There was a book that came out in the 80's called 'Betrayers of the Truth' that was all about the scientific FRAUD that was the going on. Fraud in science has always been there and always will. Because there's money in it.
And alternate history stories require the most research. I'll spend days of subjective time researching personalities and technology on top of horses and firearms/weapons for mine. I'm reading a Kindle sample of a biography of John Hancock for one scene in a short story to keep readers "in" the story. Just recently, I visited Valley Forge for research; I found out the name of one of Lafayette's aide de camps that I could only confirm by the Library of Congress website.
I'm also researching a ton of details about the early 20th century from YouTube videos and having to confirm the info from several other sources.
It never ends with alt-history, leaving the return on investment (ROI) for those stories lower than SF and fantasy. Fortunately, i enjoy research.
Great article, and you're writing shows how diligent you are.
I spend a lot of time reading pubs from both sides of the political issues I talk about to keep from passing bad information. I may be a conservative partisan, however I don't want to be a lying conservative partisan.
Research is a major rabbit hole. I had to revise a scene because in my original draft I had the waltz as a dance permitted at Almack's in 1811. I *thought* I knew my subject well enough to wing it, but I was wrong. And now I feel a swoon coming on...I must retire to my chaise-longue. Fetch my hartshorn and water, and burn some feathers. 😉
There was a book that came out in the 80's called 'Betrayers of the Truth' that was all about the scientific FRAUD that was the going on. Fraud in science has always been there and always will. Because there's money in it.
Remember 'Cold Fusion'?
And alternate history stories require the most research. I'll spend days of subjective time researching personalities and technology on top of horses and firearms/weapons for mine. I'm reading a Kindle sample of a biography of John Hancock for one scene in a short story to keep readers "in" the story. Just recently, I visited Valley Forge for research; I found out the name of one of Lafayette's aide de camps that I could only confirm by the Library of Congress website.
I'm also researching a ton of details about the early 20th century from YouTube videos and having to confirm the info from several other sources.
It never ends with alt-history, leaving the return on investment (ROI) for those stories lower than SF and fantasy. Fortunately, i enjoy research.
Great article, and you're writing shows how diligent you are.
I spend a lot of time reading pubs from both sides of the political issues I talk about to keep from passing bad information. I may be a conservative partisan, however I don't want to be a lying conservative partisan.
I really enjoy your work.
Research is a major rabbit hole. I had to revise a scene because in my original draft I had the waltz as a dance permitted at Almack's in 1811. I *thought* I knew my subject well enough to wing it, but I was wrong. And now I feel a swoon coming on...I must retire to my chaise-longue. Fetch my hartshorn and water, and burn some feathers. 😉