Marching Through Georgia (novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marching Through Georgia is the first of three books of S.M. Stirling's Alternate history series, The Domination.
The majority of the book focuses on Eric Von Shrakenberg, who leads a Draka military unit (Century A) in the opening stages of the Draka attack on Nazi Germany.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
The book also highlights the following characters and subplots:
Johanna Von Shrakenberg: Eric's younger sister, a fighter pilot.
Karl Von Shrakenberg: Eric's father, Arch-Strategos in the War Directorate (similar to the Supreme General Staff), based in the Draka capital city of Archona. Karl is a veteran of this timeline's World War I.
William Dreiser: American journalist who follows Eric over the course of several months, from peacetime to combat. Similarities with the famous American journalist William L. Shirer appear intentional.
Felix Hoth: Nazi SS officer in command of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler unit which combats Century A.
Sofie Nixon: 'Comtech' in Eric's unit. The two develop an affection for each other as the story progresses.
The novel also attempts to educate the reader on the background of the Domination. Government, military, social structures, and the historical development of the Draka are all outlined here.
Note: The paperback edition contains the full version of Stirling's story. A hardcover version containing all three books of the trilogy was released, however it is abridged.
[edit] The Draka World In 1942
The Eurasian War, which began on September 1, 1939 with Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland, is in its third year. The Soviet Union, which existed as a "Hermit Kingdom" after two devastating civil wars and the loss of half its central Asian territory to the Domination, has been utterly crushed by Germany, with Stalin killed, and Germany extended into the Urals and the Caucusus. A military junta under Marshall Timonshenko exists as a rump Siberian state. The USA, which composes all of North America in this TL, is completely engaged with Japan after the complete destruction of its Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor to a sneak attack, as well as losing the Philippines, Hawaii (which are both U.S. states) and the Panama Canal Zone. Britain is blockaded by German U-Boats. South America is divided into the Empire of Brazil (which controls Bolivia, Uruguay, and Paraguay), Argentina, Chile, and the Republic of Gran Colombia (Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador). A large chunk of Australaisia (OTL's Australia and New Zealand) are occupied by the Japanese. This geo-political map can be seen as one of S.M. Stirling's habits of dividing the globe between fewer and fewer powers in the Draka series.
[edit] The Domination In 1942
The Domination of the Draka in 1942 is a slave-based Empire that controls all of Africa, the Middle East, half of Russian Central Asia, Afghanistan, Persia, Turkey,Italy, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Tibet, and half of China. The provinces in Africa are well pacified; all native languages are extinct, replaced by the Draka dialect of English (which is descended from the American South, and Northern Europe). Free speech exists for the Draka themselves, but fundamental criticism of the slavery (referred to by the Domination as "serfdom" instead) is forbidden.
[edit] Plot
Eric von Schrakenberg, the commander of Century A, leads an airdrop into German occupied Georgia. Eric has been troubled as of late. Flashbacks tell of the death of a Circassian slave who died bearing his daughter. Eric arranged for his daughter, Anna, to be smuggled out of the country to the USA. Century A, blaring Bantu battle cries, descend on "Village One." At the end of the story, Eric is confronted by members of the "Security Directorate" which acts as the Domination's secret police forces. They plan to arrest him for smuggling Anna out of the country. However, one of the two agents is gunned down by members of Century A, and the remaining Directorate agent is told to report the incident as "Friendly Fire."
Felix Hoth, a sadistic member of the SS, spend the rest of the novel trying (in vain) to hold off Century A, which comes close to defeat, but triumphs in the end.
Bill Dreiser, an American war correspondent, (who is hoped will help ease tensions between the USA and the Domination through his reporting), is assigned to Century A.
Joanna von Schrakenberg, a fighter pilot, is shot down. She later joins a group of Russian partisans, and kills an NKVD agent when he assaults her.
Karl von Schrakenberg, an Arch-Strategos, has a tense relationship with his son at the start of the novel, is involved in the planning of the attack on Nazi Germany. He bears a wound from an Austrian shell from the Great War.
Archon Palme is the leader of the Domination. Wendell Wilkie is the president of the USA.
