[n9zee]

This week's book is Fitzpatrick's War, by Theodore Judson:



This story is written as an autobiography, set in the 25th century. After an apocalyptic war, the industrialised world we know is gone. Electricity doesn't work, so steam has taken its place. Europe, Northern Africa and all of the Middle East have been conquered by a new Muslim Empire based in Turkey. China has expanded north to Mongolia and Siberia, pushing the Slavic peoples west. India retains her land. Brazil, Argentina and Columbia have all taken most of South America. And the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia are all under the control of the Yukon Confederacy.

While the other groups largely retain their current (real-world) views; for example China is still Communist and totalitarian, the Yukons are a cross between Victorian England and Puritan New England. However, a hidden cabal of scientists, the Timermen, seem to maintain older technology; for example, the Storm Machines used to suppress electrical and electronic machines across the world.

The story follows the life of Issac Prophet Fitzpatrick as seen through the eyes of one of his friends, Sir Robert Bruce. The book is presented as an annotated edition as it is at odds with the Official Histories of the Yukon Confederacy. The editor, one Doctor Professor Roland Modesty Van Buren, continually indicates in footnotes where Sir Robert's story conflicts with the official histories. Fitz, as he is affectionately called by his friends, is a man with a dream. He, like Alexander the Great, seeks to conquer the know world.

I really enjoyed this novel. It parallels the story of Alexander the Great nicely and is a great alternative to the "humanity expands into space" sci-fi. The use of an annoted story to detail two versions of history is very clever. The author's decision to explain the backstory in the form of an oral history exam is, quite frankly, brilliant!

So if you're looking for something a little different, give this one a try!

[bigotheburninator]

sounds great, im a huge fan of 'steampunk' in all its forms, sci-fi fantasy with steam as the power has always been interesting to me. ill definitely look this book up soon.