Worldwar series

Not to be confused with World Wars.
Worldwar

The extent of the Race's conquests on Earth
Author Harry Turtledove
Country United States
Language English
Genre Science fiction
Alternate history
Media type Print (hardback & paperback)

The Worldwar series is the fan name given to a series of alternate history science fiction novels by Harry Turtledove. Its premise is an alien invasion of Earth during World War II, and includes Turtledove's Worldwar tetralogy; as well as the Colonization trilogy; and the novel Homeward Bound. The series' time-span ranges from 1942–2031. The early series was nominated for a Sidewise Award for Alternate History in 1996.[1]

Series premise

Worldwar deals with a military invasion which begins on or around May 30, 1942, by a force of aliens who call themselves the Race, a reptilian species. They had reached Earth orbit in December 1941, but delayed their attack for various reasons.

Although the Race has the advantage of superior technology, their information on humanity had been collected by robotic probe during the 12th century AD. The invaders are surprised to find that humanity had progressed far more rapidly than any other species which they had previously studied and conquered. Contrary to their expectations, at the time of invasion, the Race's technology is only marginally more advanced than the contemporaneous 20th century Earth technology. Their commander hesitates, and considers turning back without revealing their presence to the humans, but finally decides to avoid the disgrace of that course of action.

The narrative follows the intersecting fortunes of a large number of human and alien characters. Notably, the series depicts how the Axis and Allied powers must cooperate to fight the alien menace.

Literary theme

Turtledove approaches the novels' science fiction scenario with less of a focus on the technological and fantasy elements typically associated with the genre and shows greater concern for the role of more mundane affairs such as the political repercussions of an alliance between the Allied and Axis powers; the impact the presence of alien creatures has on human society; and the ways in which warfare is paradoxically a hindrance to civilization and—simultaneously—a catalyst for the progress of civilization. [2] [3]

Volumes

The Worldwar series is made up of four volumes. These volumes are:

Uneasy peace

The second series of novels, set in the 1960s, deals with the interaction between surviving humans and the Race. It opens with the arrival of the colonization fleet. The series ends with the defeat of Nazi Germany and the establishment of a permanently manned U.S. space-station in the asteroid belt. Part of this series focused on the Reich-Race War of the mid-60s, when the Greater German Reich and the Race fought a nuclear war. The Germans lost, and were forced to allow France to become an independent nation again under a new Fourth Republic.

Interstellar

The final novel in the saga deals with humanity reaching the Race's homeworld, "Home" (Tau Ceti II).[4]

List of characters

The following is a list of some major characters from the series.

Humans

The Race

Historical characters

Several historical characters also appear for brief cameos:

In the Balance
Tilting the Balance
Upsetting the Balance
Striking the Balance

References

  1. ↑ "Sidewise Awards for Alternate History: Past winners and finalists". Retrieved Sep 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Worldwar: In the Balance". Publishers Weekly. Jan 3, 1994. Retrieved Sep 22, 2016.
  3. ↑ Sheli Teitelbaum (1996). "Harry's war of the worlds". Jerusalem Report. Retrieved Sep 22, 2016.
  4. ↑ "HOMEWARD BOUND". Publishers Weekly. Nov 29, 2004. Retrieved Sep 22, 2016. Alternate-history maestro Turtledove's conclusion to his Worldwar and Colonization sagas
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