There are some actual libertarians on these boards, and others who aren't but have similar sympathies. If one of them was reading this, they might have mixed feelings over Galtville's fate.
Mixed feelings? Not really. Meddling in Sub-Saharan Africa is inherently corrupting. No matter who you are, setting up shop there gradually changes you into a racist, psychopathic asshole, no matter who you are. So yeah, location's important. But no, I like this timeline a lot. It's actually one of my new favorites.
*deep breath*
I was reading this TL the other day, and had a brainstorm for a reimagining: what if Ayn's goons had reached some kind of agreement with China or Britain and taken control of the Kowloon Walled City instead? I'm not familiar with what policy was concerning the place other than "whoa man I ain't touching that", but it's a lawless area in the correct timeframe. Plus, having some sort of urban base there already seems like a better place to start off logistically than just plunking down some railroads in the ass-end of nowhere. Seems like an easier starting point for the kind of city-state they're looking for. Plus you get some pretty cool opportunities for espionage and Cold-War-type skullduggery, as well as the hilarious propaganda point for the Objectivists of building their free-market paradise right under the nose of Communist China.
Plus, the imagery's pretty awesome. I'm having visions of Art-Deco penthouses precariously perched atop hives of ramshackle, packed-together buildings, good ol' Ayn screeching like a banshee in negotiations with Chairman Mao, Denard and his team having running gunbattles with Triad goons along rooftops, Che prowling around rain-slicked alleys snapping Objectivist necks... I can't believe I didn't think of it before now!
*gasping for breath*
So...yeah. Anyone have a plausibility check on this?
