Colonisation: Aftershocks Bk. 3 [Paperback]

Alternative history is Harry Turtledove's recurring SF theme, and in Colonisation: Aftershocks he continues to build on the "Worldwar" tetralogy that began with the high concept of alien invasion changing the course of World War II.

The "Colonisation" sequence takes up the story in the 1960s, with the frustrated alien Lizards' conquest forces still struggling for control of Earth as their civilian colony ships arrive. By book 3, Aftershocks, the Greater German Reich has finally been nuked to a standstill, Chinese Maoists still revolt against Lizard rule, Japan has atomic weapons, the Soviets are playing devious games under President Molotov, and the US has gained a foothold in space.

There's a soap-operatic tangle of plot strands, with established characters both human and alien meeting in ever-changing combinations, much blackmail and smuggling of ginger (to Lizards, a powerfully addictive drug), and flashes of everyday job-hunting, friendship and romance. Big questions loom: which country attacked the colony ships and must pay heavily for it? Where is the one nuclear weapon captured by Jews 20 years ago? Will the Lizards cut their losses by reducing Earth to radioactive wasteland? And just what is the US doing so secretly in the asteroid belt?

Little jokes appear amid the suspense--for example, the Warren Commission has nothing to do with Kennedy's assassination but is a Lizard team investigating the shocking actions of this world's US President Warren. The ironies grow less striking as we move further from real-world history, but it's a solidly enjoyable SF read. Further sequels are expected. --David Langford --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'With shocking vividness, Turtledove demonstrates the extreme fragility of our modern world ... This is state-of-the-art alternate history, nothing less' (Publishers Weekly (starred review for HOW FEW REMA )

'Good fun. It has an authentic speculative quality, energy and dash' (TIME OUT (about WORLD OF DIFFERENCE) )

'Engrossing ... definitely the work of one of alternate history's authentic modern masters ... totally fascinating' (BOOKLIST (about THE GREAT WAR) )

'The wizard of If.' (Chicago Sun-Times )

'Good fun. It has an authentic speculative quality, energy and dash'

'With shocking vividness, Turtledove demonstrates the extreme fragility of our modern world ... This is state-of-the-art alternate history, nothing less'

'The wizard of If.'

Humanity is still locked in a battle for supremacy with the conquering alien invaders, the Race. The German Reich has finally been subdued and the Race believe it only to be a matter of time before the rest of the planet follows suit. However, they underestimate humanity’s desire for freedom and the lengths they will go to gain it.

With America and Russia holding the alien invaders off in a technological standoff, the disorganised red armies of Mao Tse-tung’s revolutionaries causing havoc and the ever-increasing dependence of the Race on the addictive substance ginger, the Empire realises that the colonisation of Earth may only be achieved through its total destruction.

Harry Turtledove has lived in Southern California all his life He has a Ph.D. in history from the University of California at Los Angeles and has taught at UCLA, California State Fullerton and California State University, Los Angeles. He has written many works of speculative fiction and fantasy. He is married to the novelist Laura Frankos and they have three daughters.