# Strange alternative history novels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 8, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330 "2012-05-08T22:30:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Sniveling_Mess)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/41 "2012-05-09T23:23:13Z")
No pun was intended when I used the word"well",by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/42 "2012-05-09T23:26:05Z")
Sir Arthur Wellesley is the man who became the Duke of Wellington, in our history. In that timeline he’ll never know he was the person he was curious about. ---
**Author:** ![Gil-Martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gil-Martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gil-Martin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/43 "2012-05-09T23:35:04Z")
It’s been many years since I’ve read it, but I remember enjoying Robert Harris’s \*The Fatherland. \* It was also made into a movie starring Rutger Hauer some years ago. As alternate history isn’t really my genre, I can’t say how it stacks up against the competition, but like I said, it was a fun read. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/44 "2012-05-10T00:54:54Z")
Of the novels mentioned which I’ve actually read I’d rank them in the following order: Highly recommended Phillip K Dick _The Man in the High Castle_ Robert Harris _Fatherland_ Len Deighton _SS-GB_ Phillip Roth _The Plot Against America_ Worth a Look but much longer than 400 pages _Decades of Darkness_ _Lands of Red and Gold_ - Australian based alt-history on the same website. Average Harry Turtledove’s \*Southern Victory \* series - Starts with _How Few Remain_ Eric Flint’s _1632_ I haven’t read the sequels, probably too fanastic to count as AH as well. Excellent books but not really alt-history Susannah Clarke _Jonathan Strange and Dr. Norrell_ Harry Turtledove _Guns of the South_ George MacDonald Fraser’s \*Flashman \* books ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/45 "2012-05-10T11:53:45Z")
Would something like Scott Westerfield’s _Leviathan_ (World War I with genetically engineered creatures and steam powered battle mechs) or Cherrie Priest’s _Boneshaker_ (mad scientist’s device unleashes zombies in 1860s Seattle) count, or are they too far along the Steampunk axis? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/46 "2012-05-10T13:58:26Z")
Norman Spinrad’s [The Iron Dream](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Iron_Dream), which is a “reprint” of a pulp scifi/fantasy story (and critical/historical commentary about it and it’s author) written by Austrian immigrant Adolf Hitler after he came to the United States in 1919. The AH elements arguably take a backseat to the commentary on thematic undercurrents in science fiction and fantasy stories, but they’re fascinating nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/47 "2012-05-10T14:38:56Z")
Speaking of Harry Turtledove, _The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump_ is a fun read. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/48 "2012-05-10T17:04:29Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Speaking of Harry Turtledove, _The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump_ is a fun read. Oh yes! I loved the vampster! ---
**Author:** ![A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Sniveling_Mess)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/49 "2012-05-10T18:05:02Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Sir Arthur Wellesley is the man who became the Duke of Wellington, in our history. In that timeline he’ll never know he was the person he was curious about. Hmm…I really didn’t know that that was the Duke of Wellington’s name.I guess you learn something new every day.Thanks for telling me. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/50 "2012-05-10T18:09:46Z")
Here’s a strange one: [_The Peshawar Lancers,_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peshawar_Lancers) by S.M. Stirling. (In the 19th Century, during the premiership of Disraeli, a comet strikes Earth, changes the climate so that Britain and Europe become too cold for growing food, and the whole of British society moves to the colonies, principally India where the King-Emperor reigns in Delhi; where, by the late 20th Century, the British royals and nobility and upper classes have all become thoroughly Indianized as the _sahib-log_ caste.) ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/51 "2012-05-10T18:33:42Z")
Check out John Birmingham’s [Axis of Time](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_Time) series: > [@](#): > > The novels deal with the radical alteration of the history of World War II and the socio-historical changes that result when a technologically advanced naval task force from the year 2021 is accidentally transported back through time to 1942. It’s a pretty interesting read - they come up with lots of things that you normally wouldn’t think of about this event actually happening, the most interesting of which (to me) was how people of the time dealt with the totally liberated women of the future - both socially and as members of the military. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/52 "2012-05-10T20:43:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Here’s a strange one: [_The Peshawar Lancers,_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peshawar_Lancers) by S.M. Stirling. (In the 19th Century, during the premiership of Disraeli, a comet strikes Earth, changes the climate so that Britain and Europe become too cold for growing food, and the whole of British society moves to the colonies, principally India where the King-Emperor reigns in Delhi; where, by the late 20th Century, the British royals and nobility and upper classes have all become thoroughly Indianized as the _sahib-log_ caste.) Psst! Post #18. I really wish Steve would write another novel set in this universe. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/53 "2012-05-10T20:48:26Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Check out John Birmingham’s [Axis of Time](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_Time) series: > > It’s a pretty interesting read - they come up with lots of things that you normally wouldn’t think of about this event actually happening, the most interesting of which (to me) was how people of the time dealt with the totally liberated women of the future - both socially and as members of the military. Yes - the culture shock between the future folks and the past folks on a wide range of issues made the books quite interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/54 "2012-05-10T20:56:59Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Psst! Post #18. > > I really wish Steve would write another novel set in this universe. Stirling did write [Shikari in Galveston](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikari_in_Galveston), a short story that’s a prequel to _The Peshawar Lancers_… Available in an anthology–not bad. Especially interesting to me because it takes place in my own stomping grounds. ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/55 "2012-05-10T20:57:13Z")
I enjoyed the [“Assassin” series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayers_for_the_Assassin) from Robert Ferrigno. Set in a future where the US has split into two, hostile nations - one of them Islamic and one of them Christian. There are [three novels in the series](http://www.amazon.com/Prayers-Assassin-Novel-Robert-Ferrigno/dp/1416567372). ---
**Author:** ![A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Sniveling_Mess)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/56 "2012-05-10T22:15:20Z")
> [@tanstaafl](#): > > Would something like Scott Westerfield’s _Leviathan_ (World War I with genetically engineered creatures and steam powered battle mechs) or Cherrie Priest’s _Boneshaker_ (mad scientist’s device unleashes zombies in 1860s Seattle) count, or are they too far along the Steampunk axis? Well,the 2nd book you mentioned might be a little too _Frankenstein_-ish for my tastes,but the 1st one certainly sounds like a good one,so I’ll have to check it out.Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Sniveling_Mess)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/57 "2012-05-10T22:22:24Z")
By the way,Morbo,_Axis of Time_ sounds very good.I noticed how you mentioned the way that the people of the past reacted to the women of the future.Do you mention that because it’s a major part of the book,or is it just a subplot? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/58 "2012-05-10T22:42:14Z")
> [@JRyan35](#): > > By the way,Morbo,_Axis of Time_ sounds very good.I noticed how you mentioned the way that the people of the past reacted to the women of the future.Do you mention that because it’s a major part of the book,or is it just a subplot? I wouldn’t call it a subplot, but I wouldn’t call it a major plot point either. Suffice it to say that various elements of the story are affected by powerful women of the future. Race factors in as well, as you can imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/59 "2012-05-10T23:01:24Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > I wouldn’t call it a subplot, but I wouldn’t call it a major plot point either. Suffice it to say that various elements of the story are affected by powerful women of the future. Race factors in as well, as you can imagine. I would say that the culture shock on both sides is a major theme of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330/60 "2012-05-10T23:18:51Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > I would say that the culture shock on both sides is a major theme of the series. Sure, but I don’t want him to think the _major_ plot is that women from the future go back to WW2 and talk about shoes. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-alternative-history-novels/621330.md?page=4)