Changes: Aftershocks

Aftershocks
Author	Harry Turtledove
Cover artist	Viktor Koen
Language	English
Series	Colonization
Genre(s)	Alternate History, Science fiction
Publisher	Del Rey
Publication date	January 30, 2001
Preceded by	Down to Earth
Followed by	Homeward Bound

Revision as of 18:00, 1 December 2020

Aftershocks is an alternate history and science fiction novel by Harry Turtledove. It is the third and final novel of the Colonization series, as well as the seventh installment in the Worldwar timeline.

Plot

The 1965 nuclear war between Nazi Germany and the Race ended with a German surrender after Führer and Chancellor Ernst Kalternbrunner was killed and succeeded by Walter Dornberger. Now, Dornberger agrees to withdraw German troops from occupied France, and disband the German rocket and nuclear forces. The German withdrawal results in instability in the governments of its allies, such as the British Union of Fascists in the United Kingdom, as well as clashes between the Free French Forces and the new government of liberated France, and radioactive drift into the Soviet Union. However, Dornberger secretly begins stockpiling weapons and missile parts, allowing Germany the option to rearm itself in the future.

AftershocksBritain — Cover of the British Edition

Meanwhile, the truth about the 1962 Attack on the Race's Colonization Fleet from Second Contact is finally revealed: it was an American attack, ordered by President Earl Warren. When it is revealed, Fleetlord Atvar gives Warren a choice: dismantle the American space program, or allow the Race to nuke Indianapolis for revenge. To the surprise of all, Warren allows the Race to destroy Indianapolis, and then commits suicide, with Vice President Harold Stassen taking over. It is eventually stated that the reason Warren allowed the city to be destroyed over the space program was that the Americans were working on a starship that would someday allow them to journey to the Race's homeworld and repay their visit to Earth.

Meanwhile, the Race itself undergoes substantial social unrest, due to the effects of ginger on their females. Drug addiction, the black market, and prostitution all arise from it, along with a reproductive system that is unregulated, much like that of humans. Inevitably, the Race is introduced to the concept of marriage.

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 The [[Race-German War of 1965|1965 nuclear war]] between [[Germany (Worldwar)|Nazi Germany]] and [[the Race]] ended with a German surrender after [[Führer  (Worldwar)|''Führer'' and Chancellor]] [[Ernst Kaltenbrunner (Worldwar)|Ernst Kalternbrunner]] was killed and succeeded by [[Walter Dornberger (Worldwar)|Walter Dornberger]]. Now, Dornberger agrees to withdraw German troops from occupied [[France (Worldwar)|France]], and disband the [[Reich Rocket Force|German rocket and nuclear forces]]. The German withdrawal results in instability in the governments of its allies, such as the [[British Union of Fascists (Worldwar)|British Union of Fascists]] in [[Britain (Worldwar)|the United Kingdom]], as well as clashes between the [[Free France (Worldwar)|Free French Forces]] and the new government of liberated France, and radioactive drift into the [[Soviet Union (Worldwar)|Soviet Union]]. However, Dornberger secretly begins stockpiling weapons and missile parts, allowing Germany the option to rearm itself in the future.
 [[File:AftershocksBritain.jpg|thumb|left|Cover of the [[British]] Edition]]
-Meanwhile, the truth about the [[1962 Attack on the Race's Colonization Fleet]] from ''[[Second Contact]]'' is finally revealed: it was an [[United States of America (Worldwar)|American]] attack, ordered by [[President of the United States (Worldwar)|President]] [[Earl Warren (Worldwar)|Earl Warren]]. When it is revealed, [[Fleetlord]] [[Atvar]] gives Warren a choice: dismantle the American space program, or allow the Race to [[explosive-metal bomb|nuke]] [[Indianapolis (Worldwar)|Indianapolis]] for revenge. To the surprise of all, Warren allows the Race to destroy Indianapolis, and then commits suicide, with [[Vice President of the United States (Worldwar)|Vice President]] [[Harold Stassen (Worldwar)|Harold Stassen]] taking over. It is eventually stated that the reason Warren allowed the city to be destroyed over the space program was that the Americans were working on a starship that would someday allow them to journey to the Race's [[home]]world and repay their visit to [[tosev 3|Earth]].
+Meanwhile, the truth about the [[1962 Attack on the Race's Colonization Fleet]] from ''[[Second Contact]]'' is finally revealed: it was an [[United States of America (Worldwar)|American]] attack, ordered by [[President of the United States (Worldwar)|President]] [[Earl Warren (Worldwar)|Earl Warren]]. When it is revealed, [[Fleetlord]] [[Atvar]] gives Warren a choice: dismantle the American space program, or allow the Race to [[explosive-metal bomb|nuke]] [[Indianapolis (Worldwar)|Indianapolis]] for revenge. To the surprise of all, Warren allows the Race to destroy Indianapolis, and then commits suicide, with [[Vice President of the United States (Worldwar)|Vice President]] [[Harold Stassen (Worldwar)|Harold Stassen]] taking over. It is eventually stated that the reason Warren allowed the city to be destroyed over the space program was that the Americans were working on a starship that would someday allow them to journey to the Race's [[home]]world and repay their visit to [[Earth (Worldwar)|Earth]].
 Meanwhile, the Race itself undergoes substantial social unrest, due to the effects of [[ginger (Worldwar)|ginger]] on their females. Drug addiction, the black market, and prostitution all arise from it, along with a reproductive system that is unregulated, much like that of [[Tosevites|humans]]. Inevitably, the Race is introduced to the concept of [[Exclusive mating arrangement|marriage]].