- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp. (1 Aug 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0806517697
- ISBN-13: 978-0806517698
- Product Dimensions: 22.7 x 15.5 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,070,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
The Way It Wasn't takes an amusing, intellectually stimulating excursion into speculative history. Here are thirteen memorable stories by renowned science fiction writers, telling what things might be like if... Elvis Presley weren't the "King" but the President of the United States ("Ike at the Mike" by Howard Waldrop)... The Black Death had killed the entire population of Europe in the fourteenth century ("Lion Time in Timbuctoo" by Robert Silverberg)... John F. Kennedy had survived the 1963 shooting in Dallas ("The Winterberry" by Nicholas A. DiChario). Included, too, is fascinating short fiction by Mike Resnick, Susan Shwartz, Larry Niven, Pamela Sargent, Fritz Leiber, Greg Bear, Barry N. Malzberg, Harry Turtledove, Gregory Benford and Kim Stanley Robinson. After reading these stories - some of the most compelling examples of alternate history anywhere - your mind will keep spinning the question "What If...?"
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
In the dry stifling days of early summer, the Emir lay dying, the king, the imam, Big Father of the Songhay, in his cool, dark mud-walled palace in the Sankore quarter of Old Timbuctoo. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
In the dry stifling days of early summer, the Emir lay dying, the king, the imam, Big Father of the Songhay, in his cool, dark mud-walled palace in the Sankore quarter of Old Timbuctoo. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Everyone has wondered "What if..." at some point, whether
the question involved his or her own life or some pivotal
event in history. History as we know it is jolted and
questioned at every turn in this emotional collection of
engaging and imaginative fiction. Many "what if..."
questions are addressed in this volume that allow authors
and readers alike to rewrite history, correcting perceived
wrongs or tragedies ("Suppose They Gave a Peace..."),
creating heroes where none existed before ("The Lucky
Strike"), and exploring horrors best left to imaginations
and late night readings ("We Could Do Worse"). Any fan
of science fiction will enjoy these well-selected, well-ordered stories.
the question involved his or her own life or some pivotal
event in history. History as we know it is jolted and
questioned at every turn in this emotional collection of
engaging and imaginative fiction. Many "what if..."
questions are addressed in this volume that allow authors
and readers alike to rewrite history, correcting perceived
wrongs or tragedies ("Suppose They Gave a Peace..."),
creating heroes where none existed before ("The Lucky
Strike"), and exploring horrors best left to imaginations
and late night readings ("We Could Do Worse"). Any fan
of science fiction will enjoy these well-selected, well-ordered stories.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
17 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Very Entertaining
3 Jun 2002
Format:Paperback
A highly entertaining series of short stories. The stories in this book are very original and are not reprinted in many other collections of Alternate History, with the exception of two. If you love alternate history, I encourage you to read, if not buy this book.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Bad title, great writing.
4 Dec 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The title of this book is somewhat misleading - the stories within (with one exception) are not really (in my opinion) "science fiction". All are alternative history stories, although somewhat atypical of the genre. It seems that some authors have alternative timeline theories and write stories to support them. The authors in this book use alternate timelines as frameworks for good stories. Being a fan of both SciFi and alternative history, I gave this book a read and was quite impressed with the quality of the writing. I'm not familiar with all of the authors, but will be looking out for their other works. "The Winterberry" stood out. At first you don't see the connection with alternate history, but eventually you catch on, with sad realization. Worthwhile reading for all.
15 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Take a wild ride through history as it could have been.
3 Oct 1996
Format:Paperback
Everyone has wondered "What if..." at some point, whether
the question involved his or her own life or some pivotal
event in history. History as we know it is jolted and
questioned at every turn in this emotional collection of
engaging and imaginative fiction. Many "what if..."
questions are addressed in this volume that allow authors
and readers alike to rewrite history, correcting perceived
wrongs or tragedies ("Suppose They Gave a Peace..."),
creating heroes where none existed before ("The Lucky
Strike"), and exploring horrors best left to imaginations
and late night readings ("We Could Do Worse"). Any fan
of science fiction will enjoy these well-selected, well-ordered stories.
the question involved his or her own life or some pivotal
event in history. History as we know it is jolted and
questioned at every turn in this emotional collection of
engaging and imaginative fiction. Many "what if..."
questions are addressed in this volume that allow authors
and readers alike to rewrite history, correcting perceived
wrongs or tragedies ("Suppose They Gave a Peace..."),
creating heroes where none existed before ("The Lucky
Strike"), and exploring horrors best left to imaginations
and late night readings ("We Could Do Worse"). Any fan
of science fiction will enjoy these well-selected, well-ordered stories.
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