Recommendations from "BR": Top Picks for Historical Fiction Genre

Twilight of History: Alternative Tales of Times Gone By

As the weekend rolls around, we've got a treat for you—books that'll take you on a thrilling ride through the realms of alternative history. If you're curious about history, but crave a twist, dive into some exhilarating reads on alternate history and military fiction. This list explores not just Russian history, but also world history, with renowned authors gracing the pages. Despite the vast sea of books in this genre, we've handpicked a selection that'll keep you hooked.

Philip K. Dick's "The Man in the High Castle" is a classic in the genre. In this novel, the Allies lose World War II, and Germany, Italy, and Japan divide the world among themselves. The USSR is no more, and the US belongs to the Germans and Japanese. The result is an intriguing alternate history, one of the most widely published and translated works in this genre.

Sergei Anisimov's "Variant BIS" offers a reverse twist to World War II, as the Soviet Union is better prepared for Germany's 1941 attack, quickly marching towards Berlin. Yesterday's allies, fearing the Soviet Union's might, sign a separate peace with Germany, organize Hitler's assassination, and start a new war on German soil.

German journalist Timur Vermes presents a chilling possibility in "He's Back." In this novel, Adolf Hitler doesn't die in 1945 but wakes up in our present-day world. Society's reaction to his return makes for a scary, controversial, yet darkly comedic read.

Alexei Kulakov's "The Heir" weaves a tale of an individual with extrasensory abilities who finds himself in the body of 8-year-old Tsarevich Dmitry. The unusually wise boy begins to advise his father, Ivan the Terrible, and life in 16th-century Moscow undergoes a remarkable transformation.

Vladimir Sorokin's "Telluria" paints a picture of a new Middle Ages, emerging from the ruins of collapsed Russia and Europe. Sorokin has long delved into alternative versions of our known reality, with novels like "Sugar Kremlin" and "The Day of the Oprichnik" depicting patriot-monarchists seizing power.

In "The Heart of Parma" by Alexei Ivanov, the author blends real events of the Ural conquest with mysticism and magic, creating an alternate history that's as captivating as the original.

Stephen King's "11/22/63" follows an English teacher who travels through a portal to 1958 to prevent the assassination of Kennedy on November 22, 1963. As in many alternative history novels, changes made in the past could lead to unforeseen consequences—in this case, making the present even worse.

Ben Elton's "Time and Again" revolves around a character who uses Isaac Newton's discovery to prevent World War I by saving Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

George Orwell's "1984"—a dystopian masterpiece—may seem eerily realistic, but the events described in it for the year 1984 are also an alternate history.

Another mind-bending alternate history is shown in Sergei Lukyanenko's "The Text," in which the protagonist himself is erased from reality.

Image: Scene from the series "11/22/63"

While there aren't many novels focusing specifically on an alternate history where Russians live without the Bolsheviks and the USSR, several works explore alternative historical scenarios related to Russia or similar themes. For instance, the satirical novel "Motherland Climax" by Vlad Puting envisions a world where the Russian monarchy is overthrown by a super-spy, resulting in the establishment of the Neo-Bolshevik Republic of the Rus. Books on Russian history, dissent, and protest, like "Rebel Russia: Dissent and Protest from the Tsars to Navalny," offer valuable insights into historical contexts that could inform alternate scenarios. To delve further into the concept of a Russia without Bolsheviks, one might need to explore academic or speculative writing found in short stories or online forums. However, exploring alternate histories involving Russia offers a rich backdrop for imagining what could have been if major historical events unfolded differently.

Ben, with an uncommonly keen interest in literature, enjoys a selection of books that present alternate histories, including one titled 'The Heir', where a boy with extrasensory abilities finds himself in the body of Tsarevich Dmitry, offering advice to Ivan the Terrible.
Literature enthusiasts who appreciate a twist of entertainment in their historically-based books might find '11/22/63' by Stephen King intriguing, as it revolves around a character traveling through a portal to prevent the assassination of Kennedy in 1963, with changes in the past leading to unforeseen consequences.
For those seeking a unique blend of history and fantasy, Alexei Ivanov's 'The Heart of Parma' could be an engaging read, as it combines real events of the Ural conquest with mysticism and magic, creating an alternate history that's as captivating as the original.
While there are fewer novels focused on a Russia living without the Bolsheviks and the USSR, 'Motherland Climax' by Vlad Puting presents a satirical alternate history, depicting the Russian monarchy being overthrown by a super-spy, resulting in the establishment of the Neo-Bolshevik Republic of the Rus.