Mainstream Invasion Literature

1905, Wood, W. , Submarined 

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Walter Wood (1905) Submarined – Pearson’s Magazine, February 1905 A short story of a disabled British battleship taking refuge and defending itself against a submarine attack by a diver blowing up the submarine with a mine. In Walter Wood’s story, “Submarined,” the lieutenant of a damaged battleship turns the tables on an enemy submarine. The […]

Mainstream Invasion Literature

1906, General Staff [pseud.] , The Writing on the Wall 

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General Staff [pseud.] (1906) The Writing on the Wall, London, William Heinemann The author was Major-General Thomas Picher. Presented as an excerpt of a history book from 1915 recounting the events of a successful German attack on Britain in 1908 and the ensuing war that involved also France, Austria and Russia. The object of this […]

Speculative SF

1907, Griffith, G. , The world peril of 1910 

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George Griffith (1907) The world peril of 1910, London,  F. V. White & Co. Ltd. CHAPTER I – A MOMENTOUS EXPERIMENT On the first day of July, 1908, a scene which was destined to become historic took place in the great Lecture Theatre in the Imperial College at Potsdam. It was just a year and […]

Mainstream Invasion Literature

1912, Naval Officer , Great Was the Fall 

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Naval Officer [Signed A H M] (1912) Great Was the Fall, London, J. Long An invasion by Germany on an unprepared Britain. Cautionary novel of the Battle of Dorking sort, with full novelistic treatment. The basic point of view is politically conservative grousing at British Naval unpreparedness due to false economy and ‘misdirection’ of government […]

Mainstream Invasion Literature

1914, Conan Doyle, A. , Danger! and Other Stories 

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The Riddle by Maldwin Drummond (1985) Nautical Books, London This is the definitive study of the background to the writing of The Riddle of the Sands. It includes details of Childers own sailing experiences and also a detailed account of the reception afforded the book in official circles and Childers involvement in this. Since 1904 […]

Mainstream Invasion Literature

1871 , Chesney, G. T. , The Battle of Dorking 

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George Tomkyns Chesney (1871) The Battle of Dorking, Blackwood’s Magazine For many, this is the work that is regarded as the start of Invasion Literature as a distinct genre. DURING THE EVENING OF 2 September 1871, the British Prime Minister spoke to the Working Men’s Liberal Association at Whitby in Yorkshire. Towards the end of […]

Mainstream Invasion Literature

1871, Payn, J. , The Cruise of the Anti-Torpedo 

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James Payn (1871) The Cruise of the Anti-Torpedo, Chambers Journal [Being an account of the voyage of the last ship left to England after its conquest by Bismark & Co. (Limited) ; what she did, and what she omitted to do; and how she finally succeeded single-handed (as a pawn regains a queen), in restoring […]