====== General Alternate History Topics ======

This is a page for introducing newbies to various general alternate history conventions and to some notable examples of the genre (most of them published). It also serves as : 1.) A primer on how to start writing your own AH scenarios (also referred to as timelines - abbrev. "TLs"). 2.) A crossroad leading to the other major sections of the Wiki, which discuss alternate history concepts in a more in-depth and advanced manner. Head over there once you've mastered the basics. Among these more advanced sections, you'll also find lots of useful links to external resources, which may help a lot with creating your TL. 

----

===== Countries and nations frequently appearing in alternate histories =====

**[[alternate history:Afrikaners]]**

**[[alternate_history:Alternate Israels]]**

**The [[alternate history:British Empire]]**

**The [[alternate history:Byzantine Empire]]**

**The [[alternate history:Confederate States]] of America**

**The [[alternate history:Holy Roman Empire]]**

**The [[alternate history:Ottoman Empire]]**

**The [[alternate history:Third Reich]]**

**[[alternate history:Deseret]]**

----
===== Notable published AH works =====

Including their authors and most notable characters.

**[[163x|The 163x (Ring of Fire) series]]** (Eric Flint and co.)

**[[1984]]** (George Orwell) - Not fully proper AH, but has influences on the genre.

**[[alternate history: Draka|The Draka series]]** ([[alternate_history:s._m._stirling|S. M. Stirling]])

**[[alternate history: For Want Of A Nail]]** (Robert Sobel)

**[[Guns of the South]]** ([[Harry Turtledove]])

**[[alternate history:GURPS|GURPS Alternate Earths]]** & **[[GURPS|GURPS Infinite Worlds]]** (Steve Jackson Games)

**[[alternate history:Island in the Sea of Time|The Island in the Sea of Time (Nantucket) series]]** ([[alternate_history:s._m._stirling|S. M. Stirling]])

**[[alternate_history:worldwar|The Worldwar series]]**, featuring **[[The Race]]** ([[Harry Turtledove]])

**[[alternate_history:southern_victory|The Southern Victory (TL-191) series]]** ([[Harry Turtledove]])


----

===== Useful tips and tricks for writing AH =====

**[[alternate history:Alternate Terminology]]** and **[[alternate history:Alternate Geographic Names]]**

**[[alternate history:Asterisk Method]]** and **[[alternate history:Footnoting]]**

**[[alternate history:Butterfly Effect]]**

**[[alternate history:how_to_write_a_timeline|HELP: How to Write a Timeline]]**

**[[pods:pods|Point of Divergence]]**

**[[alternate history:Timeline]]**

**[[alternate history:Useful Essays On Writing Alternate History]]**

----
===== Frequent problematic concepts while writing AH =====

**[[alternate history:Alien Space Bats]]** 

**[[alternate history:Alternate History Clichés]]** and **[[alternate history:Historical Misconceptions]]**

**[[alternate history:Citroen DS Incident]]**

**[[alternate history:ISOT]]**

**[[alternate history:Max's First Law]]**

**[[alternate history:The Sliding Scale of Alternate History Plausibility]]**

**[[alternate history:Wank]]**


----

===== Collected AH.com Lore =====

**[[alternate history:AH.com Podcast]]** (hear us talk about various aspects and clichés of alternate history)

**[[alternate history:ah_slang_and_acronyms|AH.com's AH Writing Slang and Acronyms]]** (the commonest terms and acronyms we use while discussing and writing alternate history works)

**[[alternate history:Alternate History Media]]** (artworks from alternate worlds created or found by the board members)

**[[alternate history:Longest Threads]]** (a list of the longest or most long-running threads in the discussion board)

**[[alternate history:Timeline Classification Project]]** (exactly what it says)

**[[alternate history:Types of What If]]** (types of ideas for alternate history scenarios)

**[[alternate history:The Upcoming AH Books List]]** (what's new in the genre of literary alternate history)

**[[alternate history:Alternate History Book Club]]** (discussions on specific alternate history works by members of the board)

**[[Turtledove Awards]]** (the AH.com Oscars, awarded annually in January and February)

**[[Livy Awards]]** (non-popularly picked)

**[[offtopic:off_topic#general_ahcom_forum_advice_please_read|"Getting started on the forums" basic tips]]** (quick AH.com Q&A + etiquette tips)

**[[offtopic:How to use the search function]]** (on the forums and on the wiki)

----
===== Be sure to visit the following sections: =====

**[[timelines:timelines_and_scenarios|Alternate History Timelines and Scenarios]]**

**[[stories:stories|Stories and Narratives]]**

**[[pods:pods|A Collection of Points of Divergence]]**

**[[resources:resources|Useful Resources For Writing Alternate History]]**

**[[links:ah_on_the_web|Links to Alternate History Websites]]**

----

==== Navigation ====

**[[:start|AlternateHistory.com Wiki Main Page]]**