Historical Fiction Books

[NickyWithNook]

Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende is a great historical fiction book about slavery and the Haitian revolution.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is set in the former Belgian Congo and has great history of that area.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Luffy

Historical fiction is an encompassing, sprawling genre. I once asked a question on IMDB, about whether Historical Fiction is the opposite of Science Fiction. What you you guys think?

I don't think it can be. How would you explain Steampunk?

Science fiction can and should be a sprawling genre too, science exists behind everything we are and all that we do. Science-fiction is often seen as the fiction of spaceships and aliens, and there has been some justification for seeing it that way. But it needn't be, and some authors have managed to take a broader view on occasion. And that's not new. I've just finished reading over some H. Beam Piper science-fiction stories (1950s and early 1960s stuff) that try to re-tell historical events (according to Piper's particular political bent) in a new context. And coming forward from that there are several Michael Crichton's stories (that might better be called science thrillers, perhaps) that avoid the too familiar stereotype - and in this historical fiction thread, his book Timeline springs to mind.

[piper28]

I've tried reading Les Mis a number of times, but have failed miserably each time. Just can't do it. It makes Dickens seem short-worded.

I'll reaffirm those that have suggested Patrick O'brian and Michael Shaara.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by gmw

I don't think it can be. How would you explain Steampunk?

Science fiction can and should be a sprawling genre too, science exists behind everything we are and all that we do. Science-fiction is often seen as the fiction of spaceships and aliens, and there has been some justification for seeing it that way. But it needn't be, and some authors have managed to take a broader view on occasion. And that's not new. I've just finished reading over some H. Beam Piper science-fiction stories (1950s and early 1960s stuff) that try to re-tell historical events (according to Piper's particular political bent) in a new context. And coming forward from that there are several Michael Crichton's stories (that might better be called science thrillers, perhaps) that avoid the too familiar stereotype - and in this historical fiction thread, his book Timeline springs to mind.

Yes Crichton, e.g placed Jurassic Park in 1989.