Reds! Official Fanfiction Thread (Part Two)

I guess that message of love could be retained.

But not in the fantastical "love creates laser beams that can banish hate," kind of way.

More like "my love for others had made me stronger than striving for pointless material wealth" kind of a way. Love is why the people of 33 faced down a corrupt capitalist system. Love is why men like George Patton abandoned aristocratic privelege.
Directly weaponising emotions is very much still a thing in TTL fiction.
 

xsampa

Banned
Does the Universe of reds! have any internal resistance to cultural homogenization? How does it handle issues of integration and Difference in the French philosophical sense?
 
So what might a Reds version of Robert Harris's Fatherland look like, with a Cold War between the USAR and the Third Reich?

....

Probably even less sympathetic toward the Nazis and those who chose to ally with them.

I wonder if Darkseid’s Omega Beams would be called “Sigma Beams” ITTL due to the reputation the sigma symbol has ITTL

I think there would be some controversy over depicting a sigma signal in media.
 

xsampa

Banned
Is Africa more developed than OTL?
I figured it would have to be. The parts under the internationale aren't suffering from Neocolonialism so there is more opportunity for it to prosper (look how short it took for sankara to get overthrown OTL by the French sphere.)
On the other hand, yes, Africa is also being partially neocolonized by the Franco British sphere, but I figured like in France/Britain proper they need some concessions to the African proletariat to prevent socialist revolutions. Look at the OTL Francosphere and how horrendous it is, I think however with a socialist alternative the French won't want to act like OTL in their neocolonial attitude as that would lead to a faster loss of their sphere. I think Britain and France have a pretty clear interest in their sphere industrializing, both for greater economic power in their bloc as well as again the socialist Africa factor.
Edit: Sorry for these questions, I am just curious.
Also, W. Europe has far less people than Africa: around 200 million to 1 billion Africans. The need to keep the colonies loyal (with the Americans in South Italy and the Soviets even closer to the Rhine, and Red Canada) certainly leads to more autonomy
 
The Quarrymen Take America
“Pioneer: I’d like to think of it as cultural learning.
PBS-5 reporter: Is that so?
Pioneer: The Quarrymen were raised in the hardscrabble streets of Liverpool. Their music represents the raw working class power of the Franco-British Union.
Reporter: So that’s why you wanted to bring your cadre today to the concert.
Pioneer: I’d say so, yes. We need a reminder that there are still proletarians worldwide who are still struggling, and we need to celebrate their art.”
- Local W2XAB coverage of the Quarrymen concert at Marcantonio Stadium, March 3rd, 1964

“Tonight’s featured act came directly from the taverns of Liverpool to become a national phenomenon in the Franco-British Union. Now, they’ve decided to take their act over here to the Republics. So, without further ado, comrades, please welcome the Quarrymen!”
- Paul Robeson, The Paul Robeson Show , March 4th, 1964

“.... Our analysis of the so-called “Quarrymania” in the Franco-British Union has indicated that it is driven by a marketing campaign, led by band manager Brian Epstein and their record label EMI. The band’s songs are often rough and angry, but still with enough polish to appeal to a wide audience. This and the simplicity of the lyrics around it suggests a possible use of subliminal messaging within the seemingly innocuous songs to ensure compliance with bourgeois capitalist norms…”
- Memo sent from Section 1 Cultural Analysis Center to J. Edgar Hoover, c. 1964

“I didn’t serve the proletariat in the Revolution and the Great Revolutionary War, only to have these bougie boys with mop top hair come in and sway our children!”
- Older union politico interviewed by Debs television, March 4th, 1964

“At their performance at DAR Constitution Hall, the one-time home of the Congress of Soviet, the Quarrymen sold out, bringing in over 4000 to see their performance. For those who could fit into the building, the performance was made a special broadcast for PBS-6, called The Quarrymen: Live at Constitution Hall.
- The Quarrymen in America
, Eugene Debs Harmony, 2008

“What was it again? John, Paul, George, and… Peter? No. Pete. Okay, got it. I got a call from [Georges] Pompidou. He met with these boys a couple months ago, when they were big in the Entente. He gave me some pointers. Lets see if that bougie son of a bitch wasn’t just fucking with me.”
- Premier Richard Nixon, conversing with aides before his meeting with the Quarrymen.

“Alright, now on our next act, Dick Starkey and the Mars Bars!”
- Top of the Pops, EBC-1 March 15, 1964

“We are a dying breed, Comrade Foreign Secretary. Foster, Reed, Sinclair, even old General MacArthur are all gone. Now, the children read more Stan Lee than Marx. Watch more StateSec than Ronald Reagan. They despise King Baudoin and Queen Elizabeth, and love Chubby Checkers and the Quarrymen. The times are, indeed, changing.”
- Former Central Executive Council member John Williamson in a letter to former Foreign Secretary Earl Browder, April, 1964

“I mean, Frank Sinatra has wild orgies at his Reno dacha all the time, and he flies to DeLeon-Debs the next day to have dinner with the Supreme Revolutionary Tribunal. Why should these boys be held to a different standard?”
- Nevada farmer Jenny Chang on rumors of the Quarrymen having wild parties at their hotel room, The Daily Worker, May,1964

“And now, from our cross-Atlantic rivals, here’s Herve Villard with ‘Capri c'est fini’”
- Denver rock DJ Harry Walsh, June 1964.

“Indeed, the fervour around these four young men has something of a religious flavor to it in their native Britain. Indeed, one could say, at this very moment, they are bigger than Jesus Christ himself amongst the youth in Great Britain and France. In stark contrast, our youth regard Quarrymen with more detached fascination. Much as one would appreciate an orchestra or an innovator in the vain of Stravinsky or Theremin, the large crowds have a definite appreciation of their musical skills, but unlike the British youth, they don’t worship them. Lead Paul McCartney noted how calm the crowds are in the United Republics compared to Britain. How they tend to be respectful and distant.”
- Ronald Reagan, The 5 O’Clock News, PBS-5, July 5th, 1964

“The success of the Quarrymen beget acts like Hoochie Coochie, the Zombies, The Group, The Animals, Johnny Halliday, Claude Francois, the Go-Go Boys and many others from the capitalist sphere, inspired by Blues and Folk, coming to the United Republics. The “Franco-British Invasion” became a defining part of the 1960’s music scene, bringing a newer, rougher sound that would influence groups for generations, on both sides of the Atlantic.”
- The Decades:The 1960’s, 1998
 
I actually realized something...

This TLs India ironically economic speaking is probably similar to the PRC of otl.

Initially growth from a textile based capitalist economy but moving into more advanced industries, pretty high public spending but also high inequality and poor work conditions.

I’m glad the China of this TL went on it’s own path beyond mao’s madness and dengism toward automated libertarian proletarian democratic communism of the rest of the comiterm with high living standards and quality of life. I feel if anything is a good otl China analogy ttl it is India, albeit more democratic and perhaps “western” influenced. More economic speaking and geopolitical role.

However not a neocolonial foray like otl China given Africa and the so called “global south” doesn’t really exist.

More like rising economic and military power with the features above.
 
Last edited:
Also, two ideologies I think that could serve a minor role within the Comiterm that I haven't seen touched

Technocratic socialism (think zeitgeist)

Nanosocialism

Glad seeing transhumanism becoming relevant though.
 
Also, two ideologies I think that could serve a minor role within the Comiterm that I haven't seen touched

Technocratic socialism (think zeitgeist)

Nanosocialism

Glad seeing transhumanism becoming relevant though.

Even in 2020, we are a long ways off from transhumanism.

What does transhumanism entail? Cybernetic implants? GM babies?
 
Even in 2020, we are a long ways off from transhumanism.

What does transhumanism entail? Cybernetic implants? GM babies?
Well techs considerably advanced compared with otl.

There are canon transhumanist parties in “Reds!” I believe in the comiterm are pretty relevant and to a lesser extent the Alliance.

Politically transhumanism may entail those specific technologies - but most importantly the believe such technologies can help free humans from capitalism and other oppressive structures, a mindset and long sighted solution.

Computer techs far ahead playing a large rule for the very exceptionally high living standards for the comiterm (economic planning cybersyn type) and also there’s a lunar city and a mars base already, and I think a space lift.

Nuclear techs perhaps five decades ahead and actual (not fake) breakthrough has been made for nuclear fission/fusion.
 
Last edited:
Well techs considerably advanced compared with otl.

There are canon transhumanist parties in “Reds!” I believe in the comiterm are pretty relevant and to a lesser extent the Alliance.

Politically transhumanism may entail those specific technologies - but most importantly the believe such technologies can help free humans from capitalism and other oppressive structures, a mindset and long sighted solution.

Computer techs far ahead playing a large rule for the very exceptionally high living standards for the comiterm (economic planning cybersyn type) and also there’s a lunar city and a mars base already, and I think a space lift.

Nuclear techs perhaps five decades ahead and actual (not fake) breakthrough has been made for nuclear fission/fusion.

Is the general idea of transhumanism the idea that technology could help man surpass his/her limits?
 
Well techs considerably advanced compared with otl.

There are canon transhumanist parties in “Reds!” I believe in the comiterm are pretty relevant and to a lesser extent the Alliance.

Politically transhumanism may entail those specific technologies - but most importantly the believe such technologies can help free humans from capitalism and other oppressive structures, a mindset and long sighted solution.

Computer techs far ahead playing a large rule for the very exceptionally high living standards for the comiterm (economic planning cybersyn type) and also there’s a lunar city and a mars base already, and I think a space lift.

Nuclear techs perhaps five decades ahead and actual (not fake) breakthrough has been made for nuclear fission/fusion.
They're small pressure groups/think tnaks, not true political parties
 
Glad Africa's considerably better TTL - and does make sense.

Socialisms far more viable TTL, Sankara for example could fairly easily pull what he was trying.

The capitalist bloc on the other hand can't be complete asshole neo colonists as it may lead to African revolutions and a loss of its influence.

I think Nigeria is the power of the capitalist bloc on the continent and it may be Congo the Comiterm power?

I figure both probably initially grew from textiles then moved towards advanced manufacturing and services.

Mostly glad Africa has geopolitical relevance TTL beyond brushfire wars and the second great game.

Rhodesia's still shit, but good their a essentially universally hated pariah.

Given America's previous tactics of investing a lot in South American states to catch up with the others I assume they did the same with Azania, and have probably assisted them in the field of military given their tensions with Rhodesia.

Yet if I be honest perhaps the two most developed states in the continent are Eritrea and Somalia... at least in the red bloc.

They were liberated really and likely got quite the investment early on post war.

My take is in the capitalist bloc their African allies are not unlike OTL Southeast Asia, emerging economies largely based off of textile production but also moving into more advanced industries like more mechanized quality manufacturing and services.

However this may be bias but I believe the Comiterm would get a bit ahead here.

I kinda hope Afrofuturism for architecture has relevance within Comiterm Africa.
 
Top