SEVERUSMAX
Benevolent Master
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Posts
- 28,995
Yes, this is my book review page.
When The Almond Tree Blossoms by David Aikman is the first review.
Written in 1993, it has some aspects that are distinctly partisan and may disturb more liberal readers. In particular, it implies that radical left-wing elements would gladly seize power by force in the event of a national crisis, as has already happened in the now-alternate history of this story's plot. It also suggests that bilateral arms-reduction treaties weaken the US militarily, as do cutbacks. I'm more skeptical about the first assertion than about the second.
The protagonist is Douglas Richfield, a mid-level bureaucrat in New York City and an increasingly jaded member of the ruling People's Movement, the Maoist-dominated one-party state that controls much of the country. His previous idealism and adherence to the regime's "progressive" ideology has dissipated in the harsh reality of life under a Marxist-Leninist police state.
Meanwhile, far from finished, the more conservative and moderate political elements have united under a Western-based rump Federal Government whose supporters call themselves "Constitutionalists". While not recognized by many foreign powers, the "Connies", as they are nicknamed, have the advantage of the allegiance of much of the regular U.S. armed forces. They also have 3 Ohio-class missile boats, each with 24 SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles).
This situation comes to a head when Richfield runs into a leading Constitutionalist operative in Manhattan named Rachel Silverstein and witnesses the killing of another Constitutionalist, a naval intelligence officer named Daniel Marcus. Marcus holds strategic secrets connected to the Almond Project, the code name for the submarine flotilla program.
His indirect involvement gets Richfield caught between Rachel and the People's Movement's Russian allies, in a web of spy games that often proves that the amateur spy is in over his head. He is believably human, which is a strong point of the story.
If you can suspend disbelief long enough to accept the premise of this parallel world where the American Left seeks to crush dissent by force (and realistically fumbles at it plenty of times), it's quite an intriguing and informative story. For anyone who wants a glimpse at a dystopian America, it's a worthwhile take at it. Especially given the prevalence of stories which present a rightist police state. It presents a counterview, as it were.
Still, it's bound to be controversial with a lot of readers, as it scarcely attempts to disguise its conservative bias.
As a Libertarian, I find parts of it compelling and other parts less easy to swallow (particularly a friendly Chinese government). And if the Left ever were to stage a violent uprising against the US Government, this is perhaps a conceivable portrait of the America that would emerge. I also find the pro-Constitutionalist sympathies of the Canadian government amusing, given the usual stereotype of Canada as being leftist.
When The Almond Tree Blossoms by David Aikman is the first review.
Written in 1993, it has some aspects that are distinctly partisan and may disturb more liberal readers. In particular, it implies that radical left-wing elements would gladly seize power by force in the event of a national crisis, as has already happened in the now-alternate history of this story's plot. It also suggests that bilateral arms-reduction treaties weaken the US militarily, as do cutbacks. I'm more skeptical about the first assertion than about the second.
The protagonist is Douglas Richfield, a mid-level bureaucrat in New York City and an increasingly jaded member of the ruling People's Movement, the Maoist-dominated one-party state that controls much of the country. His previous idealism and adherence to the regime's "progressive" ideology has dissipated in the harsh reality of life under a Marxist-Leninist police state.
Meanwhile, far from finished, the more conservative and moderate political elements have united under a Western-based rump Federal Government whose supporters call themselves "Constitutionalists". While not recognized by many foreign powers, the "Connies", as they are nicknamed, have the advantage of the allegiance of much of the regular U.S. armed forces. They also have 3 Ohio-class missile boats, each with 24 SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles).
This situation comes to a head when Richfield runs into a leading Constitutionalist operative in Manhattan named Rachel Silverstein and witnesses the killing of another Constitutionalist, a naval intelligence officer named Daniel Marcus. Marcus holds strategic secrets connected to the Almond Project, the code name for the submarine flotilla program.
His indirect involvement gets Richfield caught between Rachel and the People's Movement's Russian allies, in a web of spy games that often proves that the amateur spy is in over his head. He is believably human, which is a strong point of the story.
If you can suspend disbelief long enough to accept the premise of this parallel world where the American Left seeks to crush dissent by force (and realistically fumbles at it plenty of times), it's quite an intriguing and informative story. For anyone who wants a glimpse at a dystopian America, it's a worthwhile take at it. Especially given the prevalence of stories which present a rightist police state. It presents a counterview, as it were.
Still, it's bound to be controversial with a lot of readers, as it scarcely attempts to disguise its conservative bias.
As a Libertarian, I find parts of it compelling and other parts less easy to swallow (particularly a friendly Chinese government). And if the Left ever were to stage a violent uprising against the US Government, this is perhaps a conceivable portrait of the America that would emerge. I also find the pro-Constitutionalist sympathies of the Canadian government amusing, given the usual stereotype of Canada as being leftist.
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