The original Space:
1889 game was one of many roleplaying games that were published
in the wake of the huge success of Dungeons and Dragons.
Space: 1889 was devised and written by Frank Chadwick.
The two-hundred page core rulebook was first published by GDW
in 1988 and provided everything that was needed to create and
run adventures for two or more players in a Victorian science
fiction setting.
As well as the game mechanics necessary
to run a Space: 1889 'campaign', the book includes details
of real and imagined historical events, period equipment and notable
personalities of the era. There's also a wealth of information
about the other planets in the solar system that are now within
the reach of mankind. In particular, the history, culture, and
flora and fauna of Mars are described in fascinating detail. Subsequent
to the publication of the core rulebook, GDW published several
supplement books that expanded on the Space: 1889 universe.
GDW no longer operate as a company.
Happily though, Heliograph Incorporated licensed the game from
Frank Chadwick and have made the core rulebook and the majority
of the supplements available again.
