Showing posts with label Geoffrey Wilson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Geoffrey Wilson. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

New Releases 5/6/14

You can support The Update by clicking the banner on the top right or the links below if you are purchasing through Amazon!

Hardcovers

Deadly Shores: Destroyermen by Taylor Anderson

National bestselling author Taylor Anderson’s explosive WWII alternate-history series continues as a do-or-die battle is waged that risks far more than anyone bargained for. 

The long-planned raid on the heart of the Grik Empire has grown more ambitious—and dangerously ill defined. Only Matthew Reddy, commander of the old destroyer USS Walker, seems focused on its original intent.

Many Lemurians see an opportunity to reconquer their sacred homeland, which was stolen long ago, and have no intention of simply striking a blow and then pulling back. Others, Lemurian and human, have their own agendas—which may not be in the best interests of the Alliance. Complicating matters further is Reddy’s suspicion that his task force is being stalked by an unknown power bent on aiding the Grik for reasons of its own.

As the raid begins and chaos reigns, Reddy has no choice but to go all-in, risking everything in a desperate act that results in a sprawling, nightmarish battle on the beaches of “Grik City,” on the very decks of Walker, and in the labyrinthine passageways of the Celestial Palace itself.

The final cost could be more than Matt Reddy—or the Alliance—can bear.

Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson's Worlds edited by Greg Bear and Gardner Dozois

Poul Anderson (1926-2001) was one of the seminal figures of 20th century science fiction. Named a Grand Master by the SFWA in 1997, he produced an enormous body of standalone novels (Brain Wave, Tau Zero) and series fiction (Time Patrol, the Dominic Flandry books) and was equally at home in the fields of heroic fantasy and hard SF. He was a meticulous craftsman and a gifted storyteller, and the impact of his finest work continues, undiminished, to this day.

Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson's Worlds is a rousing, all-original anthology that stands both as a significant achievement in its own right and a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable writer--and equally remarkable man. A nicely balanced mixture of fiction and reminiscence, Multiverse contains thirteen stories and novellas by some of today's finest writers, along with moving reflections by, among others, Anderson's wife, Karen, his daughter, Astrid Anderson Bear, and his son-in-law, novelist and co-editor Greg Bear. (Bear's introduction, My Friend Poul, is particularly illuminating and insightful).

The fictional contributions comprise a kaleidoscopic array of imaginative responses to Anderson's many and varied fictional worlds. A few of the highlights include Nancy Kress's 'Outmoded Things' and Terry Brooks' 'The Fey of Cloudmoor,' stories inspired by the Hugo Award-winning 'The Queen of Air and Darkness;' a pair of truly wonderful Time Patrol stories ('A Slip in Time' by S. M. Stirling and 'Christmas in Gondwanaland' by Robert Silverberg); Raymond E. Feist's Dominic Flandry adventure, 'A Candle;' and a pair of very different homages to the classic fantasy novel, Three Hearts and Three Lions: 'The Man Who Came Late' by Harry Turtledove and 'Three Lilies and Three Leopards (And a Participation Ribbon in Science)' by Tad Williams. These stories, together with singular contributions by such significant figures as Larry Niven, Gregory Benford, and Eric Flint, add up to a memorable, highly personal anthology that lives up to the standards set by the late--and indisputably great--Poul Anderson.


Adam Roberts revisits Jules Verne's classic novel in a collaboration with the illustrator behind a recent highly acclaimed edition of The Hunting of the Snark

It is 1958 and France's first nuclear submarine, Plongeur, leaves port for the first of its sea trials. On board, gathered together for the first time, are one of the Navy's most experienced captains and a tiny skeleton crew of sailors, engineers, and scientists. The Plongeur makes her first dive and goes down, and down and down. Out of control, the submarine plummets to a depth where the pressure will crush her hull, killing everyone on board, and beyond. The pressure builds, the hull protests, the crew prepare for death, the boat reaches the bottom of the sea and finds nothing. Her final dive continues, the pressure begins to relent, but the depth guage is useless. They have gone miles down. Hundreds of miles, thousands, and so it goes on. Onboard the crew succumb to madness, betrayal, religious mania, and murder. Has the Plongeur left the limits of our world and gone elsewhere? Contains 33 full page pen and ink illustrations.

Paperbacks


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.


Can England be liberated if the Holy Grail is found? The hero of Land of Hope and Glory begins an epic quest to Scotland to find out.

It is 1855. The English revolt has failed, and brutal General Vadula governs England now. Only a few small bands of English rebels still hold out against the Rajthanan empire. Jack Casey survives in remote Shropshire, training young rebels to use the conqueror's magic, but he is gravely ill, with only two months to live. Then refugees bring with them news of a rogue Indian sorcerer in Scotland. Mahajan has discovered a mysterious power in the uncharted country to the north—a power that could be the legendary Holy Grail. The Rajthanans have already assembled an army to capture Mahajan. Jack has nothing to lose now. He agrees to lead his own men, disguised as porters for the conquerors, on the same grueling march. Their hope is to find a weapon that will free England from her oppressors. But they will find something even more powerful.

To fans, authors and publishers...

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

* * *

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

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Review: The War of the Grail by Geoffrey Wilson

This is the conclusion to Geoffrey Wilson's alternate English history that began with Land of Hope and Glory and The Place of Dead Kings. For those who don't know, the Land of Hope and Glory series is an alternate history (with some fantasy and steampunk elements...probably should just call it gunpowder fantasy) series where the European empires never developed.

Instead, Europe was conquered early on by the Moors who converted most of the continent to Islam except for the British isles (and maybe Eastern Europe, but that is left ambiguous). They are eventually replaced by an Indian empire known as Rajthana, one of many such nations from the sub-continent that compete for influence over the world. England fell to Rajthana, but the English didn't take to colonialism well (who knew?) and rebelled during the events of Land of Hope and Glory. The rebellion is not going well and by The War of the Grail, the English rebels are getting desperate.

Okay, enough with the backstory. Our hero, Jack Casey, has returned from Scotland no closer to finding the Holy Grail, the one weapon that saved the English twice in the past. The English's Sikh ally, Kanvar (whose people appear to play the Russian role in this universe's Great Game), believe that certain maps Jack brought back with him from Scotland may hold the final clue. They need to hurry though, because the Rajthanans have made their final move to crush the last pocket of English resistance. Meanwhile, a monster is terrorizing the countryside and may have a part to play in the battle to come.

I found The War of the Grail to be a satisfying conclusion to the series (although Wilson has hinted this may not be the last book set in this universe). It was darker in tone than its immediate sequel and had more in common with its progenitor, Land of Hope and Glory, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Wilson didn't skimp on the horrors of war and, because this was the third book in the trilogy, there was a mass grave of minor characters.

Readers who like pure alternate history, without magic or steampunk, probably won't enjoy The War of the Grail. Those who just want a good story, however, should definitely pick it up...although you probably want to check out the previous books just so you know what is going on. I look forward to future books set in this universe, hopefully set somewhere a little more exotic, maybe even this timeline's India.

* * *

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

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Preview: The War of the Grail by Geoffrey Wilson

I have a new book to add to my to read list: The War of the Grail by Geoffrey Wilson. The third book in the Land of Hope and Glory series. Set in a world of steam and magic where Europe was conquered by the Moors and later the Indians, here is the description from Amazon:
In Land of Hope and Glory Geoffrey Wilson imagined a world in which an Indian empire rules Europe through the power of magic. In The Place of Dead Kings, Jack Casey—an old soldier who never meant to be a hero—became England's only hope. Now it is 1856, King John is dead, and the war that Jack has dreaded since the start of the English rebellion has finally begun. Regiments of Rajthanan troops are massing to the south of free Shropshire, while to the north refugees bring stories of attacks by the devil himself. Both friends and enemies fear that unless Jack can find the elusive Holy Grail, there is no hope. . . A strange set of maps that Jack discovered in Scotland could hold the key to England's freedom. Kanvar, the rebels' enigmatic Sikh ally, believes the charts will unlock the secrets of the Rajthanans' magic and perhaps guide Jack to the Grail itself. But can Jack harness the power of the Grail before the conqueror's overwhelming forces destroy the dream of a free England forever?
I have already read and reviewed the first two books in the series, Land of Hope and Glory and The Place of Dead Kings, so you can check those out. I also interviewed Geoff a while back in case you want to learn more about the author. In the meantime, stay tuned for my review.

* * *

Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. His new short story "Road Trip" can be found in Forbidden Future: A Time Travel Anthology. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Winners of The Place of Dead Kings by Geoffrey Wilson

Well I have picked the two winners who will receive a copy of The Place of Dead Kings by Geoffrey Wilson. Sequel to a  Land of Hope and Glory, the series is set in a world where the Indian Mutiny takes place in a very different England, where magic is a weapon controlled by her foreign oppressors and one man must risk everything to save his people. In case you forgot, check out the description of Dead Kings I got from the publisher:
The rebellion of 1852 has failed and brutal General Vadula governs England. Only a few small bands of English rebels still hold out against the Rajthanan empire. 
Jack Casey, reluctant hero of the resistance, has survived to live with his daughter in the remote wilds of Shropshire, training young rebels to use the conqueror's magic. But he is gravely ill, with only two months to live...
Then rebel spies bring news of a rogue Indian sorcerer in Scotland. Mahajan has discovered a mysterious power in the uncharted country to the north - a power that could be the legendary Holy Grail. The Rajthanans have already assembled an army to search for Mahajan. Jack has nothing to lose now. He agrees to lead his own men, disguised as porters for the conquerors, on the same gruelling march. 
They hope to find a weapon that will free England from her oppressors. But they discover something that is beyond what any of them ever expected.
Well enough jibber jabber. The winners of their very own copy of The Place of Dead Kings are...

...

...

...

...Kieran Colfer and Kevin Sandefur!

Congrats guys. I will be getting in contact with you and Geoff so you can get your books asap! Thanks to everyone who participated. Better luck next time.

* * *

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.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Giveaway: The Place of Dead Kings by Geoffrey Wilson

I am pleased to announce for our two year anniversary a book giveaway of The Place of Dead Kings by Geoffrey Wilson. Sequel to a  Land of Hope and Glory, the series is set in a world where the Indian Mutiny takes place in a very different England, where magic is a weapon controlled by her foreign oppressors and one man must risk everything to save his people.

Publishers Weekly called the first novel an "impressive debut [that] fuses fantasy with alternate history, reversing the British Empire's conquest of India. Wilson's version of 19th-century England has been invaded and conquered by the Indian empire of Rajthana, which rules all of Europe with vast armies and a magical source known as sattva...The mix of Arthurian legend and Hindu mysticism make this breakneck-paced adventure a rich and engaging read.”

Check out the description of Dead Kings I got from the publisher:
The rebellion of 1852 has failed and brutal General Vadula governs England. Only a few small bands of English rebels still hold out against the Rajthanan empire. 
Jack Casey, reluctant hero of the resistance, has survived to live with his daughter in the remote wilds of Shropshire, training young rebels to use the conqueror's magic. But he is gravely ill, with only two months to live...
Then rebel spies bring news of a rogue Indian sorcerer in Scotland. Mahajan has discovered a mysterious power in the uncharted country to the north - a power that could be the legendary Holy Grail. The Rajthanans have already assembled an army to search for Mahajan. Jack has nothing to lose now. He agrees to lead his own men, disguised as porters for the conquerors, on the same gruelling march. 
They hope to find a weapon that will free England from her oppressors. But they discover something that is beyond what any of them ever expected.
I posted a review over on Amazing Stories if you want to check it out. If you want to try an win the book, email me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com with "The Place of Dead Kings Contest" in the subject line along with your address. Geoff is giving away two copies to anywhere in the world. All entries must be submitted by the 27th. The two winners will be chosen at random by me.

* * *

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.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Preview: The Place of Dead Kings by Geoffrey Wilson

Got a new book to review that I am super excited about. Some of you may remember Land of Hope and Glory by Geoffrey Wilson a novel set in a world where the Indian Mutiny takes place in a very different England, where magic is a weapon controlled by her foreign oppressors.

Publishers Weekly called it an "impressive debut [that] fuses fantasy with alternate history, reversing the British Empire's conquest of India. Wilson's version of 19th-century England has been invaded and conquered by the Indian empire of Rajthana, which rules all of Europe with vast armies and a magical source known as sattva...The mix of Arthurian legend and Hindu mysticism make this breakneck-paced adventure a rich and engaging read.”

Well now the sequel to the book is out: The Place of Dead Kings. Published last month in paperback, check out the description I got from the publisher:
The rebellion of 1852 has failed and brutal General Vadula governs England. Only a few small bands of English rebels still hold out against the Rajthanan empire. 
Jack Casey, reluctant hero of the resistance, has survived to live with his daughter in the remote wilds of Shropshire, training young rebels to use the conqueror's magic. But he is gravely ill, with only two months to live...
Then rebel spies bring news of a rogue Indian sorcerer in Scotland. Mahajan has discovered a mysterious power in the uncharted country to the north - a power that could be the legendary Holy Grail. The Rajthanans have already assembled an army to search for Mahajan. Jack has nothing to lose now. He agrees to lead his own men, disguised as porters for the conquerors, on the same gruelling march. 
They hope to find a weapon that will free England from her oppressors. But they discover something that is beyond what any of them ever expected.
Geoff was kind enough to score me a copy, but I will be posting the actual review over on Amazing Stories during my upcoming series on steampunk. Don't worry, if you follow The Update on Facebook or Twitter, you will know when the review is posted. In the meantime you can purchase The Place of Dead Kings on Amazon and Amazon.uk.

And if I like the book, we may even hold a giveaway. We shall see...

* * *

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.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Weekly Update #79

Editor's Note

Is anyone willing to be a volunteer proofreader/copy-editor for Alternate History Weekly Update? With my busy schedule I don't always have the time to spend proofing my posts before publication. So if you want to help, I am looking for someone available on short-notice to proof articles before publication. I can't pay you (yet), but I can help promote your websites, blogs and projects. Contact me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com.

Welcome to our new reader from Tunisia and congrats on your new democracy! This week we feature three interviews with a multi-award winning author, a friend of the blog celebrating his first publication and a popular steampunk author/podcaster. I will round out the week with a review of A Feast Unknown by Philip José Farmer. Thanks to Titan Books for sending me a review copy.

And now the news...

President-Elect Mitt Romney

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate it when people start writing an alternate history shortly after a major election speculating on what would happen if the other party won? Yes I have, but to reiterate: they suck.

Still I guess we can't avoid thinking about what might have been after such a contentious American presidential election...so enjoy:
That is what "President-Elect" Mitt Romney's website would have looked like if he won the presidency. It was live for only a short time, but long enough to get some screen shots. You can see more screenshots at the Political Wire, including the page asking for your opinion on who should make up Romney's cabinet.

The new website even gives some hints on what President Romney would do after being inaugurated: "On his first day in office, Mitt Romney will issue an executive order that paves the way for the federal government to issue Affordable Care Act waivers to all 50 states. He will then work with Congress to repeal the full legislation as quickly as possible."

Having a snazzy website, however, is not enough. Romney actually had to win the election to be the President-Elect. How could he have done that? BuzzFeed has come up with a few scenarios (thanks to io9 for finding it for me), but they all involve repealing the right to vote to certain groups, like women, blacks and others.

Truly these screen shots and the above articles that went with them are important resources for anyone willing to write a legitimate President Romney alternate history when enough time has passed to give us an unbiased perspective.

Salem: The Crafting: More Ships Setting Sail for New World
The New World is expanding! Paradox Interactive and Seatribe today announced that Salem: The Crafting MMO, PC Free-to-play, has launched two additional servers this week, allowing for more beta testers to enter a fantastical New England and carve a new life for themselves in the uncharted wilderness during the colonial period.

To commemorate the event, Paradox Interactive will begin distributing beta keys to those that have yet to experience 17th century living in a world filled with alchemy, witchcraft, and permadeath. For details on how to set sail for the Americas, visit the beta sign up site for Salem: The Crafting.

World Fantasy Awards announced

The World Fantasy Awards were announced last week and the alternate history novel Osama by Lavie Tidhar won the best novel. Here is a description:

In an alternate world without global terrorism, a private detective is hired by a mysterious woman to track down the obscure creator of the fictional vigilante, Osama Bin Laden...

Joe’s identity slowly fragments as his quest takes him across the world, from the backwaters of Asia to the European capitals of Paris and London. He discovers the shadowy world of the Refugees, ghostly entities haunting the world in which he lives. Where do they come from? What do they want? Joe knows how the story should end, but is he ready for the truths he will uncover... or the choice he will have to make?

Lavie Tidhar was in Dar-es-Salaam during the American embassy bombings in 1998, and stayed in the same hotel as the Al Qaeda operatives in Nairobi. Since then he and his now-wife have narrowly avoided both the 2005 London, King’s Cross and 2004 Sinai attacks—experiences that led to the creation of Osama. He is the author of many novels, including the Bookman trilogy and is a prolific short story writer.

Congrats to Lavie and all the winners (you can see a complete list at Tor). You can also watch the ceremony on YouTube:

Steampunk Events

Nov 14: Official grand opening of Clockwork Couture at 3:30 P.M in Burbank, CA.

Nov 15-17: Run of the steampunk version of "Sherlock Holmes" in Chanhassen, MN.

New Releases

Hardcovers


The Mongoliad: Book One Collector's Edition by various authors
This handsome hardcover edition of The Mongoliad: Book One features an exquisite cover with foil stamping, deckled edges, a ribbon marker, an illustrated character glossary and a Foreworld map printed on the end-sheets. It also includes Sinner: A Prequel to the Mongoliad.

The Mongoliad: Book Two Collector's Edition by various authors
This handsome hardcover edition of The Mongoliad: Book Two features an exquisite cover with foil stamping, deckled edges, a ribbon marker, an illustrated character glossary and a Foreworld map printed on the end-sheets. It also includes Dreamer: A Prequel to the Mongoliad Trilogy.

Paperbacks

The Inexplicables by Cherie Priest
Rector “Wreck ‘em” Sherman was orphaned as a toddler in the Blight of 1863, but that was years ago. Wreck has grown up, and on his eighteenth birthday, he’ll be cast out out of the orphanage. And Wreck’s problems aren’t merely about finding a home.

Zombie Jesus and Other True Stories edited by Max Booth III
What if John Wilkes Booth had a good reason for killing Lincoln? A reason kept secret to protect the innocent; a reason so sinister that it would turn your hair white as light. What if Jack the Ripper was the protagonist of his life story, and he was only trying to save the world from the apocalypse? What if there was an agency somewhere out there, responsible for the death of every single celebrity? What if the Titanic wasn't just carrying the living? What if there was more than just lava that erupted from Mount St. Helens? What if, what if, WHAT IF!? [Review at Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing.]

E-books

"A Captain of the Gate" by John Birmingham
A 'What if' story of the Cold War ... a small piece of alternate history of the period told via a biography of one of its players, Lieutenant Branch McKinnon, an adventurer in a different post-WWII world of American isolationism.

Land of Hope and Glory by Geoffrey Wilson
It is 1852. The Indian empire of Rajthana has ruled Europe for more than a hundred years. With their vast armies, steam-and-sorcery technology and mastery of the mysterious power of sattva, the Rajthanans appear invincible. But a bloody rebellion has broken out in a remote corner of the empire, in a poor and backward region known as England. [Read my review.]

Other Paths III: Additional Alternate Outcomes of the Second World War by Alexander Rooksmor
The third volume in the successful ‘Other Paths’ series looks at alternate developments in the Second World War from 1941 onwards.

The Scourge by Roberto Calas
A mysterious plague descends upon 14th century England, ravaging the country and trapping the souls of the afflicted in eternal madness. The feudal hierarchy--and even the church itself-- slowly crumbles as the dead rise to feed and the living seek whatever shelter they can. The bishops of England call for calm and obedience, but one man isn’t listening.

Stalin's Hammer: Rome by John Birmingham
Ten years have passed since Admiral Kolhammer’s 21st century battlefleet was dragged into a wormhole and thrown across oceans of time, emerging with disastrous consequences and shattering the history of the Second World War.

"Well Chosen Words" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Legend has it that Abraham Lincoln scrawled the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope as he traveled to the battlefield to dedicate a cemetery. But the legend belies Lincoln’s struggle to carefully choose the right words. Words that must soothe a fractured nation, inspire change and chart the course for the nation’s future. Because his speech in Gettysburg will change history, but not necessarily in the way he hopes.

Audio

Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith
They're an iconic part of history's most celebrated birth. But what do we really know about the Three Kings of the Nativity, besides the fact that they followed a star to Bethlehem bearing strange gifts? The Bible has little to say about this enigmatic trio. But leave it to Seth Grahame-Smith, the brilliant and twisted mind behind Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to take a little mystery, bend a little history, and weave an epic tale.

Links to the Multiverse

Articles

James Toney vs. Joe Calzaghe fantasy fight by Rich Thomas at ProBoxing-fans.com.

Vanished Kingdoms – Burgundia by Oldcat at Kilobooks.

Books

New Cover Art from Angry Robot by Justin Landon at Staffer's Book Review.

Review of Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld at Forest of Paper.

Review of The United States of Atlantis by Harry Turtledove at Yahoo Voices.

Comics

Manga Review: The Clockwork Sky Volume One by Madeline Rosca at Seattle PI.

Titan 2 Kickstarter by Andy Stanleigh.

Films

Castle Wolfenstein Movie on Again? by dwgrampus at Geek Syndicate.

Interview

Richard Monson-Haefel at Steam Patriots.

Plays

Review: The New World Order by Elisabeth Shuker at The Yorker.

Podcasts

Alternate History in Superhero Games at GenCon 2012 at Role Playing Public Radio.

Television/Web Series

Independent Series 'Dirigible Days' Combines 'Firefly' With Steampunk by Sam Gutelle at Tubefilter.

‘Revolution’ Season 1, Episode 7: ‘The Children’s Crusade’ Recap by Kevin Yeoman at Screen Rant.

Review of Elementary: Season 1, Episode 3, 4, 5, 6 done by David Marshall at Thinking about books.

Trailer For “Da Vinci’s Demons” Confirms The Steampunk-Lite Hilarity by Evan Dickson at Bloody Disgusting.

Video Games

PSA: Sine Mora brings bullets, steampunk, and Hungarian to PC today by Sinan Kubba at Joystiq.

Sir, You Are Being Hunted successfully Kickstarted, celebrates with game footage by Richard Cobbett at PC Gamer.

* * *

Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update 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.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Weekly Update #64

Editor's Note

I hope you guys enjoyed the winning entry to the Four Pictures Writing Contest.  Expect to see new writing contests in the future, except these will have specific word counts, most likely 500-1000.  I got some feedback recently that suggested that my word ceiling on the last contest was so high that people actually thought I was looking for novella length entries.  Not true, but I will try to be more specific for now on.

Okay what do we have this week?  New Releases, the Art of Steampunk (the superhero edition), SecondWorld preview and review.  I also have an essay in the works inspired by The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln and whether it foreshadows the genre's acceptance into the mainstream.

Meanwhile, I should be recording my guest spot on Dissecting Worlds podcast next Sunday.  I will keep you posted on when that goes live.  Subject will be the American Civil War, so if you have anything you would like me to talk about send me a line.

We got our first reader from Brunei. Welcome!

And now the news...

New film, After Earth, to be an alternate history

Usually when I hear the phrase "upcoming M. Night Shyamalan movie" I groan in exasperation.  This time, however, his new film After Earth (starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith) might be worthwhile enough for me to check out.  Here is the description from Wikipedia:

One thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity's escape from Earth, Nova Prime has become mankind's new home. Legendary General Cypher Raige returns from an extended tour of duty to his estranged family, ready to be a father to his 13-year-old son, Kitai. When an asteroid storm damages Cypher and Kitai's craft, they crash-land on a now unfamiliar and dangerous Earth. As his father lies dying in the cockpit, Kitai must trek across the hostile terrain to recover their rescue beacon. His whole life, Kitai has wanted nothing more than to be a soldier like his father. Today, he gets his chance.

Sounds like your run-of-the-mill futuristic, sci-fi summer blockbuster, until you see the teaser trailer:

Using the Facebook Timeline feature (which they must be happy about), the video presents the alternate history backstory of the film.  In this world the 1908 Tunguska Event was caused by a crashed alien spaceship.  The Raige family goes on to patent the technology gained from the craft and advances human knowledge faster than OTL.  The bad news is hyper-advanced humanity accelerates global warming making the Earth unlivable and forcing a select few to flee to a new planet.

While AH content might be limited, I still will check out the film to see how much of the backstory applies to the plot.  Look for more info and a review in the year to come.

Update: Geoffrey Wilson


Friend of the blog Geoffrey Wilson has been busy over at Edi's Book Lighthouse.  His debut novel, A Land of Hope and Glory, was reviewed by Edi, who said the novel went "beyond my [expectations] I got so much more which I did not expect in a debut novel. Geoff also did an interview with Edi that you can check out as well, but more important he gave you the chance to win a copy of his debut novel.  Click this link for more details.

Those interested can also check our my earlier review of Land of Hope and Glory and my interview with Geoff.

Things to do

Looking for places to purchase gear for your steampunk costumes?  Check out this list where you can find things in Australia (for those readers who live there) and online (for the rest of us).  Now onto all of those AH-related events that you can attend:

July 25-29: The Third Penzance LitFest will feature some steampunk programming for those living in Cornwall.

July 26: Last chance to see "Flight of Fancy", a steampunk ballet, in Washington, DC.

July 26-28: See steampunk "Hamlet" in Nampa, ID.

August 8: Screening of Iron Sky in Atlanta, GA.

Readers near San Diego, CA can also check out the new Steampunk exhibit at the San Diego Automotive Museum.

Links to the Multiverse

Articles

Counterfactuals and Alternate Histories by Keith Harris at Cosmic America.

Regional Differences in Steampunk by Maeve Alpin at Steamed!

Interviews

Andrew O'Neill done by The Sun.

James ‘Lycerius’ Moore (the guy behind Civilization II: Eternal War) done by PC Gamer

Books

'After America' a suspenseful alternate history novel by Brian Triplett at Examiner.com.

‘Grantville’ fans, newcomers will love this one by Mark Lardas at The Daily News.

Ian Tregillis Talks History, Warlocks And The Coldest War at RT Book Reviews.

Games

ARGO Online's biggest content update goes live by MJ Guthrie at Massively.

City of Steam schedules debut of a new playable race each alpha weekend by MJ Guthrie at Massively.

Dystopian Wars at Spartan Games.

Television

B5's Boxleitner wants back on sci-fi TV in intriguing steampunk series by Trent Moore at blastr.

Political Animals: Alternate Hillary History by Paul Levinson at Open Levinson.

Theater

Marvellous Boxes 5: “Remembering the Martians” by Tim Parsil.

* * *

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.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Interview: Geoffrey Wilson

I now present to you my interview with Geoffrey Wilson, author of Land of Hope and Glory.  Enjoy:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in South Africa and grew up in New Zealand, but now I live in the United Kingdom. I’ve been writing stories since I was a child and I’ve always wanted to be a writer.

I’ve also been interested in Indian history and culture for a long time and studied Indian religions at university.

Do you write full-time or do you do something else for a living?

At the moment I’m lucky enough to be able to write full-time, but once I’ve finished the third book in the series I’ll have to evaluate the situation. I used to work as a technical writer and so I will most probably need to go back to that at least for a while.

What got you interested in alternate history?

Basically, through reading about real history. I like historical fiction and non-fiction, but as I read I often find myself thinking “what if things were another way?” or “what if this had happened instead?”. My brain just seems to work that way.

What is Land of Hope and Glory about?

Broadly speaking, it’s a reversal of the British Raj. Instead of the British Empire colonising India, an Indian empire takes over Europe and many other places besides. The story is set in 1852, when a rebellion breaks out against the empire in England. This parallels the 1857 uprising against the British Empire in India in our timeline.

How large is the Rajthana Empire?

It’s similar in size to the 19th-century British Empire in our timeline. So, it’s a global empire that takes in parts of the Middle East, Africa, most of Europe and bits of the Americas.

Does the Rajthana Empire have any real competitors?  Is there a "Great Game" going on somewhere?

The Rajthanans’ key competitors are the Sikhs, who have their own global empire. There is very much a “Great Game” going on between the two empires in Europe. There is more about this in book 2 and there will be much more in book 3. Obviously, the Sikhs are keen to help the English rebellion and exploit the uprising for their own purposes.

Other Indian nations are also rivals to different degrees. The Bengali Empire was an early competitor to the Rajthanans, but this is in decline by 1852.

I should probably tidy up my notes and publish the full timeline one day.

What inspired you to write the novel?

Most of the inspiration came from reading about Indian history, especially the 1857 uprising. I started to wonder what it would have been like if things had been reversed in the 19th century. Once I began thinking about that, the world of Land of Hope and Glory sort of popped into my head. Then I just had to get it down on paper (or at least into the computer).

How did you come up with the title?

Land of Hope and Glory is the name of a well-known British patriotic song. The idea of using it for the title of the book came to me almost immediately after I had the initial idea for the story. It just seemed right and I stuck with it.

Who designed the cover?

The artist Angelo Rinaldi did the artwork, which I find very striking. The designers at Hodder & Stoughton took the artwork and created the cover design.

Are there any sequels planned?

I have plans for two sequels. I’ve finished writing the second book, The Place of Dead Kings, and that will come out later this year in the United Kingdom and I think next year in the United States.

After the three books, who knows?

When will Land of Hope and Glory be released as an e-book in the US?

There isn’t yet a release date for the e-book in the US, but I’m hoping it will be soon. I will post news about this on my website when I know more.

Do you have any other projects you are working on?

No, writing these books has practically consumed my whole life. My friends and family have been amazingly understanding about this.

What are you reading now?

I’ve just started Zulu Hart by Saul David. It’s historical fiction rather than alternate history. It’s about a 19th-century soldier who is part British and part Zulu. Saul David is an excellent historian who writes some fiction these days as well.

Do you have advice for would be authors?

To be honest, I still think of myself as a would-be author. But, for what it’s worth, my advice is as follows:

It’s a cliché, but persistence, I think, is key. It was for me, at any rate. I wrote three novels before I got some interest from publishers with Land of Hope and Glory.

You also need to keep on learning the craft of writing fiction. Never stop learning

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Review: "Land of Hope and Glory" by Geoffrey Wilson

Grade: A

What I enjoy most about reading is that sometimes you stumble upon a book that really draws you in.  Time becomes meaningless and you put aside the real world just to finish the story.  Land of Hope and Glory by Geoffrey Wilson was one those books for me.

The story is set in 1852 in a timeline where the Indian empire of Rajthana rules England and Wales.  The exact POD is uncertain, but the timeline appears to diverge in the 8th century.  Islam spread further into Europe than in OTL.  One character states that England was the only Christian nation left, but this might be a popular misconception since the Pope resides in Dublin and the religious affiliation of various other European peoples is never mentioned.  Nevertheless, England for 200 years was ruled by a Caliph and many English families in the southeast converted to Islam until the English rebelled and deposed the last Caliph.

A period of civil strife follows, which kept the English from uniting against Rajthana when they expanded into Europe.  Like the spread of Islam in this timeline, the scope of the Rajthana empire is never mapped out.  Muslims from France, Andalusia and Naples serve in their European Army, but Ireland and Scotland remain independent.  Scotland is actually a parallel for Afghanistan in this timeline, being a primitive land full of bandit tribes that raid across the border every so often.  There is mention of colonies across the Atlantic and wars against the Inca and the Slavs of the Balkans (probably those bloody Serbs up to no good...again).

Did I mention there is magic?  Plausibility hounds may already be howling, but I like a good ASB story and the magic system is more original than the usual wave your wand and a deus ex machina appears.  Magic comes from an element called sattva and can only be tapped into by the study of yantras, meditation and yoga.  Once you master a yantra you can use it to control sattva  for whatever purpose the yantra was intended, such as shooting a fireball into an enemy troop formation.  There is a catch though, called the law of karma, which states that once you use a power you can never learn another power.  It is thanks to their mastery of sattva that Rajthana has managed to build a vast empire across the world.  With their magical abilities and steam powered machines, known as avatars, the Rajthanans appear invincible.

Until the jewel of their empire, with its large deposits of sattva, rebels against them, mirroring the 1857 Indian Mutiny.  The English soldiers have mutinied and now seek to free their nation from foreign occupation. Our hero, retired solider Jack Casey, has no intention of joining the rebels feeling that it is foolhardy to challenge the Rajthanans.  Turns out, however, that the Rajthanans don't really care what he thinks.  They want him to use his tracking ability, enhanced by sattva, to track down his friend William who is now an important leader with the rebels.  To motivate him, the Rajthanans offer to pardon his daughter, who is accused of helping the rebels and will soon be executed unless her father helps them.  With no choice, Jack sets off with a sadistic Rajthanan officer to find his old comrade while he wrestles with his growing desire to help the rebels despite the insurmountable odds.

As I said before I could not put down Land of Hope and Glory.  I truly felt for Jack as he raced against time to save his daughter, knowing that it could end with the death of his friend and perhaps England's last chance for freedom.  The story tells a familiar tragedy that is found in our history, a proud people fed up with foreign rule, yet doomed before the first fires of independence are lit.  Western culture has had it pretty easy, rarely experiencing the boot heel of oppression on their face, but ignoring or sanitizing it when they do it to other cultures.  There is a dark side to imperialism, no matter how glorious our own histories try to make it.

I truly recommend Land of Hope and Glory and those wanting to learn more about the author can see this article on The New Zealand Herald or tune into Weekly Update when I post my interview Geoffrey Wilson.

*          *          *

Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a volunteer editor for the Alt Hist magazine and a contributor to Just Below the Law. One of his short stories will be published in the upcoming Echelon Press anthology, Once Upon a Clockwork Tale (2013).  When not writing he works as an attorney in the state of Illinois and enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana.