[.ca] 1945: A Novel (ISBN 0345494792)

Another great "what if.":
This is Conroy's third novel of alternate history following "1901" and "1862." As before, taking a pivotal moment in history and playing "what if" forms the basis for this story. This time, it's the twist that Japan's surrender after the 2nd atomic bombing is hijacked by the Japanese military who cling to the code of Bushido and therefore can't surrender. This leads to a prolongation of the Pacific theater of WW II and continuing American involvement and deaths. Conroy takes this to the logical next step and using historical research on the planned invasion of Japan, imagines what could have happened from the points of view of the average American soldier, from the President's perspective, from the view of a Japanese-American soldier sent to spy and from the side of the Japanese as well. It is a well thoughtout and realistic story of the war that never was. It took a little while to get into this book but once I did, it was hard to put down. The characters are well developed and believable and the use of real people (which you can't get around in an alternate history) is well-researched, consistent with what's known of them, and therefore also believable. One thing I'd like to see Conroy do is continue these stories and take them further along. What may have changed in the world as a result of this one event being different (like the alternate history master, Turtledove, has done) is something to explore as the climax kind of leaves events hanging and asks another big "what if" or "what now." Maybe this is his plan with this novel as it kind of leaves us with a peace but with China, Russia/the Soviet Union, and the United States in much different shape than the real end of WW II. Will there be a cold war or is the Soviet Union now doomed as it extended itself too far? How will the Chinese communists do - will they take over most of Asia and is Japan now at risk from them? What of the Americans who are now quite war weary and have lost even larger numbers of men? Will they come to Japan's aid if China comes that way? If I can encourage Mr. Conroy to pursue this, he'll have an enthusiatic reader ready to devour the next novel. However, if nothing further comes, this is still a very good stand-alone alternate history. I'm now wondering what the next pivotal event that doesn't happen will be. Maybe "1914" and Archduke Ferdinand isn't assasinated. Hmmm.