Marching Through Georgia

This book is the first of the Draka series, and in my opinion, probably the best of the bunch. How much has been written (especially online) for the series, it is difficult to know where to start, but I'll have a go anyway.

Basically, the book begins with a map of the world as it is supposed to be in this schedule of 1942. What we see is Nazi Germany, which has clearly conquered most of Europe (except UK), including the European part of Russia, a Soviet reminibeyond the Urals, a Japan that has conquered the eastern half of China, East Indies, and a chunk of Australia, the United States, which includes all of North and Central America, the Arctic to Panama, South America divided into 4 major countries and, more surprisingly, a brand-new country, the field "Draka", which includes all of Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia and the western half of China.

The novel itself is a story of war, but with much more backgroundis compiled into the soil, as well as imaginary citations (books, letters, etc.) that precede each chapter. The idea is basically the Draka go to war against Nazi Germany and an American journalist (who may possibly be based on William L. Shirer) is sent to cover events. Draka are a post-apocalyptic mutant off-spring of apartheid in South Africa mixed with the participation of the Caribbean slave society and South America, with Spartan-like militarismthrown in for good measure.

Perhaps one of the main reasons why these novels have attracted much attention is that Draka is often used as a character standpoint. Obviously, this is neither comfortable nor controversial given the company Draka aberrant – Some people have claimed falsely that Stirling, in a nice way to these points of view (which says very clearly it is not) . Another thing is that the Draka are very well equipped – with automatic rifles, tankssimilar to an M1A1 Abrams, planes like A-10 Thunderbolt II, and therefore some readers say they have found their most sorry for their enemies – who in this novel are Nazis.

At the end of the novel, some notes on various aspects of the company, Draka, and a chronology covering the period from commencement of Drake in the 18th century for their conquest of all Europe (except UK) and most Asia at the end of the analogy of the Second World War (known asthe "Eurasian War").

As I mentioned throughout this review, one with maps, false quotations, notes on the company Draka, and timing, the book is presented as a serious alternative history. This is, of course, is another source of controversy – we have a war that starts a little like our World War II (and the calendar in the schedule, we also have the First World War, the Russo-Japanese American Civil War, etc.), with historical figures like HitlerGoering, Daladier, De Gaulle, despite the fact that there is a militaristic slave massive holding company for the gateway to Europe. If you believe in The Butterfly Effect, this is simply incredible, but even if you do not, we would expect some of the powers to take account in their military and diplomatic policy rather than fighting between until they are finally completed term.

The plausibility of Draka society has also been criticized: they are super-industrializedand super-militarized, even if he is a slave aristocracy. They grow incredibly fast – less than 20 years after its installation in South Africa as a British colony, struggling with a tiny population, we have not only conquered the French colonies in West Africa, but they also conquered Ceylon , Egypt, Crete and Tunisia. I could go on, but the substance of this criticism is that they grow too much, too soon, and perhaps in a manner that is inconsistent with the kind of societyhave.

You know what? I do not think that matters. What makes reading these books is worth it, and funny, or at least interesting for many people, it's nothing to do with the fact that they are plausible or not.

I think the drake is simply the worst idea of Stirling and most wicked loud as possible. Also note that the Draka series, you can also respond to almost any device preferred alternative history of airships for the Orion project, and steam cars war parallel worlds – and II think this is part of the same model. My impression is that Stirling is trying to push the genre to its limits, and Draka as characters point of view is just another of those games that is Stirling with its readers.