Editor's Note I almost didn't write up a Weekly Update for today because I was at a wedding this weekend and was pretty exhausted when I finally had time to sit down and blog. Still I didn't want to go two weeks without a Weekly Update, especially as we celebrate 5 years of The Update, so I cooked up something quick regarding last week's news.
Speaking of the 5 year anniversary celebrations, thanks everyone for all the interest I have seen in our special guests post I have published so far this month. I have even more articles on the way so stay tuned for some high quality alternate history content.
And now the news...
Coming Soon: 1066 Turned Upside Down
Alison Morton announced on Facebook last week that to celebrate the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, she and several other authors are releasing short alternate histories stories based on the battle and the events surrounding it. They will be collected in 1066 Turned Upside Down. The authors are Helen Hollick, Joanna Barnden, Anna Belfrage, Annie Whitehead, Glynn Holloway, Richard Dockett, Carol Mcgrath Eliza Redgold and, of course, Alison. The book cover was designed by Cathy Helms of Avalon Graphics.
I'm excited by the announcement of this anthology. The Battle of Hastings has a lot of alternate history potential, especially on what England would look like if the Anglo-Saxon kings continued to rule the country. Although many of the authors involved don't appear to have written alternate history before, that doesn't bother me much. It is always fun to see new faces craft divergent Earths.
There isn't a hard publication date, but Alison told me to expect to see the book available for purchase either late July or early August. Stay tuned for more details.
Video of the Week Today's video of the week comes from the guys over at History Respawned. In their most recent episode, our host Bob Whitaker and historian Christopher Heaney talk about Uncharted 4 and real life treasure hunters:
And don't forget to check out my newest video on alternate histories centering around Zheng He:
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 Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube. Learn how you can support his alternate history projects on Patreon.
If you, however, want to submit a guest post that may be commented on by some of the biggest names in our favorite genre, you can send it to ahwupdate at gmail dot comfor me to look over.
Here are just a few parts of it that I really liked:
"[A] hooded group of unspeaking figures known only as “the Council.”: I honestly wanted to know who these guys. Personally I am picturing alien space bats in disguise.
"[A]nd confronting the Roman Empire’s continued tyranny across much of the infinite set of possible world histories.": When I read this I immediately imagined a Roman Empire that had never fallen and stumbled upon the technology to travel between timelines, probably after capturing a clumsy sideways traveler. They now conquer the infinite Earths in an effort to steal advanced technology that they can't produce on their own.
"[D]istinguished leaders who could not be here in person because they cannot exist in fewer than 27 dimensions.": Those few articles I have read that discuss the theoretical multiverse have suggested that the laws of physics may be so different in them that we couldn't even survive in them if we ever managed to travel there. I liked how the author worked that into this story.
"Adams, D.C.": I wonder if there were any leaders from "Debs, D.C." as well.
" [L]iberate millions from beneath the draconian boot heel of the Swiss.”: That's funny. I like to think that our Swiss are an outlier in the greater multiverse, while the rest are brutal imperialists.
I really do want to see someone writer a bigger story based on this idea. It could easily be The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for alternate historians.
Video of the Week Red Dead Redemption was one of my favorite all time Xbox games and I was really interested in hearing what History Respawned had to say about it:
I also like there new title cards.
You should also check out...
These 8 alternate histories Alicia Blowers of Teen Services Underground recommends for teen readers.
Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a blogger on Amazing Stories and a Sidewise Awards for Alternate History judge. When 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 Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Learn how you can support his alternate history projects on Patreon.
Editor's Notes Only 1 week away from Weekly Update #200 and a special announcement from yours truly. On top of that, I will most likely surpass 700,000 total views this month. Suddenly 1,000,000 views does not sound that impossible anymore.
In more secretive news, I had a fun time Saturday talking with a certain alternate historian you all should know rather well. Our project is gaining a momentum and we both look forward to sharing it with you all very soon.
And now the news...
4 Reasons Why Time Travel is Dangerous!
If there is one thing I learned this week from the news its that TIME TRAVEL IS DANGEROUS!!! Here are the four reasons why you should think twice before jumping into that time machine:
#1: The People in the Past Are Crazy. Such as this maid who killed her employer in 1870, took over her life and even fed the fat boiled off from the dead body to children. Yikes! So much for those Victorian morals.
#2: You Could Accidentally Destroy Yourself. According to science, if time travel were real you would inevitably create two versions of yourself that would eventually meet and annihilate the other. So perhaps Doc Brown wasn't that far off when he cautioned Marty about running into himself in the future.
#3: Your Historical Ignorance Can Be Your Undoing. People often assume they know history, when they really don't. Just check out these popular historical misconceptions that could cause a lot of problems for you, especially if you try to change the past. This brings me to my last point...
#4: The Outcome is Always Unclear. You just can't control what will happen if you change the past, whether it is intentionally or by accident. Who knows what damage you could cause. You may even wipe out the United States!
So leave time travel to the professionals. You know the ones I am talking about: alien outlaws, crazy scientists and cops who speak with a Belgian accent.
Video of the Week This week the featured video goes to the new History Respawned video on Tropico 5:
This episode featured John Harney as he talked with Dr. Renata Keller of Boston University about how Tropico 5 parodied US-Cuba relations, racial dynamics in the Caribbean and how difficult it is using humor to tell history.
Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a blogger on Amazing Stories and a Sidewise Awards for Alternate History judge. When 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 Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Editor's Note I am going to be taking a short summer break at the end of July. It will only be about two weeks and while I may still share news on Facebook and Twitter, I will be incommunicado for most of that time. So while I am gone, everyone play nice and try not to do anything important.
So last week I teased that I had an important announcement. Well I am still awaiting permission to share the news with you. I have already told a few people in private and so far the response has been very positive. Keep an eye on this blog for when I am ready to share it with everyone.
And now the news...
What is Iron & Blood by Gail Z Martin and Larry Martin?
A book that seemed to catch readers attention last week was Iron & Bloodby Gail Z Martin and Larry Martin. Here is the description from Amazon:
New Pittsburgh in 1898, a crucible of invention and intrigue, the hub of American industry at the height of its steam-driven power. Born from the ashes of devastating fire, flood and earthquake, New Pittsburgh is ruled by the shadow government of The Oligarchy. In the abandoned mine tunnels beneath the city, supernatural creatures hide from the light, emerging to feed in the smoky city known as 'hell with the lid off.' Jake Desmet and Rick Brand, heirs to the Brand & Desmet Import Company, travel the world to secure treasures and unusual items for the collections of wealthy patrons, accompanied by Jake's cousin, Veronique 'Nicki' LeClercq . Smuggling a small package as a favor for a Polish witch should have been easy. But when hired killers come after Jake and a Ripper-style killer leaves the city awash in blood, Jake, Rick and Nicki realize that dark magic, vampire power struggles and industrial sabotage are just a prelude to a bigger plot that threatens New Pittsburgh and the world. Stopping that plot will require every ounce of Jake's courage, every bit of Rick's cunning, every scintilla of Nicki's bravura and all the steampowered innovation imaginable.
Both authors are originally from Pittsburgh and in an interview with Rising Shadow, Gail said they changed aspects of Pittsburgh's history to create their alternate history. Perhaps it has something to do with George Westinghouse who was based in Pittsburgh, was a rival of Edison and gained Tesla's AC patents. A different career trajectory for this man could have created the Martins' New Philadelphia, but we won't know for sure until we read the book.
What is The Old Iron Dream by David Forbes?
I referenced The OId Iron Dream by David Forbes numerous times, but now that it out lets take a closer look at it. First, its important to know that you can't buy this on Amazon, but you can get it on Inkshares. The description is too long to share it directly on this site, but David's book argues that SF's reputation as being an open and tolerant genre is rather recent and that the genre has a very powerful and influential faction of far-right, authoritarian authors who are still celebrated today.
He gave a brief summary of this fact in an article for Motherboard. It was interesting to learn that the name of the book was actually based off Norman Spinrad's The Iron Dream, which is set in an alternate history where Hitler became a pulp SF writer and has similar themes regarding SF as Forbes book does. Also I used the cover for Spinrad's book because I couldn't really find one of Forbe's.
I could talk more about The Old Iron Dream, but I think this quote from David sums up the main thrust of his position: "Even Andrew Jackson would have let more Americans vote than Campbell, Heinlein, and Pournelle."
Video of the Week I desperately wanted to find something with the word "iron" in it for the Video of the Week after the unintentional theme that started to develop in this article, but after not finding any good contenders, I decided to go with History Respawned's interview with Ishmael Hope, lead writer on Never Alone. Check it out below:
Never Alone is a puzzle-platformer by Upper One Games. The player swaps between an Iñupiaq girl named Nuna and her Arctic fox companion. The plot is based on the stories of Alaskan stories and frankly that is very unique for a video game to do. The medium has certainly come a long way from Custer's Revenge. On top of that, its good to see History Respawned return after such a long hiatus. Hopefully we will hear more from them in the future.
Press/Business inquiries
Are you making history in the field of alternate history? Then we want to hear from you. Contact us at ahwupdate at gmail dot com and we may talk about you on the blog, Facebook or Twitter.
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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.
Next up, History Respawned returns with a look at (everything wrong with) Assassin's Creed Unity:
And we finish with a new episode of MegaCraft which looks at the "Airship Attack" map:
Know any good alternate history videos or channels on YouTube? 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.
Editor's Note Not much to say in this editorial. I am moving my updates on my alternate history fandom research paper to its own series of posts, so you have that to look forward to later this week. Finished the Truman biography so now I am moving on to a new book. Not sure if it will be an alternate history, but probably.
And now the news...
More on Amazon TV's The Man in the High Castle
The Seattle Times reported that filming of The Man in the High Castle pilot has wrapped. Among the many locations filmed throughout Washington (O crap, it might look like Twilight), scenes were shot at the Paramount Theatre that were reportedly "intended to resemble New York’s Times Square in the 1960s." So we may not only see the Japanese occupied West Coast, but also the Nazi occupied East Coast. This was confirmed when The Woodinville Weeklyreported that there is a Nazi watchtower and a “Missouri Autobahn Patrol” vehicle outside Monroe, WA.
So far a date has not been set for the premier of the pilot. We will continue to keep you informed as we get more details. In the meantime, check out these pics of the flag of the Pacific States of America.
Videos for Alternate Historians This week in videos we begin with a Halloween themed episode from History Respawned, who discuss the Christian and Pagan symbolism from Diablo III:
Speaking of symbolism, did you know Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is heavily influenced by African culture? Culture Shock of The Game Theorists channel highlights the design choices for the bosses in the game in the first of a three part series:
And finally, just in case you weren't paying attention to what was happening in Scotland last month, here is a summary of the momentous (yet anti-climatic) decision:
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.
Editor's Note As I settle into my new routine I am more confident now about my planned podcast I announced a few months ago and I am hoping to begin a video series in the near future where I rant about certain topics near and dear to my heart. If you would like to either or both projects in the future, don't forget to click through our Amazon banner if you plan to purchase anything and help support The Update.
And now the news...
More on Starz's Outlander
For those who enjoy Starz's new historical fantasy series, Outlander, I got some more goodies for you.
First up, some reviews. Paul Levinson reviewed the first three episodes and said "I'll keep watching Outlander, but more for the historical romance than the time travel, which at this point is more of a hope than a reality". Andrew Whalen at iDigitalTimes also reviewed the first three episodes and called the show "Sci-Fi Royalty" and said " I'm looking forward to the fourth episode, not because I'm eagerly awaiting to see how gender roles will be subverted (although that is also enjoyable), but because it's a fun time travel show."
So what about the fourth episode? Sharlene Mousfar of Geek Syndicate reviewed episode 4, giving it a rating of 4 out of 5 and said the "episode was a bit slow – and more of a setup for the action to come in the next few episodes." So #4 wasn't as great as people hoped above, but still a good rating. If you are interested in watching episode 5, check out this preview first.
Let's learn something about the Jani and the Greater Game by Eric Brown. First, the book description from Amazon:
Jani and the Greater Game is the first book in a rip-roaring, spice-laden, steampunk action adventure series set in India and featuring a heroine who subverts all the norms... It’s 1910 and the British rule the subcontinent with an iron fist – and with strange technology fuelled by a power source known as Annapurnite – discovered in the foothills of Mount Annapurna. But they rule but at the constant cost of their enemies, mainly the Russians and the Chinese, attempting to learn the secret of this technology... This political confrontation is known as The Greater Game. Into this conflict is pitched eighteen year old Janisha Chaterjee who discovers a strange device which leads her into the foothills of the Himalayas. When Russians spies and the evil priest Durja Das find out about the device, the chase is on to apprehend Janisha before she can reach the Himalayas. There she will learn the secret behind Annapurnite, and what she learns will change the destiny of the world for ever...
Of course when I think Indian steampunk book, I think The Peshawar Lancers by SM Stirling, but I digress. Alastair Savage at Amazing Stories said the book was an "exciting page-turner with a neat conclusion". Meanwhile, Ay-Leen the Peacemaker at Tor said the novel's greatest strength was from "Brown’s ability to balance a sense of galloping fun while also injecting the story with harder-edged questions about British imperialism, racial identity, and class dynamics" but criticized it for being "one long chase scene". Still the review was good in general, so with two recommendations, Jani and the Greater Game may be an alternate history worth checking out.
Hmm...maybe it was a good idea they passed on it. Anywho, our friend Cody Franklin of the Alternate History Hub doesn't just make alternate history videos. Sometimes he like to collaborate with other YouTubers for more informational videos, like this one on the Islamic State:
Finally we end this segment with a panel discussion about Wolfenstein: The New Order from the guys History Respawned:
Interesting breakdown on how Nazis and the Holocaust are portrayed in popular culture. Send you video or channel recommendations to ahwupdate at gmail dot com.
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.
I don't want to go any longer than I have to without posting and since I didn't have a video gallery on Monday, here is the triumphant return of Videos for Alternate Historians!!! First up, Epic Rap Battles of History celebrates the 4th with a battle between George Washington and William Wallace:
Next up, History Respawned uses the Assassin's Creed series to discuss slavery and life for blacks in the Americans:
Finally we finish up with the guys from Achievement Hunter who play co-op in the steampunk inspired The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II:
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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.
