What are some interesting alternate history scenarios. Does the uk have the potential to become a superpower again. Alternate history, counterfactual literature, speculative fiction the genre. Alternative history of the 19th century where wolves have migrated to england via the channel tunnel. The popular harry turtledove, who specializes in alternate history novels, has suggested what might have happened in 11 volumes so far. Id argue that china is already a superpower, although weaker than the usa. The two superpowers divide the nation between them, a wall running through london like a scar. A common topic in alternate history fiction works is the question what would have happened if a major conflict had been won by the other side.
Since the late 1990s, harry turtledove has been the most prolific practitioner of alternate history and has been given the title master of alternate history by some. History talk 0 this category consists of asb timelines that for one reason or another, can be considered to be wanks of one sort of another, be they of individuals, politics, nations, etc. A comprehensive list of the top 25 best alternate history books. We are a public facebook group of fans and creators who enjoy discussing alternate history, counterfactual history, time travel and parallel timelines. An alternate histo ry of th e american civil w ar, by jeffrey evans brooks, a single telegram changes the course of the civil war. Germany, with these two competing superpowers then finding themselves in a.
It starts with the age of colonization, but the east coast of north america was separated from the rest before the europeans discovered it. These stories usually contain what if scenarios at crucial points in history and present outcomes other than those in the historical record. Alternate history maveric universe wiki fandom powered by. The uk demures from entering the great war in 1914, against the wishes of david llyod george and winston churchill. Tired of alternate history books where the axis won world war ii, or the south won the civil war. I dont think most brits like the war in iraq any more than most of we americans. Set in the 20th century where the aztec empire is now a global super power. Because world war ii played out differently, the cold war is very different. Codenamed operation downfall, the planned invasion of japan is a popular source of inspiration for alternate history books, comics, and even board games.
Sep 06, 2002 such a consistently prominent world role surely implies that britain is a superpower with a huge population, an economy worth trillions and a sophisticated military many millions strong. Founded in 2006, historum is a history forum dedicated to history discussions and historical events. With paul mccartney, lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century and wrote some of the most popular music in rock and roll. May 18, 20 its a strong nation, certainly, but it will never be a superpower. So, for this weeks ttt, i decided to create a list of 10 books that feature characters who have superpowers. Ministry of space by warren ellis is an alternate history in which the uk captures all the wwii german rocket scientists before the us and ussr can. Mar 21, 2012 this is not a political video, just an alternate history exercise not intended to offend anyone.
Alternate history ultimate pop culture wiki fandom. I do think it was an early example of the kind of thing that happened in more loose alternate history later on, and which splashed into a massively smaller pond. Alternative history can be a fun genre, and many have speculated what the viet nam era would have looked like if jfk had been in charge. In the not too distant future the uk will no longer exist. Alternate history weekly update alternate history weekly update alternate history news. Johnston with john bell hood as commander of the army of tennessee in the battle of atlanta. Our community welcomes everyone from around the world to discuss world history, historical periods, and themes in history military history, archaeology, arts and culture, and history in books and movies. Using knowledge of geography, population and other historical facts i predict what could have happened had thi. This is the abridged history of the superpowers alternate timeline, stretching from the first point of divergence in 165 ce to the present day 2000 ce.
If, for whatever reason, the draka books were not connected to alternate history, theyd be barely remembered as trashy pulp in a variety of genres. Well researched and imaginative, rubins alternative history novel creates an eerie landscape. 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. Southern victory, in which confederate states of america won the american civil war, and the worldwar series, in which aliens. Whatifalthist is a channel about how history could have been different. Scholars generally agree on which state is the foremost or unique superpower but often disagree on the criteria that distinguish a superpower from other major powers. Indeed, exploring what might have happened had unsuccessful groups or ideologies been more successful is arguably the whole point of alternate history. Top ten books that feature characters who have superpowers. The book was recently adapted into a critically acclaimed television series by. Alternate history or alternative history commonwealth english, sometimes abbreviated as ah, is a genre of fiction consisting of stories in which one or more historical events occur differently. An alternate history where, say, romania becomes a central dominating power of europe is not in and of itself an alternate history wank simply because there are some hypothetical conditions. Jun 10, 2008 this is one of those books that makes me wish i could put in halfstar ratings. This is a list of alternate history fiction, sorted by type.
Meanwhile, oswald mosley and his british union of fascists is rising to. Best alternate history novels and stories 610 books. The books then cover the second mexicanamerican war one book, the great war 3 books, the interwar period 3 books, and the second great war 4 books. Sideways awards sidewise awards for alternate history annual awards for the best long and shortform alternate history of the year. Set in 1964, this alternatehistory spy thriller takes place in a world where nazi. This vibrant fiction genre could be renamed what if books. Superpowers is almost the conceptual inverse of that.
Thanks to this and the iron will of space ministry head john dashwood who funds research with stolen nazi gold, the uk space program reaches the moon by 1960, and has colonies on mars and the. An example of honorary alternate history is the 1980s series the zone by james rouch about world war iii in europe. Superpower was formed by intermagnetics in march 2000 to provide a strong focus for the development and commercialization of hts technology. I could see canada or australia rising to superpower status before i could see the uk rising back to superpower status, although their populations need to increase dramatically to become superpowers.
Alternate history project gutenberg selfpublishing. In writing an alternate history, the author makes the conscious choice to change something in our past. The undisputed king of alternative histories is the prolific harry turtledove. In this, her third case, the reputation of frances doughty, victorian female private detective has grown substantially. The timing has been particularly appropriate in view of the nations aging utility infrastructure, which needs replacing, and deregulation, which will drive utilities to seek more efficient, costeffective devices. Arminius is executed, the battle of teuteborg forest never takes place, germany and ultimately the rest of northern europe become part of the roma. Free delivery on book orders dispatched by amazon over. John winston ono lennon, 9 october 1940 8 december 1980, was an english rock musician, singersongwriter, author, and peace activist who gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of the beatles. What if sir oswald mosley came to power in britain, ensuring edward viii never abdicates and keep the uk out of wwii. Plenty of alternate history books focus on world war ii, but a new series coming in 2011 goes one better. This richly imagined thriller is set in an alternate past. Dick you cant discuss alternate history without bringing up the man in the high castle. It explores how the past and present could have been different using examples from ou.
Napoleon and the conquest of the world by louis geoffroy, napoleon s first french empire emerging. According to steven h silver, alternate history requires three things. Some of the superpowers are useless, like the ability to grow body hair. Buy products related to superpower fiction products and see what customers say about superpower fiction products on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Mages and spirits and dragons also exist in this version of our world. Finebut on top of all this, nova roma has been a matriarchy almost since its inception, ruled by women for reasons that are never really satisfactorily explained. Feb 29, 2012 it isnt getting updated as often as it once was, and books from smaller publishers like mine are not necessarily listed. We all love a good alternate history yarn no one more so, it must be said. Apr 28, 2015 as someone who grew up watching a ton of superhero movies and absolutely loves xmen, im a massive fan of books with characters who have superpowers. 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 books are opening atlantisdiscovery, colonization, and alternate version of frenchindian war, the united states of atlantis revolutionary war, and liberating atlantiscivil war. Now known as a discrete london investigator she has become an expert at solving small mysteries like lost pets, unusual ones like the alligator who is reputed to bask daily in the serpentine and gruesome ones like murder. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
An alternate history novel is mentioned by the protagonists in which ww 3 was averted, though needless to say it doesnt have the kennedys being assassinated either. Sep 08, 20 the goths and huns left it well alone, and even being located directly in the path of almost all of the crusades does not seem to have posed an existential threat. It comes in at number 5 with the nebula, british science fiction, john w. The orange part is all the domination of the draka. The first novel, how few remain 1997, introduced a world where, years after the war, the former usa is divided into two nations. The most unusual alternate history novels ever published. The most intriguing alternate history weve heard of in ages. These usually focus on the events after the conflict. 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. The blue part is the alliance for democracy in the parlance of alternate history fandom a wank is where a single nation, culture, political theory, or philosophy is singled out and advantaged, typically at the expense of its contemporaries. But is can be argued that the uk is becomming a major world superpower. Superpower, a state that possesses military or economic might, or both, and general influence vastly superior to that of other states. He accurately portrays the key historical figures such as jfk, bobby, lbj, mcnamara and the mob.
Sep 24, 2015 this is not a political video, just an alternate history exercise not intended to offend anyone. Im not sure how, or if i shouldshouldnt be the one to do it, but some good books for this list would be the percy jackson and the olympians seriesthe lightning thief, the sea of monsters, the titians curse, the battle of the labyrinth, and the last olympian, the kane chronicles, the red pyramid, and the throne of fire which comes out this may, and the heroes of olympus series the lost. But the united kingdoms massive involvement in iraq and her growing major involvment in other world affairs has and is bringing the uk to the forefront in world affairs in a way that can easily lead her to become a major influential superpower. Harry tutledove basically just does alternate history. 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. Probably his best work is the fanentitled timeline191 series in which the south wins the american civil war. Davenport does a credible job speculating with that question.
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