The “Archangel” Book Series is Historical Fiction. Historical Fiction is one of my favorite sub-genres, where the creators take a moment in time and try to show a different angle on what is in the history books or inject their own original characters into the era.
There have been many great examples of Historical Fiction in pop-culture. Here are some my favorite examples from all around the spectrum. As usual, since this is about my personal influences/favorites and how much of an impression they’ve made on me, I will try to write most of this from memory, not from research. I do, however, encourage the reader to research any (or all) of these entries if they are interested, they are worth looking in to.
A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT (Book)
Predating the others on this list by a fair amount, Mark Twain’s classic features a “modern” man (modern for Mark Twain’s time) finding himself in, I’ll give you one guess, that’s right, King Arthur’s Court.
Using his knowledge of Industrial Revolution engineering, he endears himself to the court, which causes him to run afoul of the church, but in the end he is unable to save Camelot from it’s downfall.
As an early example of historical fiction and time travel science fiction, this novel is a landmark in both genres, setting the bar for what was to come, as a major influence for future writers. The version I read was a kid’s version which had a picture on every other page, so obviously it was abridged. I read it as a kid though, so that was probably for the best.
ASSASSIN’S CREED (Video Game)
My current favorite game series. I only got around to playing these in the last few years, but they’ve always been on my historical fiction RADAR for this awesome premise: The struggle between two secret organizations, one trying to impose order, the other trying to maintain freedom, have been behind all the major events of history. Obviously, the specifics are wide and detailed, but I’ll leave it at that for simplicity’s sake.
What this means is playing through different time periods in different locales all over the world. That alone is a thrill to me, but what really sets this series above is the level of attention and detail given to those locations. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel a decent amount in my life, and when I’m in front of a historical structure I can’t help but wonder, as an author of historical fiction, what it looked like back in its “glory days.” The “Assassin’s Creed” series takes you there. Just some of the time periods they’ve covered: Renaissance Italy, The American Revolution, The French Revolution, Victorian England, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, pretty much any time period I’ve always wanted to take a peek into.
The games’ story-lines throw you into the major conflict of whatever period you’re in, and follow along with the major events so you can watch them unfold.
Even though the first two books of the “Archangel” series were written before I got into this series, it really is the Holy Grail of Historical fiction for someone like me.
Speaking of Holy Grails, that’s a great transition to the next entry.
INDIANA JONES (Movies)
The series that may have started my love of Historical Fiction. What can be said about “Indiana Jones” that hasn’t already been said? Daring adventurer fighting evil forces over religious artifacts in exotic locations? Fun, exciting, patriotic, awesome.
Based on the serialized radio shows from their youth, George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg kept the past era, but created a modern blockbuster that endures to this day. As if this writing, the fifth installment is being filmed.
THAT 70’S SHOW (TV Show)
Historical fiction doesn’t have to be reserved for action and fantasy. “That 70s Show” showed that sitcoms can be a perfectly valid genre for Historical Fiction.
What I personally think “That 70s Show” did right was that it didn’t rely on the era for it’s comedy. It was always about the characters, they just happened to be in the 70s. The imitators that came after it failed to realize that (“That 80s Show” anyone?) and never lasted long.
OUTLANDER (Book Series/TV Show)
Okay, so, full disclosure, I don’t watch this one, nor have I read the books, but I’ve seen enough bits and pieces that I have a good idea of the high quality of the historical fictional elements.
The main character goes back in time from post-war England and falls in love with a Scottish stud in the 1700s. Obviously there’s more to it than that, but that’s the most basic summary of the plot. Their life together is fraught with peril and heartbreak as she has to deal with the fact that she knows what’s coming but seems to not be able to do anything to change the major events of the timeline.
What “Outlander” does so well is that it never shies away from the grittiness, dirtiness and danger of the period it depicts. Life was cheap back then: The characters are robbed, sexually assaulted and nearly killed on several occasions. The main character, though proven to be smart and capable (she was a nurse during World War II), is treated as inferior and has her knowledge discounted because she’s a woman.
It’s a shame that these kinds of things occurred, and still occur far too often, but it makes the depiction of the time period that much more realistic when these the true conditions are not denied.
ANNE RICE’S VAMPIRE CHRONICLES (Book Series)
Anne Rice’s beautifully written series changed the perception of vampires from the monstrous, cheesy Bela Lugosi days to the modern, misunderstood, sexually charged depiction we know today. Without her, there is no “Twilight” or “Vampire Diaries.” Her vampires have extremely detailed historical lives, yet need to be forward thinking and respecting of life to survive the toll the centuries take on one’s mind and soul.
Rice’s strength is physical description. Her characters and their historic surroundings are vividly drawn with such luscious beauty that it often borders (and sometimes crosses the border) on eroticism. It’s no wonder she writes erotica under a pseudonym. No, I don’t know what that pseudonym is off the top of my head, but I think the plots involve erotic takes on fairy tales.
While I had the idea for my series before I read these books, the way Rice has her immortal characters interact with each other as they meet and part and meet again over centuries was definitely a big influence on me, as it was the exact feeling I wanted to go for with my celestial beings.
FORREST GUMP (Movie)
A biopic about a person that never existed, this beloved film takes place over several decades chronicling Forrest as he moves through the fraught middle to later decades of the 20th Century.
“Forrest Gump” is a great example of injecting a fictional character into real events. The film even spliced Tom Hanks into real footage to depict him meeting Presidents and other historical figures.
Immensely entertaining, the movie nevertheless still showed the struggles of life, as Forrest navigates war, death and a mental condition.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (Movie)
Another great piece of historical fiction starring Tom Hanks, “Saving Private Ryan” depicts a fictitious World War II mission to find the titular Private behind enemy lines and bring him home.
What makes this a great example of Historical Fiction is the unflinching portrayal of the horrors of war and what soldiers have to go through, both mentally and psychically, to remain intact.
The D-Day sequence in particular showcases the graphic violence and brutality of warfare. It’s let’s you know what you’re in for early in the film, and never lets up from there.
So, that’s some of my favorite Historical Fiction. Questions? Comments? What other examples can you think of? Let me know!
Archangel Book Series 