I’m reading this book right now called “In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson, about the American ambassador to Germany in the 1930s, and reading that along with the current storyline in Cura caused me to think: “You know what would suck if you were an ambassador in Hitler’s Germany pre-WWII and trying to avoid international incident? Dealing with all the goddamn time travelers.”
Now THAT would be a fun time travel/alternate history story. I like it. Would have been fun if they had talked about such a thing in “Let’s Kill Hitler!” On Doctor Who last season.
I wonder if part of the problem, given the somewhat shaky accuracy of their method of “time travel,” would be actually locating him earlier in history. The Eagle’s Nest is a pretty sure thing.
If you’re going to act precipitously, you do need to consider consequences. Anyone else remember the TV series La Femme Nikita? Great series. The fundamental scenario is that of an anti-terrorist group, covertly supported by various governments but NOT part of them. (Plausible deniability.) In one episode, it comes out that certain elements of the leadership actually are backing certain terrorist leaders. The reason: if they didn’t, the projection is that the groups the leaders hold together, would splinter, and become both more violent and HARDER to find and remove.
When’s the best time to kill Hitler? Hmm. Good question. My gut feeling is, any time prior to…oh, 1930, say…someone else would’ve risen to take his role. The forces at play at the time were too strong. (This is much like 1914: averting the assassination of Franz Ferdinand would’ve changed the start date only, IMO.) History would’ve been quite different…but not necessarily better. IMO, the outcome would’ve been a crapshoot.
Conversely, if you go too late…which here they did…you don’t gain enough positive benefits, and you *may* cause more problems. Fall 1943 might work…the structure was probably in place to take over had the bombing attempt succeeded. After that, is probably too late.
I think the 2 time periods that might work would be early 1939 (try to avoid the German-Soviet alliance) or summer 1940, after the fall of France. Not sure there’s ANY really good time, tho.
As for locating him: use time, date, and place of known speeches.
BTW, along these lines I recommend Zelazny’s short story, The Game of Blood and Dust.
The story solution you will see involves stopping Hitler in another fashion… though I won’t spoil it.
In approaching the dilemma myself considering this story, I knew Charlie had to TRY to kill Hitler, but I firmly believe no matter WHEN you kill him, one crucial (missing) element has to be in place for it to work, something the story will soon explore.
There was a movie back in ’95, The Last Supper, where the whole ‘kill Hitler’ question was debated at length.
My favourite response came from the Ron Perlman character. I was going to post it here, but then I thought, if you’ve seen that movie too, it may be a spoiler…
Hey neal, just read the newsarama article myself, and thought I should check your story out. I love it! Parallel worlds are my favourite kinds of stories, and i just cant put this down. I can’t wait for the new pages. And the art- fantastic! Keep up the great work guys.
I’m reading this book right now called “In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson, about the American ambassador to Germany in the 1930s, and reading that along with the current storyline in Cura caused me to think: “You know what would suck if you were an ambassador in Hitler’s Germany pre-WWII and trying to avoid international incident? Dealing with all the goddamn time travelers.”
Now THAT would be a fun time travel/alternate history story. I like it. Would have been fun if they had talked about such a thing in “Let’s Kill Hitler!” On Doctor Who last season.
Who’s the new Charlie?
Just a random.
What happens if they kill him before he takes power? (Didn’t anybody else here take Potential World History 101?)
Good point. They could kill him when he’s talking to those Jew haters when he was a teenager and artist. Just at that time period. Hmmm…
I wonder if part of the problem, given the somewhat shaky accuracy of their method of “time travel,” would be actually locating him earlier in history. The Eagle’s Nest is a pretty sure thing.
The central question of killing Hitler, for me, is a question of how one stops evil that seems destined and inevitable…
So how DO you do it? Do you shoot it in the face? Or…
Look for more of an answer at the beginning of the next trade, coming shortly after… well… let’s call it some crazy.
Very interesting dark moment for Prime. Feelings of the futility of trying to change things for the better in the multiverse.
If you’re going to act precipitously, you do need to consider consequences. Anyone else remember the TV series La Femme Nikita? Great series. The fundamental scenario is that of an anti-terrorist group, covertly supported by various governments but NOT part of them. (Plausible deniability.) In one episode, it comes out that certain elements of the leadership actually are backing certain terrorist leaders. The reason: if they didn’t, the projection is that the groups the leaders hold together, would splinter, and become both more violent and HARDER to find and remove.
When’s the best time to kill Hitler? Hmm. Good question. My gut feeling is, any time prior to…oh, 1930, say…someone else would’ve risen to take his role. The forces at play at the time were too strong. (This is much like 1914: averting the assassination of Franz Ferdinand would’ve changed the start date only, IMO.) History would’ve been quite different…but not necessarily better. IMO, the outcome would’ve been a crapshoot.
Conversely, if you go too late…which here they did…you don’t gain enough positive benefits, and you *may* cause more problems. Fall 1943 might work…the structure was probably in place to take over had the bombing attempt succeeded. After that, is probably too late.
I think the 2 time periods that might work would be early 1939 (try to avoid the German-Soviet alliance) or summer 1940, after the fall of France. Not sure there’s ANY really good time, tho.
As for locating him: use time, date, and place of known speeches.
BTW, along these lines I recommend Zelazny’s short story, The Game of Blood and Dust.
The story solution you will see involves stopping Hitler in another fashion… though I won’t spoil it.
In approaching the dilemma myself considering this story, I knew Charlie had to TRY to kill Hitler, but I firmly believe no matter WHEN you kill him, one crucial (missing) element has to be in place for it to work, something the story will soon explore.
Neal & Dex: Just read the Newsarama interview. Congrats! Loved the hints at what’s to come.
Thanks! It was a solid blast. I love doing interviews, and I especially love when a big, rad site throws some love our way.
The Multifarious Charlie is probably the biggest hint of things to come. He’s a way off… but DAMN, writing him is difficult, rewarding, and scary.
My favorite hint that you dropped was “portal combat,” because…
PORTAL COMBAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *cue Mortal Kombat theme song*
There was a movie back in ’95, The Last Supper, where the whole ‘kill Hitler’ question was debated at length.
My favourite response came from the Ron Perlman character. I was going to post it here, but then I thought, if you’ve seen that movie too, it may be a spoiler…
I haven’t seen it, but feel free! 🙂
Hey neal, just read the newsarama article myself, and thought I should check your story out. I love it! Parallel worlds are my favourite kinds of stories, and i just cant put this down. I can’t wait for the new pages. And the art- fantastic! Keep up the great work guys.
Thanks a lot! We’ll keep going. Glad you dug it!
I kind of feel bad for that new Charlie who’s trying to adjust but finds himself cut off by angry/frustrated Prime.