Review of "The Way It Wasn’t: Great Science Fiction Stories of Alternate History," Compiled by Martin Greenberg

 Review of

The Way It Wasn’t: Great Science Fiction Stories of Alternate History, Compiled by Martin Greenberg, ISBN 0806517697

Five out of five stars

Thirteen could have been scenarios

 A quality story of alternate history must satisfy two criteria. The first is that the point of divergence must be a plausible one, the reader knowledgeable in history must recognize it as something that could have happened. The second is that the events after the point of divergence must logically follow based on the historical context of the divergence. Those consequences range from the aversion of a world war to the catastrophic consequences of a thermonuclear or biological war.

 All of the thirteen stories in this collection completely satisfy these conditions. One of the best is “The Sleeping Serpent,” by Pamela Sargent. The point of divergence here is that the Mongol armies conquered all of Europe, although England has recently gained independence from the Khanate. As a consequence of this, the Khanate and the Inglistanis are engaged in a competition over the eastern seaboard of the North American continent. The Native American tribes in that area remain powerful, having not yet been subjugated by either side. In many ways, it mimics what took place between Britian and France during the French and Indian wars. The rivalry where the Native American tribes are forced to choose a side is very well played within the context of Mongols versus the Inglistanis.

 Another gem is “Over There,” by Mike Resnick. The United States has just entered World War I and former President and Rough Rider Theodore Roosevelt is petitioning the United States government for permission to raise some volunteer divisions to go over to France and soundly defeat the German forces. This actually happened and the offer was rebuffed by President Woodrow Wilson.

 In this story, Roosevelt manages to engage in a form of blackmail and is able to raise, equip and get his units shipped to France. Once there, they are kept out of the fight, until Roosevelt becomes so frustrated that he simply orders his small band to mount up and attack the nearest German positions. Roosevelt’s unit is wiped out to a man, for they never understood the power of modern weaponry to withstand a cavalry charge over open territory.

 In all cases, the stories are much easier to appreciate if the reader has some knowledge of the history being referenced. For example, in the story “Lion Time in Timbuctoo” by Robert Silverberg, it is almost essential in understanding it that there was once a powerful kingdom centered around the city of Timbuctoo in what is now Mali. All are well written and generate fire in your analysis neurons, although there is little of what could be called hard SF.

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