The popular harry turtledove, who specializes in alternate history novels, has suggested what might have happened in 11 volumes so far. Alternate history fiction books to read now penguin random. Alternate history is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction and historical fiction that is set in a world in which history has diverged from the actual history of the world. Alternate history or alternative history in commonwealth english, sometimes abbreviated as ah, is a genre of speculative fiction consisting of stories in which one or more historical events occur differently. Alternate history fiction books to read now penguin. Alternate histories have delighted adult readers of speculative fiction including me for years, but fewer have been aimed at younger fry, possibly because kids are still supposed to be. It starts with the age of colonization, but the east coast of north america was separated from the rest before the europeans discovered it. The books are opening atlantis discovery, colonization, and alternate version of frenchindian war, the united states of atlantis revolutionary war, and liberating atlantis civil war. Alternate history fiction is one of the hidden gems of literature, a sprawling chasm of a genre often overlooked by those not familiar with it. The alternate history list is a bibliography of over 3400 novels, stories, essays, collections, and other printed material involving the what ifs of history. Napoleon and the conquest of the world by louis geoffroy, napoleon s first french empire emerging.
I can suggest some of the books by harry turtledove. Alternate history or alternative history commonwealth english ah is a genre of speculative fiction consisting of stories in which one or more historical events occur differently. The modern alternate history genre may not exist without the man in the high castle. His southern victory or timeline191 series has the confederates beating the union. Jan 18, 2012 alternate histories have delighted adult readers of speculative fiction including me for years, but fewer have been aimed at younger fry, possibly because kids are still supposed to be. Alternate history fiction is a website run by grey wolf, providing a permanent resource. At other times, were shown an england that never became a world power. American archaeologist martin padway is visiting the pantheon in rome in 1938. Alternate history fiction books, listed by author, with links to the authors own pages upon ahf where you can find further information on the book, its genesis and artwork and links to where to purchase the books. The alternate history genre may contain fantastical elements to further stretch the elements into fiction. Alternate history books are a great way to explore these questions, and alternate history for teens is becoming increasingly popular. Alt hist readers might be interested in a new anthology containing 28 science fiction and fantasy stories based on an extraordinary secret history vatican vaults is a captivating collection of original science fiction and fantasy stories based on the same alternate world premise. Sometimes they take us to our worst nightmarelike a nazi ruled united statesor a place with time travel.
Apr 16, 2019 eric flint is a modern master of alternate history fiction, with over three million books in print. Some of them are, colonization and worldwar series alien invasion during world war 2 cross time traffic series a trading company with a. Matt mitrovich is the founder and editor of alternate history weekly update and a volunteer editor for alt hist magazine. It gets lumped in with run of the mill historical fiction, or it gets shelved in the scifi section. In 1968, he graduated from ucla with a ba degree, following which he received a masters degree in history. These stories usually contain what if scenarios at crucial points in history and present outcomes other than those in the historical record. These alternate history books imagine how changes in our past could affect our present. Alternate history or alternative history is a genre of fiction consisting of stories in which one or more historical events occur differently. The united states has been decimated economically and by wave after wave of death, and now only two groups of people remain.
His days of infamy books have japan occupying hawaii. Perhaps one of the first real science fiction alternate history books we come across is h. The list tries to avoid novels featuring timetravel or parallel universes as they could be seen as subgenres. Alternate history, fantasy hugo and nebula awardwinning author michael swanwick presents a new fiction series at, consisting of standalone stories all set in. Dick you cant discuss alternate history without bringing up the man in the high castle. Beginning with cold magic, this steampunk series is set in a version of the 19th century in which the ice age never ended, changing the balance of power across the globe. Luckily for you, there are a ton of allohistories that pick more obscure and interesting points of. Books in the alternate history fiction genre are based on events in history that transpired or ended differently.
Set in a version of america that is ruled by japan and germany, with a neutral zone in between, this book is gets a little loopy, but. Agent of byzantium has the byzantine empire surviving. Eric flint is a modern master of alternate history fiction, with over three million books in print. Plus it is one of the first alternate history books to reach mass appeal where the alternate history wasnt created by supernatural means time travel, parallel universes, magic, etc. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Maybe not quite what your thinking of but in the same ballpark. Herman wouks the caine mutiny is set in our own historical timeline for world war ii and is thus historical fiction. Alternate history fiction, swansea, united kingdom. Alternate history fiction continues to thrive in the twentyfirst century, particularly as film and television adaptations are created from alternate history books. These stories can blend speculative elements with historical facts, which is perfect for prompting discussion about what is truth and what is fiction in the novels discussed. At the age of 10, he moved back home to the us and lived near fresno ca. However, this is a profascism narrative written by an alternatehistory adolf hitler, who in this timeline emigrated from germany to the united states in 1919 after the great war, and used his modest artistic skills to become first a pulpscience fiction illustrator and later a successful science fiction writer, telling lurid, purpleprosed. We provide a guide to where books and ebooks can be bought, to websites dedicated to alternate history, and to blogs on writing and worldcreation. Jul 01, 2016 however, this is a profascism narrative written by an alternatehistory adolf hitler, who in this timeline emigrated from germany to the united states in 1919 after the great war, and used his modest artistic skills to become first a pulpscience fiction illustrator and later a successful science fiction writer, telling lurid, purpleprosed.
Mages and spirits and dragons also exist in this version of our world. It is similar to mark twain s a connecticut yankee in king arthurs court. Alternate history, fantasy hugo and nebula awardwinning author michael swanwick presents a new fiction series at, consisting of standalone stories all set in the same world. What if the history of the transatlantic slave trade had been reversed and africans had enslaved europeans. Lest darkness fall is possibly the earliest and best example of the alternate history genre. The undisputed king of alternative histories is the prolific harry turtledove, who has helped guide the genre into mainstream reading. Most works in this genre are based on real historical events. It differs from historical fiction, which mostly sticks to real history. Its very well written the author is the guy who wrote the remains of the day and won the nobel prize for literature, but the real focus of the book is not really about the characters, but about the slow reveal of why the school and the children were special. Though a story of hard science fiction, the eyre affair is a perfect read for lovers of classic lit. In harry turtledoves mesmerizing alternate history of world war ii, the choices of men and fate have changed history. We promote books in the genre, the artwork used for them, and the authors and artists who produce them. The books are opening atlantisdiscovery, colonization, and alternate version of frenchindian war, the united states of atlantisrevolutionary war, and liberating atlantiscivil war. Hes the authorcreator of the multiple new york times bestselling ring of fire series starting with first novel 1632.
Fantasybased alternate history books spiritwalker series by kate elliott. The american alternatehistory and sciencefiction novelist eric flint was born in 1947 in burbank, california. Discuss, rate, and post links to ah sites on the web. Alternate history lessons for childrens fiction books. The books in this genre take an event, say a war, and explore what could have happened if the alternate force had won, instead of the one that did in real history. The first novel, how few remain 1997, introduced a world where, years after the war, the former usa is divided into two nations. The alternate history never let me go follows the lives of several children who grew up in a strange, special school. Tired of alternate history books where the axis won world war ii, or the south won the civil war. The skies explode in this thrilling alternate history novel in taylor andersons new york times bestselling destroyermen series. Alternate history books are portals to alternate dimensions and you might be pleasantly surprised with what you discover on the other side. In alternative england, time travel and cloning are everyday occurrences, russia is still run by the tsars, and the crimean war has been fought for 1.
Alternate history fiction genre complete list of book genres. Nov 07, 2016 i can suggest some of the books by harry turtledove. Dicks brainwarping story is set in a world where the axis powers won world war ii, and america has been divided between japan and nazi germany the brain twisting bit. But the agreements of world leaders do not touch the hearts of soldiers. Tl191 uniform, weapons and equipment of the secondary combatants. Discover the best alternate history science fiction in best sellers. Many, many alternate history ask how the world would be different if germany had won world war ii. Alternate history is one of those subgenres that tends to fly a bit under the radar. The genre has a variety of names, but it is best known as alternate history. The best alternate history stories of the 20th century 2001 has fourteen stories and an introduction by harry turtledove. This seemed to spark a brand new revolution of alternate history. In an alternate history, one or more past events are changed and the subsequent effects on history somehow described.
Alternate history, long popular with fiction writers, has also been explored by historians and journalists. If the csa won world war i by jordanalternate history is a genre of speculative fiction which alters historical events and sets stories within the worlds created by those changes. Since then, the alternate history genre has been nothing but plentiful. Standing with righteous rage the last brigade book 5 william alan webb. Alternate history, alternate realities fiction, books. Works of alternate history fiction trickled in during the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, but a true bloom of the genre sparked during the cold war era. These book on topic alternate history highly popular among the readers worldwide. As the germans, with england and france on their side, slam deep into russia, stalins terrible machine fights for its life. The most unusual alternate history novels ever published. Alternate history literature asks the question, what if history had developed differently.
Listen to 122112 to enjoy an alternativehistory science fiction story. Scroll below now to see 25 alternate history fiction genre examples. He easily blends fantasy and science fiction into historical storylines. Its a meticulously thought out detective yarn set in a world where the nazis won world war ii. How would that have changed the ways that people justified their. Listen to 122112 to enjoy an alternative history science fiction story. This particular selection of fiction mostly comes from the what if category where history has diverged from its path and gone in another direction. Alternate history, counterfactual literature, speculative fiction the genre has many names, but one mission. Fatherland is a classic of the alternate history genre. This is a list of alternate history fiction, sorted by type. Feb 17, 2016 alternate history books bring readers to familiar but slightly foreign worlds. And the man in the high castle is among the most wellknown books that tackle that question.
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