Alternate History:Creating Stories byChanging the Past

Alternate History:Creating Stories byChanging the Past

J.L. GribbleStokerCon 2019May 11, 2019

J.L. GribbleStokerCon 2019May 11, 2019

About J.L. GribbleAbout J.L. Gribble

J.L. Gribble writes the urban fantasy/alternate history Steel Empires series (Steel Victory, Steel Magic, Steel Blood, and Steel Time). Her other jobs include medical editing, watching too much Netflix, and blogging for Speculative Chic.She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her husband and three vocal Siamese cats.

J.L. Gribble writes the urban fantasy/alternate history Steel Empires series (Steel Victory, Steel Magic, Steel Blood, and Steel Time). Her other jobs include medical editing, watching too much Netflix, and blogging for Speculative Chic.She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her husband and three vocal Siamese cats.

What is alternate history?What is alternate history?

“Alternate history fundamentally concerns itself with the genesis of history…. The basic premise that some event in the past did not occur as we know it did, and thus the present has changed.” The Alternate History: Refiguring Historical Time (p. 2)

Sometimes also called: Alternative history

Alternative universe

Allohistory (literally “other history”)

Uchronia (literally “no time”)

Parahistory

Counterfactual

“Alternate history fundamentally concerns itself with the genesis of history…. The basic premise that some event in the past did not occur as we know it did, and thus the present has changed.” The Alternate History: Refiguring Historical Time (p. 2)

Sometimes also called: Alternative history

Alternative universe

Allohistory (literally “other history”)

Uchronia (literally “no time”)

Parahistory

Counterfactual

Most Common ExamplesMost Common Examples

Premise: The Confederacy wins the American Civil War. Result: Slavery still exists legally in North America.

Premise: The Axis powers win World War 2. Result: Nazis. Nazis everywhere.

Premise: The Confederacy wins the American Civil War. Result: Slavery still exists legally in North America.

Premise: The Axis powers win World War 2. Result: Nazis. Nazis everywhere.

What if the South won the Civil War?What if the South won the Civil War?

The Guns of the South,Harry Turtledove (1997) Science Fiction

Underground Airlines,Ben H. Winters (2016) Literary Fiction (with a bit of SF)

C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America, dir. Kevin Willmott (2004) Mockumentary/Satire

The Guns of the South,Harry Turtledove (1997) Science Fiction

Underground Airlines,Ben H. Winters (2016) Literary Fiction (with a bit of SF)

C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America, dir. Kevin Willmott (2004) Mockumentary/Satire

What if the Nazis won WW2?What if the Nazis won WW2?

The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick (1962) Science Fiction

The Divide,William Overgard (1980) Political Thriller

After Dachau,Daniel Quinn (2001) Fantasy/Magical Realism

The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick (1962) Science Fiction

The Divide,William Overgard (1980) Political Thriller

After Dachau,Daniel Quinn (2001) Fantasy/Magical Realism

Is alternate history a genre?Is alternate history a genre?

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Horror

Literary Fiction

Romance

Mystery

Thriller

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Horror

Literary Fiction

Romance

Mystery

Thriller

Alternate HistoryAlternate History

Is alternate history a subgenre?Is alternate history a subgenre?

Urban Fantasy

Paranormal Romance

Cozy Mystery

Political Thriller

Coming-of-Age Story

Urban Fantasy

Paranormal Romance

Cozy Mystery

Political Thriller

Coming-of-Age Story

But…

Alternate History

Steampunk

Multiverse

But…

Alternate History

Steampunk

Multiverse

Alternate History: Story-Telling TechniqueAlternate History: Story-Telling Technique

Nexus Story True Alternate History Parallel Worlds• Time Police• Battle Stories

• Different physical laws:• Steam vs electricity• Existence of magic• Dinosaurs!

• Different course of history

• Characters can jump between worlds

• Story occurs at the moment of the break (hinge moment)

• Story occurs after the break (sometimes long after)

• No break at all: All events that could have occured did occur

…As Science Fiction…As Science Fiction

The Lords of Creation duology by S.M. Stirling

The Sky People (2006)

In the Courts of the Crimson Kings (2008)

The Lords of Creation duology by S.M. Stirling

The Sky People (2006)

In the Courts of the Crimson Kings (2008)

…As Fantasy…As Fantasy

The Pantheon seriesby James Lovegrove

The Age of Ra (2009)

The Age of Zeus (2010)

The Age of Odin (2011)

Age of Aztec (2012)

Age of Voodoo (2013)

Age of Godpunk (2013)

Age of Shiva (2014)

The Pantheon seriesby James Lovegrove

The Age of Ra (2009)

The Age of Zeus (2010)

The Age of Odin (2011)

Age of Aztec (2012)

Age of Voodoo (2013)

Age of Godpunk (2013)

Age of Shiva (2014)

…As Action-Adventure…As Action-Adventure

The Ring of Fire seriescreated by Eric Flint

1632 (2000)

1633 (2002)

1634: The Galileo Affair (2004)

1634: The Ram Rebellion (2006)

1635: The Cannon Law (2006)

…and many more novelsand anthologies

The Ring of Fire seriescreated by Eric Flint

1632 (2000)

1633 (2002)

1634: The Galileo Affair (2004)

1634: The Ram Rebellion (2006)

1635: The Cannon Law (2006)

…and many more novelsand anthologies

…As Mystery…As Mystery

The Yiddish Policemen’s Union

By Michael Chabon (2007)

The Yiddish Policemen’s Union

By Michael Chabon (2007)

…As Romance…As Romance

The Magnificent Devices seriesby Shelly Adina

Lady of Devices (2011)

Her Own Devices (2011)

Magnificent Devices (2012)

Brilliant Devices (2013)

A Lady of Resources (2013)

…and many more

The Magnificent Devices seriesby Shelly Adina

Lady of Devices (2011)

Her Own Devices (2011)

Magnificent Devices (2012)

Brilliant Devices (2013)

A Lady of Resources (2013)

…and many more

…As Literary Fiction…As Literary Fiction

The Plot Against Americaby Philip Roth (2004)The Plot Against Americaby Philip Roth (2004)

Quiz Time!Quiz Time!Nexus Story?True Alternate History?Parallel Worlds?

Nexus Story?True Alternate History?Parallel Worlds?

Choose Your Own Adventure HistoryChoose Your Own Adventure History

Things to Think About

Historical Changes, but also…

Technological Changes

Societal Changes

Economic Changes

Political Changes

Things to Think About

Historical Changes, but also…

Technological Changes

Societal Changes

Economic Changes

Political Changes

Nexus Story ChangeNexus Story Change

Pick a major historical event within the past 200 years.

Let’s change it!

Pick a major historical event within the past 200 years.

Let’s change it!

Credit: DeviantArt user KevinAuzan

Nexus Story ChangeNexus Story Change

Three changes in the next 1 to 5 years:

Is the change localized or have the ripples expanded?

Who is in power now? Who has lost power?

How has the map changed, if any?

Three changes in the next 1 to 5 years:

Is the change localized or have the ripples expanded?

Who is in power now? Who has lost power?

How has the map changed, if any?

Nexus Story ChangeNexus Story Change

Three changes in the next 20 to 50 years:

How have technology levels changed? (Stagnation or dramatic increase)

Have any wars been averted? New wars caused?

Who holds power now? (Politically, economically, etc.)

Three changes in the next 20 to 50 years:

How have technology levels changed? (Stagnation or dramatic increase)

Have any wars been averted? New wars caused?

Who holds power now? (Politically, economically, etc.)

Nexus Story ChangeNexus Story Change

How do things look in 2019?

Where have the ripples reached? Still localized or worldwide?

How much or little has the fabric of society changed?

What is life like in Grand Rapids, Michigan (or where you live)?

How do things look in 2019?

Where have the ripples reached? Still localized or worldwide?

How much or little has the fabric of society changed?

What is life like in Grand Rapids, Michigan (or where you live)?

True Alternate History ChangeTrue Alternate History Change

Create a major change to the world we live in.

Physics

Magic

Religion

Create a major change to the world we live in.

Physics

Magic

Religion

True Alternate History ChangeTrue Alternate History Change

Three initial changes:

What does the world look like 2,000 years ago?

How has the map changed?

Who is in control?

Three initial changes:

What does the world look like 2,000 years ago?

How has the map changed?

Who is in control?

True Alternate History ChangeTrue Alternate History Change

What does the world look like 200 years ago:

Who lives/has control of North America?

How do the genders/races related to each other?

What does technology look like?

What does the world look like 200 years ago:

Who lives/has control of North America?

How do the genders/races related to each other?

What does technology look like?

True Alternate History ChangeTrue Alternate History Change

How do things look in 2019?

What level is technology at?

How much or little has the fabric of society changed?

What is life like in Grand Rapids (if it exists)? What is YOUR life like?

How do things look in 2019?

What level is technology at?

How much or little has the fabric of society changed?

What is life like in Grand Rapids (if it exists)? What is YOUR life like?

Alternate History in Other MediumsAlternate History in Other Mediums

Marvel 1602 Star Trek’s Mirror Universe

Fallout video games

A Few of My FavoritesA Few of My Favorites

Ilona Andrew’s Hidden Legacy series

In a World Just Right, Jen Brooks (2015)

Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series

Kindling, Mick Farren (2006)

Ilona Andrew’s Hidden Legacy series

In a World Just Right, Jen Brooks (2015)

Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series

Kindling, Mick Farren (2006)

Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Mastersseries

Cara McKinnon’s The Fay of Skye series

Chronospace, Allen Steele (2001)

Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Mastersseries

Cara McKinnon’s The Fay of Skye series

Chronospace, Allen Steele (2001)

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

The Alternate History: Refiguring Historical Time, Karen Hellekson(2001)

The Collected What If?, ed. Robert Cowley (2001)

Uchronia.net

AltHistoryHub channel on YouTube

AlternateHistory and AltHistoryforums on Reddit

The Alternate History: Refiguring Historical Time, Karen Hellekson(2001)

The Collected What If?, ed. Robert Cowley (2001)

Uchronia.net

AltHistoryHub channel on YouTube

AlternateHistory and AltHistoryforums on Reddit

Fringe

J.L. Gribble’s BooksJ.L. Gribble’s Books

Find J.L. Gribble OnlineFind J.L. Gribble Online

Social Media Facebook.com/jlgribblewriter

Twitter @hannaedits

Instagram @hannaedits

Blogswww.jlgribble.com

www.speculativechic.com

Social Media Facebook.com/jlgribblewriter

Twitter @hannaedits

Instagram @hannaedits

Blogswww.jlgribble.com

www.speculativechic.com

Find J.L. Gribble at StokerCon 2019Find J.L. Gribble at StokerCon 2019

At the Raw Dog Screaming Press booth! At the Raw Dog Screaming Press booth!

Q & AQ & A

About alternate history, about me, about my books, about whatever!

Thanks for having me!

About alternate history, about me, about my books, about whatever!

Thanks for having me!