RIP: Stuart Shiffman (1954-2014)

It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that Stuart Shiffman has passed away. Stuart was one of the original alternate historians. He was a Sidewise Award for Alternate History judge since 1999 and one of the many contributors to Uchronia. He is also the author of "Saks & Violet", a humorous tale to Shetterly and Stone's Captain Confederacy, set in an independent New York City in the late 1800s in Captain Confederacy Vol. 1. Besides his work in alternate history, Stuart also was a renowned fan artist and won the Best Fan Artist Hugo Award in 1990 and the Rotsler Award in 2010. You can learn more about his amazing career here.

Like with many of you, my interaction with Stuart was primarily through the Internet. He was active on my alternate history Facebook group: Alternate History Online. He even submitted a story once to one of our writing contest called "Herzltown, and environs, from the 1946 Fyodor's Guide to the Australian Confederacy". I remembered Stuart always being friendly and easy to talk with and I regret I never got to meet him in person. I could say more about Stu, but I think my friend Kier Salmon said it best:

Folks... Dream! Share, create. Stu could not have been the wonderful, kindly, gentle, talented person he was without the community he belonged to. And we all belong to that community. Dream, share, remember that every kindness propagates and grows and spreads.

Dissecting Worlds Series 6 Episode 4: The American Civil War

Well it is finally here, my guest spot on the Dissecting Worlds podcast, my first ever podcast appearance.  I join Kehaar and Matt Farr as we look at that popular alternate history setting of the American Civil War. Topics covered during the podcast include:

• Harry Harrison’s Star and Stripes series, the Trent Affair and options for European intervention.
• Harry Turtledove’s TL-191 and the romanticism of both sides of the ACW.
• The appeal (and consequences) of a Balkanized North America and an Anglo-American Union.
• Everyone's favorite winged extraterrestrials and South African Nazis.
• One of my favorite comic books: Captain Confederacy!
• Race in America and its legacy in fiction and reality. I'm calling you out H.P. Lovecraft!

Special thanks to Chris Nuttall, Richard Small and Roger L. Ransom for giving me food for thought while preparing for the podcast.

I hope you enjoy our discussion and remember: feedback is appreciated.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a volunteer editor for Alt Hist and a contributor to Just Below the Law. His fiction can be found at Echelon Press, Jake's Monthly and his own writing blog. When not writing he works as an attorney and enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana.