alternate history - by Kainja on 13:41 16 Oct 2003
I'm reading a book now called "The Year the Cloud Fell," which is an alternate history in which the time is not long after the Civil War and the American Indian has not been conquered. Part of the reason appears to be that they have some kind of dinosaur as a mount. The book is interesting, though I've not gotten so caught up in it that I can't put it down.
But what do people think, in general, of such alternate histories. I've never read many but am actually thinking of trying to rectify that. What series or alternate history books should I have a look at? Which should I avoid?
Charles Gramlich
I'm reading a book now called "The Year the Cloud Fell," which is an alternate history in which the time is not long after the Civil War and the American Indian has not been conquered. Part of the reason appears to be that they have some kind of dinosaur as a mount. The book is interesting, though I've not gotten so caught up in it that I can't put it down.
But what do people think, in general, of such alternate histories. I've never read many but am actually thinking of trying to rectify that. What series or alternate history books should I have a look at? Which should I avoid?
Charles Gramlich
alternate history - by Brad on 15:05 16 Oct 2003
I have not read a lot of alt histories either, so I'm no expert. One fun series I did read was the "Lord D'Arcy Investigates" books. I'm afraid I don't know the author. The premise was that one of the Kings of England decided to patronize and advance the use of magic instread of technology and science. That and the fact that England never lost Normandy to the French changed the entire history of the world. The books are set in 1980's but technology is at about 1860's level of steam engines. Most of the things we do with technology and science are done by sorceors. The books were decent.
There was a short story I read, I think by William Gibson but I'm not sure, about WW II not ending in 1945. In fact it was still going on in the 1950's with Beatnicks around. I think it was "Captain America verses Hitler" or something like that but my memory is not great on that. It was an excellent story. I'll ask around on it.
I have not read a lot of alt histories either, so I'm no expert. One fun series I did read was the "Lord D'Arcy Investigates" books. I'm afraid I don't know the author. The premise was that one of the Kings of England decided to patronize and advance the use of magic instread of technology and science. That and the fact that England never lost Normandy to the French changed the entire history of the world. The books are set in 1980's but technology is at about 1860's level of steam engines. Most of the things we do with technology and science are done by sorceors. The books were decent.
There was a short story I read, I think by William Gibson but I'm not sure, about WW II not ending in 1945. In fact it was still going on in the 1950's with Beatnicks around. I think it was "Captain America verses Hitler" or something like that but my memory is not great on that. It was an excellent story. I'll ask around on it.
alternate history - by Brad on 16:29 16 Oct 2003
I was wrong it was not Gibson but David Brin. "Thor Vs. Captain America." David Brin. Don't let the title fool you. It has nothing to do with spandex superheros. The captain in the story is works for the OSS.
It is a kick *ss story.
I was wrong it was not Gibson but David Brin. "Thor Vs. Captain America." David Brin. Don't let the title fool you. It has nothing to do with spandex superheros. The captain in the story is works for the OSS.
It is a kick *ss story.
alternate history - by NoonChild on 11:06 17 Oct 2003
There's prob a book about Hilter winning WWII. That premise has been used in films and series so someone prob wrote it down first. Interesting ideas alt histories, dont have to go it to future or a galaxy far far away.
There's prob a book about Hilter winning WWII. That premise has been used in films and series so someone prob wrote it down first. Interesting ideas alt histories, dont have to go it to future or a galaxy far far away.
alternate history - by Arislyn on 11:17 17 Oct 2003
I think you are right, NC. I seem to vaguely recall a book called "Fatherland". I'm not positive it was about Hitler winning WWII, but I think it was. I never read it myself, so I could be wrong. I'm just pulling this from the memory of someone else mentioning it.
I think you are right, NC. I seem to vaguely recall a book called "Fatherland". I'm not positive it was about Hitler winning WWII, but I think it was. I never read it myself, so I could be wrong. I'm just pulling this from the memory of someone else mentioning it.
alternate history - by Brad on 13:42 17 Oct 2003
There was one about the US having been defeated in WW II. The Japanese occupied the Western US and the Nazis occupied the Eastern US.
I think Len Deighton wrote a alt history where Britain capitulated just like France did, and the Germans occupied England. I think that was SS-GB. It was well written.
There was one about the US having been defeated in WW II. The Japanese occupied the Western US and the Nazis occupied the Eastern US.
I think Len Deighton wrote a alt history where Britain capitulated just like France did, and the Germans occupied England. I think that was SS-GB. It was well written.
alternate history - by Kainja on 14:19 19 Oct 2003
Yeah, there was SS -GB, which was good, and a collection of short stories called "Hitler Victorious," which was pretty good. Has anyone read Harry Turtledove's "guns of the south" series? I'm curious if they are any good.
Charles
Yeah, there was SS -GB, which was good, and a collection of short stories called "Hitler Victorious," which was pretty good. Has anyone read Harry Turtledove's "guns of the south" series? I'm curious if they are any good.
Charles
alternate history - by Arislyn on 07:58 17 Nov 2003
I found this website this morning that has short stories written with alternate timelines as the key focus. You may want to take a look and see if it's something that may interest you.
I found this website this morning that has short stories written with alternate timelines as the key focus. You may want to take a look and see if it's something that may interest you.
alternate history - by MoonHunter on 02:16 01 Dec 2003
I liked the books in the Turtledove series that I have read. I personally like the Paratime and Lord K of Otherwhen series.
The best link on the web for alternate history is
http://www.uchronia.net/
http://www.uchronia.net/sidewise/ Award winning alternate history books.
Alternate History Links
http://www.ahtg.net/ The travel guides are highly recomended. Also if you poke around, the recomended reading list (very bottom of left sided frame) is very comprehensive about alternate history.
http://www.marmotgraphics.com/jim/
The Alternate Historian's links are still very nice.
http://www.othertimelines.com/
This day in alternate histories...
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/althist/
DelReys does a lot of alternate history work... they have a section for it (Just found this...)
http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/History/Alternate_History/
Yahoo's alternate history listings....
History links
http://din-timelines.com/ A personal favorite.
I liked the books in the Turtledove series that I have read. I personally like the Paratime and Lord K of Otherwhen series.
The best link on the web for alternate history is
http://www.uchronia.net/
http://www.uchronia.net/sidewise/ Award winning alternate history books.
Alternate History Links
http://www.ahtg.net/ The travel guides are highly recomended. Also if you poke around, the recomended reading list (very bottom of left sided frame) is very comprehensive about alternate history.
http://www.marmotgraphics.com/jim/
The Alternate Historian's links are still very nice.
http://www.othertimelines.com/
This day in alternate histories...
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/althist/
DelReys does a lot of alternate history work... they have a section for it (Just found this...)
http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/History/Alternate_History/
Yahoo's alternate history listings....
History links
http://din-timelines.com/ A personal favorite.
alternate history - by Brad on 13:51 04 Dec 2003
BTW, that is an excellent set of reference links Moonhunter.
BTW, that is an excellent set of reference links Moonhunter.
alternate history - by Kainja on 00:18 15 Dec 2003
Yeah, moonfisher, thanks much for the links.
Yeah, moonfisher, thanks much for the links.