The 2021 Historybook AAR of the Year is...

[coz1]

Now we move to Historybook AAR and yet another extremely close race. If a few votes had gone a slightly different way, the order of our finalists might be changed. In total, 35 different AARs were given nomination and again appear to be from across each game. So let's get to the reveal.

Your 2021 Historybook AAR of the Year is...

Empire for Liberty: America in the Long Nineteenth Century by @volksmarschall​

Some years already in the running, but this is the first top finish! Well done indeed! Another that has been in this category before, our second place winner was...

Echoes of A New Tomorrow: Life after Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain by @DensleyBlair​

And rounding out our top three, the bronze goes to...

Der Adler, der Wolf, und die Sonne: Die Geschichte des Stahlpakts by @Wraith11B​

The other nominess in order of the vote:

For All We Have and Are: Britain in the Great War by @BigBadBob

One Heart, One Soul, One Mind, One Goal: A Republic of China HPP AAR by @RustyHunter

The Caliphate of al-Rus: A Kievan AAR by @Cora Giantkiller

En la sombra de Morazán: A Central American AAR by @Zeogludon

The Permanent Revolution Lives On! - Trotskyist AAR by @ThaHoward

Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936 by @Bullfilter

The Rise of Russia by @HistoryDude

Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by @eoncommander

The Butterfly Effect: A British AAR by @El Pip

Here Dwells God - A Jewish Poland AAR by @Tommy4ever

Chronicles of Poland by @Nikolai

Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by @slothinator

Wings of Faith, Wings of Fury - A Slavic Pagan Revival AAR by @Superstorm

The Balkan Crucible: An Axis Yugoslavia AAR by @The Living Hive

You Would Have A Queen: Gaia's Stepdaughters, redux by @Cora Giantkiller

Road of Queens - CKII India AAR by @Eurasia

Italian Ambitions: A Florence AAR by @JerseyGiants88

The Presidents: The Vietnam War Edition by @Nathan Madien

The White Eagle & the Knight: A Polish AAR by @RossN

We Hold the Pass: Selected Bio. of Notable Personages from the Qi Dynasty of Shule-Yutian by @Revan86

Jihad on the Savannah: A Vic2 serious Sokoto AAR by @mad orc

Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke

United Nations Federation, a stellaris AAR (translated into english) by @KODRAM

"A weed grows, where sown it was not" - Middle Earth AAR by @Sabratha

Settling the Steppe - An Anti-Horselord Gothic AAR by @alscon

The Wars of the Roses by @coz1

Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side

To the Strongest - A Hellenistic Resurgence AAR by @Eludio

Flight of the Swan: A Central Asian AAR by @Cora Giantkiller

"One and Indivisible" (A Russian Kaiserreich AAR) by @Aussie Perun

The Legacy of Uhtred (A Bamburgh AAR) by @Dunaden

A Nation of Sadness: A CWE Republic of China AAR by @Qwerty7​

So much excellence above! Each and every one is deserving of this nomination and should be proud of their accomplishment throughout the past year. Congrats to each of you and most especially to our winner @volksmarschall for a well deserved victory! Now the floor is open for your own congrats, thanks and discussions of the various works should you wish. Back tomorrow with our Narrative awAARd.

 

[Wraith11B]

Congratulations to everyone! I have to say, I'm honored to even break the top three given that I've been super reticent about getting on here and posting.

 

[Macavity116]

Thirty-five AARs! Really impressive showing, everyone! And a special round of applause for @volksmarschall, @DensleyBlair, and @Wraith11B!

 

[Midnite Duke]

Congratulations @volksmarschall! To put the history in this category, the top four debuted before 2021. The Grand Old Lady (Vicky 2) went 1-2-4. Everybody, job well done.

 

[Bullfilter]

Congrats to the gold, silver and bronze medal winners (@volksmarschall , @DensleyBlair and @Wraith11B ) and to all nominees.

 

[DensleyBlair]

Genuinely surprised and very humbled to have finished runner-up in this category. Given both my general absence in the second half of the year, and the very strong calibre of history-book AARs produced this year, I really had entertained little thought of a podium finish. I’ve just had a look and my first outing in this category was a bronze medal in 2014. Seven years later, it continues to be my privilege to share work with this community. My sincere thanks to all who gave Echoes a vote.

Massive round of applause to @volksmarschall. Empire for Liberty is an exceptional achievement and continues to amaze me five years in. Many congratulations also to @Wraith11B – I will catch up with the Pact of Steel one day! Congratulations also to all who had work nominated. Fine work all round.

Thanks to @coz1 once again for coordinating and tabulating the results. You do AARland proud!

 

[RustyHunter]

Congrats to @volksmarschall , @DensleyBlair , and @Wraith11B . Also thanks to everyone who voted for my AAR, 5th is a very pleasant surprise!

 

[jak7139]

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners! Great job!

 

[Nikolai]

Thanks for the votes and congratulations to all!

 

[Eurasia]

Congrats to all the winners and all those voted and took part!

 

[El Pip]

Congratulations to all the winners and to the plucky voter(s?) who saved me from coming 13th which I understand would result in Butterfly Effect becoming cursed in some way. Well picking up an a new curse in addition to the ones it already has if we are honest, but it is still appreciated.

 

[coz1]

Congratulations to all the winners and to the plucky voter(s?) who saved me from coming 13th which I understand would result in Butterfly Effect becoming cursed in some way. Well picking up an a new curse in addition to the ones it already has if we are honest, but it is still appreciated.

Blame (or thank) the alphabet for that as you and @eoncommander tied in that spot on the list.

 

[roverS3]

Congrats to all those nominated, and the top three specifically. ConsideringI haven't read the winning entry, i mighthave to addit to my reading list at some point.

 

[iain_a_wilson]

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

 

[volksmarschall]

A hearty congratulations to everyone and quite the surprise as I generally don't seek these praises (though I won't force anyone not to vote for me) and that my real life writing and editorial work keeps me away from these forums much too long.

But as many of the forumites here have a certain fondness for writing, even if in AAR form (hey, it's a great way to hone in your craft), remember that the writer's life requires discipline and regularity but once mastered it will actually produce a greater freedom for you going forward! And don't forget, writing is an art form. And perhaps, in my humble opinion, the greatest form of artistry. I often tell students that you shouldn't fear rejection either; a great writer is able to take rejection as a means for greater motivation and enhancement. As I was telling a student before spring break (here in the USA), mastering the art of writing entails rejection and enhancement. One should always look for progress in one's writing too. Not that you look back with embarrassment on early writings, but that you look fondly on present writing and see the progress one has made. (She has creative writing aspirations and lucky for her I have relationships with some journals that I write for that also publish creative short fiction from time to time.)

Though this be "History," History AARs are still stories and everyone likes a good story. To all the writAARs who received votes then, write on. And know that you too can achieve great things from such humble beginnings. Maybe I'll figure out a way to give this forum a shout out on a podcast I'll be on Wednesday discussing philosophy, the journal I'm editor of, and my literary/humanities romanticism and professional writings. After all, I've told numerous forumites that part of my writing adventure is tied to this place.

Just remember: Write. Persevere. Find your voice and style. Writing may seem like a lonely world at first but it opens up and you'll find just how special this community is and just how special and supportive the broader writing and reading communities are outside of this forum too! You write not just for yourself but to share yourself with others. As a few forumites here know, my consciousness and identity is filled with that sharing from people I have both met and have not met -- and how special that must be for people to touch the life of another whom they have never met. That's why we write. Whether here or elsewhere.

Per aspera ad astra dear pilgrim writAARs!

 

[HistoryDude]

Congrats @volksmarschall, @DensleyBlair, and @Wraith11B!

And Rise of Russia got 10th. Thanks to everybody who voted for that!

 

[Wraith11B]

I was just updating my "I love me!" Inkwell post to reflect my most recent awards and noticed that I basically repeated 2020's awards...

 

[filcat]

***
III​

<Medium shot on the door. Pragmatic Guy Fil, The Pro, and The Tired walk through it. They stop in their tracks.>

<The Maniac, lying on the ground, shot full of holes. The cop slumped over in his chair, a bloody mess, still trembling over the torture he endured at the hands of The Maniac before being shot. The Challenger is lying on the side, still trying to survive from his wounds, but his face has already lost all the colours of any chance to live through them. Fil, The Pro, and The Tired walk into the shot.>

FIL​

What the fuck happened here?

<Fil runs over to his friend The Maniac.>

THE PRO​

(to The Challenger) What happened?

THE CHALLENGER​

Maniac went crazy. He slashed the cop’s face, cut off his ear, and was gonna burn him alive.

FIL​

Who cares what he was gonna do to this fuckin pig?

<Fil whips out his gun and shoots the cop. The cop and the chair tip over. Fil stands over him and shoots him once more.>

FIL​

(to The Challenger) You were saying he went crazy? Something like that? Worse or better?

THE CHALLENGER​

Look, Fil, he was pullin a burn. He was gonna kill the cop and me. And when you guys walk through the door, he was gonna blow you to hell and make off with the words. He was shoutin he’d take the words to come up with a long post of criticising the winner of the historybook AAR of the year. He was gonna criticise everyone.

THE PRO​

Uhuh, uhuh, what’d I tell ya? That sick piece of shit was a stone cold psycho.

THE CHALLENGER​

You could’ve asked the cop, if you just didn’t kill him. He shouted about what he was going to do when he was slicing him up.

FIL​

I don’t buy it. It doesn’t make sense.

THE PRO​

It makes perfect sense to me. Fil, you didn’t see how he acted during the job, we did.

<The Tired walks over to the cop’s body.>

THE TIRED​

He’s right about the ear, it’s hacked off.

FIL​

(to The Challenger) Let me say this out loud, just to get it straight in my mind. According to you, The Maniac was gonna kill you. Then when we came back, kill us, grab the words, and scram to write a criticism instead of congratulations. That’s your story? I’m correct about that, right?

THE CHALLENGER​

Fil, you can believe me or not, but it’s the truth. I swear on my mother’s eternal soul that’s what happened.

<Close up of Pragmatic Guy Fil. There is a long pause while he rolls over what The Challenger has said.>

FIL​

You’re a fuckin liar. Now why don’t you drop the fuckin fairy tale and tell me what really happened?

THE PRO​

(offscreen) He told you what really happened. You just can’t deal with it.

THE CHALLENGER​

(offscreen) Okay, you’re right, I’m lying. Even though I’m fuckin dying I’m not above pullin a last one. Get rid of Maniac, we share his split of words – no, scratch that, I shot him ‘cause I didn’t like his writing style. I didn’t like his formatting either. If it had just been his words, I’d’ve maybe, maybe I said, let him live. But words and format together, he’s a goner (grins morbidly).

FIL​

The man you killed was just released from writer’s exile. He got caught at writing full of hot items. He could’ve walked away. All he had to do was say my dad’s name, he could’ve claim not stealing the words. But instead he shut his mouth and did his time. He did four years for us, and he did’em like a man. And we were grateful. So, The Challenger, you’re tellin me this very good friend of mine, who did four years for my father, who in four years never made a deal, no matter what they dangled in front of him, you’re telling me that now, that now this man is free, and we’re making good on our commitment to him, he’s just gonna decide, right out of the fuckin blue, to rip us off?

<Silence.>

FIL​

The Challenger, why don’t you tell me what really happened?

VOICE (offscreen)​

Why? It’ll just be more bullshit.

<Fil steps out of his closeup and we see Joe Cat walking into the room.>

JOE​

(pointing to The Challenger) This man sets up.

FIL​

Daddy, I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s happening.

JOE​

That’s okay, Fil, I do.

THE PRO​

What the fuck are you talking about?

JOE​

(pointing at The Challenger) That piece shit. Workin with the cops.

THE PRO – THE TIRED – FIL​

What?

JOE​

(looking at The Challenger) Aren’t you?

THE CHALLENGER​

(offscreen) I don’t have the slightest fuckin idea what you’re talkin about.

THE PRO​

Joe, I don’t know what you think you know, but you’re wrong.

JOE​

Like hell I am.

THE PRO​

Joe, trust me on this, you’ve made a mistake. He’s a good kid. I understand you’re hot, you’re super-fuckin pissed. We’re all real emotional. But you’re barking up the wrong tree. I know this kid, and he wouldn’t do that.

JOE​

You know jack shit. I do. This rotten bastard tipped off the cop-filcats, and got The Irrational and The Insidious killed.

THE TIRED​

The Insidious is dead?

JOE​

Dead as Dillinger.

FIL​

The motherfucker killed The Maniac.

THE PRO​

How do you know all this?

JOE​

He was the only one I wasn’t a hundred percent on. I should have my fucking head examined for going forward when I wasn’t a hundred percent. But he seemed like a good kid, and I was impatient and greedy and all the things that fuck you up. The job was simple, take the words, get to the criticism, and make cash. Nope, I had to trust an outsider ‘cause I was greedy.

THE PRO​

(screaming) That’s your proof?

JOE​

You don’t need proof when you got instinct. I ignored it before, but no more.

<Joe whips out a revolver and aims it at The Challenger.>
<The Pro brings his .45 up at Joe.>
<Fil and The tired are shook awake by the flash of firearms. Fil raises his gun, pointing at The Pro.>

FIL​

Have you lost your fucking mind? Put your gun down!

<The Tired fades into the background while holding his gun too, but wanting no part of this.>

THE PRO​

Joe, you’re making a terrible mistake I can’t let you make.

FIL​

Stop pointing your fuckin gun at daddy!

<Joe, never taking his eyes off The Challenger.>

JOE​

Don’t worry, Fil. Me and Filry have been friends a long time, he ain’t gonna shoot. We like each other too much. This will end with one shot, and we’ll gonna take the words, and write a criticism.

THE PRO​

Joe, forget the criticism, if you kill that man, you die next. Repeat, if you kill that man, you die next!

<The Challenger holding his wounds on ground, looking from left to right.>
<Joe pointing at The Challenger, not taking his eyes off him.>
<The Pro pointing at Joe, ready to fire any minute.>
<Fil scared shitless for his father, gun locked on The Pro.>
<The Tired walking backwards away from the action, his gun pointing on the group without any particular target.>

THE TIRED​

C’mon guys, nobody want this. We’re supposed to be fuckin professionals!

JOE​

Filry, I’m gonna kill him.

THE PRO​

Goddamn you Joe, don’t make me do this!

<Shots are heard. Fil collapses, dead. Joe, holding his face, slams on the ground. The Pro, shot three times in the chest, fell on his knees.>
<The Tired is standing motionless. Finally he grabs the case of words and runs out the door.>

<Silence.>

<The Pro tries to stand but falls down. He crawls to where The Challenger lies. He lifts The Challenger’s head, cradling it in his lap.>

THE PRO​

Sorry, kid. Looks like we’re gonna do a little time.

<Sirens are heard outside. Indistinct screams of cop-filcats are heard.>

THE CHALLENGER​

I’m a cop.

<The Pro doesn’t say anything, he keeps stroking The Challenger’s head.>

THE CHALLENGER​

I’m sorry, I’m sorry. There was no way we could allow you to write a criticism. It was always goin’ to be a congratulation. I’m sorry.

<The Pro lifts his .45 and places the barrel between The Challenger’s eyes.>

THE CHALLENGER​

I’m sorry.

<The sounds of outside storm inside. Offscreen the cop-filcats, cocking their shotguns, screaming.>

COP-FILCATS​

Freeze, motherfucker! Drop your fucking gun!

<The Pro looks up at them, smiles, pulls the trigger. Burst of shotgun fire is heard.>[*]

~​

<The Tired, while driving, looks at the mirror all the time. Once he gets there where he feels safe, he brushes off his panic-looking face, his eyes turns into ice-cast serious. He stops the car, as it is pointless to further drive. He gets out of the car, looks at the street. Nobody seems to notice him, nor he attracts any attention. He does not need to panic, he walks to the building he parked three blocks away. Before entering the building through its glass-door, he looks again at the street. His gesture does not resemble any features of The Tired, but it is still the same.>

<F-1000 walks in. The old-school netcafe is not crowded, as it is not the nineties anymore. It takes a seat, raising its hand to inform the attendant for an account to start. Its monitor unlocks, and he opens an editor. It begins to write, while opening the suitcase of the words.>

<As the words pour on the digital editor on the screen, F-1000 congratulates Volksmarchall for the Historybook AAR of 2021.>

<It particularly celebrates DensleyBlair for the runner-up place, and cheers for Wraith11B.>

<It mentions congratulatory comments for BigBadBob, RustyHunter, Cora Giantkiller, Zeugludon, ThaHoward, Bullfilter, eoncommander, Tommy4ever, Nikolai, slothinator, Superstorm, The Living Hive, Eurasia, JerGiants88, Nathan Madien, mad orc, Midnit Duke, KODRAM, Sabratha, alscon, coz1, Side, Eludio, Aussie Peru, Dunaden, Qwerty7.>

<It praises HistoryDude and Revan86, and expresses its regret that their work did not make higher in the run-up.>

<The endless post seems to exhaust all the patience, even of its writer, but F-1000 does not mind. It does not constitute any sentiment, but only directives, commands, objectives, aims, and the rest is the capability of mimicking human-emotions. Its processor calculates a slight remorse for the demise of The Challenger, The Pro, The Irrational, and The Insidious. It does not have any regrets for getting rid of Joe, Fil, and The Maniac though.>





[*] Adapted from Reservoir Dogs, 1992
Edit: Corrected typographical mistakes. Edit-10.03.2022: Corrected typographical mistake.

 

[coz1]

@filcat - You just gave me flashbacks!! I was a projectionist in college at the University of Georgia and we showed that film over 30 times at the Georgia Theater. Had to thread it up and show it twice a night and sit through it to make sure it did not burn or break. Don't get me wrong, I love it (possibly Tarantino's tightest film all things considered) but I have not watched it since. But I did get free beer and $50 bucks each time so not a total waste.

 

[filcat]

But I did get free beer and $50 bucks each time so not a total waste.

No, absolutely contradicts being a complete waste if it involves free beer.

Otherwise, - uhh, nevermind. Not fond of the director.

Don't get me wrong, I love it (possibly Tarantino's tightest film all things considered) but I have not watched it since.

It is, yes, a tight one. And no need to watch it again, other than if have to make a critical analysis.
The only credible film of that... uh... moron? idiot? brainless? naah, no need to be boorish that uh... person, yeah, that person, is Jackie Brown (1997); a lucky strike for such a uh... umm... person, yeah, person.
Inglorious Basterds (2009), Django Unchained (2012), Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019) seem interesting though. But because of the cast.