THE STRUGGLE FOR EMPIRE: A STORY OF THE YEAR 2236 (1900) – Written by Robert W Cole. I left out the first half of the title for the headline, since The Struggle For Empire sounds like a mundane history book. In reality this novel was a very, very early example of the Space Opera sub-genre.
In 2236 A.D. Earth’s dominant geopolitical entity is the Anglo-Saxon Federal Union, consisting of Great Britain, the United States and Germany. This union of nations came about during a World War that was fought during the early Twentieth Century. That conflict pitted the Americans, British and Germans against the French and the Russians.
The Anglo-Saxon Federal Union emerged triumphant, with France carved up and lost to the mists of history. (The author was British.) London, now a megalopolis spreading out for hundreds of miles, is the Earth’s capital city. It also serves as the capital for the star-spanning empire which Earthlings have established.
Initially the Earth colonized and inhabited the planets and certain moons of our own solar system all the way out to Neptune. (Pluto was not discovered until 1930.) In a quaint quasi-Steam-Punk way, all of those planets and moons have Earth-like atmospheres and conditions.
The perfection of anti-gravity and other technology led to the construction of space ships that could fly at the speed of ten million miles per hour. Robert W Cole takes H.G. Wells’ colonialism analogy from War of the Worlds into space, as humanity is depicted settling and colonizing planets in multiple star systems.
Earthlings also stripped uninhabitable planets of all their minerals, precious metals and other natural resources. Power and greed rule the zeitgeist. Complications arise when humanity at last encounters another intelligent race in the 23rd Century. Continue reading
CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last teams standing in this tournament were the top seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF ANTELOPE VALLEY PIONEERS – and the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT MERCED GOLDEN BOBCATS. The Pioneers (should be the Antelopes) had doubled-up on the Golden Bobcats by Halftime, leading them 46-23. UAV stayed on top the rest of the way for an 84-66 victory led by Ronnie Rousseau III’s 25 points. * THE PIONEERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the top-seeded COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES against the 3 seeds – the OREGON TECH HUSTLIN’ OWLS. The Coyotes were out in front 44-36 at the Half, then held on against the never-say-die Hustlin’ Owls to win it 82-77. Talon Pinckney led the way for the College of Idaho with 23 points. * THE COYOTES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
THE STRANGER – Given the current uproar over the disastrous Chibnall retcon, Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at the “brief shining moment” when Colin Baker was starring in what is often called a bootleg Doctor Who series. Less antagonistic interpretations call the BBV series a pastiche or a knowing “homage” to Doctor Who. 
*** The most popular companion of Baker’s Doctor was Peri Brown, played by Nicola Bryant. The Stranger’s companion was “Miss Brown,” played by Nicola Bryant. 
ECLIPSE MONTHLY Vol 1 #1 (August 1983) 
The Bank Robbery opens with a little boy named Delbert being scorned and bullied by a bunch of other boys his age. They look down their noses at Delbert until, in a desperate bid for acceptance, he tells them he “helped” the Masked Man stop a bank robbery the previous week. 
THE SUN CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeds – the SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE – took on the 3rd seeded SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS (should be the Tomcats). The Fire were on top 34-25 at Halftime only to see the Bobcats charge back, forcing Overtime with a 68-68 tie. In the extra session Southeastern U won the game 78-73. Riley Minx notched THIRTY-ONE points to lead the victors. * THE FIRE ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE SUN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
NORTH STAR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2nd seeded MAYVILLE STATE COMETS faced the Cinderella 5 seeds – the WALDORF UNIVERSITY WARRIORS. By the Half the Comets had taken a 30-24 advantage but had to hold on tight from there against a furious Warriors rally. Mayville State won it 65-62 led by 22 points from Demitrius Martin. * THE COMETS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE NSAA TOURNAMENT *
MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The SANDHILLS COLLEGE FLYERS clashed with the ANNE ARUNDEL COLLEGE RIVERHAWKS. The Flyers led the Riverhawks 40-36 at the midpoint. The explosive 2nd Half ended with Sandhills College winning by a Century Club-level score of 108-92. Sayaun Dent tossed in 18 points to lead the Flyers. * THE FLYERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT TOURNAMENT * 
TO MARS WITH TESLA (1901) – Written by Weldon J Cobb, To Mars With Tesla (not to be confused with To Hell With Alexander Graham Bell) momentarily turned the”Edisonade” sub-genre of science fiction into a “Tesla-ade.” 
That intern sees most of the action and is supposedly a distant relative of Thomas Edison. Young Edison relays messages between his scientist bosses and this makes him a frequent target of the nefarious schemes of the villainous Heinrickson, a mad tycoon who has evil designs on the planet Mars. 
Nature: Informational 
Nature: Irreverent takes on pop culture … and mummies
SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the 5th seeded WALDORF UNIVERSITY WARRIORS clashed with the top seeds – the BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY BRUINS. The Bruins held a 34-31 edge at the Half, but the Warriors came from behind to win the game 68-66. Demitrius Martin tossed in 27 points to lead Waldorf University in this Upset. 
REGION 303: FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 3 seeds – the HERKIMER COLLEGE GENERALS – took the court against the 2nd seeded ONONDAGA COLLEGE LAZERS. The Generals were all over the Lazers, leading 35-20 at the break on their way to a 68-48 smackdown victory. Shykell Brown’s 21 points led Herkimer College. 
MIDEAST REGION – The 2 seeds – the JOHNSON UNIVERSITY (FL) ROYALS – knocked off the 7th seeded BOYCE COLLEGE BULLDOGS 75-62 in this 1st Round game. (The 1 seed has a Bye in this round.) ### Meanwhile the (3) GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS edged the (6) WELCH COLLEGE FLAMES in a 72-71 Instant Classic ### And the (4) SIMMONS COLLEGE OF KENTUCKY FALCONS defeated the (5) CU-HARRODSBURG TIGERS 69-65.
NORTH REGION – The 5th seeded MARANATHA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SABERCATS toppled the 4 seeds – Canada’s PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE PILOTS by a score of 94-82 ### The (6) TRINITY BIBLE COLLEGE LIONS kept the Upsets coming with a 108-103 Overtime win over the (3) CENTRAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF THE BIBLE SAINTS ### And the (2) CALVARY UNIVERSITY WARRIORS crushed the (7) OAK HILLS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE WOLFPACK 87-49. 
With the news that Steven Spielberg will no longer be directing the bizarre film project Indiana Jones 5, a few readers asked me for Balladeer’s Blog’s take. 
