Showing posts with label Doctor Who. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doctor Who. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

New Releases 4/5/16

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Hardcovers

The Age of Lovecraft edited by Carl H. Sederholm and Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock

Howard Phillips Lovecraft, the American author of “weird tales” who died in 1937 impoverished and relatively unknown, has become a twenty-first-century star, cropping up in places both anticipated and unexpected. Authors, filmmakers, and shapers of popular culture like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Guillermo del Toro acknowledge his influence; his fiction is key to the work of posthuman philosophers and cultural critics such as Graham Harman and Eugene Thacker; and Lovecraft’s creations have achieved unprecedented cultural ubiquity, even showing up on the animated program South Park.

The Age of Lovecraft is the first sustained analysis of Lovecraft in relation to twenty-first-century critical theory and culture, delving into troubling aspects of his thought and writings. With contributions from scholars including Gothic expert David Punter, historian W. Scott Poole, musicologist Isabella van Elferen, and philosopher of the posthuman Patricia MacCormack, this wide-ranging volume brings together thinkers from an array of disciplines to consider Lovecraft’s contemporary cultural presence and its implications. Bookended by a preface from horror fiction luminary Ramsey Campbell and an extended interview with the central author of the New Weird, China Miéville, the collection addresses the question of “why Lovecraft, why now?” through a variety of approaches and angles.

A must for scholars, students, and theoretically inclined readers interested in Lovecraft, popular culture, and intellectual trends, The Age of Lovecraft offers the most thorough examination of Lovecraft’s place in contemporary philosophy and critical theory to date as it seeks to shed light on the larger phenomenon of the dominance of weird fiction in the twenty-first century.

Contributors: Jessica George; Brian Johnson, Carleton U; James Kneale, U College London; Patricia MacCormack, Anglia Ruskin U, Cambridge; Jed Mayer, SUNY New Paltz; China Miéville, Warwick U; W. Scott Poole, College of Charleston; David Punter, U of Bristol; David Simmons, Northampton U; Isabella van Elferen, Kingston U London.

Lantern City Vol. 1 by Matthew Daley

How far would you go to be with the person you love?

Sander Jorve just wants to keep his wife and son safe. Living in the brutalized lower class of Lantern City means living in near constant darkness, the enormous walls of the city always looming overhead, while the upper class enjoys the elevated, interconnected towers and airships above. When Sander’s brother-in-law, the persuasive activist Kendal, convinces him to infiltrate the brutal ranks of the Guard, he’s set on a dangerous path that will test his abilities and beliefs, all in the name of making a difference for his family and his caste.

From the writings of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, to comics like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Lady Mechanika, the detailed and imagination-fueled steampunk movement has excited fans worldwide. Set in an original, sprawling steampunk world, Lantern City explores everything we love about the genre and what it takes to change a person’s place in the world.

E-Books

Conceived in Liberty: A comedic, time-traveling romp in America's monarchy by Don Canaan

What if a fate worse than the Zika or Ebola viruses threatened our lives in the monarchy that was founded after the USA was stillborn?

After Benedict Arnold defeated George Washington's ragtag revolutionary army, he was appointed governor-general of a British puppet nation, the Union of Royal American States. Later he was crowned King Benedict I.

In 2063, the ruler of the URAS was Queen Alyssa, whose family descended from Benedict's distant cousin, King Abraham I. The family had always ascended to the throne by murdering its previous ruler. In this case, Alyssa killed her father.

The paranoid queen's nightmares contained undocumented aliens trying to usurp the throne and enslave her subjects.

In this comedic, sci-fi, time-traveling romp through history, the queen asks a young scientist, Tamar Weaver, the founder of AT&T, to travel into the past and repair the fabric of time so that Alyssa's reign could continue unhindered.

During her adventure in 1863 in the royal capital of New York City, Tamar experiences hardships and joy that she believes caused a rip in the fabric of time.

Changing fate is not so simple for Tamar. She encounters historical figures in non-whitewashed situations that have never before been documented.

Traveling into the past causes Tamar to automatically lose 17 years and once again she has become a virgin. Her journey is fraught with assassination, sex and a life transformed.

The mind-boggling plot concludes with an ending that the reader could never imagine (unless he/she has read the last page).

If you're prudish, a historical hardhead, stubborn, a curmudgeon without a sense of humor, you shouldn't read "Conceived in Liberty" because you won't enjoy it.

But if you're not the reader for whom historical knowledge must be rigid and compartmentalized, then you'll surely enjoy this exciting stand-alone novel, waiting for sequels in the ripples of time.

Discards: A Tor.Com Original by David D. Levine

The Wild Cards universe has been thrilling readers for over 25 years. David D. Levine's "Discards" introduces Tiago Gonçalves, a teenager who scrapes collecting recyclables from the landfills of Rio de Janeiro. But after the Wild Card virus infects him, he learns to build something more.

Vulcan's Fury: The Dark Lands by Michael R. Hicks

The Roman Empire, arisen from the ash and ice that covered the world after the wrath of the gods fell from the heavens, must confront an ancient evil that threatens the entire known world…

Publisher's Note: Make sure to visit the author's web site for a special offer available *only* to pre-order customers!

A few thousand years after Old Rome was destroyed, the dream of the Roman Survivors had become a reality. Vulcan’s Fury, as the impact event was known, had become a distant but poignant memory of how wrathful the gods can be, and it was the duty of every Roman to see that they were never angered again. Over those many years, the Roman Empire had finally brought to heel the entire known world, save the Dark Lands. Hidden behind a barrier of smoldering volcanoes and the deadly Haunted Sea, the Dark Lands were at the heart of ancient legends among the Romans of terrible beasts, and worse, that had once feasted upon the flesh of men in the earliest days of the First Spring.

But ancient legends held no fear for Princess Valeria, daughter of Caesar Tiberius Claudius Augustus. Enthralled by reports of strange happenings along the coast and bored by the life of a young Roman noblewoman, she begs her father to allow her to travel to the coast of the Haunted Sea to indulge her curiosity. Tiberius grants her request, anxious to see her safely away from Rome, where the Senate is plotting against him. Together with her closest companions, including her enormous hexatiger, Hercules, Valeria sets off on her adventure, unaware that she has set in motion a series of events that will change the history of the Empire, and all Humankind, forever…

The Yorkshire Biryani by Vikram Venkataraghavan

Steve Wilson and Margaret Wilson, are an aging British couple with traditional British values, considered by most as backward in a modern British society. Their first son Greg is wayward and disorganized, much to Steve’s dismay. Greg wants to be a Kusthi champion and one day represent his country on the world stage.

Daphne, the daughter of the household is 27, and is at the right age for marriage, and Margaret is searching for a suitable bride-groom for her - educated, dark skinned teetotaler, settled in Bharat perhaps?

Harry is the last son, and is the brightest of the household. Still in college, he aims at pursuing higher studies in Bharat, and applies for the Tamil Language tests so he could take up the course of his liking in the south of India. He is in a relationship with a Muslim girl.

Does this alternate reality have an ordinary life planned for these five people or is it going to turn it into an unexpected roller coaster ride?

Set in an imaginary British village dubbed Mayfield, this book explores the lives of an ideal middle class British family, through all their happiness and heartbreaks. The Britain in this alternate world suffers from poverty, filth, corruption, stench and dishonesty, whereas India is technologically advanced and everything around the world, ranging from machines, beliefs, food, attire and architecture have an Indian flavor to it.

How INDIAN has the world become? Do the British women of the "Yorkshire Biryani" wear the Bindi and decorate their hair with jasmine flowers? Do the men wear turbans and the cross- thread across their chests? Do they worship a plethora of Gods? What is the official language of the world? How has the arts and architecture developed? Has Islam taken a softer route because of the world Hindu domination? What food do the people eat? Do they drink as much tea?

Meanwhile How developed is India? How colourful has it become? Is there a version of the internet? If so, what language does the internet use? Is there a Bollywood? Is there still a split between the north and the south? What does technology look like if all of them had an Indian touch to it. What is the main stream of medicine? What are the most famous sports?

Audio

Doctor Who: The New Series: The Churchill Years by various

In this four-hour saga, Winston relates a number of encounters with the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors in his memoirs, battling alien incursions, metamorphosing creatures...and a Dalek! 1.THE ONCOMING STORM by Phil Mulryne. The War is raging over Europe, and Churchill is desperate for any advantage. A mysterious stone may hold the key to victory - but can the Ninth Doctor stop it from falling into the wrong hands? 2. HOUNDED by Alan Barnes. Churchill is plagued by a creature from his own psyche, which he calls 'the Black Dog'. The Tenth Doctor may be the Prime Minister's only hope - but the Time Lord finds himself imprisoned by a conspiring government agency...3. LIVING HISTORY by Justin Richards. Churchill joins the Eleventh Doctor and Kazran Sardick for a trip to Roman Britain. Julius Caesar's legions are clashing with the ancient Britons. But a far more powerful enemy is planning a war of its own. The Bronze God is about to leave it's temple...4. THE CHARTWELL METAMORPHOSIS by Ken Bentley. Comfortably retired, Churchill plans to live out his days in peace. But an alien incursion launches the Prime Minister back into action and it will take everything he's learnt to win the day. Can Lily Arwell offer her assistance? Winston Churchill first encountered the Doctor on TV in Victory of the Daleks, the two men clearly old friends who had shared past adventures - now Big Finish get to show those moments! Ian McNeice reprises his Churchill role from TV's Doctor Who, but he's also very familiar from roles in such shows as Doc Martin, Children of Dune, and Stay Lucky. Danny Horn and Holly Earl return to previous Doctor Who roles, that of Kazran Sardick and Lily Arwell from two highly rated Doctor Who Christmas specials. CAST: Ian McNeice (Winston Churchill), Danny Horn (Kazran Sardick), Holly Earl (Lily Arwell), Emily Atack (Hetty Warner), Michael Gould (Frederick Lindemann), Derek Riddell (Lt-Commander Sandy McNish), Phil Mulryne (Able Seaman Phillips), Jo Stone-Fewings (Major Wheatley), Amerjit Deu (The Swami), Stewart Scudamore (Danvers), Alistair Petrie (Julius Caesar), Laura Rogers (Queen Tristahna), John Banks (Mr Rogers) and Nicholas Briggs (The Dalek).

To readers, authors and publishers...

Is your story going to be published in time for the next New Releases? Contact us at ahwupdate at gmail dot com.  We are looking for works of alternate history, counterfactual history, steampunk, historical fantasy, time travel or anything that warps history beyond our understanding.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a blogger for Amazing Stories, a volunteer interviewer for SFFWorld and a Sidewise Awards for Alternate History judge. When not exploring alternate timelines he enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the day when travel between parallel universes becomes a reality. You can follow him on FacebookTwitter and YouTube. Learn how you can support his alternate history projects on Patreon.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Weekly Update #217: The All-Consuming Fire and more.

Editor's Note

I know I said I would explain some of the changes I would be making to The Update and my other alternate history projects on Friday, but then I realized something very important: telling you all of it would be boring. So instead of explaining what I am going to do, I am just going to do it. The return of Flag Friday was the start of said changes. Next week I will be giving you another reason to support me on Patreon, which is something I should have done a long time ago.

As of now, I would like to introduce a new schedule, which I will do my best to follow:
  • Monday: Weekly Update/Map Monday
  • Tuesday: New Releases (and I will post something over at Amazing Stories)
  • Wednesday: Video on The Alternate Historian YouTube channel
  • Thursday: Guest post OR Interview (this may at times switch with Wednesday)
  • Friday: Flag Friday
Still dealing with a cold (or something worse) so no videos anytime soon. I did just read George RR Martin's Doorways and I was thinking of doing a video review on it, but we will see since I also found a recording of the pilot that the comic is based on, so I may just watch and review that instead. In the meantime, any recommendations for how to get rid of a persistent cough will be welcome.

And now the news...

Sherlock teams up with The Doctor in the ALL-CONSUMING FIRE

In 1994, Andy Lane published the novel All-Consuming Fire. It featured the Seventh Doctor from Doctor Who teaming up with Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson to battle mosters from HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Damn! How the hell did I miss this fictional mashup? According to Wikipedia, it even has a reference to Charles Beauregard of Kim Newman's Anno Dracula series, thus tying the novel into a well-known alternate history series.

Of course if you ask someone in the present what they would think of a Doctor Who/Sherlock crossover, they would think of the new Doctor Who series and Sherlock, the modern-day retelling of the famous detective, both of which are produced by Steven Moffat. A lot of fanboys and fangirls have dreamed of such a crossover, but no one seems interested in creating it. I personally would love to see a non-canon special. It doesn't even have to be a full episode. Just create a YouTube short for charity or something and I promise you people would throw money at it.

Nevertheless, someone thought that they could tap into the demand that the Doctor team up with Sherlock and thus we now have a radio play that has adapted the story from an All-Consuming Fire. Here is the description from Big Finish:

The Library of St. John the Beheaded contains the most dangerous books in all creation so when some of them are stolen who else should the Vatican call but Sherlock Holmes?

Immediately, one of the possible suspects seems more suspicious than others. He has no traceable background, refuses to give straight answers and hides behind a pseudonym. However, Holmes and his loyal friend Watson soon realise this suspect is also their greatest hope: war is brewing and an Old God is rising, to save humanity they need The Doctor as much as he needs them.

The play actually features Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred reprising their roles as The Doctor and his companion, Ace, respectively. Meanwhile we have another Doctor Who alum, Nicholas Briggs (who is the voice of the Daleks), take on the role of Sherlock. Although I haven't listened to it yet, I am extremely interested in seeing two titans of British fiction take on the monsters from one of America's masters of horror. Although we can probably guess the ending, I just hope the journey makes it worthwhile.

You should also check out...
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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a blogger on Amazing Stories and a Sidewise Awards for Alternate History judgeWhen not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the day when travel between parallel universes becomes a reality. You can follow him on FacebookTwitter and YouTube. Learn how you can support his alternate history projects on Patreon.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Weekly Update #177

Editor's Note

I was so happy to get one of my two big announcements out of the when I revealed my Capricon 35 schedule. I plan to make the second this week, so stay tuned for some more big news.

Not sure if I talked about this yet, but I am going to be doing something different for the rest of the year. Occasionally I have experimented with "theme" months, but this year I am going to put a little more effort into it. You will learn more about what I am planning later either at the end of the week or next Monday.

And now the news...

What do the critics think of Agent Carter?

I know The Man in the High Castle is still on all of your minds and trust me I didn't forget about it. In fact I made another special link dump for it below under the Links to the Multiverse section. We still don't know when we are going to get a new episode, so if you need your alternate history television fix, why don't you check out Agent Carter?

According to WikipediaIn 1946, Peggy Carter must balance the routine office work she does for the Strategic Scientific Reserve (S.S.R) while secretly assisting Howard Stark, who finds himself framed for supplying deadly weapons to the top bidder. Carter is assisted by Stark's butler, Edwin Jarvis, to find those responsible and dispose of the weapons.

Now I have always held that the Captain America films and their spin-offs, like Agent Carter, blur the lines of comic book universe and alternate history. Even if it is not a true alternate history, there is no denying it has a dieselpunk aesthetic to it (and if you want some unexpected dieselpunk, go watch The Grand Budapest Hotel). But is it any good?

Well so far the reviews I have seen have been positive. Liz Bourke of Tor said she is in love with the show, but she may be predisposed to liking to show because of her "pro-ladies-hitting-people-with-snappy-dialogue" personality. Meanwhile Vix from Geek Syndicate gave episode three a 4 out of 5 star review and praised the show for being a trailblazer in bringing more female leads to the Marvel universe.

Have you watched Agent Carter yet? Tell us what you think in the comments.

“El Dorado” Expansion for Europa Universalis IV Lets You Go For Gold

Yeah I didn't come up with that title, but I thought it was amusing. Anywho, Paradox Development is bringing the genocide adventure and politics of the Spanish conquest to life with the "El Dorado" expansion for Europa Universalis IV.

This expansion’s historical focus will be on the Central American and South American theaters. According to the press release, you can play "[a]s the Aztecs, [and[ subject the Mexican plain to your rule but make sure you have enough vassal kings to sacrifice to your angry gods. As the Europeans, push deeper into the jungles of the Amazon, following rumors of lost cities and magical fountains. Defer to the Pope as he intervenes to divide the New World among squabbling empires."

The centerpiece mechanic of "El Dorado" is the Nation Designer, a tool that let’s you customize your starting nation in a campaign. You choose your starting capital and neighboring provinces, modify your starting culture and leader and then play as this nation in the game. Sounds like a useful tool when crafting an alternate history scenario.

Learn more by watching the trailer:

Europa Universalis IV: El Dorado will be available on major digital delivery platforms for Windows, Mac and Linux next month.

Videos for Alternate Historians

Its time for some more YouTube videos that bend the borders of reality. We begin with Game Theory's look at the Pokemon multiverse:
Next up, author Gareth L. Powell is interviewed on the Abaddon Solaris channel and man are those some amazing British accents:
By the way, you can also read this text interview with Gareth on Rising Shadow. Speaking of sweet British accents, here is the new trailer for PlayStation's The Order: 1886:
Learn more about the game's plot here and see how violent the game is here. And finally, we end by asking is time travel possible with some of the most seductive British accents Doctor Who can provide:

Links to the Multiverse

Amazon's The Man in the High Castle

Amazon 2015 Pilot Season: THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE Stands Out at TwitchFilm.
Amazon Launches New Pilots at Blastr Magazine.
Amazon's New TV Pilots: 7 Reviews, From Sci-Fi to the Civil War at Yahoo!
Bingeworthy: Amazon Prime wants you to find the next 'Transparent' at The Cap Times.
First Impressions: The Man in the High Castle at Ramblings of the Easily Distracted.
The future of television is here and now at Stuff.co.nz.
The Man in the High Castle: The Amazon pilot all sci-fi fans should watch at The Independent.
‘The Man in the High Castle’ Depicts America Under the Nazis at Medium.
The Man in the High Castle never lets us believe its alternate-history nightmare at The Verge.
The Man in the High Castle on Amazon: Outstanding at Paul Levinson's Infinite Regress.
The Man in the High Castle Recap: Pilot at Movie News Guide.
The Man in the High Castle S1.01 - Pilot Review at GamesRadar.
The Man in the High Castle Shines in Amazon’s Pilot Season at Geek Dad.
The Man in the High Castle: When a Nazi-Run World Isn't So Dystopian at The Atlantic.
Review: Amazon’s new pilot season offers the good, the bad, and one train wreck at GeekWire.
'Salem Rogers,' 'The Man in the High Castle' are the best of Amazon's 2015 pilot season at zap2it.
Two dystopian TV shows to die for at Your Tech Weblog.
Why The Man in the High Castle Is Essential Science Fiction at Den of Geek.

Books and Short Fiction

8 Books From the Last Decade that Made Me Excited About SF  and Fantasy by Jo Walton at Tor.
The 100 best novels: No 70 – Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949) at The Guardian.
100 Science Fiction and Fantasy and Horror Books to Look Forward to in 2015 (Part 2) at Kirkus.
Adam Rowe on The Most Ridiculous Moon Landings in Science Fiction History at SF Signal.
Book Trailer: The Eterna Files by Leanna Renee Hieber at Tor/Forge Blog.
Brian Staveley, Author of Providence of Fire, on Fictional History and True Stories at SF Signal.
A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab (Excerpt) at Tor.
Eight steps to building a fictional world that works by Alison Morton at Writers' Village.
Flashing Steel, Flashing Fire Is Now On Kindle Unlimited at The World According to Quinn.
Review: 11/22/63 by Stephen King at The County Line.
Review: The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan at My Bookish Ways.
Review: The Just City by Jo Walton at SF Signal.
Review: Pacific Fire by Greg van Eekhout at Tor.
Review: A Thousand Perfect Things by Kay Kenyon at SF Signal.

Counterfactuals, History and News

Creating a Jewish State in the United States instead of Israel at The Counterfactual History Review.
If It Happened There: The State of the Union by Joshua Keating at Slate.
Oregon Was Founded As a Racist Utopia by Matt Novak at Gizmodo.
Two Years After Apocalyptic Predictions Related To An Obama Presidency, Life Goes On at SPLC.
Why Are the Middle Ages Often Characterized as Dark or Less Civilized? at Slate.
The Winds of Change (Predictions for the 1960s) at Galactic Journey.

Film and Television

9 Reasons you should watch Marco Polo at Hodderscape.
Ascension and alternative histories of the future at Future Fictions.
Discover the Truth Behind Sons of Liberty Series at Journal of the American Revolution.
George Lucas On ‘Star Wars': Disney Didn’t Use My Ideas For New Movies at Deadline.
A History of … The Mummy at Geek Syndicate.
Japan’s Atomic Bomb at Far Future Horizons.
Marco Polo: Netflix's Critical Flop That Dared to Be Diverse by Lenika Cruz at The Atlantic.
Oakwell Hall to appear in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell at The Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
Review: 12 Monkeys at Amazing Stories.
Review: 12 Monkeys 1.2 and 1.3 at Paul Levinson's Infinite Regress.
Review: Elementary 3.11 at Sherlock Peoria.
Review: Space 1999 at The Little Red Reviewer.
Tulsa History Buffs Not Required For 'Drunk History' Casting Call at NewsOn6.com.

Games

Crossing the Streams: Batman and Tarzan at Panels.

Graphic Novels and Comics

Original ‘hit list’ reveals a very different ‘Infinite Crisis’ at Comic Book Resources.

Interviews

Elizabeth Bear at SF Signal.
Cherie Priest at Reddit.
Adam Roberts at Tor.
Thom Trulove at Buzzy Mag.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. Check out his short fiction. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Weekly Update #162

Editor's Note

My paper on the history of the alternate history fandom is progressing nicely. I finished Evans' Altered Pasts, which I will be reviewing on Amazing Stories tomorrow, and I am wrapping up an interview with Ian Montgomerie. That's right, I will be posting an interview with Ian the Admin, founder of AlternateHistory.com, in the near future so stay tuned.

Also please check Daniel Bensen's podcast on alternate history. Yours truly was the guest and I had a great time speculating with Dan on wide range of topics.

And now the news...

What's Next for Scotland and America's Secessionists?

So Scotland's bid for independent failed, but the debate is far from over. There is the big question on what the British government is going to offer Scotland now that they stayed in the UK, which is being called the "devo-max" option, and how this will effect the rest of the country (consider what happens when England begins demanding their very own regional parliament). As British politicians prepare for future headaches, across the pond, American secessionists have not lost hope that the referendum could kickstart their own bids for independence.

A few days ago I started an informal poll in Alternate History Online asking members which American state or region they thought was the best candidate for independence. As I write this on Sunday night, Texas is in the lead with Hawaii in second and tied for third we have California and New England. Texas being the favorite isn't that far fetched as Annie Lowrey of Slate backs that up in her article on secession. That being said, perhaps we shouldn't be looking at the big states to bring down the Union, but instead focus on smaller states like New Hampshire according to Jason Sorens, founder of Free State Project, said in The Washington Post.

Truth be told, secession in the United States remains far-fetched. I will continue to keep an eye on the subject, however, because I know how much alternate historians like to balkanize the USA.

Outlander Wraps Up the First Half of Season 1

I am trying not to learn too much about Outlander, because I really want to watch the show and don't want anything spoiled. So here is what I will say: the mid-season finale of Outlander premiered last Saturday (catch a sneak peak here) and the show will return next April. Geek Syndicate and io9 had reviews for episode 7, while Paul Levinson and Geek Syndicate again had reviews for episode 8.

Phew! Really quick recap done and no spoilers.

Videos for Alternate Historians

This week in videos we begin with the First Doctor lecturing us about why we can't rewrite history:
Sorry wasn't paying attention. We follow that up with a history of the Metroid franchise done by the guys at The Game Theorists:
We end with Cinema Sins tearing about Captain America: The Winter Soldier:
Yeah not exactly alternate history, but with Cap having his own wing in the Smithsonian, I thought this may slide in just under the wire.

Links to the Multiverse

Books and Short Fiction


The book I read suddenly had an alternate history by Ghost in the Machine at io9.
Excerpt from Clockwork Secrets: Heavy Fire by Dru Pagliassotti - September 27, 2014 at The Qwillery.
Hilary Mantel hits back at critics of her Thatcher assassination short story by Matthew Weaver at The Guardian.
Mysterious Galaxy reading! Venusian Gambit pre-orders! Plus wikipedia! at Michael J. Martinez.
Review: The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Andersen at Writedge.
Review: The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato at NPR.
Review: The Golden Princess by S.M. Stirling at Bookworm Blues.
Review: Jani and the Greater Game by Eric Brown at Falcata Times.
Science Fiction Excerpt: Caveat Time Traveler at Scientific America.
Steampunk Fiction and the Women Who Write It by Rachel Cordasco at Book Riot.

Comics

REVIEW: Red Baron Vol. 1 at Geek Syndicate.

Counterfactuals, History and News

The 9 biggest alien invasion hoaxes in history by Evan Hoovler at Blastr.
Cowboys and Kalashnikovs: Comparing the Mexican-American War to the Conflict in Ukraine by Zach Dorfman at National Interest.
Denver area students walk out of school in protest by Colleen Slevin at Yahoo.
Life in the multiverse means endless possibilities at New Scientist.
Steampunk & Disability: Why I Find It’s A Better Fit Than Other Fandoms by M. Sally-Rouge Pax at Steampunk Tourist.
Trench Warfare in World War I Was a Smarter Strategy Than You Realize by George Dvorsky at io9.

Films and Television

8 Things That Prove Star Wars Actually Takes Place In Our Galaxy by Rob Bricken at io9.
The Black Widow Movie That Almost Happened by Gwynne Watkins at Yahoo.
Disney Movies In Order Of Their Historical Setting by Gergo Vas at Kotaku.
REVIEW: Doctor Who, S8, E5: Time Heist and E6: The Caretaker at Geek Syndicate.
Time-Travel Movies Are Garbage by Mike Pearl at Vice.

Games

11 things to think about before starting a time travel plot by David Ball at Ongoing Worlds.
There's A New Total War Game Coming, But Hrm by Luke Plunkett at Kotaku.

Interviews

Stefan Bachmann at Tor.
Alan Gratz at Tor.
Cherie Priest at Tor.

Podcasts

Almost Educational - EP 12: Alternate History Lesson at Podcast Garden.
The SF Signal Podcast (Episode 259): A Discussion of Social Science Fiction at SF Signal.
Show 14 – Four Weeks in the Trenches at Twilight Histories.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. Check out his short fiction. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Videos for Alternate Historians #5

From last week in videos, we begin with two new what ifs from Cody Franklin of the Alternate History Hub. First up, what if South Korea won the Korean War:
I have to admit that what if is rarely asked. Next from Cody we have an ASB what if, with a little splash of humor. asking what if nuclear weapons never existed:
I also enjoy how Cody's figures are starting to resemble Polandball more and more. We move on to a book trailer for Alan Gratz's The League of Seven:
You can also check out my review of the book over at Amazing Stories. Finally we end with the preview for the next Doctor Who episode, "Robot of Sherwood":
Got any videos to recommend? Let us know in the comments below or email us at ahwupdate at gmail dot com.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. Check out his short fiction. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Videos for Alternate Historians #4

Got some more videos I think you guys will enjoy (and check out the sweet screen shot I got and edited with MS Paint). First up, did you love It's A Wonderful Life, but always thought it could use more sharks? Well the wait is over as It's Okay To Be Smart brings you "What If There Were No Sharks?":
Next up, Doctor Who returns this weekend with a new Doctor and all new episodes. Check out the trailer for Series 8, Episode 1 "Deep Breath":
We wrap up with friend of The Update Cody Franklin, as he returns with a new video called "What if the Americas Never Existed?":
If you have videos or channels you would like to suggest, let us know at ahwupdate at gmail dot com.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. Check out his short fiction. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Weekly Update #91

Editor's Note

Woot! Another mention on SF Signal for my work on Amazing Stories. Okay that is enough shameless self-promotion.

Don't forget everyone, we are still accepting original fiction, essays and reviews dealing with the Balkanize Me trope of alternate history. I will be posting the next entry later this week so stay tuned. Also there is still time to send in your submissions for the steampunk writing contest in March. I look forward to reading your submissions.

New reader from the Bahamas, welcome! Why is there terrible weather in Chicago every time I have to welcome a new reader from a tropical country?

And now the news...

Star Trek & Dr. Who Fans Might Collide with a Bang! Theoretically of Course

Remember when I said I was through with the shameless self-promotion? Yeah not exactly.

Amazing Stories is pleased to announce their first piece of new fiction, and a graphic story to boot!  But wait, it gets even better!

Several weeks ago David Gerrold (yes, the Tribbles guy*) announced on Facebook that he’d written a comic book script that had become orphaned through no fault of its own.  Amazing Stories jumped on this potential opportunity and obtained a copy of the script for review.

Unbelievably hilarious.  Totally nerdy.

From the opening panel to the very last David Gerrold has spun a tale of historic, inside jokiness and has extended that joke to encompass contemporary fare.

Arrangements were made for Amazing Stories to publish the story and, in conjunction with David’s DG Publishing imprint, produce a limited dead-tree edition. Several comic artists were approached for the honor and Troy Boyle has been given the go-ahead.  Troy has already begun preliminary character sketches and page layouts.

Amazing Stories will be publishing a few teaser excerpts from the script, as well as some of Troy’s preliminary artwork here over the next few weeks.

What is it about?  Let’s just say that Star Trek fans and Dr. Who fans (or should that be Dr. Who fans and Star Trek fans?) are going to have something to talk about for at least the next century.  And yes, there are Tribbles in there too.  Soft Tribbles.  Warm Tribbles.  Tribbles no one would want to Exterminate.

This Friday Amazing Stories will be releasing a few of Troy’s illustrations and a few scenes from David’s script, so mark it on your calendars and don’t miss a single reveal as we all work our way towards publication!

The script will appear here exclusively on Amazing Stories and will also be made available in a limited print edition that will be available from the Experimenter Publishing Company and DG Publishing.

So if you guys liked Assimilation, I highly recommend you check out what Amazing Stories has in stores for you this Friday. Plus you never know if another major franchise might make an appearance...

Update: The Queen is Dead by Kate Locke

The newest edition to the Immortal Empire series was released last week, but here is the description in case you missed it:
When her brother Val gets in over his head in an investigation of Half-Blood disappearances and goes missing himself, it's up to Xandra, newly crowned Goblin Queen, to get him back and bring the atrocities to light. Xandra must frequent the seediest parts of London, while also coping with what she is, the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who wants her head. Add this to a being a suspect in a murder investigation, a werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy, and Xandra barely knows which way is up. One thing she does know is that she's already lost one sibling, she's not about to lose another. 
Xandra Varden is the newly crowned Goblin Queen of England. But her complicated life is by no means over. 
There are the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who for some reason wants her head. Not to mention her werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy. Now she's the suspect in a murder investigation --- and Xandra barely knows which way is up. 
What she does know is that nothing lasts forever---and immortality isn't all its cracked up to be.
If you want to get more background information on the Immortal Empire universe check out Locke's description of the world on RT Book Reviews and see a brief timeline of important events she posted at Orbit Books.

Update: Lavie Tidhar

Do you know who Lavie Tidhar is? Well you should. This award-winning, alternate history author has made quite a name from himself. Here is a brief bio:
Lavie Tidhar grew up on a kibbutz in Israel and has since lived in South Africa, the UK, Vanuatu and Laos. He is currently residing back in London. He won the World Fantasy Award in 2012 for Best Novel, for Osama, and the British Fantasy Award 2012 for Best Novella, for Gorel & The Pot-Bellied God. He was nominated, variously, a BSFA Award, a Sidewise Award, Israel’s Geffen Award, the Airship Award, and the Sturgeon and Campbell Awards.
That bio is from Every Read Thing where you can also check out their interview with Lavie where they discuss his series The Bookman Histories and winning the World Fantasy Award for Osama. You can also check out his interview on SF Signal where Lavie is promoting the World SF Travel Fund.

Paradox News

Got a whole heaping helping of news for grand strategy gamers. Let's start with the unstoppable pagan armies!
Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio, announced the new expansion to the world of Crusader Kings II titled Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods. The new expansion will add a number of widely requested features to the game, including the ability to play as a Pagan or Zoroastrian ruler, expanding empires through war, pillaging, and ruthless brutality. Players will also be able to begin their in-game reign as far back as the year 867 AD, making The Old Gods officially the Paradox title that spans the longest period in history.

Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods lets players step into the boots of a pagan chieftain, approaching the brutal backstabbing world of Crusader Kings through invasion, adventure, and holy war. Other features include rebels being led by defined characters with specific agendas, adventurers, heathens, prepared invasion and a new AI.

Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods is scheduled to release in Q2 2013. Watch the announcement teaser trailer below:
Next we have Heart of Darkness, the second expansion for Paradox Development Studios’ Victoria II, a detailed political/economic simulation of the Victorian Age, an era of rapid transformation of technology, politics and business.
Heart of Darkness, as its name suggests, focuses on the Scramble for Africa, the late 19th century rush for newly discovered wealth and land in a continent whose interior had been mostly free from European domination.

The upcoming expansion also introduces a new diplomatic event, International Crises, where the colliding desires of rival empires get settled by Great Power mediation and where smaller powers can manipulate their friends to support their own local ambitions. Other features include a new naval system with greater detail in battles, including gun ranges and positioning, and more types of ships to bridge the gap between ironclads and dreadnoughts. There will also be a newspaper system will allow you to track all the most important events in your world instead of relying on the game log.

Victoria II: Heart of Darkness is scheduled for release in March 2013. Finally we end this segment with a host of new trailers starting with March of Eagles:
And Europa Universalis IV:
Try to get some sunlight guys.

Submissions Wanted

Need more opportunities to get published?

First, I have two publishers looking for flash fiction submissions. Fan of our favorite cephalopod should check out Whispers From the Abyss, a Lovecraftian flash fiction anthology open for submission until May 30. Stories should not be longer than 2500 words.

Next we have the Teleport Us writing contest over at Lit Reactor. They are looking for stories between 1500-4000 words with a dystopic/utopian setting and featuring plausible technology and non-human characters. You will have to hurry, however, as the submission period ends at the end of February.

Those with longer works should check out Farther Books. This SF publisher is looking for completed manuscripts. Full guidelines can be found here.

As always, good luck.

Things to do

Remind me when I get the time to sit down and make a calender for all of these events I mention. In the meantime, here are some more alternate history inspired things to do:

March 4: CON NOOGA, Chattanooga's first and only Multi-Fandom (Multiple Genre) Convention.

March 8-10: FOGcon, a literary-themed SF/F con in the San Francisco Bay Area.

March 9: Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill will be at Gosh! Comics to promote the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen book.

August 23: NecronomiCon. the Lovecraft convention, in Providence, RI. Tickets are now on sale.

If you need more idea check out the SF Signal Podcast where Patrick Hester talks about upcoming SF conventions with a panel of prominent female SF authors.

Links to the Multiverse

Articles

Five Ways an Automaton Gunslinger Can Improve Your Quality of Life by Heather Massey at SF Signal.

6 Scrumptious Steampunk Romance Heroes by Suzanne Lazear at Steamed!

1984: George Orwell's road to dystopia by David Aaronovitch at BBC.

Jules Verne’s Love of Adventure Took Us From the Center of the Earth to the Surface of the Moon at Tor.

Pulp Heroes now on Kindle at Alchemy Press.

Steampunk Update, Part 1 - Following Up by John DeNardo at Kirkus.

Time Travel Novels Worth Reading by John DeNardo at SF Signal.

When I Want Time Travel by Michael A. Burstein at Mabfan's Musings.

Book Reviews

The Aylesford Skull by James P. Blaylock at Dab of Darkness.

A Collection of Steampunk Reviews, Part II: Gears Engaged by James Floyd Kelly at Wired.

A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwartz at Falcata Times.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde at Wilder's Book Review.

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress at Steampunk Scholar.

The Warlord of the Air by Michael Moorcock at TG Daily.

Films

Laika Plan Stop-Motion And CG For “Dickens Meets Monty Python” Steampunk Fantasy, The Boxtrolls by Brendon Connelly at Bleeding Cool.

Review of Midnight in Paris done by Paul Levinson.

Interviews

Gail Carriger at My Bookish Ways.

Ian Tregillis in conversation with Charlie Stross on The Laundry Files at Orbit.

Kim Harrison at BookPeople's Blog.

Robert G. Pielke at The Bibliophilic Book Blog.

Cherie Priest (plus an excerpt from The Inexplicables) at Tor.

Jeff Provine at School of Ages.

Podcasts

Dissecting Worlds Series 7: Alternative Histories Conclusions at Geek Syndicate.

The SF Signal Podcast (Episode 176): Interview with Mary Robinette Kowal at SF Signal.

Television

Key Art for Starz’s Upcoming Da Vinci’s Demons Revealed by Sharlene Mousfar at Geek Syndicate.

Review of Elementary: Season 1, Episode 14. The Deductionist at Thinking about books.

Supernatural Sixth Gun headed to NBC by CB Droege at TG Daily.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a blogger on Amazing Stories and a volunteer editor for Alt Hist magazine. His fiction can be found at Echelon PressJake's Monthly and The Were-Traveler. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.