It has always been important for human beings to explore their forgotten history through fiction. This is one of the ways that we come to understand our world, we look at our histories and realize how we have come to be. But there is a blank spot in our study of history because for ages our species was not able to record what was happening in any descriptive way. Of course much can be derived from the painting in Lascaux and in fossil remains, tools, and weapons. But none of these are sufficient to fill in the blanks that the lack of a written record leaves. This is where fiction must come in. Fiction can help to flesh out the sketch of the dark past and by doing so, help us to understand our own lives today.
The reason why we rename the genre and insist on terms like Evolution Fiction rather than continuing with the old genre is simple. The imagining of the prehistoric past in commercial fiction has a history that begins shortly after Charles Darwin and continues up through Clan of the Cave Bear. At every step of the way the genre itself has evolved, and yet there are certain tropes, characterizations, and themes that recur enough to become stereotypical. Because of this, Evolution Fiction is a revitalization of the genre. More importantly, Evolution Fiction animates our unwritten human history in a way that today's readers appreciate.
Chris Moore
chris@crmooreauthor.com
Author of TOTEM and the forthcoming MIGRATION
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