The Wikipedia page on Baroque Chess currently asserts that Robert Abbott
did not invent the game, as can be discovered by reading the Fairy
Chessmen by Lewis Padgett. I expect this is a bunch of nonsense and have
explained why in the discussion area for Wikipedia's Baroque Chess page.
However, I have not read the Fairy Chessmen and cannot get ahold of a
copy.
Since then, I have read The Fairy Chessmen by Lewis Padgett, which was a penname for the husband/wife team of Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore, and it does not describe Ultima. It does show a knowledge of fairy chess and mentions some pieces, such as the nightrider and the grasshopper, but it is a science fiction novel and does not delve into the subject too much. Since I have it on my Kindle, I searched for the names of Ultima pieces and did not find any except the king.
I wrote this in 2004:
Since then, I have read The Fairy Chessmen by Lewis Padgett, which was a penname for the husband/wife team of Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore, and it does not describe Ultima. It does show a knowledge of fairy chess and mentions some pieces, such as the nightrider and the grasshopper, but it is a science fiction novel and does not delve into the subject too much. Since I have it on my Kindle, I searched for the names of Ultima pieces and did not find any except the king.