The exploration of power dynamics is also frequent. Who holds the power during the invasion? Is it the invaders with their military might? Or do the local resistance groups gain power in unexpected ways? And how do the political structures change? Maybe the existing government is overthrown and a new, more guerilla - style leadership emerges. These are all aspects that are often explored in 'Invasion of New York' alternate history novels.
There are also some short story collections that might touch on this theme. Check out anthologies that focus on alternate history. Sometimes, individual stories within these collections might center around the invasion of New York. They can offer unique perspectives as different authors bring their own ideas of how history could have been different and what an invasion of New York in such a scenario would look like.
One common theme is the breakdown of society. When New York is invaded in these alternate histories, the social order collapses. People have to fend for themselves, and there are often struggles for resources like food and shelter.
One such novel could be 'The Dead Zone' by Stephen King, which has elements that touch on an alternate view of events related to New York in a sense. It presents a world where a man has psychic visions that can change the course of history, and some of those events are set in New York.
Some 'Invasion of Japan alternate history novels' might focus on the role of magic or supernatural elements in an invasion. Imagine a world where a group with magical powers decides to invade Japan. There are also those that might look at an alternate history where Japan's isolationist policies in the past are broken by an unexpected invasion force, leading to a completely different development of Japanese society, culture, and politics.
Often, they portray the Japanese people as resilient. In many such novels, the Japanese face the invasion with great courage and tenacity, whether it's through military resistance or cultural preservation. For example, they might show the Japanese civilians banding together to protect their heritage and way of life.
Basically, an alternate history novel takes real historical events and changes them to create a new fictional path. For example, what if Germany had won World War II? That could be the basis of an alternate history story. These novels often play with the idea of 'what if' to show different possible worlds.
Perhaps a major plot twist is that the invasion is just a simulation created by a powerful alien race to test the human race's resilience. The Nazis are unknowingly pawns in this alien experiment. Also, the story could have a twist where the key to stopping the Nazis lies in an ancient artifact hidden beneath New York City. Or, it could be that the leader of the Nazi invasion force has a change of heart due to a personal connection he discovers in New York, which completely changes the course of the invasion.
A journalist could be one of the main characters. They are in the middle of the action, reporting on the invasion and uncovering secrets along the way. Another could be a police detective who is used to dealing with crime in the city but now has to face the Nazis. And there could be a foreign diplomat who is stuck in New York during the invasion and uses their diplomatic skills and international connections to try and get help from other countries.
Well, 'The Plot Against America' by Philip Roth is a newish alternate history novel. It supposes that Charles Lindbergh, a famous aviator, becomes president and the United States takes a very different path. Then there's 'Anno Dracula' by Kim Newman. This novel has an alternate history where Dracula has taken over Victorian England. Also, 'Bring the Jubilee' by Ward Moore is about a world where the South won the American Civil War.