United States of Japan
Ratings31
Average rating3.5
I don't rate or review many books here on Goodreads, but I was so excited to read this book. Man in The High Castle is one of my favorite books and this sounded like it was going to be similar but also with giant mechs. Just look at the covers to all the books in the series, it's got be full of action with lots of mech fights. Don't let this cover fool you, if you are looking for books with mechs as the center, this isn't it. I enjoyed the book because yes, it's like Man in The High Castle but I was distracted as I awaited the mech fights. There are a few mech fights in the books, but those parts are very lack-luster and boring compared to what I expected or what this could have been. I don't plan on reading the next two books simply because I felt misled with this one. If you are going to read this book, ignore the idea of mechs all together and enjoy the story.
An alternate reality story, what if Japan was able to step into America (with the movie, Midway soon to be shown, this was a timely, what if............)
So we all know what happened in World War II, Allies won against the Axis, but what if the Axis forces won against the Allies, this novel clearly shows the result, there have been stories about the Third Reich winning, but this one touches on the war in the Pacific, wherein the small nation of Japan, was able to carve it's own empire and it reaches as far as the United States of America, history has shown how brutal both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan to their prisoners, or those they deem inferior, it was like reading my history lessons, except English is not the 2nd language of the world, but Nihongo, every detail of inhumane acts, every movement of their upper echelon, terrifyingly accurate, we never ever want to go back to those barbaric times, and I hope even if this is just a superbly researched and written novel, those things REALLY DID HAPPEN!!!
Astounding how both states Germany and Japan, was almost able to conquer all it aspired to, and how small their nations was compared to their neighboring countries.........
Mr. Tieryas, I hope a lot of people read this work of yours, truly a fine and praise worthy novel........
This was a tough but fascinating mecha ride into an alternate history hell. Could this happen in our timeline?
Taken individually, Akiko and Beniko might be considered mildly interesting. However, the real magic happens when they interact with each other, breaking each other down to the barest bones of their beliefs and ideologies before building each other up again. It doesn???t seem that way at first, given how angry they both are at the world and at each other, but that is precisely what happens: Akiko challenges Beniko???s passivity, while Beniko pokes holes in Akiko???s ideology. That, I think, is the best part about this novel: how these two characters play off each other in a way that furthers both their character development and the plot. I find myself wishing that there are more relationships like theirs in fiction: relationships that are (far) less about romance, but more about the unlikeliest partnerships working out in such a way that both characters grow.
Full review here: http://wp.me/p21txV-u4
Heavily influenced by Man in a High Castle, but not to its detriment. It was a very nilhistic story; the main characters purported a loyalty to either the Emperor or to their own code of ethics, but ultimately meaningless and futile. Kept me interested, but left me unsatisfied