James Nicoll Reviews

As with the previous core lists, here are twenty Alternate Histories, chosen entirely on the basis of merit and significance to the field¹. No implication is intended that these are the only twenty works you should consider².

• The Stolen Lake by Joan Aiken

• Lion’s Blood by Steven Barnes

• On a Red Station, Drifting by Aliette de Bodard

• Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

• Shadow of Earth by Phyllis Eisenstein

• “Trans Dimensional Imports” by Sharon N. Farber

• The Architecture Of Desire by Mary Gentle

• “The Death that Saved Europe: The Mongols Turn Back, 1242” by Cecelia Holland

• The Magicians of Caprona by Diana Wynne Jones

• Saint Fire by Tanith Lee

• “A Discussion of Likely Change Points for Alternate Realities, Universes and Histories” by Evelyn C. Leeper

• “The Lincoln Train” by Maureen McHugh

• “Night Bird Soaring” by T.L. Morganfield

• Ōoku by Yoshinaga, Fumi. 

• The Lord of the Sands of Time by Issui Ogawa 

• Armor of Light by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett

• Everfair by Nisi Shawl

• Ha’Penny by Jo Walton

• Sorcery and Cecilia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stervermer

• Ariosto by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Persons unfamiliar with one or two of the works, congratulations! You’re one of today’s Ten Thousand!

1: There are two filtering rules: 

• Only one work per author per list

• Any given work by a particular author can appear on only one list. A given author may, however, have works on various lists but each instance of their work will be unique. 

2: NO IMPLICATION IS INTENDED THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY TWENTY BOOKS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER.