THE SERIES
The Second Age of Steam is a future brought about by powerful overlords that have banned the use of electricity. They keep this ban by the simple expediency of destroying any machine that generates electrical power. This state of affairs is constantly monitored by mysterious floating Sentinels, powered by a technology that is totally unknown to humanity.
Under these constraints, man has slowly replaced electrical machines with similar devices using steam power and clockwork with often surprising results. A side effect of this reduced technology is a re-emergence of Victorianism. Most notably brought about by clothes made using only natural materials instead of plastic and nylon, manual labour for menial tasks and the complete absence of telecommunications. These technological constraints also mean there is a lack of effective medical care, giving rise to the resurgence of Victorian values and mores; where a woman's honour must be protected from ignominy and disgrace, resulting in a return of the Gentleman and the Lady.
The Search for Cern
When a mysterious force destroys an experimental steam generator, it starts a chain of events that will see Henry Coombs leave the safe confines of his university and embark on a dangerous journey that will change his life. Aided and guided by the enigmatic Lady Grey, a woman whose past is longer than it appears, he searches for answers that may only be found at Cern; the fabled centre of knowledge believed to have been destroyed in the Great Event when electricity was banned. On this quest Henry gathers together a group of friends, all committed to discover the truth about the Great Event. It’s a quest that will take them to the Swiss Alps and expose them to the fatal threat of luddites.
The Secrets of Cern
Ten years after his previous adventure to discover the fantastical centre for science known as Cern, Henry Coombs is now a successful academic figure at Cambridge with the privilege of lecturing about the wonders of electricity to enthralled audiences but not everyone is happy with his new found fame. The Luddites are still hell bent on removing him from the scene, even if that means attacking an entire building to destroy him and his reputation. To recover and escape their assassination attempts, Henry decides to make good on a promise to himself and return to Cern to discover what secrets it may hold. It is a journey fraught with danger, intrigue and betrayal that threatens all of those who join him on this journey of discovery.