Back

reviewed Fatherland by Robert Harris

Robert Harris: Fatherland (1993, HarperPaperbacks) 5 stars

What if the nazis had won ?

5 stars

Of course, when the scenario involves a different world in which the nazis won, one probably thinks about the novel "Man in the high castle" from Philip K Dick. Or maybe not, I don't know, I think it's a classic.

There are two strong points in this novel. First, the plot itself which grows in intensity until it reaches its peak, both in suspense and emotion. By the way, please don't read the book's description in other versions of this book on Bookwyrm. It very very very stupidly spoils the entirety of the plot in 2 sentences. I'm glad I avoided it at first.

Second, you get to watch a world ruled by nazis, and it is very much believable and well thought out. You get to watch power struggles between different branches of the administration, you get to watch a society triumphing in brute force and at the same time crushed by its own system. And you almost get the feeling that this is normal, until you are heavily reminded, much like the protagonist, that it is everything but.

Definitely an excellent sci-fi novel, and definitely different from "Man in the high castle", you'll enjoy them for completely different reasons.