What If?: Alternate History Part 1

Dispatch Ajax! Podcast

What if a tiny twist in history could lead to a world where World War VII has given rise to the Ameri-Mexicanadian enclave? Join us on a wild journey through the captivating genre of alternate history, where we explore the "what ifs" that tickle our imagination and keep us up at night. We kick off with some playful banter about how minor changes could create wildly different realities, and how this fascination has woven its way into geek culture classics like "The Sixth Sense" and alternate space race scenarios.
Imagine Operation Valkyrie succeeding or Heisenberg actually sabotaging the Nazi atomic bomb efforts. We dive into pivotal moments during World War II, examining how slight alterations could have redefined global events. Our conversation takes intriguing twists, comparing the Nazis' infamous deeds to those of colonial powers and pondering why World War II is often deemed a uniquely just war. We also touch on conspiracy theories and their influence on alternate history narratives, referencing works like "The Man in the High Castle" and other speculative fiction.
Celebrating the authors who have shaped this genre, we put the spotlight on Philip K. Dick and Harry Turtledove, comparing their unique storytelling approaches. We explore Turtledove's significant contributions, such as his Southern Victory and World War series, and even indulge in some geeky banter about video games like "Fallout" and "Wolfenstein." Our quirky reminders about listener ratings and local poll magazines add a fun twist to our conversation, making this episode a delightful mix of insightful commentary and lighthearted fun for every history buff and geek culture enthusiast.

Chapters

1. Exploring Alternate History in Geek Culture (00:00:00)

2. Exploring Alternate History (00:15:41)

3. Exploring Fascinating Alternate Histories (00:22:17)

4. Exploring Prolific Alternate History Authors (00:31:30)

5. Geek Culture Video Game Banter (00:45:05)