatempoista, ja lyhyehkössä romaanissa ehtii tapahtua yllättävän paljon. Kapteeni Oswald Bastable seikkailee tulevaisuuden maailmassa, vaihtoehtoisessa vuodessa 1973. Hän näkee monenlaisia ihmeitä (etenkin ilmalaivoja!), kokee kaikenlaista ja joutuu miettimään mielipi...more
In general the book was more successful in its ideas than in its story: the author gets carried away with the description of life in alternate 1973 and the exploration of the results of unchecked imperialism, and then skimps on the story aspects of plot and character. Much of it felt cramped, with the Warlord of the title only appearing some two-thirds through, and then Bastable experiencing a relatively fast change of heart to join him. This conversion is shown in a compressed time scale withou...more
I've always liked Michael Moorcock's books. This is in the steampunk genre. He once again uses an eternal champion theme. This book takes place in an alternate 1973. It is a world where the 19th century has a strong influence. There have been no world wars and it is still an age of imperialism. The hero Oswald Bastable is thrown from his present day 1903 into this alternate 1973. The story keeps you interested and gets even better as the story progresses. This part of a trilogy called Nomad of t...more
I don't know about this one. I had to go out of my way to locate a copy, preferring, as I do, to buy my books from a store rather than online. At 160 pages it was a quick read, and even though there are more books in this series, I'm not that bothered to follow the story, if you catch my drift.
Set initially in 1903, then fast-forwarding to an alternate 1973, via some not very well explained time-travelling, Moorcock's book is both a science-fiction story and a postcolonial commentary. The langua...more
Set initially in 1903, then fast-forwarding to an alternate 1973, via some not very well explained time-travelling, Moorcock's book is both a science-fiction story and a postcolonial commentary. The langua...more
This review copy was provided by Titan Books, who just last month re-released this classic novel, originally published in the 70’s. Which I think is awesome, since Michael Moorcock is among those writers who stand accused of starting the whole steampunk thing.
The Warlord Of The Air is the story of Oswald Bastable, a man from 1902, who is mysteriously jolted out of his own time, and into the world of the (then) present, 1973. But this isn’t the 1973 that we all know and love. Oh no.
The British...more
The Warlord Of The Air is the story of Oswald Bastable, a man from 1902, who is mysteriously jolted out of his own time, and into the world of the (then) present, 1973. But this isn’t the 1973 that we all know and love. Oh no.
The British...more
Com a chancela da Saída de Emergência, chega-nos o primeiro livro de uma trilogia do aclamado autor britânico Michael Moorck, vencedor de um Nebula Award, dois World Fantasy Award e três prémios da British Fantasy Society. “O Senhor da Guerra dos Céus” foi publicado em 1971 (seguiram-se “The Land Leviathan” e “The Steel Tsar”) e é uma das provas de como este autor é um grande nome da Fantasia e Ficção Científica mundiais.
O livro começa com a recuperação de Michael Moorcok (supostamente o avô do...more
O livro começa com a recuperação de Michael Moorcok (supostamente o avô do...more
If you’re a fan of all things steampunk, if you write steampunk, and you’ve not read this book, then you are doing it wrong. Though it starts inauspiciously, with a dirigible dropping ballast to descend, Moorcock’s airship opera is a clever commentary on imperialism framed in the language of pulp fiction. In 1902, Oswald Bastable visits the Shangri-la-like lair of an evil Indian high priest. An earthquake strikes, destroying the lair, and somehow throwing Bastable forward in time to 1973. He is...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Mar 03, 2013
Eric Petersen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Eric by:
Bryan
Shelves:
2013-book-challenge
I've got to say, from the first introduction of Capt. Oswald the possibly mad opium addict, I was hooked into this book.
The often referenced Wells' pace, and the somewhat surprising always broad ranging social commentary were pleasant surprises. I found the dialogue and character interaction very fluid and natural, which again in a book this size, that covers so much and introduces an array of sub-characters, is very impressive.
Moorcock came highly recommended, and I am a passing this one on...more
The often referenced Wells' pace, and the somewhat surprising always broad ranging social commentary were pleasant surprises. I found the dialogue and character interaction very fluid and natural, which again in a book this size, that covers so much and introduces an array of sub-characters, is very impressive.
Moorcock came highly recommended, and I am a passing this one on...more
Liked this just fine. I read it because I was interested in Steampunk and this book made a lot of top ten lists. I found the style interesting in that I felt like I was reading a turn of the century novel. May have been a combination of the subject and the language of the time, and the fact that it was actually written in the seventies. I liked the time travel and alternate universes but felt that the social commentary was heavy handed in that typically seventies style.
An important 'proto-steampunk' novel. I read it when it was first published (so long ago ...) and I wondered how it would stand up on re-reading. I was pleased to see it did. Moorcock shows that this genre doesn't need to be uncritical about Victorian imperialism/colonialism, and indeed much of this splendid tale is a deep critique of this impulse. Still, lots of wonderful scene-setting, manners and airships.
Taken as fluffy steampunk, the novel works wonderfully. I envy this type of fantastical writing, where our hero stumbles into a cave or underground maze and emerges on Mars or in the future. How easy is that? The premise doesn't tax the brain too much: Captain Oswald Bastable, named from The Guidebook for Protagonist Nomenclature, survives an earthquake in 1902 to become a dirigible pilot in the far-flung future of 1973. Adventures ensue, but you had me at dirigibles.
Having not read this steampunk classic until now, it's easy to recognize the influence this novel had on the genre. It can be a touch on the dry side (there's obvious political commentary throughout), but there is plenty of adventure. Plus there is a big focus on airships, some of which are described in great detail. The overall plot is a what if/alternate history sort of thing, but it's well thought out and makes sense (in the steampunk universe, anyway). A cautionary tale, for sure, but a pret...more
I picked this one up as it is one of the earlier works of the Steampunk genre (it actually predates the coining of the term, if only by less than a decade).
It was very good. My only complaint is he plays fast and loose with the historical figures. People who died in the 1920’s are prominent in this books 1973 (Particularly Lenin & Korzeniowski).
Excellent book.
It was very good. My only complaint is he plays fast and loose with the historical figures. People who died in the 1920’s are prominent in this books 1973 (Particularly Lenin & Korzeniowski).
Excellent book.
An odd sort of anachronistic alternate world that fits peripherally into Moorcock's Eternal Champion "multiverse". Wasn't as impressed with it, but it's readable and if your really into the Eternal Champion Cycle you may want to hit every point.
Feb 03, 2013
Hearts On Fire Reviews
added it
Reviewed by:Mallory
Genre:Fiction/Historical/Science Fiction (Sci Fantasy)
Rated: 5 hearts
Check out the review at: Hearts On Fire Reviews
Genre:Fiction/Historical/Science Fiction (Sci Fantasy)
Rated: 5 hearts
Check out the review at: Hearts On Fire Reviews
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Michael John Moorcock is an English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels.
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956,...more
More about Michael Moorcock...
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956,...more
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Nov 24, 2009 05:32am
Thank-you R.-Anyuthing from Moorcock is of...more
Nov 24, 2009 05:40am