With Airship and Submarine, by Harry Collingwood.
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This is the second book about the strange vessel, the "Flying Fish",
that can travel on the surface of the waters, or below them, and that
can rise in the air to a great height, and travel to great distances.
All this is achieved by the fact that the vessel is made of the novel
metal aethereum, which is lighter than air, and that the power is
produced by another novel source. These two books place Collingwood
among the very first authors to explore the science-fiction genre,
which makes this book very important in the history of literature.
The other book about this vessel, "The Log of the Flying Fish", has
several characters in common with this one, and some of their deeds, in
particular the relations with various African chieftains, are
continuations of the same adventures. However there are plenty of new
episodes in this book.
The book dates from slightly after the Victorian era, though many of the
episodes have a strongly Victorian flavour. Makes a brilliant
audiobook, great fun to listen to.
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WITH AIRSHIP AND SUBMARINE, BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD.