This is a welcome take on one of fiction’s greatest vehicles. It is a well grounded approach to the question of what would it take to actually build such a submarine in the 19th century, using only the tools, techniques, and materials available during that time period.
The author only strays from his references of Verne’s original work where necessary to make something work in a practical manner.
My only regret is that the book isn’t more expansive, as this is one of the best “What If?” technical treatments to emerge since Franz Joseph’s Enterprise blueprints.
It is the book Nautilus fan’s have been waiting for… and it sure isn’t for the Disney crowd.
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Fascinating and a game-changer for World-building in Fiction
I was never aware that Captain Nemo's library aboard the Nautilus was downright awe-inspiring, even if it hadn't been on a submarine. I also never knew how close to (then future) reality the electric-powered (and MAYBE nuclear powered!) fictional submarine was, or how much it was worth.Demetri Capetanopoulos has created the greatest guide book for fans of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that has ever existed and his expertise as a nuclear submarine engineer absolutely shines here. It was easy for me to get lost in the pages. Even not knowing diddly about concave lenses or water pressure, comparing the known facts of the time and the current research to the behemoth we remember on the pages of 20,000 Leagues is wonderful.The diagrams are intricate and lovely, and some of the original illustrations are depicted here, too. Everything works together so well and I can't recommend it enough to anyone engineer-minded. Even people like me, who wouldn't survive Engineering for Dummies 101, but who were mesmerized by the story of the mysterious prince who fights Imperialism will still find a home in this work. My favorite chapters were on the interior of the sub and those on the history of Captain Nemo and who he might have been based on.Fans of Jules Verne will love this, but anyone who has ever wanted comprehensive guides to the best parts of fiction needs to own a copy. And maybe in the future books like this will be more common, which I would love to see.*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this review*
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Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019
But what if it were something more feasible? For example, what if we could build Jules Verne’s Nautilus? How many levels of epic would that be?
I say, very many. And this is why it’s hard to review this book – as I’m sure it’s the only one of its kind. It’s so unique I’m pretty sure no one has ever thought of anything similar.
The Design and Construction of the Nautilus is definitely a very unique book that will appeal to fans of Jules Verne, and especially so if they are also engineers. The book is full of high quality illustrations and blueprints of possible design solutions available at the time when the book was written, and these solutions can be very creative and are almost always compared with either existing designs of the time, or current designs, especially taking the care to explain why such a design works better, or why the previous design solution would have been abandoned or ineffective. More than that, the original Jules Verne text is quoted quite a lot and comparisons are made, ascertaining that the suggested designs fit into what’s described in the original story. You can find all sorts of interesting facts – for example, stuff like that the Nautilus would have had quadruple the amount of accomodation space than the present day submarines (and it’s no wonder, considering the amount of people Captain Nemo always seemed to have on hand!), or that the shape of Nautilus isn’t the shape adopted by most designs these days (we don’t many have pointy-ended submarines), and it is explained why it is this way. All of these facts really make you marvel!
Truly, The Design and Construction of the Nautilus is a love song to Jules Verne’s masterpiece, and I’m sure he would be overjoyed to know that someone has taken so much effort after such a long time of Jules Verne’s book being out in the world to give Nautilus’s designs a chance to be reborn in the 21st century.
I have to say though, The Design and Construction of The Nautilus is obviously a very hobbyist book. I will admit I couldn’t always follow all the explanations and facts, because my knowledge of submarines is basically non-existent. And what’s more, it’s been years since I did physics in university, so I’ve forgotten a lot of basic mechanics as well. However, it didn’t affect my reading experience, as the book is full of interesting pictures, blueprints and schematics,and it isn’t written in a dry manner either.
So what else can you expect to find in The Design and Construction of the Nautilus?
This is definitely not an exhaustive list, but it has most of the things I thought were worthy of note and truly interesting:
- the materials it may have been built of, including the hull, the view ports, even the paint coating of the ship itself
- the history of similar ships that started out at similar times
- which living person (or persons) might - have inspired the character of Captain Nemo
- what the Nautilus might have cost and how it may have been assembled, where it could have been built
- comparisons of its core parameters with such vessels of today
- the various Nautilus instruments
- what power sources might have been used
- the inner layout of the rooms and technical odds and ends, layouts of the compartments (“floors”)
- even the artwork list on the walls of Nautilus!
- …and many more things
The Design and Construction of the Nautilus has to be one of the most extensive sources of any sort of fanmade scifi lore that I have ever seen! It is truly breathtaking to see that the author poured so much love into this book. I am in awe of this work, and I have never seen anything of the like in any fandom, but I feel so incredibly lucky to have been able to hold this book in my hands. It is truly special!
I thank the publisher for sending me a hardcover copy for free in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
The perfect book for perusing with tons of quality images and lots of info
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019
It’s hard to even start reviewing The Design and Construction of the Nautilus, because its so unique and just so stunning. Have you ever wondered what would happen if the machines from your favorite scifi could be brought to life, at least in the form of blueprints and calculations? Of course, some of those might be well off limits – we’re obviously not going to be able to draw up viable blueprints for the Stargate or a hyperdrive-capable space ship, because obviously, that’s not quite what our science permits (yet..?)Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019
But what if it were something more feasible? For example, what if we could build Jules Verne’s Nautilus? How many levels of epic would that be?
I say, very many. And this is why it’s hard to review this book – as I’m sure it’s the only one of its kind. It’s so unique I’m pretty sure no one has ever thought of anything similar.
The Design and Construction of the Nautilus is definitely a very unique book that will appeal to fans of Jules Verne, and especially so if they are also engineers. The book is full of high quality illustrations and blueprints of possible design solutions available at the time when the book was written, and these solutions can be very creative and are almost always compared with either existing designs of the time, or current designs, especially taking the care to explain why such a design works better, or why the previous design solution would have been abandoned or ineffective. More than that, the original Jules Verne text is quoted quite a lot and comparisons are made, ascertaining that the suggested designs fit into what’s described in the original story. You can find all sorts of interesting facts – for example, stuff like that the Nautilus would have had quadruple the amount of accomodation space than the present day submarines (and it’s no wonder, considering the amount of people Captain Nemo always seemed to have on hand!), or that the shape of Nautilus isn’t the shape adopted by most designs these days (we don’t many have pointy-ended submarines), and it is explained why it is this way. All of these facts really make you marvel!
Truly, The Design and Construction of the Nautilus is a love song to Jules Verne’s masterpiece, and I’m sure he would be overjoyed to know that someone has taken so much effort after such a long time of Jules Verne’s book being out in the world to give Nautilus’s designs a chance to be reborn in the 21st century.
I have to say though, The Design and Construction of The Nautilus is obviously a very hobbyist book. I will admit I couldn’t always follow all the explanations and facts, because my knowledge of submarines is basically non-existent. And what’s more, it’s been years since I did physics in university, so I’ve forgotten a lot of basic mechanics as well. However, it didn’t affect my reading experience, as the book is full of interesting pictures, blueprints and schematics,and it isn’t written in a dry manner either.
So what else can you expect to find in The Design and Construction of the Nautilus?
This is definitely not an exhaustive list, but it has most of the things I thought were worthy of note and truly interesting:
- the materials it may have been built of, including the hull, the view ports, even the paint coating of the ship itself
- the history of similar ships that started out at similar times
- which living person (or persons) might - have inspired the character of Captain Nemo
- what the Nautilus might have cost and how it may have been assembled, where it could have been built
- comparisons of its core parameters with such vessels of today
- the various Nautilus instruments
- what power sources might have been used
- the inner layout of the rooms and technical odds and ends, layouts of the compartments (“floors”)
- even the artwork list on the walls of Nautilus!
- …and many more things
The Design and Construction of the Nautilus has to be one of the most extensive sources of any sort of fanmade scifi lore that I have ever seen! It is truly breathtaking to see that the author poured so much love into this book. I am in awe of this work, and I have never seen anything of the like in any fandom, but I feel so incredibly lucky to have been able to hold this book in my hands. It is truly special!
I thank the publisher for sending me a hardcover copy for free in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2019
Top reviews from other countries
A
For the love of design
Reviewed in India on May 24, 2021
A
Reviewed in India on May 24, 2021
However, very disappointed with the black and white print on cheap paper of what is a lavishly illustrated book in colour.
What is being sold appears a pirated copy, not at all commensurate to the price charged.
But I am still keeping it for the awesome content.
Images in this review
Josh
Brilliant illustrations and plans.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2019
