It’s not just because of High Castle, of course: The Second World War remains a defining event of the last century and is cast as the Good War, the ultimate battle between Good and Evil. So it’s no wonder that writers continually return to this subject to find new areas to explore.

We follow Ishimura – who is a well-drawn character not without his own faults and a past – through a richly detailed universe that pays homage in its own way to such works by Philip K. Dick as The Man in the High Castle and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Indeed, the video game that Ishimura spends the much of the novel hunting is much like The Grasshopper Lies Heavy from High Castle as it depicts another reality where the Axis lost the war and shows how fluid our reality can be. Comparisons between High Castle and the United States of Japan seem almost inevitable. I don’t find this troublesome as these are deftly handled and are mixed in with other references such as the giant mecha who regularly stomp through anime.
I enjoyed reading United States of Japan. It is a particularly well-written and rewarding exploration of an aspect of history, which like the best of this particular genre, uses fiction to reveal fact, which as mentioned earlier, some would prefer to ignore and where the shoe is definitely put on the other foot. Heartily recommended.
What’s Next?
Next month, I’ll have my review of the first book in paperback of Harry Turtledove’s Hot War Series, Bombs Away. After that, I will be reviewing the latest instalment in Charles Stross’ Laundry Files series, The Annihilation Score. Next, I have my review of a trifecta of Robert Conroy books: 1882: Custer in Chains, Germanica, and Red Inferno: 1945. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, you can purchase Elvis Saves JFK! for just 99 cents and War Plan Crimson, A Novel of Alternate History, for $2.99 and now The Key to My Heart, also $2.99 (all are free to preview). All books -- which are already on Smashword's premium distribution list -- are also available through such fine on-line retailers such as Sony, Chapters Indigo, Barnes & Noble and Apple's iTunes Store. Thanks.
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