Aftershocks
Author	Harry Turtledove
Cover artist	Viktor Koen
Language	English
Series	Colonization
Genre(s)	Alternate History
Publisher	Del Rey
Publication date	2001
Preceded by	Down to Earth
Followed by	Homeward Bound

Aftershocks is an alternate history and science fiction novel by Harry Turtledove. It is the third and final novel of the Colonization series, as well as the seventh installment in the Worldwar timeline.

PlotEdit

The nuclear war between Nazi Germany and the Race ends with a Germany surrender after Führer and Chancellor Ernst Kaltenbrunner is killed and succeeded by Walter Dornberger. Dornberger agrees to disband the Axis Forces, withdraw German troops from occupied France, and disband the German rocket and nuclear forces. The German withdrawal results in instability in the governments of its allies, such as the British Union of Fascists in Britain, as well as clashes between the Free French Forces and the new government of liberated France and radioactive drift into the Soviet Union. However, Dornberger secretly begins stockpiling weapons and missile parts, allowing Germany the option to rearm itself in the future.

Meanwhile, the nuclear attack on the Race's colony fleet from Second Contact is finally revealed: it was an American attack, ordered by Earl Warren. When it is revealed, Fleetlord Atvar gives Warren a choice: dismantle the American space program, or allow the Race to nuke Indianapolis for revenge. To the surprise of all, Warren allows the Race to destroy Indianapolis, and then commits suicide, with Vice President Harold Stassen taking over. It is eventually stated that the reason Warren allowed the city to be destroyed over the space program was that the Americans were working on a starship that would allow them to journey to the Race's homeworld and repay their visit to Earth.

During this time, the Race itself undergoes large social unrest, due to the effects of ginger on their females. Drug addiction, the black market, and prostitution all arise from it, along with a reproductive system that is unregulated, much like that of humans. Inevitably, the Race is introduced to the concept of marriage.

v · d · e Worldwar Books Worldwar (In the Balance • Tilting the Balance • Upsetting the Balance • Striking the Balance) Colonization (Second Contact • Down to Earth • Aftershocks) Homeward Bound 1 of 8 Add photo Human POV Characters Mordechai Anielewicz • George Bagnall • Mutt Daniels • Johannes Drucker • Monique Dutourd • Bobby Fiore • David Goldfarb • Ludmila Gorbunova • Leslie Groves • Heinrich Jäger • Glen Johnson • Jens Larssen • Kassquit • Liu Han • Vyacheslav Molotov • David Nussboym • Moishe Russie • Reuven Russie • Nieh Ho-Ting • Otto Skorzeny • Jonathan Yeager • Sam Yeager Race POV Characters Atvar • Felless • Fotsev • Gefron • Gorppet • Nesseref • Straha • Teerts • Ttomalss • Ussmak Geography Race Colonies on Tosev 3 • Big Five • Home Events Race Invasion of Tosev 3 • 1964 United States Presidential Election • Race-German War of 1965