It has only been a generation for the Native Americas behind the Mississipy wall of fog, and while they have achieved a high level of organization and done some amazing things. It is clear that after the war that unites the eastern united states in one nation, they will not be able to keep the white man at bay.
I base this on two things, first the alternate Civil War, if it has the same effect should create the same advances in technology that our civil war did. That means iron ships, ballons, and a big jump in population and organization with telegraph and so on. It also means the Gattling gun, the Winchester carbine and many other innovations.
Second the big influxes of immigrants from Europe should start and build up pressure to a desperate boil. We have seen that Peggy has forseen the fall of Nepoleon's Empire
Without the pressure of the war and starting where they are at how can the tribes no matter how well organized stand in the path of the United States Army?
I would like to see Harry Turtledove take a crack at this historical nut, given Card's preset conditions and the working out the unfolding of the war. From the end of the war take the story forward into the intrusion into the west, both across around and over the Mississippi, and in from the west coast.
Not that OSC is not a great writer, but I have read three alternate histories of the Civil war by Turtledove and instinctivly feel that he should be consulted in any alternate version that crops up! Perhaps in the blend of personalities and alternate powers the answer would emerge like a pheonix from flame.
For instance what if Sherman were the one who was elected president? And what if there was some power and pride in him for his given middle name Tucumsa? Might that be a bridge to the reds?
Still I think it should be done in two books, one Turtledove Style which spans the war, and then OSC taking up the story with the Crystal City Cast afterwards.
BC
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I'm not sure what year this is supposedly taking place in, but I think the figure Alvin Smith is based on was working much earlier than Lincoln. It's just an entirely different series. It's like how the parallels to actual Mormon history really aren't there. But I'm not really familiar with Turtledove's work.
I didn't see C.S. Lewis and Tolkien having conflicts over their fantasy worlds. I think.