2019 Dragon Award Finalist, Alternate History: "The World Asunder"

For the second time today, GREETINGS to all of my internet friends and neighbors, with extra hugs and kisses for those fellow-followers of the 2019 Dragon. And, if any of my family happen to have stopped by, I think we need to get two more dogs, one (at least) a black lab.



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The first book in the series, “Minds of Men,” was a finalist for the 2018 Dragon Award for Best Alternate History Novel. (Not only was it the first book in the series, it was also the first novel published by the author! Quite an accomplishment, for the first time at-bat.) Ezell has continued to produce high quality work, as evidenced by the selection of this work for the 2019 Dragon Award in the same category.

The character of Lina Sucherin was introduced in the first novel in a secondary and brief story-line. Portraying a WWII interrogator for the German Secret Police as a sympathetic character HAS to be a tough assignment, but by keeping a tight focus on Sucherin's personal motivations and needs, Ezell made it work. Now we see her story in full, and it's not a pretty one.

The story is set in the Soviet Occupation zone in Berlin, immediately after WWII. Picture every movie or newsreel you've ever seen of bombed out ruins, with dirty-faced, ragged, haggard people pawing through rubble, in search of anything of use, and you will have a good start on the setting. Although things HAVE recovered, somewhat, and there are no bombs or artillery rounds falling, life is all of the bad words, and hardly any of the good.

Sucherin is fortunate to have a job as a typist for the State (which is the only employer), and a little apartment, even if utilities aren't always available. Best of all, she has good friends who live across the hall: husband Rolland, his wife Isa, and their three daughters Ginette, Aleda, and Johanna. They represent all that she values in the world.

Apart from her affection for them, she is numb. Her history is closed off to her, as if it had been removed surgically, and the incision cauterized. Each day is a copy of the one before, without even any variances in the few food items available for purchase.

Focused solely on the need to keep her head down, and survive, her brain turned off for survival, Lina isn't aware of the Cold War escalating in her own city. The Soviets have decided to blockade West Berlin, and starve it into submission. In response, the Western forces initiate the Berlin Airlift, airplane after airplane descending into Templehof, Gatow, and Tegel air fields with loads of coal, food, medicine, and clothing.

It's the sound of the first transports that triggers Lina's fears that the bombing has started again, and shocks her mind into a re-start. She remembers: she has psychic powers; she last used them right after Berlin fell. She had killed a drunken Soviet soldier, to prevent him from raping two little girls in her charge, and murdering them all.

The day after her awakening, Lina comes home after work to find that the state police have taken away Rolland, while Isa and the girls hid. Isa is nearly helpless with shock, and Lina has to do the planning and organizing, with the help of the girls. They make the crossing over the border into the American zone, where Isa has a sister. And there, Lina makes several unpleasant discoveries. First, She finds that Emilia is married to an American intelligence officer, Col. Russel Connor. Second, Connor is interested in Rolland, but not out of altruistic or family reasons; Rolland is on the list of scientists formerly employed by the Nazi government who are sought by the Americans. Third, they will only try to extract Rolland if Lina agrees to help. Fourth, she is to handed into the care of Major Paul Rutherford, a former aviator, now serving in counter-intelligence.

And worst of all, Rutherford knows all about her psychic abilities, and plans to use them, and her, to accomplish the extraction.

That's the core story set-up, although there is much, much more. I leave the discovery of her adventures, torments, and conflicts as an exercise for the reader. You may anticipate losing sleep over this one.

I will, however address an extremely important plot device, the device central to the story, which has an unexpected impact on the romantic liaisons formed in the book. Specifically, the speed at which mature/lasting romantic liaisons can be formed.

The PURPOSE of a courting period is to discover the other person. You have to spend time with them in order to distinguish between attraction, which is fast and fairly common, and a determined commitment necessary for a healthy, mature relationship. Usually, that period of getting to know the other person takes months, or longer. And it is ESSENTIAL in Western culture, which doesn't accommodate arranged marriages.

But! Ezell's “Psyche of War” series postulates something closely akin to telepathy. It's not just thought transfers, though; there is a sharing of emotional states, and beliefs; it's a dreadfully intrusive act, if not voluntary. Hence, Lina avoids doing it, even after her powers return, out of respect for the others. However, Paul Rutherford, the American intelligence officer, not only opens his mind to her, he INSISTS that they maintain a continuous link, and as a side effect, they come to know each other, thoroughly.

And, having accomplished that in a very short period of time, they fall in love, and ...not spoiling further.

And it's LEGIT!

How do I know it's legit? Because Poul Anderson addressed the Very Same Issue of knowing another via telepathic communication, in his 1957 story, “Journey's End.” True, that one has a different ending, but it doesn't matter.
The essence is the same: via the type of communication Ezell describes, two people can come to know each other much faster than is possible with mundane forms of communication. For one thing, there is no hiding secrets, and no possibility of deceit. Each person, even if unwilling, brings nothing buy the truth to the communication. For another, the ever-important issue of trust is quickly laid to rest. Lina is instantly able to discern what Paul's intentions are toward her, and will encounter no surprise betrayals.

True, there are other elements necessary to the formation of a mature relationship, but the most important aspect has very little to do with the body; it's almost entirely a decision, a choice. And, while for the mundane world, bad choices can be made, because the proper evidence is hidden or ignored., that's simply not possible with the mind-to-mind connection in this series.

SO: the romance works, and I don't want to hear anyone whining that it isn't realistic. Got that?

This is only the first finalist I've read and reviewed in the Alternate History category. At first glance, my impression is that the field this year doesn't have quite the depth that it had in 2018, and the integrity and brilliance of Ezell's writing might very well result in the prize going to her. There could be some sleepers, though, and I'm surely not going to presume to crystal ball status.

But that flame-in-amber would look mighty nice, sitting on the dashboard of a helicopter.

Peace be on your household.