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Caliphate
Demography is destiny. In the 22nd century European deathbed demographics have turned the continent over to the more fertile Moslems. Atheism in Europe has been exterminated. Homosexuals are hanged, stoned or crucified. Such Christians as remain are relegated to dhimmitude, a form of second class citizenship. They are denied arms, denied civil rights, denied a voice, and specially taxed via the Koranic yizya. Their sons are taken as conscripted soldiers while their daughters are subject to the depredations of the continent's new masters.
In that world, Petra, a German girl sold into prostitution as a slave at the age of nine to pay her family's yizya, dreams of escape. Unlike most girls of the day, Petra can read. And in her only real possession, her grandmother's diary, a diary detailing the fall of European civilization, Petra has learned of a magic place across the sea: America.
But it will take more than magic to free Petra and Europe from their bonds; it will take guns, superior technology, and a reborn spirit of freedom.
In that world, Petra, a German girl sold into prostitution as a slave at the age of nine to pay her family's yizya, dreams of escape. Unlike most girls of the day, Petra can read. And in her only real possession, her grandmother's diary, a diary detailing the fall of European civilization, Petra has learned of a magic place across the sea: America.
But it will take more than magic to free Petra and Europe from their bonds; it will take guns, superior technology, and a reborn spirit of freedom.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 26, 2019
You know those racist posts that your uncle shares on Facebook? This feels like one of those came to life and wrote a book.
The premise almost sounds interesting until you remember that it's there to push an extremist worldview (and possibly fulfill Tom Kratman's pedophilic sexual fantasies), and that no actual thought was put into a single aspect of anything here. A lot of Arab countries can barely hold themselves together, but apparently that's just to disguise their secret plan to conquer Europe once the Muslim immigrants outnumber the others (so about 700 years if the current rate holds up and if literally nothing changes. Which is not how statistics work at all). And Kratman's knowledge of Islam apparently comes from skimming the first few paragraphs of some Wikipedia pages and spending time on 4chan, because he doesn't seem to know what a dhimmi is beyond "scary foreign word."
I'd say it's impressive that the author can be this dumb and still know enough to read, but the prose of this book suggests he can't. He seems to follow a mantra of "Why use specific word when many vague word do gooder?" Every sentence felt like being kicked in the head by a small child throwing a tantrum.
I only read the free sample chapters on Amazon and I still paid too fucking much.
The premise almost sounds interesting until you remember that it's there to push an extremist worldview (and possibly fulfill Tom Kratman's pedophilic sexual fantasies), and that no actual thought was put into a single aspect of anything here. A lot of Arab countries can barely hold themselves together, but apparently that's just to disguise their secret plan to conquer Europe once the Muslim immigrants outnumber the others (so about 700 years if the current rate holds up and if literally nothing changes. Which is not how statistics work at all). And Kratman's knowledge of Islam apparently comes from skimming the first few paragraphs of some Wikipedia pages and spending time on 4chan, because he doesn't seem to know what a dhimmi is beyond "scary foreign word."
I'd say it's impressive that the author can be this dumb and still know enough to read, but the prose of this book suggests he can't. He seems to follow a mantra of "Why use specific word when many vague word do gooder?" Every sentence felt like being kicked in the head by a small child throwing a tantrum.
I only read the free sample chapters on Amazon and I still paid too fucking much.
January 15, 2012
For anyone who is thinking of reading this book, be advised that a healthy appreciation for racism, graphic and borderline graphic depictions of child rape and oh, a whole lot of racism, are necessary to get even part of the way through this novel. Beyond that, the writing is sloppy, flipping back and forth between third person and third person omniscient depending on whether or not the author felt the need to stop writing a novel and lecture us on the evils of Islam halfway through a scene. Characters will be musing on their fates and then launch into a lengthy description of things they have literally no way of knowing yet. I freely admit to dropping the book in disgust less than halfway through, but no one will ever be able to convince me that the second half makes up for the sheer ignorance and hatefulness of the first half. I had thought the idea of an alternate history/dystopia featuring an Islam world government was an interesting idea, but the author completely fails to treat the topic with anything like respect, and I have a hard time believing any research was done at all. And did I mention the frequent child rape? Forgetting all of this, it's still a badly written novel with wooden characters and very little in the way of compelling plot. Seriously, go read almost anything else instead and you'll be the better for it.
April 6, 2012
Tom discusses the book at some length in his responses to Amazon reviews, so I will regurgitate some of the thoughts. I will repay him by picking up the lunch tab the next time we meet up.
Tom intentionally sought to write a novel that would make you horrified, nauseated, and mess with your psychological assumptions. You're not supposed to feel better for having read it. Feelings of dread and inconvenient thoughts are the desired result.
He's not the monster he might appear from his work. Minor spoiler. When the troops in the Philippines are using portable DNA scanners to identify and then summarily execute the suicide bomber's family, I told him via e-mail I thought it was an awesome idea since it turned the tribal structure against the hostile locals.
"You're not supposed to think that part is a good idea."
As I've noted, Tom and I are products of the same regiment (the 502nd Infantry of the 101st Airborne), but we do look at things in slightly different ways.
Tom intentionally sought to write a novel that would make you horrified, nauseated, and mess with your psychological assumptions. You're not supposed to feel better for having read it. Feelings of dread and inconvenient thoughts are the desired result.
He's not the monster he might appear from his work. Minor spoiler. When the troops in the Philippines are using portable DNA scanners to identify and then summarily execute the suicide bomber's family, I told him via e-mail I thought it was an awesome idea since it turned the tribal structure against the hostile locals.
"You're not supposed to think that part is a good idea."
As I've noted, Tom and I are products of the same regiment (the 502nd Infantry of the 101st Airborne), but we do look at things in slightly different ways.
September 9, 2013
This is an extreme rightwing screed based on the proposition that allowing Muslim immigrants into Europe and permitting them to practice their Islamic faith inevitably results, not too distant future, in a theocratic Europe ruled by an Islamic Caliphate in which the Jews have been exterminated and the Christians turned into chattels whose children are seized and sold into slavery at the whim and fancy of their Muslim overlords.
Although well written from an action point of view, the entire scenario is implausible. The author would have done better to present this as an alternate history in which the Ottoman empire enjoyed a resurgence and conquered Europe so that Tsarist empire survived and the Taipings in China became the celestial empire of that Han. As it stands, the technological imbalance between the American empire and the incredibly backward Caliphate is hard to understand and given that this is an America that had no qualms in nuking the entire Middle East into oblivion, you have to wonder how exactly the Caliphate continued to hold off an invasion.
Very thin plot. Characters are largely stereotypes. Read only if you can overlook the overt ideological stance
Although well written from an action point of view, the entire scenario is implausible. The author would have done better to present this as an alternate history in which the Ottoman empire enjoyed a resurgence and conquered Europe so that Tsarist empire survived and the Taipings in China became the celestial empire of that Han. As it stands, the technological imbalance between the American empire and the incredibly backward Caliphate is hard to understand and given that this is an America that had no qualms in nuking the entire Middle East into oblivion, you have to wonder how exactly the Caliphate continued to hold off an invasion.
Very thin plot. Characters are largely stereotypes. Read only if you can overlook the overt ideological stance
December 6, 2021
An entertaining read set in a rather bleak near future (about 100 years from now) where radical Islam has basically conquered Europe and established a caliphate there. The background for this involved terrorists setting off nukes in American cities and the rise of a radical fascist party to office in the USA, led by essentially (nice play of names Tom) Pat Buchanan. The US, after Pat solidifies his reign of power, retaliates by nuking various Islamic states to radioactive dust; the refugees flood Europe and seize power there...
The story itself centers on three main characters: an American G.I. now spook; a young German girl sold into slavery; and her brother, also taken from home to become a Janissary for the Caliphate. This is not a story for anyone with a low trigger thresh hold and Kratman seems to take some pleasure in pushing buttons as well. The girl, Petra, was brutally raped at age 12 (by her step brother and friends) and then sold once again to a brothel. Lots of nasty sex scenes involving her...
Our main led, the G.I named Hamilton, after becoming a spook (after loosing a piece of his soul in a nasty war in the Philippines), has a mission. It seems the Caliphate is developing some really nasty virus to unleash on the USA and Hamilton is to go undercover to stop it before the US simply nukes the lab. Where Kratman pulls everything together is that Petra is 'working' in a castle close to the secret lab and her brother is stationed as part of the lab's security team...
Kratman can definitely write some taut prose and build tension with the best. I know this book has been panned for his supposed anti-islamic views (not to mention his thinly veiled attack on social welfare states), but I do not see him as some nasty racist or bigot. First, he is created a dystopia here with a radical fringe of Islam rising to power and all that entails; this Saudi Arabia on steroids. There are lunatic fringes to most religions after all. I may disagree with his views on the welfare state, but that is neither here nor there; he presents his views thoughtfully and basically tries to make the reader think.
I mentioned that this book has serious triggers; besides the gang rape of a little girl, we have slavery and sex slaves, horribly abusive people in power doing nasty things to other people. If you have a low threshold for such, stay far away from this one. If you are a John Ringo fan, however, you should check this one out. 3 disturbing stars!!
The story itself centers on three main characters: an American G.I. now spook; a young German girl sold into slavery; and her brother, also taken from home to become a Janissary for the Caliphate. This is not a story for anyone with a low trigger thresh hold and Kratman seems to take some pleasure in pushing buttons as well. The girl, Petra, was brutally raped at age 12 (by her step brother and friends) and then sold once again to a brothel. Lots of nasty sex scenes involving her...
Our main led, the G.I named Hamilton, after becoming a spook (after loosing a piece of his soul in a nasty war in the Philippines), has a mission. It seems the Caliphate is developing some really nasty virus to unleash on the USA and Hamilton is to go undercover to stop it before the US simply nukes the lab. Where Kratman pulls everything together is that Petra is 'working' in a castle close to the secret lab and her brother is stationed as part of the lab's security team...
Kratman can definitely write some taut prose and build tension with the best. I know this book has been panned for his supposed anti-islamic views (not to mention his thinly veiled attack on social welfare states), but I do not see him as some nasty racist or bigot. First, he is created a dystopia here with a radical fringe of Islam rising to power and all that entails; this Saudi Arabia on steroids. There are lunatic fringes to most religions after all. I may disagree with his views on the welfare state, but that is neither here nor there; he presents his views thoughtfully and basically tries to make the reader think.
I mentioned that this book has serious triggers; besides the gang rape of a little girl, we have slavery and sex slaves, horribly abusive people in power doing nasty things to other people. If you have a low threshold for such, stay far away from this one. If you are a John Ringo fan, however, you should check this one out. 3 disturbing stars!!
July 26, 2010
"Slavery is a part of Islam . . . Slavery is part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long as there is Islam." -- Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, author of the religious textbook Al Tawhid ("Monotheism") and senior Saudi cleric
Demography is destiny. By the 22nd century AD, as older non-Muslim European citizens die off and new Muslims are born of the more fertile Islamic European population, Europe has become an Islamic continent. Atheism has been exterminated in Europe; homosexuals are hanged, stoned, or crucified there. The relatively few Christians who remain in Europe are dhimmi, second-class citizens who are denied arms, civil rights, and a voice in the political process, and who are specifically taxed as specified by the Koranic yizya. Their sons are conscripted as Janissaries, their daughters to become slaves -- or unwilling prostitutes.
Petra, a German girl sold into prostitution at age nine to pay her family's yizya, longs to escape. Unlike most girls of the time, she can read -- and in her only real possession, her grandmother's diary detailing the fall of European civilization, she has learned of a marvelous far-away place: America. But it will take more than daydreaming to free her and Europe from their Islamic shackles: without guns, superior technology, and a reborn spirit of freedom, Europe cannot be freed.
Caliphate is one of a series of science-fiction novels by Tom Kratman -- the others are A Desert Called Peace (2007), Carnifex (2009), and The Lotus Eaters (2010) -- that detail the downfall of Old Earth and the rise of a new civilization on Nova Terra, a world accidentally discovered by a space probe that fell through a rent in spacetime that no one had realized was there, and returned back to Earth to report that a startlingly Earthlike world existed beyond the rift, perfect for colonization by Earth's teeming billions. In Caliphate, Kratman presents Earth's history from 2003 well into the beginning of the 22nd century, especially that portion of it that concerns Europe, gradually but relentlessly Islamicized by deathbed demographics, and America, which, in reaction to a nuclear strike on three American cities, has become militant and aggressive in establishing imperial boundaries around itself and defending its own, especially against any attempts at Islamic invasion. Whereas in the 22nd century Europe is on its knees, America has nuked the Middle East and Northern Africa into virtual oblivion, taken over Canada, expelled all Muslims from her territory (and killed off the ones who wouldn't go quietly), done the same for the Philippines, and established a pax Americana everywhere in the world save Europe, China, and Russia. John Hamilton, formerly a member of America's armed forces, now recruited as a spy and saboteur by America's intelligence agencies, is sent to Europe to seek out and destroy a biowarfare laboratory, which, staffed by three renegade scientists and supported by the Muslim military. has created a virus that makes standard-issue smallpox and Ebola seem like mild cases of plantar's warts in comparison. But once in Europe, posing as a white South African slaver to gain the confidence of his Muslim hosts, whose biowarfare operation is soon to become history, he encounters beautiful Petra, and his life will never be the same again . . .
This novel provides what might be called Islam for Dummies, a richly detailed look at the actual history of Islam and at its religious tenets and the implications these have for non-Muslims and non-Islamic nations. Among other things, I learned that the reason that the 13th- and 14th-century Turks created the janissaries, an army whose rank-and-file and much of its officer corps consisted of men who had been conscripted as boys from Christian, Jewish, and other non-Muslim families and made to convert to Islam, was that unlike those raised in Islam since birth, before conversion to Islam, those young men had had plenty of hands-on experience with experiment and practice to determine the best ways of doing things. Whether it was learning to use a firearm and maintain it in optimal condition, mechanical innovation, or anything else proficiency in which was best served by the old maxim, "Practice makes perfect," those who hadn't been raised as Muslims did far better than those who had. The reason: Occasionalism, a hard-held belief learned early by Muslims that things happen as they do because Allah wills them to, and if Allah does not will it, it cannot happen. E.g., with few exceptions, Muslims generally do not do well at using firearms, because practicing with firearms seems pointless to them. Similarly, again with few exceptions, Muslims generally don't have much initiative when it comes to technological innovation or scientific discovery -- they leave that to the dhimmi, the non-Islamicized second-class citizens and slaves. For which reason, if the whole world were ever to become Islamicized, technological and scientific progress is likely to come to a halt, perhaps forever. Brrrrrr . . .
Caliphate is a wonderful tale -- and a damned scary look into our world's possible future. Every non-Muslim American really ought to read it.
Demography is destiny. By the 22nd century AD, as older non-Muslim European citizens die off and new Muslims are born of the more fertile Islamic European population, Europe has become an Islamic continent. Atheism has been exterminated in Europe; homosexuals are hanged, stoned, or crucified there. The relatively few Christians who remain in Europe are dhimmi, second-class citizens who are denied arms, civil rights, and a voice in the political process, and who are specifically taxed as specified by the Koranic yizya. Their sons are conscripted as Janissaries, their daughters to become slaves -- or unwilling prostitutes.
Petra, a German girl sold into prostitution at age nine to pay her family's yizya, longs to escape. Unlike most girls of the time, she can read -- and in her only real possession, her grandmother's diary detailing the fall of European civilization, she has learned of a marvelous far-away place: America. But it will take more than daydreaming to free her and Europe from their Islamic shackles: without guns, superior technology, and a reborn spirit of freedom, Europe cannot be freed.
Caliphate is one of a series of science-fiction novels by Tom Kratman -- the others are A Desert Called Peace (2007), Carnifex (2009), and The Lotus Eaters (2010) -- that detail the downfall of Old Earth and the rise of a new civilization on Nova Terra, a world accidentally discovered by a space probe that fell through a rent in spacetime that no one had realized was there, and returned back to Earth to report that a startlingly Earthlike world existed beyond the rift, perfect for colonization by Earth's teeming billions. In Caliphate, Kratman presents Earth's history from 2003 well into the beginning of the 22nd century, especially that portion of it that concerns Europe, gradually but relentlessly Islamicized by deathbed demographics, and America, which, in reaction to a nuclear strike on three American cities, has become militant and aggressive in establishing imperial boundaries around itself and defending its own, especially against any attempts at Islamic invasion. Whereas in the 22nd century Europe is on its knees, America has nuked the Middle East and Northern Africa into virtual oblivion, taken over Canada, expelled all Muslims from her territory (and killed off the ones who wouldn't go quietly), done the same for the Philippines, and established a pax Americana everywhere in the world save Europe, China, and Russia. John Hamilton, formerly a member of America's armed forces, now recruited as a spy and saboteur by America's intelligence agencies, is sent to Europe to seek out and destroy a biowarfare laboratory, which, staffed by three renegade scientists and supported by the Muslim military. has created a virus that makes standard-issue smallpox and Ebola seem like mild cases of plantar's warts in comparison. But once in Europe, posing as a white South African slaver to gain the confidence of his Muslim hosts, whose biowarfare operation is soon to become history, he encounters beautiful Petra, and his life will never be the same again . . .
This novel provides what might be called Islam for Dummies, a richly detailed look at the actual history of Islam and at its religious tenets and the implications these have for non-Muslims and non-Islamic nations. Among other things, I learned that the reason that the 13th- and 14th-century Turks created the janissaries, an army whose rank-and-file and much of its officer corps consisted of men who had been conscripted as boys from Christian, Jewish, and other non-Muslim families and made to convert to Islam, was that unlike those raised in Islam since birth, before conversion to Islam, those young men had had plenty of hands-on experience with experiment and practice to determine the best ways of doing things. Whether it was learning to use a firearm and maintain it in optimal condition, mechanical innovation, or anything else proficiency in which was best served by the old maxim, "Practice makes perfect," those who hadn't been raised as Muslims did far better than those who had. The reason: Occasionalism, a hard-held belief learned early by Muslims that things happen as they do because Allah wills them to, and if Allah does not will it, it cannot happen. E.g., with few exceptions, Muslims generally do not do well at using firearms, because practicing with firearms seems pointless to them. Similarly, again with few exceptions, Muslims generally don't have much initiative when it comes to technological innovation or scientific discovery -- they leave that to the dhimmi, the non-Islamicized second-class citizens and slaves. For which reason, if the whole world were ever to become Islamicized, technological and scientific progress is likely to come to a halt, perhaps forever. Brrrrrr . . .
Caliphate is a wonderful tale -- and a damned scary look into our world's possible future. Every non-Muslim American really ought to read it.
January 29, 2009
This book presents an unhappy future where the American Empire (having given up many of the rights that define America today) is at war with Islam (which governs in ever worse fashion). The tone of the book is anti-liberal, although it isn't crazy-right. While I personally don't agree with the political thoughts of the author's that inspired the work, I did enjoy reading how things could be if I'm wrong. It's good to face that every now and then.
November 9, 2012
My god, this is one of the worst books I have ever read. Xenophobic and racist to the core. I don't think any research beyond maybe some Wikipedia articles was done. Total waste of time.
November 19, 2012
This one is a very disturbing novel. It paints a very bleak picture of society where one group of extremists pushes the other one and they end up in vicious circle of violence and retributions.
As something that may come around as a cliche we have Caliphate huge Islamic area covering almost entire Europe (except Switzerland, Balkans (heh :)) and Russia) and of course Middle East, Turkey, Northern Africa etc. This area is governed by religious fanatics who enforce the religious laws and enslave all the non-muslims - either by using them as slaves or conscripting them into their armed services and thus converting them.
On the other side you have Empire of Northern America - totalitarian state that rose up from ashes of the republic (brought down by terrorist acts from the would-be-caliphate) and one that does not hesitate to use what ever necessary (including religious zealots on their own side) to fight the Caliphate. Story settings corresponds to what is currently being voiced by both left and right parties across the globe.
I agree with author on some of the points - especially "white man is plague" talk - I mean come on, do you think that all those indigenous people where so bloody peaceful? Just think a little bit about Mayans, Aztecs, Mongols and other ancient nations - they all had slaves, right? they all fought pretty viciously against all the other nations and weren't beyond the killing. So more advanced tribe came in and took their country and kicked them out - so what? In this way we can go even further into past and never get out of it because there is always some nation kicking some other nations during migrations and expansion. Also demographics play pivotal role - although number crunching is not always correct.European nations are aware of all the demographic changes believe me.
One thing I do not agree with the author is the way he depicts the Europe - you may say it is because I am European by birth but there is more to this. USA may be a lot of things (open to everybody etc) but they have a very bad habit when it comes to external politics - they enter areas of interest, mess around with it and then (after they get bored or after achieving their goals) they just move out and leave everything to crumble - and this is done constantly (again, this all goes along the Moore's ideal state [let others fight for you] and proves that morals and politics do not go hand in hand).
Giving picture of Europeans as docile people who like to lay down cozily and not think about future is also a lot of bullocks if you ask me - so what if there is universal social/medical security for Europeans, as far as I remember worker strikes and fight for the workers rights did originate in USA but alas they are not celebrated there - they are celebrated in Europe and rest of the world. What differs the USA and Europe is that Europe is still made of centralized governments (for how long we will see) instead of groups with direct financial interests - therefore we are talking about very different mindsets [and I am very much entertained by the looks of i-am-so-sorry-for-you that Americans give to Europeans when medical care is mentioned :)]. You pay your life insurances [that have tendency to decrease their offer when they see that some options are used more regularly] we pay for the medical security again from our own money. Did we earn it, you bet yourself we did. Basically you call it X we call it Y - only difference may be for how long can we keep level of service at the quality level and available to everybody.
Also on note of Europeans not having many kids - I agree but please look at the basically entire highly developer world - how many kids do they have? In my experience only people having kids in highly developed countries (N. America included) are immigrants - locals enjoy have cats and dogs and [maybe, just maybe] participating in adopting children from far away countries (very rarely local children mind you) or giving money to the funds. But not in having kids themselves. So this has nothing to do with Europe itself but with the way modern culture treats parenthood and children - it is brought to absurdity.
All in all this is difficult book by author that may have a little bit conservative (or right) view of the world but nevertheless it is good book to read [although be careful, some scenes may be a little difficult to stomach].
As something that may come around as a cliche we have Caliphate huge Islamic area covering almost entire Europe (except Switzerland, Balkans (heh :)) and Russia) and of course Middle East, Turkey, Northern Africa etc. This area is governed by religious fanatics who enforce the religious laws and enslave all the non-muslims - either by using them as slaves or conscripting them into their armed services and thus converting them.
On the other side you have Empire of Northern America - totalitarian state that rose up from ashes of the republic (brought down by terrorist acts from the would-be-caliphate) and one that does not hesitate to use what ever necessary (including religious zealots on their own side) to fight the Caliphate. Story settings corresponds to what is currently being voiced by both left and right parties across the globe.
I agree with author on some of the points - especially "white man is plague" talk - I mean come on, do you think that all those indigenous people where so bloody peaceful? Just think a little bit about Mayans, Aztecs, Mongols and other ancient nations - they all had slaves, right? they all fought pretty viciously against all the other nations and weren't beyond the killing. So more advanced tribe came in and took their country and kicked them out - so what? In this way we can go even further into past and never get out of it because there is always some nation kicking some other nations during migrations and expansion. Also demographics play pivotal role - although number crunching is not always correct.European nations are aware of all the demographic changes believe me.
One thing I do not agree with the author is the way he depicts the Europe - you may say it is because I am European by birth but there is more to this. USA may be a lot of things (open to everybody etc) but they have a very bad habit when it comes to external politics - they enter areas of interest, mess around with it and then (after they get bored or after achieving their goals) they just move out and leave everything to crumble - and this is done constantly (again, this all goes along the Moore's ideal state [let others fight for you] and proves that morals and politics do not go hand in hand).
Giving picture of Europeans as docile people who like to lay down cozily and not think about future is also a lot of bullocks if you ask me - so what if there is universal social/medical security for Europeans, as far as I remember worker strikes and fight for the workers rights did originate in USA but alas they are not celebrated there - they are celebrated in Europe and rest of the world. What differs the USA and Europe is that Europe is still made of centralized governments (for how long we will see) instead of groups with direct financial interests - therefore we are talking about very different mindsets [and I am very much entertained by the looks of i-am-so-sorry-for-you that Americans give to Europeans when medical care is mentioned :)]. You pay your life insurances [that have tendency to decrease their offer when they see that some options are used more regularly] we pay for the medical security again from our own money. Did we earn it, you bet yourself we did. Basically you call it X we call it Y - only difference may be for how long can we keep level of service at the quality level and available to everybody.
Also on note of Europeans not having many kids - I agree but please look at the basically entire highly developer world - how many kids do they have? In my experience only people having kids in highly developed countries (N. America included) are immigrants - locals enjoy have cats and dogs and [maybe, just maybe] participating in adopting children from far away countries (very rarely local children mind you) or giving money to the funds. But not in having kids themselves. So this has nothing to do with Europe itself but with the way modern culture treats parenthood and children - it is brought to absurdity.
All in all this is difficult book by author that may have a little bit conservative (or right) view of the world but nevertheless it is good book to read [although be careful, some scenes may be a little difficult to stomach].
November 25, 2011
At first I was pleased to find a work of speculative fiction on the beach house bookshelf, but now I wish I hadn't read as much of this as I did. While the plot and the future depicted were very compelling, I couldn't bring myself to keep reading once I realized graphic descriptions of perverted sex (rape, pedophilia, etc.) were going to keep coming up. The pain of rape and prostitution can be conveyed more sensitively with less gratuitous detail and be more effective in plot and character development.
September 8, 2016
-Hasta el epílogo, polémica. Sumándole el texto de la conclusión final del autor, algo más que simplemente “polémica”.-
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el siglo XXII el Islam controla Europa (con la excepción de Suiza) y una buena parte de África, Oriente Próximo y Asia Central. Una niña de ascendencia cristiana acaba siendo vendida como esclava a una pudiente familia árabe. Norteamérica ha cambiado mucho su mapa político mediante una guerra internacional contra todos los que se supone que son una amenaza. Uno de sus oficiales es reclutado para una unidad de inteligencia.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el siglo XXII el Islam controla Europa (con la excepción de Suiza) y una buena parte de África, Oriente Próximo y Asia Central. Una niña de ascendencia cristiana acaba siendo vendida como esclava a una pudiente familia árabe. Norteamérica ha cambiado mucho su mapa político mediante una guerra internacional contra todos los que se supone que son una amenaza. Uno de sus oficiales es reclutado para una unidad de inteligencia.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
January 31, 2014
Great read. I don't usually like military SF but this book was so interesting that I read it in just a few days. I'm still thinking about it after 2 weeks. I read it as an ebook. It is available as part of the Balen Free Library. Thank you Balen and Tom Kratman.
April 23, 2013
An interesting glimpse of the world as it might become... after having read the author's series starting with A Desert Called Peace, this is an evident forerunner of many of the ideas included. I enjoyed guessing when history diverged (that is, when the book was written) as related in the book.
The only character that felt fully-formed was the American at the center of it; the rest felt rather caricatured. The Hooker with the Heart of Gold, The Reluctant Mercenary, etc. (Though of course that's a feature of the genre!)
I enjoyed this fast-moving plot and the consideration of historical trends that provoked it. I hope that our divergent history will take us farther away from this possible type of future!
The only character that felt fully-formed was the American at the center of it; the rest felt rather caricatured. The Hooker with the Heart of Gold, The Reluctant Mercenary, etc. (Though of course that's a feature of the genre!)
I enjoyed this fast-moving plot and the consideration of historical trends that provoked it. I hope that our divergent history will take us farther away from this possible type of future!
October 12, 2009
Good read. A little uncomfortable, but I'm glad I read it.
June 12, 2013
The title jumped out at me (possibly because, years ago, I read Mark Steyn’s America Alone and, I admit, it sent a shiver down my spine) so I grabbed this one and started reading, expecting to give up after a few pages, but found myself immersed in a page-tuner.
It's a romance/adventure set half way through the 22nd century, where a totalitarian American empire fights to destroy an Islamic Empire created in the late 20th and early 21st centuries by (paraphrased authors opinions...) decades of unchecked immigration, failed integration and liberal EU policies made by politicians too afraid to stir a hornet's nest for fear of offending the hornets.
"Interludes", real sound-bytes from the present, provide authenticity for the context in which the story takes place.
The writing's fine, the story's well written and believable, the premise is... well, you'll have to read it, because this book is really a novel masquerading as a warning.
If you're not a Muslim, and you are European, read it. You'll either throw the book away as inflammatory right-wing propaganda, or it'll make you think, look around your town, and send you to bed shaking with fear, after taking extra care to see that the kids (especially daughters) are safe, the windows and doors locked, and the shotgun loaded.
"Couldn't happen," you say. Tell that to the parents of the Erdington Hall (Birmingham UK) Primary School schoolboy that killed himself after Muslim bullies made his life a misery for being white... That's just a one-off... Really? Theo van Gogh? British Muslim men grooming white girls for sex? Gang rapes in Sweden? London? Madrid? Bali? 9/11? Don't see a pattern emerging of crimes motivated by the interpretation of a philosophy shared by increasing numbers of people for who the rules of God (theirs) should also be (our) rules of law? No? There's nothing to worry about then...
For me, Edmund Burke's words come to mind: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. True, the definitions of "evil" and "good" are subjective and a little too black and white but, if the book's extrapolations are even 10% true, at some point in the not too far future the average Euro-pleb will have to pick a side and take a stand and do "something". Just what exactly, even the author is a little hazy on in his Afterward. Hopefully, it won't be too late, like it was for poor old see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil Gabi von Minden.
If you're Muslim, you might want to pass on this one, cos I get the impression the author of this book thinks the world would be a better pace without you.
It's a romance/adventure set half way through the 22nd century, where a totalitarian American empire fights to destroy an Islamic Empire created in the late 20th and early 21st centuries by (paraphrased authors opinions...) decades of unchecked immigration, failed integration and liberal EU policies made by politicians too afraid to stir a hornet's nest for fear of offending the hornets.
"Interludes", real sound-bytes from the present, provide authenticity for the context in which the story takes place.
The writing's fine, the story's well written and believable, the premise is... well, you'll have to read it, because this book is really a novel masquerading as a warning.
If you're not a Muslim, and you are European, read it. You'll either throw the book away as inflammatory right-wing propaganda, or it'll make you think, look around your town, and send you to bed shaking with fear, after taking extra care to see that the kids (especially daughters) are safe, the windows and doors locked, and the shotgun loaded.
"Couldn't happen," you say. Tell that to the parents of the Erdington Hall (Birmingham UK) Primary School schoolboy that killed himself after Muslim bullies made his life a misery for being white... That's just a one-off... Really? Theo van Gogh? British Muslim men grooming white girls for sex? Gang rapes in Sweden? London? Madrid? Bali? 9/11? Don't see a pattern emerging of crimes motivated by the interpretation of a philosophy shared by increasing numbers of people for who the rules of God (theirs) should also be (our) rules of law? No? There's nothing to worry about then...
For me, Edmund Burke's words come to mind: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. True, the definitions of "evil" and "good" are subjective and a little too black and white but, if the book's extrapolations are even 10% true, at some point in the not too far future the average Euro-pleb will have to pick a side and take a stand and do "something". Just what exactly, even the author is a little hazy on in his Afterward. Hopefully, it won't be too late, like it was for poor old see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil Gabi von Minden.
If you're Muslim, you might want to pass on this one, cos I get the impression the author of this book thinks the world would be a better pace without you.
April 29, 2014
Excellent pseudo historical science fiction
I really enjoyed the book. A truly modern look at a real life issue in a science fiction framework. The characters were life like and believes.
I really enjoyed the book. A truly modern look at a real life issue in a science fiction framework. The characters were life like and believes.
June 18, 2008
This is a story of religion, politics and all the ugliness that man can possibly bestow on another.
September 23, 2015
This is, quite possibly, the most important book anyone in our changing world should read. Much more than a work of fiction. it is a prediction coming true as we watch.
November 5, 2011
This book was torn between being a polemic and an action/adventure story. Kratman wasn’t quite able to pull off the combination. I’d really like to give it 3 stars but the failed marriage prevents me from doing so.
The Polemic
Kratman takes Mark Steyn’s book America Alone and runs with it. What would Europe look like if theocratic Muslims out breed everyone else and subjugate everyone else? It’s not a crazy question, especially given what happened to Theo van Gogh and what’s been threatened against Ayaan Hirsi Ali. (Or given the fire bombing of the French weekly that printed cartoons of Mohammed.)
As a polemic, this is very well done. The book portrays a European caliphate where Christians live as second-class citizens forced to pay heavy taxes in order to gain “protection” against the jihad. Their sons are taken as slaves for the Janissaries and their daughters are taken as slaves for the whore houses. Women are treated as third class citizens and have very few rights and very little protection from abuse. It’s a horrifying portrayal of a very patriarchal society.
America has been transformed into the American Empire, after nuclear bombs destroyed 3 American cities. The result was an enraged nation that proceeded to methodically wipe out all traces of Islam within its borders and then to embark on an attempt to wipe out all traces of Islam, everywhere.
The characters in the book are very ambivalent about what America has become. Most of them believe that it’s impossible to live with a dominant Islam but simultaneously believe that America has become an ugly and bad place. It’s welcome uncertainty: the idea that it may be necessary to do bad things to prevent worse things but that it’s still a bad thing.
I’m not at all convinced that Europe will go down the path that Kratman portrays. On the other hand, I think it’s far more likely than most progressive liberals do and I am worried about the growth of theocratic Islam. Too many of our institutions want to placate Muslims, in response to Muslim violence, instead of cracking down on the violence directly. I find that kind of response both weak and disturbing.
The Adventure Story
The story revolves around an American intelligence operative, a Christian slave, her Janissary brother, and a potentially lethal bioweapon. Somehow, the weapon must be destroyed, the slaves must be freed, and everyone must escape from the Caliphate.
It could have been a very good story but I felt that it kept getting bogged down in the expository background information and that too much of the plot existed only to explain the world that Kratman wanted the reader to fear.
It was good but it could have been much, much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2020
Alright, this isn’t a great work of literature; it has some definite problems with telling vs. showing and a bit too much displaced info-dumping. But the story is engaging and interesting, so three stars.
Of course, the setting is rather controversial: Continental Europe (except Switzerland) is an Islamic Caliphate that resembles Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia, and the United States has transformed into an unapologetic empire so jingoistic that it would make John Bolton wince.
Is the world realistic? At least, will it happen if history progresses more or less as it is now without major catastrophic events? Probably not. But, a major catastrophe is exactly what brings this world about (just as most fictional dystopian societies are the products of unforeseen catastrophes). In this case, it’s nuclear terrorism that destroys several American cities, and drives America to fascism. America nukes the Middle East, Muslim refugees flee to Europe and ultimately overtake the existing populations, imposing an Islamic theocracy.
Obviously, many decry this setting as the product of a hateful and bigoted writer. However, I’d expect many of the same critics to praise The Handmaid’s Tale as a brilliant and chilling cautionary tale against religious extremism. Yet, if you were to find a present, real-world counterpart to the Republic of Gilead, you wouldn’t find it in a majority Christian country. There are a few examples of countries today in which women are second-class citizens, if not outright property, and systematic rape is common, but you’ll find them all in the Middle East and Central Asia.
But, in short, if you can set aside your politics (and tolerate reading some rather brutal descriptions of sexual assault), you’re in for a decent action/espionage thriller.
Of course, the setting is rather controversial: Continental Europe (except Switzerland) is an Islamic Caliphate that resembles Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia, and the United States has transformed into an unapologetic empire so jingoistic that it would make John Bolton wince.
Is the world realistic? At least, will it happen if history progresses more or less as it is now without major catastrophic events? Probably not. But, a major catastrophe is exactly what brings this world about (just as most fictional dystopian societies are the products of unforeseen catastrophes). In this case, it’s nuclear terrorism that destroys several American cities, and drives America to fascism. America nukes the Middle East, Muslim refugees flee to Europe and ultimately overtake the existing populations, imposing an Islamic theocracy.
Obviously, many decry this setting as the product of a hateful and bigoted writer. However, I’d expect many of the same critics to praise The Handmaid’s Tale as a brilliant and chilling cautionary tale against religious extremism. Yet, if you were to find a present, real-world counterpart to the Republic of Gilead, you wouldn’t find it in a majority Christian country. There are a few examples of countries today in which women are second-class citizens, if not outright property, and systematic rape is common, but you’ll find them all in the Middle East and Central Asia.
But, in short, if you can set aside your politics (and tolerate reading some rather brutal descriptions of sexual assault), you’re in for a decent action/espionage thriller.
March 22, 2014
The thing I like about Tom is he is an honest about his politics, do I disagree on some points - hell yes, I even agree with him on some stuff- and I'm a on the radical left. I find it hard when people abuse him, as I think they have got so use to not hearing a contradictory viewpoints, they have stopped thinking. This applies to both the left and the right. As a person on the left - the level of criticism the left will tolerate is abysmal.
I want you want to read this book - and to do it with an open mind, even if the authors politics are different from yours. Don't be the narrow minded bigot you accuse conservatives of being. Also, read "Death of the liberal class" by Chris Hedges when reading this, it will bunt your brain into overdrive.
So Tom, thanks - Great book. I like my dystopians bleak.
I want you want to read this book - and to do it with an open mind, even if the authors politics are different from yours. Don't be the narrow minded bigot you accuse conservatives of being. Also, read "Death of the liberal class" by Chris Hedges when reading this, it will bunt your brain into overdrive.
So Tom, thanks - Great book. I like my dystopians bleak.
August 19, 2012
This book really makes me think. The author supposes that there is a war between Moslem and Christian nations and spotlights the plight of Christians moral issues in the conflict. It is graphic and bloody, but the idea is intriguing and I am unsure how I feel about the world described in the book. Is this possible? What is good is that I think about the premise after I've finished the book. The other thing I love, absolutely love, is that Tom explains why Christ had to die so horrifically and uses very practical apologetics to help the readers understand the motivations of the characters.
NOT for the faint of heart, though.
^^Update Ididn't stop thinking about this book. It really isn't uplifting. I may have to downgrade it.
NOT for the faint of heart, though.
^^Update Ididn't stop thinking about this book. It really isn't uplifting. I may have to downgrade it.
November 12, 2012
Very scary near future fiction that develops demographic and socio-political themes from today's headlines into a world unlike the current time. Definitely not a feel good novel, graphic, and disturbing, read it to increase your understanding of what is going on. Can it happen? Will it happen?
January 24, 2012
I really wanted to like this book, but it was a disappointment in the end.
The premise is interesting, and not a little bold in today's political situation. The characters all started off pretty strong too, with compelling backstories and descriptions. The author clearly did his homework on global politics and the historiography and laws of Islam.
But halfway through the book it was as if the author just gave up. Starting from the final rescue mission, formerly compelling characters gave way to Hollywood cardboard cutouts, spouting cliches and performing the most unbelievable stunts. The ending felt rushed, and as an attempt to tie up character threads was a huge disappointment.
This book is also pretty explicit in its sexual scenes. Its detailed description of the gang rape of a fourteen year old girl was probably the most disturbing thing I've read in a very long time. This book is not recommended to kids.
The premise is interesting, and not a little bold in today's political situation. The characters all started off pretty strong too, with compelling backstories and descriptions. The author clearly did his homework on global politics and the historiography and laws of Islam.
But halfway through the book it was as if the author just gave up. Starting from the final rescue mission, formerly compelling characters gave way to Hollywood cardboard cutouts, spouting cliches and performing the most unbelievable stunts. The ending felt rushed, and as an attempt to tie up character threads was a huge disappointment.
This book is also pretty explicit in its sexual scenes. Its detailed description of the gang rape of a fourteen year old girl was probably the most disturbing thing I've read in a very long time. This book is not recommended to kids.
March 8, 2012
I've actually picked up the epub version of this book from the Baen Free Library. So far it's very compelling. Be warned that you do have to have a high tolerance for racism, graphic futuristic warfare, and rape.
The story itself was generally well-written. It alternated between the Caliphate of the future, and Germany and US of present, until they essentially met up and the various threads were tied off. I was also particularly interested in the various quotes by religous and political leaders that began each chapter. What lost it 2 stars was the anti-islamic rant at the end of the book. The point was made in the story... you don't really need to get out the sledgehammer.
The story itself was generally well-written. It alternated between the Caliphate of the future, and Germany and US of present, until they essentially met up and the various threads were tied off. I was also particularly interested in the various quotes by religous and political leaders that began each chapter. What lost it 2 stars was the anti-islamic rant at the end of the book. The point was made in the story... you don't really need to get out the sledgehammer.
March 17, 2013
Kratman wants to show you how horrible "civilized" peoples can be. All too effective. I decided in chapter 5 that I didn't want to put myself through it.
Visualize love.
Visualize love.
August 18, 2025
A very disturbing vision of the future – and I'm glad that it won't become reality in the next ... oh, 20 or 30 years. Or at least I hope it won't come true.
But otherwise - a well written book with a consistent story and believable characters
But otherwise - a well written book with a consistent story and believable characters
July 30, 2014
I found this book as a free download on the Baen Books website (part of their Free Library program). I was intrigued by the title, read a few reviews, decided that I definitely needed to read this. Near-future alternative history in a realistic setting? Check! Controversial subject matter? Check! Solid action story? Check!
Unfortunately, a few chapters in I was disappointed. This book is utter garbage, not at all what I expected it to be. It reads like a rabid anti-Muslim pamphlet expanded to several hundred pages, written by an angry individual of limited education whose familiarity with Islam and global socio-political currents and circumstances begins and ends with Wikipedia articles (first paragraph only) and perhaps an enlightening discussion or two on the Storm Front or similar forums.
The bleak tone of the setting is perhaps the only thing that the writer got right. Muslim-ruled Europe is a terrible dark place, but the alternative doesn't look any brighter (a vaguely Nazi version of the United States). As soon as the "opposite" sides in the conflict are revealed, you feel a strong desire to see them both wiped out in a nuclear holocaust. It's kind of hard to immerse yourself in the story world after that.
The story could have been a well-worn but reliable cliche, but the amateurish writing style weighs it down (I find it hard to believe that a professional editor went through this manuscript - or have editors given up on correcting bad exposition?). The author doesn't even bother to disguise the info dumps as AYKB, he just goes ahead and lets fly. Peppered through the info dumps are tidbits of information and imaginary "statistics" which helpfully show us how the Europeans let themselves be enslaved by the caliphate-scheming Muslims. This bit is particularly well-explained, logical and riveting, so I won't leave any spoilers here (/sarcasm).
There are some attempts at character development, swiftly abandoned. The bad guys are cardboard cutouts, evil because they're evil. The good guys... well, there really aren't any good guys. The sex scenes are the only ones that the writer tried to make realistic, and the most graphic one involves child rape.
Baen Books has published the works of such sci-fi greats as Orson Scott Card, Greg Bear and Lois McMaster Bujold. Not really sure why they would add this sort of trash to their list, but that's none of my business. I guess there's a reason why they're giving it away for free, and this is one of those instances in which the old "you get what you pay for" adage holds true.
Unfortunately, a few chapters in I was disappointed. This book is utter garbage, not at all what I expected it to be. It reads like a rabid anti-Muslim pamphlet expanded to several hundred pages, written by an angry individual of limited education whose familiarity with Islam and global socio-political currents and circumstances begins and ends with Wikipedia articles (first paragraph only) and perhaps an enlightening discussion or two on the Storm Front or similar forums.
The bleak tone of the setting is perhaps the only thing that the writer got right. Muslim-ruled Europe is a terrible dark place, but the alternative doesn't look any brighter (a vaguely Nazi version of the United States). As soon as the "opposite" sides in the conflict are revealed, you feel a strong desire to see them both wiped out in a nuclear holocaust. It's kind of hard to immerse yourself in the story world after that.
The story could have been a well-worn but reliable cliche, but the amateurish writing style weighs it down (I find it hard to believe that a professional editor went through this manuscript - or have editors given up on correcting bad exposition?). The author doesn't even bother to disguise the info dumps as AYKB, he just goes ahead and lets fly. Peppered through the info dumps are tidbits of information and imaginary "statistics" which helpfully show us how the Europeans let themselves be enslaved by the caliphate-scheming Muslims. This bit is particularly well-explained, logical and riveting, so I won't leave any spoilers here (/sarcasm).
There are some attempts at character development, swiftly abandoned. The bad guys are cardboard cutouts, evil because they're evil. The good guys... well, there really aren't any good guys. The sex scenes are the only ones that the writer tried to make realistic, and the most graphic one involves child rape.
Baen Books has published the works of such sci-fi greats as Orson Scott Card, Greg Bear and Lois McMaster Bujold. Not really sure why they would add this sort of trash to their list, but that's none of my business. I guess there's a reason why they're giving it away for free, and this is one of those instances in which the old "you get what you pay for" adage holds true.
December 23, 2012
Caliphate by Tom Kratman is a fable disguised as speculative fiction.
Set in the early 22nd Century where Europe has fallen to the tide of Islam (from their greater birthrates and immigration), America is an expansionist near-fascist state after terrorist nuclear weapons destroyed several US cities, the rest of the world is rather ill-defined except that the whites are back in power in South Africa and China is a kingdom again. Primarily it serves as a warning of what the author thinks will happen to Europe if they do not wake up and take the Islamic demographic threat seriously (this is made explicit in the afterward).
The characters are at best two-dimensional, and the Muslims are almost universally wicked and liberals universally blind to the Islamic threat in the flashbacks, but the action is well written. But it remains a fable, that the US is good (even if it has to abandon everything noble it stands for and become an empire to fight the Islamic threat) and Islam is bad, all Muslims are bad and incapable of adapting to the West (and secretly want to impose the most barbaric form of Islam on everyone), and -for good measure- the Chinese are bad too but at least they hate Islam.
It is an interesting read but there are no surprises, political points are hammered home with the subtly of a sledge hammer and the rape scenes are gratuitous. But if you think the theme is intriguing, it may be worth your time to read.
Set in the early 22nd Century where Europe has fallen to the tide of Islam (from their greater birthrates and immigration), America is an expansionist near-fascist state after terrorist nuclear weapons destroyed several US cities, the rest of the world is rather ill-defined except that the whites are back in power in South Africa and China is a kingdom again. Primarily it serves as a warning of what the author thinks will happen to Europe if they do not wake up and take the Islamic demographic threat seriously (this is made explicit in the afterward).
The characters are at best two-dimensional, and the Muslims are almost universally wicked and liberals universally blind to the Islamic threat in the flashbacks, but the action is well written. But it remains a fable, that the US is good (even if it has to abandon everything noble it stands for and become an empire to fight the Islamic threat) and Islam is bad, all Muslims are bad and incapable of adapting to the West (and secretly want to impose the most barbaric form of Islam on everyone), and -for good measure- the Chinese are bad too but at least they hate Islam.
It is an interesting read but there are no surprises, political points are hammered home with the subtly of a sledge hammer and the rape scenes are gratuitous. But if you think the theme is intriguing, it may be worth your time to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2015
Okay. This is dystopian military SF. There's some very unpleasant sex in it, if you want to avoid that kind of thing. This future world is one where The Evil Muslims have set up a Caliphate and basically over-run everything, leaving what used to be the USA but is now more a military dictatorship (They conquered Canada? Um. The last time we attacked Canada, they burned the White House.)
That being said, if you're willing to suspend disbelief in the scenario, and willing to assume that all Muslims worldwide would gladly jump onto this bandwagon, there's some really good writing to be had. Obviously, Tom Kratman knows his stuff in that department - the characters are good, the plot moves along well, there are some really -good- emotional scenes in there.
Guilty pleasure reading for this Liberal.
That being said, if you're willing to suspend disbelief in the scenario, and willing to assume that all Muslims worldwide would gladly jump onto this bandwagon, there's some really good writing to be had. Obviously, Tom Kratman knows his stuff in that department - the characters are good, the plot moves along well, there are some really -good- emotional scenes in there.
Guilty pleasure reading for this Liberal.
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