When did alternate history become popular?
The late 1980s and the 1990s saw a boom in popular-fiction versions of alternate history, fueled by the emergence of the prolific alternate history author Harry Turtledove, as well as the development of the steampunk genre and two series of anthologies—the What Might Have Been series edited by Gregory Benford and the …
What is the meaning of alternate timeline?
Alternate timelines were altered versions of the timeline. Unlike parallel universes, alternate timelines did not seem to diverge from the universe, but instead rewrote history to the point of wiping out the original timeline. (
What is the purpose of alternate history?
Alternative histories provide an intriguing window on the ways in which particular peoples understand their pasts, for the genre’s practitioners often reimagine events and turning points that are central to national mythologies.
How do you do alternate history?
3 Essential Tips for Writing Alternate History Fiction
- Focus on one specific change to historical events.
- Do a ton of research that goes beyond the single event you are altering.
- Remember the same rules of standard fiction writing apply.
Are timelines and universes the same?
Timelines: a timeline is the natural progression of a universe from start to finish. Every universe begins with one timeline, while universes function independently from one another; an alternative timeline cannot exist unless it is created by changing previously established events.
What is meant by alternate reality?
Alternate reality is often a synonym for parallel universes in fiction. Alternate reality game, a type of cross-media game. Alternate history, a genre of fiction consisting of stories that are set in worlds in which historical events unfold differently from the real world.
Is counterfactual history useful?
Historians do use counterfactuals all the time as an analytical tool, a method for uncovering causal connections. For historians, counterfactuals are statements about what would have happened in the past if some historical fact had been otherwise.
How do you write an alternate history fiction?
Do stories have to be historically accurate?
Just because you were inspired by the past it doesn’t mean the story should be historical fiction. There are so many ways of getting around that if you’re not aiming to make your story historically accurate, you can still use past events as inspiration!
Can you alter history?
The author George Orwell said this about history: “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” By definition, history is the study of past events in human affairs.
Do you need to know the conventions of alt history?
Contact the author to discuss your ideas, and follow our Adoption Policy. Before you start writing, read the Conventions of this wiki. Especially, please note: Future history is not alt-history, so all our timelines must take place in the past. All our timelines must be original, not derivative of something published elsewhere.
Which is the best timeline in alternate history?
Golden timelines have a gold ranking, which means they are outstanding and by all standards, above-average timelines. Featured timelines are a step higher over golden timelines, and are some of the best timelines in the entire alternate history community.
Where can I find list of alternative histories?
For more lists also look at the List of Althists which provides a description of timelines and the Alternative History:POD which provides summaries of alt histories and classifies entries by the date their point of divergence occurred. This page is a work in progress and is by no mean exhaustive of all the timelines on this Wiki.
What do you mean by alternate history community?
Alternate History imagines what would happen if history had gone differently. We are a community for creating and discussing a wide range of alternate timelines: large and small, ancient and recent, realistic and fanciful. If you’d like to add to our growing multiverse, the following pages will help you get started.