After the death of his brother-in-law Hugh in the 1871 Korean War, Professor Archibald Campion resolved to create a mechanical substitute for human solders so the senseless killing of war wouldn’t tear families apart. With the invention of a revolutionary new fuel cell, much experimentation and collaboration, Boilerplate was created. Introduced to the public at the 1893 World’s Fair to less fanfare then might be expected, Boilerplate began a romp through history that included breaking ice for the Euterpe in Antarctica, climbing the Golden Staircase in the Yukon, serving with the distinguished though little appreciated black Buffalo Solders and spiking the Paris Gun.
Ingenious use of Photoshop and spectacular illustrations seamlessly place Boilerplate in the midst of some of history’s most pivotal moments in a melding of fact and fiction. Filled with lavish artwork, Boilerplate is the detailed creation of husband and wife team Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett. Whether celebrating the first trans-Pacific telecommunication cable or joining Black Jack Pershing against Pancho Villa, Boilerplate presents a fresh view of history that will appeal to readers of all ages with a delightful blend of fact with tongue-in-cheek fiction. Be sure to check out the comprehensive time line located in the back of the book as well as the mechanical horse inventions that followed Boilerplate’s creation.
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