Alternative history recommendations?
Discussion
One of my favourite genres.
The Afrika Reich is a 2011 alternate history action thriller novel by Guy Saville.In this world, the point of divergence occurs when the United Kingdom is defeated by Nazi Germany during the Dunkirk campaign in 1940, forcing Britain to conclude a non-aggression pact with Germany. Due to the influence of an active Colonial Policy Office (KPA), the Nazis carve up a new colonial empire in Africa, extending their racial genocide to Black Africans. By 1952, Britain and Germany have divided up much of the continent between themselves.
The Plot Against America, by Philip Roth is heavy going but terrific detail and thought. Charles Lindbergh becomes US President in 1940 and negotiates an 'understanding' with Nazi Germany. Lindbergh blames the Jews for selfishly pushing America towards war with Germany and then introduces virulent anti-Semitic policies. Story recounts what it was like for a Newark Jewish family.
Resurrection Day by Brendan Dubois is very good and I highly recommend it. Cuban Missile Crisis had become a full blown war. Russia is decimated, as is west and east coast USA. New York is a wasteland. The UK has become the world power. Story is about a young Boston reporter who starts to unravel what actually happened in 1962. Story is ten years later.
Lots out there.
The Afrika Reich is a 2011 alternate history action thriller novel by Guy Saville.In this world, the point of divergence occurs when the United Kingdom is defeated by Nazi Germany during the Dunkirk campaign in 1940, forcing Britain to conclude a non-aggression pact with Germany. Due to the influence of an active Colonial Policy Office (KPA), the Nazis carve up a new colonial empire in Africa, extending their racial genocide to Black Africans. By 1952, Britain and Germany have divided up much of the continent between themselves.
The Plot Against America, by Philip Roth is heavy going but terrific detail and thought. Charles Lindbergh becomes US President in 1940 and negotiates an 'understanding' with Nazi Germany. Lindbergh blames the Jews for selfishly pushing America towards war with Germany and then introduces virulent anti-Semitic policies. Story recounts what it was like for a Newark Jewish family.
Resurrection Day by Brendan Dubois is very good and I highly recommend it. Cuban Missile Crisis had become a full blown war. Russia is decimated, as is west and east coast USA. New York is a wasteland. The UK has become the world power. Story is about a young Boston reporter who starts to unravel what actually happened in 1962. Story is ten years later.
Lots out there.
I really enjoyed the Nantucket series by SM Stirling - Island of Nantucket gets thrown back 3,000 years and must fight for survival
also some other ideas here...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/bookshelf/4954-alt...
also some other ideas here...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/bookshelf/4954-alt...
marcosgt said:
I liked the sound of "Resurrection Day", so that's winging it's way to my iPad now 
M.
Good choice. I really enjoyed it.M.
I don't know how I forgot 'Dominion' by CJ Sansom. Britain surrendered to Nazi Germany after Dunkirk.
Britons find themselves under authoritarian rule, the press, radio and TV are controlled. Auxiliary police patrol the streets and British Jews face ever greater constraints.
However, Winston Churchill's resistance organisation is growing stronger...
SV8Predator said:
marcosgt said:
I liked the sound of "Resurrection Day", so that's winging it's way to my iPad now
M.
Good choice. I really enjoyed it.M.
I don't know how I forgot 'Dominion' by CJ Sansom. Britain surrendered to Nazi Germany after Dunkirk.
Britons find themselves under authoritarian rule, the press, radio and TV are controlled. Auxiliary police patrol the streets and British Jews face ever greater constraints.
However, Winston Churchill's resistance organisation is growing stronger...
http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/index.p...
is a good discussion site for alt- history stuff and has a few really good 'home grown' alt History series
is a good discussion site for alt- history stuff and has a few really good 'home grown' alt History series
SV8Predator said:
One of my favourite genres.
The Afrika Reich is a 2011 alternate history action thriller novel by Guy Saville.In this world, the point of divergence occurs when the United Kingdom is defeated by Nazi Germany during the Dunkirk campaign in 1940, forcing Britain to conclude a non-aggression pact with Germany. Due to the influence of an active Colonial Policy Office (KPA), the Nazis carve up a new colonial empire in Africa, extending their racial genocide to Black Africans. By 1952, Britain and Germany have divided up much of the continent between themselves.
Finished this last night, it had me gripped all the way until page 330-ish when I just thought "ah, another scrape for them to implausibly escape from." The Afrika Reich is a 2011 alternate history action thriller novel by Guy Saville.In this world, the point of divergence occurs when the United Kingdom is defeated by Nazi Germany during the Dunkirk campaign in 1940, forcing Britain to conclude a non-aggression pact with Germany. Due to the influence of an active Colonial Policy Office (KPA), the Nazis carve up a new colonial empire in Africa, extending their racial genocide to Black Africans. By 1952, Britain and Germany have divided up much of the continent between themselves.
I was a bit disappointed with the end. I knew he'd escape, they always do, but what happened after? Was Maddie waiting for him? Was she dead? Did he stick a knife in Cranley? Did they stay on the farm? Was the farm even still there? I'd have liked 50 less pages of daring escapes and 50 more pages of him killing Cranley. A decent read to pass the time, it'd make a good 100-minute no-brain action flick, even if set in the modern world.
Just finished Resurrection Day, was bitterly disappointed.
The premise is good and the story moves along at a good pace.
But, but, but, the writing is laughably bad, not to mention spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on almost every page, not least 4 your/you're f
k ups.
The main one though was the British characters speech. If I have to read another 'That I will', 'That I did', 'That I have' etc I think I'll go mental with rage.
I'm no grammar nazi on PH but in a printed book it is not on. Feels like the book was written by an 11 year old.
Shame as it could have been a cracker.
The premise is good and the story moves along at a good pace.
But, but, but, the writing is laughably bad, not to mention spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on almost every page, not least 4 your/you're f
k ups.The main one though was the British characters speech. If I have to read another 'That I will', 'That I did', 'That I have' etc I think I'll go mental with rage.
I'm no grammar nazi on PH but in a printed book it is not on. Feels like the book was written by an 11 year old.
Shame as it could have been a cracker.
benjj said:
Just finished Resurrection Day, was bitterly disappointed.
The premise is good and the story moves along at a good pace.
But, but, but, the writing is laughably bad, not to mention spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on almost every page, not least 4 your/you're fk ups.
The main one though was the British characters speech. If I have to read another 'That I will', 'That I did', 'That I have' etc I think I'll go mental with rage.
I'm no grammar nazi on PH but in a printed book it is not on. Feels like the book was written by an 11 year old.
Shame as it could have been a cracker.
The premise is good and the story moves along at a good pace.
But, but, but, the writing is laughably bad, not to mention spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on almost every page, not least 4 your/you're f
k ups.The main one though was the British characters speech. If I have to read another 'That I will', 'That I did', 'That I have' etc I think I'll go mental with rage.
I'm no grammar nazi on PH but in a printed book it is not on. Feels like the book was written by an 11 year old.
Shame as it could have been a cracker.
Wikipedia said:
Brendan DuBois is an American
I suppose that explains the contrived pseudo Britishness of the speech. No excuse. I've read everything by Harry Turtledove, John Birmingham etc, they don't fall into the same trap.
But simple spelling errors? Do me a favour. I know an editor should have picked them up but DuBois made them in the first place. Awful.
Anyway, still a good yarn if you can turn off your radar.
But simple spelling errors? Do me a favour. I know an editor should have picked them up but DuBois made them in the first place. Awful.
Anyway, still a good yarn if you can turn off your
radar.benjj said:
No excuse. I've read everything by Harry Turtledove, John Birmingham etc, they don't fall into the same trap.
But simple spelling errors? Do me a favour. I know an editor should have picked them up but DuBois made them in the first place. Awful.
Anyway, still a good yarn if you can turn off your radar.
Oh, I wouldn't use his nationality to excuse poor spelling and grammer, there's no excuse for those to be made, certainly no excuse for them not to be picked up through the editorial chain. But simple spelling errors? Do me a favour. I know an editor should have picked them up but DuBois made them in the first place. Awful.
Anyway, still a good yarn if you can turn off your
radar.
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