Sci Friday # 120: Visual Inspiration

Images that inspired me

“What if?“

What?

This was a very well designed manikin of Lieutenant Colonel Laurens, one of General Washington’s aides at the Battle of Brandywine. The Army Museum at Belvoir did a phenomenal job with the 250th anniversary displays. There were a half dozen great manikins/dioramas that really pulled you into their stories with posture, expression, uniforms, and equipage.

Why?

I took this photo for two reasons. First, it was extremely well done as I pointed out. Second, in my alt-hist—I’m done using that term because of the connotations behind it. In my “what if?” short story, “Devil Take the Hindmost,” which Raconteur Press published way back in 2024, posed the question, what would happen if General Washington died at the Battle of Brandywine. And, Laurens would’ve been right there when it happened.

Did he survive?

Readers questions: Have you ever dived deep into a rabbit hole of research? What was it?

Hope all y’all had a great week. Enjoy the weekend. 👋