Es Geloybte Aretz - a Germanwank

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Zmflavius

You know, I've been thinking, when this is done, do you plan on publishing this?

Would anyone buy it? I mean, it is partly an exercise in improving my fiction writing skills to marketable levels, but it's a pretty obscure niche of a pretty obscure sub-section of a pretty obscure genre.

[wietze]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

Would anyone buy it? I mean, it is partly an exercise in improving my fiction writing skills to marketable levels, but it's a pretty obscure niche of a pretty obscure sub-section of a pretty obscure genre.

as an ebook it would always be possible i think

[Arrix85]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

I'm only going to take this to the end of the first war. No way can I cover over a century in such detail.

Would you consider using a more history book style and then use your current method for the most important moments/phases? I only ask this because it would be sad to see this go, but not if you feel it would mean a decrease in quality.

[mikegold]

Originally Posted by Arrix85

Would you consider using a more history book style and then use your current method for the most important moments/phases? I only ask this because it would be sad to see this go, but not if you feel it would mean a decrease in quality.

I think there is PLENTY of this war left. But when the time comes, I agree, I'd be interested in the future of this world.

Carlton's apparent reference to theater-wide nuclear war in the future is very depressing.

[B_Munro]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

I'm only going to take this to the end of the first war. No way can I cover over a century in such detail.

Maybe just some sort of rough outline of the world circa 1960?

Bruce

[Arrix85]

Originally Posted by B_Munro

Maybe just some sort of rough outline of the world circa 1960?

Bruce

I'd sign for that. where did I put my pen?

[Helga]

Indeed, I would buy it as an ebook alright. Hope to see lots more of it.

[mikegold]

Originally Posted by Helga

Indeed, I would buy it as an ebook alright.

I would too.

[Faeelin]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

Would anyone buy it? I mean, it is partly an exercise in improving my fiction writing skills to marketable levels, but it's a pretty obscure niche of a pretty obscure sub-section of a pretty obscure genre.

Harry Turtledove made his start with novels about Byzantine secret agents. The bigger problems are:

1) this isn't really a novel; and

2) this may affect your academic carreer.

[mikegold]

Originally Posted by Faeelin

Harry Turtledove made his start with novels about Byzantine secret agents. The bigger problems are:

1) this isn't really a novel; and

2) this may affect your academic carreer.

Harry Turtledove was discovered by Isaac Asimov, IIRC.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Faeelin

Harry Turtledove made his start with novels about Byzantine secret agents. The bigger problems are:

1) this isn't really a novel; and

2) this may affect your academic carreer.

I don't have an academic career. I make a living translating papers and grant applications, teaching English and historic cookery classes.

The first point is valid, though.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by B_Munro

Maybe just some sort of rough outline of the world circa 1960?

Bruce

I'm putting together a kind of epilogon describing various aspects of TTL Germany c. 2010 to finish off the TL. Excerpts from travel guidebooks, history exams, political journalism, that sort of thing.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by mikegold

Carlton's apparent reference to theater-wide nuclear war in the future is very depressing.

It's not so bad. It was the 50s, technologically closer to OTL's late 40s in many respects, and all the Germans had was a few primitive bombs in the kiloton range.

Of course, they had just spent the last few years fighting a conventional war all over Eastern Europe, so "not so bad" needs to be put into perspective. Zarizyn disappeared from the face of the earth in one bright flash, but Warsaw did the same thing using only tanks, artillery and tactical air power. It just took longer.

[jakewilson]

Just got caught up and it's a very entertaining read so far.

This is a little bit off-topic, but I recall someone mentioning towards the beginning of the thread that Willie II considered giving Alsace-Lorraine to Franz Ferdinand as legacy for his kids, who were from a morganatic marriage. I wonder if Willie III, given his different character and politics, might consider giving it to the Archduchess Elizabeth. Certainly it would make her grandpa a happy old man, and would be a nice gesture to the Hapsburgs if he chooses a Hannover wife.

[Whanztastic]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

It's not so bad. It was the 50s, technologically closer to OTL's late 40s in many respects, and all the Germans had was a few primitive bombs in the kiloton range.

Of course, they had just spent the last few years fighting a conventional war all over Eastern Europe, so "not so bad" needs to be put into perspective. Zarizyn disappeared from the face of the earth in one bright flash, but Warsaw did the same thing using only tanks, artillery and tactical air power. It just took longer.

Doesn't sound much different from OTL.

[Faeelin]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

I don't have an academic career. I make a living translating papers and grant applications, teaching English and historic cookery classes.

How may people know about the Kaiser's mistress?

You could do it a novel set in a 1960s or 1970s as a reverse Fatherland. A shocking secret about Germany's dark past that will shake the Fatherland to its core...

Mind, I still want to see someone do an autobiography set in a Nazi Cultural Revolution. The cultural tragedy when the Brownshirts blow up Habsburg architecture as signs of decadent cosmopolitanism, the intellectuals sent to farm the east...

[mikegold]

Originally Posted by Faeelin

Mind, I still want to see someone do an autobiography set in a Nazi Cultural Revolution. The cultural tragedy when the Brownshirts blow up Habsburg architecture as signs of decadent cosmopolitanism, the intellectuals sent to farm the east...

Wow. You just made the Nazis even worse. That's got to be worth a Medal of Dystopia.

[Zmflavius]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

01 December 1905, Helsingfors

(Finnish Declaration of Independence)

(The London Illustrated News)

I just reread the timeline and I just noticed something; this quote

“Today,” as he writes in his declaration to the Finnish people, “I know no parties or tongues among us. today, I know only Finns!” ...”

is a paraphrase of one of Wilhelm II's quotes right? I just noticed it.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Zmflavius

I just reread the timeline and I just noticed something; this quote

is a paraphrase of one of Wilhelm II's quotes right? I just noticed it.

Yes. It is one of his better lines, isn't it? And I'm sure he copied it from somewhere.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Faeelin

How may people know about the Kaiser's mistress?

You could do it a novel set in a 1960s or 1970s as a reverse Fatherland. A shocking secret about Germany's dark past that will shake the Fatherland to its core...

That would be an interesting idea. It would have to be about something else, though - maybe the government staunchly denies ever having shipped army to the Polish rebels, or they insist that all that population redistribution was amicable. Fanny is an open secret - everybody who is anybody knows, but nobody prints anything. Well, almost nobody - the Social Democratic papers routinely mention it, and the anti-government conservative wing is dropping dark hints of her destructive influence. But by the 1950s, it'll be in all the history books, much like people know today about Eisenhower and his driver.