I learned of Brendan Dubois while he was "Jeopardy!" champion in 10/2012. An author of fiction is not a common profession on the show, and when he mentioned he often dabbled in speculative fiction (a la Harry Turtledove et al) I was intrigued. When Alex asked what he thought was his best work, this is the title he mentioned.
Wow- he wasn't kidding!
What if Kennedy's face-off with Krushchev turned turtle, and buttons got pushed? This is the world Carl, a reporter for the Boston Globe, lives in. It's 1972 and the USA is a 2nd rate nation. Though not nearly as devastated as the USSR (essentially one vast parking lot), major cities were hit (DC, NY, San Diego) and a few major military bases. Martial law is in place nationwide, headed by General Curtis, who's respected worldwide for managing to keep the rest of the world out of "The Cuban War" and the nuclear nightmare it would've entailed. Conversely, the memory of a feckless JFK is almost universally despised.
Is that how it really happened though? Assigned to cover a seemingly innocuous murder of a veteran, Carl is surprised to find his story killed. When he looks into why, events begin to snowball and before he knows it he's on the trail of a mystery. Is JFK still alive? What secrets was the veteran hiding? The only help he seems to be able to count on is a reporter visiting from the London Times. But can he trust her?
Mr Dubois has crafted a thoroughly satisfying alternate-history mystery. The characters are richly detailed, and the landscape is frighteningly believable. Best of all-- the way he wraps it all up seems to be completely satisfying. The only complaint I have is HEY! I have to sleep sometimes! Because this one is hard to put down.
Wow- he wasn't kidding!
What if Kennedy's face-off with Krushchev turned turtle, and buttons got pushed? This is the world Carl, a reporter for the Boston Globe, lives in. It's 1972 and the USA is a 2nd rate nation. Though not nearly as devastated as the USSR (essentially one vast parking lot), major cities were hit (DC, NY, San Diego) and a few major military bases. Martial law is in place nationwide, headed by General Curtis, who's respected worldwide for managing to keep the rest of the world out of "The Cuban War" and the nuclear nightmare it would've entailed. Conversely, the memory of a feckless JFK is almost universally despised.
Is that how it really happened though? Assigned to cover a seemingly innocuous murder of a veteran, Carl is surprised to find his story killed. When he looks into why, events begin to snowball and before he knows it he's on the trail of a mystery. Is JFK still alive? What secrets was the veteran hiding? The only help he seems to be able to count on is a reporter visiting from the London Times. But can he trust her?
Mr Dubois has crafted a thoroughly satisfying alternate-history mystery. The characters are richly detailed, and the landscape is frighteningly believable. Best of all-- the way he wraps it all up seems to be completely satisfying. The only complaint I have is HEY! I have to sleep sometimes! Because this one is hard to put down.
