According to Thom Kudla, History Is History, except when it isn’t. All over the world, from time beyond time, men and women have made choices and influenced history. Suppose some of our ancestors had picked a different path, found an alternative way of solving a problem, or been more, or less, greedy for acclaim, money, or power? The ripples of one simple action, or perhaps a decision made by a world leader, would have spread and changed the course of history. In thirty-seven flash fiction pieces with different settings and characters – tales of “what if” and “just suppose” – Thom Kudla ponders on the past. Might something that you do today change the course of history? It is an intriguing thought, and one you cannot fail to consider as you read.

Where the Sky and Sea Meet considers what a man might have found had he ventured to explore the earth before Christopher Columbus discovered it was round. The Redcoats Never Came, one of the shortest stories, has a self-explanatory title, but it is an amusingly wry take on the American War of Independence. Shortcut to the American Dream has a comic twist in its tail. Freud’s Bad Dream echoes thoughts I occasionally entertain, but that’s another story. If Philo Farnsworth Were Alive is a very fleeting flash – nineteen succinct words. The Late President Reagan assumes the assassination attempt succeeded. History Is History by Thom Kudla is creative, entertaining, and thought-provoking. It left me curious about “what if” long after I finished reading the final story.

History is History by Thom Kudla offers a kaleidoscopic series of vignettes that remix major events and cultural icons of American history through speculative, poetic, and often surreal storytelling. Presented as “short-shorts,” each chapter stands alone while collectively providing a refracted, dreamlike reinterpretation of the nation’s past. Kudla invites readers to reconsider familiar historical narratives with imagination, shifting the focus from textbook dates and facts to voices and perspectives often overlooked or entirely reimagined. The stories often blur reality, metaphor, and memory. In “Where the Sky and Sea Meet,” a poetic reflection on colonialism is transformed into a tale of love, longing, and self-discovery. Later stories tackle iconic moments such as the Trail of Tears, the Alamo, and the dropping of the atomic bomb with inventive narrative twists that both humanize and critique the decisions made at those historical junctures.

Thom Kudla’s prose is lyrical and layered, frequently blending poetic devices, stream-of-consciousness, and character monologue. The book’s shifting tones, sometimes whimsical, sometimes haunting, mirror the emotional range of the stories it tells. The historical retellings are not linear, nor are they always literal. Instead, they function as meditative retellings that challenge readers to sit with uncomfortable truths, to imagine alternative outcomes, and hear voices often excluded from official histories. The author’s imaginative reworking of major U.S. events will appeal to readers who enjoy thought-provoking fiction that bridges literature, philosophy, and social commentary. Fans of experimental narratives and flash fiction will find History is History a rich and unusual text. Kudla’s work suggests that history is not just about what happened, but how we remember, retell, and reinterpret those happenings through time. It's truly an intriguing and satisfying read.

Immerse yourself in a fascinating collection of flash fiction tales with Thom Kudla's History Is History. An aging intellectual comes to terms with his tendency to leave his books unfinished. An influential man decides not to sign a document that could change the world. A native disillusioned with the colonizers surrenders to the idea that their lands and people are doomed. A prospector leaves his job in search of gold in the West, but his American dream doesn't turn out the way he thought it would. One of the assembly line workers at the Ford Company inspires his colleagues to stand up for their rights. A group of gangsters comes across police officers working together with Al Capone's men. One of the pilots tasked with dropping the atomic bomb during World War II has second thoughts.

Little events can change the course of history, and this anthology shows you how. These captivating flash fiction stories by Thom Kudla take you on a wide-ranging series of adventures with dynamic characters, each undergoing their own journey of self-discovery. History Is History is an eclectic collection of tales crafted with a vivid imagination. You never know what to expect from these stories. All the characters have moments of reflection and introspection that challenge their morality and outlook toward the world, sometimes having to make decisions with heavy consequences. The stories are narrated in a first-person POV. Despite the short length, you can feel the stakes and resonate with the characters' emotions and feelings. Any short story lover will have a blast with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.