The Great Bicycle Race

By Russ Crossley

Phillip Host, alchemist and inventor, builds the first nuclear fusion steam driven cycle and his employer tells him the Royal Family expect him to win the Great Bicycle Race from London to South Hampton or the British Empire will fall and the future of Europe will be forever changed. Phillip discovers he must defeat the German champion disgraced, evil, alchemist, Samuel Gesture.

Will Britain rule the road just as it once did the waves or will the sun set on the empire?

An alternate history story where alchemy and steam come together in Victorian times to decide the fate of nations, and one man is responsible for the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Jul 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9783958301610

Russ Crossley

International selling author, Russ Crossley writes science fiction and fantasy, and mystery/suspense under the name R.G. Crossley. His latest science fiction satire set in the far future, Revenge of the Lushites, is a sequel to Attack of the Lushites released in 2011. The latest title in the series was released in the fall of 2013. Both titles are available in e-book and trade paperback. He has sold several short stories that have appeared in anthologies from various publishers including; WMG Publishing, Pocket Books, and St. Martins Press. He is a member of SF Canada and is past president of the Greater Vancouver Chapter of Romance Writers of America. He is also an alumni of the Oregon Coast Professional Fiction Writers Master Class taught by award winning author/editors, Kristine Katherine Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith. Feel free to contact him on Facebook, Twitter, or his website http:www.russcrossley.com.  He loves to hear from readers  

Book preview

The Great Bicycle Race

Russ Crossley

Published by 53rd Street Publishing Copyright 2014 Russ Crossley

All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction from the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Cover art: © Ronfromyork | Dreamstime.com

Verlag GD Publishing Ltd. & Co KG

ISBN: 9783958301610

E-Book Distribution: XinXii

http://www.xinxii.com

Table of Contents

The Great Bicycle Race

About the Author

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The Great Bicycle Race

Master Copperwaite burst into the dusty workshop scattering puffs of soot into the small workshop kept warm by the fire in the coal-fueled smelter in one corner of the room. Phillip! Why aren't you working? You know we have to finish the steam cycle for the Crown Prince today. The heavy door bumped the edge of the worktable running the length of one wall. The solid oak door separated the customer reception of The Copperwaite Bicycle Emporium (est. 1788) from the workshop where Phillip created the magic. Literally.

The sudden intrusion startled Phillip out of his daydreaming. He'd been watching the comings and goings of everyday life from the workshop window facing busy Covent Road.

The road was busy with the horse drawn carriages driven by men with top hats the color of coal dust, the sidewalks teamed with unescorted ladies with their intricate hairdos flowing from beneath bonnets of all shapes, colors, and sizes, and their billowing spring dresses were decorated with multi-colored ribbons. Now that they enjoyed the vote women had become free to walk the streets without the company of a male companion.

Phillip approved of the new Victorian woman; many of his sex