Welcome back to my brainstorming/development for "Nemo" a non-dystopian, Post-Industrial novel. This idea sprang from my interest in post-industrial fiction, but really blossomed into full flower when I combined it with my love of Age of Sail ships and exploration/Adventure stories.

I find far too much Post-Industrial fiction is obsessed with showing how technology is either the purest evil or the savior of mankind. I'm taking the neutral path on this one, with Technology shown to be another tool in the civilization toolbox; one that can and will be unused if too expensive.

As usual, Mood music. Since we're going to Europe, some European folk Metal seems appropriate. (Swiss for those keeping score. )

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fXmSvHJNQU]

The British Isles:

Britain's Isolation from the rest of Europe has caused a bizarre historical parallel to occur. While the Current High King of England is still seen as the supreme authority of the land, and a focus for British pride, he has very little power outside of control of the Navy. The British Navy has always been the sole thing holding back invaders, and is therefore completely immune from the infighting which has occurred in Britain due to competing ideologies.

Britain's Muslim Population has modernized, but still retains the societal control aspects of Islam. As a result, they gradually set up Islamic enclaves as the overall support of government was offshored, sold off and generally ransacked. While Muslim, they consider themselves FIERCELY British, and regard the land as their homeland. Many of the other major ethnic groups have done the same as far as resuming old village system practices, resulting in a situation similar to the Heptarchy of old.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhDJxEPRDek]

Scotland and Ireland have retained their traditional kingships, albeit officially subsumed under the "High King" in England. The Clan system in Scotland has been reconstructed, along with the raiding, blood feuds and every other negative that goes along with that. (Hey, just cause I'm putting in things I LIKE doesn't mean I'm blind to their flaws.) For it's part, Ireland does business almost completely in Gaelic now, thanks to centuries of isolation and reconstruction.

France:

Stife and paranoia took hold in France at the end of industrial civilization. France has always had a strong socialist and revolutionary streak, and when the rich started returning to the excesses of the Louis, Madame Guillotine was swiftly brought out of retirement.

Chateaus are back, but like any widespread area, the government varies from place to place. France has always had strong regional pride, and the Aquitane has been operating as a nearly breakaway political body for some time now.

The Iberian Peninsula:

Civil war has rocked this Peninsula on and off for hundreds of years. Areas have ebbed and flowed between the various groups, and employment for foreign "Contractors" has always been high. In general the groups are split between those that demand Spain return to it's historical 20th century borders, and those who wish independence. Often whenever a unionist group takes control of an area, it simply calls itself "Espana" and demands that all other groups ceded their control. Which often results in another war.

The Mediterranean:

Rome was the site of one of the only four nuclear detonations in a civilized area. The other three of course being Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Mecca. The nuclear weapon smuggled and detonated in Rome as a retaliation for the nuking of Mecca during the Terror War, kicked the holy wars of Europe into high gear. The three way wars were devastating to the population, and the scars of that war are still fresh everywhere, but especially in Italy.

The Mediterranean in general is a graveyard of war materiel and conflict. City states are again the dominant form of government, with the same political rivalries as old. Iberian Pirates once again roam the Adriatic.

Germany:

Without industry, Prussia's dominance of German Identity came to a swift end. Without Mass Media to distract, old customs and practices began popping up all over. What was Germany is now a group of fiercely independent states. While currently the official "German" government denounces the factionalism of the various states as "White Nationalist Racism" and numerous other ancient curses, it has little to no bearing upon the actions of the states.

Ironically, Germany has become one of the largest havens for Jewish communities in all of Europe. While across Europe, purges against Jews have occurred, as they always have across Millennia, in Germany they found a complete safe haven. (For Example: Orthodox Jews were exiled from Empire State for refusing to get Subcutaneous Identification Chips) Orthodox and Reform Jewish communities exist in nearly all German cities, and they are treated as honored citizens. Orthodox communities in particular were highly valued during the fall due to their traditional methods of living being easier to adapt to then the huge sacrifices needed to maintain industrial living.

Aaaaaand that's it for right now. About 2 hours once again, and I find that's right before I run out of gas, so won't force it further. And I'm enjoying doing slight teases for the next brainstorm, so here it is:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgXlUxDGFvU]