Second Contact (Colonization, Book 1) 
asked by scoobie on November 20, 2006 6:14 PM
Harry Turtledove pays tribute to pulp science fiction, combining a favorite plot--invasion by technologically superior aliens--with an alternate history of WWII and its aftermath. His Worldwar Series began the story when a fleet of lizard-like aliens arrived to conquer Earth in May 1942. It ended in 1945 with a negotiated peace between the Race, the nuclear powers (the Reich, the USSR, and the USA), and the much-weakened Britain and Japan.
Colonization: Second Contact continues the saga, but you need not read the previous series to enjoy it. When the colonists arrive in 1962, they're unprepared for a half-conquered world. After several of their ships are destroyed by a nuclear missile of mysterious origin, they accuse the conquest forces of incompetence. Muslims in the conquered Middle East are staging an Intifada, the Chinese Communists continue guerrilla warfare against the invaders, and everyone's smuggling ginger, which is powerfully addictive among the Race and has unanticipated effects on the female colonists.
Turtledove's cast of characters includes sharply drawn alien soldiers and civilians as well as a mix of convincing historical and fictional humans from all over the world. He covers all the sixties issues: generational conflict, the drug culture, racial inequality, the threat of atomic apocalypse, and the frustration of soldiers in an unwinnable war. If you enjoy alternate history and old B movies, this book's for you. --Nona Vero
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If you've finished the World War Series (4 books) this is the first book of the series that is the follow up, starting roughly 20 years later. Although you can enjoy the story if you simply start with Colonization, you will enjoy it more if you start from the beginning, with the book, World War-In the Balance. Very interesting writing. If you like sci-fi + history, this is the author for you!
reviewed by nutshell on November 29, 2006 6:38 AM
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It is 15 years after the end of an alternative WORLDWAR II, with the Axis and Allies having combined forces to help force a stalemate against an invading conquering fleet consisting of male reptilian aliens with advanced technology but limited resources; and with a 2nd wave of aliens arriving as part of a colonization fleet of 80-100 million males and females, who expected to find a subdued planet, but end up finding it is anything else but.
Most of the characters who lived thru the first set of 4 books return in sometimes surprisingly different roles.
This book takes on a more "cold war" flavor, with spying, insurgencies, drug-trading, and other underhanded tactics taking the place of the all-out war described in the previous books.
I noticed the three COLONIZATION SERIES books are slightly larger than the four WORLDWAR SERIES books - about 600 paperback pages vs. 580. However, the same format is followed, with 20 chapters, containing about 6 passages each... it is this consistant format that allows Mr. Turtledove to tirelessly crank out the text to fill these series. It is a true gift that allows him to do this, and still keep things different and interesting enough to keep our attention through this marathon series.
Most of the characters who lived thru the first set of 4 books return in sometimes surprisingly different roles.
This book takes on a more "cold war" flavor, with spying, insurgencies, drug-trading, and other underhanded tactics taking the place of the all-out war described in the previous books.
I noticed the three COLONIZATION SERIES books are slightly larger than the four WORLDWAR SERIES books - about 600 paperback pages vs. 580. However, the same format is followed, with 20 chapters, containing about 6 passages each... it is this consistant format that allows Mr. Turtledove to tirelessly crank out the text to fill these series. It is a true gift that allows him to do this, and still keep things different and interesting enough to keep our attention through this marathon series.
reviewed by freedrink on November 29, 2006 7:46 AM
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2nd Contact continues to be fascinating reading. Characters are round and well-developed. The plot is intriguing, and you are eager to get to the next page to find out what next happens. This is not simply a repeat of the previous subseries. There is much new here, with the arrival of the colonists and there seeing things anew. Now there is a cultural divide between colonists and conquerors; those who have just gotten to Earth, and those who have adapted over 20 years to a very alien culture (from the Lizard perspective). It puts me in mind of much the same experience that a 3rd Culture Kid, one who grows up in a foreign country, experiences as they try to determine who and what they are. This is accentuated with the introduction of Kassquit, a human child raised on the orbiting Lizard ship. And just for fun, there are a number of new creatures introduced as well, as Lizard plants, livestock, and pets begin to wreck havoc with the indigenous environment of Earth.
Yet there are many things missing here. The Muslims become a force to be reckoned with, as they stage protests with the Ayotollah. But now that there is more use of 2/3rds world people than just the Chinese, Turtledove seems to launch into stereotypes, with the Muslims only as violent attackers. Yes, they probably would attack if Allah was insulted in the ways that the Lizards do. But there is more to their culture than just attacking. There is a huge opportunity to comment on the similarity between cubic Lizard places of worship and that of the Ka'ba- but the opportunity is not used. And though Muslims and Jews are prominently discussed, and their reactions to religious persecution by the Lizards, there is little to no discussion of the Christian responses. What happened to the Christians? Although the Pope was previously killed in the bombing of Rome, the Catholic church has long had mechanisms set up to replace Popes. But there is no mention of him, or the Catholic church. Further, a good 40% of Christendom is not Catholic, and in the 60's, about 45% of Christendom lived in the 2/3rds world, under the control of the Lizards. Yet, as is typical of science fiction, religion is rarely discussed, and if it is, Christianity is usually forgotten.
A couple things make it more difficult to read this work, because of the plot choices that Turtledove made. It is sad, and unfortunate, the choices Penny and Rance evidently have made, considering their beautiful relationship at the end of the last book. But it is also gritty reality, on the bitterness that develops in people over time. It is also uncomfortable to see rising anti-Semitism in Britain with a unified Reich next door. On this point, I question how accurate Turtledove's presentation is, and if Britain would truly become progressively more anti-Jewish given these circumstances.
Yet there are many things missing here. The Muslims become a force to be reckoned with, as they stage protests with the Ayotollah. But now that there is more use of 2/3rds world people than just the Chinese, Turtledove seems to launch into stereotypes, with the Muslims only as violent attackers. Yes, they probably would attack if Allah was insulted in the ways that the Lizards do. But there is more to their culture than just attacking. There is a huge opportunity to comment on the similarity between cubic Lizard places of worship and that of the Ka'ba- but the opportunity is not used. And though Muslims and Jews are prominently discussed, and their reactions to religious persecution by the Lizards, there is little to no discussion of the Christian responses. What happened to the Christians? Although the Pope was previously killed in the bombing of Rome, the Catholic church has long had mechanisms set up to replace Popes. But there is no mention of him, or the Catholic church. Further, a good 40% of Christendom is not Catholic, and in the 60's, about 45% of Christendom lived in the 2/3rds world, under the control of the Lizards. Yet, as is typical of science fiction, religion is rarely discussed, and if it is, Christianity is usually forgotten.
A couple things make it more difficult to read this work, because of the plot choices that Turtledove made. It is sad, and unfortunate, the choices Penny and Rance evidently have made, considering their beautiful relationship at the end of the last book. But it is also gritty reality, on the bitterness that develops in people over time. It is also uncomfortable to see rising anti-Semitism in Britain with a unified Reich next door. On this point, I question how accurate Turtledove's presentation is, and if Britain would truly become progressively more anti-Jewish given these circumstances.
reviewed by blueoasis on November 29, 2006 10:44 AM