#ReadThis 3 Alternate Reality Books That Turn Things Upside Down

Alternate realty often refers to  a parallel universe of a different version of the World as we know it. These are some of the most imaginative books in my opinion, and one of my favorite types of genres. Below are 3 alternate history books that took a turn that we didn’t see coming.

Version Control, Dexter Palmer

Version Control is about a possible near future, but it’s also about the way we live now. It’s about smart phones and self-driving cars and what we believe about the people we meet on the Internet. It’s about a couple, Rebecca and Philip, who have experienced a tragedy, and about how they help — and fail to help — each other through it.

This book takes it’s time – time to develop the characters, to flesh out the story and to bring us along to the point where the author turns things on it’s head. The story is multi-faceted yet without being complex. There’s time-travel, online dating gone high-tech and rogue, privacy issues, race issues … this is clearly one smart book / author. The audiobook narration by January LaVoy was superbly done! She is just a master at bringing characters to life.

Dark Matter, Blake Crouch

“Are you happy with your life?” Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

Dark Matter also started out slowly for me, and I switched from the audiobook to the print edition about mid-way through. And then I flew through the book. The suspense, action, twist, emotions – Dark Matter had all that! It’s easy to see why it’s made so many “Best Of the Year” lists.

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, Seth Grahame-Smith

While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.

Okay – this book has several eye rolling moments, let’s get that out of the way. But it’s fun, quirky and … surprisingly, the vampire narrative integrates really well with the story of Abe Lincoln’s life.

Have you read any of these books? Do you have any recommendations for books that feature Alternate Reality?

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