JaniceMars Dr. Turtledove, can you hear us?
Turtledove Talk louder, please. ;)
JaniceMars Welcome to Cybling Dr. We are now LIVE.
Turtledove [gulp]
Turtledove And thank you for having me here again.
JaniceMars Thank You Dr.!
Faeelin will we find out in blood and iron what will happen to Alaska?
Turtledove I'm Harry, please. Doctors fix sick people.
JaniceMars Yes Harry )
Turtledove Alaska will be baked. No, I don't think we will find out; not relevant yet, so I'm leaving my options open.
Ben_The_NewBruswicker Question for the good doctor Will there be a sequel to Guns of The South? It could involve how the technology was used in future wars or how it evolved
Turtledove No, there won't be a sequel to GUNS. That one's a standalone. Once the technology gets introduced to that world, it could go too many different ways to make any one of them outstandingly probable.
mikez my one questions is, will we be seeing more of the Congaree Socialist Republic, or other Red rebels, in future books
Turtledove You'll have to wait and find out, Mikez. What do you think?[g]
JaniceMars LOL, thanks Harry.
Woodrow I've read that Blood and Iron comes out July 31st, but when i called Barnes & Noble, they said August 15th, has something changed?
Turtledove Not that I know of, Woodrow. I've got one copy from the Del Rey folks, so it really does exist as a printed book.
Ben_The_Newbrunswicker Doctor, will we have to wait another year for The Center Cannot Hold?
Turtledove Afraid so, Ben; I just finished the last fiddle changes and turned it in this past week. I'm writing as fast as I can[gaspwheezehackmumble]
mikezOne last question, how many hours a day does Dr. Turtledove write?
Turtledove Mike, I write about five hours a day. That's first draft, and doesn't count research and getting copy so that it's fit to be turned in.
Faeelin have you heard of the all your base craze?
Turtledove Sorry, Faeelin, but no. What is it?
JaniceMars Faelin, I'm assuming the URL you sent will explain further? Send me in IM?
JaniceMars In the meantime we have a question from GW.
GW Good evening Dr. Turtledove! How did Maximilian hang onto his throne? Did the French Foreign Legion remain there to prop him up?
Turtledove GW--Yes. As soon as the CSA won its independence, the Monroe Doctrine was a dead letter.
Reiad_de_Sain Will we perhaps hear of the British Union of Fascists across the pond?
Turtledove Well, not necessarily under that name, Reiad_de_Sain, but losers have problems that some people do think colored shirts will solve.
Woodrow Have the communists taken control of russia?
Turtledove You'll find out, Woodrow. It's very messy there; I will say that.
Ben_The_New_Brunswicker Harry, you being my favorite author and Harry Harrison being the second.... have the two of you ever though of collaborating?
Turtledove No, Ben, we haven't. I like a lot of Harrison's stuff, but in a lot of cases collaborating involves both authors doing 100% of the work [HTML]No, Ben, we haven't. I like a lot of Harrison's stuff, but in a lot of cases collaborating involves both authors doing 100% of the work [g/2].
Faeelin here's a new question has Morrel's tactic been given a name yet, the way the blitzkrieg was?
Turtledove Aside from breaking through, Faeelin, no. Hard to have a blitzkrieg with WW1 armor--it just doesn't go fast enough.
Reiad_de_Sain As a history scholar, does the doctor think a north American split between the USA, CSA, and independent Utah and California would've been possible?
Turtledove Strikes me as unlikely.
Woodrow is Germany going to become more democratic in the post war years?
Turtledove Why should it, with the Kaiser having led it to victory?
JaniceMars BTW, Harry, I hope this rapidfire question and answer isn't bogging you down.
Turtledove I'm fine, thanks.
JaniceMars If you'd like me to slow down a bit, just let us know.
JaniceMars Okay thanks.
Maccabee What is the platform of the Republican Party in the Great War/American Empire series? Are they center-left like the Liberals in Britain, conservative and business oriented like the Whigs, or some other alignment entirely?
Turtledove They're in the center between the Socialists and Democrats, and, like most parties vulnerable on both flanks, weak because of it.
Randy1012 Is there any chance that we'll be seeing maybe a Red France sometime in the AE books?
Turtledove You will, in due course, see what kind of France you get; that I promise.
Wayne Will the Vietnam war, and other more contemporary conflicts figure into any of your novels, current or future?
Turtledove Wayne, I've recently sold a novelette called "Black Tulip" about the Russians in Afghanistan.
Liberti4 Hello DR. thanks for talking to us! What was the US and CS immigration policy in the Gw universe
Turtledove Interesting question, Liberti4. Not much removed from ours in the early 20th century--more liberal in USA than CSA, but not a whole lot. CSA can't afford to let USA get too far ahead.
Ben_The_New_Brunswicker Harry, over the span of the American Empire trilogy which McGregor will we see more? Arthur or Mary? (no typos that time)
Turtledove No comment.
mikez Do you think you'd have fun moving the Great War/American Empire series into World War II, or would that be tiresome and too much like writing the WORLDWAR series over again?
Baryon lol
Turtledove Mikez, it could be interesting. We'll see what happens. And hello, Baryon.
Baryon Hi Harry, good to see you again
Reiad_de_Sain Assuming the Ottoman Empire remains in control of the middle East, will the dying nation be further plagued by the Arab Rebellion? I think this place will become the hot-spot we know it as now.
Turtledove Much of the Arab rebellion was helped along by the British, Reiad_de_Sain. Whether we see it or not in this time line. . . isn't too relevant to North America yet, so I haven't worried about it a whole lot. Worlds are big places; you can't always keep track of all of them. )
GW In OLT, Germany partitioned Belgium into Flemish & Walloon states in early 1917. Did that happen in the Great War?
Turtledove GW, I don't know. As noted, it isn't relevant to most of what I'm doing. If it ever becomes so, I'll find an answer.
Randy1012 Utah has tried to break away from the US twice now, and failed. Is there a chance that maybe sometime later on in American Empire they'll try again and, with maybe some outside help, succeed?
Turtledove Many things are possible, Randy 1012. If you think I'm going to tell you whether it happens, sorry, but I'm not.
Baryon In reality, do you think things would be much different today had the CSA won the war?
Turtledove Yes, Baryon, I do. I'm not of the Kantor school that says we all would have got on fine afterwards. I don't believe it. Think demographics, too. Do you think the black Diaspora to the north and west would've happened across a national border?
Faeelin will we ever see some type of magical rockets in the darkness series?
Turtledove I really don't like to give yes or no answers to things that haven't happened yet in the books in print, Faeelin. Sorry.
Holocatmon How do you maintain the concentration required to write relatively long fiction works. I stop for sometimes a month thinking what should be in the next paragraph.
Turtledove Application--apply fanny to seat of chair. Practice--having been trying to do this stuff for more than 35 years now. Being a longwinded so-and-so probably doesn't hurt, either.
Reiad_de_Sain I noticed that Pancho Villa continued to harass Wilson in the GW TL, albeit under his original name. Will he continue as opposition to the Whigs in AE?
Turtledove Someone who loses a presidential election doesn't often get the chance to lose twice. That's especially true in the CSA, where they come only every 6 years.
Ben_The_New_Brunswicker Harry, after having killed off two characters in Breakthroughs, will you be introducing any to take their place? A Canadian soldier would be nice )
Turtledove Ben, there will be replacement characters, yes.
Abraxus Will the United States depose Maximillian now that his protectors have been knocked flat?
Turtledove You'll see, Abraxus.
Wayne Where and how do you do your research? And how do you keep your thoughts and writings organized?
Turtledove Wayne, I do it at home, at the UCLA Research Library, online--wherever I can find out what I need to know. I buy lots of books. I carry most stuff in my head, but write notes as I find necessary.
Demetrios Given the German victory in GW could we say that it is the dominant world power given practical control of Eurasia?
Turtledove First Amendment says we can say whatever we want, Demetrios.[g] As for what happens in Eurasia, well, it does get mentioned now and again in books to come.
Woodrow is there any Australian resistance movements against the Race?
Turtledove Sure, Woodrow. But don't bet on many happy endings for them.
Maccabee In light of the use of black troops by both sides, will a revived Civil Rights movement play a part in postwar US politics?
Turtledove Maccabee, there aren't enough blacks in the USA to matter much, and there are no black combat troops there (Navy, yes, to some degree, as cooks and part of the black gang in the engine rooms; Army, no). So don't hold your breath.
GW What part, if any, did Mexico play in the Franco-Prussian War? Which side of the Atlantic was Bazaine on?
Turtledove Mexico was neutral; not nearly enough reach to do much. I have no idea which side of the Atlantic Bazaine was on; sorry. Never worried about it. I could make something up, if you like.
Reiad_de_Sain Has the doctor been thinking about his literary legacy. Perhaps now might be the time to begin writing his magnum opus? )
Turtledove Well, Reiad_de_Sain, I hope I have. Just sold RULED BRITANNIA, set in 1597-98 in an England where the Armada succeeded. I'm quite pleased with it, and hope you folks will be in a year or two. Viewpoint characters are Shakespeare and Lope de Vega. Ah, hubris.
Randy I have a question related to your collaboration with Richard Dreyfuss, The Two Georges. Do you think in real life things would be like they were in that world if the American colonies didn't revolt?
Turtledove Randy, I think the world of THE TWO GEORGES is perhaps less probable than some others I could think of, but what the hey--it was fun to do anyhow.
Faeelin if you have a future series with the race, will Australia be involved?
Turtledove At the moment, Faeelin, I haven't the faintest idea. Sorry.
From Ben_The_New_Brunswicker Harry, will we ever learn the whereabouts of Ralph Briggs?
Turtledove Ben, I'd have to go back and look through the files. Too many minor characters running around loose.
Abraxus Do you think it plausible that the US would begin settling in Americans to Canada a la Alsace-Lorraine in Germany after 1870?
Turtledove You'll find out on that one, Abraxus, one way or the other. Promise.
JaniceMars Folks... I need to ask a couple of questions that were posted before I turned off the pre-posting question board ... then I'll get back to the queue...
JaniceMars First, Dumb Analyst asked: It took me a long time to get around to asking this, but how in GW did England supply Canada since the US controls both banks of the Saint Lawrence around Rivire de Loup?
Turtledove When the weather's warm, up through the Hudson Bay to Churchill. Ugly, but necessary. With the USA hostile, the railroads work different, too; there's one across Labrador to the coast opposite Newfoundland. Again, it has problems in winter.
JaniceMars Okay...from David Scarbrough: How far will the "American Empire Series" go, I mean from1915 to 1940? or all the way the 2001? or will it be broken into several trilogies
Turtledove AMERICAN EMPIRE will go on to about 1940. Whether there will be more after that depends on a lot of things. My publisher, mostly.
Some_Guy In How Few Remain, we find only Virgil Eurp in Tombstone. Why wouldn't Morgan and Wyatt have followed?
Turtledove Because it's a different world, and they didn't come West. Nothing very exciting, I'm afraid.
Fill_In_Name Will we duke it out with the Race outside our Solar System?
Turtledove Don't know yet, Fill_In_Name.
Wyldstaar If there are ever to be any follow-up books in the Race Saga, what year will you have it set in?
Turtledove Don't know that, either, Wyldstaar. Helpful, aren't I?
GW Will the Yanks in AE allow the American Indians to become full citizens, as they were in the Confederacy?
Turtledove Don't bet on it, GW. The USA's record with Indians in this world is even nastier than it is in ours.
Maccabee Do you plan to do any more stories set in Videssos or Elabon? (and I probably should have made clear that I considered support for Marxist guerillas "use of troops" though it doesn't affect your answer).
Turtledove At present, no, Maccabee. That could change as ideas and contracts happen, I admit.
Woodrow have you ever thought of creating an american character in the great war series, who served overseas, at an embassy perhaps?
Turtledove Not at present, Woodrow.
JaniceMars Okay folks...we've had Harry duct taped to the hot seat for an hour now.
JaniceMars We have about 6 more questions in queue. Harry...do you have time....
JaniceMars or do you need to get back to writing those books we all love so much?
Turtledove Janice, I've got some time. I'm gonna do a commercial, too--H.N. Turteltaub's OVER THE WINE-DARK SEA, a historical novel set in the wars of Alexander the Great's successors, is out now from Forge. This Turteltaub character looks a lot like me. Run right out! Please!
JaniceMars LOL...will do.
Some_Guy What is it like, trying to keep track of the entire world, like you've been doing in Colonisation?
Turtledove It was . . . crowded, Some_Guy. I hope I didn't slip too often.
Wyldstaar Have you ever considered writing an alt history for a TV series? Harlan Ellison has written for Star Trek and Babylon 5.
Turtledove I seem to be a print junky. Screen writing is a different business, and I've never tried it. I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to do this, so I'll probably just keep at it, Wyldstaar.
Reiad_de_Sain Have you thought of writing more in the latter half of the 20th cent., excluding 'Black Tulip?' Specifically, James Ellroy is working on his Underworld USA series, from 1958 to 1973- might you do something similar?
Turtledove Not in any of my plans now.
JaniceMars Okay, folks, I'm going to take moderation off now so you can all thank Harry personally.
JaniceMars Please don't expect him to answer any questions if you blurt them out.
Turtledove Let me thank you guys first.
Reiad_de_Sain Tya, HT
JaniceMars Okay folks...Moderation is off!
Maccabee Thanks for your time, Mr. Turtledove. Hope I wasn't too abrasive. -)
Ben_The_New_Brunswicker thanks harry... you'll be however much you make in royalties off 50 Canadian dollars come Tuesday
Holocatmon Meow! =)
Liberti4 1thanks you harry u are the man
GW Thank you for sharing your time with us Dr. Turtledove!
* JaniceMars applauds
Erin Thank you, Dr. Turtledove
Turtledove Thank you all. Ben, paying for copy is the sincerest compliment. )
Baryon Bravo! Bravo!
* Reiad_de_Sain sacrifices a goat in honor of HT
Turtledove [blush]
Faeelin bah
Reiad_de_Sain too far there?
JaniceMars LOL Reiad.
* Faeelin sacrifices the world's last pair of dodos
Wyldstaar Death to the Race!! Humanity Forever!!!
Reiad_de_Sain lol\
* fijagdh is appreciative of Harry's time and Jan's efforts.
Ben_The_New_Brunswicker acknowledged....good night everyone
Turtledove Well, humbug to you too, Faeelin. )
Some_Guy Hello everyone!
Turtledove No problem, Maccabee.
Faeelin that's a compliment
JaniceMars So there are two of your books on the shelves right now...
Liberti4 Your the only reason i read books lol
JaniceMars The Great War Breakthroughs, 07/01 (paperback) and The American Empire Blood and Iron 8/01.
Holocatmon Unless yet the dodo on the block, anyhow =)
Randy1012 Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule for us, Dr. Turtledove. Now, back to work! cracks a whip
JaniceMars And what was the title of the other under the Pseudonym?
Turtledove Go read other people, too, for heaven's sake, Liberti4!
Demetrios Any books or stories in Greek in the future?
Turtledove OVER THE WINE-DARK SEA, by H.N. Turteltaub
JaniceMars Thank you Harry.
Faeelin Dr. turtledove, what did you think of the domination?
Some_Guy Harry, was Earl Warren a real life person?
Turtledove Demetrios, I read ancient Greek, but don't expect me to write in it, if that's what you mean.
Reiad_de_Sain he was some_guy
Reiad_de_Sain a supreme court justice
Turtledove Faeelin, it's a scary world. UNDER THE YOKE is the best of the three, I think.
GW lol
Demetrios Rather books published in Greece
MEX Mr turtledove, will we see any Mexican characters in the American Empire?
Turtledove I've had some short fiction translated into Greek; not books.
Turtledove MEX--yes.
Turtledove Earl Warren was also attorney general and governor of CA and Dewey's running mate in 1948 against Truman.
MEX Hello? Help?
Turtledove ??? Mex.
JaniceMars Folks...again... don't expect Harry to answer all of the questions you put forth now.
JaniceMars And Harry... let us know when you need to get back to work.
Turtledove Will do, Janice. Pretty soon.
MEX Thank you, Mr. Turtledove. Does that mean we'll see action in the Mexican Empire'
Reiad_de_Sain later HT
Turtledove Stay tuned, Mex.
Turtledove Later, RdS.
JaniceMars Any final questions for Harry Turtledove...questions we may have missed?
fijagdh What are you reading currently?
Some_Guy Dr. Turtledove, what prompted you to write AH
Maccabee I can hardly wait for AE to hit the shelves. I've been bugging the guys at Waldenbooks for a release date for weeks.
Randy1012 What's your favorite book that you've ever read?
Maccabee Will AE include a world map? That'd be handy.
Liberti4 What was the death toll in GW?
GW yeah...what Maccabee said...
MEX One last question, Dr. Turtledove. Will we see aircraft carriers in the American Empire series?
Randy1012 Do all these questions ever make your head hurt? grin
* Faeelin watches the spam go by
Turtledove Just finished Ambassador Matlock's book about the fall of the USSR. I write AH because I'm an sf writer with a degree in history, I guess. Randy, the book that changed my life was LEST DARKNESS FALL, by L. Sprague de Camp. Got me interested in history in general and Byzantine in particular.
Turtledove Maccabee, yes, there'll be a map, but of North America. Liberti4, I don't have a precise # for you.
Demetrios How would you compare the Human orbital crafts in Colonisation to say the space shuttle?
Randy1012 Lest Darkness Fall, huh...hmm, maybe I'll check that one out.
* fijagdh wonders what is the airspeed of a fully-laden European swallow.
Turtledove You'll find out, Mex. Again, I promise. Who, me, Randi?
Faeelin fij your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries.
Randy1012 Yeah
Turtledove They're not too different, Demetrios. Better motors. Weapons.
Turtledove I wave my private parts in your aunty's face, Faeelin.
JaniceMars LOLOLOLOL!
ecats lol
Liberti4 ha
GW i fart in your general direction
Randy1012 Hey now
JaniceMars Folks...the log of this chat will be up on the Cybling website in a couple of days...
Some_Guy That's it, you guys have gotten too weird for me.
* Faeelin stares in horror at what he's done
Maccabee Ni!!
Turtledove My sister was bitten by a moose.
JaniceMars LOLOLOL
* fijagdh reaches for the Holy hand grenade of Antioch.
Maccabee (laughs)
JaniceMars If you want to know exactly when...subscribe to the Cybling Email Schedule by sending an email to...
JaniceMars Cybling@cybling.com
Turtledove I think we're getting silly, and I think I'm gonna make like a tree and leaf. 'Bye, all.
Liberti4 see ya
JaniceMars Okay...thanks Harry.
Some_Guy bye
JaniceMars I'm cutting your umbilical...
JaniceMars Now.
Liberti4 thanks for ur time
ecats Night, Mr. Turtledove.
JaniceMars LOLOLOLOLOLOL.
MEX Thanks, Dr Turtledove. I will love reading about El Imperio Mexicano in your next books.
Randy1012 He left us! sob Why???
GW adios Dr. Turtledove!
