Tony Hinde's review of The Domination (original) (raw)
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Tony Hinde's Reviews > The Domination
There have been quite a few good alternative-history novels but few have projected all the way from the distant past to the far future. S M Sterling's Domination novels are based on a significant divergence during the American Civil war. (view spoiler)[South Africa chose to take a more active role supporting the American south during the civil war and, although the North still won, many of the strongest slave-owning families, fled to South Africa.
The combined peoples recreate themselves into "the Draka," a military race who believe in their destiny as rulers of humanity. They start by conquering the whole of Africa and at the same time implementing radical social reforms aimed at creating a true super-race. It goes beyond the Nazi ambitions that we are familiar with, into the realms of indoctrination, extreme physical training and even genetic engineering. (hide spoiler)]
Pitted against the growing power that is the Draka are the consolidated democracies of the west. They outstrip the Draka in technological terms and significantly outnumber them. At no time, however, does this match-up seem one-sided. At first glance, you might think your sympathies would be with the west. The surprising thing is, that despite the brutal, violent and arrogant nature of the Draka, we can't help but empathize with them. Stirling makes it impossible for us to hate them because we understand them so well.
In my favorite book of the series, "Drakon," one of the superhuman Draka is transported into a parallel universe, and seemingly back in time. Once there, she decides to subvert the entire planet to her will. I could not but admire her confidence, determination, and strength. Stirling almost makes me wish the law of the jungle still held true. Only after putting the book down do you remember that superior force does not equate with superior morals.
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