World War II has evolved into decades of epic struggles and rebellions targeting the aliens known as the Race. As the 1960s begin, one of Earth`s great powers launches a nuclear strike against the Race`s colonization fleet-and the merciless invaders find themselves confronting a far more complex and challenging species than any they have encountered before. Ultimately, only superior firepower may keep Earth under the Empire`s control-or it may destroy the world. While uprisings and aftershocks of war shake the planet, one nation plots a stunning Hugo winner Turtledove lives up to his billing as the grand master of alternative novel is altogether excellent.