HOME | DD

Description

A quick glance at this world would show that it is much the same as our own. In the year 1980, the world is divided between communist and capitalist blocs led by the Soviet Union and United States, respectively. However, upon closer inspection, there are quite a number of differences. Though the existence of the Von Stolzberg family in Germany indicates an early point of divergence, history changes notably in this world in 1880, when Australian bushranger Ned Kelly gains an upper hand at the Glenrowan Affair and subsequently transforms from a bandit into a freedom fighter. After years of fighting in the bush, Kelly comes to the notice of American President Chester Arthur, Irish-American nationalists, and several businessmen that begin to fund Kelly's burgoning Republic of the North-East. The Australian War of Independence coincides with the Second Riel Rebellion in British North America and with American airships, volunteers, and steam cars, Australia gains independence before the decade is out, while the Canadian colonies find themselves annexed into the United States. The broad strokes of history remain the same in the following century. Two world wars are fought, communism rises in Russia, the colonial empires fall. But there are differences: German rockets hit New York City during the Second World War, while the Irish War of Independence fails because of mass immigration to Australia a generation before. In addition, space technology is further ahead with the first man walking on the moon several months after the bullet meant for John Kennedy hits Jacqueline.

One-hundred years after the Battle of Glenrowan, Australia is under the rule of the paranoid fifth Kelly. Under his rule, the War in Vietnam went from bad to worse as the Americans under Kennedy (then in his third term) pulled out. As 1980 opens, Australian forces are withdrawing towards Saigon while rabblerouser Jim Cairns rails against the War throughout Australia's city. Across the sea, the Americans have just dispatched a mission to Jupiter, which they intend to claim for the United States.

This is based off the novel Kelly Country by A. Bertram Chandler. Rather than leave the entire world aside from Australia the same, I took some liberties and redrew a number of borders. Though the exact details of history might differ, the general flow remains the same.

Description

A quick glance at this world would show that it is much the same as our own. In the year 1980, the world is divided between communist and capitalist blocs led by the Soviet Union and United States, respectively. However, upon closer inspection, there are quite a number of differences. Though the existence of the Von Stolzberg family in Germany indicates an early point of divergence, history changes notably in this world in 1880, when Australian bushranger Ned Kelly gains an upper hand at the Glenrowan Affair and subsequently transforms from a bandit into a freedom fighter. After years of fighting in the bush, Kelly comes to the notice of American President Chester Arthur, Irish-American nationalists, and several businessmen that begin to fund Kelly's burgoning Republic of the North-East. The Australian War of Independence coincides with the Second Riel Rebellion in British North America and with American airships, volunteers, and steam cars, Australia gains independence before the decade is out, while the Canadian colonies find themselves annexed into the United States. The broad strokes of history remain the same in the following century. Two world wars are fought, communism rises in Russia, the colonial empires fall. But there are differences: German rockets hit New York City during the Second World War, while the Irish War of Independence fails because of mass immigration to Australia a generation before. In addition, space technology is further ahead with the first man walking on the moon several months after the bullet meant for John Kennedy hits Jacqueline.

One-hundred years after the Battle of Glenrowan, Australia is under the rule of the paranoid fifth Kelly. Under his rule, the War in Vietnam went from bad to worse as the Americans under Kennedy (then in his third term) pulled out. As 1980 opens, Australian forces are withdrawing towards Saigon while rabblerouser Jim Cairns rails against the War throughout Australia's city. Across the sea, the Americans have just dispatched a mission to Jupiter, which they intend to claim for the United States.

This is based off the novel Kelly Country by A. Bertram Chandler. Rather than leave the entire world aside from Australia the same, I took some liberties and redrew a number of borders. Though the exact details of history might differ, the general flow remains the same.