@garyoswald.bsky.social
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New: Gary Oswald's ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) articles on #Caribbean #History continues with this look at the #Barbary #Corsairs and the #WhatIf possibility of a #Muslim #NewWorld #colony from #Morocco or others. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
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December 9, 2025 at 9:25 AM
New: Gary Oswald's ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) articles on #Caribbean #History continues with this look at the #Barbary #Corsairs and the #WhatIf possibility of a #Muslim #NewWorld #colony from #Morocco or others. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
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Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) reviews #CahokiaJazz by #FrancisSpufford, an #AlternateHistory work imagining a world in which #NativeAmericans were not devastated by disease and remain a large percentage of the #UnitedStates ' demographics. #WhatIf www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/review-...
Review: Cahokia Jazz
By Gary Oswald.The exact effect the smallpox epidemics had on the native populations of the New World is a deeply contentious historical argument. This is because there are no agreed upon population c...
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November 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) reviews #CahokiaJazz by #FrancisSpufford, an #AlternateHistory work imagining a world in which #NativeAmericans were not devastated by disease and remain a large percentage of the #UnitedStates ' demographics. #WhatIf www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/review-...
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A #sporting #AlternateHistory from Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) : #WhatIf other nations had become powerhouses of #RugbyUnion? #Rugby #SportsHistory #Sport #Argentina #Japan #Madagascar www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/rugby-u...
Rugby Union Powers That Aren't
By Gary Oswald.Rugby Union, like a lot of sports, was first codified in the UK and as such the four home nations (England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland) have traditionally been the heartland of the gam...
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November 7, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A #sporting #AlternateHistory from Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) : #WhatIf other nations had become powerhouses of #RugbyUnion? #Rugby #SportsHistory #Sport #Argentina #Japan #Madagascar www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/rugby-u...
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A fascinating new article from @garyoswald.bsky.social about how we view #history - of #AncientEgypt 's hundreds of #Pharaoh rulers, which from our modern perspective are considered 'important', relating to race representation? #Egypt #Cleopatra #Tutankhamun www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/the-pha...
The Pharaohs That Matter
By Gary Oswald.So, as I think is probably clear by my contributions to this blog, I find Alternate History interesting. I find the idea of making changes to the past and seeing what results from that ...
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October 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A fascinating new article from @garyoswald.bsky.social about how we view #history - of #AncientEgypt 's hundreds of #Pharaoh rulers, which from our modern perspective are considered 'important', relating to race representation? #Egypt #Cleopatra #Tutankhamun www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/the-pha...
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Gary Oswald's ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) celebrated series on the #ScrambleForAfrica returns with a brand new article about the #history of #Mozambique under #Portuguese #colonial rule. #AfricanHistory #LourençoMarques #Maputo www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/africa-...
Africa During the Scramble – Making a Fiction Real
By Gary Oswald.Portuguese Mozambique officially began in 1496 when Vasco de Gama arrived in Maputo Bay and didn't end until 1975. But in reality Mozambique is a big country and for most of that time, ...
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October 10, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Gary Oswald's ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) celebrated series on the #ScrambleForAfrica returns with a brand new article about the #history of #Mozambique under #Portuguese #colonial rule. #AfricanHistory #LourençoMarques #Maputo www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/africa-...
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New: Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) looks at the #syncretic #religion of #Antonianism which arose in the #Congo or #Kongo Empire in the 18th century. #AfricanHistory #Angola #Catholicism www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/alterna...
Alternate Religions: Antonianism
By Gary Oswald.The Kingdom of Kongo was one of the largest and most powerful pre-colonial states in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its capital was in modern Angola and it dominated the mouth of the Congo river f...
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September 26, 2025 at 11:39 AM
New: Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) looks at the #syncretic #religion of #Antonianism which arose in the #Congo or #Kongo Empire in the 18th century. #AfricanHistory #Angola #Catholicism www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/alterna...
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In the 8th and final part of his #Caribbean #ColdWar series, Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) finally comes to the part everyone knows about: #Cuba and #FIdelCastro. #CaribbeanHistory #CubanRevolution www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
Caribbean Cold War: Great Man Theory
By Gary Oswald.This is the eighth article in the Caribbean Cold War series and in the previous seven, Fidel Castro, the Cuban dictator, has been a prominent figure as an inspiration and a warning, som...
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September 5, 2025 at 9:13 AM
In the 8th and final part of his #Caribbean #ColdWar series, Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) finally comes to the part everyone knows about: #Cuba and #FIdelCastro. #CaribbeanHistory #CubanRevolution www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
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Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) discusses the #history of #British #wrestling on TV and in particular the 2010s fight between #ITV and #VinceMcMahon 's #WWE for rights. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/itv-ver...
ITV versus Vince McMahon
By Gary Oswald.Few fandoms have embraced the ‘what if’ scenario to the extent of professional wrestling fans. If, for instance, you search on YouTube for “what if pro wrestling” you will find not only...
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August 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) discusses the #history of #British #wrestling on TV and in particular the 2010s fight between #ITV and #VinceMcMahon 's #WWE for rights. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/itv-ver...
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Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) discusses the groundbreaking #AlternateHistory exhibition at the #DeutschesHistorichesMuseum ( @dhmberlin.bsky.social ) entitled "Roads Not Taken", looking at #WhatIf moments in #German #History. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/roads-n...
Roads not Taken, at the Deutsches Historisches Museum
By Gary Oswald.From December 2022 to January 2026, the Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin has been running an exhibition called ‘Roads not Taken, Oder: es hatte auch anders kommen konnen’ which c...
www.sealionpress.co.uk
August 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) discusses the groundbreaking #AlternateHistory exhibition at the #DeutschesHistorichesMuseum ( @dhmberlin.bsky.social ) entitled "Roads Not Taken", looking at #WhatIf moments in #German #History. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/roads-n...
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Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) discusses some intriguing #WhatIf moments from the early days of #AssociationFootball that could have rendered the #sport unrecognisable to us. #Football #FootballHistory #SportsHistory #AlternateHistory www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/early-f...
Early Football What Ifs?
By Gary Oswald.Association football, better known as either football or soccer depending on your nationality and class, is the world's most popular team sport. It is, alongside American, Arena, Austra...
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July 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) discusses some intriguing #WhatIf moments from the early days of #AssociationFootball that could have rendered the #sport unrecognisable to us. #Football #FootballHistory #SportsHistory #AlternateHistory www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/early-f...
Athena shouting out Will Kroos, what a day. What a day for me specifically.
June 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Athena shouting out Will Kroos, what a day. What a day for me specifically.
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Everyone knows #Hamilton these days but what about his rival and duellist #AaronBurr? Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) explores the bizarre events of Burr's life, finding a wishful #AlternateHistory of 1902 which imagines a Burr #presidency. #WhatIf www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/review-...
Review: The Climax
Aaron Burr is not the most famous of the first generation of statesmen in the USA, but he is one of the most intriguing. The bare bones of his life story bear that out. He was a soldier during the Rev...
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June 24, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Everyone knows #Hamilton these days but what about his rival and duellist #AaronBurr? Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) explores the bizarre events of Burr's life, finding a wishful #AlternateHistory of 1902 which imagines a Burr #presidency. #WhatIf www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/review-...
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Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) continues his study of the #Caribbean during the #ColdWar, here covering #TrinidadAndTobago amid brushes with #BlackPower and even an attempted #Islamist takeover. #Trinidad #WestIndies #CaribbeanHistory www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
Caribbean Cold War: It's Jihad, Then
By Gary Oswald.The history of most of the formerly British-ruled Caribbean islands are, in broad strokes, largely similar. They were conquered by Europeans in the 17th century, with their indigenous p...
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June 10, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) continues his study of the #Caribbean during the #ColdWar, here covering #TrinidadAndTobago amid brushes with #BlackPower and even an attempted #Islamist takeover. #Trinidad #WestIndies #CaribbeanHistory www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
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Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) discusses the use of the 'world turned upside down' / role reversal trope in #SpeculativeFiction (including #AlternateHistory ) depictions of #prejudice - and its limitations. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/what-if...
"What If it Happened to White People Though?"
By Gary Oswald.The appeal of alternate history is that it pokes at the certainties in our world. The theme, the message, of a lot of AH is “do not take for granted the world we live in”. A lot of what...
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May 23, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) discusses the use of the 'world turned upside down' / role reversal trope in #SpeculativeFiction (including #AlternateHistory ) depictions of #prejudice - and its limitations. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/what-if...
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New: Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) reviews "Murder on the Titania" by Alex Acks ( @katsudon.bsky.social ). #AlternateHistory #CrimeFiction #MurderMystery #BookReview www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/review-...
Review: Murder on the Titania and Other Steam-Powered Adventures
Review by Gary OswaldMurder on the Titania is a collection of five short stories all starring the same protagonist, a swashbuckling bisexual 19th century female pirate called Marta Ramos who robs airs...
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May 13, 2025 at 10:45 AM
New: Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) reviews "Murder on the Titania" by Alex Acks ( @katsudon.bsky.social ). #AlternateHistory #CrimeFiction #MurderMystery #BookReview www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/review-...
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More #AfricanHistory #WhatIf moments from Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ), this time considering the outcome if the #Adal Sultanate had conquered #Ethiopia in the 16th century. #Africa #Portugal #OttomanEmpire www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/what-if...
What If the Adal Sultanate had Conquered Ethiopia?
By Gary Oswald.The Adal Sultanate was a Muslim Somali Sultanate based around modern Somalia and the Ogaden or Somali region of modern-day Ethiopia. It is normally considered to have existed from 1415 ...
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April 22, 2025 at 8:46 AM
More #AfricanHistory #WhatIf moments from Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ), this time considering the outcome if the #Adal Sultanate had conquered #Ethiopia in the 16th century. #Africa #Portugal #OttomanEmpire www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/what-if...
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www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/review-... Your Friday #alternatehistory as @garyoswald.bsky.social reviews the six-book Lone Star Reloaded series on time-travelling Texans and AH-nation building!
Review: Lone Star Reloaded
Review by Gary Oswald.Quantum Leap has a lot to answer for. The 1989 TV series had its protagonist inhabit the bodies of various figures in history and solve their problems for them. This inspired the...
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March 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/review-... Your Friday #alternatehistory as @garyoswald.bsky.social reviews the six-book Lone Star Reloaded series on time-travelling Texans and AH-nation building!
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Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) continues his series on the #history of the #Caribbean in the #ColdWar, this time looking at #JuanBosch and the #DominicanRepublic. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
Caribbean Cold War: The Many Enemies of Juan Bosch
By Gary Oswald.This is the sixth article in this series and the previous five have all been about how the Cuban Revolution and the rise of Fidel Castro as Cuba's military dictator effected the other n...
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March 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Gary Oswald ( @garyoswald.bsky.social ) continues his series on the #history of the #Caribbean in the #ColdWar, this time looking at #JuanBosch and the #DominicanRepublic. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
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NEW: Gary Oswald (@garyoswald.bsky.social) delves into the #history of the #Caribbean and its role in the #ColdWar, with a particular focus on #Guyana. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
Caribbean Cold War: Stoking a Race War
By Gary OswaldAs discussed in a previous article, the British Empire in 1807 abolished the slave trade and stopped importing slaves to its colonies. However, it did not free any of its existing slaves...
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February 7, 2025 at 11:08 AM
NEW: Gary Oswald (@garyoswald.bsky.social) delves into the #history of the #Caribbean and its role in the #ColdWar, with a particular focus on #Guyana. www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/caribbe...
King Koko of the Nembe is best known for his war against the Royal Niger Company after numerous provocations. Afterwards there was an investigation into all sides conduct to whom he said 'I'm very sorry indeed, particularly in the killing and eating of parts of its employees’. Real men apologize.
January 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
King Koko of the Nembe is best known for his war against the Royal Niger Company after numerous provocations. Afterwards there was an investigation into all sides conduct to whom he said 'I'm very sorry indeed, particularly in the killing and eating of parts of its employees’. Real men apologize.