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| alternate_history:alien_space_bats [2018/04/28 07:26] – [Alien Space Bats] petike | alternate_history:alien_space_bats [2021/05/20 20:47] (current) – [Notable ASB trends and genres] petike |
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| Often abbreviated to [[ASB]], this is a term given to a subgenre of alternate history concerning points of departure which aren't actually based on the course of factual human history. These include alternate history scenarios based on fictional or fantastical worlds, and more contentiously, on deviations in the evolution of life on Earth and on the Earth's geology. Simply put, any sort of event or timeline which would be impossible, or ludicrously unlikely, without divine intervention or "the activity of alien space bats". | Often abbreviated to [[ASB]], this is a term given to a subgenre of alternate history concerning points of departure which aren't actually based on the course of factual human history. These include alternate history scenarios based on fictional or fantastical worlds, and more contentiously, on deviations in the evolution of life on Earth and on the Earth's geology. Simply put, any sort of event or timeline which would be impossible, or ludicrously unlikely, without divine intervention or "the activity of alien space bats". |
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| The name predates AH.com and comes from the now defunct alternate history site/newsgroup [[offtopic:Soc.History.What-If]]. One of the main creators of the term was the late, great [[https://web.archive.org/web/20070611004248/http://www.flin.demon.co.uk/|Alison Brooks]], a British member of said site and long-term AH fan. This hasn't been overlooked in more wider fiction-writing and fiction-reading circles, and the term even appears [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_space_bats|on Wikipedia]]. Ken MacLeod's 2005 SF novel //**[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_the_World|Learning the World]]**// outright uses the ASBs as side characters and an in-joke part of the novel's cast. | The name predates AH.com and comes from the now defunct alternate history site/newsgroup [[offtopic:Soc.History.What-If]]. One of the main creators of the term was the late, great [[https://web.archive.org/web/20070611004248/http://www.flin.demon.co.uk/|Alison Brooks]], a British member of said site and long-term AH fan. This hasn't been overlooked in more wider fiction-writing and fiction-reading circles, and the term even appears [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_space_bats|on Wikipedia]]. Ken MacLeod's 2005 SF novel //[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_the_World|Learning the World]]// outright uses the ASBs as side characters and an in-joke part of the novel's cast. |
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| The wide umbrella of ASB includes scenarios involving magic and, by AH.com convention, also any AH writings based on divergences from existing fictional universes, such as Star Wars. | The wide umbrella of ASB includes scenarios involving magic and, by AH.com convention, also any AH writings based on divergences from existing fictional universes, such as //Star Wars//. Nowadays, this particular subset has its own separate forum, though in the past it was lumped under the ASB forum. |
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| Probably the most common ASB scenario involves the [[alternate history:ISOT]] and variations thereof. The [[shared worlds:Mosaic Earth]] concept developed from the ISOT. | Probably the most common ASB scenario involves the [[alternate history:ISOT]] and variations thereof. The [[shared worlds:Mosaic Earth]] concept developed from the ISOT. |
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| There is a heated debate as to whether scenarios that involve small or large geological changes in the world count as ASB or not. A good example of such a geological change is the [[http://rocketpunk-observatory.com/tarrantry.htm|eponymous island]] of the [[timelines:Tarrantry]] series. | There is a heated debate as to whether scenarios that involve small or large geological changes in the world count as ASB or not. A good example of such a geological change is the [[http://rocketpunk-observatory.com/tarrantry.htm|eponymous island]] of the [[timelines:Tarrantry]] series. As a rule of thumb, AH.com administration considers geological PODs and works with such PODs to be a form of ASB scenario, so they should be posted in the ASB forum. |
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| | More on the basics of the ASB concept in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-uuofTKwbI|this video]] from [[offtopic:Mitro]]'s site [[offtopic:The Alternate Historian]]. |
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| ==== Strict definition of ASB timelines and scenarios ==== | ==== Strict definition of ASB timelines and scenarios ==== |
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| [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=5891304&postcount=6|To quote]] one of our long-time members and moderators, [[offtopic:CalBear]] : | [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-5891304|To quote]] one of our long-time members and moderators, [[offtopic:CalBear]]: |
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| //"Without wandering into some of the more interesting aspects of Chaos Theory and philosophy, ASB can be fairly well defined.// | //"Without wandering into some of the more interesting aspects of Chaos Theory and philosophy, ASB can be fairly well defined.// |
| * //**1. ANYTHING involving aliens**// | * //**1. ANYTHING involving aliens**// |
| * //**2. ANYTHING involving massive geological changes**// | * //**2. ANYTHING involving massive geological changes**// |
| * //**3. Things so unlikely that they would require the intervention of deity**// | * //**3. Things so unlikely that they would require the intervention of a deity**// |
| * //**4. Fantasy**// | * //**4. Fantasy**// |
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| ==== Notable ASB trends and genres ==== | ==== Notable ASB trends and genres ==== |
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| **1.) ABC versus XYZ**: Basically one group of individuals with an unlikely combination of capabilities versus another group of individuals with an unlikely combination of capabilities. For example Lesbian Vampire Pirates versus Nazi Werewolf Cheerleaders. | **1.) X [[alternate history:ISOT|ISOTs]] To Y**: In which a person, territory, object, etc. is transported from one place and/or time to another, usually examining the immediate aftermath. A long-popular subject for timelines. |
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| **2.) [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=286923|Guns of the X]]**: Derived from [[Harry Turtledove|Turtledove]]'s novel **//[[Guns of the South]]//**, in which a [[Afrikaners|South African Neo-Nazi group]] from the 21st century uses time travel technology to travel to the 1860s and arm the [[Confederate States]] of America with AK-47 assault rifles, thereby allowing the CSA to win the American Civil War and be used as the basis of a white supremecist state. Similarly in a Guns of the X scenario a country or group under threat is provided with future weapons which will allow them to overcome their adversaries. Guns of the X threads include but are not limited to: | **2.) [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/guns-of-wherever.286923/|Guns of the X]]**: Derived from [[Harry Turtledove|Turtledove]]'s novel **//[[Guns of the South]]//**, in which a [[Afrikaners|South African neo-nazi group]] from the 21st century uses time travel technology to travel to the 1860s and arm the [[Confederate States]] of America with AK-47 assault rifles, thereby allowing the CSA to win the American Civil War and be used as the basis of a white supremecist state. Similarly in a Guns of the X scenario a country or group under threat is provided with future weapons which will allow them to overcome their adversaries. Guns of the X threads include but are not limited to: |
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| * **Guns of Gaul**: Guns provided to Vercingtorix to fight the Roman invasion of Gaul. | * **Guns of Gaul**: Guns provided to Vercingtorix to fight the Roman invasion of Gaul. |
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| Other popular variations of this scenario include having the reader wake up as themselves but in a different physical body, ie: younger, older, the opposite gender or another race, having the reader wake up to find their family life changed, ie: married with children, having a twin or even being their own twin, having the reader wake up isotted to an ATL. | Other popular variations of this scenario include having the reader wake up as themselves but in a different physical body, ie: younger, older, the opposite gender or another race, having the reader wake up to find their family life changed, ie: married with children, having a twin or even being their own twin, having the reader wake up isotted to an ATL. |
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| | **5.) ABC versus XYZ**: Basically one group of individuals with an unlikely combination of capabilities versus another group of individuals with an unlikely combination of capabilities. For example, Zombie Werewolf Pirates versus Ninja Vampire Cheerleaders versus Roman Legionnaire Curling Players. |
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| | **6.) [[alternate history: The Race]] Invades X**: Derived from [[alternate history:Harry Turtledove]]'s **//[[alternate history:Worldwar]]//** series, in these scenarios the alien Lizards invade a different setting or time period. Originally a trend in the Alien Space Bats forum, timelines with this subject have since shifted over to Fandom AH since the creation of that forum. |
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| ==== In AH.com Culture ==== | ==== In AH.com Culture ==== |
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| It has been theorized by [[offtopic:the_lyniezian]] that Alien Space Bats [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1577737&postcount=26|come from a planet called Cvidarrki]]. | It has been theorized by [[offtopic:the_lyniezian]] that Alien Space Bats [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1577737|come from a planet called Cvidarrki]]. |
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| == AH.com's ASB forum reputation == | == AH.com's ASB forum reputation == |
