ORIGINAL: Lecivius
There is a lot of interest in alternate history. I did buy one from some other guy who posted here, it was no where near as good as your AAR.
I'll buy it [;)]
I think this is the right idea. Just market it for what it is - alt history and/or historical fiction.
Loved this AAR - my favorite of all time. Great writing, characters, character development, imagery made the story visible in my mind. It's been years since I read it but still recall many passages:
1. A literary genius description when a destroyer cuts so close across the stern wake of Zuiho dropping depth charges that they can feel it inside the ship. Described so well it was like I could feel them myself.
2. (probably my favorite ever) They are describing the difference in repair times between when something is reported as f%*#@d, f*%$^$g f%*#@d, and totally f%*#@d.
3. New Captain takes the ship away from the pier for the first time and scrapes a bit.
4. They get in a night shooting match with an American BB - North Carolina if I remember correctly. They survive but Junyo does not. The Captain then dies of stomach cancer right there on the bridge.
5. One time they are trying to fix a pump. First they are just trying to do a good job, be professional, but it's not working. They go through this gradual descent and by the end they are motivated solely by pure, unadulterated hatred of that inanimate object.
So many great characters, too. The Chief (the main character), both the mean Chief Engineer, Minobe (his story arc takes a positive turn at the end) and the "nice" Chief Engineer they had in the middle. How about Lurch, the psycho torpedo pilot, the Captain(s) - just to name a few.
Thinking on this is making me want to read it again!
You bet I'd love to buy a copy if published - multiple copies. Thanks for the great story telling and memories 1275psi.