Rating: 
Summary: Very Good
Review: "The Domination" is an excellent, well-written book. The way that S.M. Stirling manages to portray the Draka story being told (Carmaggio from "Drakon" telling a scientist who works for him) does a good job of showing how the events in "Drakon" (the sequel to "The Domination") influenced this Earth. Stirling's portrayal of the Draka culture is very detailed and the military aspects, especially in the "Marching Through Georgia" section, are excellent. However, the time-lines and appendices that were in the original Draka novels were left out. Thankfully, I read them before I purchased "The Domination" or else I would have had some trouble understanding the book. It would have also been good if Stirling had described more of the Final War other than the initial phases, some scenes during the war, and the aftermath. Some detailed battle scenes like in "Marching Through Georgia" would have been nice. Overall, it was a good book and I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good -- thought provoking but occasionally slow
Review: I am shocked though by the lack of imagination shown by some of the earlier reviewers. They're basically saying this is an alternate history story about a world that isn't exactly like ours! Stretch your minds a bit guys, that's kind of the whole point. That being said, I do agree that there are some unanswered questions about the Draka's early history. I understand that the author is planning to write a new book about the Draka in WWI. I hope he is planning to continue the series with a prequel about the Draka involvement in the American Civil War, when they sent aid to the Confederate States. I would also like to read about their involvement in the Napoleonic Wars when they took Egypt away from the French and really got started on their road to power. This is a well written and thoughtful story with excellent character development. (For some reason S.M. Stirling likes to write about female protagonists, usually lesbians. I imagine this is just to be creative and eye opening because it's not the norm and he is demonstrating that it could be.) The reason that I bumped it down to only four stars is because it was a little slow and dry in places. That may be the editing. I have only read the hardcover trilogy version and I understand a lot was left out from the original, which may have tied everything together better...
Rating:
Summary: Posible but unlikely
Review: A lot of people have commented on how Stirling's version of WWII has the Draka with weapons 1 or 2 generations in advance of the Germans and Russians. However his description of early Draka history is even more improbable.In the appendix to Marching Through Georgia the Domination in 1800 has a total free population of 350,000, man, woman and child. By comparison the British regular army in the Napoleonic wars reached a peak of 237,000. I'm not sure how large the navy was but it was over 100,000. The British army was at least the equal in quality of the best in the period and the British navy was superior in quality. Yet with the British having much superior numbers and at least equal quality to the Draka he has the Domination annexing Ceylon, Egypt, Cyprus, Crete, Tunisia, Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar and French West Africa. In addition to this they have to rule a homeland that is quite large by European standards and suppress the population there. Britain, which was far and away the greatest world power after the Napoleonic wars, annexes nothing outside of India and is unable to stop the Draka annexing Egypt which is a major strategic post on the way from Britain to India, as well as being much closer to Britain than South Africa. To me this early history of the Domination is simply impossible, and without this early expansion they couldn't have risen to rule Europe, Africa and most of Asia by 1946. That said I still find his series excellent. To me the Domination is really a reflection of how Nazi Germany might have developed if they won WWII and were allowed to consolidate in Europe. If you read William Shirer's 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich', especially chapter 27 'The New Order', you can see how many parallels it has with the Domination. Unfortunately the victory of democracy was not inevitable (and still isn't today). People had to be, and still have to be, willing to fight and suffer for freedom. The series is well written and he actually makes many of the Draka characters sympathetic, despite the total evil for which they stand. I think Eric von Shrakenburg is the most likable character in the series, yet he leads the final destruction of democracy in the Solar System! Of course the series demands that the Draka keep winning because their social system would quickly collapse if they ever lost a war.
Rating:
Summary: A tale from the "other" side
Review: A tale of alternate history told from the "other" side. Imagine a world where the defeated and expelled Loyalists of the American Revoluntionary War didn't melt back into American society or go to Canada but instead formed a country in what we know as South Africa. Imagine that they were later joined by expelled Southern aristrocrats from the American Civil War and the upper crust of European society. Imagine that this country is named "Draka" and that the Drakans are [rather upset], and you've got S.M. Stirling's "The Domination." Draka, as one might imagine, is far different then the good ole US of A. First, the whole society is based on slavery. And not just some aspects of the economy, but the country as a whole is completely rooted in the slave culture. Slaves are an integral part of every aspect of Drakan life, including sex and pro-creation, culture and economy. Most importantly, slavery isn't just about captured/transported blacks folks : much of the Drakan labour force comes from people taken from their conquered countries. "Seeing" the Drakans turn people from every part of the globe into Drakan-speaking, sub-citizens is chilling indeed.
Secondly, the Drakans live under a different set of values as well: slaves are never seen as anything more then property. While they may be treated well by their Drakan overlords, slaves are, at best, favored pets. Women, on the other hand, are considered equals to men, and play an active role in every part of Drakan society: government, culture, and the military. Familys play an important role and homosexuality is accepted - even encouraged - in Drakan society. For all of that, the major difference between the Drakans and everyone else is the mlitary aspect. While white Drakas play hard, they fight even harder. Every Drakan citizen is expected to serve the military, and almost from birth every Drakan citizen is training him or herself to absolute peak physical condition. They are lethal fighting machines, highly trained and each worth a handful of their enemy on the battlefield. Drakans never ask, nor give, quarter, don't believe in Prisoners of War (they either kill or enslave those they capture) and sneer at the American-lead alliance, believing it to be filled with fat and soft peoples. Drakan society and government is driven by the fundamental belief that Draka must expand and conquer everything it can, lest it be the victim itself. In general, I very much enjoyed this book. Unlike some other alternate fiction that I've read, the digression from the "true" time line isn't immediate and massive. Instead, Stirling makes the split steady and logical. The first major, "world-changing" fissures come around the time of World War 2: the Draka enter the war, but allied with neither side. The result? A three way battle for... well, pretty much everything. From there, things chug along. There's plenty of action, with everything from spy games and hand-to-hand combat to nicely-detailed space battles. But there's also politics and intrigue, and the main characters were "good enough" for purposes of this book. Stirling even spends a fair amount of time showing us how the Draka convert the people of countries they've taken over - it's a fascinating process that helps us better understand how the Draka think.
There were a few small things that prevented me from giving this novel/collection 5 stars. The lack of maps, glossary, or a chronology was quite annoying. And Stirling's writing often portrayed the American-alliance in very contradictory ways: on one hand we're supposed to believe they have a slight lead in technology but on the other are far inferior (and soft) fighters who ignore the reality of what the Draka are.
In general though, those who enjoy alternate-history fiction will find this a surprisingly good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Put this on the shelf next to Brave New World and 1984.
Review: Below you'll find a bunch of reviews saying how this "could never happen."... Everyone thinks that Hitler and Stalin and all the other evil people fell because they're evil. Stirling takes that silly notion that evil must inevitably implode and shows how plausibly false it is. Make no mistake, this is not a book for those of you who like the Hollywood ending. This is not light reading. This book is one of those types that you put down and you thank God, fate, or whomever that something like this never happened to us. Basically, the Loyalists from the American Revolution go to South Africa and create a neo-Spartan society (complete with pseudo citizen classes like Metic). This society speeds up the technological curve by about 50-100 years (depending on the book). The story starts in World War II and the Draka have technology about 50 years ahead. By the end of the 20th century, the world is approximately a century ahead of us. The skeptics say this is implausible. They obviously are not students of history. Science and technology is not like hopscotch, where everyone progresses down the same path in an ordered pattern. Societies build, innovate, and advance based on how much they wish to do so. A working model for a steam engine was produced in Ptolemaic Egypt in the 2nd century BC. The society of the time had no use for it, so it lay forgotten. China had gun powder for centuries before the West, why didn't they build firearms? The answer; because they did not need firearms. The speed of innovation is directly proportional to its demand and the Draka found themselves as refugees surrounded by a hostile Africa. The Draka also make use of slave soldiers called Janissaries. Skeptics say these people would rise up against their owners. Sure, if they had the hope of succeeding. They key is to convince the slave populous that they would fail and that there is no hope. Convince a population that this is the way life is and there isn't a chance to change it and they won't try. Stirling even admits that, early on, rebellions were common. Still don't think it is possible? Study history. Athens had a very large and yet docile slave population. They even had slaves fighting in their ships. Feudal servitude lasted a millennia, ending only because the lords abused the power, something the Draka rarely do. The underground railroad in the U.S. only took off after the Abolitionists provided the slaves with hope of freedom. The only point I grant to the naysayers is the fact that the two World Wars unfolded just like in our time. Obviously, Mr. Stirling believes that minor changes in history don't affect the integrity of the timeline. However, by putting us in a setting we understand with actors in which we're familiar (World War II, Stalin, Hitler), it allows him to focus entirely on the Draka as opposed to explaining a massively divergent setting. Read this book. My only regret is that I could not read some of the originals with the maps and appendices. The Draka are a more chilling evil than either brand you get in 1984 or Brave New World, mainly because they're real. The don't sit around plotting how to be diabolical, raising their glasses at dinner and saying "gentlemen, to evil." They're a cultural that is so anti-ethical to us that they seem evil, but if you're truly open minded, then you can see how the Draka see their way as THE way. Stirling does such a good job that you can't help but empathize with the Draka characters. I suggest you let yourself empathize with them. Try being a Draka. You'll never look at this world in the same way.
Rating: 
Summary: Ratio of new ideas to pages : 0.001
Review: Dear Sir, I bought your books because they started so well, with a good historical twist. But as I was reading your different books, I kept thinking : OK, this is basically the same idea as that in the book I have finished. Anything new ? Nope ! Moreover, the treatment of the Europeans is plainly degrading, sutpid and not plausible. The Drakka could not have extended their empire in Africa so much in the late 19th century because France and the United Kingdom were already there and would have reacted strongly if the Drakka had moved.
Rating:
Summary: Glory to the Race!
Review: Finally I a copy of "Marching through Georgia"! I have scoured the used bookstores of three major cities to get my hands on this! I understand that it is terribly abridged, but I can overlook that to get the first installment of this great alt.-history. Also, I particularly enjoy the cover art on this tome (The Stone Dogs was awful). Can we hope to see more of our favorite bad guys in the future? Mr, Sterling are you listening? I don't know who came first, Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle's Saurons or the Draka, but I love them both and would be greatly pleased to see some cross-over work on both series by these great authors.
Rating:
Summary: Reading for the Brave!
Review: Finally!!! The Stirling classic trilogy of the "Draka", has finally been reissued. Those who read this daring trilogy, will find themselves and their sense of morals challenged to the extreme. This trilogy is one of the most believable in the genre of alternative history novels. Anyone reading "The Domination" will be astonished by the detail and the complexity of S.M. Stirling's writing. His research and detailed depiction of this fascinating and terrifying society, cannot help but enthrall the reader. One's own sense of morality is provoked and challenged, while at the same time, evoking an uncomfortable identification with the super race called "The Draka". The most horrifying aspect of this collected novel, is that it is believable, had circumstances allowed. I was disappointed that the informative maps and chapter prologs, were omitted. This work has been out of print for some time now. It would have been very helpful to those first-time readers to have been able to read and veiw such deleted material. However if you're looking for a good read, you will not be disappointed. I find that many stories that challenge one's own sense of humanity, are afforded a higher sense of morality and introspection in relating to one's place in our world today. And how it could have been. One cannot help but imagine themselves in such a reality, and contemplate their own existence in it. The ultimate question put to us, "How would we all face such a Holocaust?" I especially appreciated how the characters grew in this expansive plot. And how the events of the storyline impacted them, and ultimately us. One cannot help but imagine who would betray the title characters of this novel, should directors be brave enough make a film production of it. I highly recommend this novel for those who are not afraid to have their own sensibilities challenged and provoked. Hopefully, we will hear more from "The Domination".
Rating:
Summary: Reading for the Brave!
Review: Finally!!! The Stirling classic trilogy of the "Draka", has finally been reissued. Those who read this daring trilogy, will find themselves and their sense of morals challenged to the extreme. This trilogy is one of the most believable in the genre of alternative history novels. Anyone reading "The Domination" will be astonished by the detail and the complexity of S.M. Stirling's writing. His research and detailed depiction of this fascinating and terrifying society, cannot help but enthrall the reader. One's own sense of morality is provoked and challenged, while at the same time, evoking an uncomfortable identification with the super race called "The Draka". The most horrifying aspect of this collected novel, is that it is believable, had circumstances allowed. I was disappointed that the informative maps and chapter prologs, were omitted. This work has been out of print for some time now. It would have been very helpful to those first-time readers to have been able to read and veiw such deleted material. However if you're looking for a good read, you will not be disappointed. I find that many stories that challenge one's own sense of humanity, are afforded a higher sense of morality and introspection in relating to one's place in our world today. And how it could have been. One cannot help but imagine themselves in such a reality, and contemplate their own existence in it. The ultimate question put to us, "How would we all face such a Holocaust?" I especially appreciated how the characters grew in this expansive plot. And how the events of the storyline impacted them, and ultimately us. One cannot help but imagine who would betray the title characters of this novel, should directors be brave enough make a film production of it. I highly recommend this novel for those who are not afraid to have their own sensibilities challenged and provoked. Hopefully, we will hear more from "The Domination".
Rating:
Summary: The Domination
Review: Great fiction if read for entertainment value. I enjoyed the series by suspending my critical eye and just reading the books as fictional yarns. I agree with the critics that the author shapes events and technology to support his tale. However, I did not read the book(s) intending to buy into Stirling's view of alernate history, merely to be entertained by it. So to readers with a strong historical accuracy requirement, you will be disappointed. To readers who enjoy well written historical fiction, and who don't mind facts used loosely, this book (or trilogy) is highly recommended.
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