Alternative histories are novels that re-imagine the direction history would have taken if a single event had a different outcome. They are useful ways to think about the events that contributed to the world as we know it today. By imagining what-could-have-been, we become more aware of the far-reaching consequences of past events.
Action thriller quest to kill Hitler (who won WWI) | Light fantasy and spying in communist Berlin | What if Hitler had invaded England? | Timetravellers, slaves and evil that must be defeated |
Steampunk
Steampunk can be seen as a genre of alternative history because it plays what-if with technology, which is usually based on steam engines and clockwork rather than computers and electricity. Sometimes it also includes supernatural elements.