This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1MikeBriggs
I am curious as to why the two tags are split. They, Alternate History and Alternative History, seem to be used for the same thing (both in what is tagged, and in general what genre of book it is describing), a subgenre of Science Fiction involving worlds in which the history has been altered, or has followed an altered path from our own. Or as the conceivably faulty Wikipedia puts it "Alternate history or alternative history is a genre of fiction consisting of stories that are set in worlds in which history has diverged from the actual history of the world.".
(Alternative history is tied to a reference note at the bottom of the page that says "Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction (Oxford University Press, 2007) notes the preferred usage of "Alternate History" as well as its primacy in coinage, "Alternate History" was coined in 1954 and "Alternative History" was first used in 1977, pp.4–5.")
If there is a difference, great, I rather enjoy the genre and if there is some split, I can attempt to use it to further my own reading.
I ask because I saw the separated tags and proposed merging them. The votes currently stand with more yes than no, but significant number of noes to likely keep it from merging.
Alternate History Wikipedia page
There is an award for Alternate History, Sideways Award, that mentions Alternative History as another name for the genre. On the first page: "The genre has a variety of names, but it is best known as alternate history. In an alternate history, one or more past events are changed and the subsequent effects on history somehow described. "
Uchronia
And then in the introduction:
"Other names which may apply to the form include alternative history, allohistory, counterfactuals, if-worlds, uchronia and uchronie, parallel worlds, what-if stories, abwegige geschichten, etc. Whatever it is called, alternate history somehow involves one or more past events which "happened otherwise" and includes some amount of description of the subsequent effects on history."
(I just noticed the website itself seems to prefer Alternate History, but at least once uses Alternative History:
"Alternate history may appear in novels, short stories, scholarly essays, comic books, movies, television shows, plays and elsewhere. This bibliography limits its attention to alternative history in printed form.")
Uchronia intro page
Again, if there actually is a difference, I'd like to learn about it for my own reading pleasure. :)
Oh, and it is currently
Vote: Yes | No | Undecided Current tally: Yes 5, No 2, Undecided 2
Alternative History tag
Alternate History tag
(oh, and Allohistory is used 3 times by 2 users, but I have not, yet, attempted to combine it with the other variations of the genre.
Allohistory)
(Alternative history is tied to a reference note at the bottom of the page that says "Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction (Oxford University Press, 2007) notes the preferred usage of "Alternate History" as well as its primacy in coinage, "Alternate History" was coined in 1954 and "Alternative History" was first used in 1977, pp.4–5.")
If there is a difference, great, I rather enjoy the genre and if there is some split, I can attempt to use it to further my own reading.
I ask because I saw the separated tags and proposed merging them. The votes currently stand with more yes than no, but significant number of noes to likely keep it from merging.
Alternate History Wikipedia page
There is an award for Alternate History, Sideways Award, that mentions Alternative History as another name for the genre. On the first page: "The genre has a variety of names, but it is best known as alternate history. In an alternate history, one or more past events are changed and the subsequent effects on history somehow described. "
Uchronia
And then in the introduction:
"Other names which may apply to the form include alternative history, allohistory, counterfactuals, if-worlds, uchronia and uchronie, parallel worlds, what-if stories, abwegige geschichten, etc. Whatever it is called, alternate history somehow involves one or more past events which "happened otherwise" and includes some amount of description of the subsequent effects on history."
(I just noticed the website itself seems to prefer Alternate History, but at least once uses Alternative History:
"Alternate history may appear in novels, short stories, scholarly essays, comic books, movies, television shows, plays and elsewhere. This bibliography limits its attention to alternative history in printed form.")
Uchronia intro page
Again, if there actually is a difference, I'd like to learn about it for my own reading pleasure. :)
Oh, and it is currently
Vote: Yes | No | Undecided Current tally: Yes 5, No 2, Undecided 2
Alternative History tag
Alternate History tag
(oh, and Allohistory is used 3 times by 2 users, but I have not, yet, attempted to combine it with the other variations of the genre.
Allohistory)
2lorax
I refer you to the earlier discussion of the issue:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/85703
I had thought there was an even lengthier discussion, but can't seem to turn it up.
Short answer: People differ. People who haven't followed previous discussions will continue to propose combination or separation depending on the current status.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/85703
I had thought there was an even lengthier discussion, but can't seem to turn it up.
Short answer: People differ. People who haven't followed previous discussions will continue to propose combination or separation depending on the current status.
3MikeBriggs
Ah, ok then. Thank you for the thread link.
Ah, so the difference of something like Barry Fell's America B.C.: Ancient Settlers in the New World and The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. Nonfiction (Alternative History) vs fiction (Alternate History).
Though the tags seem to be used for both types, fiction/nonfiction. Or reversed. Barry Fell's book has Alternate History. And speculative history. But not Alternative History.
While Dick's book has: alternate history (328) alternate reality (25) alternative history (68).
(Personally I'd combine and find the nonfiction or fiction alternative/alternate through tagmash since the tags tend to be somewhat random in whether they mean nonfiction or fiction)
Ah, so the difference of something like Barry Fell's America B.C.: Ancient Settlers in the New World and The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. Nonfiction (Alternative History) vs fiction (Alternate History).
Though the tags seem to be used for both types, fiction/nonfiction. Or reversed. Barry Fell's book has Alternate History. And speculative history. But not Alternative History.
While Dick's book has: alternate history (328) alternate reality (25) alternative history (68).
(Personally I'd combine and find the nonfiction or fiction alternative/alternate through tagmash since the tags tend to be somewhat random in whether they mean nonfiction or fiction)
4MikeBriggs
hmm. not sure why I can make all the other links work but not the first one.
Tagmash Alternate History plus Fiction
250 books
tagmash Alternative History plus fiction
250 books
alternate History plus nonfiction
246 books
Alternative History plus nonfiction
345 books (or 248 - with the link open in two different pages, I see 345 listed, and 248 listed on the other page for the same tagmash)
Tagmash Alternate History plus Fiction
250 books
tagmash Alternative History plus fiction
250 books
alternate History plus nonfiction
246 books
Alternative History plus nonfiction
345 books (or 248 - with the link open in two different pages, I see 345 listed, and 248 listed on the other page for the same tagmash)
