Alternative fiction is a genre that is steadily gaining popularity these days. Its founder is the ancient Roman scientist Titus Livius, who was born in 59 BC. In his works, the historian dared to make an assumption about what would happen to the world if Alexander of Macedon did not die in 323 BC. Thanks to his labors, a genre was born that has been addressed by writers for more than two millennia.
Alternative fiction: a description of the genre
First of all, you should understand what this literary direction is. Authors working in this genre are wondering what would have happened if this or that historical event had not happened. For example, what would the modern world be like if Napoleon’s empire had not ceased to exist in 1815?
Alternative fiction is a genre that has nothing to do with alternative historical theories. This direction does not call into question the reliability of the picture of the past, does not consider the information about an event that is accessible to modern people to be erroneous. Books only invite readers to call on their imagination to help and think about what would happen if the story goes the other way.
A bit of history
Alternative fiction is a fascinating genre that originated before our era. This happened thanks to the scientist Titus Livius and his famous “History of Rome”. The historian, in his writings, discusses what would happen to our planet if Alexander the Great had succeeded in realizing his intention to attack Rome.
The personality of Macedon attracted the interest of other writers who worked in this genre. For example, Sir Arnold Toynbee, who lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, created several works in which he “extended” Alexander’s life and described the events that took place in this connection. The author also considered a version of the world in which the great commander was never born.
In the mid-19th century, patriotic utopias gained great popularity, the creators of which tried to “influence” history, focusing on the interests of their native states. For example, the French writer Louis Geoffrey spoke about a world in which Napoleon’s empire did not fall apart. The English author Nathaniel Hawthor "did not allow" Byron and Keats to die.
Features of the genre
Alternative science fiction - works that examine events that have resulted from changes in the course of history in the distant or recent past. The incident that influenced the development of the world can be absolutely anything, depending on the will of the author. Some writers prefer to intervene in the fate of historical characters, others offer an alternative development of historical events (war, revolution), while others even resort to the intervention of external forces (for example, an alien invasion). As a result, in books the world becomes different.
Action in works can develop not only in the present, but also in the past or future. Some authors talk about the events that followed the change of history, others - about how the world became many centuries later. Also popular is the plot, which implies the heroes' attempts to move in time and intervene in the events of the past in order to change the picture of the present.
Subgenres
Complete freedom of action is an advantage that authors working in a genre such as science fiction have. An alternative story is a direction that has broken into many subgenres over more than two thousand years of existence.
- Cryptohistory. The author calls for help supernatural forces (vampires, werewolves, witches and magicians), organizes an alien invasion. The actions of these forces influence historical processes that begin to develop in an alternative way. Suppose aliens conquer the Earth, the population is enslaved, destroyed. An example is the novel “Eye of Power” about the intervention of aliens in the life of the inhabitants of our planet, written by Andrei Valentinov.
- Alternative biochemistry. By the will of the writer, environmental conditions on the planet are changing. Let's say the changes affect the atmosphere, temperature. Under the yoke of change, the development of human society is different, civilizational, cultural differences appear.
- Post apocalyptic. Without this subgenre, it is difficult to imagine such a thing as fiction. Alternative reality is the result of various global cataclysms. For example, a writer can invent an environmental disaster, a nuclear war, an epidemic. In this case, events occur after the planet’s population has survived this crisis.
- Alternative geography. The author makes some changes to the geography of the planet, as a result of which the history of the world becomes different. Let’s say, one can recall the work “Island of Crimea” written by Aksenov. The writer suggests that Crimea is an island, which helped Baron Wrangel establish an independent state.
- Steampunk The focus is on society, whose technology is stuck at the level of 19-20 centuries.
Key Points
What topics are most often covered by alternative fiction? Fighting science fiction, which focuses on the largest battles, is always popular with readers. The undisputed leader is the Second World War, and the authors like to consider the option in which the Nazis win.
A vivid example of such a work is the novel The Man in the High Castle, written by Philip C. Dick, who won the Hugo Prize. Events unfolding in the former United States, the action begins in 1962. The author talks about a world in which the victory in the Second World War remained with the Hitler coalition. Germany became a colonial empire practicing the elimination of "inferior peoples."
Of course, not only the Second World War is of interest to people whose efforts create an alternative history. Fighting science fiction often affects the civil war that took place in the United States. There is also a high demand for events that took place in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.
Harry Harrison Books
What to read for those who like alternative fiction? The books of Harry Harrison will appeal to many connoisseurs of this fascinating genre. For example, the Eden trilogy deserving of the author’s pen deserves attention. Harrison wonders how the world could have become if dinosaurs had not died out more than 60 million years ago. As a result, mankind has remained at the level of development of the Stone Age, forced to fight with the intelligent lizards that invaded the planet.
Of interest is the work “Transatlantic Tunnel”, created by the same writer. In it, the author suggests that the British defeated the Americans in the US War of Independence, which happened at the end of the 18th century.
What else to read?
What other books deserve the attention of those who like science fiction? An alternative story is proposed in the work “Let Darkness Not Fall” created by de Camp. The main character is an archaeologist who has moved to the distant past. The character's goal is to prevent the Dark Ages that hit Italy.
The book 11/22/63 is a work in which Stephen King allows John F. Kennedy to survive. “Patrol of Time” - Paul Anderson’s cycle in which the author creates a secret organization that does not allow newcomers from the future to roughly interfere in the development of history.
Reviews
Currently, the following works related to the genre are most popular with readers: “The Man in the High Castle”, “Patrol of Time”, “11/22/63”. Of course, along with positive reviews about these works, there are also negative characteristics. The authors of the latter argue that writers are poorly oriented in historical events.
The reviews also show that for several decades, post-apocalyptic, which many perceive as a separate genre, has been constantly popular. An example of a popular work is Picnic on the Sidelines.
A large number of fans have all the books described in this article - science fiction, an alternative story.