Shadows of Annihilation

Tales from the Black Chamber #3

by S.M. Stirling

The third novel in a World War I alternate history series where America's greatest weapon against Germany is Black Chamber secret agent Luz O'Malley and technical genius Ciara Whelan. Only they can protect America's best hope of winning the war.

The Great War is at a stalemate, and the only thing stopping Germany from striking America is the threat of the United States using their own Annihilation Gas against them. But America's supply is quickly decaying and the Central Powers know it.

A plant is under construction in the remote highlands of Mexico so that America can make their own supply. President Teddy Roosevelt assigns crack agent Luz O'Malley and her technical genius Ciara Whelan to watch over the plant operating under cover identities.

But German agent Horst von Duckler has escaped from the POW camp in El Paso, and he's heading in the same direction--bent on revenge against Luz, and sabotage that will deprive America of its deterrent and kill tens of thousands.

Genres: Fiction, Alternate History, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Espionage, Historical

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2020

About the author

Stephen Michael Stirling is a French-born Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author. Stirling is probably best known for his Draka series of alternate history novels and the more recent time travel/alternate history Nantucket series and Emberverse series.

MINI AUTO-BIOGRAPHY:
(personal website: source)

I’m a writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin and American by naturalization, living in New Mexico at present. My hobbies are mostly related to the craft. I love history, anthropology and archaeology, and am interested in the sciences. The martial arts are my main physical hobby.

Reviews

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a mind jumble. I find myself getting caught up in the strange alternate reality after WW1. Its strange to think "What if" When it comes to this topic. I loved this story and the characters were likable and easy to follow. If you are looking to escape this world and dive into something different for a while, this is the series for you.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina

[Jonathan Palfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this third book in the series more than I expected. From the title, I expected a grim story fraught with danger, whereas in fact what we get is a mostly peaceful tour of Mexico in the summer of an alternative 1917, after the country has been thoroughly occupied and pacified by the USA.

Stirling’s novels tend to be punctuated by outbreaks of deadly hand-to-hand combat; and there are some here, but they’re few and occasional, and seem almost incidental to the story. The story tells of a few German agents planning an attack and the American agents planning to thwart it, without knowing what sort of attack it will be. But these mainly peaceful preparations go on for most of the book, until the attack is actually made, near the end.

Fans of action and danger may find this book disappointing; I found it relatively pleasant and restful, and Mexico at peace and in summer is more congenial a setting than wartime Germany in winter (the setting of the previous book). Stirling always excels at research, so there’s plenty of plausible detail in this picture of Mexico as it might have been, bringing it alive for us.

Why only 3 stars? Well, the research and the writing are good as usual; I found the result pleasant to read and will undoubtedly read it again in future; but relatively little happens in this story. As a novel, it’s not very memorable. Even the climax is relatively brief and muted compared with the various exciting cinematic action sequences of the previous books in this series.

This is not a complaint, just an explanation of how I arrived at my rating. I liked the book quite well, and that’s what 3 stars are supposed to represent.

The two heroines are still in love with each other, but more accustomed to each other by now, so that their relationship is slightly more in the background, which is just as well. I don’t mind them being in love with each other, but it can become a bit tedious if they go on and on about it.

I still find Luz’s supreme excellence in combat, languages, cookery, etc., to be implausible and over the top, and Ciara’s brilliance with machinery is almost as bad. I suppose it’s OK if you don’t take these stories too seriously, but it nags at me a little.

[Vincent Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

End of the trilogy plus bonus laying ground for a potential sequel.

This finishes the initial series, reverting mostly the setup of the second book. This time, Hörst is coming, and our two spies have to foil him. It is a bit less epic than I'd probably have liked, but it is very realistic, so the grand finale happening very fast once everything is in place should be expected.

You also have to admire the skill deployed by M. Stirling. Because both sides remain very relatable because nobody is the bad guy in your own story - they're just enemies (even if Hörst is still a bit emotional about his nemesis after losing an eye). And when you still think that the Black Chamber's USA are the good guys, you just have to remember the little details like the mandatory Boy Scout enrollment (complete with weapon and military training), the massive personality cult for Roosevelt, the nearly complete single party system, Luz casually thinking that the end of Habeas Corpus is good... and realize that this USA is well on its way to be fascist superpower.

And yet, you're still cheering for them. That's how you recognize a great writer: he makes you sympathize with a Draka or a stone-cold killer from fascist Amerika.

Keep entertaining us for years, M. Stirling!

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boy what a bore. Don't write an alternative history to World War I in which absolutely nothing happens for 300+ pages. Instead we get the interior monologue who thinks she's the smartest person the planet, her predictions and multilingualism not exactly tempered by her sexual deviancy. And then when actual war breaks out, the writing is so obscure that I'm still not sure what went down. I'm perfectly fine with novels in which not much occurs, but usually there's some sort of alternate payoff. This time that never came.

[Ollivier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to the previous two, there is much more setup time, making is way slower. We get to explore more both [alt-]historical context and Luz/Ciara but still, I wish he made it with a bit more action. Still a very good read :)

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed reading Stirling for many years and loved his "Change" books. Having read the first two of this series I see that he has gone a totally different way from his prior fantasy tales. What makes these books interesting is their turn of alternate history in 1912 when Teddy Roosevelt won the Presidency and not Woodrow Wilson.

This is almost a 'steampunk' situation, where there is some difference in the industrial future manufacturing of certain products (mostly military) before their time or of continuing manufacture (such as the use of poison gas). Use of an "annihilation" gas has wiped out the populations of London and Paris, with the Germans having won the war on the western front. Free France is located in Algiers and North Africa, but the continent belongs to the Germans.

The US is the last western power to be able to compete with the Germans, having made northern Mexico and American protectorate. The Black Chamber is the US's secret army, very much like the Russian KGB, but smaller in sized and not as military. The two operatives that we follow are Luz and Ciara who represent the best of the BC. Besides colleagues, they are lovers, which Stirling spends a lot of narrative on.

This is the lowest rating I've given a Stirling book for a long time. I don't have a problem with the love interest, but I do think he spends too much time discussion the problems of Gay people in the early twentieth century. Which also parallels (what I feel) the overly expansive narrative on issues that are very tangential to the story. He was able to find a better balance in most of the "Change" books.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment of the Black Chamber series does not disappoint readers. Stirling once again leads us into a fantastic alternate timeline of World War I where Theodore Roosevelt won the 1912 election and created a very unique Progressive United States. Shadows of Annihilation reunites us with secret agent Luz O'Malley and her partner/lover Ciara Whelan. This time the two are tasked with what should be a very simple assignment of checking security and identifying threats to the U.S.'s new annihilation gas factory, unfortunately, the escaped German operative codenamed "Imperial Sword" has revenge on his mind as he plots the destruction of the U.S.'s only check against the German Empire aggression. Stirling's tale weaves together an incredible tale full of details and images of what could have been if things had taken a slightly different turn in 1912, well researched and full of detail, this tale is as realistic as it is thrilling.

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good end (?) to the Black Chamber series with a weird combination of extreme violence and local (early 20th Century alternate history US and Mexico) color. Because this is Stirling, there is a lot of action, but, like in THEATER OF SPIES, less than you'd expect, but it works. 3.5 stars.

[John Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author S. M. Stirling (https://smstirling.com) published the novel “Shadows of Annihilation” in 2020. Mr. Stirling has published more than 60 novels. This is the third book in his ‘Alternate World War’ series.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language, and Mature Situations. The story continues the struggle between the Black Chamber and Germany.

The Black Chamber is a secret spy unit of the US Secret Service. It is 1917 and the World War has settled into a stalemate. The Germans have driven US troops from mainland Europe. Of course, this is an entirely different world than the one we have lived through.

Black Chamber agents Luz O’Malley and Ciara Whelan are on the job again. They travel to the US protectorate of Mexico. Their destination is in the remote highlands. They are to assist with the security of a secret facility under construction there. This is the first Annihilation Gas facility built by the United States. They must have it to hold the Germans in check.

Unexpectedly, German agent Horst von Duckler appears on the scene. Luz and Ciara have run up against him before and he has a grudge to settle with them. The pair encounter him and German sympathizers in one confrontation after another.

I enjoyed the 11+ hours I spent reading this 396-page alternate history novel. I have read many of Sterling’s novels. He is one of my favorite authors. This third installment in his Alternate World War series does not disappoint. While I have read both of the prior novels in the series (“Black Chamber” and “Theater of Spies“), you could read this one stand-alone. I do recommend that you read them in order. There is an element of LGBTQ in the story as Luz and Ciara are an intimate pair, but that plays a very minor role. I like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 4.5 (Rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

[Ara Sedaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stirling's steampunk alternate WWI comes to an initial, satisfying finale (hopefully to be continued!). In this book, unlike the first two, we see our two heroines entirely on the defensive, while their enemy (German soldier/spy Horst) attempts another attack on American soil. Luz and Ciara are as delightful and daring as ever, however, as they journey back to conquered Mexico, where Luz initially earned her spurs as a Black Chamber agent. This series continues the extremely well-researched and deeply thought-out exploration of an alternate WWI in which Teddy Roosevelt takes the reins, and if you enjoy fictionalized history, this series is a must-read.
(Some minor spoilers continue)
I found the penultimate chapters a little rushed and anticlimactic after all the buildup, but I think that in itself was intentional—in any successful defensive action, the devil should be in the details and the preparation, rather than in the battle. Other than that minor whinge, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Luz and Ciara have rapidly become one of my favorite fictional couples, and the political exploration of "progressive" fascism in the US is fascinating.

[Allen Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.themaineedge.com/style/st...

If history were different, how different would it be?

That’s the underlying notion behind most alternative history stories, books and series that look into the past, alter something fundamental … and then see what happens. That forward-moving extrapolation of what changes – large and small – might come about because of that singular shift.

Like any speculative fiction, what we actually get in terms of quality varies wildly. Narrative complexity, world building, historic verisimilitude, strong characterizations of people both fictional and non – it all depends on the talents of the author in charge.

S. M. Stirling’s talents are formidable, which is what makes his latest offering so good.

“Shadows of Annihilation” is the newest installment in Stirling’s “Black Chamber” series. It’s a long look at an alternate World War I, one where Teddy Roosevelt has regained the presidency and consolidated his power and hence is at the helm during the war. One of his many weapons utilized against the enemy is the Black Chamber, a sort of proto-CIA involving espionage, assassination and a score of other below-board activities designed to fight America’s foes and advance her interest.

Black Chamber operatives Luz O’Malley and Ciara Whelan are on the move once again; while their recent efforts headed off an apocalyptic German attack against the American East Coast (one featuring the aptly-named “horror-gas” nerve agent) were mostly successful, the war rages on. It is only the threat of U.S. deployment of similar weaponry that keeps things at an uneasy and bloody standstill.

Luz and Ciara are sent to Mexico – now a U.S. Protectorate, courtesy of Roosevelt and the American military – in order to check on the progress of the Dakota Project, the under-construction U.S. manufacturing facility that will be devoted to researching and developing their own chemical agents. It’s a race against time; the German powers know that America’s current supply – confiscated from enemy forces – is decaying. So Roosevelt sends two of his most trusted operatives to monitor the situation.

But an old enemy – one motivated now as much by personal vengeance as patriotic duty – is also in country, and he has some plans of his own.

Luz and Ciara must put every one of their distinct and idiosyncratic talents to the test. One false step and their cover will be blown. One wrong choice and either or both of them could wind up dead. A single mistake could directly lead to thousands or even millions of deaths. Are they up to the task? Will even the best of the best be enough?

“Shadows of Annihilation” is precisely the sort of continuation you want from a series like this. The historical divergences are growing ever more pronounced as time passes; the clarity of Stirling’s new world continues to build. As the geopolitical sphere shifts, a new global picture comes into view – one still operating on a real historical foundation, and so plausible even in the face of the fantastic.

And just like the previous two installments, it’s a heck of a spy thriller as well. It’s packed with action, both sweeping and subtle – gun fights and spycraft, technical mysteries and undercover dinner parties, the whole bit. There’s an unwavering energy to these books, a constant push forward that makes them incredibly easy to read and incredibly difficult to put down.

In Luz, Stirling has developed a first-rate action protagonist. She is capable and smart, witty and cunning, confident but not TOO confident. Even though her abilities border on the superhuman, she still doubts and questions. She still feels fear and love. Add Ciara, whose own talents are almost impressive (and whose own flaws are a bit more overt), to the mix and you have an engaging central pairing. Of course, these two suck up most of the oxygen, so the supporting characters don’t get as much run (with the exception of President Roosevelt and – perhaps – our main baddie), but that’s a feature rather than a bug; Luz and Ciara are why these stories work.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the series moving forward. Stirling’s world-building remains top-notch, so there’s that. There are hints scattered throughout this book at some potentially darker turns that might be coming – on both sides of the conflict; one wonders if the author will continue in that direction. Regardless of what twists and turns await, we can feel fairly confident that the next book will have plenty to offer.

“Shadows of Annihilation” is a worthwhile addition to the series, a book that largely avoids the fading feeling one sometimes gets from ongoing speculative fiction. Stirling’s world is a rich and detailed one, a place that I look forward to visiting again. As should you.

[Margaret Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third volume of the series, secret agent Luz O’Malley and her lover and professional partner, Ciara Whelan, are in Mexico. While they check on an American factory duplicating the German “horror-gas” and subtly feel out members of the local population, they’re guests in the home of Luz’s old friend and sometime lover, Julie, local Black Chamber station head. Meanwhile, German officer Horst von Duckler, obsessed with vengeance on Luz because she shot out one of his eyes and almost killed him, has come to the same area to sabotage the American gas plant in a particularly horrific manner. For most of the novel, they remain unaware of each other’s proximity, but of course they clash in the climactic battle. To my satisfaction (not being much of an “action” fan), however, the combat scenes take up a relatively small percentage of the book. Most of the story (to borrow a word from the LOCUS review) is “domestic.” I delighted in the witty dialogue, the exploration of Luz and Ciara’s relationship, and the scenes that showcase Ciara’s self-taught scientific and technical brilliance. Horst, although unquestionably the bad guy, has a three-dimensional personality; he isn’t a mustache-twirling melodrama villain and even elicits our reluctant sympathy at some moments. As always, Stirling’s lively descriptions of setting, architecture, cultural nuances, clothing, and (of course) food fascinated me. Readers who wish for more fight scenes will doubtless appreciate the minutiae of weapons and other engines of war. I enjoyed learning more about North America as reshaped by the dominance of Teddy Roosevelt’s Progressive program. Somewhat chilling, from a post-World-War-II vantage point, is the universal enthusiasm for eugenics and the duty of superior individuals to pass on their “germ plasm.” I hope this isn’t the final volume in the series, although it comes to a conclusion that would be appropriate for such a book. I want to see more of Luz, Ciara, and their brave new world, not to mention learning the ultimate outcome of this world’s Great War.

[Steven M Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stirling has finally fallen off the cliff he has been wandering towards for the past 20 years. This alternate world features a pair of spies so perfect in every way. Even Ian Fleming would have been embarrassed to write about James Bond with their attributes. Smart, sexy, mathematical geniuses, excellent mechanical engineers, liguistic geniuses, explosives experts, sniper level shots, automobile mechanics, genius cryptograhers, pilots, olympics level horsemanship, perfect in all ways. One tall, slender, athletic. The other curvey, sensuous. And of course gay. But not butch. At a time when gays were not accepted and any secret agent would be open to blackmail. No president would accept that.
And of course they first blind their nemesis, a tall, blonde, atletic, smart, evil German male and then finally kill him. Of course, competent straight man is overcome by strong gay women. When compared to the gay couple in On the Oceans of Eternity this is a hack job beating you over the head with it. Gay Wonder Woman hooks up with Black Widow. But god forbid you have two gay males in the same type of relationship. It feels like Stirling has gone off the rails and is coasting on the fumes of his prior great work. The reads like a fanboy essay written to get a lesbian owned rent controlled apartment in San Francisco. Compared to prior work with similar characters this is sadly lacking. Slow, pedantic with long descriptions of food and clothing. He did his research, we get it. But too much is too much.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

S. M. Stirling finishes off his Tales from the Black Chamber series in fine style. After recovering from their adventures in Europe, Luz O'Malley and Ciara Whelan are tasked with protecting the Annihilation Gas plant being built in Mexico. Unbeknown to them Horst von Duckler, the German agent they had fought against in two earlier books is in the area. He had broken out of the POW camp in Texas and teamed up with Mexican rebels to try to cause trouble. Major Rohm then joins in his crusade with a special weapon smuggled in via U-boat. And the chase is on. As usual, there is skullduggery, twisted plots, and a climactic showdown. But this time around, the plot just seemed a little thin. I gave the book 4 stars because it did a nice job of completing the story arc, but would only give it 3.5 stars for the storytelling itself. We will have to wait and see if Stirling returns to this universe in the future.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read about alternate history spies. In this one the villain got most of the action while the hero does the detective work. (A nice turn about fair play) I really liked the Mexican culture parts and the explanation of how the U.S. South' s economic system really worked. I can't say I agree with how the Progressives are engineering their ideals, because they are turning the U.S. into a dictatorship and taking away freedom. This is an alternate history book and an adventure read, but it also alerts that freedom is easily lost to those who will do anything in the name good works because they know best. Less freedom in the name of national security against evil world powers only goes so far. I have the next book in this series and I am looking forward to what comes next. I am glad I don't have to live in this alternate history, because the future has the potential to be very bleak. Stirling makes it fun to read about.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tales From The Black Chamber are outstanding! "What If" Theodore Roosevelt had been elected President in 1912 and enacted the Progressive program for the USA?

In this third volume, it is 1917 and the Great War is not going well for the USA. Black Chamber secret agents Luz and Ciara are in the Protectorate of Mexico to foil another diabolical (not exaggerating much here) plot by Imperial Germany. In the course of their adventures they meet again Luz's arch nemesis Horst von Druckler and another secret invention (that could have happened!). Along the way you'll find almost too many historical and almost historical Easter eggs to count. If James Bond had been female and lived in the early 20th century...he wouldn't be as cool as Luz. I highly recommend this novel!

[Patrick Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m 2/3 of the way done and nothing has happened except one attack in the beginning. Just to be clear, I am a huge Stirling fan and to the best of my knowledge I have read everything he has written. It just seems that he drones on and on about describing everything in such detail and in a foreign language and then translates into English which is going nowhere not vey fast. I feel like sometimes he is just showing off. Yes, he seems to have a huge treasure trove of esoteric knowledge but, come on bro, let’s get this thing going. I think it is quite telling how the pace fails to keep my attention that I stopped reading to write this review. Just in case you think I am some knuckle head with no imagination of my own, I usually read about 3 hrs a day 7 days week. I was on a 117 day streak but somehow missed a day. Anywho, back to the grind. Hope something pops off soon!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the series sets an almost welcome different tempo and even tone as our heroines venture into Mexico in 1917, now occupied by the US as a protectorate, seeking to foil whatever the Prussian foe might conjure up. The feel of this story is different but still offers the combative antagonists and protagonists the opportunities to test themselves against each other. However, as the author expands our knowledge and understanding of this alternate world there are strong suggestions that we will soon see new horizons in the next series of adventures. Looking forward to it.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love S. M. Sterling's imagination, but once he sets up his new world and gets things rolling there comes a point where he just talks....and talks.....and talks. Nearly four hundred pages and there is very little action until the last twenty. Quite a slog. Interesting world and one wonders where he's going to go with it next, but be prepared to read two page descriptions of the appetizers served at a function where the attendees, you guessed it, talk over what's to do to conquer the enemy.

[Edward Stautberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting. MUCH less action than previous books in the series, a lot more world building. Which I like and thought was neat, but the other two books in the series were heavily plot driven, so was just a surprise.
I'm not sure if this is the conclusion to the series, it seems open to continue, which would be very welcome.

[Michael V. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow What a Series

Another great Black Chamber novel. I truly love the way TR shines in this series and Luz is a great character, one of Stirling's most memorable. I keep wanting more and hopefully as fans we will keep getting it. Very detailed descriptions of the Zacatecas area of Mexico and I love Mezcal!

[Jeffrey Schmieder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the second one. Less action but more information about the Teddy Roosevelt alternative world. Warning! This series will make you hungry! The author's descriptions of meals had my stomach grumbling. Sad that so much of America thinks Mexican food is Taco Bell. Really looking forward to the next trilogy set in Asia years later.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

With his usual eye for detail, Stirling describes the new progressive nationalism that continues to evolve in Teddy Roosevelt's 4th term and its stalemate with Germany internationally. The US Protectorate of Mexico is now the setting for clashes between the Chamber's operatives and German saboteurs.

[Mike Kantola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific alternate earth book from SM Stirling. His knowledge of history is amazing. It is fun to see all these characters interact in a new environment. Not that any of them are the main story. Just mentioned.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alternate history. My least favourite of the series so far... I think because the spy team of Luz and Ciara were on home turf (sort of) in Mexico and playing defense instead of offense. As always with Stirling, amazing historical detail.

[Michael Mayne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want a refund

Stirling is/was a good author. However, this book was horrible. Too many long descriptions of food/clothing/etc, a paper thin plot, and numerous other flaws add up to one boring book.

[Dave White · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's hard to know who to root for, stereotypical German monsters or fascist Americans who have realized the wet dream of Manifest Destiny.
I had greater expectations.
The heroes stopped just short of chanting Blood & Soil but not by much.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tis series is compelling. Stirling knows how to ratchet up the suspense. He knows his history and how to twist it in a believable fashion. I really like his protagonists and can respect the main antagonist.
I like it when an author can do that.

[Michael Jarrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent installment of the trilogy. Not quite as good as the previous novels, (the pacing was slow and the story got lost in descriptive narrative), but a good read, nonetheless. Can't wait to see what's next.

[Carleton R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two books in this series. However, this one was a real snoozer. Most of the book is spent on the characters congratulating each other about how smart and beautiful they are. Unless you're a fan of the series and want to read this one for continuity, I'd skip it.