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Post by r2streu on Dec 5, 2009 15:01:11 GMT -5
Recently, I randomly hit upon the idea of doing a prohibition-era, hard-boiled detective story as alternative history. The 'twist' in this case, that Martians (yes -- martians! It's vital to the tone of the story that certain elements be as retro-cheesy as I can make them) emigrated en masse to earth some time in the mid 19th century. Like the many who emigrated to the freshly-minted US.
As a fan of many genres, I'm a HUGE fan of mixing them and seeing what happens. This actually wouldn't be the first time I've mixed pulp detective with sci-fi, but it would be the first foray into alternate history.
Thoughts or suggestions? Is the idea total crap, and the other side of my brain simply hasn't bothered to inform me yet? I'm not much further than the first two paragraphs, and it's going to be pretty short.
Thanks!
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Post by myrthman on Dec 18, 2009 22:15:56 GMT -5
What a coincidence (?) ! I have this idea for a hard-boiled detective story set on Mars in about 100 years. No martians though, just humans struggling for an existence on a planet with mobsters who hoard fresh water. Kind of a Sam Spade meets Ray Bradbury.
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Post by Kristen on Dec 20, 2009 19:04:06 GMT -5
When you say "en masse" -- does that mean everyone knows the Martians are here and so they become an oppressed minority, Or are the Martians trying to "blend in?" (Uh-oh. Conehead flashback. Probly not what you're going for.  ) I'm intrigued. Not a huge fan of Chandler or Spillane, but I love Damon Runyon. |
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Post by tris on Dec 22, 2009 18:45:19 GMT -5
If you're planning short, cheesy, campy sci-fi, I like. Not to mention they are always looking for good short stories over at The Cross and The Cosmos.....speaking of which, I think it's about time for another edition (large hint here)
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Post by r2streu on Dec 26, 2009 10:57:59 GMT -5
H'lo.
Kristen - My thinking is that they're not really an oppressed minority; just that everyone knows they're here and where they came from.
Tris - I am thinking campy, and definitely short. I've done some in the way of short sci-fi, but I've never really gone over-the-top. That'll almost be as much as experiment for me as the genre-melding.
Myrthman - sounds awesome. Let me know how it goes. Also, if you want to see what's been done in the genre(s), check out "Down These Dark Spaceways", edited by Mike Resnick. It's a collection of sci-fi/mystery shorts. This wasn't really an inspiration for my own idea, but some of the stories in there are pretty interesting.
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Post by Teskas on Dec 26, 2009 11:10:16 GMT -5
Maybe we've all turned into Martians and we don't know it. Maybe your Martians could be Earth people who emigrated in steam punk technology and have decided to return home.
I like 1930s sci-fi. (Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon.) Chandleresque sci fi really appeals. The two together, fantastic. Go for it!
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Post by tris on May 30, 2010 19:27:41 GMT -5
R2
how's the story coming? If it's going to be cheesy, you'll need an over-the-top bad guy set on world domination. huge mechs wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Typical hero is rugged, all around good guy, saving damsels in distress and pretty much a jack of all trades (check out the rocketeer).. But please, no shrinking violets for your damsel. She ought to be as equally good with a punch or pistol as the hero and willing to get involved in as much danger as he does. he still needs to rescue her though.
So do the Martians run the speak easies? Maybe your hero is a Martian turned rogue who wants to help clean up the town and put the Martian bootleggers out of business.
Maybe the hero is a Martian who wants to put the human bootleggers out of business.
Maybe his family gets caught in the middle ( sister or brother killed because of a raid on a speak easy) and this becomes his motivation. In the midst of trying to clean up the town he uncovers a nefarious plot the head bootlegger is really working at world domination....maybe something in the beer, maybe the beer is funding his arms race.. all sorts of possibilities.
Hope you are still writing. The world needs more stories like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
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Post by Kristen on Jun 6, 2010 19:41:00 GMT -5
Hope you are still writing. The world needs more stories like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Yes! ;D How's it coming, R2? |
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Post by Divides the Waters on Jun 17, 2010 18:54:42 GMT -5
Alien Nation Noir. I like it. Have you seen Dark City?
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Post by Ranger Varon on Sept 18, 2012 7:12:56 GMT -5
Hope you are still writing. The world needs more stories like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. That's the truth. Sounds fascinating. How's it coming? Chessy classic sci-fi mysteries are a blast to write. |
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Post by yoda47 on Sept 18, 2012 21:26:01 GMT -5
Next TC2 comes out in October.
I like the concept, sounds interesting!
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Post by Kessie on Sept 18, 2012 23:08:00 GMT -5
October? Blah, I'm too late to submit a story for this issue. Maybe the next one!
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Post by newburydave on Sept 20, 2012 10:08:43 GMT -5
r2Streu If you want to research some really good alternative history writing check out the 1632 series over at Baen books website in their free library. ( baen.com/library/books.asp. ) It and the Belesarius series are some of the best alt-history series that I've ever read. Alt-history is one of the more challenging genres that I've looked into. You need to be an historian to do it well, or at least be willing to do a bunch of historical research to make it believeable. I think the key is to learn the character and personalities of the real historical figures so well that you can predict how they'll react when confronted with, say a Martian or 300. Book 1 in the Belisarius series www.baenebooks.com/p-300-an-oblique-approach.aspx deals with something very similar to that. The ebook is a free download. It's an intriguing story and a fantastic story arc. God's help to you bro. Write on SGD dave |
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