Thor Meets Captain America: Difference between revisions
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'''''Thor Meets Captain America''''' is a [[science fiction]] and [[Alternate History]] [[novelette]] by [[David Brin]]. It was nominated for the [[Hugo Award for Best Novelette]] in 1987 <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1997-hugo-awards-2/|title= 1987 Hugo Awards |
'''''Thor Meets Captain America''''' is a [[science fiction]] and [[Alternate History]] [[novelette]] by [[David Brin]]. It was nominated for the [[Hugo Award for Best Novelette]] in 1987 <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1997-hugo-awards-2/|title= 1987 Hugo Awards |
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|accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref>. The [[graphic novel]] ''[[The Life Eaters]]'' is based on the story <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.davidbrin.com/graphicnovels.htm#life|title= My Graphic Novels|author= Brin, David|accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref>. |
|accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref> and also won a [[Locus Award]] in 1987 in the novelette category<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/LocusWinsByCategory.html|title= The LOCUS Index to SF Awards|accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref>. The [[graphic novel]] ''[[The Life Eaters]]'' is based on the story <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.davidbrin.com/graphicnovels.htm#life|title= My Graphic Novels|author= Brin, David|accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref>. This story was first published in [[The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction]] in their July 1986 issue which was titled ''Hitler Victorious''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uchronia.net/bib.cgi/label.html?id=brinthorme|title= Brin, David. "Thor Meets Captain America"|accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref>. |
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==Summary== |
==Summary== |
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Revision as of 02:54, 25 March 2012
| Author | David Brin |
|---|---|
| Genre | Science fiction |
Publication date | 1986 [1] |
Thor Meets Captain America is a science fiction and Alternate History novelette by David Brin. It was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 1987 [2] and also won a Locus Award in 1987 in the novelette category[3]. The graphic novel The Life Eaters is based on the story [4]. This story was first published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in their July 1986 issue which was titled Hitler Victorious[5].
Summary
Just as World War II began to turn against them, the Nazis were suddenly championed by the Norse pantheon. However, Loki joins the Allies, and they prepare a last-ditch sneak attack against Valhalla called Operation Ragnarok. The story follows Captain Chris Turing, who is part of the team which is going to attack Valhalla and starts out with them traveling to their attack destination in a group of submarines hoping that what remained of the United States Surface Navy would be able to distract the Nazi and Norse pantheon forces. Originally the plan was for Chris' team and their commando escorts, but Loki informs Chris that he will accompany his troops to Gotland. Due to Loki's aid in the past, Chris agrees and convinces Major Marlowe to allow it.
While waiting for them to get to their destination, Chris recollects his memory of World War II and how the Nazi Party was about to be defeated by the allied forces until the appearance of the Norse pantheon. Loki notices Chris and allows the captain to ask the Norse God three questions. Loki answers the questions asked, and in one answer mentions how he does not think that he is older than Chris and also implying that the Nazis were setting up Extermination camps for reasons other than for "Nazi racial purification". The group arrives at Gotland, and during the operation Loki disappears and Thor defeats the troops.
The survivors of Operation Ragnarok are taken prisoner after the failed mission, who are given to Thor by his father Odin. While in custody, Chris recollects his memory of World War II and how the Nazi Party was about to be defeated by the allied forces. He recalls how as a child he wished that he would have an event like the war that he could partake in like his father did. He ends up discussing the history of World War II with his captured troops, and ends up being taken to be interrogated by Thor and argues with the group about the way the United States should have simply bombed Germany in order to end the war as soon as possible.
After this conversation, Chris is taken to be interrogated by Thor. At first, a nazi starts interrogating him, but after the captain successfully angers the interrogator through verbal banter Thor interrogates him. Thor tries to get Chris to reveal the whereabouts of Loki, but the captive captain does not tell him and does not know. O'Leary ends up insulting Thor, insisting that they are aliens and as a result Thor kills him and reveals that the Norse pantheon were invited "upon the wings of death itself".
O'Leary later tells Chris that Loki told O'Leary to tell Chris and answer to one of his questions: Necromancy. Chris realizes that the reason for the Death Camps was not for "racial purification", but for getting human sacrifices for the purpose of fueling magic. The captain also realizes that the Norse Gods were created by Necromancy due to Loki's admittance of being young. Chris ends up dying in an attempt to resist the Norse Gods, and ends up destroying Odin's Spear and dies as a result. Chris dies with the hope of his accomplishments giving hope to other heroes who would eventually rise up to overcome the Nazis.
Author's notes
In the authors notes for this story, David Brin records that he was invited by Gregory Benford to write a piece for an alternative history collection, entitled “Hitler Victorious”, but voiced the opinion that he couldn’t think of a single event which, if altered, would have let the Nazis win the war, and, contrariwise, that they had required a number of lucky breaks to get as far as they did. Benford’s reply was “I bet you could think of some premise that would work, David”. This story was the result[6]. David Brin also notes in the afterwards of his story that he wrote this story as a possible explanation for why the Nazis "do so many horrible, pointless things". [7]
References
- ^ Thor Meets Captain America title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- ^ "1987 Hugo Awards". Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ "The LOCUS Index to SF Awards". Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ Brin, David. "My Graphic Novels". Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Brin, David. "Thor Meets Captain America"". Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ Brin, D The River of Time (1987) ISBN 0-553-26281-5 p238
- ^ Brin, David. "Thor Meets Captain America". Retrieved 24 March 2012.
External links
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