The Rival Mechanicians

When an aged watchmaker pits his two proteges against each other, the result is magnificent imperfection. ¶ Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) was best known for her stance against slavery, and for her promotion of the rights of Native Americans. The musical version of her Thanksgiving poem, "Over the River and Through the Woods," is still sung by children today. ¶"The Rival Mechanicians" has been lauded as one of the finest science fiction tales from the first half of the nineteenth century. The Western Literary Messenger declared it to be "above praise," when it was first published in 1847.