During Cam’s shift, we challenged the community to develop their concept for an alternative history story. Here’s the winning entry, by TacitusVigil:
We imagined history as a fixed path; “what was” is what was always meant to be. How could it be otherwise? Historians used counterfactuals to examine history to an extent (at least before The Device), but such musings absent of evidence were frowned upon by academics. Alternate history novels used to dive into the most overused questions…what if the Nazis won World War II? What if the South won the American Civil War? What if the White House wasn’t destroyed during the 9/11 attacks? After the Quantum Entanglement Device (the Q.E.D., or “The Device” as it’s usually referred) was invented ten years ago, all those “What ifs” were confirmed for us. At first it was deeply profound, gazing into The Device to see the road less traveled. Of course, The Device isn’t a time machine, so we’re limited to one-way real-time images into those worlds. Historians were thrilled to study worlds that look so similar, yet are so different…
…then the politicians weaponized the Device, pointing to select dystopic timelines where their opponents are in power (that infinite realities exist meant nothing to them). And when people started seeing what it would be like if they never had kids, or they married that other person, etc, well…we look back fondly when mere reality TV could “ruin” our lives. Now we ask “why do anything if your choices mean nothing”? Our world is now obsessed with “What if” and nobody cares about what is. The old saying is true…ignorance is bliss.
Do you like playing Magic: The Gathering? If so, you’ll want to check out this donation drive, where we’ll be giving away the Welcome to Zendikar lot. Donate $11.11 (or multiples thereof) for a chance to win. We’ll run this donation drive until 7:00 AM PST.
We are extremely excited to welcome Hipster Whale as a sponsor for Desert Bus this year! Hipster Whale is the studio behind the breakaway mobile hit Crossy Road. Formed by Andy Sum and Matt Hall with art by Ben Weatherhall, their flagship title has taken both the App and Google Play stores by storm. This is also the title that took most of the Desert Bus 8 crew by surprise storm last year! Think Frogger crossed with a host of wonderful characters and you have the infinite playability of Crossy Road.
We are super thankful for their support this year!
Ready to adventure into the land of Tamriel? Our next giveaway is for the Imperial Edition of Elder Scrolls Online. Donate $6.03 (or multiples thereof) for a chance to win. We’ll run this donation drive until 5:50 AM PST. Here’s a description of what’s in this edition:
Explore the mysteries of Tamriel like never before with the Imperial Edition of Elder Scrolls Online for PC! Venture alone or with friends in this MMO set roughly 1000 years before the coming of the Dragonborn. How will you shape your destiny?
In addition to the game, the Imperial Edition includes:
– 12″ Molag Bal Statue
– The Improved Emperor’s Guide to Tamriel
– 21 x 26″ Physical Map of Tamriel
– Limited Edition Steel Case Packaging
As well as the following exclusive collection of digital content:
– Play as an Imperial
– White Imperial Horse
– Mudcrab Vanity Pet
– Rings of Mara
Our first challenge of Cam’s shift is inspired by our giveaway prize: two signed books from the Caesar Americanus series, the second of which hasn’t been released yet. For a chance to win these books, we’d like to hear your best alternative history story.
Send your submissions (no greater than 250 words) to contests@desertbus.org with “Alternate History” in the subject line. You’ll have until 6:00 AM PST to submit your entries. Also, be sure to include the name or handle you’d like us to use on air should your submission win.
During Fugi’s shift, we challenged the community to develop creative works related to Fugi’s favorite game, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Here’s the winning entry, by Eskar:
And here’s our runner-up entries:
Check out the rest of the community’s submissions after the jump…
We’re running a donation drive for an official Desert Bus 9 t-shirt! Donate $5.01 (or multiples thereof) for a chance to win. We’ll run this donation drive until shortly after 4:00 AM PST.
Cameron “Unarmed Oracle” Lauder

Driving since: 2013
Points: 3
Crashes: 0
Patronus:A space probe launched hopefully into the void, now the source of occasional novelty.
Theme Song: Colouring of Pigeons by The Knife
First Crush: Dana Scully
Why “Unarmed Oracle”?
Despite appearances, this is not a simple anagram of Cameron’s first and last names — if it was he would have chosen the infinitely dirtier sounding “Caramel Undoer”. Instead, “Unarmed Oracle” is a title bestowed unto people who combine dubiously plausible and unverifiable visions of the future with a complete lack of motivation and interest to do anything about them.
I consider myself to be an ideas* person**.
*ideas may be exclusively bad.
**person may also be exclusively bad.
How he feels about driving for Desert Bus 9:

When not at Desert Bus, he can be found:
When not driving the Desert Bus, Cameron slouches from bed to bed, searching for a decent cappuccino and wireless internet. He occasionally pretends to read books & papers, write code, criticism & poetry, draw, and care about his appearance.
It is a little known fact that Cameron is actually a terrified rat king piled into the loose shape of a sack of potatoes and dressed in a wool sweater.
Fugi’s shift is coming to a close, but we’ve got one more giveaway first. Donate $9.14 (or multiples thereof) for a chance to win this one-of-a-kind set of Pez dispensers of the Desert Bus crew. We’ll run this donation drive until 1:55 AM PST.
It’s dangerous to go alone… so take this! It’s a Legend of Zelda 8-Bit Hylian Shield and Master Sword Quilt. Donate $7.03 (or multiples thereof) for a chance to win this giveaway. We’ll run this donation drive until 1:10 AM PST.


























