With Airship and Submarine: A Tale of Adventure

In Short

Part Victorian science-fiction yarn and part globe-trotting adventure novel, With Airship and Submarine follows an intrepid crew aboard the Flying Fish, a marvel of engineering crafted from the lighter-than-air metal aethereum. Able to fly high in the atmosphere or submerge beneath the ocean waves, the ship serves as the base for a grand rescue operation to free an exiled Russian colonel and his daughter from imperial oppression. Blending high-stakes action with high-seas technology and exotic hunting expeditions, the novel endures as an inventive early benchmark of modern speculative fiction.

The Story

The adventure begins when the genial German polymath Professor von Schalckenberg unexpectedly encounters his old acquaintance, Sir Reginald Elphinstone, outside the Migrants' Club in London. Joined by the skilled navigator Mildmay and the steady Lethbridge, the companions reassemble aboard the Flying Fish—a six-hundred-foot, cigar-shaped wonder capable of soaring through the skies or diving into the ocean depths thanks to its hull of levitating "aethereum."

The crew soon learns of a grave injustice: the noble Russian officer Colonel Sziszkinski has been stripped of his property and exiled by the machinations of the scheming Count Vasilovich. Driven by a desire for justice, the crew devises a daring plan. Traveling in their versatile ship, they boldly infiltrate the Russian domain, capture Count Vasilovich to gather crucial intelligence, and intercept an imperial convict ship, the Ludwig Gadd. By skillfully disabling the vessel's propulsion with precision firepower, they successfully rescue Colonel Sziszkinski and his beautiful daughter, Feodorovna, welcoming the grateful refugees aboard.

With their guests safely in tow, the Flying Fish embarks on an expansive journey south toward Africa. Along the way, the crew engages in thrilling big-game hunts, tracking down legendary beasts—including a pair of mythical unicorns—near a remote African lake. Yet danger is never far behind. During an excursion into the dense jungle, several members of the party lose their way and become hopelessly lost in the wilderness, only to be reunited after navigating the treacherous terrain.

Later, the expedition arrives at the territory of the cruel chieftain M'Bongwele, a tyrant whose past dealings with white captives hold sinister secrets. Re-establishing contact with local tribes who utilize a unique long-distance voice-telegraphy system, the travelers intervene to save a prisoner from gruesome execution and ultimately witness the end of M'Bongwele's oppressive rule. In the process, they recover priceless rubies and pearls from the chief's stronghold and use their specialized diving suits—outfitted with advanced helmet microphones—to explore a sunken shipwreck on the seabed.

Their triumphant return journey is briefly disrupted when Barker, a treacherous crew member, attempts to hijack the Flying Fish and take the women hostage. However, through quick thinking and decisive action, the crisis is resolved, and the ship safely reaches its secret haven at Chudleigh Hall in lovely Devon. Settling their acquired treasures, Sziszkinski and his daughter secure a beautiful new estate in the English countryside, while Mildmay wins the heart of Feodorovna, bringing the epic voyage to a joyful conclusion.

How It Unfolds

Reunion and plan Professor von Schalckenberg encounters Sir Reginald in London and reveals the tragic plight of Colonel Sziszkinski. The companions agree to reassemble aboard the marvelous airship-submarine Flying Fish to seek justice.

Infiltrating the enemy The crew travels north and captures Count Vasilovich in a covert operation near his fortress. Through his interrogation, they pinpoint the location of the convict steamer carrying their exiled friend.

Rescuing the exiles Manoeuvring the Flying Fish on the water's surface, Mildmay cripples the convict ship's propeller with targeted fire. Colonel Sziszkinski and his daughter Feodorovna are brought safely on board.

Safaris and lost in the forest The ship travels to Africa, where the crew hunts exotic game, including a herd of unicorns. During an expedition, four crew members lose their path and wander for hours in the vast, dense jungle.

Defeating the tyrant Revisiting a local tribe, the crew uses the vessel to stop the execution of a native prisoner. They bring an end to Chief M'Bongwele's cruel reign and recover a fortune in precious gems.

Underwater salvage Using advanced diving dresses fitted with internal microphones, Mildmay and Sir Reginald descend into a sunken wreck to recover lost records and artifacts from the ocean floor.

The final betrayal The villainous Barker attempts to steal the Flying Fish by holding the women at gunpoint. The crew successfully foils the hijacking and navigates the vessel home to Devon.

The People

• Professor von Schalckenberg: An eccentric, brilliant German scientist whose boundless curiosity and inventive genius drive the expedition. He seeks to capture villains, explore natural wonders, and secure enough wealth to fund a grand philanthropic enterprise.
• Sir Reginald Elphinstone: The aristocratic owner and leader of the Flying Fish. Devoted to his wife, Lady Olivia, and fiercely loyal to his friends, he provides the financial backing, steady leadership, and moral compass for the entire crew.
• Lieutenant Mildmay: A highly capable, masterful former naval officer who serves as the vessel's primary pilot. He craves action and adventure, handles high-stress tactics with cool precision, and gradually falls in love with Mademoiselle Sziszkinski.
• Colonel Sziszkinski: A noble Russian military officer wrongfully ruined, outlawed, and exiled by a deceitful rival. He desires safety and justice for his family, finding refuge and a fresh start among his British saviors.
• Count Vasilovich: An unscrupulous Russian villain whose greedy machinations ruin Sziszkinski. His arrogance and cruelty make him the primary target of the crew's covert retribution.

In Its Own Voice

"Towering high in the air, and almost filling the glade from end to end with her enormous length, was an object measuring no fewer than six hundred feet long..."

An awe-inspiring description of the magnificent Flying Fish resting in its hidden berth.

"Justice cries aloud for the punishment of such wickedness; therefore Vasilovich must be punished."

Professor von Schalckenberg passionately outlines the moral imperative driving their dangerous rescue mission.

"There is nothing the matter with him--the wretch--except that he has stolen the Flying Fish, and is making off with her--and us."

Lady Olivia frantically communicates via mobile telephone during Barker's sudden attempt to hijack the ship.

What It's Really About

Beneath its rousing exterior of aerial dogfights, big-game hunts, and deep-sea diving, With Airship and Submarine is fundamentally a Victorian idealization of scientific progress harnessed in the service of justice. Harry Collingwood uses the impossible technology of the Flying Fish to argue that human ingenuity and technological superiority reach their highest purpose when protecting the vulnerable and punishing tyranny. The novel contrasts the lawless despotism of imperial Russian courts and tribal warlords against the calm, gentlemanly honor of its British and European protagonists. It explores themes of loyalty, chivalry, and the rightful stewardship of global wealth, portraying technological mastery not merely as a tool for conquest, but as an instrument of moral order.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers will find With Airship and Submarine a fascinating artifact from the dawn of science fiction, offering a charming look at how the early twentieth century envisioned the future of transport and adventure. Harry Collingwood writes with crisp, confident clarity, filling the narrative with meticulous mechanical details, high-seas tactics, and dramatic set pieces that feel surprisingly cinematic.

The reading experience offers the comfortable warmth of classic Edwardian adventure literature, reminiscent of Jules Verne or H. Rider Haggard. However, prospective readers should be prepared for period-typical elements. The prose occasionally pauses for technical descriptions of weaponry, navigation, or diving equipment, and the portrayal of African indigenous cultures reflects the imperial assumptions and racial attitudes of its time. The dialogue also features heavy phonetic dialect writing, particularly in Professor von Schalckenberg's German-accented speech.

For lovers of early steampunk, nautical history, and classic adventure fiction, the book remains a delightful, fast-paced voyage. Its inventive spirit and triumphant sense of wonder leave a lasting impression of an era when the world still felt vast and full of boundless possibility.