Without Warning by John Birmingham

[Hereintheusa]

Any fans of alternative history definitely have to pick up Birminghams new novel which poses the question as to how the world would react/cope if America suddenly ceased to exist.

It is 2003 and days before the Iraq war is due to start, without warning (hence the title) North America is hit by a huge energy wave which kills every living thing. The energy wave extends as far north as Seattle and as far south as Cuba but does not reach Gitmo. The only areas of the US unaffected are Seattle, Alaska, Hawaii and of course Gitmo.

This sets the stage for some very interesting political and social ramifications on a planet where the economic and military superpower no longer exists. Obviously with the American military deployed around the globe together with Americans living and working abroad, a couple of million Americans still survive.

As usual Birminghams action scenes are second to none but what really grabs me is just like with his Axis of Time trilogy he poses interesting social questions which not only grab your interest but make you think.

This is an excellent read and even if you are not a fan of alternative history it is a powerful book which I think will resonate with most Americans with a modicum of intelligence.

[Hereintheusa]

Im bumping this for all those people who keep harping on about how the world would be a better place without America.

[Hereintheusa]

Im sorry for bumping again and going against any forum etiquette but this book is just so darned good I want to make sure everyone gets a chance to know about it.

I have just finished reading this for a second time and the scene between the American General and Venezuelan General where the Venezuelan (who has just taken control of Cuba and sank a ship full of American civillians) says America is no longer a superpower and the reply is "no were something much worse".

It is a powerful scene I had goosebumps reading that and thought **** I really dont want to **** of these Americans.

BTW if you think the scene and hence the book is anti american you are very very wrong.

[snagswolf]

Sounds interesting. You mentioned an "Axis of Time trilogy". Should I read other books of his before this one in order to get a full effect?

[sgtmac_46]

I'll have to add it to my reading list.

[King Cantona]

Any fans of alternative history definitely have to pick up Birminghams new novel which poses the question as to how the world would react/cope if America suddenly ceased to exist.

It is 2003 and days before the Iraq war is due to start, without warning (hence the title) North America is hit by a huge energy wave which kills every living thing. The energy wave extends as far north as Seattle and as far south as Cuba but does not reach Gitmo. The only areas of the US unaffected are Seattle, Alaska, Hawaii and of course Gitmo.

This sets the stage for some very interesting political and social ramifications on a planet where the economic and military superpower no longer exists. Obviously with the American military deployed around the globe together with Americans living and working abroad, a couple of million Americans still survive.

As usual Birminghams action scenes are second to none but what really grabs me is just like with his Axis of Time trilogy he poses interesting social questions which not only grab your interest but make you think.

This is an excellent read and even if you are not a fan of alternative history it is a powerful book which I think will resonate with most Americans with a modicum of intelligence.

Sounds interesting and I will get it from Amazon......

[Hereintheusa]

Sounds interesting. You mentioned an "Axis of Time trilogy". Should I read other books of his before this one in order to get a full effect?

No need, it seems that Without Warning is set outside Birminghams Axis of Time universe.

I did start writing a brief synopsis of Axis of Time but Amazon can do it better


"United Nations battle group, clustered around the U.S.S. Hillary Clinton (named after "the most uncompromising wartime president in the history of the United States"), is tasked in the year 2021 with stopping ethnic cleansing by an Islamist regime in Indonesia. When an experiment goes horribly wrong on a special ship doing research on wormholes, most of the battle group is deposited in the middle of the U.S. fleet on its way to Midway in 1942. The WWII carriers and supporting vessels attack a Japanese Self-Defense Force ship, triggering devastating computer-operated defensive fire from the 21st-century fleet. While the action sequences are outstanding, this book really shines in depicting the cultural shock that both navies experience. The Clinton group reflects a multicultural society that finds the racist and sexist attitudes of 1942 America almost as repugnant as those of the Axis powers, while the mere thought of non-whites and women not just serving in uniform but holding command drives many Allied officers and civilian officials apoplectic. The author also subtly shows the ways in which 20-plus years of the War on Terrorism have changed our attitudes"

Again, what I find interesting is the political and sociological impact on the world of 1942. The Nazi regime obtain one of the boats and as a result discover they are going to lose the war, immediately they take steps to correct their mistakes and Hitler launches a huge cleansing of his command after discovering who was going to betray him.

Birmingham also looks at how the introduction of modern day items such as computers, ipods etc into 1940s America effects society. Elvis and Frank Sinatra songs get distributed to the public before they have even being created and then the whole thorny issue of who owns the patents copyright etc is discusses. LOL on the face of it not the most interesting sub plot but it makes you think and in the whole context of the book is actually quite fascinating.

[King Cantona]

I'll wait for the paperback...........

[Irish John]

I'll wait for the paperback...........

I'll wait for the movie.

[sgtmac_46]

I'll wait for the paperback........... Yeah, if it's not out in paperback, i'll wait until it is. I generally don't buy fiction in hardback.

[Lady Liberty]

It sounds like an interesting book.

Is the ending a good one?

[Hereintheusa]

It sounds like an interesting book.

Is the ending a good one?

Yes it is and sets up the next book in the trilogy quite nicely. There are a couple of subplots which are going to be carried over but you could read this as a stand alone book.

The most boring parts are those set in France (no surprise there) but as the book progresses you realise these are going to become important in the next book.

[snagswolf]

Yeah, if it's not out in paperback, i'll wait until it is. I generally don't buy fiction in hardback.
Any local libraries have it?

I'm on the waiting list at my library for it. Should get it in a few weeks.