Top 5 Posts from November 2014

What were the most popular articles of last month? Check it out:

1) Twilight Histories Cover: Aztec Steel by Sam McDonald.

2) Map Monday: The Grand War by PlatoonSgt by Matt Mitrovich.

3) Map Monday: Royal Province of Maryland by False Dmitri by Matt Mitrovich.

4) Nagumo’s Missing Turkey: The Kido Butai’s “Third Strike” at Pearl Harbor by James Young.

5) Map Monday: Map of Venus by NuclearVacuum by Matt Mitrovich.

Another month and another strong showing for alternate maps.

Twilight Histories Cover: Aztec Steel

With the permission of Sam McDonald and Jordan Harbour, the voice behind Twilight Histories, I present this new map and description made by Sam. It was inspired by the "Aztec Steel" episode of Twilight Histories. Enjoy!

After the sack of Tenochtitlan, Chinese hegemony was established and a new era of Sino-Aztec cooperation and rebuilding was born. The wealth brought by China's New World possessions, combined with a more outwardly thinking dynasty, meant that China was considered by many nations in the West to be the most powerful nation on earth.

China also made contact with the Incan Empire. The Inca fell into a civil war after the Old World diseases set in. The civil war was between those who wished to continue trade with China and those who wanted the foreigners out of their land. Eventually the Pro-Chinese faction won out. The Chinese began establishing colonies on Incan land to help make up for the depleted workforce.

China's colonies became autonomous regions within the Chinese sphere. This wasn't caused by any ill-will towards China, but rather because nominal self-governance was a more efficient form of managing distant lands. The former colonies still retained close relations and trade with China. Originally, the former colonies Xuya [1] and Mexica comprised a single province. The two, however, ultimately split over ethnic tensions due to Xuya being more pure Han Chinese, while Mexica was a mix of Aztec and Chinese culture. Tawantinsuyu, China's former Incan colony was a mix of Chinese and Incan culture.

Xuya modeled itself closely off of China's government where anyone was free to join if they passed the imperial exams. Mexica and Tawantinsuyu modeled themselves off of traditional Aztec and Incan government respectively, but certain Chinese elements such as imperial exams and increased bureaucracy persisted. Other progressive social developments were seen in the autonomous regions including the banning of human sacrifices and women being allowed to participate in the imperial exams.

Korea never established a colony in the New World. However, many Koreans made it to the New World through China's autonomous zones. Today, Koreans make up a noticeable minority in Xuya, Mexica and Tawantinsuyu.

The tiny nation of Tecas, made of an eclectic mix of Chinese, Korean, Aztec and English settlers. The Tecas were a threat to the larger autonomous zones because they practiced a form of direct democracy.

The Spanish established colonies in Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. However, lacking direct access to Aztec and Incan gold and silver meant that Spain never became a great empire. Spain focused more on European affairs while at the same time putting more effort into the colonization of the Philippines. Spain also settled the Patagonia region of South America, to the consternation of the Chinese, and placed more emphasis on trade and commerce rather than conquest. This economic strategy proved more sustainable for Spain in the long run, and it remained a major power in Europe.

England established its first colony, Henrytown, in what would have been Louisiana. It was close to the Chinese-Aztec autonomous regions, which was good for trade, yet far enough away as to not pose a threat. England became the primary European trading partner for these regions. Despite the fact that half the colonist died in the first year due to malaria, the colony was a success. The English slowly expanded around the gulf coast with colonies called Chesapeake Bay and Plymouth. English settlers encroached on the edges of the French Ohio River Valley where tensions rose.

Scotland also established trade with the Chinese-Aztecs. The English remained the Aztecs’ primary trading partner for arms and armor, but the Scottish traded something equally valuable: whisky. The economics benefits of trading with the Chinese-Aztecs meant that Scotland didn't have to merge with England and remained an independent state. Scotland focused on colonizing Nova Scotia and what would have been New Brunswick and New England. Their colony's northern half was known as Nova Scotia, while the southern half was called Massachusetts.

France filled the power vacuum caused by Spain's lack of an empire. Eager to keep their spot on top, the French made colonizing the New World a priority. They colonized Canada and the Ohio River Valley, and the denser population of colonists allowed France to retain its lands. New France tended to be more laid back about religion than its mother nation.

The New Netherlands continued to survive and thrive despite occasional border clashes with the Scottish colonies. About half their population was Dutch, while the other half comprised of various foreigners. Meanwhile, Portugal colonized Brazil.


The royal families of Sweden and Brandenburg united and were known as the United Kingdom of Sweden and Brandenburg. Sweden-Brandenburg become a regional power in the Baltic. It has established a small colony in the northern part of South America.

Footnotes

[1]: Xuya, the name of one of China's former colonies, was originally a place holder I had until I could come up with something better, but as I worked on the map the name stuck with me so I kept it.  The name itself roughly translates as Dawn Shore, and I got it from Alliette De Bodard's series of alternate history short stories, collectively known as the Xuya Stories, which have a similar premise of China discovering the New World and the Aztec Empire surviving.

This article was written by Sam McDonald and edited by Jordan Harbour. It first appeared on the Twilight Histories Facebook page.

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Sam McDonald is a college student from Shreveport, LA.  When not involved with his studies he can be found making and posting maps across the web and working on short stories that he hopes to have published in magazines such as Lightspeed, Strange Horizons, and the Escape Artists Podcasts.

Top 5 Posts from October 2014

What were the most popular articles of last month? Check it out:

1) Map Monday: The World Cromwell Made on December 25, 1955 by PlatoonSgt by Matt Mitrovich.

2) Maps of Twilight Histories by Sam McDonald.

3) Map Monday: American Caesar by rvbomally/General_Finley by Matt Mitrovich.

4) My Thoughts on Irish Alternative History in the Modern Era by Mark Lynch.

5) Interview: Christopher M. Cevasco by Matt Mitrovich.

People like maps.

Maps of Twilight Histories

With the permission of Sam McDonald and Jordan Harbour, the voice behind Twilight Histories, I present these three maps and descriptions made by Sam. They are inspired by episodes of Twilight Histories, which I will link to. Enjoy!

Rome Industrial

Persia conquered Greece, but this did not lead to the collapse of Greek civilization (although Athens was burned to the ground). As long as the Greeks pay tribute and acknowledge the emperor as their ruler the Persians leave them alone. The Greek colonies in Italy and elsewhere, however, managed to avoid the Persian conquest. These colonies, along with the Etruscan and Latin cultures, gave rise to Rome. Like in our world Rome went from Kingdom, to Republic to Empire. Rome, however, managed to subdue Germania and Scandinavia, while Persia expanded into Eastern Europe. 

Rome still mainly follows the traditional gods, though in a bit more of an organized religion akin to Hinduism. Due to the greater influence of the Etruscans on their culture, the Romans have a somewhat more gender equal society. Persia, on the other hand, mainly practices Zoroastrianism, but Buddhism is becoming increasingly popular both there and in Rome. Due to the differing cultural conditions, Christianity and Islam were never formed. Buddhism has filled the niche and due to its flexible nature and willingness to incorporate local gods and customs, Buddhists don't face persecution like Christians did.

In China, the An Lushan rebellion never happened due to An Lushan's plot being discovered by imperial officials and reforms being put in place to prevent similar rebellions. China has also managed to subdue northern barbarians such as the Mongols and the Jurchens due to a combination of more research being put into gunpowder and mechanical weapons sparking an industrial revolution.

This has spread to India, Persia and Rome (in that order). Persia and India lead the way in developing the scientific method. China was a bit stubborn at first, but eventually conceded that the scientific method was the way to go. Rome still hasn't quite come around, seeing it as Eastern rubbish. Most of their innovations tend to be copied from the other powers (not that they ever admit this) or discovered by accident.

The minor powers of Axum and Srivijaya haven't industrialized yet, but they are in the process. Srivijaya has discovered Australia, but there isn't much there to interest them yet. They have also made voyages to East Africa and Madagascar and sailed around the Cape of Good Hope.

Rome and China have both made voyages to the Americas and have begun the process of colonization. This has lead to disease breaking out among the native population, but because of the slower rate of colonization (compared to our world) the native population have a chance to recover and build up immunity.

The Mayans are still on good relations with the Romans, but they are keenly aware that it might only be a matter of time before they're conquered. They have united into a somewhat loose confederation of city-states akin to the Delian League. In fact the Delian League, which they learned of via the Romans, was their inspiration (though many have pointed out how things didn't quite workout for the Greeks in their resistance to the Persians).

An Aztec-ish culture is forming in the central valley of Mexico while the Incas are building their empire in the Andes, but European diseases have set back their progress a bit. Japan is still independent, but due to China being stronger, they're very much a vassal state to the Chinese. Things aren't exactly helped by the fact that they can't industrialize without raising China's suspicions.

Roma Islamica

The Byzantine Empire fell in the 8th century rather than the 15th century. Without a powerful Christian buffer state to oppose it, Islam quickly spread throughout Eastern Europe. Constantinople became both the capital of the Umayyads and a major pilgrimage site that rivaled even Mecca and Medina.

The Abbasids, feeling the Umayyads had grown too decadent and forgetful of the teachings of Islam (and angered over how much money Mecca and Medina were losing to Constantinople) would go on to overthrow the Umayyads as they did in our world.

The Frankish emperor Charlemagne converted to Islam, both due to having several Muslim tutors in his youth and seeing that Islam would most likely become the next major religion. Charlemagne went on to declare Jihad against the Umayyads and anyone he perceived to be an enemy of Islam. After helping establish Abbasid power in the Middle East he went on to conquer the Italian Peninsula.

The Abbasids, realizing they'd inadvertently created a monster, had Charlemagne poisoned. The noble families of Rome, lacking a clear leader, established something similar to the senate of their ancestors. This led to the establishment of an Islamic Roman Empire stretching from the Pillars of Hercules to the River Ganges. Several Romans unwilling to convert to Islam, including the Pope, and several Umayyads, fled to Ireland. The Umayyads converted to Christianity and became the new ruling class of the island nation.

The Mongol Empire managed to last considerably longer than in our world due to the greater emphasis on central government. Although Tengrism is still the dominate religion, Buddhism is winning more coverts by the day. Missionaries from Ireland have ensured that Christians are also a small but growing presence in the empire.

The Mongols were able to successfully conquer Japan. Several Japanese fled prior to the invasion in hopes of establish a new Japanese homeland free of Mongol rule. They arrived in Mexico and quickly conquered several native peoples and establish a new empire combining Japanese and native culture and traditions.

Northern Europe (the parts not under Roman rule) is still pagan. The no alcohol aspect of Islam is somewhat hard to sell. This has prompted many Imans within the empire to reinterpret the rule that "no Muslim shall drink alcohol" to be "no Muslim shall drink alcohol to excess" to encourage the conversion of those territories. This has created considerable controversy within the empire.

Russia was established by Viking princes as in our world, and has served as a (somewhat redundant) buffer state between the Romans and Mongols after many years of passing back and forth between the two empires.

Britain has been balkanized (the in-universe term is "anglicized") between Rome, Ireland, Scotland and the Danish. The Midlands is more of less neutral territory and is the site of much cultural blending. Scotland is a mixture of Christians and pagans due to the work of Irish missionaries.

Several nations have experienced Industrial Revolutions including Rome, the Mongols, Mali and India. Srivijaya and Ireland are currently in the process of industrializing. Mali has remained strong and continues to expand. Though Rome initially wanted to conquer Mali they are now more than happy to have a fellow Islamic empire as an ally.

Srivijaya has become a major power in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean. Their empire has expanded and their trading fleets are found in ports in all corners of the world. The fact that they are primarily Hindu and Buddhist has caused some issues when trading with Rome and has lead to their alliance with Hindu India. They are also the primary trading partner (besides Japan-in-exile) with the Inca Empire.

Several powers are beginning to colonize the New World. The Vikings are expanding there colonies along the northeast coast of what would be North America. The Irish established a colony just in case Rome ever conquers them and to spread Christianity to the natives. They originally intended to settle around Massachusetts, but after discovering the Vikings were already there moved to Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay. Rome has also established a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi with its capital at New Alexandria (roughly where New Orleans in OTL).

The Kaiser’s Assassin and Operation Wotan

Germany won World War I, or the Imperial War as it is known in this world. The war lasted from 1914-1915 just as many had hoped it would in our world. After the war Germany allowed the conquered nations to keep their own autonomous governments. In practice, however, these were mostly puppet governments with the real power residing with the Kaiser. Berlin and London are the financial and cultural hearts of the world. The many scientists, artists, musicians and architects who would have died in World War I have transformed German cities. Berlin has numerous Neo-Gothic and Romantic skyscrapers that are taller than those in New York.

All of Russia west of the Urals came under German occupation, but everything east remained nominally independent. The Czar still rules the puppet government of German occupied Russia. Free Russia, or the Republic of Siberia as some call it, briefly dabbled in communism, but a few failed crops later and the revolutionary government was replaced by a democracy.

The German Empire's runaway success took everyone by surprise, but especially the United States. Many Americans had hoped their nation would establish colonies to compete with the other Imperial powers. Germany's post-war success motivated the desire the spread a little bit of America throughout the world. Eventually, war was declared on Mexico, albeit on some very suspect reasons. The United States also invaded several nations in the Caribbean and Central America, but in those cases claimed they did so out of a desire to protect those nations from Britain and Germany.

The Austria-Hungary has successfully become more federated and is now known as the United States of Austria and Hungry. Austria-Hungry bought Italy's former colonies from Germany following the war. The colonies were supposed to be a stepping stone towards a greater overseas empire, but managing colonies turned out to be more difficult than Austria-Hungry had originally considered.

The Ottomans have also reformed themselves and have spent the last couple decades reversing their sick man status. The empire has embraced its multicultural nature thanks to the calls for reform and is far more diverse than in our world. As a result the empire protects the rights of all minorities within its borders.

China has once again become an empire under the Zhang Dynasty following a coup against the republican government by opportunistic politicians. The resorted Chinese Empire has also spent the last few decades reversing its decline and has quickly become something of a regional power.

Japan is also a rising power. Following the war Germany sold them Indochina and several islands of Indonesia. They have further expanded their empire by invading Thailand. Japan has recently been inching closer to war with the United States over disputed claims to Borneo and the Philippines. Foreign policy experts concur America could reasonably form an alliance with China, while Japan might be able to convince Germany or Britain to come to their aid. Either a cold war is forming or else this may become another flash point for a future war.

Although Britain stayed out of the Imperial War, several French resistance/terrorist groups were funded by members of the British government hoping to regain the economic benefits of an independent France. Ironically, when the Kaiser was killed at the Imperial Musical Gala it was by members of his own government eager for a war with Britain. The two nations went to war, but fortunately it didn't last any longer than the Imperial War had. There were still loses and those killed in the Anglo-Germanic War included JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis and Ernest Hemingway.

Culturally, the world is somewhat more conservative than our world. Without the horrors of the First World War the Romantic era never really ended in Europe. Jazz is very popular in America, but has only recently found an audience across the Atlantic. Jews are still viewed rather unfavorably and face discrimination, but nowhere near what they would have under the Nazis.

Speaking of which, Hitler is currently working at a coat hanger factory after having flunked out of art school. Meanwhile, Joseph Jugashvili is a priest of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Editor's Note: Did you like what you saw? Would you like to see more Twilight Histories inspired maps? Let us know in the comments.

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Sam McDonald is a college student from Shreveport, LA.  When not involved with his studies he can be found making and posting maps across the web and working on short stories that he hopes to have published in magazines such as Lightspeed, Strange Horizons, and the Escape Artists Podcasts. 

Interview: Jordan Harbour

I now present my interview with Jordan Harbour, host of the Twilight Histories podcast:

According to your website you have a strong interest in archaeology. Where did that come from?

It was a childhood passion. I loved reading when I was young, mostly because of the imaginary worlds it would stimulate. When I discovered history, I found worlds far vaster, more colorful and certainly more complex than those from the books I was reading. The best part was, they were real!

I heard an archaeologist describe how he viewed the world. He said when he looked at ruins, he didn't see old stones toppled over. He saw city streets full of people, sights smells--he saw a living world. That’s what I wanted. That was the job for me. So I became an archaeologist. I went on digs in the Middle East, Europe and finally in Canada.

What is a usual day like for an archaeologist on a dig and is it anything like Indiana Jones? Sorry I had to ask.

It is profound to imagine an object you are holding was last touched many thousands of years ago. When you hold that object, in that place, you can sometimes feel you’re looking around the landscape with their eyes. For a precious moment, their world is yours. It is those precious few moments of clarity that make archaeology special.

That said, most of an archaeologist’s day is less exciting. It involves digging up topsoil, filling buckets, scraping, brushing and shoveling.  Sometimes it involves hiking through the woods or along highways, stopping every now and again to dig test pits--often in the rain. It’s a tough job with long hours and little pay, and it keeps you away from home a fair amount.

What got you interested in time travel?

I think the dominant and persistent desire of any archaeologist (whether they admit or not), is a desire to time travel. An archaeologist tries with every faculty to understand the past--to see it. Time travel would make that task easy. If a time machine is ever invented, the first person who should try it out is a commando  The second is an archaeologist.

What inspired you to produce Twilight Histories?

When I left archaeology, I had a hole to fill. In podcasting, I saw an opportunity to fill that hole. I wanted to create something that would allow listeners to experience history as archaeologists do. But to create the show was a very long process. It took two years of writing scripts and recording them, only to scrap them and start over.

There were two podcasts that helped me come up with Twilight Histories. The first was Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History. His shows are intense. They sometimes leave me emotionally exhausted. That’s the tone I wanted. The second was Rob Cain’s Ancient Rome Refocused. He did an episode called ‘Time Travel is Easy, History is Hard.’ In this episode, Rob does something very unique and narrates in the second person. YOU are the time traveler visiting Rome. With Rob Cain, I had my format. Rob has also been a sort of mentor to me as I build the show

How did you come up with the title?

This I also thought about long and hard. I really wanted the show to have something of the ‘creep’ factor I had seen in old Twilight Zone shows from the 60s. As a naming convention, I also wanted to tie in with Hardcore History. Unfortunately, I made the same mistake in my title as Dan did. If you do a search for ‘hardcore’, you get nothing good. Likewise, if you do a search for ‘twilight’...

What do you use to record and edit your podcast?

I use the Rode Podcaster microphone. It’s solid metal, heavy and very satisfying to use. Many podcasters start out with the Blue, but I often encourage new podcasters to invest just a little more and get the Rode. It’s a serious mic and makes you feel like a serious podcaster when you use it.

As for recording software, I unfortunately use Garage Band. I don’t like Garage Band. The problem is, if you change the volume levels (for instance, if you want to fade in a sound), they don’t stick to your recording. So if you move your recording around, your volume changes don’t move with it. That’s really annoying!  It would be fine if you only have a couple tracks, but Twilight Histories requires many, many tracks. I’d love to get something more pro, like Adobe Audition.

Twilight Histories started off as a time travel themed podcast, but recent episodes involve alternate history. Why the change?

I got to the point where I’d spent two years creating podcasts that I wasn't happy with. When I came up with the concept for Twilight Histories, I decided I’d go for  it, even though the idea wasn't fully formed. As I’m writing this, I’m still playing around and refining the show.

I did some alternate history shows and they were a success. In a recent listener poll, I found the overwhelming majority of people wanted more alternate history shows.

I've always liked the idea of alternate history, and I feel throwing myself into this genre will open up a lot of creativity. There are endless possibilities, and that’s very exciting.

What kind of new worlds are in store for the Twilight Histories audience?

The one I’m dreaming up right now involves the Chinese making contact with the Aztec in the 15th century. All that gold and silver makes the Aztec an incredibly attractive trading partner, especially when the Chinese realize they can trade iron tools and weaponry pound for pound for precious metals. By the time the Europeans sail to the New World, the Aztec are a powerhouse.

There are many other ideas I have floating around. I want to do a show about a brilliant Hindu philosopher who visits Athens and starts a school, influencing the future of Western thought. Another show concept involves a Roman colony being founded in the New World--long after the empire collapses, this colony remains. Yet another involves a second (and much deadlier) civil war taking place in America during WWI.

Even with earlier contact with the Old World, Aztecs and other Native Americans will still have to deal with Old World diseases. Won't that hurt their chances of becoming a regional power?

Disease is inevitable when dealing with any form of contact with the Old World, whether it’s Europe or China. But civilization collapse is not inevitable. After the Black Death, Europe rebounded dramatically and those who survived were much better off because of it. Real Estate was cheap, labor rates were good, wills were plentiful... life was good. You could even make the argument that the Renaissance was a direct product of the Black Death.

The time travel consultant you voice in the intro to some episodes is very unsympathetic.  Is that just the character or do most people who work in the industry become pessimistic on the chances of a traveler's survival?

Time travel has only recently opened up to tourism. Wealthy patrons sign up for what they think will be an exciting trip, like going to a living museum.

In reality, time travel is immensely dangerous. Even the best trained Navy Seals and Special Ops experience heavy casualties. They die of plagues and battle wounds, they’re burned at the stake for witchcraft, forced to fight in the arena, and sometimes they’re even sacrificed at the altar.

The time travel consultant sounds jaded. He’s jaded because he knows most of the bright eyed tourists will never return. Those that do are changed. They come back confused, scared, half-starved, sick  or with missing limbs. Their eyes are darkened.

I’d encourage you not to feel offended by the time travel consultant’s tone. He’s certainly bitter, but maybe now you can imagine why. He doesn't want another death or ruined life on his conscience.

I'd also encourage you not to back down. You paid your deposit. You moved up the waiting list. Now it's time to step back in time... if you dare.

Top Book Picks from 2011 to Now

So I was talking to Jordan Harbour, host of the Twilight Histories podcast (yeah I'm dropping names, deal with it), and he suggested a great idea. Instead of forcing everyone to go through all the reviews individually to find out if a book is good, I could create a "Top Picks" category where all the best books are listed. That way, when anyone needs to find a good alternate history book, they know exactly where to go.

The problem is not all the books are graded or rated. I myself stopped doing it because I found grading so arbitrary. So finding which books were rated the best in the history of The Update required me at times to reread the review to figure out whether the reviewer gave it an "A". Of course, I might have made a mistake, so feel free to correct me.

Furthermore I am not 100% on how I will label the best books. Should I just create a "Top Pick" tag or some sort of image that I retroactively attach to every review? While I mull over my next move, below is the list of all the book reviews ever posted on The Update since our inception that were either rated an "A" or had a glowing review. Enjoy:

11/22/63 by Stephen King - Reviewed by Matt Mitrovich on 4/11/12

After America by John Birmingham - Reviewed by Matt Mitrovich on 8/5/11

Angels of Vengeance by John Birmingham - Reviewed by Matt Mitrovich on 5/24/12

Aztec Century by Christopher Evans - Review by Chris Nuttall on 11/08/12

The Confederate States of America by Roger L. Ransom - Reviewed by Matt Mitrovich on 8/3/12

Dark Mirror by Diane Duane - Reviewed by Chris Nuttall on 10/3/12

The Division of the Damned by Richard Rhys Jones - Reviewed by Sebastian Breit on 5/14/12

Dominion by C.J. Sansom - Reviewed by Alison Morton on 1/8/13

East Wind Returns by William Peter Grasso - Reviewed by Sebastian Breit on 9/5/11

Fatherland by Robert Harris - Reviewed by Evelyn Robinson on 11/20/12

The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove - Reviewed by Chris Nuttall on 5/16/12

Hitler Has Won by Frederic Mullally - Reviewed by Chris Nuttall on 8/22/12

The Kildaran by Adam Gaffen and Richard Evans - Reviewed by Chris Nuttall on 12/8/12

Land of Hope and Glory by Geoffrey Wilson - Reviewed by Matt Mitrovich on 5/31/12

Outrageous Fortunes by Steven W. White - Reviewed by Matt Mitrovich on 8/30/11

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen - Reviewed by Matt Mitrovich on 10/19/11

The Royal Sorceress by Chris Nuttall - Reviewed by John Trofimuk on 10/25/12

Visions of Victory by Gerhard L. Weinberg - Reviewed by Chris Nuttall on 6/22/12

When Angels Wept by Eric G. Swedin - Reviewed by Matt Mitrovich on 9/6/2011

Without Warning by John Birmingham - Reviewed by Chris Nuttall on 3/30/12

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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 Press, Jake'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.

Review: Twilight Histories Podcast by Jordan Harbour

With What If History being silent since December, I have found myself without an AH-themed podcast to listen to at work.  So I started searching for a new podcast and luckily I came upon Twilight Histories by Jordan Harbour.

Now most podcasts I listen to involve either one person talking to the audience; or two or more people conducting an interview or having a conversation.  The thing about podcasts, however, is that they are a great format to use when you want to tell the story.  In Twilight Histories, you are a time traveler exploring exotic locales throughout history, with Jordan acting as a narrator.  This was a unique format that I had never experienced before and I was drawn in immediately.  I could say more, but perhaps I will let Jordan explain the rest:

The Twilight Histories is a podcast for the history lover who enjoys a good story. This podcast is about bringing events to life where you are the adventurer. It’s about time travel to exotic worlds, and it’s about creating a sensuous experience of the past. Written in the shadow of such great podcasters as Dan Carlin, Mike Duncan, Rob Cain and Nate DiMeo, the Twilight Histories delivers a unique historical perspective with an edge.

Jordan Harbour spent many summers as an archaeologist excavating such sites as Carrickmines Castle in Ireland and at Al Humayma in the Middle East. It was not just travel that inspired Jordan to take up archaeology, but the chance to touch the very stones the ancients lay. History, to Jordan, is a 4-Dimensional experience. And that’s the philosophy behind the Twilight Histories.

Each podcast in the Twilight Histories explores a radically different space in history. The podcast explores the strange, the extreme and the exotic. It is a Roman street in the Republic, a Japanese slave camp in WWII, a harem in the sultan’s caliphate and the greatest city in the world collapsing under a bronze cannon.

As you can see, Twilight Histories is predominantly a history podcast so you may be asking why I am bothering to discuss it on a blog dedicated to alternate history.  That is because Jordan has no scruples about taking time travelers to worlds that never existed.  In his third episode we visit a Roman Empire that had a sixth good emperor.  We take a journey of 400 years and watch a Rome that never stopped expanding thanks to the aid of steampunk inspired weaponry.  The next episode also promises to wet any alternate historian's appetite.  It is titled "Axis Earth".

Does the podcast have any flaws?  Probably the only major downside is the wait between episodes.  Jordan appears to be averaging two month gaps before releasing a new episode.  He explains in the podcast that is because of the amount of research he puts into the making of every episode, which I guess can't fault him on, but the anticipation while waiting for next episode can be maddening.

I highly recommend that you subscribe to Twilight Histories.  Those interested should also check out the Google+ and Facebook groups or follow Jordan on Twitter (@twilighthistory).  Jordan has also written a guest post for Weekly Update titled the Top 5 Alternate Histories of Rome.  Go and read it, if you haven't already, it is close to reaching the top ten most viewed posts on this blog.

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Mitro is founder, editor and contributor of Alternate History Weekly Update. When he is not busy writing about his passion for alternate history, he spends his time working as a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois and dreams of being a published author himself one day.

Top 5 Alternate Histories of Rome

Guest post by Jordan Harbour.

Things could have turned out very differently. Rome’s path didn’t have to end with its sack in the 5th century. It could have industrialized, become a locked down military state or burned its star far before the traditional date of its collapse. Here are some possible alternate histories of Rome:

Alternate History of Rome 1: Hannibal Marches on Rome

After the battle of Cannae in 216BC, the Romans are shattered. Hannibal marches on the city and sends a request back to Carthage for siege engines. His request is granted. Within a matter of months, Rome drops its gates and the city is sacked but not destroyed. Italy becomes a Carthaginian province and its legions signal the new crack mercenaries at the empire’s core.

Alternate History of Rome 2: Julius Caesar Lives

Julius Caesar is never murdered. With his power secured at home, Caesar turns his boundless energies on new designs. For a time, Syria becomes the centre of the world with the legions of Rome massing to its frontiers. Mesopotamia and Babylonia fall under the eagle. The Parthians march to battle and are defeated. Caesar mops up the disparate territories and completes his dream to follow in the footsteps of Alexander.

Alternate History of Rome 3: Commodus Dies

The infamous son of Marcus Aurelius dies in a wrestling match. The emperor passes the purple to his very able Praetorian Prefect, Patenus. This 6th Good Emperor continues the war with the German tribes and extends the border to the edge of modern Poland. The Germans integrate into the empire and play an integral role in resisting Huns in the fifth century.

Alternate History of Rome 4: Diocletian’s Legacy Continues

Inflation caused money to be useless and people had reverted to bargaining. Soldiers worked their whole lives and couldn’t buy the shirts on their backs. Diocletian locked everything down. Every major act in a Roman’s life was dictated by the state. His heirs continued and perfected Diocletian’s iron mandates drawing them into ruthless efficiency. By the time the Huns invaded, the empire they met was a machine.

Alternate History of Rome 5: Constantine is Defeated

The Milvian Bridge is a massacre… for Constantine. Maxentius continues to Rome and Christianity shutters. There never is a Christian emperor and their persecution continues. Peganism remains the dominant if not shaky religion of choice. Plato’s Academy thrives in Constantinople after the fall of the west and many of the works which would have been considered heretical stock the shelves in masterful reprints. The Renaissance comes early in Europe.

Jordan Harbour runs a podcast called the Twilight Histories. With a time travel theme, the show takes you on an adventure in the style of the Twilight Zone and Dan Carlin. Check out the latest podcast.