Unconventional Historical Fiction Ideas for Creative Collaborations
Historical fiction is often defined by sweeping epics, dramatic wars, or romantic dramas set in rigidly accurate, somber settings. However, for a group of writers or roleplayers, the most engaging stories often lie in the bizarre, overlooked, or simply peculiar corners of the past. Shifting the focus from the mainstream to the quirky allows for collaborative storytelling that is both educational and deeply imaginative. By embracing the unexpected, groups can craft narratives that are refreshing, funny, and surprisingly poignant. The Great Emu War of 1932
One of the most absurd, true, and underutilized settings for historical fiction is the 1932 Emu War in Australia. Following World War I, veterans were given land to farm, only to have it overrun by 20,000 migrating emus destroying crops. The Australian government responded by sending military personnel armed with machine guns. A group can explore this through the eyes of a bewildered soldier, a struggling farmer, or even a local reporter attempting to make sense of a battle that the animals, frankly, won. It offers a perfect mix of absurdity, historical accuracy, and comedic tension, focusing on the chaos of human ambition versus the unpredictable nature of wildlife. A Secret Society of Victorian Inventors
The Victorian era is often portrayed with somber etiquette, but it was also a time of wild, unbridled technological enthusiasm and strange fads. Instead of focusing on royalty, a group could create a narrative centered on a secret society of London inventors pushing the boundaries of early steampunk, trying to solve trivial problems with absurdly complex mechanical devices. Imagine a storyline involving an underground competition to create the best automatic tea-making machine or an attempt to build a submersible carriage for navigating the Thames. This setting allows for rich character development, emphasizing eccentricity, rivalry, and the fun of “what if” scenarios based on real, archaic inventions. The 17th Century Tulip Mania Heist
While the economic bubble of Dutch Tulip Mania is well-known, focusing on it as a high-stakes, comedic heist story offers a unique angle. In the 1630s, single bulbs cost more than luxury homes, making them prime targets for thieves. A group could craft a story around a motley crew of artists, sailors, and tavern owners attempting to steal a rare “Semper Augustus” bulb. It’s a period piece that combines economic satire with the tension of a caper, highlighting the sheer madness of the market. This allows characters to play with themes of greed, art, and the absurdity of valuing a flower over a fortune. An Underground Jazz Age Cafe for Surrealist Artists
Set in 1920s Paris, a group could explore the collision between the high-energy jazz scene and the dreamlike world of surrealist artists. The focus could be on a hidden, fictional cafe where artists like Dali, Magritte, and various fictional counterparts gather to host bizarre themed nights. The plot could revolve around a collaborative, living artwork that threatens to break into reality or an attempt to sabotage a rival artistic movement. This setting blends the glamorous, fast-paced atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties with surreal, dreamy elements, providing endless opportunities for visual storytelling and witty dialogue. The Prohibition-Era Postal Service Mystery
Prohibition in the United States created a wave of inventive smuggling. Rather than focusing on gangsters, the focus could be on the rural mail carriers, or “rural free delivery” agents, who were unknowingly (or knowingly) moving illegal alcohol through the US postal system. A group could write about a postmaster who realizes the strange smells and odd packages in their small town are part of a massive, quiet conspiracy. This idea focuses on the quirkier, quieter side of crime, highlighting the tension of navigating legal duties while assisting, or working against, local smugglers.
These quirky historical settings move beyond the tired tropes of the genre, offering fresh, engaging, and often humorous frameworks for group storytelling. By diving into the bizarre, unexpected moments of the past, creators can build narratives that are not only historically intriguing but also profoundly imaginative. Embracing the strange, the forgotten, and the unconventional allows for the creation of stories that resonate with charm and originality, proving that history is often stranger, and more amusing, than fiction.
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