I love Abrose Bierceâs short stories and his other work but him being a contemporary author and witness, can we really call his work historical fiction? His work is more contemporary criticism, contemporary fiction, rather than someone completely removed from the events writing about them or the setting. One wouldnât call Mark Twainâs novels âhistorical fictionâ because he was commenting on the times, places, and scenes he lived in. Just as Gravesâ âGood Bye to All Thatâ and Erich Remarqueâs âAll Quiet on the Western Frontâ really arenât historical fiction but rather contemporary or near contemporary fictional assessments of the events, cultures, and scenes the writers lived. If I write a novel about a family living in 2020 dealing with the craziness therein, it isnât historical fiction. In 100 years, if my novel were being read, it wouldnât be historical fiction. Contemporary fiction from days gone by can be a very powerful tool of the historian but it should not be confused with a modern author writing a novel or story about something from the past.