New Releases 9/2/14

September 2, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Top 5 Posts from August 2014

≪ Previous: Map Monday: Wilson's Julian Comstock by Tsar of New Zealand

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

Hardcovers

The Golden Princess by SM Stirling

A new generation faces its own challenges in the world the Change has made.

Princess Órlaith, heir to Rudi Mackenzie, Artos the First, High King of Montival, now wields the Sword of the Lady—and faces a new enemy. Fortunately, she also has a new ally in Reiko, Empress of Japan, who has been pursued to America by a conquering army from Asia.

To combat their mutual foe, Órlaith and Reiko embark on a quest to find the fabled Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the Grass-Cutting Sword, one of the three great treasures of the Japanese Imperial House. But dreams have revealed that the road to Kusanagi lies through the meganecropolis of the City of Angels, the greatest and most perilous of the dead cities...and beyond it, to a castle in the fearful Valley of Death. And their relentless enemy will stop at nothing to prevent them from succeeding.

For across the Pacific, the great arc of land that stretches from the dark kingdom of Korea to the realm of Capricornia in Australia is threatened by war. Now all the survivors of the Change must choose sides....

Editor's Note: You can also read my reviews of the previous works in the series, The Tears of the Sun and The Given Sacrifice.

Paperbacks

Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn by Danielle Ackley-McPhail and Day Al-Mohamed

Come, Best Beloved, and sit you by my feet. I shall tell you a tale such as sister Scheherazade could have scarce imagined...

In the Nejd there is nothing at all...except secrets. A band of thieves wish such secrets to remain hidden.

In England, far from his desert home, Ali bin-Massoud serves as apprentice to the famed Charles Babbage. One night a mysterious box is delivered by a clockwork falcon and Ali's world is never the same again. Heartache, danger, and thieves mark his journey as Ali is summoned home at the death of his father.

It will take faith, knowledge, and yes, love to realize his destiny, and more than a little skill with steam-driven technology. Can he unravel the mystery of the puzzle box and the clockwork djinn before it is too late? An ancient legacy and Ali's very life depend on his success.

Hear you the tale of Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn.

Maplecroft: The Borden Dispatches by Cherie Priest

Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks; and when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one....

The people of Fall River, Massachusetts, fear me. Perhaps rightfully so. I remain a suspect in the brutal deaths of my father and his second wife despite the verdict of innocence at my trial. With our inheritance, my sister, Emma, and I have taken up residence in Maplecroft, a mansion near the sea and far from gossip and scrutiny.

But it is not far enough from the affliction that possessed my parents. Their characters, their very souls, were consumed from within by something that left malevolent entities in their place. It originates from the ocean’s depths, plaguing the populace with tides of nightmares and madness.

This evil cannot hide from me. No matter what guise it assumes, I will be waiting for it. With an axe.

E-books

Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon by David Barnett

Nineteenth century London is the center of a vast British Empire, a teeming metropolis where steam-power is king and airships ply the skies, and where Queen Victoria presides over three quarters of the known world—including the east coast of America, following the failed revolution of 1775.Young Gideon Smith has seen things that no green lad of Her Majesty’s dominion should ever experience. Through a series of incredible events Gideon has become the newest Hero of the Empire. But Gideon is a man with a mission, for the dreaded Texas pirate Louis Cockayne has stolen the mechanical clockwork girl Maria, along with a most fantastical weapon—a great brass dragon that was unearthed beneath ancient Egyptian soil. Maria is the only one who can pilot the beast, so Cockayne has taken girl and dragon off to points east.Gideon and his intrepid band take to the skies and travel to the American colonies hot on Cockayne’s trail. Not only does Gideon want the machine back, he has fallen in love with Maria. Their journey will take them to the wilds of the lawless lands south of the American colonies—to free Texas, where the mad King of Steamtown rules with an iron fist (literally), where life is cheap and honor even cheaper.Does Gideon have what it takes to not only save the day but win the girl?

Editor's Note: Check out my review of the first book in the series, Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl, over at Amazing Stories.

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.

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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.

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Videos for Alternate Historians #5

September 3, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Non-Fiction Review: The Poisoner by Stephen Bates

≪ Previous: Top 5 Posts from August 2014

From last week in videos, we begin with two new what ifs from Cody Franklin of the Alternate History Hub. First up, what if South Korea won the Korean War:

I have to admit that what if is rarely asked. Next from Cody we have an ASB what if, with a little splash of humor. asking what if nuclear weapons never existed:

I also enjoy how Cody's figures are starting to resemble Polandball more and more. We move on to a book trailer for Alan Gratz's The League of Seven:

You can also check out my review of the book over at Amazing Stories. Finally we end with the preview for the next Doctor Who episode, "Robot of Sherwood":

Got any videos to recommend? Let us know in the comments below or email us at ahwupdate at gmail dot com.

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Non-Fiction Review: The Poisoner by Stephen Bates

September 4, 2014, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: Flag Friday: United State of the Ionian Islands

≪ Previous: Videos for Alternate Historians #5

I need to read more history books for two reasons. First, I loved history long before I became obsessed with altering it. Second, to be a good alternate historian you need to know your history. Otherwise, how would you know how to craft a plausible timeline? So with that being said, let's talk about The Poisoner by Stephen Bates.

The Poisoner tells the story of William Palmer, a notorious murderer from 1850s Britain. Palmer was a doctor and gambler who was convicted of poisoning his friend John Cook. He is suspected, however, of murdering many others including his brother, mother-in-law, wife and many of his children, and collecting the life insurance after their deaths. Although he never confessed to the crime, Palmer was found guilty and executed.

Palmer's trial, however, is used by the author as a framing device for a better look at British culture of the decade. We see a growing middle class, a cultural obsession with horse racing (and the gambling that went with it) and an increasingly literate population, fueling the rise of newspapers. Palmer's murder trial became a sensation that reached the far corners of the globes, which is a surprising feat considering this was before the age of the Internet and the 24-hour news cycle. The trial was followed by famous contemporaries such as Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria and references to it found their way into some of our great works of fiction.

Still if this book has one flaw it is probably the inordinate amount of time spent on British culture rather than the murder trial itself. Bates, a journalist, also diverts quite a bit to discuss the history of his profession, which is understandable, but can be a slog for a casual student of history. I think he may have been going for a style reminiscent of The Devil in the White City, which intertwined the tales of America's first serial killer and the 1893 World's Fair, but didn't quite pull it off. The Poisoner is a much denser tome than The Devil in the White City, which makes it harder to read unless you are the type who enjoys a lot of details in your history books.

So did Palmer do it? To Bates credit he presents a more balanced look at the infamous murderer's life. He points out how badly the trial was handled (even by that era's standards) and how the media's coverage of the trial unfairly prejudiced the entire nation against the accused. Still, the evidence does seem damning, but perhaps by today's standards Palmer could have at least avoided the hangman's noose.

The Poisoner is a great book for those looking for details, such as someone writing a steampunk story, on Britain in the early Victorian Era. Casual readers may be put off my the amount of details Bates packs in, but otherwise I found it to be an interesting chapter of British history and it has whetted my appetite for more history. Perhaps I will check out Truman by David McCullough next...

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Flag Friday: United State of the Ionian Islands

September 5, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Weekly Update #159

≪ Previous: Non-Fiction Review: The Poisoner by Stephen Bates

Originally posted on Sean Sherman's blog Other Times. Support an alternate historian by subscribing to his blog!

Flag of the United State of the Ionian Islands 1815

During the Congress of Vienna the United Kingdom wanted to gain rights to 'protect' the United State of the Ionian Islands. This group of seven islands off the coast of Greece had a number of ports that could be of use by the British. The Austrian Empire was not thrilled at the prospect of continued British expansion into the Mediterranean so they unexpectedly pushed for more rights there themselves.

With the numerous more important issues to be handled at the Congress, it was quickly decided that the British and Austrians would form a condominium over the islands, but it became apparent that the two powers would be unable to cooperate. This allowed the Ionians to exert much more control over their own territory. In late 1815, Ioannis Kapodistrias became President of the United State of the Ionian Islands. He became adept at playing the two powers against each other and advancing his own ends as they squabbled or ignored the islands.

While many inhabitants preferred British laws to Habsburg, they desired their own freedom as well. Taking the best each culture had to offer and taking inspirations from ancient Greek city-states and modern American political innovations the tiny new nation tried to create its own identity.

In 1864, the British pushed to have the Ionian Islands annexed into the Kingdom of Greece. Luckily a half-century of relative independence allowed them to resist annexation. With Habsburg involvement now almost non-existent the Ionians turned to Imperial Russia for help. Turning to the Tsar to ensure their freedom was bizarre, but worked. By allowing Russian access to some of their ports they were able to get the Tsar to support their independence.

Again the United Kingdom had other more important interests to deal with and eventually let the matter drop.

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Sean Sherman has been a fan of alternate timelines ever since seeing Spock with a goatee. By day he is a CPA, at night he explores the multiverse and shares his findings over at his blog, Other Times.

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Weekly Update #159

September 8, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Map Monday: Editable Star Wars Galaxy by Xanthoc

≪ Previous: Flag Friday: United State of the Ionian Islands

Editor's Note

As I settle into my new routine I am more confident now about my planned podcast I announced a few months ago and I am hoping to begin a video series in the near future where I rant about certain topics near and dear to my heart. If you would like to either or both projects in the future, don't forget to click through our Amazon banner if you plan to purchase anything and help support The Update.

And now the news...

More on Starz's Outlander

For those who enjoy Starz's new historical fantasy series, Outlander, I got some more goodies for you.

First up, some reviews. Paul Levinson reviewed the first three episodes and said "I'll keep watching Outlander, but more for the historical romance than the time travel, which at this point is more of a hope than a reality". Andrew Whalen at iDigitalTimes also reviewed the first three episodes and called the show "Sci-Fi Royalty" and said " I'm looking forward to the fourth episode, not because I'm eagerly awaiting to see how gender roles will be subverted (although that is also enjoyable), but because it's a fun time travel show."

So what about the fourth episode? Sharlene Mousfar of Geek Syndicate reviewed episode 4, giving it a rating of 4 out of 5 and said the "episode was a bit slow – and more of a setup for the action to come in the next few episodes." So #4 wasn't as great as people hoped above, but still a good rating. If you are interested in watching episode 5, check out this preview first.

And if you want more Outlander info, check out this interactive map of Scotland and check out this interview with author Diana Gabaldon, who wrote the original novels the show is based on.

Preivew: Jani and the Greater Game by Eric Brown

Let's learn something about the Jani and the Greater Game by Eric Brown. First, the book description from Amazon:

Jani and the Greater Game is the first book in a rip-roaring, spice-laden, steampunk action adventure series set in India and featuring a heroine who subverts all the norms...

It’s 1910 and the British rule the subcontinent with an iron fist – and with strange technology fuelled by a power source known as Annapurnite – discovered in the foothills of Mount Annapurna. But they rule but at the constant cost of their enemies, mainly the Russians and the Chinese, attempting to learn the secret of this technology... This political confrontation is known as The Greater Game.

Into this conflict is pitched eighteen year old Janisha Chaterjee who discovers a strange device which leads her into the foothills of the Himalayas. When Russians spies and the evil priest Durja Das find out about the device, the chase is on to apprehend Janisha before she can reach the Himalayas. There she will learn the secret behind Annapurnite, and what she learns will change the destiny of the world for ever...

Of course when I think Indian steampunk book, I think The Peshawar Lancers by SM Stirling, but I digress. Alastair Savage at Amazing Stories said the book was an "exciting page-turner with a neat conclusion". Meanwhile, Ay-Leen the Peacemaker at Tor said the novel's greatest strength was from "Brown’s ability to balance a sense of galloping fun while also injecting the story with harder-edged questions about British imperialism, racial identity, and class dynamics" but criticized it for being "one long chase scene". Still the review was good in general, so with two recommendations, Jani and the Greater Game may be an alternate history worth checking out.

For those want to learn more, check out what author Eric Brown thinks about steampunk.

Videos for Alternate Historians

Need even more videos for alternate historians? Lets begin with the J.J. Abrams Superman movie that never was:

Hmm...maybe it was a good idea they passed on it. Anywho, our friend Cody Franklin of the Alternate History Hub doesn't just make alternate history videos. Sometimes he like to collaborate with other YouTubers for more informational videos, like this one on the Islamic State:

Finally we end this segment with a panel discussion about Wolfenstein: The New Order from the guys History Respawned:

Interesting breakdown on how Nazis and the Holocaust are portrayed in popular culture. Send you video or channel recommendations to ahwupdate at gmail dot com.

Links to the Multiverse

Books and Short Fiction

10 Acclaimed Historical Fantasy Novels You Need to Read by John O'Neill at Black Gate.
The Big Idea: Cherie Priest at Whatever.
Christopher Edge's top 10 twisted histories at The Guardian.
Crichton Travels in Time by Joel N Shurkin at Smart Pop Books.
Excerpt: The Ace of Skulls by Chris Wooding at Only the Best.
Excerpt: Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon by Daniel Barnett at Tor.
On My Radar: BROKEN MONSTERS by Lauren Beukes, THE STEAMPUNK USER’S MANUAL by Jeff VanderMeer and Desirina Boskovich, TIME TRAVEL: RECENT TRIPS Edited by Paula Guran at SF Signal.
On Tom Cruise and Time Travel Stories by Rajan Khanna at Lit Reactor.
Review: "The Lady Astronaut of Mars" by Mary Robinette Kowal at A Dribble of Ink.
Review: Lord of Mountains by SM Stirling at Wordsmithonia.
Review: The Phantom Coach edited by Michael Sims at Shelf Awareness.
Sean Penney examines alternate histories in world of sports at North Fork View.
Table of Contents: THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF GASLIT ROMANCE Edited by Ekaterina Sedia at SF Signal.
A World Where Mankind Makes Its Own Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg at Amazon Blogs.

Comics

Preview: Springheeled Jack by David Hitchcock at Comic Book Resources.

Counterfactuals, History and News

23 Eerily Specific Predictions from History That Came True at Cracked.
Alternate histories: How the past is taught to Israelis and Palestinians at Day 6.
Another SCOTUS counter-factual: Justice Posner? at PrawfsBlawg.
Composers Who Died in WWI by Jordan Harbour at Michael Drislane MA.
A Historic Experiment Shows Why We Might Not Want to Debate Fanatics by Esther Inglis-Arkell at io9.
A Questionable Counterfactual: Could World War II Really Have Been Avoided? by Gavriel D. Rosenfeld at The Counterfactual History Review.
If Reagan Had Picked Rumsfeld as His Vice President, Would We Never Have Had President Clinton? at Ifnicity.
Rebels: Jackson would have won Gettysburg by John Hilton at Gettysburg 150.
The Secret German Scheme To Invade America Before The First World War by George Dvorsky at io9.
Time Travel Simulation Resolves “Grandfather Paradox” by Lee Billings at Scientific American.
Turkey’s Imperial Fantasy by Behlul Ozkan at The New York Times.
The War That Never Was by Philip Jenkins at Patheos.
Why Independence Could Put Scotland In Danger Of Russian Invasion by James Cook at Business Insider.

Film and Television

5 Classic Movies That Almost Had Terrible Endings by Lex Black at Cracked.
The 36 Greatest Shows and Movies Ever to Almost Happen at Cracked.
ACHTUNG! CTHULHU to Become a Movie by Ed Fortune at Starburst.
Alternative Blockbuster Movie Posters at Short List.
The Other Doctors. 50th Anniversary and Beyond by Alasdair Stuart at Scifind.
REVIEW: Doctor Who, S8, E2: Into the Dalek at Geek Syndicate.

Games

Gwydion to Alexander: Colonialism in Kings Quest III by Angela R Cox at Play The Past.
Ryse: Son of Rome Bludgeons Onto PC 10th October by Casey Douglass at Geek Syndicate.
Wargame: Red Dragon gets free DLC, adds "full-length story campaign" set in the early 90s by Tom Sykes at PC Gamer.

Interview

Rod Duncan at Tor.

Podcasts

Dissecting Worlds Special: Schools Out at Geek Syndicate.
Episode 200: Robinson, Silverberg, Walton and Loncon! at Notes From Coode Street.
Making History as We Know it a Thing of the Past by Tristan Verboven at The Class Struggle.

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Map Monday: Editable Star Wars Galaxy by Xanthoc

September 8, 2014, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: New Releases 9/9/14

≪ Previous: Weekly Update #159

Although the final product is important for Map Monday, sometimes the base map alternate cartographers use is just as worthy for recognition. For example, take this editable map of the Star Wars galaxy by Xanthoc:

Based on a map by rvbomally (author of "Ad Astra Per Aspera" and previously featured on Map Monday), this map provides a starting point for alternate historians who wish to ask a what if question in the Star Wars universe, such as what if Luke Skywalker had failed to destroy the first Death Star? This map is a strong reminder that alternate histories don't just have to be limited to our own histories. Fictional histories from pop-culture are also fair game and can be a lot of fun to create.

No honorable mentions this week. If you want to submit a map for the next Map Monday, email me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com with your map attached and a brief description in the body of the email.

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New Releases 9/9/14

September 9, 2014, 10:00 am

≫ Next: Alexa Davalos Cast as Juliana in Amazon TV's The Man in the High Castle

≪ Previous: Map Monday: Editable Star Wars Galaxy by Xanthoc

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

Paperbacks

The Bloodline Feud: A Merchant Princes Omnibus by Charles Stross

Bloodline Feud: an omnibus edition of the first two novels in Charles Stross's The Merchant Princes series

The six families of the Clan rule the kingdom of Gruinmarkt from behind the scenes. They are a mixture of nobility and criminal conspirators whose power to walk between their world and ours makes them rich in both.

Miriam, a hip tech journalist from Boston, discovers her alternate-world relatives with explosive results that shake three worlds. Now, as the prodigal Countess Helge Thorold-Hjorth, she finds herself ensnared in schemes and plots centuries in the making. She is surrounded by unlikely allies, lethal contraband, and—most dangerous of all—her family.

To avoid a slippery slope down to an unmarked grave, Miriam must build a power base of her own—with unexpected consequences for three different time lines, including the quasi-Victorian one exploited by the hidden family.

World War Kaiju by Josh Finney

What if Doctor Strangelove created Godzilla? World War Kaiju is the story of an alternate history, one in which the atom bomb was never created and the ultimate weapon of mass destruction is the kaiju fifty foot tall radioactive beasts spawned from the mysterious KAI-235 isotope. Follow the journey of one journalist as he teams up with a retired CIA operative to uncover the truth about the conspiracy behind the monsters... ...who are the architects of the inevitable Kaiju War? ...what is the shocking secret behind the mysterious KAI-235 isotope? ...where did Cuba manage to hide a crab monster the size of an aircraft carrier? ...why are rogue monsters appearing all over the world? ...how long can Tricky Dick keep these truths from the people?

E-Books

From a Foreign Shore: Stories of History and Alternate History by Andrew Knighton

What if someone had conquered the Vikings, someone claiming to be their gods?

What if King Arthur's knights met a very different metal-clad warrior?

What if you were ordered to execute a statue, and hanging just didn't seem to work?

These short stories explore different aspects of history, some of them grounded in reality, some alternative takes on the past as we know it. Stories of daring and defiance; of love and of loss; of noble lords and exasperated peasants.

This short collection contains five stories:

Holy Water – a pair of medieval peasants struggle with faith and futility as they try to execute a statue.

Farewell to a Foreign Shore – a Viking sets sail from the raiding lands.

Odin’s Mirror – Vikings face the image of the divine in an alternative Dark Ages.

From the Sea – a messenger is plagued by visions on his run from Marathon.

Sir Cai, the Shining Knight – an Arthurian warrior proves to be more than he appears.

To fans, authors and publishers...

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Alexa Davalos Cast as Juliana in Amazon TV's The Man in the High Castle

September 9, 2014, 10:38 am

≫ Next: What if Wednesday: The German-American War of 1902

≪ Previous: New Releases 9/9/14

It was announced yesterday on Deadline, that Alexa Davalos (The Chronicle of Riddick, Defiance) has been cast as the female lead on Amazon TV's adaptation of The Man in the High Castle. She will star as Juliana, likely based on Juliana Frink character from the novel, but her role looks different from said novel.

In the television version, Juliana resides in Japanese occupied San Francisco and is an admirer of their culture until she witnesses her sister's death at the hands of a Japanese soldier. This inspires her to leave her comfortable life and join the resistance headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It was announced earlier that Luke Kleintank was cast as Joe Blake, the male lead, but not a character from the original story I believe.

The important thing to take away from this news is that book purists probably aren't happy to hear about the liberties they are taking with the source material. I don't think we are going to see a true adaptation, but I am holding out hope that it will be an interesting story and not just a cookie cutter action plot set in a bare bones alternate history. As long as they work in The Grasshopper Lies Heavy I will be happy.

What do you think of the casting choices and the direction they are taking The Man in the High Castle? Let us know in the comments below.

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What if Wednesday: The German-American War of 1902

September 10, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Comic Review: Pariah, Missouri #1 by Andres Salazar

≪ Previous: Alexa Davalos Cast as Juliana in Amazon TV's The Man in the High Castle

The title is a tad misleading, but I want to talk about the secret German plans to invade America almost two decades before World War I, as reported last week by George Dvorsky at io9 (whose work I have linked to on numerous occasions). A brief background, essentially Kaiser Wilhelm II had dreams of gobbling up Latin America, but to do that he needed to get the United States out of the way. He ordered the German military to come up with a plan to invade the United States and several proposals were drafted between 1898 and 1903. As history tell us, however, no such plan was put into action...but what if it had?

I am not going into too many details about why the war would happen, how it would be fought and who would won. Coverage of these plans and the expected result can be found not only in Dvorsky's article but also in Edmund Morris'Theodore Rex (and I am not talking about the Whoopi Goldberg movie) and Robert Conroy's 1901. I think we can skip pass this issue by saying Germany would have ultimately lost. Its fleet would be defeated and its soldiers would be forced to surrender after being left trapped a half a world away surrounded by hostile forces. What I really want to talk about is what happens next.

The United States would come out the war feeling elated having defeated not just one, but two, European empires. This victory also wouldn't have the moral ambiguity of the Spanish-American War. The United States was attacked and they defended themselves. Whoever was president at the time, McKinley or Roosevelt, would be able to ride the popularity surge to get whatever policy they wanted adopted with almost unanimous approval. Presumably certain measures would have to take precedence. Fear of another invasion would mean money spent on more troops, more ships and more fortifications along the East Coast.

We may even see a more interventionist version of the Roosevelt Corollary to defend the western hemisphere from future invasions. There may be increased interventions into Latin America affairs and we may even see America taking a larger role in governing struggling countries. Outright annexation is probably unlikely, but formal protectorates and commonwealths like Puerto Rico aren't out of the question.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Germany would be humiliated. The Kaiser and the military would lose a lot of prestige and perhaps the Reichstag would take advantage of the situation to gain more power. The Social Democratic Party would see a growing support among the populace and could potentially turn Germany into a constitutional monarchy and end the rising militarism. Of course the military, not wanting to lose their influence, could just stage a coup, but then again after such a humiliating defeat against America, they may lack the popular support to pull it off.

Depending on how domestic issues play out, Germany's foreign policy could change. They navy smashed and their army defeated, Germany may be less likely to make risky ventures that could lead to another costly war. So if, shall we say, a crisis arose in the Balkans, Germany may just stay out of it or at the very least use some of the Realpolitik from Bismark's era and try to mediate a peace. A Germany unwilling to risk a large scale war could potentially create a world not dissimilar to Richard Ned Lebow's Archduke Franz Ferdinand Lives! Then again if there is a coup in Germany, peace in the long run would be impossible. That being said, a general European war may see the early involvement of a more militarized United States, ready and willing to take down the country who launched an unprovoked attack against them recently.

What do you guys think? What would the future hold for the United States and Germany in a world where they went to war before World War I? And do you want to see more What If Wednesdays? Let us know in the comments.

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Comic Review: Pariah, Missouri #1 by Andres Salazar

September 11, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: The Turn of a Blade: Alternate Medieval Histories

≪ Previous: What if Wednesday: The German-American War of 1902

It is quite serendipitous that I decided to read and review Pariah, Missouri by Andres Salazar when I did. I just started reading Truman by David McCullough and his family settled in the part of Missouri that Pariah is set and the first chapter talks about the trials and tribulations of living in wild Missouri. The author actually did a good job capturing frontier Missouri life, although Salazar did over-exaggerate certain parts for the sake of the story. That can be forgiven, however, considering the story he was trying to tell.

Pariah is historical fantasy comic with a good heaping of weird fiction. Its the year 1857 in the boom town of Pariah, Missouri. Several people, including the Marshall and many children, have disappeared and a recently arrived puppet show is suspected. A card shark with a secret identity, a prostitute trying to help her family, a voodoo practitioner on the run from the law and a backwoods bounty hunter have to team up to save the down from the supernatural forces that inflict it.

I enjoyed reading Pariah. It was a quick read (I finished it during my lunch break), but it kept me entertained with its wild west heroics. I have seen it described as "A-Team set in a supernatural western", although to be honest it put me in mind of Guardians of the Galaxy by the way the characters interacted with each other. Character development was a bit spotty. At one point a character uses a hitherto unmentioned supernatural ability to defeat the bad guys just when it was needed the most. Perhaps I missed the set up, but nevertheless it came as a big surprise.

The artwork was good, although as I have mentioned before I don't have an eye for such things. The use of watercolors was unique and worked for the story. This is only, however, book one. Salazar has set up the town of Pariah for more mischief, especially from another group who don't have the town's best interest at heart. No spoilers, but I can safely recommend this book for those tired of usual superhero affair and want to try a dark fantasy set in one of the rougher periods of American history.

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The Turn of a Blade: Alternate Medieval Histories

September 12, 2014, 8:00 am

≫ Next: Rupert Evans Cast as Frank Frink in Amazon TV's The Man in the High Castle

≪ Previous: Comic Review: Pariah, Missouri #1 by Andres Salazar

Guest post by Andrew Knighton.

The Middle Ages are relatively poorly served by alternate history. The recent past is so prominent in our minds, its impact so clear, that it is the natural jumping off point for speculation. It can also be easier to imagine a past only recently changed - the consequences have had less time to ripple out, and so similarities are more justified.

But this makes speculation about medieval tipping points all the more fascinating. How different might our world be if it had been changed not decades but centuries ago?

The Empire of the World: Islam pushes past Poitiers

The Battle of Poitiers (732) saw the furthest advance of the forces of Islam into Western Europe. A Muslim army under the incredibly capable Abd Al-Rahman faced a Frankish force under the equally formidable Charles Martel. Evenly matched in both numbers and leadership, the two forces fought on and off for seven days before Abd Al-Rahman’s death led the Islamic forces to retreat.

Poitiers set the limits on Muslim expansion in Europe, and led to the rise of a great Frankish empire under Charles Martel’s grandson, known to history as Charlemagne. But what if Charles rather than Al-Rahman had died at Poitiers, the Frankish troops becoming the ones to retreat?

As Barry S Strauss explored in a chapter of Robert Cowley’s What If?, this could have led to a very different Europe. The Caliphate established in Spain, emboldened by this success, could have expanded through France and across Western Europe, unhindered by the divided native princes. Given the success of Muslim civilisation in Spain, the Europe that followed would have been a far more pleasant place - its architecture more open, its farms more productive, its scholars rediscovering Greek classics two centuries earlier.

An Islamic Europe could also have meant an Islamic America, as Europeans took their religion across the Atlantic. Christianity would have continued, like Judaism, as a minority choice within a culture tolerant of the other Abrahamic faiths.

Strauss ends by saying that this Islamic Europe might not have developed the democratic and mercantile ideas that led to the Renaissance and Enlightenment, with all the discoveries they brought. But equally, given the deeply undemocratic nature of medieval European states, it could be argued that these developments would have come sooner under Islam.

Either way, we see a very different Europe.

A North Sea empire: Cnut’s inheritance remains united

Cnut the Great of Denmark, often referred to in English as Canute, was one of the great successes of the 11th century. King of Denmark and England, he briefly controlled Norway and dominated other kings throughout Scandinavia and the British Isles.

On Cnut’s death in 1035 his son Harthacnut inherited Denmark. But Harthacnut, unlike Cnut, had spent most of the preceding years in Denmark, and the English did not accept his rule. Instead another son, Harold Harefoot, took control of England.

Though reunited for a while by Harthacnut, Cnut’s empire of the North Sea was never able to stabilise, and it soon collapsed. But what if it had remained together from the start? What if a single son had inherited both England and Denmark, leaving him with the resources to turn once more to the task of conquering Norway?

It’s possible to imagine all sorts of differences and similarities between the ensuing North Sea Empire and the kingdoms that instead took its place. Built around the sea lanes, it could have become a great naval and trading power. Dominated by the Vikings, England would never have developed the close ties with France that followed the Norman Conquest, and Scandinavia would have played a far larger part in shaping Europe’s culture and politics.

Two wars transformed: the Black Prince lives

Edward of Woodstock, later labelled the Black Prince, was the eldest son and heir of Edward III. A charismatic and successful military leader, the prince played a major role in the Hundred Years War between England and France, governing the English-held region of Aquitaine and leading the English to victory at another Battle of Poitiers (1356). His potential to be a great king was cut short when he died of dysentery in June 1376, a year before his father. The Black Prince’s ten-year-old son instead inherited the throne as Richard II.

It is easy to romanticise the Black Prince, given that he never became king and so did not mar his chivalric image with real political failures. But if we allow ourselves to go with the romanticised image, to imagine the success he could have been, then we see a very different fate for England and France. With Edward’s strong leadership and base in France he could have led the English to further success in the Hundred Years War, consolidating a cross-Channel kingdom rather than letting the French territories slip through his fingers. And without Richard II’s overthrow in 1399, the seeds would not be sewn for the Wars of the Roses that tore England apart in the later 15th century. The result could have been a stable and united Kingdom of England and France, dominating Europe and transforming its politics.

The potential of a dark age

It’s easy to forget the Middle Ages when inventing alternate histories. But as these three examples show, the period is full of fascinating potential.

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Andrew is a freelance writer based in Stockport, England, where the grey skies provide a good motive to stay inside at the word processor. His collection of history and alternate history stories, From a Foreign Shore, is available through Amazon and Smashwords. He blogs about books, film, TV and writing at andrewknighton.com and can be found on Twitter as @gibbondemon.

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Rupert Evans Cast as Frank Frink in Amazon TV's The Man in the High Castle

September 12, 2014, 11:39 am

≫ Next: Weekly Update #160

≪ Previous: The Turn of a Blade: Alternate Medieval Histories

Hot off the announcement about the casting of Alexa Davalos, Deadline is reporting that Rupert Evans (Hellboy) has been cast as Frank Frink in Amazon TV's adaptation of Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle. The press release describes the character as a "an artist and an intellectual with a secret", which is probably the fact that he is Jewish and trying to hide from the Nazis if they follow the novel. The character is one of the point of view characters and probably should have been the male lead, but apparently someone else got that role.

What do you think of the casting news so far? Let us know in the comments.

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Weekly Update #160

September 15, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Map Monday: Maps of the Change

≪ Previous: Rupert Evans Cast as Frank Frink in Amazon TV's The Man in the High Castle

Editor's Note

Excuse me while I get through some shameless self-promotion. Alternate History Weekly Update has once again been entered in the Underground Book Reviews' Independent Literary Industry Awards Contest. You can click the link to see the rules, but to vote for us you need to like us on UBR's Facebook page when our post appears.

As you know The Update has always tried hard to provide content from indie authors and we are proud to be recognized for this effort. I will keep you guys posted on when voting will begin.

And now the news...

Will an Independent Scotland Balkanize Europe?

I have covered US state secession proposals before, but this is the first time I have covered a European nation potentially losing some of its territory by secession. I am talking about Scotland, whose citizens will be going to the polls this week to decide whether or not they will remain a part of the United Kingdom. Polls currently give "No" a slight lead, but the number of undecided voters mean this vote is too close to call.

But what does an independent Scotland mean for the rest of Europe? Robert Kuttner wrote an interesting article for the Huffington Post suggesting that part of the blame for the situation rest with the European Union because it made it economically feasible to split up minority regions from larger nation-states as independent countries. The European Union has stated Scotland would no longer be a part of the EU if they secede, a stance no doubt meant to appease larger members who have active secessionist movements (see the map to your right).

I don't think the European Union, however, is thinking in the long-term. The EU risks looking like Swiss cheese if Scotland declares independence and more minority regions follow (Spain has several of them). On the other hand, supporters of a more federated Europe should probably encourage smaller states since they will be more likely to delegate more authority to the central government. Perhaps there is more at stake than we realize and with Russia stretching its muscles, Europe should be doing everything to stick together as a whole and stop worrying about its separate parts.

And what about the rest of the world? Are other regions around the globe, like Texas, more likely to secede if Scotland votes for independence? Should we be concerned that North Korea backs an independent Scotland? Let us hear your opinions in the comments.

What are people saying about Outlander Episodes 5 and 6?

Speaking of Scotland, lets talk about the last two Outlander episodes. For episode 5, Sharlene Mousfar of Geek Syndicate gave the episode a 4 out of 5 and said the "chemistry between Jamie and Claire has kicked up a notch as have the stakes." Katharine Trendacosta of io9 commented on how Claire's future knowledge is beginning to be a problem, especially when she tries to change history. For those who haven't read the books, and from what I heard the show follows them pretty closely, I just wanted to let you know Uchronia does not list them as alternate history. Shame really.

Now on to episode 6 (see a quick preview here). Once again Sharlene Mousfar of Geek Syndicate continues to rate the show highly, giving it a 5 out of 5. She commented on the graphic violence of this episode, but generally thought it was a good episode. Author Paul Levinson titled his review "Outstanding", which some up his review quite nicely.

Seriously I need to watch this show!

Videos for Alternate Historians

We begin this segment by asking: did you attend the 2014 Historical Novel Society Conference in London this year? Well in case you didn't you can check out highlights from the conference below:

Friend of The Update Alison Morton, author of Successio, has also written about her experiences at the convention (part 1, part 2 and photos). Now we end this segment with a look at Cody Franklin's new video, what if 9/11 never happened?

Don't forget to share your video recommendations with us at ahwupdate at gmail dot com.

Links to the Multiverse

Books

Alan Moore Completes 1 Million+ Word Historical Fantasy Novel, Jerusalem by John ONeill at Black Gate.
Author FAQ: On writing and on getting an agent by Michael J. Martinez.
Creative Alchemy Author Offers Free Fantasy Novel Inspired by Real WWII Heroines at PR.com
Designing the Dress for Of Noble Family’s Cover Image by Mary Robinette Kowal at Tor.
A different, dangerous land: Three alternate depictions of Britain by Vikas Datta at Economic Times.
Dragon Con 2014: Harry Turtledove Q and A, and The Big Things Panel by Doug Dandridge at Imagination Unlimited.
Steam Era Transportation – Railways in Stories by Ray Dean at Steamed!
The Steampunkery of H.G. Wells by R. Graeme Cameron at Amazing Stories.
What If Anne Boleyn Had a Son? by AlexandriaIngham at Wizzley.

Comics

A beginner's guide to DC Comics's multiverse by Alex Abad-Santos at Vox.
Cool Stuff: The Star Wars Deluxe Edition Hardcover Collection by Peter Sciretta at Slash Film.
Latest L. Neil Smith Report by Baloo at Ex-Army.

Counterfactuals, History and News

Alternative History - NATO Never Expands at Nuclear Diner.
For Centuries, This Mystical Jewish Sect Lived Hidden In Plain Sight by Mark Strauss at io9.
The Islamic Roots Of Science Fiction by Charlie Jane Anders at io9.
Japan: Hirohito warned attack on Pearl Harbor would be 'self-destructive' by Justin McCurry at The Guardian.
This Is What Would Happen If The Yellowstone Supervolcano Erupted by Ajai Raj at Yahoo.
Three Things To Keep In Mind About The Big Jack The Ripper 'Reveal' by Robbie Gonzalez at io9.
Why Estonia Might Be Next on Putin’s “Wanted” List by Rob Garver at Yahoo.

Film and Television

See Footage From Unmade ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ Movie Starring Paul Reubens by Peter Sciretta at Slash Film.
Short Film: Interview With a Time Traveler at SF Signal.
TV REVIEW: Doctor Who, S8, E3: Robot of Sherwood at Geek Syndicate.

Interviews

David Barnett at My Bookish Ways.
Paul di Filippo at Amazing Stories.

Podcasts

Episode 27 - Alternate Histories at Try It, You'll Like It.
Reductio Ad Hitlerum by Mike Pesca at Slate.
S&L Podcast - #188 - It's a Dragon Con Plex with Naomi Novik.

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Map Monday: Maps of the Change

September 15, 2014, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: New Releases 9/16/14

≪ Previous: Weekly Update #160

With the recent release of The Golden Princess by SM Stirling (check out my review on Amazing Stories) I decided to showcase two maps I found last week that were inspired by the Emberverse series. The first is a world map of the Changeverse from 2020 AD by Zoidberg12:

The big issue I have with this map is that it doesn't take into account the information from the new book, but otherwise an excellent work of fan cartography. Next up we have a map from Ephraim Ben Raphael showcasing the United States of America (Guam):

Click on the link for more details on how this imagined survivor state (this is certainly not canon) came to exist. Really nice looking map in my opinion, but I expect as much from Ephraim (whose work has appeared numerous times on The Update).

Honorable mention this week goes to The Germanator and his two maps of Swedish America (1699 and 1730). If you want to submit a map for the next Map Monday, email me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com with your map attached and a brief description in the body of the email.

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New Releases 9/16/14

September 16, 2014, 6:29 am

≫ Next: What If Wednesday: NATO Did Not Expand Into Eastern Europe

≪ Previous: Map Monday: Maps of the Change

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

Paperback

Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon by David Barnett

Nineteenth century London is the center of a vast British Empire, a teeming metropolis where steam-power is king and airships ply the skies, and where Queen Victoria presides over three quarters of the known world—including the east coast of America, following the failed revolution of 1775.

Young Gideon Smith has seen things that no green lad of Her Majesty’s dominion should ever experience. Through a series of incredible events Gideon has become the newest Hero of the Empire. But Gideon is a man with a mission, for the dreaded Texas pirate Louis Cockayne has stolen the mechanical clockwork girl Maria, along with a most fantastical weapon—a great brass dragon that was unearthed beneath ancient Egyptian soil. Maria is the only one who can pilot the beast, so Cockayne has taken girl and dragon off to points east.

Gideon and his intrepid band take to the skies and travel to the American colonies hot on Cockayne’s trail. Not only does Gideon want the machine back, he has fallen in love with Maria. Their journey will take them to the wilds of the lawless lands south of the American colonies – to free Texas, where the mad King of Steamtown rules with an iron fist (literally), where life is cheap and honor even cheaper.

Does Gideon have what it takes to not only save the day but win the girl?

David Barnett's Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon is a fantastical steampunk fable set against an alternate historical backdrop: the ultimate Victoriana/steampunk mash-up!

Editor's Note: Check out my review of Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl on Amazing Stories.

E-books

Plexis Boxed Set (Armageddon Arising, Engines of Empire, Edge of Evil) by Ivan Kramer

THIEVES vs. ASSASSINS
LOCKPICKS vs. KNIVES
WITS vs. HANDGUNS

When Alec's parents - professional international burglars - decide to penetrate the Russian Royal train to steal some classified paperwork for their mysterious client, he decides to help them. But what seems to be an easy break-in becomes the first knot in the net of intrigues that have entangled the globe. Now Alec must prevent a major catastrophe and track down those who control the plot's gears steering the events toward an unpredictable finale.

A chain of murders and explosions, mysterious clues and ominous evidence takes young Alec McGuinn to Paris, London and the Balkans, finally leading him to America. But how can one fight the secret terrorist masters of this world if they would stop at nothing to silence a humble technical student?

A humble student? Are you sure? Raised by his internationally sought parents who now hide from the European police in the vastness of the Russian Empire, he's no novice to the world of crime.

The century of steam and diesel, of zeppelins and locomotives. The era of great heroes and dastardly villains. The weapons of the past against the breakthrough technologies of the future!

More Plexis books are coming shortly!

To fans, authors and publishers...

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What If Wednesday: NATO Did Not Expand Into Eastern Europe

September 17, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Preview: World War Kaiju by Josh Finney and Patrick McEvoy

≪ Previous: New Releases 9/16/14

Last week I found a counterfactual by Cheryl of Nuclear Diner that posited a world where NATO never expands into Eastern Europe. It was based on the opinions of what she called "foreign policy realists" that blamed NATO for the events in Ukraine because it provoked Russia by expanding into their sphere of influence. Now I have heard this opinion voiced before and I have not been sold on the logic. It sounds too much like victim blaming. Some of the blame is shifted from the aggressor because of something the victim did, i.e. "if you didn't want to be raped you shouldn't have worn such slutty clothes" or "the Germans invaded the Soviet Union to defend Europe from invasion". Arguments like that ignore the motivations and desires of the aggressor and in the end encourage similar behaviors from the aggressor. Essentially it is appeasement all over again.

Now I am sure some of the examples above might set some off on tangents that would derail the conversation, so lets get back to the question at hand: what if NATO (and presumably the European Union as well) did not expand into Eastern Europe? Would the Ukrainian Conflict be happening right now? Certainly it is fair to admit relations may be better between Russia and the West. There does appear to be evidence that promises were made that western military forces would not be stationed in the East, but if they were made they were never formalized. Still it is understandable that Russia could have felt betrayed by the West and thus this could explain some of the current problems the world is experiencing in Europe.

Yet that is just one of many factors influencing the current situation. Russia's conflict with the West is as much a cultural battle as it is anything else. Putin has made one of his goals to make Russia the world leader of anti-western culture. The differences between Russia's conservative values and the West's more tolerant society is not something that can be solved at the negotiating table. Either the Western world would require a major cultural shift following the end of the Cold War or Russia would need to completely isolate itself from the global economy to prevent some sort of conflict. And what about ethnic Russians who approve of Putin's presidency, but reside in parts of the former Soviet Union? Should we just assume that their desire to once again be a part of Russia would disappear in a world where the West stays out of East?

Assuming NATO leaders stands by their promises, and the leaders of the European Union follow their lead, Russia is unlikely to stay out of Eastern Europe. With the West ignoring them and Russia exerting political/economic pressure, one by one the Eastern Europe states would take their cues from Moscow. The Warsaw Pact might have fallen, but a new version would arise to take its place. Areas where there is a high percentage of Russian minorities could be ceded back to Russia. More former Soviet Republics could also be members of the Union State. Having regained its old influence, Russia would still position itself as the leader of the anti-western world, as its conservative culture clashes with Western Civilization. Conflict is likely inevitable somewhere, with the Yugoslav states or the Middle East being likely candidates for new proxy wars as a new Cold War begins.

Then again, perhaps Eastern Europe would resist. I am reminded of the Eastern Europe nation from Harry Turtledove's "Les Mortes d'Arthur" that came together after the Soviet Union collapsed in the near future. Perhaps abandoned by the West and terrified of a more powerful Russia, the Eastern European nations band together into their own political and economic alliance, something along the lines of the proposed Intermarium perhaps? A community of nations to keep Russia at bay and to compete with Western Europe for economic dominance on the continent. Perhaps they may even gain support from the United States not just as a convenient buffer against an old rival, but also as an alternative ally in case there is any dissatisfaction in Western Europe with American policy. Then again this doesn't prevent any conflict or from Russia inciting minorities to revolt as they are doing now.

Perhaps the one thing to take away from this counterfactual is that some sort of post-Cold War conflict between Russia and the rest of the world was inevitable. So what do you guys think of my scenario? I understand that because this is a current event and the terminology I was required to use, passions are likely to run high. Please keep all comments civil.

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Preview: World War Kaiju by Josh Finney and Patrick McEvoy

September 18, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Crusader Kings II: Over 1 Million Copies Sold

≪ Previous: What If Wednesday: NATO Did Not Expand Into Eastern Europe

The next comic I will be reviewing is World War Kaiju, written by Josh Finney and illustrated by Patrick McEvoy. Here is the description from Amazon:

What if Doctor Strangelove created Godzilla? World War Kaiju is the story of an alternate history, one in which the atom bomb was never created and the ultimate weapon of mass destruction is the kaiju fifty foot tall radioactive beasts spawned from the mysterious KAI-235 isotope. Follow the journey of one journalist as he teams up with a retired CIA operative to uncover the truth about the conspiracy behind the monsters... ...who are the architects of the inevitable Kaiju War? ...what is the shocking secret behind the mysterious KAI-235 isotope? ...where did Cuba manage to hide a crab monster the size of an aircraft carrier? ...why are rogue monsters appearing all over the world? ...how long can Tricky Dick keep these truths from the people?

This comic was published after a successful Kickstarter campaign. The creators were kind enough to send my a review copy so stay tuned to hear my thoughts on this alternate history of the Cold War. In the meantime if you would like to learn more, check out their website.

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Crusader Kings II: Over 1 Million Copies Sold

September 19, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Weekly Update #161

≪ Previous: Preview: World War Kaiju by Josh Finney and Patrick McEvoy

Paradox Interactive announced yesterday that Crusader Kings II, the grand strategy game of medieval dynasty building, has now sold over one million copies worldwide. Launched in early 2012, Crusader Kings II has been purchased for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers and is extremely popular with alternate historians. Paradox continues to support Crusader Kings II with free and paid content, with a new expansion, “Charlemagne,” coming soon.

“Whenever we discuss the sort of games we like to make, and the sort of fans we make them for, Crusader Kings II is one of the titles we point to as a shining example,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “I want to thank every one of those million fans who have picked up Crusader Kings II for proving our point about game design for the truly dedicated. We make games for people who want to dive deep and explore a title with endless possibilities, where each player develops their own in-game story – and our players have responded. Every day we read the unique tales from our fans of the lengths to which they've gone to preserve their dynasties. Paradox is committed to growing those experiences in Crusader Kings II and in our entire portfolio.”

Paradox Interactive has also shared some data about Crusader Kings II to underline the scope of the game’s success. Not only has the base game itself sold over a million copies, but the catalog of DLC and expansions for Crusader Kings II have sold a combined total of approximately 7 million units. Crusader Kings II is played by an average of 12,500 players every day, and roughly 100,000 players in a month. The average Crusader Kings II player has a playtime of just over 99 hours.

For more information on Crusader Kings II, including the upcoming "Charlemagne" expansion, you can visit their website.

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Weekly Update #161

September 22, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Map Monday: Route of Diogo de Teive's 1452 Voyage by Reagent

≪ Previous: Crusader Kings II: Over 1 Million Copies Sold

Editor's Note

If you guys liked my brief history of alternate history fandom, you will be happy to know I am planning a more in depth look at the people who play the what if game that I hope to submit to the Sideways in Time conference. Already my research has uncovered the year we realized World War II and American Civil War alternate histories were the most popular in the English language, the time Del Rey declared October the alternate history month and other defunct communities like Other Timelines.

In the meantime, if you have any important events you think I missed, let me know by emailing me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com. I am also hoping to contact some of the big names in fandom, so if you know how please consider making introductions. Thanks!

And now the news...

Preview: Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato

Clockwork Daggerby Beth Cato is a debut steampunk, historical fantasy novel that has blown up the Geek Net. For those who don't know, here is the description from Amazon:

Full of magic, mystery, and romance, an enchanting steampunk fantasy debut in the bestselling vein of Trudi Canavan and Gail Carriger.

Orphaned as a child, Octavia Leander was doomed to grow up on the streets until Miss Percival saved her and taught her to become a medician. Gifted with incredible powers, the young healer is about to embark on her first mission, visiting suffering cities in the far reaches of the war-scarred realm. But the airship on which she is traveling is plagued by a series of strange and disturbing occurrences, including murder, and Octavia herself is threatened.

Suddenly, she is caught up in a flurry of intrigue: the dashingly attractive steward may be one of the infamous Clockwork Daggers—the Queen’s spies and assassins—and her cabin-mate harbors disturbing secrets. But the danger is only beginning, for Octavia discovers that the deadly conspiracy aboard the airship may reach the crown itself.

Want to learn more about Clockwork Dagger? Author Beth helpfully provided a lot of supplemental info last week. You can read about the cast at Literary Escapism, learn how Beth went from loving historical fiction to writing steampunk at SF Signal and read about her favorite bit over at Mary Robinette Kowal's website. You can also check out interviews with Beth on Reddit, Fran Wilde's Cooking the Books and the Qwillery, where Beth described the setting of Clockwork Dagger being inspired by "post-World War I Europe, while the geography is based on western Washington state."

No reviews yet, so if you have read this book, let us know.

I won Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon by David Barnett!

And just because I like trolling certain alternate historians, lets talk about another STEAMPUNK book, except this one is actually listed as an alternate history on Uchronia, so there you go. I am of course talking about Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon by David Barnett, the sequel to Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl (see my review on Amazing Stories). I was lucky enough to win a copy from My Bookish Ways, an excellent site for SF literature that I have linked to often and you should definitely check out.

Now I have talked about this book enough that there is no need to included the book description, but there were some other sites talking about the sequel that you may want to check out. First up, David talked about the five things he learned writing Brass Dragon over at Chuck Wendig's Terrible Minds. He also described his weird and broken America over on John Scalzi's Whatever.

Expect a review from me in the near future.

Links to the Multiverse

Books and Short Fiction

Cover & Synopsis: THE ETERNA FILES by Leanna Renee Hieber at SF Signal.
Excerpt Thursday: PERFIDITAS by Alison Morton at Unusual Historicals.
Free eBook: CHASING THE QUEEN OF SASSI by Paul Di Filippo at SF Signal.
Historic fantasy to inspire youth: Author Daisy Lee Yang speaks about inspiration and thoughts behind her new book at The Korea Herald.
Invasion Porn – Britain’s Curious Pre-WW1 Obsession With Novels About Foreign Occupation at Military History Now.
It's About Time by Dennis O'Neil at ComicM!x.
Review: The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan at Nocturnal Book Reviews.
Review: California Bones by Greg Van Eekhout at Bookworm Blues.
Review: Last Plane to Heaven by Jay Lake at Locus.
Review: The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond at The Children's War.
Review:
Steampunk gears up for a broader audience by Jason Heller at Entertainment Weekly.

Counterfactuals, History and News

Congress takes up bill to make D.C. the 51st state by Aaron C. Davis at The Washington Post.
Counterfactual Chatter in "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki" by Gavriel D. Rosenfeld at The Counterfactual History Review.
How This Time-Traveling Professor Is Re-Defining Play And Learning by John Converse Townsend at Forbes.
Imagine a world where Hillary Clinton didn’t run for president in 2016 by Philip Bump at The Washington Post.
Iranian Prof: Suspicion of Nuclear Program Results From Iran’s Threats Against Israel at The Tower.
Islamic State group issues new curriculum in Iraq by Sinan Salaheddin and Vivian Salama at Yahoo.
Israeli Archaeologist Discovers Huge Monument Older Than The Pyramids by Mark Strauss at io9.
Meticulous Visual Recreation Of Moon Landing Shows It Wasn't A Hoax by George Dvorsky at io9.

Film and Television

In Outlander, It's the Man's Bodice That Gets Ripped by Sara N at Stellar Four.
Outlander 1.7: Tender Intertemporal Polygamy at Paul Levinson's Infinite Regress.
TV REVIEW: Doctor Who, S8, E4: Listen at Geek Syndicate.

Interviews

Nicola Griffith at Locus.
Mary Robinette Kowal at Lightspeed.
Dru Pagliassotti at Mary Robinette Kowal.

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