Prepare to be afraid! The Halloween Issue of the Primgraph out now!

Welcome to Issue 8 of The Primgraph - and this time we are indulging our tastes for ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night to celebrate Halloween!

There's a splendid ghost story from the distinguished pen of Mr Aeolus Cleanslate - a tale of mysterious happenings deep below the grimy pavements of New Babbage. The redoubtable Frau Annechen Lowey continues her exploration of the Etiquette of the Steamlands by explaining how to deal with that unfortunate group of Society, the Undead. Miss Ceejay Writer tackles the Victorian Supernatural in Literature, while our intrepid photographer, Mr PJ Trenton, (more used to dodging unexpected explosions in Caledon-on-Sea and rather more expected explosions in New Babbage) has been out and about exploring spooky places in the Steamlands. And Miss Alesia Markstein provides a fascinating account of the Victorian Seance which you will not want to miss!

Our focus of the month is on the sinisterly beautiful Dark Victorian regions of Winterfell: the four areas known as Laudanum, Absinthe, Aramanthine and Anodyne. Mr Jvstin Tomorrow has explored them for us, While Miss Scotti Lyle has a feature on Port Aramantine and its guardian, Miss Uni Ninetails. Miss Viv Trafalgar has an interview with the guardian of Winterfell, The Senschelf herself Miss Serra Anansi (who has kindly supplied information about the very special Winterfell Library). Frau Annechen Lowey gives us the background to Winterfell, and the novels which inspired it.

And we have Episode 3 of our exciting new web comic - The Quest for the Golden Prim. Our heroine, Miss Annabella Scott, is determined to keep her mysterious meeting with the Librarian - but she is quite unaware of the danger into which she is walking.... And we will be meeting not only people familiar to us from Episode 2 (such as those dastardly pirates and their accomplices) ... but some new characters as well: Nan's best friend, Minnie Rowbottom; Emily Lockhart, cub reporter on The Primgraph; and the mysterious man who helps our friends at the library. To say nothing of the man who comes to Nan's rescue ... and why does the gallant Ralph Montcalm seem to dislike him so?

We have a range of news stories, thanks to diligent correspondents ... such as the results of the Caledon Rose-Growing Competition (sponsored by The Primgraph) and the Opening of the Primgraph Press in Caledon Glengarry. There's also news of new and fascinating regions in the Steamlands, such as Steelhead Shanghai, and the Rise of Serenissima, while we have the exciting tale of the Fall and Rise of Armada Breakaway. Learn of Charitable Endeavours in the Steamlands with the forthcoming Booby Ball and the Shirtless Calendar. Society news has come of a Royal Wedding in Antiquity - and a somewhat unexpected wedding planned in New Babbage. We hear of a new exhibition the the Western lands of Deadwood, while in Caledon we mourn the passing of the Botanical House and thrill to the tale of a Giant Ape on the Loose amid the dreaming spires of Caledon Oxbridge.

There are other articles too: a fascinating account of the artist Miss Brigid Ashwood by Natania Baron. Miss Kembri Tomsen supplies a round up of some of the new autumn fashions, while Miss Naergilien Wunderlich presents an enthralling history of mourning dress. In addition our Lady of Propriety (or our Lady of Correctitude, as a wonderful double-translation of our introduction to Issue 6 would have it - do read here) advises on the correct way to behave if kidnapped by some unscrupulous villain - advice that may be sorely needed in the wilder reaches of the Steamlands!

We have more of our classic serial, The Mysteries of London, as well as another extract from that fascinating documentary record: Henry Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor, building up a detailed picture of Victorian life in a great city....

And, above all, we welcome Miss Terry Lightfoot, the enormously talented designer, who has made the whole magazine quite breathtakingly lovely!

So, with no shortage of fascinating articles and beautiful illustrations supplied by our brilliantly talented team, we welcome you to this eighth issue of The Primgraph.

How do I get my copy of The Primgraph?
Well, there are various ways to get The Primgraph!

You could buy a copy from xStreetSL to be delivered to you inworld.

Best of all, you can join our Subscribe-o-Matic group, which will deliever the magazine to you automatically when it is published. The Subscribe-o-Matic kiosks are located in historical and steampunk sims across Second Life (for example, you’ll find ones at all the Caledon infohubs). And if you can’t find one in your favourite sim, why not ask the owner to install one?

You will also find them at the Prim Perfect offices in Oliveto.

But if you prefer to read the magazine online but not inworld, there are choices too. Firstly, there’s the wonderful Calaméo system, which allows you to moves smoothly through the pages, giving you the feeling of reading a real magazine. You’ll find Issue 8 here – and please do leave a comment!

But, if you like to download your magazines to read as you commute to work, or in the bath, or wherever, you can also obtain a standard pdf for downloading and printing.

So, really, you have no excuse for not reading The Pimgraph. In fact, why aren’t you reading it now?

A Marriage in Babbage has been arranged ...

Our Social Correspondent writes:
Weddings do seem in the air at the moment! Those attending the recent Engineers' Formal Soot Ball in New Babage, held at Piermont Landing, Wheatstone Waterways under the gracious aegis of Miss Breezy Carver - one her her themed monthly balls in New Babbage - were quite stunned to be informed of the engagement of that notorious evil overlord well-known member of the community, Doctor Obolensky, and a relative newcomer (we believe) to New Babbage, the charming Miss Obedience Mactavish.


The wedding, we believe, will take place on Saturday 31st October - which may strike some as surprising, but presumably not the residents of Babbage who will hold proudly by the city's motto: "What could possibly go wrong?"

Competition for places as flower girls is expected to be fierce - possibly fatal in some cases. The happy couple have not yet announced which store will be hosting their wedding list.

The Primgraph Summer Garden Party

Here is your invitation to the Primgraph Summer Garden Party!

It will take place from 2 - 4pm on Saturday 29th August, at The Primgraph Press, Caledon Glengarry, and music will be supplied by the velvet-toned Mr Elrik Merlin.

In addition to music and dancing, there will be a chance to meet members of the cast of the web comic - The Quest for the Golden Prim - and discover some interesting information about the story!

This event also marks the opening of The Primgraph Press itself - and our offices will be open for you to explore!

Finally, we will be announcing the results of the First Annual Caledon Rose-Growing Competition, sponsored by the Primgraph - so don't miss it!

And remember - there is still time to vote in the competition before tomorrow.

The Caledon Rose-Growing Competition

The Primgraph, sister magazine to Prim Perfect, are proud to announce their sponsorship of The Caledon Rose-Growing Competition!

To celebrate the launch of our summer issue, we are holding the competition in the grounds of The Primgraph Press in Caledon Glengarry.

This competition (we hope the first of an annual event) is being staged in order to find the best roses in the Steamlands and beyond! In other words, it is open to ALL merchants, residents and rose growers everywhere.

Categories*:
Single Roses (no more than 35 prims per rose)
Rosebushes (no more than 15 prims per bush)

How to enter:
To enter, please place your rose in one of the compartments of the flowerbed (if a bush) or in a vase on one of the tables (if a single rose) in the grounds of The Primgraph Press in Caledon G;lengarry. Kindly enter your name into the titler (available in the information box at the Press) and place it behind your entry.

Then register for voting by clicking on one of the two voting boards (located above the front wall of the Press).
PINK BOARD for the SINGLE rose category
BLUE BOARD for the ROSEBUSH category

Entries must be in place before 12 midnight, Tuesday 25th August.

Voting will take place between 1am SLT Wednesday 26th and 1pm SLT Saturday 29th August

Results announced at The Primgraph Summer Garden Party 2:00 – 4:00 pm SLT, Saturday 29 August – in the grounds of the Primgraph Press, Caledon Glengarry: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Glengarry/59/141/24

*A third category will be part of the Primgraph’s web comic, The Quest for the Golden Prim. This category is not open to the public.

Any queries, IM Saffia Widdershins OR Aisling Sinclair OR Ceejay Writer

Issue 7 of the Primgraph out now!

Issue 7 of The Primgraph is now available - and this time we are celebrating the summer by taking a trip to the sea-side!And there has been no shortage of exciting events in the vintage and steampunk sims recently ... We bring you news of the late Upheaval in New Babbage (the full tale of which we covered on our new aethernet weblog . We also have information about the Grand Tour for Relay For Life and Steampunk Builds at Second Life Sixth Birthday - as well as coverage of the Tinies' Dogfight that formed a component of the Summer of Flight.

And very dear to our own hearts has been the opening of the new Primgraph offices, which will be celebrated officially after the publication of the magazine!


But the excitement seems to attend The Primgraph staff (especially our gallant photographer-in-chief, Mr PJ Trenton). Indeed, when Mr Trenton and I went to the delightful region of Caledon on Sea for no more hazardous an undertaking than a simple photoshoot, bombs suddenly started raining down all around us ... Later we learned that this was fall-out from the explosion of a full tank on an island in the Firth. Nevertheless, it heightened our conviction that we are front-line reporters and photographers at The Primgraph - and that bringing you all the latest news can be a hazardous occupation!

In this issue, we're visiting the seaside region of Caledon south of the Firth, a collection of four rather different areas, linked by a common seafront. From the bustle of Port Caledon, we move to look at the decidedly more dramatic coastal landscape of Caledon Highlands, and then on to the elegancies of Caledon Cay, before encountering the traditional Victorian seaside features of Caledon on Sea. Miss Viv Trafalgar reviews the different areas for our delectation, while Miss Ceejay Writer presents a view of the traditional Victorian seaside holiday. Frau Annechen Lowey surveys seaside fashions for the bold as the Jaegers take to water sports, and fashions for the ladies are considered by Miss Kembri Tomsen. Miss Alesia Markstein presents a history of steamships, while Mr Jvstin Tomorrow visits one of the best-loved buildings in Caledon Cay, the Botanical House, and looks into the history of glasshouses and botanical gardens.

And we have Episode 2 of our exciting new web comic - The Quest for the Golden Prim. In this episode we will meet further characters - and discover some of those whom the Librarian, the Keeper of Secrets himself, has summoned to a dark and secret meeting ... but why?

There are other articles too: Miss Naergilien Wunderlich presents a history of corsetry, while Sir JJ Drinkwater supplies information about the Caledon Libraries. Frau Annechen Lowey is once more on hand to advise on ettiquette in the Steamlands, this month tackling the knotty question of titles. Meanwhile, our Lady of Propriety offers advice on the delicate question of photographic modeling (such as that being undertaken by young ladies whose likenesses are appearing in The Quest for the Golden Prim).

We have more of our classic serial, The Mysteries of London, and details of new acquisitions from the library, as well as another extract from that fascinating documentary record: Henry Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor, building up a detailed picture of Victorian life in a great city....

So, with no shortage of fascinating articles and beautiful illustrations supplied by our brilliantly talented team, we welcome you to this seventh issue of The Primgraph.


How do I get my copy of The Primgraph?
Well, there are various ways to get The Primgraph!

You could buy a copy from xStreetSL to be delivered to you inworld.

Best of all, you can join our Subscribe-o-Matic group, which will deliever the magazine to you automatically when it is published. The Subscribe-o-Matic kiosks are located in historical and steampunk sims across Second Life (for example, you’ll find ones at all the Caledon infohubs). And if you can’t find one in your favourite sim, why not ask the owner to install one?

You will also find them at the Prim Perfect offices in Oliveto.

But if you prefer to read the magazine online but not inworld, there are choices too. Firstly, there’s the wonderful Calaméo system, which allows you to moves smoothly through the pages, giving you the feeling of reading a real magazine. You’ll find Issue 7 here – and please do leave a comment!

But, if you like to download your magazines to read as you commute to work, or in the bath, or wherever, you can also obtain a standard pdf for downloading and printing.

So, really, you have no excuse for not reading The Pimgraph. In fact, why aren’t you reading it now?

The Primgraph is looking for a graphic designer!

The Primgraph is looking for a Graphic Designer to join an amazing team!

This is a rare opportunity to work with one of the most highly regarded and fastest growing media groups within Second Life. Prim Perfect Publications consists of three distinct productions: The Primgraph (Second Life vintage and steampunk magazine), Prim Perfect magazine (Second Life's premier home and gardens magazine), and Designing Worlds (the Treet TV show for design and designers in virtual worlds).

We wish to hire an energetic, enthusiastic, and proactive individual who can be part of the team responsible for designing and laying out The Primgraph to create new editions of this stunning magazine, which is scheduled to appear every six weeks.

The successful candidate will have attitude, aptitude, and appetite. A proven ability to meet deadlines is essential.

You will be a creative person with a flair for magazine design. You will have the flexibility to work with different writers and photographers, and the organisation skills to work to a set schedule.

You will work both independently and with the various production and editorial teams, so good communication skills are a must.

Job responsibilities include: laying out the magazine using an high-end DTP package*; assigning photographers to stories; taking the odd photograph yourself when needed; assigning different level of advertising space throughout the magazine and integrating it within the layout.

* we would strongly prefer the successful candidate to use Adobe InDesign.

Knowledge of DTP and Photoshop are essentials, as is experience in RL print and/or online rich content design. Knowledge of steampunk and Victorian design would be an advantage.

Applicants should have at least six months experience in Second Life. Applicants should have real life experience of the design process and key issues affecting designers.

Payment will be on a profit share basis.

Applicants should apply in writing to primperfect@gmail.com, giving:

Avatar Name:
Rezz Date:
Employment experience in Second Life:
Any real life experience you believe may be relevant:
Why you believe you are a suitable candidate for this position:
The names and contact details of two SL referees:

CLOSING DATE: August 31st. Successful applicants will be asked to complete a design task and to attend an interview.

For more information about Prime Perfect Publications and The Primgraph see:
http://www.primperfect.net/ and http://www.primgraph.com/

Mysteries of the Vernian Deep

There have been an increasing number of reports of strange sightings in the Vernian Sea around Babbage in recent weeks. Unusual beings, things going missing. In a particularly intersting occurence it seems that one of the metallic guards that stood over Babbage during the occupancy has been found by Miss Wolf Copperfield, on the ocean floor. No one seems to be able to account for its presence, nor the increasing pile of detritus that is gathering about it.

In the public interest I have decided to undertake a detailed investigation of this area. Over the coming days, I will report back on the exciting mysteries of the Vernian Deep

your faithful correspondent

Beq Janus

(( Link to Wolf's discovery))

Farewell, Drottningholm Palace

(Photographs for this article by Mr PJ Trenton. More may be seen here)

Today, in very sad news, we learned of the disappearance of Drottningholm Palace, one of the most beautiful of the 18th century sims.


Set in 1778 in one of the most beautiful of the Swedish royal palaces (now, in real life, a UNESCO Heritage Site), it was a gloriously finished sim. It is featured, exuberantly, on the login page as one of the positive highlights of Second Life, and was our Region of the Month in Issue 5 of The Primgraph.


When we visited, we had a delightful reception, and certainly found it to be one of the most welcoming of the 18th century sims. There was a great deal of lively roleplay to be found there, and a willingness to share with newcomers that gave us great hope for the future. So too did the extension into a new sim, Drottningholm Old Town, which offered the chance of residential accommodation.


However, over the last few weeks, Drottningholm seems to have been struggling. There were several high profile departures by well-established characters, and suggestions of a rift between the owners and managers of the two different sims. This culminated in today's announcement that the Palace sim has been deleted by its owner, who has decided to leave Second Life.


The future of Drottningholm Old Town also seems in some doubt. The town was always intended to act as a residential area to support the Palace, and now that has been lost, a time for reappraisal of its aims may be needed. We have already heard talk of the sim being incorporated into a new area which will be based around the Republic of Venice in its 18th century heyday as Las Serenissima. But, obviiously, there will need to be a time for reflection and consultation first.


What is certain is that the closure of the Palace happened with great suddeness for the majority of people involved and has caused considerable disappointment and distress from people who felt that they had made a considerable investment of time and energy there. The owners, of course, had the right to remove their creation at any point, as they have done, but one thinks with respect of New Babbage which had such a civilised handover (and involved its citizens in a great roleplay of the election of the new Mayor). It seems the greatest of shames that some arrangement proved impossible for Drottningholm Palace.

Armada Burning

Armada before the Catastrophe: Photo by Mr PJ Trenton

Alarming Reports have reached us of a Catastrophe that has claimed the stunningly beautiful region of Armada Breakaway, the city built on ships. We have received the attached film from Miss Koshari Mahana and a report from Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander, of the Consulate of Europa Wulfenbach.

Film Supplied by Miss Koshari Mahana

It had been reported that a storm was approaching Armada. Despite this, citizens of the Steamlands were invited to participate in a social event ... (the editor must remark, in passing, how often, in the face of disaster, the inhabitants of the Steamlands choose to dance ... ).

Dancing Before the Disaster
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

Let the Baron take up the story:

The Vice Consul (Frau Annechen Lowey) and I arrived around 1pm that afternoon to help with possible storm damage. It was as powerful a hurricane as I'd ever seen, but the eye was both curiously stable and stationary -- we never even saw rain.

Armada before the Catastrophe:The Eye of the Storm
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

After some time, this mysterious trio of storm dragons appeared from the waters below the city.

The Dragons Attack
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

The fires they set were too extensive and too fast-spreading for the few of us to fight efficiently.

The Dragons Attack
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

The only equipment to hand were some fire extinguishers, as all the water-pumps and even larger bilge pumps had been salvaged away from possible storm loss.

Fire Extinguishers Utilised Against the Conflagration
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

Even some of our more reality-fluid companions, who were able to shapeshift into dragons themselves, were not able to hamper the flames using ice-breath.

A Draconic Attempt at Defence

Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

One of the most touching views as the buildings collapsed around our floating platform was spying through a glass the New Babbage Embassy, little flag still waving proudly as the decking collapsed beneath it. Somehow it remained balanced on unseen supports until the very end.

The Gallant New Babbage Embassy
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

After some time of watching the destruction around us, it became almost numbing to watch one hull after another disintegrate and sink beneath the waves.

Armada Burning
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

Fraulein Okeanos Magic, a relative of some of my staff, braved the debris field at the bottom of the sea to see the remains first-hand.

Flames beneath the Waves
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

The spirits of the survivors remained surprisingly high all during the collapse of Armada - they danced in the face of disaster.

Dawn brings a More Beneficent Dragon
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

Finally, the storm dissolved around us as dawn broke over a clear and very bare ocean.The Aftermath

Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

I commend the Thursdays, Herr Weka, Herr Icthus, the missing Herr Streeter and of course Fraulein Trafalgar for not only creating a fascinating place initially, but for bravery in the face of disaster and courageous leadership through storm and flame alike.

A Year and a Day Ago ...

... a new magazine was launched.

It had a sepia cover, rendered as an old photgraph, and it was intended to bring entertainment and information to the vintage and steampunk sims. It featured the region of Caledon Penzance, with accounts of the varied attractions there - and aimed to bring a new type of reportage to the grid.

The editrix and designer was Miss Alesia Markstein, the advertising and client relations manager was Miss Diva Regina, and the publisher and lead reporter was Miss Saffia Widdershins.

One year later, a great deal has changed. Miss Markstein and Miss Regina have moved on to other things, and The Primgraph is now is the hands of a very capable team of writers and photographers. Miss Elegia Underwood has stepped into Miss Regina's shoes, Miss Wren Carling is currently our wonderfully talented designer, and Miss Saffia Widdershins has taken over as editrix.

Over the last year, there have been six issues, covering the regions of caledon Penzance, the French Baroque Coeurs, the late nineteenth century town of Steelhead, the Western town of Tombstone, the Swedish Baroque court of Drottningholm and the steampunk town of New Babbage. But as well as that, there have been thrilling serials, articles on fashion, history, technology (particularly steam technology), advice of ettiquette and information on the Alexandrian Libraries - as well as, increasingly, news and photographs of exciting events in different sims. And now we have a web comic too!

Our subscribers have grown enormously too over the last year. Direct subscribers now number over 4,000 - and that is not counting those who download the magazine from the web, either as a pdf or as an easy to read Calameo magazine.

And shortly our seventh edition will be appearing, focusing on the Caledon seaside sims.

Truly, it has been an exciting and incredibly successful year for The Primgraph. Here's to the next one!

Story-telling with Saffia at the CocoJava Cafe

Miss Ceejay Writer of the Cocojava Cafe is pleased to announce what it is hoped will be the first Story-telling evening at the CocoJava Cafe in Babbage Palisade, to take place on Friday 24th July at 4pm SLT.

The story-teller will be Miss Saffia Widdershins, who will be telling a story of her own devising - one of her Tales of the Dardoli*.

The cafe (a popular hunt for New Babbage residents, including the Mayor who can often be found there ... resting after a hard day's labour). In addition to other events held there, a recent gathering for silent work proved a great success, and Miss Writer, the proprietress, hopes that other varied events will find an audience.

*To learn who (or what) the Dardoli are, Miss Widdershins idicates that you should come to the reading!

H.P. Blavatsky Memorial Branch Library

The Caledon Library is very pleased to introduce its most recent addition, the H.P. Blavatsky Memorial Branch Library, located at Adocentyn Tower, in Caledon Wellsian. The Blavatsky branch, under the very able curation of Miss Aevalle Galicia, houses works on 19th century Spiritualism, along with sundry related materials.

H.P. Blavatsky Memorial Branch Library
Adocentyn Tower, Caledon Wellsian
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Wellsian/175/18/43

Currently, the collection rejoices in some two hundred and fifty aetheric texts, including books, articles, and letters, spread over thirty volumes in seven bookcases. Visitors are cordially invite to linger and peruse the stacks, or take copies home with them. Bookcases are organized by theme, and volumes are generally by a single author. Books in each volume are arranged alphabetically to allow for easier scanning and selection.



Herein follows a listing of the works at the Blavatsky branch, by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky:

The Original Programme of The Theosophical Society
H. P. Blavatsky to the American Conventions

Appendix On Dreams
Esoteric Instructions
Gems From The East: A Birthday Book of Precepts and Axioms

The Theosophical Glossary
Nightmare Tales
From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan
Other Writings from Blavatsky's Hand
Articles by H.P. Blavatsky

A Modern Panarion: A Collection Of Fugitive Fragments

The Theosophist A Monthly Journal Devoted to Oriental Philosophy, Art, Literature and Occultism: Embracing Mesmerism, Spiritualism, and Other Secret Sciences

Five Years Of Theosophy
Theosophical Articles and Notes
The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis Of Science, Religion, And Philosophy
Isis Unveiled: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology
The Key To Theosophy
The Voice Of The Silence
The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett

Letters of H.P. Blavatsky

Some Unpublished Letters Of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to Her Family in Russia

The Letters Of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett

Some Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to W. Q. Judge

Collected Writings Vol I
Collected Writings Vol II
Collected Writings Vol III
Collected Writings Vol IV
Collected Writings Vol V
Collected Writings Vol VI
Collected Writings Vol VII
Collected Writings Vol VIII
Collected Writings Vol IX
Collected Writings Vol X
Collected Writings Vol XI
Collected Writings Vol XII
Collected Writings Vol XIII
Collected Writings Vol XIV
Collected Writings Vol XV/Index

The Pride and the Passion: Counter Revolution in the state formerly known as New Babbage

Since the start of the Recent Unpleasantness in New Babbage (now known as Obolenskidonia, our correspondent, Beq Janus, has been sending dispatches from the front line. In addition, Miss Saffia Widdershins has managed to obtain interviews with an individual known only as T, a leading member of the Resistance, and with the de facto ruler, Doctor Obolenski himself. Photographs by PJ Trenton


Part 2: The Overlord
Having spoken with the Resistance, we were eager to speak with the man (or perhaps we should say 'overlord') behind the takeover of Doctor Obolenskki himself. Perhaps it is the reputation of The Primgraph as a journal of record throughout the vintage and steampunk sims, or perhaps it is a taste for self-aggrandisement that the octor shares with other significant overlords, but he agreed to the request with great willingness, and promptly transported me to his lair ... I mean his Observatory.


However, it was clear that his intentions were benign, for he made no objection to my inviting the trusty Primgraph photographer, PJ Trenton, to join us.

Nor did he make any secret of his reasons for seeking power in the city formerly known as New Babbage. He sought amusement - and declared the takeover of the city had afforded him a great deal of amusement although (he said) he rather regretted that no hero worthy to oppose him had arisen from among the citizenry.

Having recently met members of the Resistance who had made every effort to oppose him, I forbore from comment.


"I've found the best way to divide my enemies is to introduce them to each other," he said with a chuckle.

His views on the children who have brought such unexpected terror to the streets of Babbage is one of calm satisifaction. He claimed that his motives in founding the Youth Corps were to keep the ragamuffins occupied - but they embraced the roles of spies and informers with an enthusiasm that surprised even him. He remained undisturbed by the news that they were turning feral and shooting citizens.

"Of course ... you see, their indolence and tomfoolery is, at it's root, due to the fact that they're not working," he said, displaying a perhaps unexpectedly socially progressive view of the situation, "Once they've all been trained in some form of skill, and put to work, I suspect that sort of thing will die down. For instance, next week I'm going to turn the former City Hall into a large training bakery. The shiftless children will be gathered up, given a bed and food, and taught the essential skills."

This will, of course, have the advantage of keeping the children fed and employed at the same time.

"And out of my hair, so to speak," he added.


His closest henchman is Mr Merricks, who. he says, has been with him for years. The Doctor scorns any closer ties.

"I have my work, and my minions," he said. "Frankly, family are nothing but trouble. They tend to be just as dull and uninteresting as the general populace, but for some reason, you're supposed to be nice to them. A man with a workshop and a few loyal henchmen, hardly needs that sort of thing."

It was as I was saying my goodbyes and leaving that a rather startling occurrence took place. As he was speaking to me, the Doctor was startled by seeing what appeared to be a giant mushroom flying around the perimeter of the Observatory. For a momment the urbane mask he had presented slipped - and I had a glimpse of the strain the overlord is under, striving to maintain control over the city - a city that increasing opposes his rule. For just one more it was there - and perhaps a certain alarm. Then the mask slipped back into place.


"There's some new residents in the boat slips ... I suspect they're fiddling about," he said. "One of our newer residents displaying something he had built, to another one of our newer residents."

For Babbage, that seemed a wholly understandable and acceptable explanation. And yet ... I felt that for a moment I had seen the ovelord glance up ... and above his head seen the sword of Damocles suspended ...

Is the hand that grasps it none other than Mosseveno Tenk?

The Pride and the Passion: Counter Revolution in the state formerly known as New Babbage

Since the start of the Recent Unpleasantness in New Babbage (now known as Obolenskidonia, our correspondent, Beq Janus, has been sending dispatches from the front line. In addition, Miss Saffia Widdershins has managed to obtain interviews with an individual known only as T, a leading member of the Resistance, and with the de facto ruler, Doctor Obolenski himself. Photographs by PJ Trenton

Part 1: The Resistance Fighter
We had communicated for several days through obscure means before our arrangement meeting took place. I wore white pearl ear-rings had we had agreed, and T unerringly made his way through the cafe towards me. A relative newcomer to the former state of New Babbage, T has nevertheless made the city his home, and the cause his own.


It was clear that he had been living hand to mouth. We both ordered coffees - and I added a tray of delicious pastries. While I nibbled delicately at a slice of Battenberg, he fell on the sticky buns and cupcakes like a starving man. His clothes were stained with soot and blood - something that is, perhaps, less worthy of comment in the industrial streets of the region fomerly known as New Babbage than elsewhere, but even by Babbage standards it was apparent that something had Gone Wrong.

There had recently been an encounter, it seemed, with some of the metallic robots in the likeness of Doctor Obolenski in the commercial streets, and popularly (or perhaps notoriously) known as 'smashitrons'. According to T, they had been engaged in an attack on a leading citizen, one which had not only failed, but had led to the destruction of some five or six of the coonstructs who had literally lost their heads.

"I imagine it will be discussed as a malfunction," T told me. "I do not (believe it) ... for they fought with too much intensity ... but I will maintain the ruse ... if nothing more to allow Dr. O to maintain a low level of respect for us citizens."

T went on to speak with some passion of a disrupted and angry citizenry, children enlisted as spies, streets filled with grotesque iron images of the new leader, commerce endangered ... but was concerned that there seemed to be little done to save the city.

"I am new to the city," he explained, "just a couple of weeks under the stewardship of this clockwinder....a fine fellow as I can tell....with an odd taste in drink - frequently seen laying accross that very hearth behind you ... quite lost in his sour milk dreams. Then the announcement ... that he had been spirited away ... and the dark curtain of oppression falling upon the city."

T may be a newcomer to the city, but vehemently denies the charge that he is acting as the agent of a foreign power. He is proud of the democracy that the old New Babbage formerly embraced, for he believes that the people are the state, not the leaders alone (a view that might occasion a raised eyebrow from the Doctor).

He took me to see the devastation in Loner's Lane, where the attack that he had spoken of had happened. There, while T faded unobtrusively into the background lest his secret identity be suspected, I was able to speak with some of the cituzens and see for myself the outrageous assaults on the citzenry that are apparently taking place without restraint, with young (and irresponsible) children being armed with dangerous weapons which they have not hesitated to use.

I was able to speak with one citizen who had, to her great distress, been shot by a young girl. The girl seemed to feel no remorse and - indeed - revelled in her status as one of Doctor Obolensky's Youth Movement.

What will happen in Babbage? Will Doctor Obolenski succeed in his plans for his new city state? Perhaps it was time for find out just what his plans are.

Read Part 2 tomorrow.