Through Darkest Europe
Through Darkest Europe (previously announced as God Wills It) is an alternate history novel by Harry Turtledove.[1] The book is set in an alternate present in which Islamic countries form a prosperous, democratic and progressive First World, while underdeveloped Christian countries suffer from religious fanaticism.[2]
Plot
In this alternate world, the dominating Muslim cultures of North Africa and the Middle East are "liberal, tolerant, and above all rich." Europe meanwhile is a hot spot of Christian fundamentalism, with assassinations, hijackings, and bombings committed by extremist groups such as the Aquinists. Senior Investigator Khalid al-Zarzisi is sent to Rome with his partner Investigator Dawud ibn Musa with the mission of protecting the Grand Duke (monarch of all Italy), the impoverished Pope, and preventing European instability from affecting the First World.
The alternate history's point of departure, as detailed in the first chapter, occurred between the 11th and 13th centuries due to different developments in Christian theology and Islamic theology. Thomas Aquinas, who in the real world sought to reconcile religion and reason, taught that Christianity and reason were incompatible, and that religious faith should override reason. Conversely, Al-Ghazali, who in the real world argued that Islamic faith was superior to philosophy and science, thought that the two were compatible.
The developed First World has advanced science, including Turkish Moon landings. Classical Arabic is used as a world language spoken by the educated and used in standard signs. Muslim culture, language, and style spread around the world with the spread of modernity.
See also
- The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
- The Mirage by Matt Ruff
References
External links
- Through Darkest Europe on Google Books.
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Videssos cycle |
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The Tale of Krispos |
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Time of Troubles |
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Worldwar
Worldwar |
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Colonization |
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a.k.a. Timeline-191
Second Mexican War | |
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Great War |
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American Empire |
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Settling Accounts |
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- Into the Darkness
- Darkness Descending
- Through the Darkness
- Rulers of the Darkness
- Jaws of Darkness
- Out of the Darkness
- Gunpowder Empire
- Curious Notions
- In High Places
- The Disunited States of America
- The Gladiator
- The Valley-Westside War
- The Bastard King
- The Chernagor Pirates
- The Scepter's Return
- Beyond the Gap
- The Breath of God
- The Golden Shrine
- Hitler's War
- West and East
- The Big Switch
- Coup d'Etat
- Two Fronts
- Last Orders
- Eruption
- All Fall Down
- Supervolcano
- Maelstrom
- Bombs Away
- Fallout
- Armistice
and Three Men and...Stories
- "Visitor from the East"
- "Peace is Better"
- "Typecasting"
- "Something Fishy"
- "Always Something New"
- "Tie a Yellow Ribbon"
- "Three Men and a Vampire"
- "Three Men and a Werewolf"
- "Three Men and a Sasquatch"
- A Different Flesh
- A World of Difference
- Agent of Byzantium
- Alpha and Omega
- And the Last Trump Shall Sound
- Between the Rivers
- The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump
- Conan of Venarium
- Down in the Bottomlands
- Every Inch a King
- Fort Pillow
- Give Me Back My Legions!
- The Guns of the South
- Hail! Hail!
- Household Gods
- The House of Daniel
- In the Presence of Mine Enemies
- Joe Steele
- Justinian
- The Man with the Iron Heart
- Noninterference
- Or Even Eagle Flew
- Ruled Britannia
- Thessalonica
- The Two Georges
- Through Darkest Europe
- "A Massachusetts Yankee in King Arthur's Court"
- "Election Day"
- "Getting Real"
- "The House That George Built"
- "Joe Steele"
- "Lee at the Alamo"
- "Liberating Alaska"
- "The Last Article"
- "Powerless"
- "The Road Not Taken"
- "Topanga and the Chatsworth Lancers"
- "Uncle Alf"
- "Vilcabamba"
- "Zigeuner"
- Atlantis and Other Places
- Counting Up, Counting Down
- Departures
- Earthgrip
- Kaleidoscope
- Reincarnations
- The Best of Harry Turtledove
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