In the first volume of his Axis of Time trilogy, Weapons Of Choice, John Birmingham threw the ultimate monkeywrench into history — a naval task force from the 21st Century finds itself transported into the middle of World War II. While the bulk of the new technology found its way in to the hands of the Allies, not all of it did; we learn very quickly in that first volume that the Japanese and the Soviets have laid their hands on the ships from the future which bring not only technology, but knowledge of how history will turn out unless they act to change it. As that first volume ended, the Axis powers were taking steps to make sure history turned out quite differently.
The action in Birmingham’s second volume, Designated Targets, picks up about six months after the end of the first book. The Germans and Soviets have entered into an uneasy truce in the East and spent much of their time rooting out those who would betray them in the years to come, such as Nikita Krushchev, who we find being tortured in a KGB prison. Freed from fighting in the East, the Germans are quickly preparing for Operation Sea Dragon, the invasion of the United Kingdom.
The Japanese, meanwhile, launch a massive invasion of Northern Australia which attracts the attention, and the resoucrces, of the 21st Century forces. Quite soon, though, it becomes clear that the Australian campaign is merely a diversion for Admiral Yamamoto’s real target — Hawaii.
The book also continues with the theme of the uneasy adjustments between Americans of the 1940s and their 21st Century counterparts. The obvious cultural clashes are evident — from styles of dress to the role of women and minorities — but under the surface the cost that Admiral Kolhammer and the rest of the Multinational Forces have paid for fighting against twenty years of unending jihad is quite apparent.
If anything, this book is even more enjoyable than the first volume and I am eagerly awaiting the release of the final volume of the trilogy, Final Impact. Unfortunately, that means waiting until February.
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