When I see a list of historical fiction on ListChallenges, it's usually a parade of palaces, a bevy of boddice-rippers, a roster of royalty. That's all fine, but I hope Americans realize that the history of our own great nation has produced enough drama and trauma to fill a Kindle, and don't let Ron DeSantis tell you otherwise. To qualify for this list (a lofty honor), the book must meet two of three criteria: an American author, American characters, and an American setting. ("A Fable" barely squeaked by - you're a lucky man, Billy Faulks.) And a caveat: should you be inspired to read all these books (a likely scenario), you'll find that not all of them are . . . good. But if John Jakes' vision of early US history as nonstop vanilla sex piques your curiosity about the truth, then it's all good.