Zeppelins are very much a staple of the alternative history genre, featuring as they do in His Dark Materials. The BBC have an interesting piece on the noble craft. Philip Pullman gives a few words on his use of the drigible: “I used it for scenery. It is picturesque. The curious notion of something that is lighter than air is fascinating to begin with. There are also associations with glamour and luxury, the idea of sipping champagne as you cross the Atlantic. And it ties into our feelings about the threat that conventional aviation poses to the environment.” Read more.