Life On Mars

Summary

The Duncan & Coe History Show: "Life On Mars" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: November 7, 2024

Hosts: Mike Duncan and Alexis Coe

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Introduction

In the compelling episode titled "Life On Mars" of The Duncan & Coe History Show, hosts Mike Duncan and Alexis Coe delve into Mike Duncan's ambitious new project—a fictional podcast series chronicling the Martian Revolution of 2247. This episode serves as a revealing exploration of how historical analysis and creative storytelling intertwine to craft an immersive alternate history narrative.

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Unveiling the Martian Revolution Project

The conversation kicks off with Alexis Coe acknowledging Mike Duncan's significant transition from his well-established Revolutions podcast to his groundbreaking new endeavor. Mike reveals that this shift wasn't sudden but part of a long-term vision he harbored for nearly a decade.

Mike Duncan [01:31]: "I have always known, or at least for about eight, nine, 10 years, I have known how the Revolutions podcast was going to end. And it wasn't going to end with the Russian Revolution. It wasn't going to end with the appendices episodes that I wrapped up at the end of 2022. It was always going to end with this wild scheme that I had in my head to write a massive history of the Martian Revolution of 2247..."

Mike elaborates that the Martian Revolution project is a meticulously planned narrative that draws heavily from real historical revolutions, integrating them into a science fiction setting. This approach aims to provide a reflective "space mirror" to Earth's historical patterns.

Mike Duncan [04:31]: "Exactly. So you've taken, like, a very reflective space mirror to Earth. You've taken historical patterns and you launched them into orbit."

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Inspirations and Historical Analogues

Mike discusses the foundational elements of the Martian Revolution, emphasizing its roots in various Earthly revolutions. He details how characters and events within the Martian narrative are inspired by figures and incidents from the Mexican, French, Russian Revolutions, and the Paris Commune.

Mike Duncan [05:10]: "I'm creating a massive fake history of a revolution on Mars using all this, and I call it a pastiche mosaic of history and sci fi, where I'm taking all these little bits from all the different revolutions..."

Key characters include Vernon Byrd, a clear amalgamation of Porfirio Diaz from the Mexican Revolution, and Mabel Dore, embodying the archetype of a liberal noble with deep ties to the elite yet advocating for Martian populace welfare. Additionally, figures reminiscent of Lenin, Robespierre, and Louise Michel populate the storyline, creating a rich tapestry of revolutionary archetypes.

Mike Duncan [10:31]: "...there is a woman who is basically Louise Michel, who's a famous French anarchist and was involved in the Paris Commune..."

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Crafting Historiography within Fiction

Alexis Coe expresses admiration for the historiographical depth Mike introduces in his fictional narrative. She highlights the inventive aspect of integrating fake books, historiographic debates, and alternative historical analyses within the Martian setting.

Alexis Coe [08:07]: "So what I love most about this is that it opens with my favorite thing, which is historiography. You're reviewing the history, you're talking about histories that are in conversation with each other."

Mike explains that the Martian Revolution is presented from the perspective of a historian 250 years in the future, complete with fabricated primary and secondary sources that add layers of authenticity and depth to the narrative.

Mike Duncan [08:27]: "...I will be constantly referring to fake books that I am making up and fake historiographic debates that I am making up. Because again, this is from the perspective of somebody writing like 250 years after the fact..."

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Reception and Audience Reactions

The hosts discuss the varied reactions from the audience upon the launch of the Martian Revolution series. While the majority of Revolutions listeners have embraced the new fictional direction with enthusiasm and support, there has been a faction of listeners resistant to the shift from nonfiction to fiction.

Mike Duncan [12:19]: "And I would say the response has been about 90-10 positive to negative. Most people are like, this is fantastic. This is great. Woohoo. I can't believe you're doing this. You're a maniac. Like let's fucking go."

Despite some negative feedback, including harsh criticisms and satirical mockery on social media, Mike notes that the overall reception remains overwhelmingly positive, with many listeners expressing excitement and anticipation.

Mike Duncan [13:56]: "I admit that I rolled my eyes when I saw the Martian Revolution on my podcast app, but this might be my favorite season!"

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Balancing Fiction and Historical Accuracy

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Mike's approach to blending factual historical analysis with creative fiction. Alexis probes the balance between hard science fiction elements and the metaphorical use of space settings to explore political and personal narratives.

Mike Duncan [07:02]: "There are like two different ways to do sci fi... one is doing, like, hard science fiction... and then there's kind of another side, which is using space and science fiction settings as sort of metaphorical spaces."

Mike emphasizes that while the project incorporates elements of environmental horror and sci-fi tropes, the core focus remains on political storytelling, avoiding excessive technical details to maintain accessibility and narrative momentum.

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Revitalizing the Creative Process

Addressing personal aspects of his journey, Mike shares how this new project has revitalized his passion for writing, overcoming a period of burnout associated with the rigorous schedule of his previous podcast.

Mike Duncan [14:31]: "It was time to work again. And so now I am working again. And it feels great to be writing again."

Alexis commends Mike's return to writing, acknowledging the creative fulfillment he derives from both this new project and his collaboration on The Duncan & Coe History Show.

Alexis Coe [14:53]: "Oh, thank you. I mean, I think this is the better show, but I'm happy for you about both."

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts reflect on the excitement surrounding the Martian Revolution series and express anticipation for future content. They emphasize the innovative blending of historical scholarship with science fiction storytelling, positioning the new podcast as a unique addition to Mike Duncan's repertoire.

Alexis Coe [15:06]: "Well, still, congratulations on this superior show and the other one. I'm, of course, thank you. It's great."

Mike and Alexis sign off with enthusiasm, encouraging listeners to follow both their ongoing projects.

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Key Takeaways

• Martian Revolution is an extensive fictional history project blending real revolutionary patterns with science fiction to depict a future Martian society.

• The project incorporates detailed historiographical elements, including fabricated sources and historical debates, enhancing the narrative's authenticity.

• Audience reception is predominantly positive, celebrating the innovative shift from nonfiction to fiction, though some traditional listeners express skepticism.

• The initiative has reinvigorated Mike Duncan's creative processes, marking a significant evolution in his historical storytelling endeavors.

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This episode of The Duncan & Coe History Show offers listeners an insightful look into the creative fusion of history and science fiction, showcasing Mike Duncan's dedication to exploring new narrative frontiers while maintaining a deep respect for historical analysis.

Transcript

[A]

Hello, and welcome to the Duncan and Company History Show.

[B]

I'm Mike Duncan.

[A]

And I'm Alexis Ko.

[B]

And this is our show.

[A]

Yes, this is our show. But you have relaunched Revolutions, so you are Polly Show. It's like, I could be more diplomatic. I could be more diplomatic. I could say that, like, we have. We have an open podcast relationship, or really you do, because I was not a part of this conversation. I support you. I don't want to come off like I'm not supportive. I do. I support you. But it is a little bit of an unexpected position because Revolutions is like, you've been together for a long time, people know you for Revolutions. And The Duncan & Company show, in comparison is like. It's very new, right? It's very, very new. It's shiny, it's. Yeah, I'm just going to like. This is your. This is your midlife crisis pod.

[B]

This is my midlife. Great stuff. Thank you for making this all as awkward as humanly possible. Yes. I try to launch two podcasts, new podcasts at the same time. Yes.

[A]

I'm so glad to make this as weird as possible. So everyone knows that you hosted Revolutions, which was a very popular podcast about Revolutions, and it ended a couple of years ago. We thought, dun, dun, dun. But you were harboring a plan, right?

[B]

I have always known, or at least for about eight, nine, 10 years, I have known how the Revolutions podcast was going to end. And it wasn't going to end with the Russian Revolution. It wasn't going to end with the appendices episodes that I wrapped up at the end of 2022. It was always going to end with this wild scheme that I had in my head to write a massive history of the Martian Revolution of 2247, and then come back, like, a year or two after I was done with Revolutions, and just start dropping this weird thing into the feed.

[A]

I love this. You did you. So I did know it was coming out, and then it just happened, but it seemed like a lot of people didn't. But I love that right now, you know, I'm again surrounded by people who are like, I'm going to Canada. I'm moving to Canada. I'm moving wherever I can get citizenship. But you're like, no, let's be real here. We're going to stay. But I just. Because I live in reality on Earth, it doesn't mean that I can't be immersed in fiction on Mars.

[B]

I'm sure there are several people at this point who are like, Mike's retreating into a fictional world. But this was the plan. I did have this notion. I've been writing this and working on it for quite a while now. It just so happens to be landing right at a certain moment in. In history.

[A]

It's not a cry for help, is what you're trying to say.

[B]

No, it's not a cry for help.

[A]

Good, good, good.

[B]

I may be offering help to other people.

[A]

It's true. So I've made this joke to you before. What in the world.

[B]

I'm sorry?

[A]

What in the worlds are you doing?

[B]

What in the worlds am I doing? What I am doing is taking everything that I have learned over the course of the 10 full seasons of the Revolutions podcast. And I'm talking here about, like, the structure of revolutions. There are often commonalities between them, similarities between them. Similar characters often show up. There's always, like, angry journalists and lawyers. There's always, like, liberal nobles. There's always, you know, like, proletarian on Raj types. And I am creating a massive fake history of a revolution on Mars using all this, and I call it a pastiche mosaic of history and sci fi, where I'm taking all these little bits from all the different revolutions. There's stuff in here from the Mexican Revolution, from the French Revolution, from the Paris Commune episodes, and then intermingling them in a science fiction setting that is itself also taking stuff from great works of science fiction that I've read over the years and producing this massive fake history written from the perspective of a historian operating 250 years after the Martian revolution took place. And then we'll be delivering this in probably 25 to 30 or so episodes.

[A]

All right, so you've taken, like, a very reflective space mirror to Earth. You've taken historical patterns and you launched them into orbit.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

And you were working on this for a while, but it takes some time to construct a whole universe. And you've said it's like a few revolutions. Which in particular? Or are there. Are there parts that already you feel like listeners could identify?

[B]

Yeah. I think if you were a listener of the Revolutions podcast and you. And you picked up the Martian Revolution, you would. You would quickly pick up that there's one guy called Vernon Byrd. This is very clearly a porphyria.

[A]

My favorite name. My favorite name. It's Vernon Bird.

[B]

Yes. He is a sort of a Porfirio Diaz character. And Porfirio Diaz was the president of Mexico leading into the Mexican Revolution, who just kept staying in power and staying power long past his expiration date. And that had a lot to do with it. But really it's a colony that's on Mars. So obviously there's going to be stuff from the American Revolution and from the Spanish American independence series. The French Revolution is kind of the ur text of all revolutions. So there's. There's major French Revolution aspects to it. There's Russian Revolution aspects to it. There is a commune that comes into it at the very end. In case anybody's wondering. I do have this plotted from beginning to end. I know. I know how everything goes. And I'm just trying to take a little bit from everything. And as you go, I think. I think people will have a good time being like, oh, oh, you know, doing like the Leo meme, like, ooh, ooh. I know, I know that guy.

[A]

I'm a little. I'm conflicted here because I take personal issue with you prioritizing the French Revolution before the American Revolution, because, of course, the American Revolution inspired the French Revolution. I'm going to give you a pass, though, because the thing is, if you have the French Revolution as sort of a bigger influence, then you have space guillotines.

[B]

Alexis, I'm going to tell you something.

[A]

What?

[B]

There are space guillotines.

[A]

Oh, I don't know why I said that. Like, I'm in love with them. I love a space guillotine. It's my favorite.

[B]

When I realized there was going to be space guillotines, I was excited myself.

[A]

Sure. Okay, so I have to admit here that compared to your tastes, as we've discovered tonight, I'm relatively vanilla. I like a Philip K. Dick, an Octavia Butler. And so my experience. Well, I guess this is sort of similar because you name people and you talk a lot. You talk a big sci fi game, but it's not like you're explaining how the space toilets work, or you're like cataloging technical innovations or every instance of mass environmental and human destruction and horror that has occurred.

[B]

Right. Which does underpin a lot of the story. The. The beginning of it is a lot of environmental horror. But I just say it's environmental horror and make a few gestures at things. But really there. There's like two different ways to do sci fi, and one is doing, like, hard science fiction, which is the people who are very interested in the engineering and the physics and really trying to imagine what life in space or space, how it would actually work, and giving a lot of. A lot of time and attention to that. And then there's kind of another side, which is using space and science fiction settings as sort of metaphorical spaces. That we can talk about human stories and personal stories and in my case, a political story. And yeah, I'm a political historian. I'm not a physicist and I'm not an engineer. And so I love hard science fiction and I love people who dive into that. But that's not really what I'm doing here. So when you come to the Martian Revolution, you're going to get a lot of politics and then hopefully some fun nods to how the engineering and physics of all this works without getting bogged down in the details of it.

[A]

So what I love most about this is that it opens with my favorite thing, which is historiography. You're reviewing the history, you're talking about histories that are in conversation with each other. It's, that's like. That seems to be so much fun to just invent it because I love doing it anyway. It's a lot easier though, I think, not to invent it.

[B]

Yeah, I also love historiography. That is a, that is a love that we share and going back through. You know, like when I study the French Revolution, I'm as interested in the history of the French Revolution as I am in just the history of the French Revolution. And so I open this all up. And all along the way I will be constantly referring to fake books that I am making up and fake historiographic debates that I am making up. Because again, this is from the perspective of somebody writing like 250 years after the fact. And so I go through like problems with the primary sources. There's, there's like a server crash in 2354 that deleted a bunch of like commercial archives. I reference a thing called the Logbook of Presley Wu, which is going to give us like a day to day account of things that, that were going on from somebody who wasn't necessarily political. And then of course, surveys of the secondary sources. There's a great history of the Martian revolution called Blue, White and Red that's synthesizes the three major theaters of the Martian revolution. Blue for the Earth, white for the Moon, and red for Mars. And then when I was talking about Vernon Byrd, I referenced a couple of biographies that had been written about Vernon Byrd, one of which the guy says, I read this book so you don't have to, because it's ridiculously hagiographic. It's called Vernon Byrd, Great man of Destiny. And that is in contrast to another book that was a little bit more critical of Bird called Lazarus man, because Vernon Bird lives to be a great, great old age. And so all through this series, I will be dropping the names of books, dropping arguments that people have with each other. And that is probably right now, like the most fun thing that I am doing. I'm always delighted whenever I get to come up with another little new book and another little bit of the fake historiography.

[A]

And there are big players in this. You took like the greatest hits of historical megalomaniacs and you melded them all together. And tell us about the big players. Obviously, Vernon Bird just again, great name and I like that book title. It was like Great man of Destiny versus Lazarus Man.

[B]

Right, Exactly. So Vernon Bird is the CEO of this monopoly corporation that runs Mars as a little proprietary operation, extracting resources and sending them back to Earth. And so he plays a major role in the second episode, which is just trying to get the Martian revolution up and running and explaining where it comes from. I also just introduced a woman called Mabel Dore. And Mabel Dore is sort of this like quintessential liberal noble type, which we find liberal nobles like in all the revolutions. This is somebody who's very close to the elite, very near to the elite, has a lot of money, has a lot of wealth, has a lot of influence, but her politics are more towards the people of Mars and making sure that the people of Mars are well taken care of. And then also having like a chip on her shoulder because she's not being treated as a full equal inside the elite because she's a Martian. She's actually, she's a third generation Martian. And the earthlings are always turning up their nose at Martians. And so she's got this chip on her shoulder that she's got to work out. And then along the way, like, there's a guy who shows up who's basically a mishmash of Lenin and Robespierre. There is a woman who is basically Louise Michel, who's a famous French anarchist and was involved in the Paris Commune. There's going to be a guy who's a mashup of Cromwell and Bolivar and Napoleon. And so you can just look forward to these people popping up and trying to guess along. I think as people are like, ooh, I wonder if that's the Napoleon guy.

[A]

It's a thrilling ride. It's a thrilling ride. What has the reception been like? Because I knew about the show before it came out. You had talked about it to people. But for the vast majority, for the vast majority of revolutions listeners, this was a surprise. It just dropped into their feed. They're in suddenly a Martian revolution.

[B]

Yeah. And I've been doing this for 17 years and I've only done nonfiction. And so if you come to Mike Duncan, you're. You're going to be getting history podcasts about and it's going to be nonfiction work. And so suddenly I'm just dropping fiction in everyone's lap. And I would say the response has been about 9010 positive to negative. Most people are like, this is fantastic. This is great. Woohoo. I can't believe you're doing this. You're a maniac. Like let's fucking go. These are all great things to have tweeted at me and sent to me.

[A]

What about the email? Talk about the email. Talk about the email.

[B]

Right. So there's also. I've gotten some negative feedback. I shared you. I shared with you an email that the subject line was Martian Revolution bullshit. And was then was in an email that was like, I love your work and it's so great, but this is the stupidest thing I've ever seen in my life. You shouldn't do this. There was somebody else who tweeted me a picture where they had, they had taken a photo of my face and photoshopped it onto like a Buddhist priest who was self immolating and saying that Mike Duncan is committing career suicide by doing this Martian Revolution project. Which is so it's always great to hear from. Yeah, it's always great. It's always great to hear from the fans. But there are people too, I think who, you know, if you're coming to me for nonfiction, this might not be your cup of tea. And I, and I don't really have any problem with people it not being their cup of tea. But I did get a tweet. This one's just from yesterday. And I can read this because I copied it down. It said, I admit that I rolled my eyes when I saw the Martian Revolution on my podcast app, but this might be my favorite season exclamation point. So that's.

[A]

I say this all the time that the people who love you very rarely communicate that they. It tends to be the people who don't like you who go to the effort to like go through your website or wherever they can reach you. But I think most people are really thrilled that after two years of relative silence for reasons that we reviewed in the, in the teaser you're like back and within a two week period you are hard launching two shows in two weeks. You're like, yes, I am here. I am a masochist.

[B]

It was time to work again. And so now I am working again. And it feels great to be writing again. It really does. It was a long time where I wasn't writing on, like, a weekly schedule, partly because I had burned out from writing on a weekly schedule. And now that I'm back, it just like, it feels amazing to be writing again. And then, of course, it feels great to be talking to you too, Alexis.

[A]

Oh, thank you. I mean, I think this is the better show, but I'm happy for you about both.

[B]

Yeah, it's 1A and 1B for me, you know, or maybe just tied all. All my podcasts. I. I love all my podcasts equally.

[A]

Well, still, congratulations on this superior show and the other one. I'm. I'm, of course, thank you. It's great. I said what I said. It seems like it's a really good place to wrap this up. Look forward to a new episode of our show. Not Mike's other show on Wednesdays. That show is on Sundays. Thank you for listening to the Duncan and Co History Show.

[B]

I'm Mike Duncan.

[A]

I'm Alexis Ko.

[B]

And that was our show.