Alternate History - Some Fun Reads

[Baldeagle79]

If you liked 11.22.63 (I know how silly it is to preface a post like this on this site), then the genre of alternate history may be interesting to you. The master of this genre, in my mind, is Harry Turtledove. It was interesting to see how Jake/George kept proclaiming that he had been an English major, instead of a history major in 11.22.63, which mirrors Stephen King's academic bona fides of course. Well, Harry Turtledove is a PhD in history, and his works are also very engaging. He builds some fictional characters, as well as real characters from the history books and brings them to life (in my humble opinion). The Guns of the South is a fun read where the Confederacy's luck changes late in 1864 with the help of some "sympathetic" time travelers from the early 21st century. How Few Remain sort of does it with a different take. Turtledove may be known for some of his fantasy stuff, but I haven't ready any of that.

 

[The Nameless]

Never heard of him. I did LOVE 11/22/63 and the alternate reality bits were fascinating, given the right subject it is something that would peak my interest for sure. In most cases I have come across (tv, film, 11/22/63), it always seems to turn out catastrophically bad in someway though.

This is one of my favourite alt reality things - Red Dwarf - Tikka to Ride. It's another JFK situation, but in a sci-fi sitcom setting.
TIKKA TO RIDE RED DWARF Video by peter barber on Myspace

 

[GNTLGNT]

 

[skimom2]

Louis Baylor is very good at alternate history as well. Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go fits there, too. It was haunting and wonderful.

 

[Autumn Gust]

I love to study the civil war so I really had fun reading Guns of the South. The depth of knowledge Harry Turtledove displays on every aspect of the war is very impressive. True, the book is an alternate history but it's obvious that its author is an excellent historian. That man really knows his stuff!!

 

[Kurben]

I enjoyed Eric Flints 1632. He made it into a loooong series but the first ones are good. Some american mineworkers that by some natural disaster get thrown back in time to 1632 and the 30-year war that was ripping Europe into pieces by that time (started 1618 anded in 1648 in the real time that is). Not exactly the best place to be. Have just started on Turtledoves Hitlers War. And of course Kim Stanley Robinsons The years of Rice and Salt is very good. Starts in the 14tenth century just after the big plague and continues from there. Clue, a lot less survived in europe here than in the real history which changes the turn of events a bit.

 

[doowopgirl]

Welcome. I've never heard of Henry Turtledove (love the name), but I'll look him up. I love the idea of what if the south won the civil war. I think the reason altenative changes in history, fictional obviously, end badlyis because things happen the way they are supposed to and it's not good to fool with things.

 

[opundo]

All of Turtledove's books start off great, but the sequels get repetitive. The Atlantis series is pretty good too.

 

[opundo]

I enjoyed Eric Flints 1632. He made it into a loooong series but the first ones are good. Some american mineworkers that by some natural disaster get thrown back in time to 1632 and the 30-year war that was ripping Europe into pieces by that time (started 1618 anded in 1648 in the real time that is). Not exactly the best place to be. Have just started on Turtledoves Hitlers War. And of course Kim Stanley Robinsons The years of Rice and Salt is very good. Starts in the 14tenth century just after the big plague and continues from there. Clue, a lot less survived in europe here than in the real history which changes the turn of events a bit.

I'm reading 1632 for the second time right now. It takes so long between sequels that I forgot who some of the characters were.

 

[rocker1972]

try CJ Samson for alternative history, can't think of the name but the premise is Hitler won the war and Churchill is on the run and Europe is divided up and a American has a information that could turn the balance of power.

 

[CYRUS]

Lest Darkness Falls by L Sprague de Camp
Fatherland by Robert Harris
Kelly Country by Bertram Chandler

 

[Kurben]

try CJ Samson for alternative history, can't think of the name but the premise is Hitler won the war and Churchill is on the run and Europe is divided up and a American has a information that could turn the balance of power.

The Dominion

 

[Kurben]

For Alternate history fans S.M. Stirlings Islands in the sea of time is worth checking out. It is the first of a trilogy. The Nantucket trilogy.
Another author of interest is Robert Conroy. Liberty:1784 is one where the brits won over Washington in the war (it starts with his execution). One thing i like about him is that he, in complete difference to Turtledove, Stirling and Flint does NOT make his books into long series. They are standalones.
Sophie McDougalls Romanitas is good. The roman empire never went under. They still rule over britain today.
And of course classics like Philip Dicks The Man in the High Castle is always there.
Harry Harrison. West of Eden. First in a trilogy. The asteroid that hit earth 65 million years ago never hit. The dinos never went under and evolved. Now they are intelligent and have humans as slaves.

 

[CYRUS]

Jack Faust by Michael Swanswick. Basically is a retelling of Christopher Marlow's Dr Faust. But Swanswick's take is far more interesting , instead of malevolent demons you have something equally nasty . It is an excellent book.