The Iron Republic

The origins of the Iron Republic are somewhat obscure. Its authorship is commonly attributed to Richard Bennett, also known as Richard Jameson Morgan. Of course, other names have been associated with the book, like James M. Schurbath and Dr. James Cleave Symmes, Jr. But ultimately, there is no conclusive evidence that confirms any of these individuals as sole authors or contributors to the Iron Republic. The book also shares some sparse connections to the speculative fiction genre that began flourishing during the same time in the early 1900's. However, there is no definitive proof that the story was written as PURE science fiction. The Iron Republic appears in 1902 as an article in the Florida Magazine and for over 100 years since its publication, this body of work, so rich in technical detail, was able to predict technology we use today, yet did not exist then. How has this story been so grossly overlooked for so long? And in our modern world of ubiquitous information, how have the origins of this manuscript remained so unclear? Is it possible that the author was a clairvoyant genius and the most uncelebrated sci-fi writer the world never knew? Or is it also possible that the Iron Republic is a TRUE account of the events and discoveries of J. Edward Barrington, who bought a boat and set sail for the unknown mysteries of Antarctica? That is for you, the reader, to decide.