JOE STEELE by Harry Turtledove

Narrated by Richard Poe

     Communist Dictator in the White House

No, that is not today’s headline from the Drudge Report—it is the idea behind this new Harry Turtledove novel.

Count Your Blessings that the slow march of Progressivism driving the US of A into socialism didn’t begin with a full-blown communist in the White House. Of course, contemplating current events it may end that way.

Joe Steele relates what history might have been like if Joseph Stalin’s family had emigrated to America and Trotsky retained control of Russia. The course of WWII is noticeably affected, of course, but the most significant differences are in the USA. This can, and should, be read as a cautionary tale, warning US citizens to stick to the constitution and not to allow a strong leader to take control. Once a dictator gets to be in charge, he stays in charge.

The characterization is one-dimensional and not very engaging. I found the plot to be the driving force in this novel. The idea of “what if” applied to American history provides sufficient interest to keep things moving.

So far this book is not part of a series, and that is OK by me. Harry Turtledove’s best books are stand-alone novels: The Guns of the South, Ruled Britannia, and In the Presence of Mine Enemies. I would also include How Few Remain in the list even though it is a precursor to—but not necessarily a part of—The Great War series.

A common element in these Alternate History stories is that no matter how bad is the present, any imagined alternative would be much worse. Maybe it is easier to write such pessimistic  stories than it would be to imagine a better turn of events. The best element of an alternate history is that it forces you to reevaluate the currents of the past and the recapitulation of past events, in a slightly modified form, and doing that grants greater understanding of actual events. Those who don’t learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.  Those who don’t read alternate history are doomed to repetitious boredom.

Richard Poe delivers a fine effort of narration. Not as dramatic a reading as some of my favorite performers but a solid rendering nonetheless of a novel with a cast of many characters. If you are fond of the reading talents of Richard Poe I recommend John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, also voiced by Poe.