Allohistorie i konrfaktyczności

Abstract

The discussion provides a theoretical framework for studying alternate histories, understood both as a literary genre, and as a cognitive mental model for representing the counterfactual past. Simultaneously, it addressess many questions regarding the genre of so-called historical fantasy, both from historical and literary studies standpoint. The conversation comprises statements delivered by Karen Hellekson (independent), notable expert in fan studies, author of The Alternate History: Refiguring Historical Time (2001), Susan Johnston (University of Regina), specialist in fantasy studies, co-editor of Mastering the Game of Thrones: Essays on A Song of Ice and Fire (2015), Gavriel Rosenfeld (Fairfield University), the most prominent expert in the field of counterfactual history studies, author of The World Hitler Never Made: Alternate History and the Memory of Nazism (2005), and Natalia Lemann (University of Łódź), leading Polish theorist of alternate history genre and counterfactuality, author of Historie alternatywne i steampunk w literaturze [Alternate Histories and Steampunk in Literature] (2019). The researchers are joined, as it has become customary at „Creatio Fantastica”, by the journal editors—Krzysztof M. Maj (AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków) and Magdalena Wąsowicz (Jagiellonian University).

Keywords

• allohistory
• alternate history
• uchronia
• counterfactuality
• historical fantasy