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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
The narrative begins sometime around the 1930s with the discovery by young journalist Howard Homfrey of survivors and descendants of a ship which ran aground in the Pacific in 1902. The first section of the novel then provides insight into the utopian society which has evolved, and which has also developed a number of technological marvels - including a form of television, electric roadways and 'private flyers' or aerials. Mail is also delivered by pneumatic tubes.
One of the Lava Islanders, Alan Edgecumbe, eventually accompanies Homfrey to Auckland, New Zealand, and later Sydney, where he later attracts the romantic attentions of Hortense Pelham, "a femme formidable and scientific genius' (Stone, p. 116), and who invents the most powerful explosive in existence.
During the course of the story a war between the Chinese and Americans breaks out, with Australia caught in the middle and attacked by Chinese forces which have access to formidable weapons (including laser-like heat rays). When Pelham finally realises that Edgecumbe is not interested in her she obliterates her mansion in an attempt to make people believe she is dead. While travelling through Arabia some time later Edgecumbe discovers that not only is she alive but has become the sorceress queen of a warlike tribe of Arabs. His presence and discovery eventually proves too much for Pelham and she "incinerates herself by a patent process of her own invention (p. 78)."
Notes
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Steampunk Note : Like many other works considered proto-steampunk, this novel presents a view of the potential technological future from the perspective of an author living in the Victorian/Edwardian era. It presents a Utopian society whose technological advances include a form of television, electric roadways, pneumatic tubes for mail delivery, and aerial travel. The figure of the "femme formidable and scientific genius" of the titular character is also an apt description of many of the heroines that would come to be common in steampunk texts.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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In Times to Come Again
2001
single work
review
— Appears in: Notes on Australian Science Fiction 2001; (p. 115-121)
— Review of Hortense : A Study of the Future. A Romance 1906 single work novel ; The Day After To-Morrow. 1911 single work novel ; The Electric Gun : A Tale of Love and Socialism 1911 single work novel ; The Angel of the Earthquake 1909 selected work novella ; Paying the Price 1907 single work novel ; Storm Bradley, Australian : A Story of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 1932 single work novel ; Sands o' the Desert 1913 single work novel ; Futurity: A Play of Tomorrow in Two Acts 1914 single work drama ; Fair Inez : A Romance of Australia 1918 single work novel ; Nicholas Simon : A Romance of Revolution 1915 single work novel ; The Great Untouched Future 1938 single work novel ; The Woman on the Beast : Viewed from Three Angles 1933 single work novel ; Boomerang 1932 single work novel -
Hortense: A Study of the Future
1907
single work
review
— Appears in: Otago Witness , 20 February 1907; (p. 78)
— Review of Hortense : A Study of the Future. A Romance 1906 single work novel -
Hortense : A Study of the Future
1907
single work
review
— Appears in: Border Watch , 16 February 1907; (p. 4)
— Review of Hortense : A Study of the Future. A Romance 1906 single work novel -
A Peep into the Future
1906
single work
review
— Appears in: Sydney Mail , 24 October 1906; (p. 11)
— Review of Hortense : A Study of the Future. A Romance 1906 single work novel
-
In Times to Come Again
2001
single work
review
— Appears in: Notes on Australian Science Fiction 2001; (p. 115-121)
— Review of Hortense : A Study of the Future. A Romance 1906 single work novel ; The Day After To-Morrow. 1911 single work novel ; The Electric Gun : A Tale of Love and Socialism 1911 single work novel ; The Angel of the Earthquake 1909 selected work novella ; Paying the Price 1907 single work novel ; Storm Bradley, Australian : A Story of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 1932 single work novel ; Sands o' the Desert 1913 single work novel ; Futurity: A Play of Tomorrow in Two Acts 1914 single work drama ; Fair Inez : A Romance of Australia 1918 single work novel ; Nicholas Simon : A Romance of Revolution 1915 single work novel ; The Great Untouched Future 1938 single work novel ; The Woman on the Beast : Viewed from Three Angles 1933 single work novel ; Boomerang 1932 single work novel -
Hortense: A Study of the Future
1907
single work
review
— Appears in: Otago Witness , 20 February 1907; (p. 78)
— Review of Hortense : A Study of the Future. A Romance 1906 single work novel -
A Peep into the Future
1906
single work
review
— Appears in: Sydney Mail , 24 October 1906; (p. 11)
— Review of Hortense : A Study of the Future. A Romance 1906 single work novel -
Hortense : A Study of the Future
1907
single work
review
— Appears in: Border Watch , 16 February 1907; (p. 4)
— Review of Hortense : A Study of the Future. A Romance 1906 single work novel
- Pacific Region,
-
Auckland,
Auckland (Region),
North Island,
cNew Zealand,cPacific Region,
- Sydney, New South Wales,
- Middle East, Asia,
- ca. 1930s