Can you give some examples of historical events that sound like fiction?
One example is the Trojan War. A huge war fought over a woman, Helen, with a giant wooden horse used as a ruse. It seems like something out of a fantastical story but is part of ancient history.
The story of Joan of Arc. A young peasant girl who claimed to hear voices from saints and led the French army to several victories. It's almost unbelievable that a girl with no military training could do such a thing. She was later burned at the stake, which also adds to the almost fictional - like nature of her story.
Nutty historical events that sound like fiction
One such event is the Dancing Plague of 1518. In Strasbourg, France, a woman named Frau Troffea started dancing in the street and couldn't stop. This then spread to around 400 people who danced for days, some even to the point of exhaustion and death. It's so strange that it seems like it could be from a fictional story.
What are some nutty historical events that sound like fiction?
The story of the Princes in the Tower is also quite nutty. In 1483, King Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, were placed in the Tower of London by their uncle, Richard III. They were never seen again. There are many theories about their fate, ranging from being murdered to escaping and living in secrecy. It's like a real - life mystery thriller.
Can you give some examples of 'best sound fiction'?
One example could be 'Welcome to Night Vale'. It has a unique and immersive sound design with its strange announcements and ambient background noises that really bring the fictional town to life.
Can you give some examples of 'sight and sound pulp fiction'?
I'm not sure of specific works titled 'sight and sound pulp fiction' directly. But some classic pulp fiction like the works of Raymond Chandler often have very visual descriptions of the seedy underbelly of cities and the characters' appearances. And the sharp dialogue gives an auditory sense. Another could be the pulp adventure stories where there are descriptions of wild landscapes (sight) and the sounds of battles or the jungle (sound).
What are the most interesting historical events that sound like fiction?
The Dancing Plague of 1518. In Strasbourg, people started dancing uncontrollably in the streets for days on end. It's so strange that it seems like a made - up event. Some believe it could have been due to mass hysteria or poisoned food.
Can you give some examples of 'xkcd historical fiction'?
One example could be a story where Leonardo da Vinci is depicted as using his knowledge of flight to build a very wacky flying machine that looks like something out of an xkcd comic. Another might be a fictional account of a Roman emperor having to deal with a modern - day problem, like traffic jams, but in the context of ancient Rome. Maybe a story about a medieval knight trying to understand a strange, futuristic - looking device that has somehow ended up in his time.
Many new technologies today sound like science fiction. Can you give some examples?
Well, gene editing like CRISPR. It's as if we've stepped into a world where we can directly manipulate the building blocks of life, which used to be pure science fiction. Also, 3D - printed organs. The concept of creating functional organs using a printer is mind - boggling and very much like something out of a science fiction story.
Can you give some examples of succession back story in historical events?
Sure. Take the succession in the Roman Empire. The back story often involved military might and political intrigue. For example, when Augustus became the first emperor, the back story included the end of the Roman Republic, with years of civil wars. His adoption by Julius Caesar was a crucial part of the back story as it gave him a claim to power. And there were also rivalries among other powerful figures in Rome at the time.
Can you give some examples to illustrate the definition of historical fiction?
One example is 'The Pillars of the Earth' which is set in 12th - century England. It shows the building of a cathedral and all the historical details of that era such as the feudal system, the power struggles between the church and the nobility. However, the characters' personal stories like that of Tom Builder and his family are fictional. Also, 'Cold Mountain' set during the American Civil War. The war and the destruction it brought are real historical aspects, while the love story between Inman and Ada is fictional, highlighting how historical fiction combines real history with made - up stories.
Can you give some examples of the literary characteristics of historical fiction?
Sure. One example is the use of period - specific vocabulary. In a historical fiction set in the Elizabethan era, words like 'thou' and 'thee' would be used. Another is the inclusion of historical landmarks as settings. For instance, a story might be centered around the building of the Great Wall in China. And characters' behaviors are often dictated by the social mores of the time, like in a story about the French Revolution, the different classes having distinct ways of dressing and interacting.