Rating: 
Summary: I'd give this book zero stars if given the option.
Review: This book is so unbelievably unrealistic it should have been in the fantasy section. There are two places where this book messes up badly. The first and most glaring errors of this book focuses on the improbable technical superiority of the Draka. By the American Revolutionary War, they have acquired Minie bullet firing rifles (breach-loading) not used en masse until the American Civil War. In WW2, the Draka military uses many 1990's real world American military equipment. The Draka WW2 standard assault rifle is a much improved version of the M-16A3 with its 3 shot burst fire selection, 75 round drum magazine, and 5mm rounds. The Hond III is the M1A1 Abrahms without the laser range finder, computer-assisted fire control, and the Chobham armor. The P-12 ground attack aircraft is a carbon copy of the A-10 Warthog. The Draka even have MLRS. In the late 40s, the Draka get assault choppers and advanced air cavalry tactics employed by Americans in the real world in the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, in WW2, they fight Germans equipped with bolt-action Mauser rifles, the antiquated and failure prone MG-42, and armor like the Panthers, Tigers, and Elefants.The second major failure of this book is on the political and sociological scene. The losing loyalists of the American Revolution lost for a good reason. They lost because they didn't have the courage, fervor, and brilliance their patriotic enemies have. Same thing with the Southerner exiles from the American Civil War. The great European powers would have never allowed the Draka to have Africa for themselves. Likely, in the real world, the Draka would have been crushed by British Imperial might. The Janissaries are another improbable facet of Draka society. The real Janissaries were promised with citizenship for the and their children upon successful completion of their service. The Draka Janissaries weren't. The promised reward of citizenship from a powerful nation in exchange for loyalty and ferociousness in battle is a powerful incentive for those warriors. Another example would be the French Foreign Legion. My main point about the superb Draka Janissaries is that they don't have an excellent incentive to perform as admirably as they had. Threats of violence only gets you so far. S. M. Stirling had to rig the stories in order for the Draka to win.
Rating: 
Summary: INTENSE ALTERNATIVE HISTORY
Review: This is the first Stirling novel (actually a trilogy) I have read. I found it interesting and one of the most intense books I have read. It was hard to put down at times, then hard to keep reading at others. The premise of the Domination of the Draka and the Draka's rise to power encompasing the globe is a good one. The general timeline takes the reader from a Euroasian War (somewhat like WWII) to the near future. One of the most interesting things to me was how technology was "quickened" because of the constant drive to stay ahead between the Draka and the Alliance led by the United States. The characters are vivid and sometimes disturbing, Draka and the freedom seeking Alliance alike. I recommend it, but be ready for an intense ride .
Rating: 
Summary: If you can believe this, then South w/h won Civil War
Review: This is the most asinine book that I have ever paid for. I could hardly get through 20 pages before I had to put it down. The premise of the story is this -- what if a bunch of technologically advanced, amoral, warlike people started their own country and tried to take over the world? First accept 2 conditions 1) they NEVER fight each other, and 2) they never make ANY mistakes. I guess that if Marc Antony, Julius Caesar and Cassius had hung together, the Romans could have taken over China; it's exactly the same logic. Even more absurd is assuming this behavior for ex-Confederates -- the people who castigated Jeff Davis as a tyrant for trying to impose a little discipline when the real CSA was fighting for its life. One entertaining theme is the bisexuality of the Draka, allowing for numerous lesbian scenes. But if you can believe that, if you're a woman, go into a sorority house at Ole Miss, give some babe a big wet kiss, and see what happens. Case closed.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Alternative History, Ever. Period.
Review: This review comes well after the publication of The Domination and the primary purpose is to address some of the negative reviews that might otherwise disuade a potential reader. Most of the criticism is grounded on what the critics assert is an implausibly high level of technology in the Draka time line. Two points: First, if the negative reviewers had been afforded the original novels with their extremely detailed appendices, they would be fully up to speed on why technology advanced quicker in Stirling's alternative world than it did in our own. Second, no one can credibly claim that, given different historical stimuli, our technological level could not be more or less advanced depending on circumstances that, as Stirling did, can only be imagined. The point is, the first time reader should really read the original novels, then read Drakon AND then read The Domination. And, actually, the only reason to read The Domination is the teasers about the post-Drakon world that, with any luck at all, we will see in book form in the not to distant future. On the general subject of Alternate History, Stirling and Turtledove are both masters of detail and authenticity, and thus the leaders of this genre. I give Stirling the slight edge for one simple reason: he links, or at least gives himself the option to link, his books even beyond what his fans might first perceive. Consider this: His two most widely read and discussed solo series, the Draka series and Nantucket series, have a cross-time event as the central plot device. The similarities between the the cross-time mechanisms in these two seemingly unrelated series are not accidental, in my opinion. As a big fan, my hope is that we might someday be treated to a connection between these two series. If you are reading this review and have not read the referenced series, or Turtledove's alternate World War I series, all are really first rate reads. In this genre, they just don't get any better. Pay no attention to those who demand perfection--it doesn't exist anyway. Finally, these two authors like to have fun and they are very likely good friends. As one example, one of Stirling's principle characters in the the Nantucket series is almost certainly based on Turtledove.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Cure For the Chronically Optimistic and Cheerful
Review: When I picked up the Domination, I had a great deal of anticipation given its renown in the alternate history world. And, while I still find the premise and the alternate history aspects quite interesting, I would not recommend this book and I have little time for it. The idea of having a major world power deride from a European colony based in Africa is quite intriguing. What would it be like if that part of the world produced a major power rather than simply be trampled on by the existing ones? What if a society based on colonialism and slavery emerged and even rose to prominence? Again, it sounds like the great basis for a book. Unfortunately, the Domination is more about some kind of anti-fantasy world where the bad guys always manage to win (to the point where they have incredible luck) and the world endures being slowly put under the yoke, with countless tales of futile resistance and mewling servitude. Then there's the many sexual elements that seem to permeate the story; this (...) ruins so many alternate history novels, and yes, I'm talking to you, Harry Turtledove. When you put sadism and an obsession with sex together you might as well be reading the Marquis de Sade. (And as for the one reviewer on the back cover who said that there were 'strong female characters'-why? Because they kill people and sleep with one another?) All in all, the Domination and the story of the Draka would have been a lot better had it focused more on alternate history and spent less time dreaming up some kind of fanboy anti-superman saga. I guess that kind of thing sells better.
Rating:
Summary: Less sadean fantasy, more alternate history please
Review: When I picked up the Domination, I had a great deal of anticipation given its renown in the alternate history world. And, while I still find the premise and the alternate history aspects quite interesting, I would not recommend this book and I have little time for it. The idea of having a major world power deride from a European colony based in Africa is quite intriguing. What would it be like if that part of the world produced a major power rather than simply be trampled on by the existing ones? What if a society based on colonialism and slavery emerged and even rose to prominence? Again, it sounds like the great basis for a book. Unfortunately, the Domination is more about some kind of anti-fantasy world where the bad guys always manage to win (to the point where they have incredible luck) and the world endures being slowly put under the yoke, with countless tales of futile resistance and mewling servitude. Then there's the many sexual elements that seem to permeate the story; this (...) ruins so many alternate history novels, and yes, I'm talking to you, Harry Turtledove. When you put sadism and an obsession with sex together you might as well be reading the Marquis de Sade. (And as for the one reviewer on the back cover who said that there were 'strong female characters'-why? Because they kill people and sleep with one another?) All in all, the Domination and the story of the Draka would have been a lot better had it focused more on alternate history and spent less time dreaming up some kind of fanboy anti-superman saga. I guess that kind of thing sells better.
Rating: 
Summary: They left several parts out.
Review: While, I own all of the series in paperback, and bought the combined hardback inorder to preserve my orginals, I bought it knowning that the in between chapter inserts had be removed. However, I did not realize that the editor also pinched and cut several parts out of each book. While the new reader will not miss them and the cut part's do not alter the overall story, the experinced reader who knows the prior books will find them selves wondering where the missing parts are. I had to go back and look up the orginal works to figure out why and what I was missing. Thinking that I was losing my mind! I hope in the future that these left out sections will be replaced and the editors will take a little more care. I did enjoy the new inserts that linked the chapters and hinted at a (FINALLY) new book. I rated this a three, would have been higher if'n the missing parts and exclusions were not so obvious.
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