The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace & Babbage Author Sydney Padua in Conversation with Google Doodle Leader Ryan Germick

A graphic novel debut that transforms a compelling scientific collaboration into an unexpected -- and hilarious -- series of adventures.

Meet Victorian London’s most dynamic duo: Charles Babbage, the unrealized inventor of the computer, and his accomplice, Ada, Countess of Lovelace, the peculiar protoprogrammer and daughter of Lord Byron. When Lovelace translated a description of Babbage’s plans for an enormous mechanical calculating machine in 1842, she added annotations three times longer than the original work. Her footnotes contained the first appearance of the general computing theory, a hundred years before an actual computer was built. Sadly, Lovelace died of cancer a decade after publishing the paper, and Babbage never built any of his machines.

But do not despair! The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage presents a rollicking alternate reality in which Lovelace and Babbage do build the Difference Engine and then use it to build runaway economic models, battle the scourge of spelling errors, explore the wilder realms of mathematics, and, of course, fight crime—for the sake of both London and science.

Sydney Padua is a graphic artist and animator. Sydney wrote this “Steampunk” graphic novel based on thorough research on the biographies and correspondence between Babbage and Lovelace, as well as other bits of early Victoriana, which is then twisted for humorous effect. Ryan Germick, our moderator, first graced the Museum’s stage in 2012 as a panel participant in The Art & Technology of Google Doodles Revolutionaries program. His pairing with Sydney will most definitely result in a thrilling and adventurous evening you won’t want to miss. Please join us.

There will be a book signing following tonight’s program. Kepler's Books will be onsite selling copies of the book before and after the program.

We are very pleased that KQED Radio will be recording this program for future broadcast.

This event is part of the Museum’s acclaimed Revolutionaries speaker series, featuring renowned innovators, business and technology leaders, and authors in enthralling conversations often with leading journalists. Our audiences learn about the process of innovation, its risks and rewards, and failure that led to ultimate success.

Members, please note that there is no member reception before the program. The Cloud Café will be open, come grab a quick bite, a glass of wine and connect with fellow CHM friends!