Sky Ship
Encyclopedia
Sky Ships are fictional flying ship
s from Paul Stewart
's fantasy book series The Edge Chronicles
. Sky ships are the equivalent of water borne ships in the Edge universe and are used primarily for transporting supplies and valuable commodities across the Edge.
s, with one or more large buoyant rocks placed in the centre of the hull which creates lift. Sky ships make use of triangular or square sails for maneuvering, which are hung from their masts like conventional ships or from the ships hull.
They are depicted in the books through drawings by Chris Riddell
.
. It is named after the Caterbird's cocoon which it resembles.
s and cooling rods. The flight burners are flaming torches mounted near the flight rock and connected to it through metal pipes that provide the heat needed to control the sky ships altitude.
and the aft hull which contains a cargo bay, food storage, galley, infirmary
the housing for control cables. These areas may also be included in areas of the aft castle.
The hull decking
can be used to hold weaponry such as harpoon
s, crossbow
s and catapult
s.
s to aid mobility. These include a mainsail
, jib
sail, neben sail and hull sails.
, Sky Pirates and the Knights of Sanctaphrax
.
Due to the difficulty of transporting items and people from to and from the centre of commerce on the Edge- Undertown-and the location of most resources- the Deepwoods on foot, Sky Ships are the only vessels able to travel easily across the Edge to trade. They are therefore very important to inhabitants of the Edge who often rely on them for income.
Sky ships are not only used for dealings with natural goods and livestock, but are used to transport slaves to markets within the Deepwoods. Although slavery is banned within Undertown, some groups of individuals (such as Sky Pirate Thunderbolt Vulpoon) have been known to con innocent individuals into boarding ships where they will be imprisoned and sold into slavery elsewhere.
The Knights Academy of Sanctaphrax also makes use of Sky ships, most notable are those built specifically for Stormchasing. Every 8 years or so, a Great Storm passes over the Edge and deposits a supply of Stormphrax- a crystal of pure lightning- within the Twilight Woods. A chosen Knight and his crew are chosen to chase this Storm, locate the Stormphrax and return with it to Sanctaphrax. These ships are among the finest to be built- designed for great speed and strength to withstand strong winds of the massive storm. A notable Knight's Ship is the Stormchaser, captained by the former Knight Quintinius Verginix
.
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s from Paul Stewart
Paul Stewart
Paul Stewart is the name of:*Paul Stewart , writer of The Edge Chronicles*Paul Stewart , motor racing driver/team director, son of World Champion Jackie*Paul Stewart , Canadian pianist...
's fantasy book series The Edge Chronicles
The Edge Chronicles
The Edge Chronicles is a young-adult fantasy novel series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. It consists of three trilogies, plus three additional books, and others . Originally published in the United Kingdom, this series has since been published in the United States, Canada and Australia. To...
. Sky ships are the equivalent of water borne ships in the Edge universe and are used primarily for transporting supplies and valuable commodities across the Edge.
Description
Sky ships resemble 15-18th European style wooden Sailing shipSailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
s, with one or more large buoyant rocks placed in the centre of the hull which creates lift. Sky ships make use of triangular or square sails for maneuvering, which are hung from their masts like conventional ships or from the ships hull.
They are depicted in the books through drawings by Chris Riddell
Chris Riddell
Chris Riddell is a British illustrator and occasional writer of children's literature, and a political cartoonist for The Observer. He has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize seven times....
.
Members of a Skyship Crew
- CaptainCaptain (nautical)A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
- Quarter MasterNavigatorA navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
- LookoutLookoutA lookout or look-out is a person on a ship in charge of the observation of the sea for hazards, other ships, land, etc. Lookouts report anything they see and or hear. When reporting contacts, lookouts give information such as, bearing of the object, which way the object is headed, target angles...
- Stone PilotStone PilotA Stone Pilot is a fictional occupation aboard a Sky Ship from Paul Stewart's childs fantasy novel series The Edge Chronicles.-Duties:A Stone Pilot's job is to control the temperature of a Sky ships buoyant flight rock which itself determines the altitude of the sky ship...
- GuardSecurity guardA security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
(s) - CookChefA chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
- Nurse
- Deckhand
- Ships boy
Caternest
Located on the top of the main mast, the caternest is a lookout point similar to a crow's nestCrow's nest
A crow's nest is a structure in the upper part of the mainmast of a ship or structure, that is used as a lookout point.This position ensured the best view of the approaching hazards, other ships or land. It was the best device for this purpose until the invention of radar.In early ships it was...
. It is named after the Caterbird's cocoon which it resembles.
Flight Rock
The most distinguishing feature of a sky ship is its flight rock. In the Edge Universe, some varieties of rock float depending on their ambient temperature- sinking when hot, and rising when cold. The temperature of the rock is controlled by a Stone Pilot who uses the flight burners and cooling rods on the flight rock platform to alter the ships altitude. The flight rock is penetrated by various pipes that transfer heat around it and housed in a cage between the fore and aft Hulls.Flight Rock Platform and Flight Burners
The flight rock platform is situated on top of the flight rock cage and has several levers built into it that allow the Stone Pilot to control the temperature with bellowBellow
- People :* Adam Bellow, vice president/executive editor at Collins Books* Alexandra Bellow , mathematician* Saul Bellow , American writer born in Canada of Russian-Jewish origin...
s and cooling rods. The flight burners are flaming torches mounted near the flight rock and connected to it through metal pipes that provide the heat needed to control the sky ships altitude.
Fore and Aft Hull
The Hull of a sky ship is split into two sections; the fore hull normally contains the crew sleeping quarters and a holdHold (ship)
thumb|right|120px|View of the hold of a container shipA ship's hold is a space for carrying cargo. Cargo in holds may be either packaged in crates, bales, etc., or unpackaged . Access to holds is by a large hatch at the top...
and the aft hull which contains a cargo bay, food storage, galley, infirmary
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
the housing for control cables. These areas may also be included in areas of the aft castle.
The hull decking
Deck (ship)
A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary deck is the horizontal structure which forms the 'roof' for the hull, which both strengthens the hull and serves as the primary working surface...
can be used to hold weaponry such as harpoon
Harpoon
A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument used in fishing to catch fish or large marine mammals such as whales. It accomplishes this task by impaling the target animal, allowing the fishermen to use a rope or chain attached to the butt of the projectile to catch the animal...
s, crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
s and catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
s.
Hull Weights
Hull weights are a series of weights chained to the hull used to control the sky ships balance.Sails
Because every side of sky ships are exposed to the air, they are covered with several sailSail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
s to aid mobility. These include a mainsail
Mainsail
A mainsail is a sail located behind the main mast of a sailing vessel.On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast....
, jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
sail, neben sail and hull sails.
Usage of Sky Ships
Sky ships are used primarily by the Leaguesmen of UndertownUndertown
Undertown is a fictional city-state in Paul Stewart's series of books, The Edge Chronicles. It was founded when the many different species throughout the Edge migrated to form a town underneath the great floating city of Sanctaphrax. The central ethos of the city was that every undertowner was...
, Sky Pirates and the Knights of Sanctaphrax
Sanctaphrax
Sanctaphrax is a fictional city-state from Paul Stewart's & Chris Riddell's The Edge Chronicles.-Early history:Sanctaphrax was founded centuries ago when a flight rock growing in The Stone Gardens became far larger than any before...
.
Due to the difficulty of transporting items and people from to and from the centre of commerce on the Edge- Undertown-and the location of most resources- the Deepwoods on foot, Sky Ships are the only vessels able to travel easily across the Edge to trade. They are therefore very important to inhabitants of the Edge who often rely on them for income.
Sky ships are not only used for dealings with natural goods and livestock, but are used to transport slaves to markets within the Deepwoods. Although slavery is banned within Undertown, some groups of individuals (such as Sky Pirate Thunderbolt Vulpoon) have been known to con innocent individuals into boarding ships where they will be imprisoned and sold into slavery elsewhere.
The Knights Academy of Sanctaphrax also makes use of Sky ships, most notable are those built specifically for Stormchasing. Every 8 years or so, a Great Storm passes over the Edge and deposits a supply of Stormphrax- a crystal of pure lightning- within the Twilight Woods. A chosen Knight and his crew are chosen to chase this Storm, locate the Stormphrax and return with it to Sanctaphrax. These ships are among the finest to be built- designed for great speed and strength to withstand strong winds of the massive storm. A notable Knight's Ship is the Stormchaser, captained by the former Knight Quintinius Verginix
Quintinius Verginix
Quintinius Verginix is a fictional character from Paul Stewart's The Edge Chronicles.Usually referred to as Quint or, later, Cloud Wolf, Quint was a Knight Academic and a Sky Pirate Captain...
.