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| alternate_history_faq [2018/03/14 13:43] – [Alternate History in Other Media] petike | alternate_history_faq [2018/03/14 13:44] – [Alternate History in Other Media] petike |
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| Alternate history as defined at the start of this FAQ is relatively rare in media other than books (and of course the web). Most "alternate history" in other media is best called alternate fiction or alternate futures - it depicts what are alternate histories from the perspectives of fictional characters involved, but not from our perspective in the present. Examples of this are the many alternate timelines featured in the popular television series Star Trek, virtually all of which involve points of divergence which are well in the future. Comic books also frequently feature alternate versions of their own fictional timelines. | Alternate history as defined at the start of this FAQ is relatively rare in media other than books (and of course the web). Most "alternate history" in other media is best called alternate fiction or alternate futures - it depicts what are alternate histories from the perspectives of fictional characters involved, but not from our perspective in the present. Examples of this are the many alternate timelines featured in the popular television series Star Trek, virtually all of which involve points of divergence which are well in the future. Comic books also frequently feature alternate versions of their own fictional timelines. |
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| The one major exception to this trend was the television show //[[Sliders]]//, which was based around travel to alternate and parallel worlds. There have also been a few alternate history movies, such as the film version of the best-selling novel //[[Fatherland]]//, some true alternate history comics such as Captain Confederacy. In the venue of computer and video games, explicit alternate history is rare, but can be found as part of the backstory of games including //[[Red Alert|Command and Conquer: Red Alert]]// and //[[Crimson Skies]]//. Many computer games allow you to refight historical battles or control historical civilizations (such as the popular //Civilization// games), although this is usually at a very abstract level. | The one major exception to this trend was the television show //[[alternate history:Sliders]]//, which was based around travel to alternate and parallel worlds. There have also been a few alternate history movies, such as the film version of the best-selling novel //Fatherland//, some true alternate history comics such as Captain Confederacy. In the venue of computer and video games, explicit alternate history is rare, but can be found as part of the backstory of games including //[[offtopic:Red Alert|Command and Conquer: Red Alert]]// and //[[alternate history:Crimson Skies]]//. Many computer games allow you to refight historical battles or control historical civilizations (such as the popular //Civilization// games), although this is usually at a very abstract level. |
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| For those wishing to role-play alternate history, detailed and comprehensive alternate history roleplaying sourcebooks are available for the [[GURPS]] role playing system. //GURPS: Alternate Earths// and //GURPS: Alternate Earths 2// each contain six detailed alternate worlds, plus tips and rules for alternate history role playing (the main GURPS books are also required if you wish to use the GURPS role-playing system itself). | For those wishing to role-play alternate history, detailed and comprehensive alternate history roleplaying sourcebooks are available for the [[alternate history:GURPS]] role playing system. //GURPS: Alternate Earths// and //GURPS: Alternate Earths 2// each contain six detailed alternate worlds, plus tips and rules for alternate history role playing (the main GURPS books are also required if you wish to use the GURPS role-playing system itself). |
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