The catalyst for this thread comes from two posts I've read recently, one from Sea Lion Press, the other from Fuldapocalypse Fiction. The authors bring up an issue in the construction of alternate history fiction, that being how writers and readers have difficulties seeing the science of history as anything beyond a series of unrelated trivia, the greater narratives of reality being loss upon them.
Alex Wallace hypothesizes the following:
"A mistake many newcomers make (and this is a nation encouraged by many online historical discussion fora, not just alternate historical spaces) is assuming that history is simply the aggregation of bits of trivia, whose own complex interrelationships are neglected. This reduces the study of history to a collection of trinkets rather than the system of the world that many academics spend entire lives studying but a tiny portion. This is not something that newcomers should feel overly guilty over; this is how history is taught as in many school systems before the university level."
I will admit that a great many pieces of the genre, both from professionals and novices alike, struggle with this. If a story is meant to be "hard" in its realism then proper research must be completed, understanding the subtle links between the various cultural systems that form our global society. Too often, an alt history tale built around worldbuilding as opposed to other aspects, reads more like a series of random anecdotes. Obviously realism isn't required for something to be great, but to deconstruct one must understand the target they aim at.
Colin Salt writes that:
"In some ways, this trinketization was inevitable. The [alt-history] fandom was going to grow larger and more “diluted”, and the internet made it far easier to find broad surface facts than deep knowledge. Audience attitudes shifted from nitpicking to fanfic consumption, with updating frequently and playing to the crowd taking precedence over all else...
"Trinketization in practice means that it feels like just a collection of names, numbers, and events tossed out, with divergences being for their own sake and no attempt to work them into a bigger whole. Often the names are of semi-obscure figures who feel like they were just yanked out of Wikipedia or somewhere similar."
There is of course, a lot of room for experimentation in the genre, and certainly a place for those just looking to make harmless map or wikibox centric timeline. But can be troubling how narratives can run awry, leading to timelines with illogical subplots like something out of a bad technothriller. Ultimately, the problem boils down to the fact of not understanding history leading to the creation of entertainment that aims for fun and excitement, but is too inauthentic and absurd to be properly engaging, lacking the heart and soul that the great of the genre have proven can exist in the world of alternate history. It's the equivalent of a bad superhero film, all nonstop strangeness and spectacle, yet no substance for all it tries.
The two writings that inspired this can be located below:
www.sealionpress.co.uk
fuldapocalypsefiction.com
Alex Wallace hypothesizes the following:
"A mistake many newcomers make (and this is a nation encouraged by many online historical discussion fora, not just alternate historical spaces) is assuming that history is simply the aggregation of bits of trivia, whose own complex interrelationships are neglected. This reduces the study of history to a collection of trinkets rather than the system of the world that many academics spend entire lives studying but a tiny portion. This is not something that newcomers should feel overly guilty over; this is how history is taught as in many school systems before the university level."
I will admit that a great many pieces of the genre, both from professionals and novices alike, struggle with this. If a story is meant to be "hard" in its realism then proper research must be completed, understanding the subtle links between the various cultural systems that form our global society. Too often, an alt history tale built around worldbuilding as opposed to other aspects, reads more like a series of random anecdotes. Obviously realism isn't required for something to be great, but to deconstruct one must understand the target they aim at.
Colin Salt writes that:
"In some ways, this trinketization was inevitable. The [alt-history] fandom was going to grow larger and more “diluted”, and the internet made it far easier to find broad surface facts than deep knowledge. Audience attitudes shifted from nitpicking to fanfic consumption, with updating frequently and playing to the crowd taking precedence over all else...
"Trinketization in practice means that it feels like just a collection of names, numbers, and events tossed out, with divergences being for their own sake and no attempt to work them into a bigger whole. Often the names are of semi-obscure figures who feel like they were just yanked out of Wikipedia or somewhere similar."
There is of course, a lot of room for experimentation in the genre, and certainly a place for those just looking to make harmless map or wikibox centric timeline. But can be troubling how narratives can run awry, leading to timelines with illogical subplots like something out of a bad technothriller. Ultimately, the problem boils down to the fact of not understanding history leading to the creation of entertainment that aims for fun and excitement, but is too inauthentic and absurd to be properly engaging, lacking the heart and soul that the great of the genre have proven can exist in the world of alternate history. It's the equivalent of a bad superhero film, all nonstop strangeness and spectacle, yet no substance for all it tries.
The two writings that inspired this can be located below:
On Asking Good Alternate History Questions
By Alex WallaceIn my capacity as the administrator of the Alternate History Online (AHO) Facebook group, I have seen many new alternate historians cut their teeth on speculating. More often than not, they ask about World War II or the American Civil War or other such things that are quite common...
www.sealionpress.co.uk
Review: New Deal Coalition Retained
New Deal Coalition Retained I’ve finally felt it’s time for this blog to come full circle and return to internet alternate history. Now knowing so much more about the depth and context, I feel comf…
fuldapocalypsefiction.com
