Stories
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Character of the day: Tom Swift
The technological history of the 20th Century started with tinkerers and mechanics building new machines, and progressed to more complex machines backed by scientific theory and advanced math. And all of it was embodied in one person: Tom Swift, the teenage genius inventor and hero of more than 100 books. Tom appeared in 1910 in… Continue reading
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Ronald’s Train is Stranded
Lecturer EamorieDepartment of AntiquitiesByronton UniversityAP Box 2 Dear Professor, I’m sorry to inform that I will be delayed in reaching the University; I was riding the evening train to Byronton when it unexpectedly lost its forward locomotion. We (that is to say the passengers) were informed (that is to say, by the conductor) that there… Continue reading
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Ronald’s Nighttime Study
Ronald stayed up far into the night studying the automaton’s description of the system that powered it. It had been Professor Q’s innovation, and one which he had not shared with Ronald. Still, he wanted to present the professor with the solution to the puzzle of how Doctor Witherspoon’s pocketwatch-sized device had disabled Elektra. Ronald… Continue reading
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Dr. Witherspoon’s Appointments
Doctor Witherspoon, having arisen at his usual hour and dawdled over his newspaper, his breakfast, and the day’s wardrobe, was forced to ask the driver of the steam taxi to hurry to Harrow’s in order not to be late to his first appointment. Harrow’s was the financial institution — considerably more than just a bank,… Continue reading
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Franz and Imelda
The next morning, Imelda and Fritz were in the laboratory early, well before Doctor Witherspoon had even awakened. This was normal, of course; one of the eccentricities cultivated by inventors — especially the more wealthy of them, which certainly fitted Witherspoon — was rising late and dallying over eggs, bacon, toast, and tea while reading… Continue reading
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Electra Reactivated
Ronald spent the next two days and nights in the laboratory, first disassembling the automaton’s components even further, looking for jammed gear trains, wobbles in tiny jeweled flywheels, checking intricate glass parts for cracks, and testing India rubber seals for leaks. Finding nothing, he began to reassemble Elektra. When the gleaming figure was complete, Ronald… Continue reading
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The Automaton
“Ronald! Ronald, come here immediately!” “On my way, Professor,” came the reply from the storeroom. Ronald emerged, carrying a jeroboam of the acetic acid Professor Q had sent him to fetch. He set the large bottle down carefully and rushed to the Professor’s side. “Look at this, Ronald, just look!” The professor indicated his shoes.… Continue reading
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In which there is mud and stuckness
Rabbit, because he had such big ears, was the first to hear the Strange Sound carried on the breeze through the Hundred Acre Wood. “What was that?” he said suddenly. Eeyore, who also had very sensitive ears, said “probably mud.” Pooh hadn’t heard anything, so all he said was “What was what, Rabbit?” Piglet had… Continue reading
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In which an Animal is Even Smaller
Winnie-the-Pooh stacked up his pots of honey one way, then carefully took them down and stacked them a different way. He did this three times, and finally, even though there was nobody there, said out loud “Oh bother!” A small voice replied “What’s the matter?” Pooh, who had thought he was alone in his kitchen,… Continue reading
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In which there are Vocabularies and Poohsticks
“Pooh!” called Turtle, “How good to see you!” “Hullo, Turtle,” said Pooh. “And hullo Otter, hullo Owl. Are you going to visit Eeyore too? That’s where I’m going.” “Why no, not exactly,” said Owl. “We were having a bit of a walk while we talked something over.” “Yes, exactly,” said Turtle, “and that’s why it’s… Continue reading
About Me
I’m Pete Harbeson, a writer located near Boston, Massachusetts. This site is just a hobby, at least for now.