Weekly Update #75

Editor's Note

A new week means more alternate history news, but first, let's get through some business.

I am changing my policy on "breaking news". While I will still write posts on major stories, more often than not I will just post a link through Facebook (group and page) or Twitter. I know our readers who follow us in other ways won't be happy with this, but I just do not have the time during the day to write as often as I did during the summer, even for breaking news. So follow us on Facebook or Twitter if you up to the moment breaking news on the important events of the genre.

I'm glad we had so many participants in our recent poll, but there are still a few hours left to vote. BTW, why wouldn't you read self-published alternate history? I know there are some turds out there, but there are some diamonds in the rough. AH Weekly Update is dedicated to finding those diamonds for you, so check out our reviews of indie AH works.

We got our first reader from Ghana. Welcome! I hope you and all of our readers enjoy this week's slate of book reviews. Also check out the list of stories for The Masquerade Crew's time travel anthology. Review team member AJ Nolte and yours truly are on it.

And now the news...

More on Revolution

It's the TV show we love to hate, Revolution, and we are going to be hating it for a long time because a whole season was ordered despite a steady drop in ratings after each episode. Even with declining ratings the show continues to get mixed reviews which can be summed up by Mark Wilson: "Its press is divided between those who say it has the potential to become really good someday, and those who moan that an exciting premise has been squandered on the tiresome reversion to telegenic stars sketching out underwritten characters."

Speaking of press, episode 4 got 3 1/2 out of 5 stars from SFX, but Charlie Jane Anders at io9 was disappointed: "So all in all... this episode of Revolution wasn't really in the same league as last week's." Shoshana Kessock at Tor.com also wrote a detailed review of the episode where she said "[f]or a pivotal episode, a lot of things didn't work this week."

Revolution will be with us for an entire season, so stay turned to AH Weekly Update for summaries of past episodes. We are looking for a dedicated Revolution reviewer so if you are interested, submit your reviews to ahwupdate at gmail dot com. All contributors will get an opportunity to promote their projects through their articles so I wouldn't pass up this opportunity to get the word out there.

Dishonored released and reviews

The new steampunk-inspired fantasy game Dishonored was released to the world last week. I could go into detail about the game but I will let the guys at Achievement Hunter break it down for you:

So what do people think of the game? StickSkills.com gave the game 8.3 out of 10 stars. Gerald Lynch at Tech Digest said "Dishonored ticks every box a great game should." Greg Prince at The Examiner said Dishonored "lives up to the hype, and it's a beacon for innovative design in the gaming industry." Kyle Orland at Opposable Thumbs titled his review "Dishonored is stealthy, steampunk world-building done right", while Oliver Franklin at GQ titled his "Dishonored is the game aspiring steampunk ninjas have been waiting for."

Bloody Disgusting, however, gets my nod as the most entertaining review with the line: "If revenge is a dish best served cold, I’m eating frozen meals from now on, because this is delicious."

Well...I guess I will have to buy this game. I don't usually go in for stealthy games (I like big and loud guns with a lot of cannon fodder to aim at), but I may have to make an exception based on all of these reviews I am reading.

More on The Martian War and Clockwork Angels

Last Friday I reviewed The Martian War by Kevin J. Anderson, but I was not the only one to provide my two cents on the novel. Jen at Fantasy Matters said "Anderson...captures the science fiction mindset of the late nineteenth century.  If the reader can go back into this historical context, then he or she is in for a Martian treat." Alternate historians should have no problem with that, but if you need more convincing check out this interview with Anderson at Impedimenta where he discusses writing The Martian War.

Anderson, of course, has been busy these last few months. His novel Clockwork Angels, a collaboration between Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, is out. Check out another interview with Anderson about that novel at Female First.

Things to do

No submissions wanted this week, but here are some things to do to keep you busy:

Oct 20: Steampunk workshop at the library in Concord, NH.

Oct 26: The Mahogany Masquerade in Atlanta, GA. Steamfunk.

I am thinking of creating a calender for all of the things to do and submissions wanted. Stay tuned...

Links to the Multiverse

Articles

Forget the debate, focus on what came before it by Jennifer Rubin at The Washington Post.

Retromania is the mother of invention by Hannah Wilkinson at Varsity.

Steampunk’s Global Influence by John Nguyen at Nerd Reactor.

Steampunk: Victorian style meets punk, steam power by Lauren Meehan at The Collegian.

Books

Aces for Free Speech by George R. R. Martin.

The Great Game (The Royal Sorceress 2)–Snippet by Chris Nuttall.

Review of Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris done by David Marshall at Thinking about books.

Comics

Review: JLA: Age of Wonder done by Captain Bodewell at Sephia Chord.

Films

Review of Tai Chi Zero by David Marshall at Thinking about books.

Games

Assassin's Creed III - Alternate history DLC that needs to happen by Henry Gilbert at gamesradar.

Autumn of Indie GAME REVIEW: Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land (iOS) by deanjsimons at Geek Syndicate.

Interviews

Lia Habel at Del Rey.

Television

Superhero meets steampunk in 'Green Lantern' cartoon by Brian Truitt at USA Today.

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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.

Review: The Martian War by Kevin J. Anderson

I was originally introduced to the writings of Kevin J. Anderson through his Jedi Academy trilogy, which I read when I was just a wee lad. Okay, when I say "wee lad" I mean high school teenager. Yeah, that's right. When all the other guys were partying, watching sports and chasing after girls, I was neck-deep in the Star Wars expanded universe. Who won high school now?

They did, obviously.

Hmm? O yes, my review, where was I...the story of the The Martian War rests on the assumption that all of the characters and settings created by H.G. Wells actually existed and inspired his writings. The story follows Wells,  just beginning his career as an author and living with his his fiance Jane, as he is recruited by his mentor Thomas Huxley to join the Imperial Institute. The best scientific minds of Britain, including Dr. Cavor and Hawley Griffin, are preparing the Empire for a predicted war with Germany. Plans are derailed, however, when the disgraced scientist Dr. Moreau crashes a symposium at the Institute with startling news: we are not alone. Moreau describes how, with the help of astronomer Percival Lowell, they were able to make contact with an alien civilization on Mars, which is planning to invade Earth at the opposition of the two planets. Wells becomes caught up in a race against time to save humanity and will travel farther than any human being to prevent a war between the worlds. See what I did there? Heh.

This is another fictional mash-up, focusing entirely on the works of H.G. Wells. Not every story of his is represented. For example, The Time Machine is referenced and themes from the novel are apparent, but Wells' famous and nameless time traveler remains absent. Unlike some of the other examples of fictional mash-ups that have been reviewed on this blog, this novel does not involve zombies or vampires. So instead of gory horror, you get a good piece of fiction written in the style of an era when it looked like science would lead humanity to new heights. While many of their predictions failed to come true, you can't help but be delighted by their naive optimism, like how you can travel between planets and not have to worry about pesky things like radiation and lack of oxygen.

The novel also comes with some social commentary (visuals of a society that is desecrating their planet in an effort to maintain their civilization) and some OTL history references (apparently no one can walk on the moon without saying the word leap). If I had one major nitpick about the novel, it was the Martian technology (I can only suspend disbelief for so long). Everyone knows about the towering Martian battle tripods, armed with their unstoppable heat ray, but on Mars we get a glimpse of Martians using smaller walkers just to get around. Did I mention the walkers only have two legs? Why, after seeing the advantages of a two legged travel, would the Martians go with the more unwieldy tripod model for their primary war machine?

Of course who can fathom the mind of an alien anyway. Fans of adventures into the golden age of science will enjoy this episode into the secret life of one of the forefathers of science fiction. The sky is the limit...as long as you have some cavorite on hand!

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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.