Alternative history (fiction)

Alternative history or alternate history is fiction that is set in a world in which history has diverged from history as it is generally known; more simply put, alternate history asks the question, "What If history had developed differently?" Most works that employ this rubric are set in factful historical contexts, yet feature several social, geopolitical or industrial circumstances that developed differently or at a different pace from our own, sometimes as a result of progress in technological or social paradigms that were accomplished via the understanding already present in the given zeitgeist. While to some extent all fiction can be described as alternative history, the genre proper comprises fiction in which a change happens that causes history to diverge from our own. For a variety of reasons, alternate history is generally classified as a subcategory of speculative fiction. Secret history, which gives an account of history at odds with our general understanding, presenting its own account as having been lost or forgotten, is not alternate history.

External links

• soc.history.what-if is the usenet newsgroup on alternative history
• SHWI-ISOT is an online RPG set in an alternate early 19th Century where people from the early 21st Century have been sent back and are altering history
• WIKISOT is the wiki record of history and events for the SHWI-ISOT online RPG
• Uchronia has a good introduction to the topic, and lists over 2000 works of alternate history.
• Alternate History Discussion is a moderated forum devoted to discussing alternative history.
• Changing the Times is an online e-zine devoted to alternate history.
• The Sidewise Award for Alternate History lists all the winners and nominees for the award since its inception and provides information for recommending works for consideration.
• Today in Alternate History, a daily-updated blog, featuring "Important Events In History That Never Occurred Today" in several recurring timelines.
• This Day in Alternate History, not to be confused with the above.
• Histalt.com is author Richard J. (Rick) Sutcliffe's collection of Alternate History links.
• "How to change the world" - on Alternative histories
• mailing list about Alternate History
• The Alternate History Wiki
• John Reilly's Alternative History