Welcome again, my dear readers, and as I am sure you are aware, it is now October. In popular culture, October is often a month used for reflections of terror and horror, and in light of that, I would like to do something similar for AHWU.
Alternate History is often used to show some of the ways a simple change in the time stream could have made far different, and quite often better worlds than our own, feeding into that inate sense of wondering what might have been all fans of the genre harbor. At the same time though, there is the option to take things in another, darker direction, and in the process create a world that makes the reader thankful to exist in our own. The genre has given us countless classic examples of this, from SM Sterling's Drakaverse, TL-191's Featherston controlled CSA, and even one of the novels that helped spawn the genre, Phillip K Dick's Man in the High Castle, all veiw history view a dark lense.
So for this month, I and some of the other writers for the site will take a look at some of the most terrifying, dystopic, and disturbing worlds concieved by the genre, and feel free to give us suggestions of your own as well. If it gets too frightning my dear readers, remember - it's only alternate history...
Soldier, scholar, writer and web-voyeur, Sean CW Korsgaard has been active in the alternate history community since 2006, and was recently elected to succeed Mitro as President of the Alternate History Online Facebook group. In addition to his contributions at the Alternate History Weekly Update, he writes for several websites, including his own, which can be found here.
Showing posts with label AHWU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AHWU. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Weekly Update #14
Editor's Note
We have all "Googled" ourselves at one point or another. When your name pops up when you are not looking for yourself, however, is when things get really crazy. A couple of days ago I searched for "alternate history" in Google and was pleasantly surprised when this blog came up on the first page of the results. Of course when I tried to do it again today it was not there. Can someone explain to me how Google works? What decides what order websites appear in?
Speaking of this blog, I now realize that I screwed up when naming it. I am a big fan of Rooster Teeth, which makes it odd that I did not realize that the acronym for this blog, AHWU, is the same for a segment on Achievement Hunter called "Achievement Hunter Weekly Update". So to avoid confusion, I will try to stop using the acronym since I do not want there to be any confusion between this blog and the original AHWU. Instead of calling these posts "AHWU #" I will be calling them "Weekly Update". Also I will once again be posting these weekly. For the rest of the week I will fill the blog with essays, contributor's post, interviews, breaking news updates and book reviews. I hope you all approve.
I also would like to welcome my first readers from Spain, Finland and Trinidad & Tobago. And now the news...
An Experiment to Find the Multiverse
On August 3, 2011, theoretical physicists in Great Britain announced they were conducting tests for the very first time to find evidence of multiple alternative universes, otherwise known as a multiverse. A team of cosmologists will search the cosmic microwave background radiation to see if there is evidence that this alternate history trope actually exists.
The controversial multiverse theory states that other universes lie within "bubbles" of space and time. Studies of the low-temperature glow left from the Big Bang suggest that these "bubble universes" have left marks on our own. Theses scientists will be looking for these space-time fender benders to see if the multiverse truly exists.
By August 5, reports surfaced suggesting that the scientists had discovered four such bruises on our universe. Still, the overall statistical significance of these marks is not that great, and more data is necessary before we can all book a trip to visit our favorite alternate Earth. Fortunately, the European Space Agency's Planck satellite is currently collecting data at three times the resolution of what was used in this study, and by sometime in 2013 (if man is still alive), we should get a clearer picture on how many more alternate worlds may actually be out there.
Now before you all run off to some world where the Confederacy survives, you might not like what you find. These universes may not even follow our laws of nature, as one article discussed. Even if they did contain recognizable forms of life, we may never actually be able to reach them. The bubble universes have been moving very fast since the Big Bang. In fact, they are being pulled so far away and at such a fast speed that their light can never reach this universe again...ever. If their light cannot even reach us, how the hell can we get there?
While this may seem exciting to an average alternate historian, I fear that science is going to ruin multiverse travel just as they ruined Star Wars space battle scenes. Nevertheless I will be keeping an eye on this and will let you all know if anymore information is released.
Showcase: Ad Astra Per Aspera
This is a new segment where I will be showcasing an original work of online alternate history. The first timeline will be Ad Astra Per Aspera (Latin for "through hardships to the stars") by "rvbomally" and can be found at AH.com.
The point of divergence of the timeline is the successful impeachment of President Andrew Johnson and the rise of Radical Republican administration that punish the southern states for the War on Treason (ATL's American Civil War). An increasingly militaristic United States eventually allies with Germany and Russia to divide the world between each other. Here is a map of the present day:
Wait a second...did I accidentally put the wrong map up? No I did not. The events Ad Astra Per Aspera are primarily set in the 28th century (hence its inclusion in the Alien Space Bats forum). Nevertheless, it is an amazing piece of alternate history. Instead of using Hollywood science, rvbomally follows actual science in creating his futuristic universe. For example, space battles are nothing like what you see in most science fiction films. Instead, actual physics forces combatants to take into account a 3D, frictionless environment where enemies could be millions of miles away. Instead of brave space heroes life Honor Harrington, we have math nerds plugging firing solutions into computers. Faster-than-light travel also exists, but instead of "hyperdrives" rvbomally uses actual scientific theories to get around the restrictions on intergalactic travel, like an Alcubierre drive.
I also should point out that this world is a dystopia. The three galactic superpowers (the Coalition of Western Republics, Conseil of Workers’ Systems and the United Technocracies of Man) are all dictatorships whose leaders appear to model their nations on Oceania from 1984. In fact rvbomally makes a compelling argument that when considering the size of the galaxy and territory the superpowers (and even minor states) rule, dictatorships may be the only effective means of governing humans, especially when you have to convince them to support wars that may last a century due to the vast distances involved.
Also if you needed another reason to read this timeline, the multiverse exists...and is exploited by the Coalition of Western Republics. After stealing anything of value, the Coalition usually nukes the world into oblivion, so not the same time of multiverse exploitation you see in Paratime.
In fact I think rvbomally summed the feel of this timeline very well when he said: Feeling cheerful? Read Ad Astra Per Aspera and lose a little bit more faith in humanity!
Links to the Multiverse
Review of Tears of the Sun - Review done by Harriet Klausner, who may or may not actually read the books she reviews.
A grab bag of new DVD releases - An article by Bruce Dancis that includes a review of Jackboots on Whitehall at the bottom.
Review of Hitler's War by Harry Turtledove - On Book Blogs.
Review of The Afrika Reich by Guy Saville - On Weekend Bookworm.
Review of Heart of Iron by Ekaterina Sedia - On A.V. Club.
Review of How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove - on the JP Feed.
We have all "Googled" ourselves at one point or another. When your name pops up when you are not looking for yourself, however, is when things get really crazy. A couple of days ago I searched for "alternate history" in Google and was pleasantly surprised when this blog came up on the first page of the results. Of course when I tried to do it again today it was not there. Can someone explain to me how Google works? What decides what order websites appear in?
Speaking of this blog, I now realize that I screwed up when naming it. I am a big fan of Rooster Teeth, which makes it odd that I did not realize that the acronym for this blog, AHWU, is the same for a segment on Achievement Hunter called "Achievement Hunter Weekly Update". So to avoid confusion, I will try to stop using the acronym since I do not want there to be any confusion between this blog and the original AHWU. Instead of calling these posts "AHWU #" I will be calling them "Weekly Update". Also I will once again be posting these weekly. For the rest of the week I will fill the blog with essays, contributor's post, interviews, breaking news updates and book reviews. I hope you all approve.
I also would like to welcome my first readers from Spain, Finland and Trinidad & Tobago. And now the news...
An Experiment to Find the Multiverse
On August 3, 2011, theoretical physicists in Great Britain announced they were conducting tests for the very first time to find evidence of multiple alternative universes, otherwise known as a multiverse. A team of cosmologists will search the cosmic microwave background radiation to see if there is evidence that this alternate history trope actually exists.
The controversial multiverse theory states that other universes lie within "bubbles" of space and time. Studies of the low-temperature glow left from the Big Bang suggest that these "bubble universes" have left marks on our own. Theses scientists will be looking for these space-time fender benders to see if the multiverse truly exists.
By August 5, reports surfaced suggesting that the scientists had discovered four such bruises on our universe. Still, the overall statistical significance of these marks is not that great, and more data is necessary before we can all book a trip to visit our favorite alternate Earth. Fortunately, the European Space Agency's Planck satellite is currently collecting data at three times the resolution of what was used in this study, and by sometime in 2013 (if man is still alive), we should get a clearer picture on how many more alternate worlds may actually be out there.
Now before you all run off to some world where the Confederacy survives, you might not like what you find. These universes may not even follow our laws of nature, as one article discussed. Even if they did contain recognizable forms of life, we may never actually be able to reach them. The bubble universes have been moving very fast since the Big Bang. In fact, they are being pulled so far away and at such a fast speed that their light can never reach this universe again...ever. If their light cannot even reach us, how the hell can we get there?
While this may seem exciting to an average alternate historian, I fear that science is going to ruin multiverse travel just as they ruined Star Wars space battle scenes. Nevertheless I will be keeping an eye on this and will let you all know if anymore information is released.
Showcase: Ad Astra Per Aspera
This is a new segment where I will be showcasing an original work of online alternate history. The first timeline will be Ad Astra Per Aspera (Latin for "through hardships to the stars") by "rvbomally" and can be found at AH.com.
The point of divergence of the timeline is the successful impeachment of President Andrew Johnson and the rise of Radical Republican administration that punish the southern states for the War on Treason (ATL's American Civil War). An increasingly militaristic United States eventually allies with Germany and Russia to divide the world between each other. Here is a map of the present day:
Wait a second...did I accidentally put the wrong map up? No I did not. The events Ad Astra Per Aspera are primarily set in the 28th century (hence its inclusion in the Alien Space Bats forum). Nevertheless, it is an amazing piece of alternate history. Instead of using Hollywood science, rvbomally follows actual science in creating his futuristic universe. For example, space battles are nothing like what you see in most science fiction films. Instead, actual physics forces combatants to take into account a 3D, frictionless environment where enemies could be millions of miles away. Instead of brave space heroes life Honor Harrington, we have math nerds plugging firing solutions into computers. Faster-than-light travel also exists, but instead of "hyperdrives" rvbomally uses actual scientific theories to get around the restrictions on intergalactic travel, like an Alcubierre drive.
I also should point out that this world is a dystopia. The three galactic superpowers (the Coalition of Western Republics, Conseil of Workers’ Systems and the United Technocracies of Man) are all dictatorships whose leaders appear to model their nations on Oceania from 1984. In fact rvbomally makes a compelling argument that when considering the size of the galaxy and territory the superpowers (and even minor states) rule, dictatorships may be the only effective means of governing humans, especially when you have to convince them to support wars that may last a century due to the vast distances involved.
Also if you needed another reason to read this timeline, the multiverse exists...and is exploited by the Coalition of Western Republics. After stealing anything of value, the Coalition usually nukes the world into oblivion, so not the same time of multiverse exploitation you see in Paratime.
In fact I think rvbomally summed the feel of this timeline very well when he said: Feeling cheerful? Read Ad Astra Per Aspera and lose a little bit more faith in humanity!
Links to the Multiverse
Review of Tears of the Sun - Review done by Harriet Klausner, who may or may not actually read the books she reviews.
A grab bag of new DVD releases - An article by Bruce Dancis that includes a review of Jackboots on Whitehall at the bottom.
Review of Hitler's War by Harry Turtledove - On Book Blogs.
Review of The Afrika Reich by Guy Saville - On Weekend Bookworm.
Review of Heart of Iron by Ekaterina Sedia - On A.V. Club.
Review of How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove - on the JP Feed.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
AHWU #12
Editor's Note
Yesterday I had a long conversation with my brother on Facebook. It began with him questioning a flaw in the famous time travel film trilogy Back to the Future. In attempting to answer his question I shared with him my theory that the only way time travel could work is that Marty was actually travelling to alternate timelines. Essentially, Doc did not create a time travelling DeLorean, but a multiverse travelling DeLorean. After a half hour conversation my brother summed up his feelings when he messaged me saying his brain had exploded. He implored me to share my idea with others, so expect a posting in the near future as soon as I have a chance to express my theory in a more coherent form.
Meanwhile, we got our first reader from Poland. We are starting to fill in Eastern Europe rather nicely.
Also if you like this place than follow us on Google, Facebook or Twitter. More importantly, tell your friends about this place. Heck, tell your enemies as well, the more the merrier.
Dr. Turtledove Speaks at Comic Con
For those of you who did not attend the San Diego Comic Con (which is probably most of you) Harry Turtledove did a short interview with Suvudu. Turtledove discussed his new novel, The Big Switch, and shared some experiences dealing with fan criticism. If you happen to be "Cedric" perhaps you should write your own damn story before Turtledove decides to immortalize you into an ax-murderer!
You can see the interview here or here. Sadly the quality is not very good. While Turtledove comes in strong and clear, the background noise washes out whatever the interviewer is asking.
The Alternate History Track at Dragon*con
Speaking of cons, Dragon*Con (or Dragon Con) is a multigenre convention that will be held from September 2-5 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alternate historians should be excited due to the Alternate History Fan Track, which covers not only alternate history but also steampunk, time travel and historical romance. The track includes a long list of guests, including Eric Flint and S. M. Stirling.
What is probably more exciting is that they will have a debate featuring one of the two most written alternate history topics in English speaking world: the American Civil War. The topic will be whether the South was within its rights to secede from the Union, and will include and pre- and post-polling of the audience to see whether the panelists were able to change anyone's opinion. You can check out the Facebook page for the debate here. Usually when alternate historians debate this topic it happens in a form and inevitably ends in a flame war. Hopefully, in real life, the debators will be more respectful of each other.
Sadly I will not be able to attend what sounds like a wonderful event. Not having the money to travel across the country is becoming a real drag.
New Releases: Amerikan Eagle
Today, Amerikan Eagle by Alan Glenn will be released. Set in 1943, the novel involves a murder mystery in a world where Huey Long became president after Franklin Delano Roosevelt was assassinated.
In case you are wondering who Alan Glenn is, it is actually the pseudonym for Brendan DuBois. This is not DuBois' first foray into alternate history. In 1999, he published the novel Resurrection Day, which won the Long Form Sidewise Award that year. That novel, set in 1972, also was a murder mystery, but set 10 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated into nuclear war.
I thoroughly enjoyed Resurrection Day and I have a good feeling we can expect another masterpiece from DuBois with Amerikan Eagle. As soon as I finish After America I will be picking this up.
Links to the Multiverse
Crafting Another Earth’s Heartbreaking Take on the Multiverse - Interview with Another Earth's writer-producer Brit Marling and writer-director-producer, Mike Cahi.
Learn to Forgive Yourself in a Parallel Universe - Another review of Another Earth along with some commentary on the multiverse theory.
Alternate History: What Would Have Happened If Jonnie Marbles’ Pie Had Actually Hit Rupert Murdoch’s Face - a humorous article that discusses what would have happened had Murdoch gotten a face full of shaving cream.
A Political Counterfactual: Prime Minister Portillo... - Iain Dale wonders what might have been if Michael Portillo had become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Yesterday I had a long conversation with my brother on Facebook. It began with him questioning a flaw in the famous time travel film trilogy Back to the Future. In attempting to answer his question I shared with him my theory that the only way time travel could work is that Marty was actually travelling to alternate timelines. Essentially, Doc did not create a time travelling DeLorean, but a multiverse travelling DeLorean. After a half hour conversation my brother summed up his feelings when he messaged me saying his brain had exploded. He implored me to share my idea with others, so expect a posting in the near future as soon as I have a chance to express my theory in a more coherent form.
Meanwhile, we got our first reader from Poland. We are starting to fill in Eastern Europe rather nicely.
Also if you like this place than follow us on Google, Facebook or Twitter. More importantly, tell your friends about this place. Heck, tell your enemies as well, the more the merrier.
Dr. Turtledove Speaks at Comic Con
For those of you who did not attend the San Diego Comic Con (which is probably most of you) Harry Turtledove did a short interview with Suvudu. Turtledove discussed his new novel, The Big Switch, and shared some experiences dealing with fan criticism. If you happen to be "Cedric" perhaps you should write your own damn story before Turtledove decides to immortalize you into an ax-murderer!
You can see the interview here or here. Sadly the quality is not very good. While Turtledove comes in strong and clear, the background noise washes out whatever the interviewer is asking.
The Alternate History Track at Dragon*con
Speaking of cons, Dragon*Con (or Dragon Con) is a multigenre convention that will be held from September 2-5 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alternate historians should be excited due to the Alternate History Fan Track, which covers not only alternate history but also steampunk, time travel and historical romance. The track includes a long list of guests, including Eric Flint and S. M. Stirling.
What is probably more exciting is that they will have a debate featuring one of the two most written alternate history topics in English speaking world: the American Civil War. The topic will be whether the South was within its rights to secede from the Union, and will include and pre- and post-polling of the audience to see whether the panelists were able to change anyone's opinion. You can check out the Facebook page for the debate here. Usually when alternate historians debate this topic it happens in a form and inevitably ends in a flame war. Hopefully, in real life, the debators will be more respectful of each other.
Sadly I will not be able to attend what sounds like a wonderful event. Not having the money to travel across the country is becoming a real drag.
New Releases: Amerikan Eagle
Today, Amerikan Eagle by Alan Glenn will be released. Set in 1943, the novel involves a murder mystery in a world where Huey Long became president after Franklin Delano Roosevelt was assassinated.
In case you are wondering who Alan Glenn is, it is actually the pseudonym for Brendan DuBois. This is not DuBois' first foray into alternate history. In 1999, he published the novel Resurrection Day, which won the Long Form Sidewise Award that year. That novel, set in 1972, also was a murder mystery, but set 10 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated into nuclear war.
I thoroughly enjoyed Resurrection Day and I have a good feeling we can expect another masterpiece from DuBois with Amerikan Eagle. As soon as I finish After America I will be picking this up.
Links to the Multiverse
Crafting Another Earth’s Heartbreaking Take on the Multiverse - Interview with Another Earth's writer-producer Brit Marling and writer-director-producer, Mike Cahi.
Learn to Forgive Yourself in a Parallel Universe - Another review of Another Earth along with some commentary on the multiverse theory.
Alternate History: What Would Have Happened If Jonnie Marbles’ Pie Had Actually Hit Rupert Murdoch’s Face - a humorous article that discusses what would have happened had Murdoch gotten a face full of shaving cream.
A Political Counterfactual: Prime Minister Portillo... - Iain Dale wonders what might have been if Michael Portillo had become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Friday, July 22, 2011
AHWU #11
Editor's Note
Surpassed 1000 page views on Tuesday. It was an excellent birthday present. Plus we got our first readers from Malaysia, Lithuania and Ukraine.
I also hope you all enjoyed my interview with Mark Lord. I plan to do an interview once a month and I am still trying to get a chance to talk to a Sidewise judge, so stay tuned.
In other news, you can follow us now on Twitter under "ahwupdate".
Coming Soon: Angels of Vengeance
Angels of Vengeance is the third (and final?) book in Australian author John Birmingham's alternate history series. It comes out April 10, 2012, but for me it cannot come sooner. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Without Warning. The story involved the aftermath of "The Wave", an energy field that causes most of the populations of United States, Canada and Mexico to disappear on March 13, 2003 (on the eve of Operation Iraqi Freedom). All that is left of America is Alaska, Hawaii, a small enclave around Seattle and America's oversees possessions. For those who thought the world would be a better place without the United States, Birmingham responds with a horrifying depiction of global economic collapse, ecological disaster and genocidal war. Birmingham has a Stirling-esq way of destroying worlds and shares that author's tendency to use strong female characters who could kick your ass and look good while doing it.
It took me sometime to get to the sequel, After America, because I have burned before by poorly planned sequels or prequels (damn you Lucas). Nevertheless, it was obvious there was going to be a sequel since at the end of Without Warning (SPOILER ALERT) the energy field that vaporized anyone who tried to cross it disappeared opening North America to recolonization. I finally just started reading the sequel and I am very interested in how the rump United States handles repopulating the empty country. Already it appears that the policy of the current administration is that anyone can get in as long as they work a certain number of years for the government (they have not yet called it indentured servitude, but yeah it is like that).
Hopefully I will have a review of After America for you all soon, until then read Without Warning if you have not already.
Who are the Best Writers of Alternate History?
Who do you think are the best alternate history writers? Vic Richardson at InfiniteSpectra Blog listed (in no particular order) who he thought were the top five: Philip K. Dick, Harry Turtledove, S. M. Stirling, John Birmingham and Eric Flint.
It is a difficult question to answer in my opinion. What criteria do you use? Certainly Turtledove belongs near the top of that list, being one of the most prolific alternate history writers out there, along with being responsible for introducing the genre to many alternate historians. The other authors are certainly just as influential, even if they cannot claim the title of "master of alternate history".
Stirling seems to have an innate ability to create (or destroy) worlds that are both fascinating and horrifying. Flint's 1632 series is probably the most successful shared universe in the genre, while Birmingham was able to marry the tech-thriller genre with alternate history. Last, but not least, Dick's The Man in the High Castle is a must read for alternate historians and a great example of a double-blind what if.
Still I feel there are so many authors who deserve to be on that list. L. Sprague de Camp's 1958 novel Lest Darkness Fall inspired so many of the alternate history writers who came out of the 1980s that he can be credited with creating the genre itself. Than there was Robert Sobel's For Want of a Nail, which is a favorite for many of the pioneers of online alternate history. In fact the list of alternate history authors is very long.
That is why I need your help. Comment on this blog or email me at ahwupdate@gmail.com who you think are top five best alternate history writers. Once we narrow down the list I will start a poll to decide, once and for all, who is the best.
Links to the Multiverse
Summer escapes into science fiction and fantasy - Has a short review of Harry Turtledove's The War That Came Early.
5 insane scientific theories about our big stupid crazy universe - Including the multiverse. Hopefully evil Spock is not reading this.
Review of S. M. Stirling's The Peshawar Lancers @ the Sleeping Hedgehog blog.
Resistance 3 is 'The Road' of Video Games - Review of Resistance 3.
The Alternate Earths - A list of alternate Earth, though sadly not all are pure alternate history.
Surpassed 1000 page views on Tuesday. It was an excellent birthday present. Plus we got our first readers from Malaysia, Lithuania and Ukraine.
I also hope you all enjoyed my interview with Mark Lord. I plan to do an interview once a month and I am still trying to get a chance to talk to a Sidewise judge, so stay tuned.
In other news, you can follow us now on Twitter under "ahwupdate".
Coming Soon: Angels of Vengeance
Angels of Vengeance is the third (and final?) book in Australian author John Birmingham's alternate history series. It comes out April 10, 2012, but for me it cannot come sooner. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Without Warning. The story involved the aftermath of "The Wave", an energy field that causes most of the populations of United States, Canada and Mexico to disappear on March 13, 2003 (on the eve of Operation Iraqi Freedom). All that is left of America is Alaska, Hawaii, a small enclave around Seattle and America's oversees possessions. For those who thought the world would be a better place without the United States, Birmingham responds with a horrifying depiction of global economic collapse, ecological disaster and genocidal war. Birmingham has a Stirling-esq way of destroying worlds and shares that author's tendency to use strong female characters who could kick your ass and look good while doing it.
It took me sometime to get to the sequel, After America, because I have burned before by poorly planned sequels or prequels (damn you Lucas). Nevertheless, it was obvious there was going to be a sequel since at the end of Without Warning (SPOILER ALERT) the energy field that vaporized anyone who tried to cross it disappeared opening North America to recolonization. I finally just started reading the sequel and I am very interested in how the rump United States handles repopulating the empty country. Already it appears that the policy of the current administration is that anyone can get in as long as they work a certain number of years for the government (they have not yet called it indentured servitude, but yeah it is like that).
Hopefully I will have a review of After America for you all soon, until then read Without Warning if you have not already.
Who are the Best Writers of Alternate History?
Who do you think are the best alternate history writers? Vic Richardson at InfiniteSpectra Blog listed (in no particular order) who he thought were the top five: Philip K. Dick, Harry Turtledove, S. M. Stirling, John Birmingham and Eric Flint.
It is a difficult question to answer in my opinion. What criteria do you use? Certainly Turtledove belongs near the top of that list, being one of the most prolific alternate history writers out there, along with being responsible for introducing the genre to many alternate historians. The other authors are certainly just as influential, even if they cannot claim the title of "master of alternate history".
Stirling seems to have an innate ability to create (or destroy) worlds that are both fascinating and horrifying. Flint's 1632 series is probably the most successful shared universe in the genre, while Birmingham was able to marry the tech-thriller genre with alternate history. Last, but not least, Dick's The Man in the High Castle is a must read for alternate historians and a great example of a double-blind what if.
Still I feel there are so many authors who deserve to be on that list. L. Sprague de Camp's 1958 novel Lest Darkness Fall inspired so many of the alternate history writers who came out of the 1980s that he can be credited with creating the genre itself. Than there was Robert Sobel's For Want of a Nail, which is a favorite for many of the pioneers of online alternate history. In fact the list of alternate history authors is very long.
That is why I need your help. Comment on this blog or email me at ahwupdate@gmail.com who you think are top five best alternate history writers. Once we narrow down the list I will start a poll to decide, once and for all, who is the best.
Links to the Multiverse
Summer escapes into science fiction and fantasy - Has a short review of Harry Turtledove's The War That Came Early.
5 insane scientific theories about our big stupid crazy universe - Including the multiverse. Hopefully evil Spock is not reading this.
Review of S. M. Stirling's The Peshawar Lancers @ the Sleeping Hedgehog blog.
Resistance 3 is 'The Road' of Video Games - Review of Resistance 3.
The Alternate Earths - A list of alternate Earth, though sadly not all are pure alternate history.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
AHWU #10
Editor's Note
Wow, my tenth post. With AHWU being a month old, I want to announce a goal of mine. By June 19, 2012, this blog will have 300 Facebook fans and 100 Google followers. So if you support AHWU, like us on Facebook or follow us on Google. Only with your support can this project continue.
A few announcements to get through. First, I got my first readers from Latvia and Bulgaria, which means I am finely making leeway into the old Soviet bloc. Welcome!
Second, I want to introduce our newest contributor, author Deborah Teramis Christian. Keep a look out for her next post and in the meantime go check out her blog.
Finally, tomorrow I will be publishing my interview with Mark Lord, editor of the Alt Hist magazine. So keep an eye out for that.
The Dangers of Crosstime Travel
For any fans of Piper's Paratime series, Turtledove's Crosstime Traffic series or any other body of works that deals with interactions between alternate universes; the ability to travel through the multiverse might seem to many to be a ticket to unending adventure and riches. In reality, it may cause civilization as we know it to collapse. Here are a few dangers to keep an eye out for if we ever perfect crosstime travel:
1) Disease: Native Americans were isolated from the rest of the world prior to 1492 and thus they did not gain the immunity to various disease the rest of humanity gained. The arrival of Columbus and other Europeans changed everything and introduced diseases to a population that was not prepared for them. While the exact die-off is unknown, even conservative estimates put it into the millions. This same issue can happen with crosstime travel. We could stumble upon a timeline where some common disease that does not threaten humanity at all mutated into the cause of the zombie apocalypse.
Preventing some viral outbreak could be next to impossible depending on the method of travel. If crosstime travel depends on a stationary location, than quarantine could prevent an apocalyptic outbreak. If the device necessary for crosstime travel, however, can be carried in an individual's pocket (like Sliders) than preventing unlicensed exploration of timelines would be impossible to prevent.
2) Invasion: Randall Park at his blog FuturePundit touched on two possible scenarios involving crosstime travel:
I disagree with Park on one of his point. You do not need contact with another species before the threat of multiverse invasions becomes a reality. Instead of worrying about evolved raptors (like the ones from the Destroyermen series), we should worry about other advanced humans. Throughout human history, when an advanced culture came in contact with less advanced culture, the more advanced culture subjugated the other. You only have to look at a map of the world from 1914 for proof of this concept.
So if we stumble upon some advanced civilization on another timeline, we may be inviting them to attack us. Maybe they are desperate for resources, having used up their last deposits years ago, in competition with another crosstime capable Earth to grab as much of the multiverse as possible (much like the Scramble for Africa from OTL), or they have some ideological drive to spread their beliefs wherever there is some "unenlightened" population. Regardless of the reasons, could we stop them? What are our counter-measures to nano-swarms that would disassemble our weapons into piles of dust, biological agents that would turn us into meek slaves or space stations that could rain down nuclear fire at any signs of defiance?
For this reason alone, keeping the secret of crosstime travel of other alternate timelines is paramount to the survival of our own civilization.
3) Mass Suicides: Larry Niven published a short story called "All the Myriad Ways". It is set in a timeline where the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated to a nuclear war. At the present time in this universe, crosstime travel has been invented and the corporation that invented it now profits from their discovery by the technology they discover from other Earths. The main character is a detective who is investigating an epidemic of suicides and murders. At the end (SPOILER ALERT) the main character realizes that the known existence of an infinite mulitverse means that all possible choices that might be made are actually made in other timelines, thus making free will meaningless. By committing suicide or committing murder, the person is abandoning the sense of choice.
Now whether Niven's depressing scenario is realistic is matter of opinion. Nevertheless, science fiction has a pretty good track record when it has come to predicting the future. There is also plenty of proof that people do not always have a healthy reaction to the harsh reality we inhabit. In my opinion, Niven's idea scares me enough that research should be conducted on the psychological impact of crosstime travel before it is to late.
4) Ecological Disasters: Often when we speculate on other timelines, we also discuss how human choices are the main cause and effect for the existence of the multiverse. In reality, the vast majority of all the timelines that make up the infinite multiverse have nothing to do with humanity. Consider the vast number of animals that exist today or have existed. Could there choices be factored into account? We are not talking about timelines with centuries of alternate history, but with billions of years worth of difference. Among these timelines could exist a collection of species and plants that are unrecognizable to anything that does or did exist on Earth. Now what would happen if they were unleashed on our Earth? What could an invasive alien species do to our environment? Already the ones that exist today cost billions of dollars a year, but the existence of some unknown species from some alternate Earth could possible mean apocalyptic conditions for our own Earth.
Conclusion: I write this article not to discourage future exploration of the multiverse. Instead I only suggest that the future chrononauts take the necessary precautions to protect our Earth from the dangers that may exist in the multiverse.
Another AH Podcast?
I love listening to podcasts at work, but I was disappointed that there were no alternate history podcasts to listen to. Now in just a month I have found two...and maybe even a third one.
On the Alex and Kento blog, there is a promo for a new alternate history podcast. But is it alternate history? It looks like Alex and Kento are going for a satirical, alien space bat themed podcast.
I'm not sure what to expect from these guys, but if anything more substantial comes I will let you all know.
Coming Soon: Another Earth
Coming this Friday to theaters in the United States and Canada will be the independent film Another Earth. Here is the plot synopsis from Wikipedia:
While the movie's alternate history content may be minimal, the film still touches on some of the psychological issues inherent with the existence of a parallel Earth. It should be interesting and I plan to watch it if I can find a theater nearby that will show it.
Links to the Multiverse
UNA_LION shares his love of alternate history @ Newsvine
We Don’t Live on the Moon Or Have Flying Cars, But We Do Have a Black President: What Science Fiction Can Teach Us About Barack Obama - An interesting articles that discusses how race is portrayed in science fiction and its effect on American politics.
Wow, my tenth post. With AHWU being a month old, I want to announce a goal of mine. By June 19, 2012, this blog will have 300 Facebook fans and 100 Google followers. So if you support AHWU, like us on Facebook or follow us on Google. Only with your support can this project continue.
A few announcements to get through. First, I got my first readers from Latvia and Bulgaria, which means I am finely making leeway into the old Soviet bloc. Welcome!
Second, I want to introduce our newest contributor, author Deborah Teramis Christian. Keep a look out for her next post and in the meantime go check out her blog.
Finally, tomorrow I will be publishing my interview with Mark Lord, editor of the Alt Hist magazine. So keep an eye out for that.
The Dangers of Crosstime Travel
For any fans of Piper's Paratime series, Turtledove's Crosstime Traffic series or any other body of works that deals with interactions between alternate universes; the ability to travel through the multiverse might seem to many to be a ticket to unending adventure and riches. In reality, it may cause civilization as we know it to collapse. Here are a few dangers to keep an eye out for if we ever perfect crosstime travel:
1) Disease: Native Americans were isolated from the rest of the world prior to 1492 and thus they did not gain the immunity to various disease the rest of humanity gained. The arrival of Columbus and other Europeans changed everything and introduced diseases to a population that was not prepared for them. While the exact die-off is unknown, even conservative estimates put it into the millions. This same issue can happen with crosstime travel. We could stumble upon a timeline where some common disease that does not threaten humanity at all mutated into the cause of the zombie apocalypse.
Preventing some viral outbreak could be next to impossible depending on the method of travel. If crosstime travel depends on a stationary location, than quarantine could prevent an apocalyptic outbreak. If the device necessary for crosstime travel, however, can be carried in an individual's pocket (like Sliders) than preventing unlicensed exploration of timelines would be impossible to prevent.
2) Invasion: Randall Park at his blog FuturePundit touched on two possible scenarios involving crosstime travel:
If one could find worlds more technologically advanced one could use that tech (e.g. robots, AI, nanotech factories, rejuvenation tech using microfluidic devices) to an unpopulated world and create a luxurious community in a clean environment with no terrorism or pollution or resource depletion. On the other hand, if multiverse travel is possible how soon till multiverse invasions by hostile species?
I disagree with Park on one of his point. You do not need contact with another species before the threat of multiverse invasions becomes a reality. Instead of worrying about evolved raptors (like the ones from the Destroyermen series), we should worry about other advanced humans. Throughout human history, when an advanced culture came in contact with less advanced culture, the more advanced culture subjugated the other. You only have to look at a map of the world from 1914 for proof of this concept.
So if we stumble upon some advanced civilization on another timeline, we may be inviting them to attack us. Maybe they are desperate for resources, having used up their last deposits years ago, in competition with another crosstime capable Earth to grab as much of the multiverse as possible (much like the Scramble for Africa from OTL), or they have some ideological drive to spread their beliefs wherever there is some "unenlightened" population. Regardless of the reasons, could we stop them? What are our counter-measures to nano-swarms that would disassemble our weapons into piles of dust, biological agents that would turn us into meek slaves or space stations that could rain down nuclear fire at any signs of defiance?
For this reason alone, keeping the secret of crosstime travel of other alternate timelines is paramount to the survival of our own civilization.
3) Mass Suicides: Larry Niven published a short story called "All the Myriad Ways". It is set in a timeline where the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated to a nuclear war. At the present time in this universe, crosstime travel has been invented and the corporation that invented it now profits from their discovery by the technology they discover from other Earths. The main character is a detective who is investigating an epidemic of suicides and murders. At the end (SPOILER ALERT) the main character realizes that the known existence of an infinite mulitverse means that all possible choices that might be made are actually made in other timelines, thus making free will meaningless. By committing suicide or committing murder, the person is abandoning the sense of choice.
Now whether Niven's depressing scenario is realistic is matter of opinion. Nevertheless, science fiction has a pretty good track record when it has come to predicting the future. There is also plenty of proof that people do not always have a healthy reaction to the harsh reality we inhabit. In my opinion, Niven's idea scares me enough that research should be conducted on the psychological impact of crosstime travel before it is to late.
4) Ecological Disasters: Often when we speculate on other timelines, we also discuss how human choices are the main cause and effect for the existence of the multiverse. In reality, the vast majority of all the timelines that make up the infinite multiverse have nothing to do with humanity. Consider the vast number of animals that exist today or have existed. Could there choices be factored into account? We are not talking about timelines with centuries of alternate history, but with billions of years worth of difference. Among these timelines could exist a collection of species and plants that are unrecognizable to anything that does or did exist on Earth. Now what would happen if they were unleashed on our Earth? What could an invasive alien species do to our environment? Already the ones that exist today cost billions of dollars a year, but the existence of some unknown species from some alternate Earth could possible mean apocalyptic conditions for our own Earth.
Conclusion: I write this article not to discourage future exploration of the multiverse. Instead I only suggest that the future chrononauts take the necessary precautions to protect our Earth from the dangers that may exist in the multiverse.
Another AH Podcast?
I love listening to podcasts at work, but I was disappointed that there were no alternate history podcasts to listen to. Now in just a month I have found two...and maybe even a third one.
On the Alex and Kento blog, there is a promo for a new alternate history podcast. But is it alternate history? It looks like Alex and Kento are going for a satirical, alien space bat themed podcast.
I'm not sure what to expect from these guys, but if anything more substantial comes I will let you all know.
Coming Soon: Another Earth
Coming this Friday to theaters in the United States and Canada will be the independent film Another Earth. Here is the plot synopsis from Wikipedia:
Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling), a physics student at MIT, is driving when she sees a planet and leans out for a closer look. She hits a minivan and kills a family. She is imprisoned for four years, and upon release seeks out the widower of the family, composer John Burroughs (William Mapother). The planet she saw is a mirror planet of Earth, seemingly to the extent that it even has the same people on it, and an essay contest is held where the winner can ride a space shuttle to visit it. Williams considers the possibility of visiting it to find out what kind of life her mirror self would have led.
While the movie's alternate history content may be minimal, the film still touches on some of the psychological issues inherent with the existence of a parallel Earth. It should be interesting and I plan to watch it if I can find a theater nearby that will show it.
Links to the Multiverse
UNA_LION shares his love of alternate history @ Newsvine
We Don’t Live on the Moon Or Have Flying Cars, But We Do Have a Black President: What Science Fiction Can Teach Us About Barack Obama - An interesting articles that discusses how race is portrayed in science fiction and its effect on American politics.
Friday, July 15, 2011
AHWU #9
Editor's Note
So we have over 20 Facebook fans, which is cool. Not enough yet to declare that we are bigger than Jesus, but we are getting close.
Wait a second, whose "we", ke-mo sah-bee? Actually if you read this post, than you have met Alternate History Weekly Updates' first contributor: Kier Salmon. She will be reporting to us about the Sidewise Award winners, which will be announced at Renovation, and also sharing with us from time to time articles on alternate history.
In other news, we got our first readers from Benin and Sweden. Welcome!
A Trip Through Montival
Speaking about our new contributor, you should check out her LiveJournal and read about her tour of the Pacific Northwest with S. M. Stirling and his wife. It starts on May 3rd and goes on from there. The groups stops by many locations featured in the Emberverse series, along with some locales that will feature in the upcoming novel, The Tears of the Sun.
I like how Stirling takes the time to visit the places he writes about. I want to be a published author myself someday and one thing I always found difficult was to write about places where I have never been to. No matter how much research you do, nothing replaces actual physical presence.
AH Directory
You may also have noticed I have added some pages to the blog. The one that will be a constant work in progress is the AH Directory. The plan is for it to be the ultimate list of alternate history related links, but I will need your help to reach that goal. If there is some website, forum, wiki, blog, etc., that you think should be up there, then please let us know at our new email address: ahwupdate@gmail.com.
New Editors Guide to 1983: Doomsday
I was once an active contributor to 1983: Doomsday. It was a big part of my life for sometime, so I want to share something that is very important to me. If you are looking for a place where your imagination and creativity can have free reign, than 1983: Doomsday is NOT the place for you.
Sorry for the misleading sentence above, but it is the truth. 1983: Doomsday is an online collaborative alternate history timeline located at the Alternate History Wiki. Originally posted by an anonymous user in 2006, the timeline was later adopted by Sven Kunz (who went by the user name Xi'Reney) and shortly thereafter made into an open timeline, where anyone could contribute. The timeline is the largest and most active timeline on the wiki and is known across the online alternate history community.
That being said, you need to remember that the Alternate History Wiki is not Wikipedia, a place where anyone can edit. This timeline has seen the creative contributions of dozens of editors and safeguards have been put in place to protect their work. Meanwhile, long-standing collaboration among editors has created a sub-culture on the wiki. This sub-culture includes some of the most active editors on the wiki and many of them are administrators with the power to delete articles and block users. So it is generally not a good idea to annoy them.
So what can a new editor do if they wish to contribute to this timeline without annoying the established community of editors? Well if you follow these guidelines you should easily become a respected member of the community:
1. Read the timeline: Alright this seems obvious, but you would be surprised how often it appears that new editors failed to take into account how massive the 1983: Doomsday world really is. There are hundreds of articles with more being created every day. Do not feel that you are ready to dive in and start creating new articles just after reading a few of the major ones. Spend some time perusing over the articles. Not only will it be entertaining, but you will soon realize how much relevant information you will need to consider in your future articles.
2. Read and understand the rules: The timeline is governed by two sets of rules: the Editorial Guidelines and QSS and QAA. In summary, they outline what is done to prevent new information that contradicts canon or else is just implausible. Despite terms such as “guidelines” and “concepts”, both are strictly enforced as the laws of the timelines. You need to read and understand them because ignoring them will just make things more difficult for you as you try to become accepted by the community. You should also read and understand the rules of the AH wiki as a whole, since they obviously are important too.
3. Introduce yourself: By now you should have a good grasp of the story and the rules of editing. But before you edit, you should introduce yourself to the community. Why? How would you feel if some stranger walked into your home and without permission began rearranging your furniture? Now consider how it would feel if the articles you spent days building were suddenly remade by some strange new editor you never heard of? Same concept. So to prevent enraging a veteran editor, go to the main talk page and introduce yourself. Tell the community why you like this timeline and why you think you would be a good contributor. You would be surprise at how welcoming the community could be when someone acts as how they would in real life when meeting new people.
4. Ask before you edit: The greatest difference between Wikipedia and 1983: Doomsday is that the timeline does not ask you to be bold. So if you see an article that you wish to contribute to, do NOT immediately start editing it. Find out who the caretaker of the article is and ask permission to edit. Usually the caretaker is either the creator of the article or else whoever is currently updating and revising it. If you wish to help, leave a message on their talk page or else leave a message on the article talk page. Share your ideas or questions and always offer to collaborate with them. Be polite and respectful, regardless of whatever your qualification may be, even veteran editors do this.
5. Research before you create: I cannot stress this enough. Poor research means poor alternate history in general. So when the time comes to write your article make sure you do your research. There is no excuse to not do this. The Internet is a treasure trove of easily accessible information. It is also not difficult to search through the articles of 1983: Doomsday to make sure your new article does not contradict canon. Trust me, a poorly researched article will be very obvious to the veteran editors and they will be less likely to work with someone who is not putting any real effort into his contributions.
If you follow my advice your time as a “noob” will be gratefully short. Nevertheless, if you learned anything from this guide it should be this: 1983: Doomsday is a team project. You have to be willing to work as a team player, or else you are going to get kicked off the team. No one is about to trust the rookie until they can see what they can do. Remember that before you start editing.
Links to the Multiverse
Review of Blood Work by Kim Harrison - set in an alternate history where a worldwide pandemic caused by genetically modified tomatoes led to the death of a large portion of the world's human population.
An alternate history where Laika the cosmonaut dog comes home - at Big Planet Comics.
Review of The Infinites by John Banville - Greek gods continue to interact with humanity on a Earth where Alfred Russel Wallace drafted the discredited theory of evolution; Goethe is a forgotten poet; Mary, Queen of Scots, ascended to the throne of England and beheaded Elizabeth I; and Europe is in danger from an expansionist Sweden.
So we have over 20 Facebook fans, which is cool. Not enough yet to declare that we are bigger than Jesus, but we are getting close.
Wait a second, whose "we", ke-mo sah-bee? Actually if you read this post, than you have met Alternate History Weekly Updates' first contributor: Kier Salmon. She will be reporting to us about the Sidewise Award winners, which will be announced at Renovation, and also sharing with us from time to time articles on alternate history.
In other news, we got our first readers from Benin and Sweden. Welcome!
A Trip Through Montival
Speaking about our new contributor, you should check out her LiveJournal and read about her tour of the Pacific Northwest with S. M. Stirling and his wife. It starts on May 3rd and goes on from there. The groups stops by many locations featured in the Emberverse series, along with some locales that will feature in the upcoming novel, The Tears of the Sun.
I like how Stirling takes the time to visit the places he writes about. I want to be a published author myself someday and one thing I always found difficult was to write about places where I have never been to. No matter how much research you do, nothing replaces actual physical presence.
AH Directory
You may also have noticed I have added some pages to the blog. The one that will be a constant work in progress is the AH Directory. The plan is for it to be the ultimate list of alternate history related links, but I will need your help to reach that goal. If there is some website, forum, wiki, blog, etc., that you think should be up there, then please let us know at our new email address: ahwupdate@gmail.com.
New Editors Guide to 1983: Doomsday
I was once an active contributor to 1983: Doomsday. It was a big part of my life for sometime, so I want to share something that is very important to me. If you are looking for a place where your imagination and creativity can have free reign, than 1983: Doomsday is NOT the place for you.
Sorry for the misleading sentence above, but it is the truth. 1983: Doomsday is an online collaborative alternate history timeline located at the Alternate History Wiki. Originally posted by an anonymous user in 2006, the timeline was later adopted by Sven Kunz (who went by the user name Xi'Reney) and shortly thereafter made into an open timeline, where anyone could contribute. The timeline is the largest and most active timeline on the wiki and is known across the online alternate history community.
That being said, you need to remember that the Alternate History Wiki is not Wikipedia, a place where anyone can edit. This timeline has seen the creative contributions of dozens of editors and safeguards have been put in place to protect their work. Meanwhile, long-standing collaboration among editors has created a sub-culture on the wiki. This sub-culture includes some of the most active editors on the wiki and many of them are administrators with the power to delete articles and block users. So it is generally not a good idea to annoy them.
So what can a new editor do if they wish to contribute to this timeline without annoying the established community of editors? Well if you follow these guidelines you should easily become a respected member of the community:
1. Read the timeline: Alright this seems obvious, but you would be surprised how often it appears that new editors failed to take into account how massive the 1983: Doomsday world really is. There are hundreds of articles with more being created every day. Do not feel that you are ready to dive in and start creating new articles just after reading a few of the major ones. Spend some time perusing over the articles. Not only will it be entertaining, but you will soon realize how much relevant information you will need to consider in your future articles.
2. Read and understand the rules: The timeline is governed by two sets of rules: the Editorial Guidelines and QSS and QAA. In summary, they outline what is done to prevent new information that contradicts canon or else is just implausible. Despite terms such as “guidelines” and “concepts”, both are strictly enforced as the laws of the timelines. You need to read and understand them because ignoring them will just make things more difficult for you as you try to become accepted by the community. You should also read and understand the rules of the AH wiki as a whole, since they obviously are important too.
3. Introduce yourself: By now you should have a good grasp of the story and the rules of editing. But before you edit, you should introduce yourself to the community. Why? How would you feel if some stranger walked into your home and without permission began rearranging your furniture? Now consider how it would feel if the articles you spent days building were suddenly remade by some strange new editor you never heard of? Same concept. So to prevent enraging a veteran editor, go to the main talk page and introduce yourself. Tell the community why you like this timeline and why you think you would be a good contributor. You would be surprise at how welcoming the community could be when someone acts as how they would in real life when meeting new people.
4. Ask before you edit: The greatest difference between Wikipedia and 1983: Doomsday is that the timeline does not ask you to be bold. So if you see an article that you wish to contribute to, do NOT immediately start editing it. Find out who the caretaker of the article is and ask permission to edit. Usually the caretaker is either the creator of the article or else whoever is currently updating and revising it. If you wish to help, leave a message on their talk page or else leave a message on the article talk page. Share your ideas or questions and always offer to collaborate with them. Be polite and respectful, regardless of whatever your qualification may be, even veteran editors do this.
5. Research before you create: I cannot stress this enough. Poor research means poor alternate history in general. So when the time comes to write your article make sure you do your research. There is no excuse to not do this. The Internet is a treasure trove of easily accessible information. It is also not difficult to search through the articles of 1983: Doomsday to make sure your new article does not contradict canon. Trust me, a poorly researched article will be very obvious to the veteran editors and they will be less likely to work with someone who is not putting any real effort into his contributions.
If you follow my advice your time as a “noob” will be gratefully short. Nevertheless, if you learned anything from this guide it should be this: 1983: Doomsday is a team project. You have to be willing to work as a team player, or else you are going to get kicked off the team. No one is about to trust the rookie until they can see what they can do. Remember that before you start editing.
Links to the Multiverse
Review of Blood Work by Kim Harrison - set in an alternate history where a worldwide pandemic caused by genetically modified tomatoes led to the death of a large portion of the world's human population.
An alternate history where Laika the cosmonaut dog comes home - at Big Planet Comics.
Review of The Infinites by John Banville - Greek gods continue to interact with humanity on a Earth where Alfred Russel Wallace drafted the discredited theory of evolution; Goethe is a forgotten poet; Mary, Queen of Scots, ascended to the throne of England and beheaded Elizabeth I; and Europe is in danger from an expansionist Sweden.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
AHWU #8
Editor's Note
So I have started posting on AH.com again. I say again because I have been an on-and-off poster at that place for a long time. Some of my first posts date back to 2001. And no, I will not tell you what my handle was back then. After going back and reviewing some of my old posts, I have decided that no one needs to know what I said back in the day when I was an immature, know-it-all teenager. So do not ask, because I will not tell. For now on I am just "Mitro".
In other news, I got my first reader(s) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is cool for me since my family was from there. Welcome!
Finally, please like me on Facebook or follow me with your Google account. I am not ashamed to admit that I am doing this for the attention, so if you want to keep me going then sign up to be fan/follower.
S. M. Stirling's Emberverse is Alternate History
I talk a lot about what is not alternate history, but now I am going to change things up and talk about a book series that is alternate history...but not everyone agrees with me.
If you go the Nantucket Trilogy entry on Uchronia you will see this sentence:
That related series is more commonly known as the Emberverse series. It is post-apocalyptic series of novels written by S. M. Stirling. The novels depict the events following "The Change", an event on March 17, 1998 which caused electricity, guns, explosives, internal combustion engines, and steam power to stop working. Most of the action in the series takes place in the Willamette Valley of Oregon in the United States, as the characters try to survive the loss of 600 years of technological progress. The original trilogy, concerns the conflicts between a Portland-based neo-feudal dictatorship and the free communities of the Willamette Valley, primarily the Wiccan Clan Mackenzie and the Bearkillers. The books following the original trilogy focuses on the now-adult children of the original characters.
Now why this is not considered alternate history by Uchronia is beyond me. The series meets all the elements of an alternate history. There is an established point of divergence (POD) with the loss of high technology happening in 1998, six years before the first novel is written. This POD, meanwhile, alters history as we know it or else I would not be talking about this on a blog. Finally, the series examines the ramifications of that change, in exhaustive detail only Stirling can give you. Spoiler Alert, currently King William V the Great rules a resurgent British Empire; Theodore Kaczynski founded a mad, expansionist cult in Montana; and Iowa is the richest nation in North America. Yes there is some suggestions of magic and gods, but even Uchronia does not exclude novels for being fantasy.
So why is it not listed in Uchronia as alternate history? Probably because it is complete ASB! Stirling uses alien space bats as a plot device to create an alternate history, just like dozens of editors do everyday at AH.com. In fact, Stirling is known for his use of the alien space bat plot device (see the Nantucket Trilogy, The Lords of Creation and The Peshawar Lancers). Believe it or not, the term alien space bats is not just an insult for poor alternate history, it is actually used to create alternate history...which goes on to list in the top 15 on The New York Times Best Seller List.
So Uchronia, do the right thing. List the Emberverse series as alternate history.
Is MacMaster and Joatsimeon the same person?
In my first issue, I talked about Amina Abdallah Arraf al Omari, the fictional, alternate history loving persona of American peace activist and graduate student Tom MacMaster. In my last issue, I talked about how a Wikipedia editor using the handle of "Joatsimeon" was making controversial edits to the article on Amina. What made that relevant to AHWU was the fact that the Joatsimeon handle is known to be used exclusively by alternate history author S. M. Stirling.
Thankfully, it turns out the man behind Joatsimeon on Wikipedia was not Stirling. Stirling actually uses the account "Steve Stirling" (probably because the handle he usually uses was taken by a well-meaning, but misguided, fan). What makes this whole affair even stranger is that there is an investigation going on at Wikipedia whether MacMaster is actually Joatsimeon and Amina (who is MacMaster) was banned from the Stirling discussion group on Yahoo because of her/his politics.
This is the last time I will be commenting on the Amina drama. What was once an interesting story has now become a sad tale of a man and his supporters who are incapable of realizing the damage they have done, and continue to do. I will no longer give them the attention they crave.
Coming Soon
I want to take a break from my Stirling themed issue to discuss some upcoming works of alternate history.
On July 19th, Harry Turtledove's The Big Switch will be released. It is the third book in his The War That Came Early series, set in a timeline where Germany attacks Czechoslovakia in 1938, which starts World War II a year early. For those interested in a similar POD, check out Fall Grün on the Alternate History Wiki. It is an epic timeline, which I know you will enjoy.
Meanwhile, IFC News did a review of BioShock Infinite demo. The story is set before the events of the first two games, and follows the flying American city of Columbia. Unlike the first two games, Infinite is a true alternate history (at one point Columbia intervenes in the Boxer Rebellion) and may even involve other alternate universes (apparently one of the characters can create "tears" in space and time). I had a chance to play the first BioShock game this weekend and it was very good, as long as you ignore the "hacking" sequences that waste so much game time. Still if Infinite is anything like its predecessors, than I will be eagerly awaiting its release sometime in 2012.
Links to the Multiverse
If Barack Obama's Parents Put Him Up for Adoption: An Alternate History by Dan Amira
Review of Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory - an alternate history set in the late-20th century where intelligent zombies try to find their place in the world.
So I have started posting on AH.com again. I say again because I have been an on-and-off poster at that place for a long time. Some of my first posts date back to 2001. And no, I will not tell you what my handle was back then. After going back and reviewing some of my old posts, I have decided that no one needs to know what I said back in the day when I was an immature, know-it-all teenager. So do not ask, because I will not tell. For now on I am just "Mitro".
In other news, I got my first reader(s) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is cool for me since my family was from there. Welcome!
Finally, please like me on Facebook or follow me with your Google account. I am not ashamed to admit that I am doing this for the attention, so if you want to keep me going then sign up to be fan/follower.
S. M. Stirling's Emberverse is Alternate History
I talk a lot about what is not alternate history, but now I am going to change things up and talk about a book series that is alternate history...but not everyone agrees with me.
If you go the Nantucket Trilogy entry on Uchronia you will see this sentence:
A related trilogy (or hexology, as three further volumes have been contracted) called Change World began in 2004 with Dies the Fire, but that work is either not allohistorical or is "border line".
That related series is more commonly known as the Emberverse series. It is post-apocalyptic series of novels written by S. M. Stirling. The novels depict the events following "The Change", an event on March 17, 1998 which caused electricity, guns, explosives, internal combustion engines, and steam power to stop working. Most of the action in the series takes place in the Willamette Valley of Oregon in the United States, as the characters try to survive the loss of 600 years of technological progress. The original trilogy, concerns the conflicts between a Portland-based neo-feudal dictatorship and the free communities of the Willamette Valley, primarily the Wiccan Clan Mackenzie and the Bearkillers. The books following the original trilogy focuses on the now-adult children of the original characters.
Now why this is not considered alternate history by Uchronia is beyond me. The series meets all the elements of an alternate history. There is an established point of divergence (POD) with the loss of high technology happening in 1998, six years before the first novel is written. This POD, meanwhile, alters history as we know it or else I would not be talking about this on a blog. Finally, the series examines the ramifications of that change, in exhaustive detail only Stirling can give you. Spoiler Alert, currently King William V the Great rules a resurgent British Empire; Theodore Kaczynski founded a mad, expansionist cult in Montana; and Iowa is the richest nation in North America. Yes there is some suggestions of magic and gods, but even Uchronia does not exclude novels for being fantasy.
So why is it not listed in Uchronia as alternate history? Probably because it is complete ASB! Stirling uses alien space bats as a plot device to create an alternate history, just like dozens of editors do everyday at AH.com. In fact, Stirling is known for his use of the alien space bat plot device (see the Nantucket Trilogy, The Lords of Creation and The Peshawar Lancers). Believe it or not, the term alien space bats is not just an insult for poor alternate history, it is actually used to create alternate history...which goes on to list in the top 15 on The New York Times Best Seller List.
So Uchronia, do the right thing. List the Emberverse series as alternate history.
Is MacMaster and Joatsimeon the same person?
In my first issue, I talked about Amina Abdallah Arraf al Omari, the fictional, alternate history loving persona of American peace activist and graduate student Tom MacMaster. In my last issue, I talked about how a Wikipedia editor using the handle of "Joatsimeon" was making controversial edits to the article on Amina. What made that relevant to AHWU was the fact that the Joatsimeon handle is known to be used exclusively by alternate history author S. M. Stirling.
Thankfully, it turns out the man behind Joatsimeon on Wikipedia was not Stirling. Stirling actually uses the account "Steve Stirling" (probably because the handle he usually uses was taken by a well-meaning, but misguided, fan). What makes this whole affair even stranger is that there is an investigation going on at Wikipedia whether MacMaster is actually Joatsimeon and Amina (who is MacMaster) was banned from the Stirling discussion group on Yahoo because of her/his politics.
This is the last time I will be commenting on the Amina drama. What was once an interesting story has now become a sad tale of a man and his supporters who are incapable of realizing the damage they have done, and continue to do. I will no longer give them the attention they crave.
Coming Soon
I want to take a break from my Stirling themed issue to discuss some upcoming works of alternate history.
On July 19th, Harry Turtledove's The Big Switch will be released. It is the third book in his The War That Came Early series, set in a timeline where Germany attacks Czechoslovakia in 1938, which starts World War II a year early. For those interested in a similar POD, check out Fall Grün on the Alternate History Wiki. It is an epic timeline, which I know you will enjoy.
Meanwhile, IFC News did a review of BioShock Infinite demo. The story is set before the events of the first two games, and follows the flying American city of Columbia. Unlike the first two games, Infinite is a true alternate history (at one point Columbia intervenes in the Boxer Rebellion) and may even involve other alternate universes (apparently one of the characters can create "tears" in space and time). I had a chance to play the first BioShock game this weekend and it was very good, as long as you ignore the "hacking" sequences that waste so much game time. Still if Infinite is anything like its predecessors, than I will be eagerly awaiting its release sometime in 2012.
Links to the Multiverse
If Barack Obama's Parents Put Him Up for Adoption: An Alternate History by Dan Amira
Review of Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory - an alternate history set in the late-20th century where intelligent zombies try to find their place in the world.
Friday, July 8, 2011
AHWU #7
Editor's Note
Not sure when my next post will happen, some family issues will keep me away from AHWU for some time. I hope, however, to bring you an interview with a Sidewise Awards judge. So keep a look out for that.
Is S. M. Stirling vandalizing/trolling Wikipedia?
An editor by the name of "Joatsimeon" has been making some controversial edits to the Wikipedia article of Amina Abdallah Arraf al Omar, who if you remember from AHWU #1 is the alternate history fan persona of Tom MacMaster.
Now for those who do not know, Joatsimeon is the handle often used by author S. M. Stirling, whose alternate history works include the Nantucket series, which gave us the "ISOT" plot device. There is proof to back up this claim. Stirling used the same name at AH.com and still uses the name on his Yahoo group.
So is this Wikipedia user Stirling? His earliest edits were made to the S. M. Stirling article, including the deletion of a sentence on the Joatsimeon handle. If this is Stirling, however, then how does a published, best-selling author who has handled his share of criticism explain this juvenile post on his talk page:
If that is Stirling, than I am severely disappointed that he would react like this to a meaningless dispute on Wikipedia. If it is not Stirling, than he better do something about this impostor before he hurts his reputation any further.
Review of the AH.com Podcast
So as promised here is my review of the first episode of the AH.com Podcast (the second and third podcast have been released today as well).
Compared to What If History, the podcast has a lot less dead air and has a large number of participants from a variety of backgrounds. That being said, the podcast has a lot of issues that makes it unlikely to be released to a wider audience.
For one thing, the recording was of poor quality. Maybe it was Skype itself, but there was a lot of random noise that made the podcast difficult to listen to at times. Meanwhile, the podcast would have improved greatly with just a little editing. Probably a half hour could have been cut out and the podcast would have benefited greatly for that.
More importantly, the podcast is very AH.com-centric. The participants use their AH.com user names and at one point someone stated that it was unlikely anyone outside the forum would ever listen to this (Oops!).
In summary, if you are an active member of the AH.com community, you will probably enjoy this podcast, especially if you ever wondered what some users sounded like in real life. If you are not a member of AH.com, however, stick with What If History until the AH.com Podcast is ever released to a wider audience.
Links to the Multiverse
Hitler's Britain - a documentary on what a German invasion and occupation of Britain in World War II would be like.
Gaming's Alternate US History - GamePro releases a list of alternate American history video games. Warning, not all of them are actually alternate history.
Not sure when my next post will happen, some family issues will keep me away from AHWU for some time. I hope, however, to bring you an interview with a Sidewise Awards judge. So keep a look out for that.
Is S. M. Stirling vandalizing/trolling Wikipedia?
An editor by the name of "Joatsimeon" has been making some controversial edits to the Wikipedia article of Amina Abdallah Arraf al Omar, who if you remember from AHWU #1 is the alternate history fan persona of Tom MacMaster.
Now for those who do not know, Joatsimeon is the handle often used by author S. M. Stirling, whose alternate history works include the Nantucket series, which gave us the "ISOT" plot device. There is proof to back up this claim. Stirling used the same name at AH.com and still uses the name on his Yahoo group.
So is this Wikipedia user Stirling? His earliest edits were made to the S. M. Stirling article, including the deletion of a sentence on the Joatsimeon handle. If this is Stirling, however, then how does a published, best-selling author who has handled his share of criticism explain this juvenile post on his talk page:
Whatever, "dude". If you feel pursuing Minal's vendetta (unless it is your own) on to wikipedia is significant, goo ahead but be aware that the info you supplied was removed earlier. Good Day to you and your hissy fit at being shown wrong! Joatsimeon
If that is Stirling, than I am severely disappointed that he would react like this to a meaningless dispute on Wikipedia. If it is not Stirling, than he better do something about this impostor before he hurts his reputation any further.
Review of the AH.com Podcast
So as promised here is my review of the first episode of the AH.com Podcast (the second and third podcast have been released today as well).
Compared to What If History, the podcast has a lot less dead air and has a large number of participants from a variety of backgrounds. That being said, the podcast has a lot of issues that makes it unlikely to be released to a wider audience.
For one thing, the recording was of poor quality. Maybe it was Skype itself, but there was a lot of random noise that made the podcast difficult to listen to at times. Meanwhile, the podcast would have improved greatly with just a little editing. Probably a half hour could have been cut out and the podcast would have benefited greatly for that.
More importantly, the podcast is very AH.com-centric. The participants use their AH.com user names and at one point someone stated that it was unlikely anyone outside the forum would ever listen to this (Oops!).
In summary, if you are an active member of the AH.com community, you will probably enjoy this podcast, especially if you ever wondered what some users sounded like in real life. If you are not a member of AH.com, however, stick with What If History until the AH.com Podcast is ever released to a wider audience.
Links to the Multiverse
Hitler's Britain - a documentary on what a German invasion and occupation of Britain in World War II would be like.
Gaming's Alternate US History - GamePro releases a list of alternate American history video games. Warning, not all of them are actually alternate history.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
AHWU #6
Editor's Note
Short note today, just want to share with you a rough map I made of all the nations that contain readers of AHWU. If I somehow missed your nation, please correct me.
Not AH: Homefront
When will people learn? The next offender is this blog post where the author tagged the video game Homefront as alternate history.
Here is the back story for the game according to Wikipedia:
The story appears to be nothing more than a Korean wankfest, which is why I am wondering how there is so much positive reaction to the story. Nevertheless, it is the first sentence that is important. It should be enough to convince you that this is not an alternate history video game. The point of divergence is set in the future, 2012 to be specific, with the succession of Kim Jong-Il. This makes the game a future history, a label the blogger I mentioned above tagged as well, so I will give him credit for that.
This is also a perfect opportunity to point out that future history does not become alternate history. Out of date future history/science fiction, like 2001: A Space Odyssey, does not magically become alternate history when the present passes it by. The intent of the author/creator is what is most important. It is clear from the back story of Homefront that the creator intended the game to be a future history.
Another Alternate History Podcast?
A couple of issues ago I talked about the only alternate history podcast I have been able to find, What If History. Well now that is no longer the case because I have stumbled upon another podcast: AH.com Podcast.
The AH.com Podcast is a community project where AH.com members use Skype and CallGraph to record discussions on alternate history. So far there have been three such discussions, but only one has been edited and released.
I have not yet had the chance to listen to the whole podcast (it is over 2 hours long), but once I do I promise to write a review. So look forward to that in the next issue.
Links to the Multiverse
Review of Hard Magic by Larry Corriea - set in the 1930s, where "magic" has existed since the 1800s.
Alternate History: 1996 - an alternate history of New Zealand politics.
"Images of 1984" - Stories from Oceania - an excellent timeline on AH.com that uses a variety of sources to create a timeline where the world of 1984 is real, based on the "Oceania is only England" theory.
Short note today, just want to share with you a rough map I made of all the nations that contain readers of AHWU. If I somehow missed your nation, please correct me.
Not AH: Homefront
When will people learn? The next offender is this blog post where the author tagged the video game Homefront as alternate history.
Here is the back story for the game according to Wikipedia:
In 2013, one year after the succession of Kim Jong-Il, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reunites North and South Korea to form the Greater Korean Republic. The influence of China and the United States decline in the face of continued economic stagnation and a war between Iran and Saudi Arabia disrupting Middle East oil supply, while Europe is cut off by a Russian-Ukrainian "mutual interest" deal. As the United States withdraws overseas troops to deal with domestic instability, including the Texas secession debate and an outbreak of bird flu known as the Knoxville Cough, the Greater Korean Republic annexes Japan and several Southeast Asian countries. By 2022, the United States faces extreme economic turmoil, and massive social unrest. Finally, in 2025, a satellite, launched under the cover of a program to replace the decaying Global Positioning System, detonates a nuclear electromagnetic pulse over the continental United States. The destruction of above-ground electronics across the country is followed by Korean invasions of Hawaii and San Francisco, paratrooper deployments across the Midwest, and the irradiation of the Mississippi River to divide the United States. The American military remains isolated and scattered.
The story appears to be nothing more than a Korean wankfest, which is why I am wondering how there is so much positive reaction to the story. Nevertheless, it is the first sentence that is important. It should be enough to convince you that this is not an alternate history video game. The point of divergence is set in the future, 2012 to be specific, with the succession of Kim Jong-Il. This makes the game a future history, a label the blogger I mentioned above tagged as well, so I will give him credit for that.
This is also a perfect opportunity to point out that future history does not become alternate history. Out of date future history/science fiction, like 2001: A Space Odyssey, does not magically become alternate history when the present passes it by. The intent of the author/creator is what is most important. It is clear from the back story of Homefront that the creator intended the game to be a future history.
Another Alternate History Podcast?
A couple of issues ago I talked about the only alternate history podcast I have been able to find, What If History. Well now that is no longer the case because I have stumbled upon another podcast: AH.com Podcast.
The AH.com Podcast is a community project where AH.com members use Skype and CallGraph to record discussions on alternate history. So far there have been three such discussions, but only one has been edited and released.
I have not yet had the chance to listen to the whole podcast (it is over 2 hours long), but once I do I promise to write a review. So look forward to that in the next issue.
Links to the Multiverse
Review of Hard Magic by Larry Corriea - set in the 1930s, where "magic" has existed since the 1800s.
Alternate History: 1996 - an alternate history of New Zealand politics.
"Images of 1984" - Stories from Oceania - an excellent timeline on AH.com that uses a variety of sources to create a timeline where the world of 1984 is real, based on the "Oceania is only England" theory.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
AHWU #5
Editor's Note
It has been an interesting few days. AHWU seems to be growing in popularity. I received my first press release and was contacted by Nicholas Pardini from the What If History podcast. In fact, if any author, organization or collaborative projects wants to share any news, just email me a press release at ahwupdate at gmail dot com. You may just get a Breaking News post.
So with that being said, expect some changes to the blog in the next few days. I am going to be fiddling with the settings as I experiment with the different options given to me by Blogger. Meanwhile, if any of my readers are artistically bent, please send me ideas for a new logo or suggestions on the color scheme of the blog itself.
Also, I have created a Facebook page for the blog. If you like AHWU, then click the like button on the right. I eventually plan to use it to announce AHWU updates instead of just posting links on the half-dozen Facebook groups I advertise at.
In other news, Africa finally ended their embargo against me. Someone from South Africa viewed the blog, so I now have viewers on six continents. I also got my first readers from France, Italy and Qatar. Welcome all! In fact, all of these international viewers got me thinking about what it is like to be alternate historians in other countries. So if you would like to share your story, please contact me, I would love to hear from you.
The Danger of Hindsight
A recent article by Sabina Khan in the International Herald Tribune speculates about what history would be like if Operation Cyclone never happened. Despite Khan's attempt at the end to suggest that anything could happen if the stated POD occurred, it is quite clear that she feels that Operation Cyclone was a mistake and was the cause of all the problems in the region. This article is intriguing because it is a perfect example of the dangers of hindsight.
Often alternate historians are inspired to write alternate history using hindsight. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact most alternate history is based on authors correcting the mistakes of historical people. Problems, however, arise when the author has a particular bias, be it political, cultural, national, etc. It is this bias which causes them to be blind to human nature and often create alternate histories that fail to be plausible.
For example, Khan dismissed the extended Soviet intervention as a cause of the breakup of the Soviet Union, claiming it was just one of many reasons why that nation disbanded. While that may be true, by dismissing it so quickly she fails to consider all the possibilities of a Soviet Union that did not have to endure a long war with Afghanistan. Maybe Gorbachev would have met less resistance to his idea to transform the Soviet Union into the Union of Sovereign States? Or maybe Communist hardliners would have had less resistance when they tried to overthrow Gorbachev? Either way we are looking at a world where the Cold War and the threat of nuclear destruction continue well into the 21st century.
Another problem with using hindsight is that authors sometimes fail to sufficiently explain how there POD could occur. For example, Khan paints several worlds where Operation Cyclone did not happen or else was modified, but she misses a golden opportunity to explain why. During a book signing I attended, Harry Turtledove attempted to explain to the audience (many of them whom came of age in a world without the Soviet Union) how monumental a moment it was when the Soviet Union collapsed. For people of Turtledove's age, the Soviet Union was an eternal, evil empire that if given the chance would destroy everything that United States stood for. Khan failed to take this into consideration when writing her article. Though I am not saying Operation Cyclone was destined to happen, unless a POD is sufficiently explained you do not have a plausible alternate history.
Finally I come to my last point about hindsight and the danger it sometimes poises. The fact of the matter is, no matter how horrible our history can be, OTL is probably the best case scenario. Consider that in the 20th century we managed to avoid mass genocide, nuclear apocalypse and other horrible atrocities against humanity. When an alternate historian tries to make it better, however, they have to be very careful in their research or else they may just send their fictional world into a new dark age.
Mitro's Thoughts on Alternate US Presidential Elections
Next to American Civil War alternate histories, alternate US presidential elections are the easiest type of alternate history to ruin. It is in those timelines that the author's political bias is blatantly obvious. Generally these timelines fall into one of two categories:
1) This is how much better the world would be if my guy won.
OR
2) This is how much worse the world would be if my guy lost.
Now there are always exceptions to the general rule. If done right, an alternate US presidential election timeline can be good alternate history. Even the Alternate History Wiki promoted such a timeline to featured status. Nevertheless, these timelines tend not to be very convincing and often lead to heated arguments between rival political factions.
Apparently, not many people know that, not even the President of the United States. Dominic Tierney wrote an article last month in The Atlantic commenting on President Obama's reelection message, summing it up to be:
Tierney, however, makes his best point later when he says:
Truer words could not be said. Not only is alternate history a poor political tool (consider how many Americans label history as their worst subject in school) it also can be boring for alternate historians who do not have your passion for politics.
So be warned. All alternate historians should approach this topic with caution. Do your research and do not let your political beliefs override your common sense.
Links to the Multiverse
Review of Deadlands: The Devil's Six Gun - a one-shot from Image comics based on the Deadlands RPG.
Boris Salchow Composes Resistance 3 Soundtrack
Review of Time Quest - a time travel film involving the Kennedy assassination.
It has been an interesting few days. AHWU seems to be growing in popularity. I received my first press release and was contacted by Nicholas Pardini from the What If History podcast. In fact, if any author, organization or collaborative projects wants to share any news, just email me a press release at ahwupdate at gmail dot com. You may just get a Breaking News post.
So with that being said, expect some changes to the blog in the next few days. I am going to be fiddling with the settings as I experiment with the different options given to me by Blogger. Meanwhile, if any of my readers are artistically bent, please send me ideas for a new logo or suggestions on the color scheme of the blog itself.
Also, I have created a Facebook page for the blog. If you like AHWU, then click the like button on the right. I eventually plan to use it to announce AHWU updates instead of just posting links on the half-dozen Facebook groups I advertise at.
In other news, Africa finally ended their embargo against me. Someone from South Africa viewed the blog, so I now have viewers on six continents. I also got my first readers from France, Italy and Qatar. Welcome all! In fact, all of these international viewers got me thinking about what it is like to be alternate historians in other countries. So if you would like to share your story, please contact me, I would love to hear from you.
The Danger of Hindsight
A recent article by Sabina Khan in the International Herald Tribune speculates about what history would be like if Operation Cyclone never happened. Despite Khan's attempt at the end to suggest that anything could happen if the stated POD occurred, it is quite clear that she feels that Operation Cyclone was a mistake and was the cause of all the problems in the region. This article is intriguing because it is a perfect example of the dangers of hindsight.
Often alternate historians are inspired to write alternate history using hindsight. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact most alternate history is based on authors correcting the mistakes of historical people. Problems, however, arise when the author has a particular bias, be it political, cultural, national, etc. It is this bias which causes them to be blind to human nature and often create alternate histories that fail to be plausible.
For example, Khan dismissed the extended Soviet intervention as a cause of the breakup of the Soviet Union, claiming it was just one of many reasons why that nation disbanded. While that may be true, by dismissing it so quickly she fails to consider all the possibilities of a Soviet Union that did not have to endure a long war with Afghanistan. Maybe Gorbachev would have met less resistance to his idea to transform the Soviet Union into the Union of Sovereign States? Or maybe Communist hardliners would have had less resistance when they tried to overthrow Gorbachev? Either way we are looking at a world where the Cold War and the threat of nuclear destruction continue well into the 21st century.
Another problem with using hindsight is that authors sometimes fail to sufficiently explain how there POD could occur. For example, Khan paints several worlds where Operation Cyclone did not happen or else was modified, but she misses a golden opportunity to explain why. During a book signing I attended, Harry Turtledove attempted to explain to the audience (many of them whom came of age in a world without the Soviet Union) how monumental a moment it was when the Soviet Union collapsed. For people of Turtledove's age, the Soviet Union was an eternal, evil empire that if given the chance would destroy everything that United States stood for. Khan failed to take this into consideration when writing her article. Though I am not saying Operation Cyclone was destined to happen, unless a POD is sufficiently explained you do not have a plausible alternate history.
Finally I come to my last point about hindsight and the danger it sometimes poises. The fact of the matter is, no matter how horrible our history can be, OTL is probably the best case scenario. Consider that in the 20th century we managed to avoid mass genocide, nuclear apocalypse and other horrible atrocities against humanity. When an alternate historian tries to make it better, however, they have to be very careful in their research or else they may just send their fictional world into a new dark age.
Mitro's Thoughts on Alternate US Presidential Elections
Next to American Civil War alternate histories, alternate US presidential elections are the easiest type of alternate history to ruin. It is in those timelines that the author's political bias is blatantly obvious. Generally these timelines fall into one of two categories:
1) This is how much better the world would be if my guy won.
OR
2) This is how much worse the world would be if my guy lost.
Now there are always exceptions to the general rule. If done right, an alternate US presidential election timeline can be good alternate history. Even the Alternate History Wiki promoted such a timeline to featured status. Nevertheless, these timelines tend not to be very convincing and often lead to heated arguments between rival political factions.
Apparently, not many people know that, not even the President of the United States. Dominic Tierney wrote an article last month in The Atlantic commenting on President Obama's reelection message, summing it up to be:
...[A] big part of the Obama pitch relies on counterfactuals. In other words, if the president hadn't acted, things would have been even worse. Without the stimulus and the bailouts, unemployment would have been even higher. Without the intervention in Libya, Gaddafi would have destroyed Benghazi.
Tierney, however, makes his best point later when he says:
But here's the problem. As a sell to the public, counterfactuals have all the rhetorical power of an Anthony Weiner press conference. The road untraveled just doesn't resonate.
Truer words could not be said. Not only is alternate history a poor political tool (consider how many Americans label history as their worst subject in school) it also can be boring for alternate historians who do not have your passion for politics.
So be warned. All alternate historians should approach this topic with caution. Do your research and do not let your political beliefs override your common sense.
Links to the Multiverse
Review of Deadlands: The Devil's Six Gun - a one-shot from Image comics based on the Deadlands RPG.
Boris Salchow Composes Resistance 3 Soundtrack
Review of Time Quest - a time travel film involving the Kennedy assassination.
Friday, July 1, 2011
AHWU #4
Editor's Note
First, let me welcome the Philippines, New Zealand and India to the cabal of nations that enjoy this blog. You guys will not be disappointed.
Now let me take this moment to state that this blog follows a policy similar to the "No Cross, No Crown" policy. To sum it up, I will not use this blog as a platform to discuss the superiority/inferiority of any religious or political belief. I will always strive to put forth a neutral and balanced opinion when sensitive subjects come up.
With that being said, let us talk about whether God exists...
God and the Multiverse
Could parallel universes, a often used trope of alternate history, be the secret to (dis)proving the existence of God?
According to an article in Christian Today, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins admitted to evangelical geneticist Francis Collins that most difficult argument for nonbelievers to counter is the fine-tuning of the universe. Collins commented on this admission by saying:
So if I read this quote right (and I admit I might be missing his point), Collins seems to say that if the multiverse theory (the hypothetical set of multiple possible universes, including OTL, that together comprise everything that exists) is true and our universe is the only universe where the laws of physics allow for human life, than it is proof that there is no God and humanity really is just a coincidence.
However, could not the opposite be true? If the multiverse exists and we travel to other human inhabited timelines, is this proof that God exists? A long time ago I observed a discussion which suggested that the multiverse theory could be used to explain how God is omnipotent and all-knowing, yet humans still have free will (sadly I cannot find said discussion, but if I do I promise to share it with you all).
New discoveries often lead to controversies among the major religions. Even the discovery of Native Americans caused a small crisis of faith among Catholics in the 15th and 16th centuries. The discovery and exploration of a multiverse may cause a similar crisis, or something completely different may happen. Who knows what religions have evolved on these unexplored alternate Earths or what effect they will have on our Earth when we find them...
Mitro's Thoughts on American Civil War Alternate Histories
In the English speaking world, American Civil War alternate histories are one of the two most written about topics in alternate history. It is easy to see why when you look at the facts. The United States accounts for over 300 million of the English speaking world. Meanwhile, the war itself was one of the first examples of industrial war and one of the deadliest in American history. The legacy of the war is still felt in American culture as politicians and scholars endlessly debate the war.
Nevertheless, I fear that the topic in general often leads to bad alternate history. We have heard from others in earlier posts about their thoughts on the Civil War, now here are my thoughts:
In some ways the Civil War is still being fought in American culture, with many Americans still arguing over the reasons and results of the war. You see this reflected in alternate histories of the war. Supporters of the Confederacy tend to write timelines that glorify the Old South, creating nothing more than a wankfest.
Than there is the other extreme, usually created by people who vilify the Confederacy and all it stood for. The Confederacy becomes a stand-in for Nazi Germany and often is defeated by the United States sometime in the 20th century. While I realize that every culture has the capacity to commit horrible atrocities on others, it seems many of these authors do not even attempt to explain how they came to this point and just assume that the Confederacy has to be evil.
Though every once in a while you will come upon a timeline that tries to create a realistic portrayal of an independent Confederacy, it can easily be ruined by the underlying assumptions of the author. There are a lot of myths on the Civil War, many of which are still taught in schools. When you see these myths interwoven into the timeline it does nothing but prove that the author put little research in his work or else is still using sources that defend the myths.
Regardless of whether your American Civil War timeline leans to either extreme or tries to be as realistic as possible, it is likely to be controversial regardless of where you publish it. As I said before, many Americans are still fighting the Civil War. Some of the worst arguments I have witnessed between alternate historians involved the American Civil War. Unless you have a hard skin, you should not attempt to write a Civil War alternate history, as any debate can quickly turn into a flame war.
My suggestion, avoid American Civil War alternate histories in general. They are difficult to write and even if you can write a plausible one, there are hordes of Rebs and Yanks out there ready to blow holes in it for the sake of their own vision of history.
Princess Diana at 50
Last issue in my Not AH segment, I discussed a new novel about Princess Diana faking her death and why it was not alternate history. Well apparently someone at Newsweek decided it was time for some real alternate history about Diana. Check out this article, featuring pictures of what Diana would look like along with some speculation about her life if she survived.
Links to the Multiverse
5 Unfought Wars That Would Have Changed Everything - a Cracked article that discusses 5 wars that never happened. Might be a good idea for an alternate history in there.
Alternate History: Picking Out the Threads - Author Deborah Teramis Christian discusses alternate history.
First, let me welcome the Philippines, New Zealand and India to the cabal of nations that enjoy this blog. You guys will not be disappointed.
Now let me take this moment to state that this blog follows a policy similar to the "No Cross, No Crown" policy. To sum it up, I will not use this blog as a platform to discuss the superiority/inferiority of any religious or political belief. I will always strive to put forth a neutral and balanced opinion when sensitive subjects come up.
With that being said, let us talk about whether God exists...
God and the Multiverse
Could parallel universes, a often used trope of alternate history, be the secret to (dis)proving the existence of God?
According to an article in Christian Today, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins admitted to evangelical geneticist Francis Collins that most difficult argument for nonbelievers to counter is the fine-tuning of the universe. Collins commented on this admission by saying:
If you are an atheist, either it is just a lucky break and the odds are so remote, or you have to go to this multiverse hypothesis, which says that there must be almost an infinite number of parallel universes that have different values of those constants.
So if I read this quote right (and I admit I might be missing his point), Collins seems to say that if the multiverse theory (the hypothetical set of multiple possible universes, including OTL, that together comprise everything that exists) is true and our universe is the only universe where the laws of physics allow for human life, than it is proof that there is no God and humanity really is just a coincidence.
However, could not the opposite be true? If the multiverse exists and we travel to other human inhabited timelines, is this proof that God exists? A long time ago I observed a discussion which suggested that the multiverse theory could be used to explain how God is omnipotent and all-knowing, yet humans still have free will (sadly I cannot find said discussion, but if I do I promise to share it with you all).
New discoveries often lead to controversies among the major religions. Even the discovery of Native Americans caused a small crisis of faith among Catholics in the 15th and 16th centuries. The discovery and exploration of a multiverse may cause a similar crisis, or something completely different may happen. Who knows what religions have evolved on these unexplored alternate Earths or what effect they will have on our Earth when we find them...
Mitro's Thoughts on American Civil War Alternate Histories
In the English speaking world, American Civil War alternate histories are one of the two most written about topics in alternate history. It is easy to see why when you look at the facts. The United States accounts for over 300 million of the English speaking world. Meanwhile, the war itself was one of the first examples of industrial war and one of the deadliest in American history. The legacy of the war is still felt in American culture as politicians and scholars endlessly debate the war.
Nevertheless, I fear that the topic in general often leads to bad alternate history. We have heard from others in earlier posts about their thoughts on the Civil War, now here are my thoughts:
In some ways the Civil War is still being fought in American culture, with many Americans still arguing over the reasons and results of the war. You see this reflected in alternate histories of the war. Supporters of the Confederacy tend to write timelines that glorify the Old South, creating nothing more than a wankfest.
Than there is the other extreme, usually created by people who vilify the Confederacy and all it stood for. The Confederacy becomes a stand-in for Nazi Germany and often is defeated by the United States sometime in the 20th century. While I realize that every culture has the capacity to commit horrible atrocities on others, it seems many of these authors do not even attempt to explain how they came to this point and just assume that the Confederacy has to be evil.
Though every once in a while you will come upon a timeline that tries to create a realistic portrayal of an independent Confederacy, it can easily be ruined by the underlying assumptions of the author. There are a lot of myths on the Civil War, many of which are still taught in schools. When you see these myths interwoven into the timeline it does nothing but prove that the author put little research in his work or else is still using sources that defend the myths.
Regardless of whether your American Civil War timeline leans to either extreme or tries to be as realistic as possible, it is likely to be controversial regardless of where you publish it. As I said before, many Americans are still fighting the Civil War. Some of the worst arguments I have witnessed between alternate historians involved the American Civil War. Unless you have a hard skin, you should not attempt to write a Civil War alternate history, as any debate can quickly turn into a flame war.
My suggestion, avoid American Civil War alternate histories in general. They are difficult to write and even if you can write a plausible one, there are hordes of Rebs and Yanks out there ready to blow holes in it for the sake of their own vision of history.
Princess Diana at 50
Last issue in my Not AH segment, I discussed a new novel about Princess Diana faking her death and why it was not alternate history. Well apparently someone at Newsweek decided it was time for some real alternate history about Diana. Check out this article, featuring pictures of what Diana would look like along with some speculation about her life if she survived.
Links to the Multiverse
5 Unfought Wars That Would Have Changed Everything - a Cracked article that discusses 5 wars that never happened. Might be a good idea for an alternate history in there.
Alternate History: Picking Out the Threads - Author Deborah Teramis Christian discusses alternate history.
Monday, June 27, 2011
AHWU #3
Editor's Note
So I have decided to drop the whole once-a-week issue format. I have noticed a back log in my alerts, so I will now write and post when I feel like it, and you will all just have to keep checking to see when the next issue is released.
I also will be postponing my rant on American Civil War alternate histories until I publish my upcoming interview with author Hugh Ashton, so get excited about that.
In other news, Norway joins the enlightened group of nations who enjoy this blog. You join an elite club Norway, don't screw it up. Meanwhile, Africa continues their embargo against my blog...
Alternate History May Get You a Job
A career counselor told me once to not be afraid to put anything I may think is relevant on my resume because you never know what is going to stand out to a prospective employer. I have found through my many interviews that this is very true. I have been told I was selected for an interview because of where I went to school, where I worked, organizations I was a member of and even the fact that I was an Eagle Scout.
Nevertheless, I never thought my "interests" would ever get me a job. For those whose resumes do not have this section, some resumes list the the interests of the hopeful employee, as does mine. I think you know where I am going with this: I listed alternate history as one of my interests. It was only recently, however, that someone even bothered to notice it.
It happened a week ago. I went to an interview for a job at a small firm in downtown Chicago. The interview started normally with the interviewer going down my resume and asking questions about my experience. Then he came to the end of my resume and said: "Now we come to the real reason I decided to interview you...what is alternate history?"
Turns out the interviewer was a huge history buff, but he had never heard the term before. So, naturally, I gave him an explanation and even a link to Uchronia. He seemed genuinely curious, so if I accomplished anything (besides getting a job) I may have recruited another member into the cult of alternate history fandom.
I guess the moral of this story is to not hide who you are. If you like something, celebrate it, do not hide it. You never know what your "esoteric" hobby will do for you in the end.
Not AH: Untold Story by Monica Ali
Did I not say that this would be a recurring segment? The most recent offender turns out to be this review of Monica Ali's Untold Story.
Untold Story is about Princess Diana faking her death, changing her identity and moving to a small American town to escape the paparazzi. Things are going great, until one annoying paparazzo stumbles upon the hidden princes, turning the novel into a thriller as Diana attempts to once again flee.
The reviewer, however, makes the mistake of calling the story an alternate history. If you paid attention to the last issue at all, you probably already know my reason for disagreeing. This novel is a secret history, enough said. In fact it is very similar to other thrillers involving lost heirs to the Romanov family that appear from time to time.
Sadly, you will probably see this segment again in the near future.
What If History: An Alternate History Podcast
Well I am excited, because there is now an alternate history podcast. It is located at What If History, but you can also download it free from iTunes.
The podcast is very new and I have only listened to a couple of episodes. It involves two guys by the names of Nick and Brian who discuss what if questions. It is a perfect set up for an alternate history fan like myself who also likes to listen to podcasts as well. My only complaint (and I do not want to complain to much because I really want to give these guys a chance) is that Nick and Brian need to relax. Both seem very nervous as they talk and sometimes it can be distracting.
Nick and Brian, if you are reading this blog, I would like to say that I salute you for this great idea, but try not to stress out while doing it. A good podcast needs both a catching idea and hosts who can converse easily with each other and any guests. Enjoy the chance to create something that no one has thought of yet. One more thing: get angry when debating. You guys have to be two of the calmest alternate historians I ever met!
Good luck Nick and Brian, I will be listening as long as you keep producing new episodes.
Coming Soon: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
Goliath is the third (and final?) in Scott Westerfeld's alternate history/steampunk young adult series. It focuses on an alternate World War I, where the Triple Alliance uses steampunk weaponry, while the Entente uses synthetic creatures. The book will not be released until September 20, 2011
, but you can catch an early review of the novel here.
Links to the Multiverse
Law and the Multiverse - a curious blog that discusses how comics portray the law. Not exactly alternate history, but every once in a while they touch on legal issues affecting interactions with parallel universes, making this an interesting reference source.
Review of Harry Turtledove's How Few Remain by Mark Gillespie.
Harry Turtledove Wiki - A wiki maintained by Turtledove fans, giving detailed info on all his books, not just the alternate history ones.
A Detailed Map Showing all the Mysteries of Fringe - a detailed map on io9 showing the alternate universe version of the United States from the TV show Fringe.
So I have decided to drop the whole once-a-week issue format. I have noticed a back log in my alerts, so I will now write and post when I feel like it, and you will all just have to keep checking to see when the next issue is released.
I also will be postponing my rant on American Civil War alternate histories until I publish my upcoming interview with author Hugh Ashton, so get excited about that.
In other news, Norway joins the enlightened group of nations who enjoy this blog. You join an elite club Norway, don't screw it up. Meanwhile, Africa continues their embargo against my blog...
Alternate History May Get You a Job
A career counselor told me once to not be afraid to put anything I may think is relevant on my resume because you never know what is going to stand out to a prospective employer. I have found through my many interviews that this is very true. I have been told I was selected for an interview because of where I went to school, where I worked, organizations I was a member of and even the fact that I was an Eagle Scout.
Nevertheless, I never thought my "interests" would ever get me a job. For those whose resumes do not have this section, some resumes list the the interests of the hopeful employee, as does mine. I think you know where I am going with this: I listed alternate history as one of my interests. It was only recently, however, that someone even bothered to notice it.
It happened a week ago. I went to an interview for a job at a small firm in downtown Chicago. The interview started normally with the interviewer going down my resume and asking questions about my experience. Then he came to the end of my resume and said: "Now we come to the real reason I decided to interview you...what is alternate history?"
Turns out the interviewer was a huge history buff, but he had never heard the term before. So, naturally, I gave him an explanation and even a link to Uchronia. He seemed genuinely curious, so if I accomplished anything (besides getting a job) I may have recruited another member into the cult of alternate history fandom.
I guess the moral of this story is to not hide who you are. If you like something, celebrate it, do not hide it. You never know what your "esoteric" hobby will do for you in the end.
Not AH: Untold Story by Monica Ali
Did I not say that this would be a recurring segment? The most recent offender turns out to be this review of Monica Ali's Untold Story.
Untold Story is about Princess Diana faking her death, changing her identity and moving to a small American town to escape the paparazzi. Things are going great, until one annoying paparazzo stumbles upon the hidden princes, turning the novel into a thriller as Diana attempts to once again flee.
The reviewer, however, makes the mistake of calling the story an alternate history. If you paid attention to the last issue at all, you probably already know my reason for disagreeing. This novel is a secret history, enough said. In fact it is very similar to other thrillers involving lost heirs to the Romanov family that appear from time to time.
Sadly, you will probably see this segment again in the near future.
What If History: An Alternate History Podcast
Well I am excited, because there is now an alternate history podcast. It is located at What If History, but you can also download it free from iTunes.
The podcast is very new and I have only listened to a couple of episodes. It involves two guys by the names of Nick and Brian who discuss what if questions. It is a perfect set up for an alternate history fan like myself who also likes to listen to podcasts as well. My only complaint (and I do not want to complain to much because I really want to give these guys a chance) is that Nick and Brian need to relax. Both seem very nervous as they talk and sometimes it can be distracting.
Nick and Brian, if you are reading this blog, I would like to say that I salute you for this great idea, but try not to stress out while doing it. A good podcast needs both a catching idea and hosts who can converse easily with each other and any guests. Enjoy the chance to create something that no one has thought of yet. One more thing: get angry when debating. You guys have to be two of the calmest alternate historians I ever met!
Good luck Nick and Brian, I will be listening as long as you keep producing new episodes.
Coming Soon: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
Goliath is the third (and final?) in Scott Westerfeld's alternate history/steampunk young adult series. It focuses on an alternate World War I, where the Triple Alliance uses steampunk weaponry, while the Entente uses synthetic creatures. The book will not be released until September 20, 2011
, but you can catch an early review of the novel here.
Links to the Multiverse
Law and the Multiverse - a curious blog that discusses how comics portray the law. Not exactly alternate history, but every once in a while they touch on legal issues affecting interactions with parallel universes, making this an interesting reference source.
Review of Harry Turtledove's How Few Remain by Mark Gillespie.
Harry Turtledove Wiki - A wiki maintained by Turtledove fans, giving detailed info on all his books, not just the alternate history ones.
A Detailed Map Showing all the Mysteries of Fringe - a detailed map on io9 showing the alternate universe version of the United States from the TV show Fringe.
Friday, June 24, 2011
AHWU #2
Editor's Note
The second week of any project is always the hardest. The enthusiasm and excitement of the first week has disappeared, replaced with the realization that you have a lot of work to do. I felt the same way last year when I went on a diet. The first week I was very good. I did not over-eat and I exercised regularly and I was happy to see that I had lost five pounds when it was all over. The second week was harder though. Temptations were more difficult to suppress and I was disappointed when I weighed myself again at the end of the week. Nevertheless, I stuck with my diet and a year later I was thirty pounds lighter and a lot more energetic than I have ever been in my life.
That is going to be my approach with AHWU. I am going to do this right because I want to look back a year later and be ecstatic about how far I came. Already I have two followers (thanks Sean and Andrew for the early support, I will not forget this) and plenty of people left great comments on Facebook (why they did not comment on the blog directly I have no idea). As for page views, well they may be inflated by the number of times I nervously checked the blog every five minutes to see if there was anything new, so I will not report that. I do know, however, that I have had people from the United States, Japan, Chile, Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Indonesia, Singapore, Ireland, Netherlands and Mexico view this blog. That means there are people on five continents viewing this blog, very exciting. (But what is up with Africa? What did I ever do to them?)
I guess you can say that I have very ambitious plans for this blog. And why not? It makes no sense to think small. I want this place to be the number one location a person goes to when seeking news on alternate history. So please, leave me comments telling me how I can improve this place and if you think you can help with this goal, than what are you waiting for? Contact me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com and lets see what we can do together.
Today the Internet, tomorrow the world!
PS: This issue came out a little early because I am going to be busy this weekend. The next issue, however, should arrive again on Sunday.
Not AH: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
I have a funny feeling that this is going to be a recurring segment. Here we go...
Next Wednesday (June 29th) Transformer: Dark of the Moon will be released. It is the third and final excessively explosive and plot hole ridden film in the Michael Bay directed franchise about toy robots. The premise of the film involves the Autobots leader Sentinel Prime fleeing the war on Cybertron on the "Ark", a spaceship which contains advanced technology. Attacked by Starscream, the ship crashes on the Moon in 1961. President John F. Kennedy makes his famous promise to the nation to put a man on the Moon, but it is only a cover. In reality, the 1969 NASA Moon landing was an investigation of the wrecked ship. The rest of the plot is unimportant, because some feel that the premise stated above makes the film an alternate history.
Those people are wrong. According to Steven H Silver (one of the judges of the Sidewise Awards for Alternate History) alternate history requires three things: 1) a point of divergence from the history of our world prior to the time at which the author is writing, 2) a change that would alter history as it is known, and 3) an examination of the ramifications of that change.
If you consider points one and two, it is obvious that this film is not an alternate history. The Moon landing still occur ed (accept it conspiracy theorists) and if the first two films are any indication, history continued to play out as it did in OTL (until the arrival of alien robots, but that occurrence is only enough to make this film science fiction). The motivation for the Moon landing was different from what we know from history, but that is only because it was kept secret from the populace. That cover up makes this film a secret history, which is a revisionist interpretation of real (or known) history which is claimed to have been deliberately suppressed, forgotten, or ignored by established historians.
So there you have it. This film is secret history, not alternate history. If you hear anyone make that mistake again, make sure you correct them. I am sure they will not call you a nerd and beat you up.
New Releases: Trenched
On June 22nd, Trenched was released, an alternate history video game released as an Xbox Live Arcade title for $15. A hybrid tower defense and third person shooter game, the setting takes place during World War I where an alien radio broadcast causes people's heads to explode. Luckily, your character survived and gained super-intelligence and knowledge of advanced technology. So what do you do with the knowledge to bring humanity into a new shining technological utopia? You build mecha, because apparently there is a "bad guy" who also became smarter (and crazy) and is using television to enslave humanity. (Social commentary?)
Despite the lack of any real alternate history content, the game is getting good reviews. From what I read the game reminds me of the 1998 remake to Battlezone, a game which I thoroughly enjoyed. So if you like fun tactical games, go for it, but I doubt this game will have any significant affect on the genre.
If anyone gets a chance to play the game, please share your experience.
Meet a Hater
If you are an alternate history fan there are usually only two types of people you will ever meet. First is other alternate history fans and the rest are the vast majority of people who have no idea what you are talking about and if you try to explain they will listen with benign indifference and as soon as you are finished they will change the subject.
If you are (un)lucky, however, you might run into someone who hates the genre. I had such an experience one day long ago on Wikipedia. During a deletion debate for the article on Gray Victory (an American Civil War alternate history), one editor voted to keep the novel, but expressed how much he wished he could vote to delete it because he hated the genre. Intrigued, I contacted him to ask why he hates alternate history and he responded. Though he focused on American Civil War alternate histories, he tended to touch on other aspects of the genre as well. Here was his response:
Funny enough the guy did not know I was a fan. When he found out he actually apologized, which I thought was classy of him. Still he did not have to, it was not like I was going to rip him a new one for not liking the same things I do. Personally I agree with a lot of his points on American Civil War alternate histories, but more on that in the next issue.
If you have your own hater episodes, please share. This is the only one I ever had myself.
Important Events in Alternate History
June 26, 1944: Joseph P. Kennedy is selected as the Republican nominee for US President.
June 27, 1905: Britain and Japan begin the joint siege of Vladivostok, Russia.
June 28, 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand survives an assassination attempt.
June 29, 1829: The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the United States.
June 30, 1908: A meteor destroys London, killing most of the population.
July 1, 1943: Allies begin to support Kurdish and Armenian partisans to destabilize the Nazi puppet regime in Ankara.
July 2, 1945: Treaty of Stockholm signed, recognizing German dominance in Europe in exchange for them breaking their alliance with Japan.
Links to the Multiverse
An Alternate History of the Netherlands - a blog featuring a timeline in which the Dutch were not divided along religious lines during the Dutch Revolt of the last 16th Century.
Shattered World - another blog featuring a timeline where the Soviet Union invades Poland before Germany. This project is epic but is rarely updated.
Ill Bethisad Wiki - a collaborative alternate history project almost two decades old.
The second week of any project is always the hardest. The enthusiasm and excitement of the first week has disappeared, replaced with the realization that you have a lot of work to do. I felt the same way last year when I went on a diet. The first week I was very good. I did not over-eat and I exercised regularly and I was happy to see that I had lost five pounds when it was all over. The second week was harder though. Temptations were more difficult to suppress and I was disappointed when I weighed myself again at the end of the week. Nevertheless, I stuck with my diet and a year later I was thirty pounds lighter and a lot more energetic than I have ever been in my life.
That is going to be my approach with AHWU. I am going to do this right because I want to look back a year later and be ecstatic about how far I came. Already I have two followers (thanks Sean and Andrew for the early support, I will not forget this) and plenty of people left great comments on Facebook (why they did not comment on the blog directly I have no idea). As for page views, well they may be inflated by the number of times I nervously checked the blog every five minutes to see if there was anything new, so I will not report that. I do know, however, that I have had people from the United States, Japan, Chile, Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Indonesia, Singapore, Ireland, Netherlands and Mexico view this blog. That means there are people on five continents viewing this blog, very exciting. (But what is up with Africa? What did I ever do to them?)
I guess you can say that I have very ambitious plans for this blog. And why not? It makes no sense to think small. I want this place to be the number one location a person goes to when seeking news on alternate history. So please, leave me comments telling me how I can improve this place and if you think you can help with this goal, than what are you waiting for? Contact me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com and lets see what we can do together.
Today the Internet, tomorrow the world!
PS: This issue came out a little early because I am going to be busy this weekend. The next issue, however, should arrive again on Sunday.
Not AH: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
I have a funny feeling that this is going to be a recurring segment. Here we go...
Next Wednesday (June 29th) Transformer: Dark of the Moon will be released. It is the third and final excessively explosive and plot hole ridden film in the Michael Bay directed franchise about toy robots. The premise of the film involves the Autobots leader Sentinel Prime fleeing the war on Cybertron on the "Ark", a spaceship which contains advanced technology. Attacked by Starscream, the ship crashes on the Moon in 1961. President John F. Kennedy makes his famous promise to the nation to put a man on the Moon, but it is only a cover. In reality, the 1969 NASA Moon landing was an investigation of the wrecked ship. The rest of the plot is unimportant, because some feel that the premise stated above makes the film an alternate history.
Those people are wrong. According to Steven H Silver (one of the judges of the Sidewise Awards for Alternate History) alternate history requires three things: 1) a point of divergence from the history of our world prior to the time at which the author is writing, 2) a change that would alter history as it is known, and 3) an examination of the ramifications of that change.
If you consider points one and two, it is obvious that this film is not an alternate history. The Moon landing still occur ed (accept it conspiracy theorists) and if the first two films are any indication, history continued to play out as it did in OTL (until the arrival of alien robots, but that occurrence is only enough to make this film science fiction). The motivation for the Moon landing was different from what we know from history, but that is only because it was kept secret from the populace. That cover up makes this film a secret history, which is a revisionist interpretation of real (or known) history which is claimed to have been deliberately suppressed, forgotten, or ignored by established historians.
So there you have it. This film is secret history, not alternate history. If you hear anyone make that mistake again, make sure you correct them. I am sure they will not call you a nerd and beat you up.
New Releases: Trenched
On June 22nd, Trenched was released, an alternate history video game released as an Xbox Live Arcade title for $15. A hybrid tower defense and third person shooter game, the setting takes place during World War I where an alien radio broadcast causes people's heads to explode. Luckily, your character survived and gained super-intelligence and knowledge of advanced technology. So what do you do with the knowledge to bring humanity into a new shining technological utopia? You build mecha, because apparently there is a "bad guy" who also became smarter (and crazy) and is using television to enslave humanity. (Social commentary?)
Despite the lack of any real alternate history content, the game is getting good reviews. From what I read the game reminds me of the 1998 remake to Battlezone, a game which I thoroughly enjoyed. So if you like fun tactical games, go for it, but I doubt this game will have any significant affect on the genre.
If anyone gets a chance to play the game, please share your experience.
Meet a Hater
If you are an alternate history fan there are usually only two types of people you will ever meet. First is other alternate history fans and the rest are the vast majority of people who have no idea what you are talking about and if you try to explain they will listen with benign indifference and as soon as you are finished they will change the subject.
If you are (un)lucky, however, you might run into someone who hates the genre. I had such an experience one day long ago on Wikipedia. During a deletion debate for the article on Gray Victory (an American Civil War alternate history), one editor voted to keep the novel, but expressed how much he wished he could vote to delete it because he hated the genre. Intrigued, I contacted him to ask why he hates alternate history and he responded. Though he focused on American Civil War alternate histories, he tended to touch on other aspects of the genre as well. Here was his response:
Oh, there are so many reasons for being hostile to the book by its subject:
1. Speculative history always seems to me to be a waste, unless it is written as a way to emphasize the actual history. Thus, that alternate history book where the Ottomans didn't turn back at Florence is useful, because what it actually ends up doing is emphasizing the importance of the real events. I have yet to detect, even in Harry Turtledove, the same use/impulse in the Civil War alternatives.
2. South Wins is the easiest of the alternatives to get wrong, and insultingly wrong, and stupidly wrong, of any that I have seen. There are 100 ways to go wrong and no way to go right. From the dreadful, stultifying C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America, which had slavery in the 20th century, to the Southern apologist shaded ones, there's just no way to do it. Either the authors assume that the war was "about" slavery or that slavery was "ending on its own" at the time, and, either way, the result is a horrible insult to every human of intelligence.
3. My biggest gripe: the fans. The fans of this kind of thing, I think, betray a certain Millerite dissatisfaction with the world as it is. They seem to long for "the day." Well, that day was pretty rotten, and in the Civil War both sides were wrong, both were right, and both had horrors to conceal, and anyone who longs for the hoop skirts is as creepy to me as someone who longs for the Mammies and Uncles. Someone who longs for "States Rights" is as worrisome to me, because I wonder why those persons want only to reminisce about the days of the 1860, instead of the days of the Articles of Confederation, when the U.S. had "states rights" and no nation. Why don't they fondly write about "What if Alexander Hamilton had been strangled in his crib?"
I just sense this amazing amount of sublimation in the writing, reading, and fandom of that kind of book. I know that it can be noble, but, well, it seems more suspect than people who want to join the SCA. I don't want to insult masses of people I've never met, but it's a genre that gives me the screaming phantods.
Funny enough the guy did not know I was a fan. When he found out he actually apologized, which I thought was classy of him. Still he did not have to, it was not like I was going to rip him a new one for not liking the same things I do. Personally I agree with a lot of his points on American Civil War alternate histories, but more on that in the next issue.
If you have your own hater episodes, please share. This is the only one I ever had myself.
Important Events in Alternate History
June 26, 1944: Joseph P. Kennedy is selected as the Republican nominee for US President.
June 27, 1905: Britain and Japan begin the joint siege of Vladivostok, Russia.
June 28, 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand survives an assassination attempt.
June 29, 1829: The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the United States.
June 30, 1908: A meteor destroys London, killing most of the population.
July 1, 1943: Allies begin to support Kurdish and Armenian partisans to destabilize the Nazi puppet regime in Ankara.
July 2, 1945: Treaty of Stockholm signed, recognizing German dominance in Europe in exchange for them breaking their alliance with Japan.
Links to the Multiverse
An Alternate History of the Netherlands - a blog featuring a timeline in which the Dutch were not divided along religious lines during the Dutch Revolt of the last 16th Century.
Shattered World - another blog featuring a timeline where the Soviet Union invades Poland before Germany. This project is epic but is rarely updated.
Ill Bethisad Wiki - a collaborative alternate history project almost two decades old.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
AHWU #1
Editor’s NoteWelcome to the first issue of the Alternate History Weekly Update, a weekly digest of alternate history news. This blog came out of my obsession with keeping track of anything new in the world of alternate history. Now I will selflessly share what I find out with you and hopefully improve my horrible writing as I do.
Every week I will produce news articles, editorials, links to new websites, information on new releases and lists of important events in alternate history. I am not sure what the future will hold, I may change the format and I may produce more than one post a week in case there is "Breaking News" or just some rant I wish to share with you. I will promise you one thing: if you comment I will do everything in my power to respond.
I am also not averse to collaborating with others. If you would like to contribute your own articles, reviews or whatever, please contact me. As long as you are willing to produce on a regular basis, you are in. Meanwhile, since I am not omnipotent, please feel free to share any information you discover that may be relevant to this blog. I may just write about it. Contact me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com.
Well that is my introduction to AHWU. Enjoy the rest.
News
A Gay Girl In Alternate History
If you have been paying attention to events happening in the Middle East and North Africa, you might just have heard about Amina Abdallah Arraf al Omari, or just Amina. She is a Syrian-American blogger, identifying herself as a lesbian on her blog "A Gay Girl In Damascus" and blogging in support of increased civil and political freedom for Syrians. A posting on the blog purportedly by her cousin claimed that Amina was abducted on June 6th. This sparked a strong backlash from the LGBT community and was covered widely in mainstream media.
Turns out it was all a hoax and once again reminded us not to trust anything that comes from the Internet. In reality Amina was just the creation of American peace activist and graduate student Tom MacMaster.
There was the inevitable uproar, but the real story (at least for me) was the alternate history connection. As it turns out, Amina has been around for some time. MacMaster’s secret identity was active on the Yahoo alternate history group as late as 2006. She claimed to have read Flint’s 1632 series and also disliked Stirling’s Draka series. “Amina” even listed alternate history as an interest on her infamous blog (an interest that The Washington Post described as esoteric).
MacMaster, of course tried to defend himself. He stated he created the Amina character to discuss topics involving the Middle East without people questioning his relationship with the United States and things just got out of hand when he began commenting on the ongoing Arab Spring. Nevertheless, his actions seem more in line with the worst kind of Internet sockpuppet. In fact, it turns out he (or someone claiming to be him) is vandalizing Wikipedia, alleging that information on the article is defamatory.
Regardless of his good intentions, pretending to be someone you are not rarely end wells. Still I am impressed by how long MacMaster managed to keep his double life a secret. Maybe his interest in alternate history was important in helping him craft his secret identity. The ability to create a plausible alternate history is probably very useful when it comes to creating a plausible hoax. I recommend, however, that all of you only use your powers for good, not evil.
Coming SoonThis Tuesday, June 21st, Wild Cards: Fort Freak by George R.R. Martin will be released. A mosaic novel, the book will contain original stories by Cherie Priest, Paul Cornell, David Anthony Durham and many other authors. I never read any of the Wild Cards books, but from what my research tells me, it is a superhero/alternate history shared universe governed by Martin that began in 1987. The premise is that an alien virus hits New York City in 1946, killing the majority, but rewriting the DNA of a small few turning them into super-powered “Aces”. If you pick it, please share your review of the novel with me, I would leave to hear it.
Important Events in Alternate HistoryJune 19, 1971: Amman falls to PLO and Syrian forces. End of the Hashemite monarchy.
June 20, 2003: US President Gale Norton survives an assassination attempt.
June 21, 1948: The Republican National Convention selects Senator Joseph R. McCarthy as their presidential candidate.
June 22, 1941: Operation Marx, the Soviet invasion of the German Empire, commences.
June 23, 2010: East and West Texas agree to reunification.
June 24, 2010: US President John McCain and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev meet in Washington to begin trade talks.
June 25, 1892: The first slaves from the Slave Canal Worker Program arrive in Nicaragua to continue construction on the Nicaragua Canal.
Links to the Multiverse• Fan Fiction written within SM Stirling's Universes – a site of Stirling fan fiction
• Anahuatlacanco: The Land Between the Waters, Land of the Nahuatlaca - an alternate history timeline written by Luis Felipe Salcedo.
• Beneath Gray Skies by Hugh Ashton - now on Kindle.
Every week I will produce news articles, editorials, links to new websites, information on new releases and lists of important events in alternate history. I am not sure what the future will hold, I may change the format and I may produce more than one post a week in case there is "Breaking News" or just some rant I wish to share with you. I will promise you one thing: if you comment I will do everything in my power to respond.
I am also not averse to collaborating with others. If you would like to contribute your own articles, reviews or whatever, please contact me. As long as you are willing to produce on a regular basis, you are in. Meanwhile, since I am not omnipotent, please feel free to share any information you discover that may be relevant to this blog. I may just write about it. Contact me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com.
Well that is my introduction to AHWU. Enjoy the rest.
News
A Gay Girl In Alternate History
If you have been paying attention to events happening in the Middle East and North Africa, you might just have heard about Amina Abdallah Arraf al Omari, or just Amina. She is a Syrian-American blogger, identifying herself as a lesbian on her blog "A Gay Girl In Damascus" and blogging in support of increased civil and political freedom for Syrians. A posting on the blog purportedly by her cousin claimed that Amina was abducted on June 6th. This sparked a strong backlash from the LGBT community and was covered widely in mainstream media.
Turns out it was all a hoax and once again reminded us not to trust anything that comes from the Internet. In reality Amina was just the creation of American peace activist and graduate student Tom MacMaster.
There was the inevitable uproar, but the real story (at least for me) was the alternate history connection. As it turns out, Amina has been around for some time. MacMaster’s secret identity was active on the Yahoo alternate history group as late as 2006. She claimed to have read Flint’s 1632 series and also disliked Stirling’s Draka series. “Amina” even listed alternate history as an interest on her infamous blog (an interest that The Washington Post described as esoteric).
MacMaster, of course tried to defend himself. He stated he created the Amina character to discuss topics involving the Middle East without people questioning his relationship with the United States and things just got out of hand when he began commenting on the ongoing Arab Spring. Nevertheless, his actions seem more in line with the worst kind of Internet sockpuppet. In fact, it turns out he (or someone claiming to be him) is vandalizing Wikipedia, alleging that information on the article is defamatory.
Regardless of his good intentions, pretending to be someone you are not rarely end wells. Still I am impressed by how long MacMaster managed to keep his double life a secret. Maybe his interest in alternate history was important in helping him craft his secret identity. The ability to create a plausible alternate history is probably very useful when it comes to creating a plausible hoax. I recommend, however, that all of you only use your powers for good, not evil.
Coming SoonThis Tuesday, June 21st, Wild Cards: Fort Freak by George R.R. Martin will be released. A mosaic novel, the book will contain original stories by Cherie Priest, Paul Cornell, David Anthony Durham and many other authors. I never read any of the Wild Cards books, but from what my research tells me, it is a superhero/alternate history shared universe governed by Martin that began in 1987. The premise is that an alien virus hits New York City in 1946, killing the majority, but rewriting the DNA of a small few turning them into super-powered “Aces”. If you pick it, please share your review of the novel with me, I would leave to hear it.
Important Events in Alternate HistoryJune 19, 1971: Amman falls to PLO and Syrian forces. End of the Hashemite monarchy.
June 20, 2003: US President Gale Norton survives an assassination attempt.
June 21, 1948: The Republican National Convention selects Senator Joseph R. McCarthy as their presidential candidate.
June 22, 1941: Operation Marx, the Soviet invasion of the German Empire, commences.
June 23, 2010: East and West Texas agree to reunification.
June 24, 2010: US President John McCain and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev meet in Washington to begin trade talks.
June 25, 1892: The first slaves from the Slave Canal Worker Program arrive in Nicaragua to continue construction on the Nicaragua Canal.
Links to the Multiverse• Fan Fiction written within SM Stirling's Universes – a site of Stirling fan fiction
• Anahuatlacanco: The Land Between the Waters, Land of the Nahuatlaca - an alternate history timeline written by Luis Felipe Salcedo.
• Beneath Gray Skies by Hugh Ashton - now on Kindle.
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