1989

Events

Dated Events

• Real World: January 7. Akihito becomes Emperor of Japan; Heisei period begins.

• Space Odyssey: February - May U.S. Air Force conducts “Project Barsoom” which tests reactions of ordinary people to scenario that aliens are real and have made contact with Earth. Extremely negative reactions of participants lead to high classification of test results and creation of policy within U.S. government to suppress any knowledge of possible alien contact.

• Real World: February 2. The last Soviet troops leave Afghanistan.

• Real World: February 14. The first GPS satellite is placed in orbit.

• Real World: March 23. Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann of the University of Utah claim to have successfully initiated cold fusion. An asteroid comes within 400,000 miles of impacting Earth.

• Real World: March 24. The Exxon oil tanker Valdez runs aground at Prince William Sound in Alaska, spilling millions of gallons of oil in what becomes the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

• Real World: April 15. Protestors gather in China's Tiananmen Square, initiating the Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989.

• Real World: June 4. The Tiananmen Square Protests are suppressed by the Chinese military on live television.

• Real World: October 9. A Soviet news agency reports that a UFO has landed in Voronezh.

• Real World: November 9. Travel is opened between East and West Germany, beginning the reunification of Germany.

• Real World: November 10. Celebrating Germans begin tearing down the Berlin Wall.

• Real World: November 17. A student demonstration in Prague is harshly suppressed by communist police in Czechoslovakia, sparking the Velvet Revolution against communist rule.

• Real World: November 28. Protests as part of the Velvet Revolution and the fall of neighboring communist regimes prompts the communist government of Czechoslovakia to relinquish its monopoly on government rule.

• Ghostbusters (Films): December. The Ghostbusters get back together following a five-year hiatus. (Ghostbusters 2)

• Real Ghostbusters: December. The Ghostbusters get back together following a brief hiatus. (Ghostbusters 2)

• Real World: December 14. Chile holds its first free election in 16 years.

• Real World: December 17. Brazil holds its first free election in 25 years.

• Real World: December 20. The United States invades Panama.

• Ghostbusters (Films), Real Ghostbusters: December 31. Vigo the Carpathian resurrects himself, only to be defeated by the Ghostbusters. (Ghostbusters 2)

Undated Events

• DC (Generations): Superman finally finds Lex Luthor, but has his powers removed by gold kryptonite. Luthor reveals himself as the Ultra-Humanite, and tries to steal Superman's body, but the Man of Steel unintentionally kills Luthor in trying to stop him. He submits himself to the authorities, and is sentenced to ten years in the Phantom Zone. (Superman & Batman: Generations)

• James Bond (Films): Franz Sanchez is captured by James Bond and Felix Leiter, but escapes with the help of Ed Killifer and seeks revenge against Felix and his wife Della, the latter of whom is killed by Sanchez's henchmen. Bond's license to kill is revoked and he resigns from MI-6 to pursue vengeance against Sanchez. (Licence to Kill)

New Fictional Works

Notable Books

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco, The Legacy of Heorot by Larry Niven, Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett, Pyramids by Terry Pratchett, Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

Notable Films

The Abyss, Back to the Future Part II, Batman, Field of Dreams, Food of the Gods II, Ghostbusters 2, Godzilla vs. Biollante (Japan), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Lethal Weapon 2, Licence to Kill, The Little Mermaid, Nick Knight (TV movie), The Punisher, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (TV movie).

Notable Comic Books

Sandman #1.

Notable Television Series

• Beginning: Alien Nation, Captain N: The Game Master, G.I. Joe: Operation Dragonfire, The Karate Kid, Quantum Leap, Ring Raiders, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Tales from the Crypt, Vytor: The Starfire Champion.

• Continuing: The Adventures of Superboy (Season 2), Beauty and the Beast (Season 3), Dragon Ball becomes Dragon Ball Z (Japan), DuckTales (Season 3), My Secret Identity (Season 2), Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters (Season 2), Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 3), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Season 3), War of the Worlds (Season 2).

• Ending: Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers, Doctor Who, Dino Riders, Erasmus Microman, Robocop (animated), Superman.

Notable Role-Playing Games

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (2nd Ed.), Ars Magica (2nd Ed.), Batman: The Roleplaying Game, Champions (4th Ed.), DC Heroes (2nd Ed.), Elfquest (2nd Ed.), Ghostbusters International, HERO System, In Nomine (1st French Ed.), Judge Dredd: The Role-Playing Game, Prince Valiant, Shadowrun, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game (2nd Ed.).

Notable Electronic Games

Dragon Warrior (Nintendo Entertainment System), Prince of Persia (various).

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