Harry Turtledove End of the Beginning

End of the Beginning

Harry Turtledove

NAL, Nov 2005, $25.95

ISBN: 0451216687

Following the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese invade and conquer Hawaii (see DAYS OF INFAMY). The United States counter assault fails as the Japanese Zero controls the skies. Japan quickly installs a ruthless government that subjects the islands to a harsh occupation, though they bring back the royals to allegedly rule (under their thumb). American POW's are worked to death without a second thought, and the women are turned into prostitutes for the conquerors amusement.

Japanese-Americans living on the islands are divided. While those born in Japan, having a taste of American racism, support and help their native country, their children want the return of the United States, and freedom. The native Hawaiians see little difference between the two sets of conquerors, except that the Japanese are overtly de facto abusive, while the Americans were de jure discriminatory. Still most residents, regardless of ethnicity, just try to survive the food shortages while expecting the battle to return, as the embarrassment of the defeat has the White House pumping up the military-industrial complex to win the War in the Pacific.

This is a terrific alternate historical thriller that leaves no prisoners, as the audience obtains a taste of racial relationships that leave nothing to the imagination. Harry Turtledove is at his best with the action packed tale, yet the myriad of perspectives (somewhat difficult to follow, so expect several days up to a week to read) provide the individual and group dynamics. What if novels rarely reach this pinnacle, as the epic saga and the character specific blend into a fabulous alternate WW II drama.

Harriet Klausner