Prehistoric fiction


Prehistoric Fiction is a science fiction subgenre in which the story is set in the ages prior to the existence of written records, generally known as prehistory. A span of time that may include as its fictional setting the three periods of Stone Age; the Paleolithic, Mesolithic or Neolithic as well as the Metal Ages. Even earlier periods of the Cenozoic and Mesozoic have been the subject of fiction including extinct mammals and dinosaurs. As a literary genre of whales the description of the subjects can vary widely, from the realistic to the fantastic, without necessarily having any commitment to developing an objective anthropological, archaeological or paleontological account. Because of this, a given author of prehistoric fiction will often deal with their subjects with more creative license than the author of serious historical fiction. The genre also has connections with speculative fiction. In many such narratives for instance, humans and dinosaurs live together, despite the extinction of the dinosaurs and the evolution of humans being separated by tens of millions of years. The paleontologist, academic and author Björn Kurtén coined the term "paleofiction" to define his works. One of the newer derivatives and subgenres of Cyberpunk is Stonepunk. Stonepunk is a neologism born from the contraction between a stone and cyberpunk. This is an uchronia that refers to the incongruous use of high technology in prehistoric times.

List of prehistoric fiction

Print

Sun Horse, Moon Horse by Rosemary Sutcliff Warrior Scarlet by Rosemary SutcliffThe Boy with the Bronze Axe by Kathleen FidlerShadow Valley: A Novel by Steven Barnes Great Sky Woman: A Novel by Steven Barnes The First Americans by William Sarabande North America's Forgotten Past by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal GearWolves of the Dawn by William Sarabande Warrior Daughter by Janet PaisleyThe Gift of Stones by Jim CraceStonehenge by Bernard CornwellPillar of the Sky: A Novel of Stonehenge '''' by Cecelia HollandSingletusk by Björn KurténThe Animal Wife by Elizabeth Marshall ThomasReindeer Moon by Elizabeth Marshall ThomasThe Last Neanderthal by Claire CameronThe Dog Master by W. Bruce CameronThe Gathering Night by Margaret Elphinstone

Short stories and collections

Graphic novels and comics

Film and television series

Rapa-Nui Pathfinder RRRrrrr!!! Year One 2001: A Space Odyssey The 13th Warrior Caveman 65 Ten Canoes The Dead Lands Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner

Games

Tabletop games

GURPS Ice Age by Kirk Wilson Tate
  • Stone Age Michael Tummelhofer
  • Cavemaster by Jeff Dee and Talzhemir Mrr
  • Würm by Emmanuel Roudier, Olivier Castan, and Éric Gilleron

Video games