Alternate Wars

What Might Have Been #3

by Gregory Benford (editor), Martin H. Goldberg (Editor)

What would have happened if history had been different: If the major events that shaped our times had occurred in a different way - or not at all? In this thought-provoking volume 3 in the What Might Have Been anthology series, twelve outstanding science fiction writers and one legendary statesman alter the past in order to better see the present. From a Trojan War in which Helen surrenders, to a Civil War fought with robots, from a World War I in which Teddy Roosevelt tries to capture the glory of San Juan Hill, to a World War II in which the race is not for atomic weapons but for orbital rockets, these bold excursions in time depict bizarre new worlds, oddly familiar, disturbingly different, a rare glimpse of WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

Contents:
* Introduction (Alternate Wars) • essay by Gregory Benford
* And Wild for to Hold (1991) / Nancy Kress
* Tundra Moss (1991) / F. M. Busby
* When Free Men Shall Stand (1991) / Poul Anderson
* Arms and the Woman (1991) / James Morrow
* Ready for the Fatherland (1991) / Harry Turtledove
* The Tomb (1991) / Jack McDevitt
* Turpentine (1991) / Barry N. Malzberg
* Goddard’s People (1991) / Allen Steele
* Manassas, Again (1991) / Gregory Benford
* The Number of the Sand (1991) [Cliometricon] / George Zebrowski
* If Lee Had Not Won the Battle of Gettysburg (1930) / Winston S. Churchill
* Over There (1991) [Teddy Roosevelt] / Mike Resnick.
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Genres: Alternate History, Science Fiction, Anthologies, Short Stories, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

296 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 1991

About the author

Gregory Benford is an American science fiction author and astrophysicist who is on the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine.

As a science fiction author, Benford is best known for the Galactic Center Saga novels, beginning with In the Ocean of Night (1977). This series postulates a galaxy in which sentient organic life is in constant warfare with sentient mechanical life.

Reviews

[Tomislav · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Volume 3 of a four-volume series of alternate history short stories and novellas, especially commissioned by Gregory Benford and Martin H. Greenberg, published from 1989-1992. Each volume is thematically related. Here is the list...

What Might Have Been, Volume 1; Alternate Empires(1989)
What Might Have Been, Volume 2; Alternate Heroes (1990)
What Might Have Been, Volume 3; Alternate Wars (1991)
What Might Have Been, Volume 4; Alternate Americas(1992)

The contents are...
"And Wild for to Hold", by Nancy Kress
"Tundra Moss", by E.M.Busby
"When Free Men Shall Stand", by Poul Anderson
"Arms and the Woman", by James Morrow
"Ready for the Fatherland", by Harry Turtledove
"The Tomb", by Jack McDevitt
"Turpentine", by Barry N. Malzberg
"Goddard's People", by Allen Steele
"Manassas, Again", by Gregory Benford
"The Number of the Sand", by George Zebrowski
"If Lee Had Not Won the Battle of Gettysburg", by Winston Churchill
"Over There", by Mike Resnick

First thing I have to say is that the big killer robot zapping a modern city over the skeletons of humans on the cover of this book misrepresents its contents badly. I know I passed up this book once in a bookstore due to the stupid cover, and read it now only because it was the last one left in the series for me. What a shame to drive off the true audience for this collection, while attracting readers less likely to enjoy it.

When reading alternate history stories, we get a chance to visit inside the heads of pivotal or dramatically placed characters in a way not possible except for those few actual historical figures who have recorded autobiographies. I'm frequently driven to do some research into actual historical events in order to better understand that Aha! moment when things diverge. In this collection, I was especially taken with time-travel kidnapping of Anne Boleyn in "And Wild for to Hold", and with the Ustaši-run Croatia of "Ready for the Fatherland". Both had the realistic texture that I enjoy most in these stories. On the other hand, James Morrow's story was, of course, wacky. Finally, the presence of a story by Winston Churchill about the consequences of a Confederate victory was an interesting novelty.

[Björn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The great project of alternate history, and the reason the subgenre is so beloved, is to show us what our world might look like if things had gone just a little different, and tantalize us with the possibilities: would it be better or worse? Typically these stories highlight the caprice of history: the destiny of the millions appear to rest upon all too mundane events, and all too flimsy causality. Or is it actually capricious? Would things have turned out the same anyway? And as Leibniz posits, are we living in the best of possible worlds? Leibniz’ assertion that we are was his attempt at solving the problem of evil. These stories sometimes question his hypothesis and sometimes confirm it. Fundamentally it is a pleasant pastime to spend some time in fantasy, viewing a world that is familiar, but different.

This is a pleasant little collection of alternate timelines by well known science fiction authors, with a focus on the consequences of military conflicts. Some of the stories offer what we really want: fully fleshed out visions of “what the world would be like if…” and some stop just at the doorstep. Nancy Kress’ and Jack McDevitt’s tales were two of my favorites: I won’t soon forget Kress’ Ann Bolyn or McDevitt’s extended dark age. One of the most erudite fantasies is by an unexpected contributor: Winston Churchill! I must admit he sounds a little too enthusiastic about the consequences of Lee winning the battle at Gettysburg and it may be for the best that this little article is obscure... Honorable mention goes to Mike Resnick’s alternate Teddy Roosevelt. Overall this was a generally enjoyable collection with only a few dated or superficial entries.

[Michael Coats · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good stories in this anthology. I especially liked James Morrow's comic "Arms and the Woman," in which an angry Helen decides she's had enough of the Trojan War. "If Lee Had Not Won at Gettysburg" is a classic study by Winston Churchill; it is available in many works besides this, but if if you haven't read it yet, treat yourself. Unfortunately, the longest piece opens the show, and it is a lackluster tale of Anne Boleyn. The author imagines she has been captured by time bandits, but turns the tables on them. Although there are some interesting insights into Anne's character offered, other works (The Other Boleyn Girl) provide a better and fuller picture of this compex and tragic figure.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was weaker than the first two though it's pages were populated with some of the best names in alternative history and even included Winston Churchill. I think that the chief weakness was in the constant need for some of the authors to compare and contrast the possible with the actual. Beyond that, the subject of Alternative Wars leads one to expect a change in the battles and their outcomes, but many of these were more about outside intercession (from the future or gods) than the battles themselves.
The best story, in my opinion, was the last one by Michael Resnick about possible involvement of Teddy Roosevelt in WWI. It was a well thought out piece and truly embodied what I expected of the collection.

[Jim Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting contrafactual history. Lots of short stories of varied quality. Particularly enjoyed "Arms and the Woman" about Helen of Troy.

[Christine Kirchoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think someone who is more proficient in history than I am would enjoy this book.