Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 17 2009, 12:21:24 UTC
The Great Bear, and all his little bears.
Did you know?
The Anglo-Russian War (1807-1812) was part of the Napoleonic Wars. England and Russia, who were previously allies of convenience, had a short but violent conflict when England attacked Denmark. It was ended with Sweden (and Russia) and England signing a treaty in 1812. Russia and England needed to ally themselves again in the face of Napoleon.
...Let's assume, instead, that Russia defeated England, and demanded tribute in the form of one of his colonies- i.e 1,2,3 or 4.
4. The Polar bear is native to northern Canada, as well as Russia.
At the time of England's loss to Russia, Canada was under British control.
Some years after the English Concession, Quebec, with the aid of America and France, breaks free as an individual state.
With the Russian revolution, Canada too becomes communist, and much later plays a vital role in Cold War politics. The Northern Front to Canada remains blockaded and patrolled long after the CW is over, with neither side accepting disarmament deals.
Quebec is still scared shitless of Canada to this day, although it is now a democracy.
3. Koala bears are not bears, rather marsupials.
At the time of the English concession, Australia was barely a colony, still getting on its legs.
Because of his young age, Australia was still not British enough to miss the Commonwealth- indeed, most British people in the country were pulled away the government and the entire land became, in effect, completely Russian.
Despite their temperature differences, Russia and Australia share remarkable geographical similarities.
Australia has the world's largest deposits of Uranium.
2. The Sloth Bear is unique to India.
At the time of the English Concession, the Indian 'colony' was still young, but India as an empire and as a culture was quite old. Russian rule was strongly opposed by the people of India, and the land fought many years of bitter civil war.
India, China and Russia would be enough to freak the hell out of anyone, not just America.
1. Grizzly Bears are, of course, native to America.
Wait, you say. America wasn't part of the commonwealth at the English Concession! ...Let's say they lost the War of Independence, shall we?
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 17 2009, 13:35:17 UTC
This was the awesomely awesome of awesomeness! I love the sort of 'choose your own adventure' thing you had going on, where Russia points, and from there it could be any one of the four. I do think the one with America was my favorite, followed by the one with Australia, but they were all great!
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 17 2009, 20:18:25 UTC
This was just... fucking spectacular. I'm speechless. And I love that you wrote out scenarios for more than one colony--they were all well-thought-out and chilling and mmmm. This's one for the records. *bookmarks for rereads*
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 17 2009, 21:31:11 UTC
I have to say that Australia was my absolute favorite (just the complete and utterly dark tone of it all, the warping of what we see Australia as), but Canada's had this incredibly chill to it (pun intended). Such a dark way of looking at Canada being overlooked... Incredibly well thought out and researched!
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 18 2009, 15:57:11 UTC
Oh god, I'm gonna go hide in a hole in the ground or something now. It's so creepy. I love how you twisted the things that make the characters recognizable- so that Canada is Russia's shadow instead of America's, and Austraila is still cheerful but in an utterly terrifying way. I kind of wish Arthur had more colonies so you could write more AUs.
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 18 2009, 16:00:55 UTC
I am... Very near speechless. This is fantastic! I love how you wrote an entry for each Commonwealth (+ America) - it's like we could pick our preferred outcome. Australia's was my favourite. I find it darkly amusing to consider what I may be living like, had this come to happen (and the Russia/Australia pairing - guh. I think I'm a fangirl now. <3). Though Canada's hit a few awesome cords as well.
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 18 2009, 17:27:37 UTC
I love this so much! This was so very wonderfully handled, with the different AU scenarios and Canada's made my heart hurt, and Australia's was so creepy oh my god, and America, I winced holy shit, this is terrific and terrifying and, just wow. Insanely well done.
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 19 2009, 04:39:30 UTC
Oh, Anon--this was beautifully and painfully imagined. Thank you for sharing your imagination and your way with words. I'm certain I have read other things of yours because I recognize the "did you know?" in the notes; I shall have to go through my bookmarks now.
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
May 19 2009, 04:39:38 UTC
Oooh, this was absolutely fantastic. I love the different possibilities here-- Canada's was absolutely heartbreaking, and I loved the ominous atmosphere in Australia's and the emphasis on temperature. Fantastic stuff.
Re: Ursa Major (5/5)
anonymous
October 16 2011, 13:34:24 UTC
This is rather scary. Thinking about how the little things could change everything. I believe the metaphor is ripples or something? Excellent story anyway. Canada and Australia were my favorites, (thats what really scared me, imagining Australia as a communist nation, and just how odd thinking of it feels.)
Did you know?
The Anglo-Russian War (1807-1812) was part of the Napoleonic Wars. England and Russia, who were previously allies of convenience, had a short but violent conflict when England attacked Denmark. It was ended with Sweden (and Russia) and England signing a treaty in 1812. Russia and England needed to ally themselves again in the face of Napoleon.
...Let's assume, instead, that Russia defeated England, and demanded tribute in the form of one of his colonies- i.e 1,2,3 or 4.
4.
The Polar bear is native to northern Canada, as well as Russia.
At the time of England's loss to Russia, Canada was under British control.
Some years after the English Concession, Quebec, with the aid of America and France, breaks free as an individual state.
With the Russian revolution, Canada too becomes communist, and much later plays a vital role in Cold War politics. The Northern Front to Canada remains blockaded and patrolled long after the CW is over, with neither side accepting disarmament deals.
Quebec is still scared shitless of Canada to this day, although it is now a democracy.
3.
Koala bears are not bears, rather marsupials.
At the time of the English concession, Australia was barely a colony, still getting on its legs.
Because of his young age, Australia was still not British enough to miss the Commonwealth- indeed, most British people in the country were pulled away the government and the entire land became, in effect, completely Russian.
Despite their temperature differences, Russia and Australia share remarkable geographical similarities.
Australia has the world's largest deposits of Uranium.
2.
The Sloth Bear is unique to India.
At the time of the English Concession, the Indian 'colony' was still young, but India as an empire and as a culture was quite old. Russian rule was strongly opposed by the people of India, and the land fought many years of bitter civil war.
India, China and Russia would be enough to freak the hell out of anyone, not just America.
1.
Grizzly Bears are, of course, native to America.
Wait, you say. America wasn't part of the commonwealth at the English Concession! ...Let's say they lost the War of Independence, shall we?
...man, that took way longer than it needed to.
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I love how you twisted the things that make the characters recognizable- so that Canada is Russia's shadow instead of America's, and Austraila is still cheerful but in an utterly terrifying way.
I kind of wish Arthur had more colonies so you could write more AUs.
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<3<3<3<3<3 Hearts for you~!
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THE AWESOME OF THIS
SO MUCH AWESOME
I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO PROPERLY EXPRESS MY AWE
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