Preview: The Enceladus Crisis by Michael J. Martinez

I have a new book to read and review: The Enceladus Crisis by friend of The Update Michael J. Martinez. It is the second book in his Daedalus series, a historical fantasy set in our own Solar System. You can check out my review of the first novel, The Daedalus Incident, at Amazing Stories and read a description of Enceladus below:

Two dimensions collided on the rust-red deserts of Mars—and are destined to become entangled once more in this sequel to the critically acclaimed The Daedalus Incident.

Lieutenant Commander Shaila Jain has been given the assignment of her dreams: the first manned mission to Saturn. But there’s competition and complications when she arrives aboard the survey ship Armstrong. The Chinese are vying for control of the critical moon Titan, and the moon Enceladus may harbor secrets deep under its icy crust. And back on Earth, Project DAEDALUS now seeks to defend against other dimensional incursions. But there are other players interested in opening the door between worlds . . . and they’re getting impatient.

For Thomas Weatherby, it’s been nineteen years since he was second lieutenant aboard HMS Daedalus. Now captain of the seventy-four-gun Fortitude, Weatherby helps destroy the French fleet at the Nile and must chase an escaped French ship from Egypt to Saturn, home of the enigmatic and increasingly unstable aliens who call themselves the Xan. Meanwhile, in Egypt, alchemist Andrew Finch has ingratiated himself with Napoleon’s forces . . . and finds the true, horrible reason why the French invaded Egypt in the first place.

The thrilling follow-up to The Daedalus Incident, The Enceladus Crisis continues Martinez’s Daedalus series with a combination of mystery, intrigue, and high adventure spanning two amazing dimensions.

Stay tuned for my review, which I will either post here or at Amazing Stories.

* * *

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.

Weekly Update #115

Editor's Note

So last week I posted a question on the Alternate History Online Facebook group asking the member what they thought was the one alternate novel all fans, regardless of whether they are beginners or hardcore, should read. I got a lot of responses and I had the idea of creating a list based on them. So as I narrowed it down, trying to only include the works that got the most positive mentions, when I discovered something: they were all about World War II or the American Civil War.

This disappoints me. I'm not saying that those books aren't good, only that we seem as fans (at the least the English speaking ones) to move beyond some of the stereotypes of the genre. Perhaps I am reading too much into the outcome of my informal poll, but I would like to branch out into the unexplored corners of the genre. To accomplish said goal, I am resurrecting an early idea I had when The Update was still young.

This is a call for action. I am looking for alternate history fans who are native speakers of a language other than English. I want to know more about alternate history (published or amateur) in other tongues. Danish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Nederlands, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and others, I don't mind. You can send me a full article or just email me some opinions/comments so I could build an article to ahwupdate at gmail dot com. Please, I want to hear from as many of you as I can.

And now the news...

Third Gareth L. Powell Ack-Ack Macaque novel to Solaris

Jonathan Oliver, commissioning editor of Solaris Books, has acquired a third Ack-Ack Macaque novel by Gareth L. Powell. The novel will be delivered in summer 2014, for an early 2015 publication. The agent was John Jarrold, and the deal was for UK/US rights. The title is Macaque Attack.

The novel is a sequel to Ack-Ack Macaque which Solaris published in 2013 and Hive Monkey, which will appear in January 2014. Check out the description of the new novel below:

Having saved the world twice, Ack-Ack Macaque finds himself at the head of a dimension-hopping monkey army, facing an invading horde of implacable killer androids and a final reckoning with his creator, the infamous Dr. Nguyun. Meanwhile, former journalist Victoria Valois fights to save the electronic ghost of her dead husband and reclaim her stolen soul from the sands of Mars.

Gareth Powell said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Solaris Books on a third monkey adventure, and this one promises to be his biggest and wildest outing yet!”

Dark Hall Press presents The Bloodline: Birth of the Vampir

A curious book came to my attention called The Bloodline: Birth of the Vampir by Shaun McGinnis and Rod Garcia and published by Dark Hall Press. Bloodline has been described as "a dark tale of innocence lost and monstrosity born." Set in 13th century Europe, the book chronicles the fall of a Transylvanian Lord (hmm...wonder who he is based on) and his people at the hands of a ruthless Archdeacon in search of the Holy Grail. Cursed and exiled from their land, the former citizens of Erdely soon find themselves in the grips of a transformation, becoming something the world has never seen before—the first vampires.

The Bloodline: Birth of the Vampir is available for purchase via Amazon and other retailers. What interested me about this book, however, is not only its historical (dark) fantasy setting, but also the possibilities of how history could be changed with the rise of a "vampire nation". Not sure if the authors will actually go that route, but for ASB fans like me, it is fun to speculate...

Update: The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez

I have talked about The Daedalus Incident before and even got a chance to interview its author, Michael J. Martinez. In case you don't know, however, here is the description from Amazon:

Mars is supposed to be dead… 

Bizarre quakes are rumbling over the long-dormant tectonic plates of the planet, disrupting its trillion-dollar mining operations and driving scientists past the edges of theory and reason. However, when rocks shake off their ancient dust and begin to roll—seemingly of their own volition—carving canals as they converge to form a towering structure amid the ruddy terrain, Lt. Jain and her JSC team realize that their routine geological survey of a Martian cave system is anything but. The only clues they have stem from the emissions of a mysterious blue radiation, and a 300-year-old journal that is writing itself. 

Lt. Thomas Weatherby of His Majesty’s Royal Navy is an honest 18th-century man of modest beginnings, doing his part for King and Country aboard the HMS Daedalus, a frigate sailing the high seas between continents…and the immense Void between the Known Worlds. 

With the aid of his fierce captain, a drug-addled alchemist, and a servant girl witha remarkable past, Weatherby must track a great and powerful mystic, who has embarked upon a sinister quest to upset the balance of the planets—the consequences of which may reach far beyond the Solar System, threatening the very fabric of space itself.

Well Mike has been busy promoting his novel across the interweb. He was interviewed over at Skiffy and Fanty and wrote a guest post at John Scalzi's blog. Mike also has wrote some interesting articles on his own blog about Daedalus ranging from why he thinks August 13 was the true release day and how difficult it is to find his book in bookstores. Go check it out!

Loncon 3 is Less Than a Year Away

In less than a year, Worldcon returns to London. A mere forty-nine years after Loncon 2 in 1965, Loncon 3 will take place in the ExCeL conference centre in London's Docklands, from 14-18 August 2014. Its Guests of Honour cover the fields of fiction, comics, art, criticism, publishing and fandom: Loncon 3 will celebrate the work of the late Iain M Banks, John Clute, Malcolm Edwards, Chris Foss, Jeanne Gomoll, Robin Hobb and Bryan Talbot. This is also where the 2013 Sidewise Awards will be presented.

Co-chair Alice Lawson said, "Loncon 3 will include the standard Worldcon fare, including a huge multi-track programme of panel discussions and talks, a world class art show, a huge area for dealers and exhibits, performances including dances, plays, and a masquerade, and of course the 2014 Hugo awards."

She added, "Loncon 3 will also innovate. A massive hospitality space will bring the North American party scene and the European-style fan bar together in one place. In addition, Loncon 3 will present the Retro-Hugo Awards for 1939, celebrating the science fiction of the time of the very first Worldcon, held in New York 75 years before."

Co-chair Steve Cooper said, "With twelve months to go, membership uptake for Loncon 3 is outstanding. We currently have more than double the number of members that most Worldcons have twelve month out. All indications are that Loncon 3 will be the largest Worldcon ever held outside the United States."

"The key word that I keep hearing as we plan Loncon 3 is "Awesome" - that's exactly what this convention will be!"

Calendar

August 20-21: See a steampunk version of Macbeth at Fort Lee, NJ.

August 23: Last day to fund Reality Check by Chris Buchal Kickstarter.

August 23-24 and 30-31: See a steampunk version of Romeo and Juliet at Ringgold, GA.

September 14: Last day to fund Amerika by Historical Board Gaming Kickstarter.

October 31: Angry Robot takes over Forbidden Planet’s London Megastore.

Links to the Multiverse

Articles

1636: The Devil’s Opera by Eric Flint – Snippet 34.
The Alternation of Rome by Alison Morton.
Atlanta ranks No. 1 for steampunk by Jackson Reeves at Atlanta Magaine.
James Lovegrove Defines Godpunk at SF Signal.
Read the Book Inspired by Total War: Rome II by Matt Farr at Geek Syndicate.
Story Idea: The Tesla Colonies by Alfonso Posadas Jr. at SciFi Ideas.
Take Five With Liesel Schwartz, Author 'A Clockwork Heart' by Matt Staggs at Suvudu.
Ten Things I’ve Learned Since I started Writing Steampunk And Venturing into the Steampunk Community by Cindy Spencer Pape at Steamed!
TOC: “The Time Traveler’s Almanac” Edited by Ann VanderMeer and Jeff VanderMeer (Plus: US and UK Covers!) at SF Signal.
A Very Merry Blog Tour Is Beginning by Matt Quinn at The World According to Quinn.

Book Reviews

After Earth by Peter David at Thinking about books.
The Aylesford Skull by James Blaylock at Steampunk Scholar.
The Draka Series by SM Stirling at Amazing Stories.
The Woken Gods by Gwenda Bond at SF Signal.

Comics

Grant Morrison claims Alan Moore secretly killed the Joker in 1988 by Rob Bricken at io9.

Counterfactual History

A 1909 Plan For Superfast Elevated Transit Between LA and SF by Adrian Glick Kudler at Curbed.
An Alternate History Of Fenway Park by Rick McNair at Bosox Injection.
Filling In New York City Rivers Was A Popular Idea In the 1800s by Jessica Dailey at Curbed.
Fun Maps: Neu-York – What if Germans had conquered Manhattan in WWII? by Zoe Mendelson.
L. A. Counterfactual: How the City's Architectural Development Might Have Been Different by Gavriel D. Rosenfeld at The Counterfactual History Review.
Rare documents unveiled by State Library of NSW showing Spanish quest to find Australia by Sally Block at ABC News.
What If? A Counterfactual SOMA Portfolio by Michael Fleming, Deborah Leonard, Grant Long, and Julie Remache at Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Would the Nazis Have Gone to the Moon? by Ray Villard at Discovery News.

Games

Jukebox Heroes Extra: A chat with City of Steam's composer by Justin Olivetti at Massively.
The Order: 1886 preview – God Of War dev rewrites history to sex up Victorian London at PlayStation UK.
Paradox still the grand master of grand strategy with Europa Universalis IV (review) by Jason Wilson at Gamesbeat.

Interviews

Major Jack Union at Geek Syndicate.

Television

The Ultimate Guide to this Fall's Science Fiction and Fantasy TV! by Charlie Jane Anders at io9.

* * *

Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. His new story "The Enchanted Bean" can be found in Once Upon a Clockwork Tale from Echelon Press. 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.

Interview: Michael J. Martinez

I now present my interview with author Michael J. Martinez. With years of experience in journalism and communications writing, Mike now has taken a stab at writing his own stories and The Daedalus Incident is the result. Check out our talk below:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Well, I’m a professional writer working in the greater New York City area. And by professional, I mean more along the lines of journalism, media, communications and marketing. I actually never wrote a novel before. But I’d like to think two decades of other writing were enough to get the ball rolling. Seems to have worked out so far.

What is a normal day like for a professional writer? 

I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask, because while I've been a professional writer for the past two decades, the vast majority of that's been in journalism and, as of late, corporate communications. So in terms of my life, it's pretty much like anyone else's: Get up, hit the elliptical, drink coffee, commute to work, write various pieces for my company, commute home, quality time with wife and daughter, a little TV, maybe a bit of fiction writing, then bed.

Now, in terms of fiction, I tend to squeeze it in when I can, which is primarily on weekends. I just got back from a vacation, though, in which I was able to bull through 20,000+ words. And that was awesome.

What is The Daedalus Incident about?

The Daedalus Incident is about a 22nd century Martian mining colony that stumbles across nothing short of a cross-dimensional rift – one that leads to an alternate history in which the 18th century Age of Sail plays out amongst the planets of our solar system. The heroes in both dimensions must come together to seal the rift before an ancient evil is unleashed.

Mars is a popular place to find evil. What do you think it is about the Red Planet that terrifies us?

First off, it's one of the very few lights in the sky that's unabashedly red. And red is the color of blood, of anger, of war. Why do you think we named the red wanderer after the god of war?

And then, on further examination centuries later, Mars was found to be our closest neighbor. It was also found, at one point, to have things that looked suspiciously like canals, huge ones that criss-crossed the entire planet. How terrifying is that, to see our closest planetary neighbor possibly in possession of technology superior to our own? Think about when these theories came out, especially in the 19th century. The world grew much smaller in that century thanks to the locomotive and the telegraph, and the "other" became a serious consideration no matter where you were. And there were a lot of "other" people right here on Earth that terrified folks. Add to that an advanced civilization on Mars, and...well, it's no accident H.G. Wells chose Mars as the source of his invaders.

Even now, Mars threatens to upset our comfortable mental status quo. What if the rovers find signs of past life on Mars? What if they find something actually still living on Mars? That's absolute confirmation that humanity is not alone in the universe, or that we may not even be so very special in our very own solar system. That's very heavy stuff. I have no doubt Mars will continue to make us uncomfortable for years and years to come -- and as a fiction writer, that thrills me to no end.

I have seen your book described as alternate history, historical fantasy and steampunk. How would you describe it?

It’s very much historical fantasy.. The “engine” of sailing the Void between worlds is Alchemy, which can best be described as “mystic science” and utterly fantastical. I know it’s been called steampunk before – I think any alt-history with fantastical elements gets called that at some point – but that’s pretty inaccurate. That said, should things progress, I could see some steam entering into the timeline in the 1800s and combining with Alchemy to produce some…really interesting things.

I should say one of the two settings is historical fantasy. The other is a hard-SF near-future setting. I’d like to think it’s well grounded in modern research, but there’s nothing alt-historical about it.

What inspired you to write the story?

It came out of a lot of different things. There was a rash of sailing/pirate movies about ten years ago that helped plant the seeds. But in terms of alternate history, I think the novels of C.S. Forester and Patrick O’Brian were the heaviest influences. I always liked how their heroes were very much “normal” folks. There aren’t any Chosen Ones there, just normal people doing their duty. That I liked, and wanted to see that transposed into a space opera setting.

What sources were particularly helpful when researching for the novel?

I literally have a bookshelf lined with historical references that helped with this novel, and future ones as well. I have a biography of John Paul Jones, another of Lord Nelson. I read The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. There’s a great book called The World in 1800 which was very helpful in terms of where things might end up, and another called Broadsides which details the Age of Sail quite well. Still, the original letters sent by people of the era are always helpful, especially in gauging character voice and motivation. And when I was in San Diego a while ago, I got a chance to walk the deck of HMS Surprise, the replica used in filming Master and Commander. That was about as good as it gets, really.

Do you have any other projects you are working on?

I do. I've been serializing a novella called The Gravity of the Affair on my website, which details the first command of Lt. Horatio Nelson in my historical fantasy setting. And I think it’s no secret that I've been plugging away at the sequel to The Daedalus Incident. It’s not contracted for, but…well, I’ll keep folks posted as things develop!

What are you reading now?

In terms of history, I've been kind of hesitant to show my hand, since I’d like to keep folks guessing as to what might come next in the worlds of The Daedalus Incident. But let’s just say I've been on a Napoleon kick lately. I've also been delving into the early history of Alchemy, and some of the latest research into Saturn. My bookshelves keep getting more eclectic as time goes on.

Do you have advice for would-be authors?

I feel woefully underqualified to answer this, but since you asked, I’ll try. I do think individuals have varying degrees of natural aptitude for creative writing…but I also believe it’s a skill that can be taught (even self-taught) and honed. And as with anything, practice makes perfect. So if you want to be an author, there is no substitute for getting your butt in a chair and writing. Writing takes self-discipline, and the key thing is to just get the story out. Once it’s out on the page, you can revise and revise until it’s right. But until something’s on the page, there’s nothing to hone. So my advice? Write. No matter how bad you think it is, write!

Weekly Update #109

Editor's Note

So did I mention last month we reach 22,031 page views? That is the highest monthly page view count in The Update's history. Thank you to all of the contributors and fans who made this possible. I couldn't have asked for a better gift to mark our two year anniversary. I look forward to exceeding all expectations when we break that record again!

This week I am taking July 4th off so a little less speculative goodness is coming your way. No worries, I think you will enjoy what I have in store for you, which includes announcing the winners of the DBWI contest and The Place of Dead Kings book giveaway.

And now the news...

Update: The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez

So last week I shared some info on The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez. For those who missed it, here is the description from Amazon:

Mars is supposed to be dead… 

Bizarre quakes are rumbling over the long-dormant tectonic plates of the planet, disrupting its trillion-dollar mining operations and driving scientists past the edges of theory and reason. However, when rocks shake off their ancient dust and begin to roll—seemingly of their own volition—carving canals as they converge to form a towering structure amid the ruddy terrain, Lt. Jain and her JSC team realize that their routine geological survey of a Martian cave system is anything but. The only clues they have stem from the emissions of a mysterious blue radiation, and a 300-year-old journal that is writing itself. 

Lt. Thomas Weatherby of His Majesty’s Royal Navy is an honest 18th-century man of modest beginnings, doing his part for King and Country aboard the HMS Daedalus, a frigate sailing the high seas between continents…and the immense Void between the Known Worlds. 

With the aid of his fierce captain, a drug-addled alchemist, and a servant girl with a remarkable past, Weatherby must track a great and powerful mystic, who has embarked upon a sinister quest to upset the balance of the planets—the consequences of which may reach far beyond the Solar System, threatening the very fabric of space itself.

Since sharing with you what I found out about this book, the Internet has exploded with content on The Daedalus Incident. Paul Weimer at SF Signal called it "[a]n ambitious and fun romp whose enthusiasm outweighs its flaws." Justin Landon at Staffer's Book Review also wrote a (sort-of) review where he said "I really enjoyed it despite an extremely unconventional narrative."

What I have read about this book intrigues me greatly and I have moved it near the top of my reading list and have contacted Michael J. Martinez to get the ball rolling on an interview, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, you can check out an excerpt of the book at Tor.com, listed to an interview with Mike at the always good SF Signal Podcast and read's Mike guest post on Staffer's Book Review entitled "Napoleonic Bechdel Tests".

"We Are The World" Campaign Initiated for East vs. West: A Hearts of Iron Game 

Paradox Interactive kicked off the start of the “We Are The World” campaign for East vs. West: A Hearts of Iron Game, an upcoming Cold War simulation game developed by BL-Logic in collaboration with Paradox Development Studio. New screenshots for the title have also been released and the game’s official website has launched.

The "We Are The World" campaign will allow players to create and submit their own historical or alternate history character for East vs. West, with the favorites picked by the devs to be used in-game. Will your leader be a benevolent soul with a fervent vision of unity or will they be a ruthless dictator bent on the nuclear destruction? Players are encouraged to participate and help shape the mold of East vs. West during its development and can even submit pictures of themselves.

For those who don't know, East vs. West: A Hearts of Iron Game takes place during the Cold War era between 1946-1991. Crafted by BL-Logic with the support of a dedicated group of modders and in collaboration with Paradox Development Studio, the game is based on the Clausewitz engine and allows players to relive the diplomatic, economical and military tension of the Cold War in this grand strategy game. Bring issues before the U.N. Security Council, plot the removal of foreign leaders, initiate espionage to stay ahead of your rivals, and, above all else, prepare your country for nuclear war.

East vs. West: A Hearts of Iron Game is currently slated for a Q1 2014 release. For more information, check out the recent stream for the game and the developer diaries.

Calender

July 5: Opening day for the steampunk-themed run of Sweeney Todd at Pasadena Town Square Mall in Pasadena, TX.

August 4: Last day to see the Antipodeans Steampunk Show at the Tweed River Art Gallery in Australia.

Links to the Multiverse

Articles

Cover & Synopsis: ONCE UPON A TIME IN HELL by Guy Adams at SF Signal.
Excerpt: SORCERER: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth’s Alchemist by Geoffrey James at Amazing Stories.
Jim Musgrave Releases Mystery Series DISAPPEARANCE AT MOUNT SINAI at BooksWorld.com.
Steampunk Quips and Tips by Maeve Alpin at Smart Girls Love Sci Fi and Paranormal Romance.
Time for a trip to the dark side for new paranormal reads by Joyce Lamb at USA Today.
What did I learn from preparing Book 2? by Alison Morton.

Book Reviews

Apex Magazine, Issue 49, June 2013 at SF Signal.
Be My Enemy by Ian McDonald at Falcata Times.
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld at book!
The Long War and The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter at Barnes & Noble Review.
Oz Reimagined edited by John Joseph Adams and Douglas Cohen at Travels Through Iest.
The Revolution Trade by Charles Stross at Falcata Times.
Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal at Thinking about books.

Comics

COMIC REVIEW: Clockwork Watch Vol. 2, Breakaway at Geek Syndicate.
Review of I Killed Adolf Hitler by Jason at Fine Print.

Counterfactuals

10 ‘What Ifs’ That Could Have Changed The Course Of Doctor Who by James T. Cornish at WhatCulture!
Dave would not have become PM if he’d held out for a minority Conservative government by Mike Smithson at Politicalbetting.com.

Interviews

Robert McCammon on his blog.

Films

Instead of Monsters University we could have had a Monsters Inc sequel by Lauren Davis at io9.
Real-Life Magazines Portrayed As If the Avengers Were Real at Geeks are Sexy.

Games

Hotline Miami Devs Reboot Steampunk Chaos Engine by Adam Gauntlett at The Escapist.
Laika Believes: The Sun at Night offers an alternate history of dogs in space by Emily Gera at Polygon.
MicroVolts Releases a Steampunk Fantasy Update at MPOGD.com.
Wolfenstein: The New Order – Trailer by Gameuber Trailers.
A Zombie Steampunk Wizard Of Oz? Sure, Why Not. by Luke Plunkett at Kotaku.

Podcast

Coming Soon! The Apex Magazine Podcast! by jasonb57 at Apex Magazine.

Television

A Thin Line Between Revolution and Confusion by Madeline Barnicle at Fantasy Matters.

* * *

Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. His new story "The Enchanted Bean" can be found in Once Upon a Clockwork Tale from Echelon Press. 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.

Weekly Update #108

Editor's Note

I always smile when I see someone thank me for publishing their work on The Update.

That's it. Just wanted to start off on a positive note.

And now the news...

Aluna Trilogy in the Works

Comic book fans who are looking for something other than the well-muscled, spandex wearing, euro-centric demigods should take note. Aluna, the Latin American superhero created by actress Paula Garces (Maria from the Harold & Kumar franchise) and her creative partner, Antonio Hernandez will be released as a trilogy starting with book one this Fall.

Aluna is the story of a young woman, taken from the New World by the Spaniards and raised as royalty in Spain during the 1500s. As if by fate, she is forced to travel back to the New World, only to discover that she has great powers that she must harness to defend her new homeland.

The creators tapped Seattle based Allegory to develop and publish the series. Allegory is a transmedia company engaged in several aspects of entertainment including publishing, children’s education, games, applications, television and digital platforms.

“I’ve always been a fan of comic books but felt that strong female Latina leads were lacking, so along with my creative partner, Antonio Hernandez, we created Aluna. We’re so happy with how well the character has been received by fans playing the Aluna character in Heroes of Newerth that we can’t wait to release the first of three books this Fall” comments Paula Garces.

Allegory’s publishing imprint will develop the books and will eventually produce a portfolio of digital products and merchandise based on the title.

“We’ve wanted to create a compelling female heroine for two years now. A character who is strong and has a complex back story. When Paula and Tony shared the story of Aluna with us, we knew we needed to be apart of this franchise. This is a groundbreaking book and we feel honored to be apart of it” said Chad Smith, CEO of Allegory.

Dooma Wendschuh and Corey May, founders of sekretagent Productions (yes it is supposed to be a small "s"), have been attached to write all three books. This writing duo is the creative force behind such popular game titles as Assassin’s Creed and Army of Two.

“This story is full of action, but it also has pretty epic romance elements. Aluna is a badass. She’s tough as nails given everything she’s been through. We’re going to help her find her softer side”, remarks Dooma Wendschuh.

Ibraim Roberson, whose recent credits include X-Men, Hellraiser and mostly recently, Max Brooks’s, The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks, has been attached to create the art.

“Ibraim Roberson is just the right artist for Aluna.  His work on The X-Men and Clive Barker’s Hellraiser has consistently demonstrated a pacing and organic style that is a perfect mesh to Dooma’s writing. Giving the adventures of Aluna a whole new level of realism, action, and drama. Plus, the artwork produced by Ibraim is going to be lush and beautiful and will perfectly capture the majesty of the old world” remarked Lee Koshe, Allegory’s Creative Director.

Additionally, S2 Games, the creators of the popular online game series, Heroes of Newerth have partnered with Paula Garces’ Further Lane Productions and Allegory to develop an ongoing portfolio of avatars for the Heroes of Newerth game based on the Aluna character. The first avatar, Stardust Aluna, was recently released by S2 games.  The second avatar will be released at Comic Con International this July and will be followed by future avatars.

World SF Blog shuts down after four years of operation

The World SF Blog, a near-daily blog operating continuously from February 2009 to June 2013, will be shutting its doors for good. Published by Lavie Tidhar (author of Osama and other alternate history works), it was dedicated to highlighting international speculative fiction. Over its run it has published hundreds of posts, interviews, articles and, since 2010, over 60 short stories, many of them available in English for the first time. Editors included Charles Tan, Debbie Moorhouse and Sarah Newton.

Initially set up to promote Tidhar’s Apex Book of World SF anthology, the blog had since spawned two further anthologies (with Volume 2 published in 2012 and Volume 3 due next year), as well as the annual World SF Travel Fund, for facilitating the visit of international genre people to a major convention.

In his farewell letter, Tidhar wrote, “It felt to me that we were able to partly-initiate, and to encourage, a conversation that the genre had not had before, and in a very real way is only now beginning to seriously engage in.” He added, “The change I have seen in the four years of the blog is heartening. In a way, I have decided to stop now because the blog has fulfilled everything I ever wanted it to, and so much more.”

The World SF Blog won a 2012 BSFA Award for Best Non-Fiction. It was also given a Kitschies Special Achievement Award, and was a 2011 nominee for the World Fantasy Award.

The blog archive remains online and will also be added to the Merril Collection archives.

Coming Soon: The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez

Historical fantasy is a close cousin of alternate history, hence why I am including this piece on The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez. Here is the description from Amazon:

Mars is supposed to be dead… 

Bizarre quakes are rumbling over the long-dormant tectonic plates of the planet, disrupting its trillion-dollar mining operations and driving scientists past the edges of theory and reason. However, when rocks shake off their ancient dust and begin to roll—seemingly of their own volition—carving canals as they converge to form a towering structure amid the ruddy terrain, Lt. Jain and her JSC team realize that their routine geological survey of a Martian cave system is anything but. The only clues they have stem from the emissions of a mysterious blue radiation, and a 300-year-old journal that is writing itself. 

Lt. Thomas Weatherby of His Majesty’s Royal Navy is an honest 18th-century man of modest beginnings, doing his part for King and Country aboard the HMS Daedalus, a frigate sailing the high seas between continents…and the immense Void between the Known Worlds. 

With the aid of his fierce captain, a drug-addled alchemist, and a servant girl witha remarkable past, Weatherby must track a great and powerful mystic, who has embarked upon a sinister quest to upset the balance of the planets—the consequences of which may reach far beyond the Solar System, threatening the very fabric of space itself.

Edi of Edi's Book Lighthouse called the novel an "amazing mix of alternate history, science fiction and mystery is highly entertaining and stands out like a lighthouse in the fog of books." Available now on Kindle, you can learn more about the book and the author if you check out Michael's guest post on SF Signal where he discusses some of the issues when writing historical fantasy.

Paradox News

Two big announcement from our friends at Paradox. First, War of the Roses, the medieval squad combat title from Fatshark, has a new content update. The latest addition to War of the Roses is entitled “Guns of Burgundy,” and adds a new weapon type: handgonnes, the world’s first portable firearm. Capable of cutting down fleeing foes and punching damaging holes in a knight’s shield, handgonnes come in four types and can be wielded by knights with a steady arm and reliable flint. A new map and new armor pieces are also included in this update, which is now available for download in War of the Roses.

In “Guns of Burgundy,” the new Ravenspurn map is ready for war in Conquest, Team Deathmatch, and Pitched Battle modes, where the sounds of explosive fire from new handgonne weapons will punctuate the ongoing chaos. Combatants will have to rely on their wits and their armor to stay alive, making use of new items such as Brigandine Armour, the Kettle Sallet Helmet, Hand Pavise Shield, and the Burgundian Side Sword.

New user interface (UI) features are also included in this update, including a popup system to alert players of in-game events and news – such as the new 500 coin bonus awarded when a round is successfully won.

Texas Artist Vincent Villafranc​a Announced as Designer of the 2013 Hugo Award Trophy Base

The 2013 Hugo Award base will be designed by Texas-based artist Vincent Villafranca. Villafranca is a Chesley Award-winning sculptor who produces futuristic and fantastic bronzes using a traditional lost-wax casting process. Production of the 2013 bases is already well under way, although in keeping with tradition, the design will not be revealed until the convention.

The actual Hugo Award trophy takes the form of a silver rocket. The original concept by Jack McKnight and Ben Jason was inspired by the gleaming finned rocketships of Willy Ley. The exact design has become standardized in recent years and the rockets are currently produced by British fan Peter Weston. The base on which the rocket is mounted is, however, the responsibility of each Worldcon committee, and the design changes each year, usually inspired by the location of the convention.

LoneStarCon 3 is also pleased to announce that fans may now submit their final Hugo Award ballots online. The voting deadline is Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. CDT.

The Hugo Awards are the premier award in the science fiction genre, honoring science fiction and fantasy literature, media, artists, and fans. The Hugo Awards were first presented at the 1953 World Science Fiction Convention in Philadelphia, PA (Philcon II), and they have continued to honor science fiction and fantasy notables annually for 60 years.

Calender

July 5-7: The 3rd annual GEAR Con steampunk festival in Portland, OR.

July 13: Off the Beaten Path, a steampunk bookstore, opens in Farmington, CA.

July 14: Last day to fund Time Traveled Tales: A Speculative Fiction Anthology Kickstarter.

August 1: Submission period begins for Alchemy Press' World War I/horror anthology Kneeling in the Silver Light.

August 12: Last day to fund the World War Kaiju graphic novel Kickstarter.

October 26: Deadline for submissions for the Philippine Speculative Fiction Vol.9.

Links to the Multiverse

Articles

The 5 Most Unjustly Overshadowed Sci-Fi Classics by Robert Brockway  at Cracked.
7 Bizarre Early Versions of Famous Characters by Joe Oliveto, Maxwell Yezpitelok and Robert Rosati at Cracked.
Andrea Cremer Goes Steampunk With 'Inventor's Secret': Check Out The Cover! by Amy Wilkinson at MTV.
Cold Names by Kate Elliott at Shadowhawk's Shade.
The Coolest Flags in Human History by Vincze Miklos at io9.
Everything You Know About Jules Verne is Probably Wrong by Ron Miller at io9.
Heere be Monsters by John Birmingham at Cheeseburger Gothic.
Just when you thought the editting was just about done... by Grant Gardiner at Tommy Thunder.
Not all self-published work is grey in the night by Alison Morton.
NY Votes To Bring Back The Old Steampunk Lever Voting Machines by Rebecca Fishbein at Gothamist.
Read an Excerpt of The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter at Harper Voyager.
Steampunk Vs. Dieselpunk by Daylina Miller at New Port Richey Patch.
Story behind Necessary Evil by Ian Tregillis at Upcoming4.Me.
Why your world needs History (and probably already has it) by Juliette Wad at TalkToYoUniverse.

Book Reviews

The Last Full Measure by Jack Campbell at Thinking about books.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson at The Counterfactual History Review.
Once Upon a Clockwork Tale at Blog Critics.

Comics

Review of Before Watchmen by Sean Korsgaard.

Counterfactuals

49ers alternate history: Bill Walsh to the Seahawks? by David Fucillo at SB Nation.
An Alternate History of the Syrian Civil War by John Tabin.
Manziel - Suspended Before the 2012 Season - Nearly Transferred from A&M by John Pennington at Mr SEC.
Ranking the Biggest 'What-Ifs' in the NBA Draft of the Last Decade by Jared Wade at Bleacher Report.
The White House that never was: A behind-the-scenes tour of the would-be Romney administration by Rick Klein, Olivier Knox, Richard Coolidge, and Jordyn Phelps at Yahoo!

Films

'After Earth II' Tanks At Box Office at The Onion.
Iron Sky Director’s Cut at Dark Matter.

Games

The Best Video Games of 2013 (So Far) by Hanuman Welch, Larry Hester and Michael Rougeau at Complex Gaming.
The Bitmap Brothers’ classic steampunk shooter The Chaos Engine is getting a remake/reboot by Tom Sykes at PC Gamer.
Hornblower meets Steampunk in Guns of Icarus Online by Kieran Salsone at The Chronicle.
March of War Dieselpunk Title Puts Players In Charge Of Story by Adam Gauntlett at The Escapist.
My Top 5 Alternate History Games by Cimmaron Spirit at Gaming Furever.
The Order: 1886's alternate Victorian London detailed by Steve Watts at Shack News.
A return to Nazi-shooting good times: We go hands-on with Wolfenstein at E3 by Patrick Stafford at Games.on.net.
Teslagrad puzzler platformer announced for Wii U release at VG 24/7.
Trials Evolution: Trials Files #61 at Achievement Hunter.

Interviews

Alison Morton at Female First.
Dan Carroll at Steampunk Chronicle.
Christopher Priest (Part 1 and 2) at Amazing Stories.

Music

Dieselpunk Song of the Week - Happy Swingin by Shemian at Tommy Thunder.

Podcast

Ratchet RetroCast Episode 10 – Our pain, it runs deep, let us share it with you… at Earth Station One.
Unbound: Tania James and Kyle Minor on 'Alternate Histories' by Erin Keane atWFPL.

Television

Revolution Stars Talk Nora's Season 1 Finale Exit at omg!

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. His new story "The Enchanted Bean" can be found in Once Upon a Clockwork Tale from Echelon Press. 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.