HMS Polyphemus (1881) HMS Polyphemus (1881) The third HMS "Polyphemus" was a Royal Navy torpedo ram, serving from 1881 until 1903. A shallow-draft, fast, low-profile vessel, she was designed to penetrate enemy harbours at speed and sink anchored ships. Designed by Nathaniel Barnaby primarily as a protected torpedo boat, the ram was provided very much as secondary armament. It has been suggested that H. G. Wells’ fictional HMS "Thunder Child" from his novel "The War of the Worlds" may have been based on this ship, in part because he described "Thunder Child" as an ironclad torpedo ram, and "Polyphemus" was the only ship
Sci-Fi on the Rock Friday Night Karaoke in 2015. Sci-Fi on the Rock holds a dance on the Saturday of the convention. This is a 19+ event held at the hotel the convention is being held in. It is a very popular event that draws quiet a crowd. The Starlight Social started as an add-on event that included champagne and possibly meeting guests. After the introduction of the VIP Pass in 2015 it became a VIP only event. There is champagne and finger foods and a chance to socialize in a smaller setting than the dance or karaoke. Since its inception, Sci-Fi on the