I don't remember how many years ago I threw this map together. Last week(?) I tried to comment the most important fixes (my full list wasn't handy) onto that 2013 post but blogspot ate the comment. Trying again now after seeing these guys.
Fixes:
• Old War Movies DUNE
• Samurai Movies SHOGUN
• CRUSHER JOE moves to a specific FedSuns garrison
• Add ROCK AND ROLL (abbey district, allison's chain, rhonda snord) to that FWL border
• Add FOUNDATION to Terra
• Add "with assistance from the Doctor" to the footnote
Explanations:
• STAR WARS: "Great X" is Alderaan, Arthur Luvon is Han Solo, and read the Warrior Trilogy*.
• STAR TREK: "Federation," individual autonomy, and a scarce handful of industrialized worlds in a sea of colonies, ruins, and pre-literate populations.
• BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: 12 exile tribes coming for Terra, original series matches the path of the Minnesotans
• MACROSS: Lexatech industries
• FLASH GORDON: caricature of the 4th Succession War
I doubt I placed Gundam or Dougram carefully.
*Does that mean the trilogy's other three plotlines are also movie references?
Other Touchstones
"What if the USA were ruled from..."
• Davion - "...Disneyland?" *
• Kurita - "...Imperialist Japan?"
• Steiner - "...The British Commonwealth?"
• Marik - "...The UN?"
• Liao - "...Red Dawn?"
*Magic Kingdom, Frontierland, Futureland, Colonialist Southern Hemisphere Land, James Bond Land
The Unkingly Titles of The Successor Warlords:
• a "Chancellor" heads a treasury; the Liaos were known for dragon-hoarding. Ironically, the poorest state.
• a "Captain General" (c.f. "Secretary General"); Mariks have to do a lot of wrangling, and have the most poorly organized military.
• a "First Prince" is ostensibly the Speaker of a parliament of planetary princes. Powerful and organized, a contrast to Marik.
• an "Archon" was (among other things) an official who found sponsors for major religious festivals. Moneymen dominate Steiner's military, and it is the least spiritual realm.
• a "Coordinator" is... I don't know. Something to do with soviet central planning? Kurita's control is much more cultural than financial.
These titles feel like they derive offices of the court, maybe inspired by the "Stewards of Gondor."
Ah, yes... the references... the memes.... FASA had them all.
ReplyDeletePS: When I wrote my section of the 3055 TRO I too mined all the references. Shout out to my favourite characters and settings.
ReplyDeleteIt is the way. I have spoken.
I will have to revisit Mandalorian after I see more westerns and samurai-erns. -skiltao
DeleteI should have recognized those maps when I saw them.
ReplyDeleteEh, it's been a dog's age. -skiltao
DeleteI'd guess the Coordinator joke is that he doesn't coordinate. He's a borderline-deified borderline-absolute monarch...with perhaps the most quiet and unassuming title of everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think the joke has something to do with the Combine's poor civilian economy, especially food production. There's also a contrast with the Archon, as there is between the First Prince and Captain-General. -skiltao
DeleteAlso, the five states analogize to the five permanent members of the UN security council -skiltao
ReplyDeleteThe five states also analogize to the Battle of Five armies, what with Luthien being an elvish thing and the creatures on Hobbs hunting like Gollum hunted orcs. -skiltao
ReplyDelete