The 55 Greatest Works of Alternative History
This selection of works is based on the continuing research carried out for The Greatest Literature of All Time list and further research into alternative history works acclaimed by the world's readers, writers, critics and scholars.
Alternative—or alternate or just plain alt—history was once considered a category of science fiction. But the subgenre's distinguishing "what if" feature, speculating on the results of a changed history, has appeared in works that may also be classed as literary fiction, mysteries, thrillers, romances, historical fiction and even westerns.
Priority is given here to major works of alt history—mainly novels, novellas and novel series.
The list is continually updated as new works are discovered and appreciation of older works evolves. Please note the current revision date when citing the list.
Latest update: October 30, 2024
1490
Tyrant the White
Joanot Martorell, Martí Joan de Galba, Spain
1888
Looking Backward: 2000–1887
Edward Bellamy, United States
1939
Lest Darkness Fall
L. Sprague De Camp, United States
1949
Seven Days in New Crete
Robert Graves, England
1953
Bring the Jubilee
by Ward Moore, United States
Novel
Bring the Jubilee is one of those modern works declared a classic within certain genres but, despite repeated reprinting, largely forgotten by the general reading public. Which is ironically appropriate in this case perhaps, as.... Critique • Quotes • Buy
1962
The Man in the High Castle
Novel
Around the time of this novel, Philip K. Dick was being heralded as the next scifi writer to break into mainstream popularity after Kurt Vonnegut. The Man in the High Castle won the prestigious Hugo Award for science fiction.... Critique • Quotes • At the movies • Buy
1968
Pavane
Keith Roberts, England
1975
Ecotopia
Ernest Callenbach, United States
The Female Man
Joanna Russ, United States
1976
The Alteration, The
Kingsley Amis, England
The Malacia Tapestry
Brian W. Aldiss, England
Gloriana
Michael Moorcock, England
1983
The Anubis Gates
Tim Powers, United States
The Dragon Waiting
John M. Ford,
1987
Watchmen
Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, England
1989
The History of the Siege of Lisbon
José Saramago, Portugal
Tours of the Black Clock
Steve Erikson, United States
1990
The Difference Engine
William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, Canada, United States
1992
Anno Dracula
Kim Newman, England
Fatherland
Robert Harris, England
Jerusalem Commands
Michael Moorcock, England
1995
The Time Ships
Stephen Baxter, England
1996
Making History
Stephen Fry, England
1999
The Intuitionist
Colson Whitehead, United States
2001
The Eyre Affair
Jasper Fforde, England
2001
Noughts and Crosses
Malorie Blackman, England
The Part of The Other
Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, France
Declare
Tim Powers, United States
2002
The Separation
Christopher Priest, England
The Years of Rice and Salt
Kim Stanley Robinson, United States
2003
Felaheen
Jon Courtenay Grimwood, England
2003–2004
The Baroque Cycle
Neal Stephenson, United States
2004
Iron Council
China Miéville, England
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Susanna Clarke, England
The Plot Against America
Philip Roth, United States
2006
Farthing
Jo Walton, Canada
2006
Against the Day
Thomas Pynchon, United States
2007
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
by Michael Chabon, United States
Novel
What is this? You could waste a lot of time trying to figure out what kind of novel The Yiddish Policemen's Union is. Some people have clearly decided. The science fiction community has claimed Michael Chabon's 2007.... Critique • Quotes • Buy
2009
Boneshaker
Cherie Priest, United States
2010
Blackout/All Clear
Connie Willis, United States
2011
City of Bohane
Kevin Barry, Ireland
11/22/63
Stephen King, United States
2014
City of Stairs
Robert Jackson Bennett, United States
2016
Europe in Winter
Dave Hutchinson, England
Arabella of Mars
David D. Levine, United States
Lovecraft Country
Matt Ruff, United States
2016
The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead, United States
2017
American War
Omar El Akkad, Canada
Tyll
Daniel Kehlmann, Germany
2018
The Calculating Stars
Mary Robinette Kowal, United States
Dactyl Hill Squad
Daniel José Older, United States
2019
Queen of the Conquered
Kacen Callender, United States
2021
A Master of Djinn
P. Dèlí Clark, United States
2022
Babel, or the Necessity of Violence
R.F. Kuang, United States
