Romulus Buckle Returns
A reintroduction to Books 1-3 and the upcoming Book 4, ROMULUS BUCKLE AND THE GUNS OF THE BABYLON that will be highlighted on this platform.
Hello! It has been quite a while since the I’ve published an installment of my The Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin steampunk adventure series. There’s a story behind that, one I’ll save for my upcoming (yes, it is coming) podcast. As I plunge into book 4 (Romulus Buckle and the Guns of the Babylon) here on Substack, I figured I owed my previous readers something of a recap and any potential readers a sense of what the first trokia of books are like. Plus, you get an exclusive preview of the back cover blurb for Book 4. Best, Richard.
THE CHRONICLES OF THE PNEUMATIC ZEPPELIN
BOOK 1: ROMULUS BUCKLE AND THE CITY OF THE FOUNDERS
In a postapocalyptic world of endless snow, eighteen-year-old Captain Romulus Buckle and the stalwart crew of the Pneumatic Zeppelin must embark on a perilous mission to rescue their kidnapped leader, Balthazar Crankshaft, from the impenetrable City of the Founders.
Steaming over a territory once known as Southern California―before it was devastated in the alien war―Buckle navigates his massive airship through skies infested with enemy war zeppelins and ravenous alien beasties in this swashbuckling and high-octane steampunk adventure. Life is desperate in the Snow World, and death is quick. Buckle and his ship’s company must brave poisoned wastelands of noxious mustard and do battle with forgewalkers, steampipers and armored locomotives as they plunge from the skies into the underground prison warrens of the fortress city.
Captain Romulus Buckle must lead the Pneumatic Zeppelin and its crew of ne’er-do-wells on a desperate mission where he must risk everything to save Balthazar and attempt to prevent a catastrophic war which could wipe out all that is left of civilization and the entire human race. (Book available on Amazon)
Review: “Full of wit, verve, daring and inventiveness, Romulus Buckle and the City of the Founders is a wonderful read. You’ll love the fun and adventure, but you’ll become addicted to the great characters and mind-blowing steampunk situations. Richard Ellis Preston, Jr. is poised to become the Patrick O’Brian of the steampunk subgenre. A classic series in the making.” (Jeff VanderMeer, author of The Steampunk Bible and the Annihilation series).
BOOK 2: ROMULUS BUCKLE AND THE ENGINES OF WAR
The frozen wasteland of the Snow World—known as Southern California before an alien invasion decimated human civilization—is home to warring steampunk clans. Crankshafts, Imperials, Tinskins, Brineboilers, and many more vie for precious resources, struggle against ravenous mutant beasts for basic survival, and battle with the mysterious Founders clan for their very freedom.
Through this ruined world soars the Pneumatic Zeppelin, captained by the daring Romulus Buckle. In the wake of a nearly suicidal assault on the Founders’ city prison to rescue key military leaders, both the steam-powered airship and its crew are bruised and battered. Yet there’s little time for rest or repairs: Founders raids threaten to shatter the fragile alliance Buckle has risked everything to forge among the clans.
Even as he musters what seems a futile defense in the face of inevitable war, Buckle hears whispers that the most mysterious clan of all has imprisoned his long-lost sister in a secret location—and that she holds the ultimate key to victory over the Founders. But rescuing her means abandoning his allies—and hoping they survive long enough for there to be an alliance to return to. (Book available on Amazon)
BOOK 3: ROMULUS BUCKLE AND THE LUMINIFEROUS AETHER
Earth is an icy wasteland, devastated by an alien invasion hundreds of years before. Left with only steam power, the human survivors have formed into steampunk clans. And now these clans are at war. Reeling from a Founders clan invasion, Captain Romulus Buckle of the Pneumatic Zeppelin faces a desperate decision. Does he return home to bolster the Grand Alliance or attempt to rescue his sister, Elizabeth, who is prophesied to be the key to winning the war?
With only an ancient automaton and the words of a madman to guide him, Buckle leads an expedition to the mysterious underwater city of Atlantis, where mythical monsters and human treachery make every move perilous. (Book available on Amazon)
NOVELLA: AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
In the short story “An Officer and a Gentleman,” set as a prequel in the world of The Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin steampunk adventure series, the young Lieutenant Romulus Buckle faces his first great test under fire when his armed trader airship Bromhead is attacked and boarded by pirates. (Available on Amazon)
BOOK 4: ROMULUS BUCKLE AND THE GUNS OF THE BABYLON (Join Me as this one is Being Written!)
Taking place immediately after the end of Book 3, Romulus Buckle frantically tries to find a way to recover his lost crewmates left behind in Atlantis. A Founders war zeppelin pounces on the Pneumatic Zeppelin in a fog bank. Despite his confidence, Buckle finds himself outclassed: with his air machine damaged, he is forced to dock for repairs at a floating island of the Insulae.
Buckle discovers that the Captain of the Founders airship, The Babylon, has also docked his sky vessel at the Insulae to carry out repairs. The Insulae, despite being a rough sea-town catering to all manner of traders, pirates and villainy, upholds a strict policy of neutrality where those who break the peace are sent to the gallows. It is also a place rife with secrets for sale.
Buckle learns that Sabrina Serafim has been taken to The City of the Founders as a prisoner, the same place where his sister Elizabeth is rumored to be held. Unable to enter the Founder’s City without help, Buckle must risk his neck to win over unlikely (and sketchy) allies—and all while he’s dodging the guns of the pursuing Babylon.
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Not sure how substack works. Will I be able to download the new Romulus book to my eReader? How do I purchase it when it's finished?
Any plans for the last two books to be in audio book format ?