Best alternate history novels and stories 619 books goodreads. The third reich and the united states are locked in a cold war, and harris delights in dropping hints concerning everything that is different as a result of the twist of the historical record. Voyage depicts the 1986 manned mission to mars, possible partially due to john f. Of course the noted lady astronaut elma york would like to go, but theres a. The most unusual alternate history novels ever published. Leaving an america now ruled by religious fundamentalism, young guilford law travels to darwinia on a mission of discovery that will take him. Jul 01, 2016 voyage depicts the 1986 manned mission to mars, possible partially due to john f.
Instead of picking a divergent point and speculating on its repercussions, eric flint drops a slice of 2000 into 17th century germany. Second, wikipedia has a long list of alternate history books, series, anthologies, short stories and other works of alternate history. Alternate history fiction books to read now the underground railroad. Hes still determined to set right whatever went wrong in latin america, and he doesnt trust the british not to come in and gum things up.
Plus a pdf of the book, a limitededition postcard, a shoutout on my website and a highfive if we ever meet in person. Its very clear from any study of american history that there were a lot of times when things could have ended up radically differently with just a small change in outcome. 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. 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. May 25, 2018 the man in the high castle by philip k. Alternate history literature asks the question, what if history had developed differently. An alternate history viking epic saga of the iron dragon book 1 book 1 of 3. Alternate history, alternate realities fiction, books.
Operation downfall has also served an important political function, justifying the atomic bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki by contrasting the reallife casualties with the projected loss of life in an invasion of the japanese home islands. Alternate history or alternative history is a genre of fiction consisting of stories in which one or more historical events occur differently. Roosevelt is defeated in the presidential election of 1940 by charles lindbergh. The undisputed king of alternative histories is the prolific harry turtledove, who has helped guide the genre into mainstream reading. The best alternate history stories of the 20th century 2001 has fourteen stories and an introduction by harry turtledove. The novel follows the fortunes of the roth family during the lindbergh presidency, as antisemitism becomes more accepted in american life and jewishamerican families like the roths are persecuted. A novel of an alternate world war book 1 book 1 of 3. Alternate history fiction books to read now penguin random.
The book actually opens in an alternate reality where the united states is some sort of empire waging wars in south america. Many, many alternate history ask how the world would be different if germany had won world war ii. 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. These stories usually contain what if scenarios at crucial points in history and present outcomes other than those in the historical record.
Once upon a timeline in america the new york times. A surprisingly effortless, if complex, read, its labyrinthine narrative weaves plot strands in and out of each other like silk, keeping the pages turning until the coffee goes cold. Ever since i started blogging about alternate history, i have been asked which alternate history books i think are the best. This isnt your runofthemill alternate history book. Probably the first book length alternate history, napoleon and the conquest of the world. Apr 20, 2020 but the plot against america isnt history. Set in a world where teddy roosevelt is elected president for a second time. Sep 03, 2017 alternate history is arguably one of the best genres in all of popular entertainment, partly because it relies on the complexity of hard decisions and the consequences that come from them. Should you have suggestions or material youd wish to add to an existing althistory, please contact the author to discuss integration.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Here, the inimitable roth imagines an alternate history that sees franklin roosevelt lose the 1940 election to the zealous isolationism of charles lindbergh, who was a spokesman for the america first committee and often spoke against the media and blamed american jews for pushing the u. Nov 04, 2016 5 alternate history novels about american politics. Another alternate history drama series, which has been in the works at amazon for over a year, also paints a reality where southern states have left the union but takes a very different approach. The hardsf book won a sidewise award for alternate history, and was nominated for the arthur c. 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 its a classic of the. Alternate worlds alternate history cartography book art nerdy my books novels geek stuff deviantart it has been 22 years since the change, the day where electricity, steam, and internal combustion became impossible. Jan 26, 2005 any and all original alternate histories are permitted here. The fated sky looks forward to 1961, when mankind is well established on the moon and looking forward to its next step. Get a signed copy of the alternate histories book pittsburgh in olden times in all its glory, shipped right to your door. Most works in this genre are based on real historical events. With winona ryder, anthony boyle, zoe kazan, morgan spector.
This is a list of alternate history fiction, sorted by type. Theres plenty of imagination on display hereand research, too, as baxter invents not only a credible mission to mars but also a credible. Alternate history fiction continues to thrive in the twentyfirst century, particularly as film and television adaptations are. His days of infamy books have japan occupying hawaii. Alternate history, alternate realities fiction, nook. Fourteen of science fictions most popular writersincluding l. Subtitled the worlds foremost military historians imagine what might have been, what if. Characters live in an alternative history in which franklin d. Alternate history fiction continues to thrive in the twentyfirst century, particularly as film and television adaptations are created from alternate history books.
When i spotted this one on amazon, i liked the specific focus on american history. The guns of the south has the confederates equipped with ak47s by. An alternate history of the american civil war, by jeffrey evans brooks, a single. How long will americans remain asleep while their cherished. Aug 01, 2017 another alternate history drama series, which has been in the works at amazon for over a year, also paints a reality where southern states have left the union but takes a very different approach. In the animorphs book elfangors secret, visser four finds the time matrix and uses it to mess with history. Colson whiteheads pulitzer and national book award winner imagines. It gets lumped in with run of the mill historical fiction, or it gets shelved in the scifi section. As spokesman for the america first committee, charles lindbergh spoke out forcefully against american intervention in world war ii, and some. Harris 1992 novel is among the ultimate alternate world war ii stories. Alternate history fiction books to read now penguin. Listen to 122112 to enjoy an alternativehistory science fiction story. Mar 17, 2020 monday night nope plot against america. His southern victory or timeline191 series has the confederates beating the union.
How would that have changed the ways that people justified their. A new alternate history novel speculates that the hydrogen bombs development might have been avoided through minor, early changes in the. The years of rice and salt by kim stanley robinson. Alternate worlds alternate history cartography book art nerdy my books novels geek stuff deviantart it has been 22 years since the change, the day where electricity, steam. The book features work by historians john keegan, david mccullough, stephen ambrose, and others. This is absolutely a work in progress, i just wanted to post the opening scene of it to gauge interest. Probably the first booklength alternate history, napoleon and the conquest of the world. What if the history of the transatlantic slave trade had been reversed and africans had enslaved europeans. It starts with the age of colonization, but the east coast of north america was separated from the rest before the europeans discovered it. Jake is a narcissistic tyrant instead of a reluctant leader, cassies family owns disabled slaves, and rachel is in a reeducation camp to learn her place.
Im a big fan of the alternative history and have picked up a lot of books over the years. Does anybody know of any alternate history novels set inaround the revolutionary war period. Aug 23, 2018 alternate history is one of those subgenres that tends to fly a bit under the radar. Turtledove has written many alternate history novels but this one, where the south wins the civil war, is my husbands favorite.
The novel follows the fortunes of the roth family during the lindbergh presidency, as antisemitism becomes more accepted in american life and jewish american families like the roths are persecuted. The alternate historian is a channel for everyone and anyone who likes to ask what if. It differs from historical fiction, which mostly sticks to real history. This isnt your run of themill alternate history book. White supremacists from the future go back in time and supply the. Id really love to read another authors alternate take on the era, but i havent found any other titles yet. Any and all original alternate histories are permitted here. Its territory was huge, but somehow quietly incorporated into russia, and some other countries. We all love a good alternate history yarn no one more so, it must be said, than.
Some of the stories out there are a mixture of the serious and silly, but others are a plausible look at how a few key decisions could have changed the world. Herman wouks the caine mutiny is set in our own historical timeline for world war ii and is thus historical fiction. Here, the inimitable roth imagines an alternate history that sees franklin roosevelt lose the 1940 election to the zealous isolationism of charles lindbergh, who was a spokesman for the america first committee and often spoke against the media and blamed american jews. Listen to 122112 to enjoy an alternative history science fiction story. An alternate history novel of the american civil war. Should you have suggestions or material youd wish to add to an existing alt history, please contact the author to discuss integration. Its characters, an extended, fractious family of lowermiddleclass jews, are trapped in an alternative timeline in which the unthinkable has. Hbos alternatehistory series is too stuck on the present philip roths novel, interpreted by exthe wire writers, got our hopes up. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The official history is hiding a major world power which existed as late as the 19th century.
Codenamed operation downfall, the planned invasion of japan is a popular source of inspiration for alternate history books, comics, and even board games. Discover the best alternate history science fiction in best sellers. Using knowledge of geography, population and other historical facts i predict what could have happened had thi. An alternate history turned terrifying allegory the creators of the wire tackle a philip roth tale of fear and bigotry that bears frightening parallels. An alternative evolution by dougal dixon, a book chronicling the world had the dinosaurs. Theres plenty of imagination on display hereand research, too, as baxter invents not only a credible mission to mars but also a. An alternate history of america second american civil war book 1 by jeff thomas 3. Kennedy surviving the dallas assassination attempt.
And the man in the high castle is among the most wellknown books that tackle that question. Jan 08, 2014 if the csa won world war i by jordan alternate history is a genre of speculative fiction which alters historical events and sets stories within the worlds created by those changes. Jake experiences the good and bad of late 50searly 60s america and learns just how obstinate time can be. Best alternate history novels and stories 619 books. An alternate history of the atomic age scientific american. Pittsburgh alternate histories book by matthew buchholz. Alternate history is one of those subgenres that tends to fly a bit under the radar. Tartary was a country with its own flag, its own government and its own place on the map. May, 2017 a new alternate history novel speculates that the hydrogen bombs development might have been avoided through minor, early changes in the u.
You are welcome to contribute any pages you wish, whether it be a minor sketch of an alternate history or an entire story thats fullyfleshed out. Weve got tons of alternate history books, comics, and video games, and yet we have so few committed althistory motion pictures. The plot against america is a novel by philip roth published in 2004. The books are opening atlantisdiscovery, colonization, and alternate version of frenchindian war, the united states of atlantisrevolutionary war, and liberating atlantiscivil war. The beginning tuesday, september 11th 2001, started off like any other day in american airports.
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