MONTGOMERY HARRIS
Steampunk Wordsmith
Steampunk Wordsmith
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It is 1857, and as the Gold Rush draws to an end, The Age Of The Navigator begins!
As the world embraces the power of steam, great changes are afoot. The greatest tinkers of the age race to build the perfect All Terrain Amphibious Steam Vehicles, essential for the exploration of a largely uncharted world. Following the sinking of the S.S. Central America, a forward thinking young heiress sees the potential of Navigators for safe travel across the wild territories of North America. A call goes out around the world, inviting Tinkers and mechanics to test their machines in a great transcontinental rally.
Yet, with all great inventions, intended for peace and good, there are those who use these exploration machines for manipulation, conquest, and harm. Tinkers, Engineers and Mechanics and their machines must prepare to face an evil which lurks in the shadows. What starts with rumor will reveal enemy, intent on replacing freedom with a new draconian regime. Only those who resist will stand for Liberty will be ready to fight at the dawning of the “Age of the Navigator’.
Book One: An incident of Impetus is available now on Amazon
Upcoming bppks in the age of the Navigator Series.
Age of the Navigator Universe
Dawn of The Navigator Trilogy
An Incident of Impetus
PHD, Finance
Tinkers, Detectives, Soldiers and spies
PHD, Chemistry
A Travail of Trial and Tribulation
Novella One
One of several Prequel Novellas, Feast, Famine and Felony gorse back to the events in which the world’s most wanted thief, Le Reynard, becomes a spy for the British Empire. Set in 1846, over a decade before the sinking of the SS Central America, this novella gives insight to a more daring and less guarded Le Reynard!
Status/ In Alpha Read
Cover Reveal: Jul 1st 2024
Pre-Orders Open Jul 1st 2024
Expected Release: August 1st 2034
The Great Transcontinental North American Navigator Rally Trilogy
An Incident of Impetus
PHD, Finance
Tinkers, Detectives, Soldiers and spies
PHD, Chemistry
Feast, Famine and Felony
Novella One
One of several Prequel Novellas, Feast, Famine and Felony gorse back to the events in which the world’s most wanted thief, Le Reynard, becomes a spy for the British Empire. Set in 1846, over a decade before the sinking of the SS Central America, this novella gives insight to a more daring and less guarded Le Reynard!
Status/ In Alpha Read
Cover Reveal: Jul 1st 2024
Pre-Orders Open Jul 1st 2024
Expected Release: August 1st 2034
Introducing The Navigator-verse
Like most story ideas, the concept of the Age of The Navigator began with a question of “What If?. What if there was a Race of Steampunk Vehicles from Philadelphia to New York? The concept grew, inspired by the Movie ‘The Greatest Race” and real world races like the London to Brighton Vintage Car Rally. There was that word-Rally. Growing up in England, where car racing is almost a religion, I had always been inspired by the Lombard RAC Rally, The Paris Dakar Rally, The Pike Peak Hill Climb and the other classic Endurance Rally, to name but a few. Soon an idea was growing far beyond that of a romp through the Poconos and the Old York Road. I wanted a variety of terrain, and such a variety would have to be found in history; it would also need to be an alternative history. The original concept was for a modern day race with Steampunk Enthusiasts, but If I was going to have a Ralloy across the United States, it needed to be something more.
“Imagine, if you will, a road of multiple railways. Each line, a path begins from the same point, and ending in the distant future, but each lane is affected by different bumps, cracks and camber. Some lanes may merge for short periods of time, and diverge. Some may be washed away, unable to proceed until such damage has been repaired, or vehicles created to carry the traveler forward. Now imagine the technology exists which allows us to jump from one track to another, and travel backwards and forwards along those tracks, warning others of what may lie on the road ahead. Yet, there is a discovery made when these rails are traversed. They are a found to be heading to the same destination, but, the destination is one in flux. Roads to our Right are more positive, roads to our left are increasingly negative; travel far enough in ether latitude and you will discover either dystopia or Utopia. That, my dear Miss Cochran, is where we find not only our alternative history, and our alternative future, but the switches which can merge the lines, saving not our future, but the future of all forms of ourselves.” Mister Herbert
However, I needed a place into me to start my story, a time where such fantastic steam vehicles may have been built capable from traveling from the Atlantic sea board to the Pacific sea board may have existed. The United States was connected by rail was on May 10th, 1869 at the location of Promontory, Utah. Following a three month rabbit-hole of research, I decided that in a universe only ‘one lane’ to our right, and what reasons may have motivated the reason for such a Great North American Transcontinental Rally. Once I read more into the “S.S. Cemtral America the decision for my start point was made. September 12th, 1857, the date of the worst shipping disaster to that point in U.S. History.
But what of the Vehicles?
As a former British Soldier, I was always fascinated by Amphibians Vehicles, and to cross two-thousand Miles of American Wilderness, a vehicle would most certainly require the ability to work on both Water and Land. Tanks, The DUKW, Hovercraft and the Amphibious Assault Vehicle operated by the United States Marine Corps all have routes in thee 19th Century. The first Amphibious Vehicle was I in fact created in Philadelphia by Oliver Evans in 1805. The idea of a vehicle capable of navigating across multiple terrains was not only possible, they did exist in this time period. In a moment of inspired originality, I decided on the name ‘Navigator for such vehicles. In order to cross the United States in less than a month, for a steam vehicle, I set out with only three specifications in mind: Capable of travelling 150 miles a day, at an average of 30 miles per hour; be an All-Terrain, Amphibious Vehicle; and be less than perfect. If a race was to be conducted with perfect vehicles, it would be far from perfect, which is why Rally will always be better than Formula One.
Everything else I researched, imagined or designed is for the characters to show you, rather than I tell you, as you experience the Age of The Navigator.
The series of Age of the Navigator
- Dawn of the Navigator Trilogy
- The Great North American Transcontinental Rally Trilogy
- where Nations and Navigators should never go Penology
- The Sky Guardian Trilogy
- The Le Reynard Trilogy
- The Age of the Navigators Adventures Series
Dawn of The Navigator
Phase One of the Age of the Navigator consists of a core trilogy and accompanying Adventure and companion series novels. The Dawn of the Navigator series begins in September of 1857 and leads us to the eve of the Great North American Transcontinental Rally, the rise of the Eight threaded knot and introduces the crews of the twelve Navigators that will take part in the race across a continent. Although the Age of the Navigator focuses on Dale Beechman and Garrison Wades struggles, theree are many more tales which involve the crews of other fantastic machines.
From the frozen mountains of the Arctic Circle, to the blistering heat of the deserts, the roaring and unforgiving Oceans, to the sprawling prairies of North America, the Dawn of the Navigator Series sees friends and strangers form a bond around their goal of a safe crossing between California and the cities of the east.
The Great North American Transcontinental Rally Trilogy
Twelve teams from America, Europe, Asia and Australia, and Africa Ahead of them a seven thousand mile journey where survival will be as much a struggle as the race itself. Twelve crews from around the world all seeking a prize beyond the imagination. of many. For others, wining will bring greater rewards of freedom
For many, the Race is only secondary to their aim, for where there are Navigators, the is the Eight Threaded Knot, and their desire to control technology for their own dastardly plans. For Dale Beechman and Garrison Wade, the risks are absolute.
Where nations and Navigators should never tread
Phase thee of the Age of the Navigator Series is currently in Research and Development. However, outlines are set, and this will be an epic tale of Adventure, love and loss, joy and sorrow, and a dramatic conclusion to the Age of the Navigator Series. Each of the five books in this series will focus on the five main Characters of the series: Garrison Wade, Dale Beechman, Lily Primrose, the Royal Twins and Le Reynard as they make their stand against the might of the Eight Threaded Knot and halt their rise to power. More details will follow. The tentative release date for this series is summer of 2030.
The Sky Guardians Trilogy
In this accompanying series to the Age of the Navigator, the story follows the crew of the United States Coastal Guardian Service Life Savers Division Women’s Balloon Auxiliary and the newly formed High Altitude Reconnaissance Patrol Squadron. In a trilogy that stretches from Lily Primrose’s early days as a Midshipman 4, the Mexican American War and all of her daring rescues, her crew mates and her path to the most decorated Aeronaut in history.
The Le Reynard Trilogy
Le Reynard, the ambitious thief turned reluctant spy, recalls her adventures as she embarks on what she hopes will be her final mission. Her penance of indentured servitude to Queen Victoria will give her the freedom to finally allow herself to love and enjoy a life free of the demmands of the British Empire. With the mission ahead, she will need to draw on all of her skills and experience to survive the dreaded enemy, The eight Thrteaded knot. Her battle, however, will be against the demons of her past as much as the fors of the present.
The Age of the Navigator Adventures
Although there is no planned release schedule, there are a number of short stories involving the crews and the secondary character who appear throughout the series. These stories will appear as either prequels, set within the storyline of the core Age of the Navigator novels or, in a few cases, sequels. Some will be novellas, others short stories, so will be free to loyal subscribers of the Order of the Delectable Nutsacks- The Age of the Navigator Facebook Group. All will be great enhancement to the Age of the Navigator Universe.
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