Alternate History

[Doc Tinker]

What do you guys think of books written depicting fictional accounts of alternate history.



My daughter got me a book called the Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove. I haven't read it yet, but it's supposed to tell a yarn of the South winning the Civil War.



Ever speculate what life would be like if history took a different turn?



Doc

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

I don't understand, Doc, I think many of the Southerners believe they *did* win the Civil War.

 

[T-Ricky]

That book is pretty tame. Check out some of the one's on Hitler.



Rick T.

 

[QRTRHRS]

For someone who has knowledge of the subject and appreciates where a good writer can go that's fine. There are a lot of people today who are woefully ignorant of where we come from and who we are. That's the scary part.



Do you read book and movie reviews and readily know the reviewer does not know their butt from first base about what they are looking at? Then the arm chair quarterbacking starts too.

 

[mdlowry]

Doc, I just finished that book a couple of weeks ago. I'm not a history professor, but from what I could tell, he handled it pretty well. I'm looking for an AK now. I'll take a look at some of his other books, once my reading list gets a little shorter.

 

[jlccc]

Originally posted by Doc Tinker

What do you guys think of books written depicting fictional accounts of alternate history.



My daughter got me a book called the Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove. I haven't read it yet, but it's supposed to tell a yarn of the South winning the Civil War.

I read this book last year and found it worthwhile and enjoyable.

 

[sdalton]

We did win the War, you just dont know it yet. That was just a part of our master plan. We have GW in the Whitehouse, and ya'll yankees have Hillary Clinton in New York. OK, who's the winner now??

 

[sdalton]

If you think the books weave a tall tale, regarding history, look at the Movies. I think the movies do more damage to the youths perception of the truth than books ever could. Sad but true is the fact that few children read books, unless made to in school, and forget shortly what they read after. I think if a movie is made that deviates much from historical facts, then in the beginning there should be a prologue explaining that this movie is pure fiction and that anythink contained in the movie is made up for entertainment. Then at the end, they should give a brief rundown on what really happened in history and how it differed from the movie. The last part should be done by historians and not the movie people.

Some books should be treated the same.

 

[lschultz]

Where do you boys find time to read all these books. I don't have time to do nothing if I keep replying to all these things Doc keeps comming up with. Wonder what his iq is?

 

[sdalton]

Ishultz, that would make an interesting poll. I think I will do it.

 

[rich m]

Here's what I really have grown to hate...

... that phrase, "Based on a True Story"... .

the perception is that the movie reflects a true account of some piece of history.



Those two words, "based on" allow nearly infinite latitude in the name of poetic license, or the cinematic equivalent.



Disney's "Pearl Harbor" is an example. I made it through about the first 20-30 minutes before leaving the room (wife bought it on VHS)... I found the depiction of the airhead nurses' falsifications of flight-school applicants' eyesight and vaccination records utterly reprehensible, unprofessional, improper, and, if nothing else, stupid and irresponsible. I'm suprised some group representing Navy nurses hasn't complained..... or have they? I have no idea what they did to the rest of the movie, nor will I be interested, unless one of you trusted TDR'rs tells me otherwise..... and then I might give your posting a "jaundiced eye"... .



Tora!Tora!Tora! is, was, and perhaps always will be the consummate Pearl Harbor movie.





We have enough trouble with the damn revisionists wanting to "interpret" history, shave off the rough edges, impose Klintonian moral relativism, defend the U. N. in all circumstances, and, in the end, (not unintended, by the way) blatantly mislead the would-be historian. (especially our school-kids) It's already damnear unmanageable as it is, without Orwell's "Winston Smith" having a counterpart writing novels, too.

 

[klenger]

OK Doc. What about time travel? What if we could go back in time, ... could we change the future?



Personally, I really enjoy most movies and books about time travel. A creative writer can do a lot, as was done in "Back to the Future".

 

[mdlowry]

klenger, if you like time travel novels look up Time Masters by Robert L Forward. I thought it was a pretty good book, and Dr Forward does know a little about physics.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Originally posted by Doc Tinker

[

Ever speculate what life would be like if history took a different turn?



Doc [/B]

Four wheel drive trucks would come with 10" lifts and 44" swampers... ... ... ... . Oo.

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by Doc Tinker

Ever speculate what life would be like if history took a different turn?

Yep- I'd a married the second wife first!

 

[rich m]

Originally posted by klenger

OK Doc. What about time travel? What if we could go back in time, ... could we change the future?

I'd try to prevent the parents of Billary and Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Tom Daschle, and a few other of society's "undesirables" from ever meeting.

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by T-Ricky

That book is pretty tame. Check out some of the one's on Hitler.



Rick T.

Joke:

Why didnt Hitler drink whiskey?

















































Because it made him mean.

Eric

 

[TStinson]

On a similar tangent - I have read all of Tom Clancy's novels. Amazing how a couple of them have hit home with current events - Clear & Present Danger came along about the same time we had some pretty heavy covert anti-drug activity going down. And one I can't remember the title right now involved a crazed japanese pilot flying his airliner into the capitol bldg - taking out the bulk of the US government leaders. That is real spooky when you remember 9-11-01.

 

[The patriot]

Was that one, Every man a tiger?

I've read all of Clancy's stuff too.

Eric

 

[TStinson]

Maybe you're thinking about " The Bear and the Tiger" (I think that's the title)?

I remember reading one with the Chi-Com's being the root of all evil in the world and making a futile attempt to invade Siberia to control new gold & oil reserves the Ruskies discovered.