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clarentineThis panel was subtitled: Alternate History in Fantasy Literature. Moderator was Leslie Howle; panelists included Paul Park, Alma Alexander, and Howard Waldrop.
Someone said that alternate history provides a window through which to examine society.
Waldrop said "The first time [something bad happens] is tragedy; the second time is comedy."
It was agreed that there were two types of alternate history. The first mentioned, the "what if" kind, is where what's explored are the changes to society resulting from the point where the history diverges. "What if" was noted as being particularly popular in the early days of alternate history. The second was referred to as the unperceived narrative, and is the loser's side of history.
I think it was Waldrop who quoted Faulkner as having said that, if you're from the South, you hope that July day happens differently. (No quotes, because I know I paraphrased what was actually said.)
Park said, memorably, that there are as many stories of what happened as there are people it happened to.
Someone noted that you write history to explore what history is.
Books mentioned as alternate history included Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle, a book called The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, and Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana.
This comment was particularly important to me, though I don't recall who first started the train of thought that led to it: Historical events determine the sorts of fiction being written, because *fiction is created to discuss events*. (Emphasis mine.) People read fiction for two reasons: to confirm their fears, or to allay their fears.
Waldrop said, after trying to explain his cone theory of history, that possibilities lie behind us and probabilities lie ahead of us. [That's semantics, but it's a useful distinction when you're trying to discuss the two.]
And another significant (and unattributed) comment from my notes: The further away we get from the present time, the simpler the frame of the story becomes; perhaps that's why so much fiction is written in times distant from the present.
This and the cliches panel were probably the two I enjoyed and appreciated the most, as they were the ones that made me think. I have only recently approached alternate history as a writer. The comment about fiction being written to discuss events I find particularly telling, for myself, because of some of the work I've done. Maybe it'll help me finally get a handle on the short (novella?) story I wrote that I know full well was in reaction to the events in Kosovo and the rest of the late 90s Balkan conflict. The story remains rather unfocused, probably because I don't understand what I was trying to say. I need to think about this some more.
And I wonder if the comment about fiction written of distant times doesn't have something to do with the fascination, in genre fiction, with pseudomedieval and feudal societal setups? (Eric Flint, in the cliches panel, noted his negative reaction to the idea of feudal societies in space, labeling them unrealistic.)
Like I said, a worthwhile panel, and lots of food for thought.
Someone said that alternate history provides a window through which to examine society.
Waldrop said "The first time [something bad happens] is tragedy; the second time is comedy."
It was agreed that there were two types of alternate history. The first mentioned, the "what if" kind, is where what's explored are the changes to society resulting from the point where the history diverges. "What if" was noted as being particularly popular in the early days of alternate history. The second was referred to as the unperceived narrative, and is the loser's side of history.
I think it was Waldrop who quoted Faulkner as having said that, if you're from the South, you hope that July day happens differently. (No quotes, because I know I paraphrased what was actually said.)
Park said, memorably, that there are as many stories of what happened as there are people it happened to.
Someone noted that you write history to explore what history is.
Books mentioned as alternate history included Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle, a book called The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, and Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana.
This comment was particularly important to me, though I don't recall who first started the train of thought that led to it: Historical events determine the sorts of fiction being written, because *fiction is created to discuss events*. (Emphasis mine.) People read fiction for two reasons: to confirm their fears, or to allay their fears.
Waldrop said, after trying to explain his cone theory of history, that possibilities lie behind us and probabilities lie ahead of us. [That's semantics, but it's a useful distinction when you're trying to discuss the two.]
And another significant (and unattributed) comment from my notes: The further away we get from the present time, the simpler the frame of the story becomes; perhaps that's why so much fiction is written in times distant from the present.
This and the cliches panel were probably the two I enjoyed and appreciated the most, as they were the ones that made me think. I have only recently approached alternate history as a writer. The comment about fiction being written to discuss events I find particularly telling, for myself, because of some of the work I've done. Maybe it'll help me finally get a handle on the short (novella?) story I wrote that I know full well was in reaction to the events in Kosovo and the rest of the late 90s Balkan conflict. The story remains rather unfocused, probably because I don't understand what I was trying to say. I need to think about this some more.
And I wonder if the comment about fiction written of distant times doesn't have something to do with the fascination, in genre fiction, with pseudomedieval and feudal societal setups? (Eric Flint, in the cliches panel, noted his negative reaction to the idea of feudal societies in space, labeling them unrealistic.)
Like I said, a worthwhile panel, and lots of food for thought.
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Date: 2006-12-15 03:58 am (UTC)If there is something that you want to know about the events in Kosovo, I'd be more than happy to oblige. My email address is on my website (www.AlmaAlexander.com)