What if WWII had not been won by the allies? Amazon prime tickles our imagination in a great series called “The Man in the High Castle.” Season one is on Amazon prime now and I am addicted to the show. I can’t come up for air. I am watching the Tech game and watching and listening to “The Man in the High Castle.” I am on episode 7.
What really comes to mind is freedom and how fragile freedom really is. I can’t possibly not think about the sacrifices my parents’ generation made to guarantee our freedom.
This series really gives a good picture of how it all could have been. What if America were divided into 2 nations? What if Japan and Germany ruled? How would our lives be different today, especially under the WWII regimes?
Addendum: I am finished the series. What a scary show. Please note, the flag is from the series, not from me.
The point of the post, which obviously is not being picked up, is that our freedom is very fragile and often taken for granted by Americans–those of us who have it. Were it not for the sacrifices of many, especially from the Greatest Generation, we would not have our freedom. “The Man in the High Castle” is just one story of what our lives might be like were it not for those from the Greatest Generation.
I think you could make this story work just as well without the desecration of the American Flag. I’d be much obliged if you’d take it down.
I will do no such thing. That flag picture is from the series I am discussing. It is a freaking picture….not a flag. I have desecrated nothing.
Agreed with Moon, its an image from a show..this culture of over sensitivity has to stop
Good show. Better book. Read it a couple of years ago.
Did you binge the show? I did.
@Moon-howler
Not a full-on binge. More like a series of mini-binges. Between work and home, I tend to read more than watch. Right now I’m reading an excellent historical examination of the individual Red Army soldier, during WW2, “Ivan’s War”. When I do watch TV, I lean more toward historical documentary, but that is not to say I don’t find time for “The Walking Dead” each week, and maybe 2 or 3 episodes of whatever series has grabbed my attention. Longmire, Justified, Breaking Bad and Hell on Wheels and Narcos were some that did. Lost interest in House of Cards last season. Daredevil too, as I am a Vincent D’onofrio fan.
I have really not dabbled too much in the alternative history genre. I continue to enjoy the Manhattan sequel. That is not alternative though…or at least I don’t think it is.
Alternate histories are always fascinating. I have a book (forget the title at the moment) where Stonewall Jackson did not die at Chancellorsville, and was there at Gettysburg which became a Southern victory…and in 1865, the CSA was the victor. Haven’t seen the show as I have not particularly liked modern adaptions of Philip K. Dick’s works. Bit of old school I be 🙂
RB – an even more exotic alternate history (and sci-fi) work is Henry Turtledove’s “Guns of the South”. The cover art has the famous Brady picture of General Lee on the back porch of the Franklin Street residence re-touched to show him holding an AK-47.
The premise is that in the 1970s or 80s, the Apartheid government of South Africa, seeing its international support down to near zero and realizing that they cannot sustain their racially repressive regime, decides to alter history through time travel. Their idea is to support the Confederacy to ensure that America is divided in the 20th Century and that there is at least one other racially based government They set up a depot in North Carolina and start traveling back to the 1860s to supply Kalshnikovs to the Army of Northern Virginia. This all occurs in 1864, just before the Wilderness campaign kicks off. Soon Jeb Stuart gives up his LeMatt revolver in favor of the AK, and Lee wins a decisive engagement near Gilbert’s Corner. The North surrenders, commissioners (Lee and Grant) are appointed by the two sides to oversee plebiscites in Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri as to which way those states want to go, and the South becomes independent. What the South Africans fail to consider is the insight and integrity of Lee, who later succeeds Davis as President of the Confederacy and who sniffs out their intentions.
It’s a good page turner, but what I particularly liked about it is that Turtledove takes the time to invest in some very good exposition about the inner nature of personalities like Lee, Grant and Lincoln by putting them in these counter-factual settings. He also is careful with his references to actual historic events.
Turtledove’s later books are even better. He has a series that starts with a Southern secession.
The series starts with this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Few_Remain
He continues the alternative history with these titles.
http://turtledove.wikia.com/wiki/Southern_Victory
I guess it’s the History student in me, but I never much cared for alternative histories. Kinda like a veteran tends to be very critical of Hollywood war movies, in that they can’t depart very much from reality, to be enjoyed. I guess it’s a matter of taste. I did enjoy S.M. Stirling’s Nantucket Series, which involved a mysterious event propelling the island of Nantucket, along with the USCG 3-masted steel sailing ship “Eagle” back to 1250 BC. Possessing some modern technology, and technological and historical knowhow, the islanders create a new world in the bronze age.
I like historical fiction. I had never read alternative history. I didn’t think I would like it.
@Scout
@Cargosquid
Many thanks for the recommendations!