Oops. I misread the task. Thanks for letting me know!

Stephanie wrote: "Is this book acceptable?

[book:Lies My Teacher Told Me Everything Your American History Textbook G..."

Stephanie, that would be considered non-fiction. Alternative fiction is, well, fiction. This book (please correct me if I'm wrong as I have not read it) shows history the way it really happened instead of imagining a society and a history that could have happened if things turned out differently.

Is this book acceptable?

Lies My Teacher Told Me Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

Greyweather wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Would an alternate universe story work for the alternate history with a compare/contrast analysis of the two worlds? I was thinking of the book, Coraline"

The two genres..."

Thanks for the advice, but I found a fit for it in Task 10.10. Some editions of the book have a cat on the cover, and I didn't have anything in this category I had to read.

Sam wrote: "I received an email from a rep at the NoveList database that said she will be adding the "alternative history" tag to all of the Thursday Next novels, so all the sequels should be okay for the task..."

so eyre affair and lost in a good book would both work for this task

Lisa wrote: "Would an alternate universe story work for the alternate history with a compare/contrast analysis of the two worlds? I was thinking of the book, Coraline"

The two genres are very different. However, Coraline would work for tasks 20.2, 25.4, 25.7, or 25.8

Would an alternate universe story work for the alternate history with a compare/contrast analysis of the two worlds? I was thinking of the book, Coraline by Neil Gaiman. It's on my group read for another book group and I was looking for a place to squeeze it in here.

Thanks for getting back to me, I was not sure why it was on the list, but since I would not need to buy the book (husband's) then I wanted to check.

I have it on my to read list, but I am think I may look for Blonde Roots instead, I have seen that on some other peoples lists and it looks more like my kind of thing.

Kari ♪ wrote: "Thanks for clearing that up. Is Watchmen the one that the recent movie was based on? (haven't seen the movie yet). And was Watchmen given the okay?"

Yes and yes.

Tara wrote: "I found World War Z An Oral History of the Zombie War on an Alternate history site. Would this work for the challenge?
"

I've read WWZ and that book is set in the future. I notice however that you have Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell on your to-read list. That one qualifies for this task.

You should be able to use WWZ for task 25.10 if you still want to read it.

Greyweather wrote: "Kari ♪ wrote: "Would V for Vendetta by Alan Moore work for this category? This would give me a good reason to actually read the story, as I have heard there are definite d..."

Thanks for clearing that up. Is Watchmen the one that the recent movie was based on? (haven't seen the movie yet). And was Watchmen given the okay?

Kari ♪ wrote: "Would V for Vendetta by Alan Moore work for this category? This would give me a good reason to actually read the story, as I have heard there are definite differences betw..."

It was not intended by the authors to be alternative history, as when it was published it was set 9 years into the future. It just so happens that what was 9 years in the future then is 12 years in the past now. So the same logic that excludes 1984 excludes V for Vendetta. Moore's Watchmen on the other hand is explicitly alt-history.

Would V for Vendetta by Alan Moore work for this category? This would give me a good reason to actually read the story, as I have heard there are definite differences between movie and graphic novel. And the public library has a copy of it (free = good).

(I did see it on a few folks alt-history shelves)

I found World War Z An Oral History of the Zombie War on an Alternate history site. Would this work for the challenge?

Lindalee wrote: "Alternate Kennedys.
It has a record album titled The Kennedys on it-instead of going into politics, the Kennedys became a boy band in one of the stories(I'm not giving away anything as the cover gives this away)."

That's awesome. I want to read it right now. Must go find copy...

There is also a series of anthologies of alternative history edited by Mike Resnick who was the coeditory of the book at the start of this thread. Some titles are alternate presidents, alternate warriors, alternate outlaws, alternate tyrants, and a book with one of my favorite covers ever: Alternate Kennedys.
It has a record album titled The Kennedys on it-instead of going into politics, the Kennedys became a boy band in one of the stories(I'm not giving away anything as the cover gives this away).

I love alternate history. Harry Turtledove's Guns of the South was mentioned. Harry Turtledove has written several other books that are alternate history. My favorite alternate history quote is from a panel on it at a science fiction convention-Bradley Denton whose book Buddy Holly is alive and well on Gandymede is now being made into a movie, was one of the panelists. the other panelists were mentioning serious turning points like south winning civil war, Nazis winning WWII, Napoleon winning at Waterloo, etc.... then Bradley Denton said "Then there's the really serious turning point-do you realize that if Carl Perkins hadn't been in a car accident, we wouldn't know who Elvis Presley was?" He explained that Carl P's version of Blue Suede Shoes and Elvis's came out around the same time during the period when to get a record played you had to go to radio stations and do promotions. Elvis could promote his-Carl P couldn't so Elvis's became the version played.

Okay, I've got The Patriot Witch for the Alternate History task. Does this work? I understand it's like The Revolutionary War with magic and stuff.

Melissa wrote: "A friend of mine just told me that Gettysburg was by far the best one Newt has written thus far. He also suggested Never Call Retreat ."

Those two are the 1st & 3rd of the trilogy - the middle one is Grant Comes East.
Guess I'll find out if the WWII ones are as good.

BJ Rose wrote: "Lulu wrote: "Newt Gingrich has written a trilogy about the Civil War and two about Pearl Harbor and WWII."

I'll second this suggestion. I read the Civil War trilogy last year and they were rivetin..."

A friend of mine just told me that Gettysburg was by far the best one Newt has written thus far. He also suggested
Never Call Retreat

I'm reading Lion's Blood A Novel of Slavery and Freedom in an Alternate America. By the description, the author's premise is that Africa is the dominant continent and has settled the southern portion of America, while Vikings are selling various Europeans as slaves. Hard to describe, but it seems like it'll be good!

Also, I hadn't heard of this author before, so I'd have never discovered him without this task. Looks like he's got a bunch of interesting books, if you're into the sci-fi/fantasy genre (which I am)!

Lisa wrote: "Jennifer L. wrote: "In the "Native American Books" HELP thread, someone mentioned that 1,000 White Women, The Journals of Mae Dodd by Jim Fergus could be considered alternative histo..."

Thanks so much! I think I might read this one for the task.

Jennifer L. wrote: "In the "Native American Books" HELP thread, someone mentioned that 1,000 White Women, The Journals of Mae Dodd by Jim Fergus could be considered alternative history. I haven't read ..."

Jennifer, the book works for alternative history because there was an actual historical proposal to assimilate the Indian and Caucasian cultures by providing white women to the Indians, because they were a matriarchal tribe. The author's premise for the novel is what if lawmakers had followed through with this proposal. This was a fantastic book!

Susanna wrote: "I think it would definitely qualify under the Time Travel one - not sure about alternate history. Interesting question."

Yeah, I wasn't sure if it would count or not, but I noticed that The Eyre Affair series could be used. Connecticut Yankee seems along the same line -- a character travelling back in time within literary history versus actual history...

In the "Native American Books" HELP thread, someone mentioned that 1,000 White Women, The Journals of Mae Dodd by Jim Fergus could be considered alternative history. I haven't read it and was wondering if it does work for this challenge.

If not, I've got other possible choices, but it would be nice if I could knock this one off my TBR list.

Thanks!

Sara wrote: "Did everyone see that Cynthia is NOT allowing 1984 as an alternate history task? Just wanted to make sure..."
She did in the FALL CHALLENGE 2009 QUESTIONS thread, she said:

Heather wrote: "For 15.2 Alternate History...what about 1984?

Heather in KS"No because that was written in 1949 and so Orwell had no idea what it would be like then in Alternative fiction the author re-writes history after the fact - it would work for the science fiction tasks though.

Think I'll do The Yiddish Policemen's Union for this one. It looks interesting! Or The Eyre Affair. Huh.

El wrote: "Cait wrote: "I'm so excited to hear the recommendations for The Plot Against America. I was going to read either that or The Man in the High Castle, but I'll go with Roth since it's ..."

I REALLY loved The Man in the High Castle when I read it a few years ago. I am tempted to re-read it for this task, but I am trying to limit my re-reading this challenge. There are just so many good books out there! :)

I think it would definitely qualify under the Time Travel one - not sure about alternate history. Interesting question.

Wanted to clear A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court as satisfying this task... Found it listed on Wikipedia under alternate history, but want to get a definite OK before I start in. Thanks!

Candace wrote: "Sara wrote: "Did everyone see that Cynthia is NOT allowing 1984 as an alternate history task? Just wanted to make sure..."

Yeah - I've already switched over to Fatherland which I kno..."

I switched to The Eyre Affair.

Sara wrote: "Did everyone see that Cynthia is NOT allowing 1984 as an alternate history task? Just wanted to make sure..."

Yeah - I've already switched over to Fatherland which I know she's approved :) So yay!

Did everyone see that Cynthia is NOT allowing 1984 as an alternate history task? Just wanted to make sure...

Would Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede fit this task? The clerk at the bookstore said to "think The Little House on the Prairie meets Dr. Who."

Cait wrote: "I'm so excited to hear the recommendations for The Plot Against America. I was going to read either that or The Man in the High Castle, but I'll go with Roth since it's a book I alre..."

What's really nice is how he includes appendices at the end that contain speeches and other stuff that demonstrate how real what he writes about could have been.

I'm reading Jamestown A Novel which is supposed to be a retelling of the settling of Jamestown with a twist that it was done by gangs and colonial era corporations, complete with some modern technologies like guns and automobiles. Pocahontas and John Rolfe are main characters in the story. It seems to be sort of an alternate history/post-apocolyptic novel that will really entertain.

Krista wrote: "Fatherland would work for this task. It is based on the premise that the Germans won WWII. I haven't read it, but it sounded kind of interesting in that it was a mystery/suspense as ..."

Ooo, that DOES sounds interesting! I think I'm switching my choice! Thanks for the great idea Krista!

Cait wrote: "I'm so excited to hear the recommendations for The Plot Against America. I was going to read either that or The Man in the High Castle, but I'll go with Roth since it's a book I alre..."

I plan to read the Philip K. Dick book since I've already read the Roth book. I've heard good things about the Dick, so hopefully you can find another place to plug it in for this challenge.

I'm so excited to hear the recommendations for The Plot Against America. I was going to read either that or The Man in the High Castle, but I'll go with Roth since it's a book I already own.

Patricia wrote: "I liked The Plot Against America a lot for those of you considering to read it. I'm thinking of reading Blonde Roots for this challenge."

I also liked The Plot Against America - it's great for this task!

I liked The Plot Against America a lot for those of you considering to read it. I'm thinking of reading Blonde Roots for this challenge.

I'm hoping to read Resistance for this task - like fatherland its set in World War Two and involves the Germans landing on British soil.

Would William Buckley Jnr.'s Blackford Oakes spy novels fall under alternative history?

I'm wondering if Larklight A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space would work for this. I think it's like space-travel, etc., but in a victorian setting. Dunno, anyone?

Fatherland would work for this task. It is based on the premise that the Germans won WWII. I haven't read it, but it sounded kind of interesting in that it was a mystery/suspense as well as Alt History.

I added Ella Minnow Pea to my list. It sounds great. Thanks Abigail.

Lulu wrote: "Newt Gingrich has written a trilogy about the Civil War and two about Pearl Harbor and WWII."

I'll second this suggestion. I read the Civil War trilogy last year and they were riveting - starts with Gettysburg. And I'm using the two WWII books in this challenge - one for Are Two Heads Better Than One? because he co-wrote them with William Forstchen, and the other for Alternative History

Newt Gingrich has written a trilogy about the Civil War and two about Pearl Harbor and WWII.

Re: The Eyre Affair and Ella Minnow Pea:
You definitely don't need to be a Jane Eyre lover to enjoy The Eyre Affair -- although you might like it a bit more if you are... If someone is doing Jane Eyre for the school reread or for the related authors task, though, it'd be a fun pairing!

And Ella Minnow Pea is another fav of mine! Lyn, you absolutely should read it. It's super-fast too, so a good one for the challenge. :)

Thanks for the Conroy suggestion, too. I'll add him to by TBR pile, although I'm not sure I'll fit him in this time around.

You guys should also check out Robert Conroy. He writes books where he takes historical events, like the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and changes the outcome. I am reading 1942 A Novel, where he makes the Japanese strike Pearl Harbor more than once, and what different outcomes that might have led to.

For those who are interested in YA The Bartimaeus Trilogy Boxed Set by Jonathan Stroud is set in an alternative Europe where wizards are real and have become the dominant power and a rebel faction of normal children is trying to take down the corrupt and tyrannical wizard rulers of Britain. It tells the story of the snarky demon Bartimaeus, the wizard wunderkid who summons him and the leader of the rebel faction. Very good, but a bit dark for YA!