Colonization:
Aftershocks marks the end of Harry Turtledove’s seven book saga
about an alien invasion during World War II which began in Worldwar:
In the Balance. Set in the mid-1960’s, Aftershocks
manages to tie together several loose threads from the two earlier novels in
the Colonization series as well as a few holdovers from the original
Worldwar series. However,
Turtledove leaves plenty of room for future novels in the series as the
humans and the Race attempt to live together in peace while trying to gain
the upper hand.
Turtledove
reveals the answers to many political questions in Aftershocks, and
readers will discover the true culprits behind the attacks on the colony
fleet and Australia.
Although Turtledove offers the mission of the Lewis & Clark, the
ship launched to the asteroid belt in Colonization:
Second Contact, he does so in a manner which leaves the reader
desiring more information.
On
the personal front, many situations are changed, frequently in startling
ways. Several
of the younger characters get married, although not necessarily to the
people who would seem the most likely prospect, while older characters
become accountable for their actions as far back as Worldwar:
In the Balance. These denouements allow Turtledove to reintroduce
characters who have not made appearance in several books, tying current
events to the past and giving his world a more cohesive flavor.
Turtledove also manages to tie several plot threads together,
resulting in the appearance, but not necessarily the reality, of fewer major
storylines.
A
few episodes seem a little rushed, which does seem strange coming at the end
of such a lengthy sequence, but fleshing them out more would not necessarily
add to the story Turtledove is telling.
After
so many books, many of Turtledove’s characters are so familiar to the
reader that there a few surprises in their attitudes or reactions to events.
Nevertheless, the situations Turtledove places those characters in
retain the ability to surprise and Aftershocks contains several plot
twists which seem logical in retrospect, but were not telegraphed until they
are revealed.
Turtledove
manages his large cast well, allowing him to portray different views of the
political situation as well as different sides of his characters.
Perhaps the character with the most change is Rance Auerbach, who is
shown reasserting his independence from Penny Summers and regaining control
of his destiny while he tries to atone for some of his less savory moments.
Repentance isn’t limited to humans, however, and Rance’s former
associate Gorppet, a ginger-using male of the race, continues to demonstrate
his potential in a new position in Poland.
The
world depicted in Colonization:
Aftershocks remains a world in strife with various factions
working with an against each other as expedience demands, but at the same
time, the novel is filled with hope as the belligerents seem no longer to be
as willing to go to war as quickly as in earlier books, preferring to
resolve their conflicts by means of diplomacy or blackmail.
Senior Researcher Ttomalss’s interest in human affairs also
provides cause for hope.
History,
of course, does not tie up neatly, and neither does Aftershocks.
While the book is a successful and fitting conclusion to the
individuals’ various storylines, it leaves room for further exploration of
the political and scientific changes which will occur in this world in the
coming years.
Should Turtledove deign to write more tales of the Race, he has left
plenty of room for his explorations to continue.
