That is the other particular moment I think of too, had FDR lived a little longer, taken Wallace as his VP again. The labor movement was there and even a single administrations worth of goodwill towards the USSR could have produced a better reality. This runs parallel to Lincoln taking Butler as his VP (or I should say, Butler not refusing it) instead of the worst possible option in Johnson.

[–] Des@hexbear.net 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

i wonder if any decent alt history books have been written about either of these two hinge points?

seems like most alt-history is written by shitlibs and chuds

[–] Tiocfaidhcaisarla@hexbear.net 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Christman had a bonus episodes about Butler and Wallace on Hell of Presidents I'm pretty sure, and they go into it on Hinge Points as well. So very Chapo-y and I'd be interested in other, more typically "scholarly" perspectives too.

I don't know if the serious types ever delve into alt-history, which would make sense if they didn't, it's all speculation and quickly becomes a wish fulfillment fantasy, at least when I do it in my musings. I guess actually it's really sad I find it easier to imagine different pasts, and their consequent lost futures, than seeing much hope in this current world. Still mostly not a doomer though!

[–] Des@hexbear.net 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

i wouldn't mind some fiction just for escapism. escape the doomerism

kind of like reading the Years of Rice and Salt (aka the world where all the white people die in the 14th century)

[–] Tiocfaidhcaisarla@hexbear.net 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I wouldn't either! You're right most alt history is libs or fash so a lefty getting into it would be refreshing.

It's interesting that a book about all the whites gone is named after two famously white things

[–] Des@hexbear.net 2 points 3 months ago

yeah i think there is a "ahh the title now i get it" moment in the book. it's been awhile since i read it

it is cool how in that book at the end after the brutal world superwar is on the path of to global socialism led by the communist superpower of the Haudenosaunee

my biggest complaint is how each short story chapter is just so damn short like you could write an entire novel in each historical period like i almost want to fanfic it

especially the japanese diaspora-haudenosaunee alliance of convince and anti-colonial war

[–] imogen_underscore@hexbear.net 2 points 3 months ago

i would say the cold war happens no matter what, it could have been delayed by a bit in the best case. Korean war being averted would have been a hugely different world though.