The Mechanical Messiah and Other Marvels of the Modern Age: A Novel

Colonel Katterfelto has lately returned to London. He departed America under something of a cloud ... of smoke, issuing from his Spiritual Laboratory, which the townsfolk of Wormcast, Arizona, marched upon with their flaming torches.This catastrophic conflagration caused considerable concern to the pious colonel, who had been engaged in the creation of 'Heaven's last and best gift to Mankind', The Mechanical Messiah. And he was, after all, being guided in this Great Work by holy angels, communicating to him through his monkey butler, Darwin.It is 1897, twelve years since The War of the Worlds and two since Worlds War Two*.The British Empire encompasses Mars, and an uneasy peace exists between the peoples of Venus, Jupiter and Earth.In London there are many marvels of the modern age to be experienced.Amongst these is The Electric Alhambra Music Hall, where crowds thrill to The Earl Grey Whistle Test, a musical extravaganza featuring such top turns as Hayward's Acrobatic Kiwis, The Trave