Alternate History

[FallenMorgan]

I'm a fan of alternate history books and such. It just interests me very much - I thought of having a discussion about it.

My favorite AH novel is "For Want of a Nail." I hate very "out there" or unrealistic alternate history, for example, most books written by Harry Turtledove.

So, does anybody else like alternate history?

[John Travolta]

Yes.

[John Travolta]

I mean no.

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[SomethingWitty]

Harry Turtledove? Seriously?

Have you read The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick?

[Dauntasa]

How can you like alternate history and not like Harry Turtledove? He's fucking awesome.

[FallenMorgan]

His TL-191 sounds interesting, but some of his others I dislike. I don't like AH novels which we on AH.com (http://www.alternatehistory.com) would call ASB (Alien Space Bats). This means PODs (points of divergence) that make no sense, or are otherwise impossible.

[timbot]

Alternate history books are dumb. They're like historical fiction's retarded brother. It's all mainly conjecture and silliness. Perhaps fun for a little musing, but a whole novel? And multiple novels, by the same author no less? Come on, give me a break. This is what we at litterateur.com would call POS (Pieces of Shit) that can only really be enjoyed by PWUTMJA (People Who Use Too Many Jargony Acronyms).

[Idioteque]

Recently I've read Henry Turtledoves alternative history of North vs. South during the time of WWII.

Its no Tolstoy, but for what it is, it makes a good summer read. Personally, I'd rather read real history, like a biography, but thats just me.
EDIT: Shit, I meant to say Harry. I think I'll check out The Man in the High Castle, seeing as its been recommended many times.

[Rob]

You'd probably like The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick.

It takes place 20 years after Germany and Japan have won World War II. The coolest part though is that there's a novel WITHIN the novel that describes what the world might be like if America and the Allies had won.

It's weird beyond description, like most of Dick's work. Check it out.

[FallenMorgan]

You'd probably like The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick.

It takes place 20 years after Germany and Japan have won World War II. The coolest part though is that there's a novel WITHIN the novel that describes what the world might be like if America and the Allies had won.

It's weird beyond description, like most of Dick's work. Check it out.

On AH.com we have threads sort of like that, called DBWI, where someone might ask "What if the South lost the civil war?" It's asked within the alternate timeline, and people basically construct a TL from that.

I have a problem with these sort of "The Nazis conquer the world" books, they seem unrealistic to me in the sense that Germany was bound to fall to pieces. The Slavs numbered far more than the Jews, and would be harder to exterminate. After Hitler's death from Parkinson's or Syphillis, a popular revolution might be likely.

The German people largely welcomed the Nazi regime, but no doubt, they'd get sick of it, and Germany would certainly be faced with insurgencies in the occupied, non-german areas.

I see the book "Fatherland" as a more realistic look at a German victory.

[Mycroft]

I love 'What If'-books, but I really don't know that much, so if you could post a list of your favorites, that would really help me out.

[The Fetus]

You'd probably like The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick.

It takes place 20 years after Germany and Japan have won World War II. The coolest part though is that there's a novel WITHIN the novel that describes what the world might be like if America and the Allies had won.

It's weird beyond description, like most of Dick's work. Check it out.

That's just like The Long Walk. By Stephen King.

Also worth checking out.

[Mycroft]

That's just like The Long Walk. By Stephen King.

Also worth checking out.

I ADORE Stephen King. I'll go right ahead and see if I have The Long Walk.

[Rob]

I have a problem with these sort of "The Nazis conquer the world" books, they seem unrealistic to me in the sense that Germany was bound to fall to pieces. The Slavs numbered far more than the Jews, and would be harder to exterminate. After Hitler's death from Parkinson's or Syphillis, a popular revolution might be likely.

The German people largely welcomed the Nazi regime, but no doubt, they'd get sick of it, and Germany would certainly be faced with insurgencies in the occupied, non-german areas.

I see the book "Fatherland" as a more realistic look at a German victory.

I bet you're no fun at parties, or at all.

[The Fetus]

I ADORE Stephen King. I'll go right ahead and see if I have The Long Walk.

He was using the name "Richard Bachman", by the way. Just in case you have a hard time finding it.

[Homemaster]

I bet you're no fun at parties, or at all.

I have to say, I laughed out loud.

I like the ideas of alternative history, but speculative fiction is cooler in my opinion, like what WOULD happen. Not what COULD OF happened. I don't know that's just my personaly opinion. Fiction has so many possibilities, it's great. I think that when facts start coming into too much (aka FallenMorgan) then it just gets really lame.

[Mycroft]

He was using the name "Richard Bachman", by the way. Just in case you have a hard time finding it.

Thankies!

[Chaplin]

I bet you're no fun at parties, or at all.
Shabam. hit the nail on the head. I havn't run into any good ones yet. But I guess the closest I've gotten is Cats Cradle, which isn't at all really alternate, but similar...I guess?