There is a genre in fiction, which is commonly called the "alternative story." Books written in this genre tell about the reality that could be in the world, if at one of the turning points everything suddenly went differently. Something happens in the past, either by chance or due to the intervention of other, external forces, because of which the history of mankind does not follow the path we are used to, but develops in a new way. And it is in this world, which is not similar to our reality, that the reader gets into, observing the actions of the main characters.
In some works, characters move in time to return the story to its original course, they are called fellow travelers. Sometimes the idea of parallel worlds is used, i.e. the main character finds himself in a similar world, where the development took place in a different way.
The best books on alternative history will make you immerse yourself in a new, unusual reality, give free rein to the imagination, because not often do we think about what could have happened if everything had turned out differently than it is now.
List
- ten . In the Land of the Blind, Michael Francis Flynn
- 9. The Man in the High Castle, Philip Dick
- 8. Eden Harry Harrison
- 7. May darkness not fall, Lyon Sprague de Camp
- 6. Telluria, Vladimir Sorokin
- 5.184, George Orwell
- 4. The Difference Machine, Bruce Sterlin, William Gibson
- 3. The World of the Dark Sun, Konstantin Muravyov
- 11/22/63, King Stephen
- 1. Return from Trebizond, Kir Bulychev
Ten . In the Land of the Blind, Michael Francis Flynn
Michael Flynn - A modern American science fiction writer who began to be published in the 80s. His first novel was called "In the land of the blind". This is a techno-thriller written in the genre of alternative history.
The book was published in 1990, and it immediately became famous, was highly praised by critics. It tells us that there is a kind of secret society that governs the history of mankind.
It all started with the fact that several scientists managed to discover patterns of development. Then it became clear that society can be influenced if people introduce the right thoughts into their heads.
9. The Man in the High Castle, Philip Dick
A science fiction novel published in October 1962. It was the first book in the genre of alternative history to receive the Hugo Award as the best novel of the year. After rewarding interest in works Philip Dick and to this genre of fiction has increased significantly. What the book tells aboutMan in a high castle»?
Franklin Roosevelt was 32 US President, played a huge role in the development of his country, leading it during the Great Depression and World War II, lived for 63 years.
According to the plot of the book, President Roosevelt is killed, and those who come in his place cannot pull the United States out of the economic crisis. Because of this, America does not support England and other allies in the fight against Germany, German troops capture the USSR back in 1941, destroy most of the Slavic peoples, and place the remaining ones on a reservation. The book has several storylines that the reader follows.
8. Eden Harry Harrison
A trilogy describing the new history of the world. The writer tried to imagine what would have happened if the dinosaurs had not died out. He suggested that they could evolve into intelligent creatures and create their own biological civilization, quite developed and advanced.
People were also born, but they could not change, and their stage of development was approximately the same as in the Stone Age.
Kerrick, the son of a leader whose tribe was destroyed by dinosaurs, is captured by them and learns their language. He manages to escape from enemies to help his people fight the civilization of intelligent dinosaurs.
While writing the book "Eden» Harrison consulted with experts in biology, linguistics and philosophy.
7. May darkness not fall, Lyon Sprague de Camp
This is one of the earliest representatives of the alternative history genre, first published in 1939. Critics have met this book very well, calling it an amazing, best work de campa, the best time travel novel after Wells' Time Machine.
The novel "May darkness not fall"Tells of the American archaeologist Martin Padaway, who moved to Rome in 535 from 1938. He quickly mastered in this little world, and acquaints the inhabitants of that era with brandy, a printing press, Arabic numerals, etc.
But this seemed to him not enough. Martin decided to change the course of history and did everything possible so that the Byzantines would not conquer Italy.
6. Telluria, Vladimir Sorokin
The novel was published in 2013, winning the second Big Book Award. They wrote about him as the absolute peak of the writer's work Vladimir Sorokin. It consists of 50 chapters that do not have a title. But they are all numbered in Roman numerals. It describes what should happen in the middle of the 21st century in Russia and Europe.
«Telluria"Is a satirical work in which the author grotesquely reflected, like in a mirror, all the phobias and mania of modern society: totalitarianism, Islamization, bioterrorism, Sinization, etc. There is no end-to-end plot, just snippets of narration that are written either on behalf of the narrator, or the author himself. It’s easy to remove any chapter or rearrange them, nothing will change.
5.184, George Orwell
Anti-utopia, published in 1949. Now the name of this novel has become a household word and is used if you need to speak about totalitarianism. He talks about what could happen if a totalitarian regime replaced capitalism.
In the new society there is no such thing as freedom and independence of the individual. All people have united to achieve global goals, and they are controlled by one party, which is headed by the leader. Such a world is not very attractive, because full control over public and personal life, cruel violence against those who think differently is shown.
The author himself wrote that he was not sure that such a society, described in "1984"Is sure to appear, but he believes that some semblance can be, and this must be fought, and he is categorically against a centralized economy, which has already been partially implemented in communism and fascism.
4. The Difference Machine, Bruce Sterlin, William Gibson
A fantastic novel written in 1990, which was nominated for many prestigious awards. It describes the events that took place in London in 1855, in another England, where the anti-feudal revolution wins.
Rapid industrialization leads to the fact that in Victorian England Difference Machines appear, somewhat reminiscent of modern computers. A new elite appears, industrialists and inventors become lords, they create a cult of science. What all this led to, you will learn by reading the book "Machine of differences».
3. The World of the Dark Sun, Konstantin Muravyov
Konstantin Muravyov is a modern Russian science fiction writer. He writes about traveling to other worlds, witchcraft. This is the 6th book from the Tenacious series.
«World of the Dark Sun"Tells of an unusual and unreal world where the energy of darkness and death dominates, where night rules everything. It is filled with infernal energy, but it also has life adapted to such conditions.
11/22/63, King Stephen
2011 bestseller, science fiction novel Kinga «11/22/63"Tells of a time traveler who travels back in time to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Jake finds out that in one utility room there is a portal that can move a person in 1958. No matter how much he was in the past, only 2 minutes pass in the present. The past can be changed, but each new time travel discards previous changes.
1. Return from Trebizond, Kir Bulychev
This is the third novel from the unfinished cycle "The Chronos River", which Kir Bulychev called his main literary project. What is this book about "Return from Trebizond»?
Lida and Andrey Berestovy can travel along the river of time, jump through the years so as to always stay young. This time they fall in the spring of 1917 and go together with the archaeological group on an expedition to the Turkish city of Trebizond.