Under the Yoke

by S.M. Stirling

In under the Yooke Steve Stirling has created a world in which the losers in the American Revolution did not have a Canada to flee to; instead they had South Africa. Strangely enough, this seemingly... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671720775
• ISBN13: 9780671720773
• Release Date: December 1990
• Publisher: Baen Books
• Length: 501 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Under the Yoke

Very good series. I bought this one to replace the one I gave away after purchasing the 3-in-1 version. That version left out a lot of the subhistory that is in the individual novels.

The most terrifying dystopia since 1984.

I first heard about the Draka series when I was hanging out on one of the alternative history newsgroups. There was much discussion about the Draka series, with many saying it was the most plausible alternative history series ever, and others called it unbelievable. Since the series seemed to stir such strong emotions, I decided to buy the series. Since Marching Through Georgia was out of print, I bought under the yoke instead. After finishing it, I realized that this wasn't really alternative history - instead, it was the best dystopian novel since 1984.The Draka series does have an interesting, if implausible, alternative history. During the American Revolution, the Netherlands declares war against Britain two years early. Britain seizes South Africa, and after the Revolution is over, Britain sends all of the Tories, most of whom are slaveholders, to South Africa. This colony, named after Sir Francis Drake, florishes, and soon conquers all of Africa. The Domination of the Draka is made up of a master Race, and millions of serfs (slaves) who are utterly dominated by their masters. During World War I, the Draka seize most of the Middle East and parts of Asia. During World War II (known in this timeline as the Eurasian War), the Draka manage to conquer the rest of Europe and most of Asia. Under the Yoke is set in the aftermath of the war, when the Draka are still consolidating their hold over Europe.Ostensibly Under the Yoke is a spy story, about an American agent who tries to smuggle out a nuclear scientist. But this story takes a back seat to Stirling's exploration of Draka society. What makes it so utterly terrifying is that Stirling makes us believe that a society where 90% of the populace are slaves could not only work, but actually thrive. In addition, the Draka themselves are fascinating. They are kind to their children, they are environmentalists, and they do not torture or kill without cause (usually). But they simply do not accept what we take to be "self-evident" - that all men are created equal. And in the end, the Draka are more terrifying and evil because they are also so human. (This is a weakness of the other Draka books, where often Stirling portrays the Draka as supermen without also showing their evil). Thus, the comparison to 1984 - you want to deny that a society could exist without freedom, but Stirling makes you doubt it. There are some problems with the book. Stirling seems to love to add gratuitous sex and violence, and seems particularly obsessed with the Draka's (...) promiscuity. Stirling also seems to be taken with the supposed realism of his timeline, when frankly it is wildly implausible - the Draka are unbelievably lucky way to many times in their history. But, if you have a strong stomach, Under the Yoke is an excellent, frightening novel of a world that none of us would ever want to visit.

Engrossing,horrifying,and thought provoking.

I have been a fan of Stirling's Draka series since I picked up a copy of MTG ten years ago. Having spent several years in the military and being a history buff Stirling's grasp of these topics is very impressive, but Under The Yoke is the keystone to his whole series. In the Draka Stirling has kept the best (and worst) traits of the Romans,Spartans and yes the Athenians. These are not a sweet lovable people, they conquer and they don't believe in the oneness of Humanity. They have taken Darwin and warped him. In this second installment we are treated to the spectacle of a conquered and enslaved Europe. I for one found this to be very disturbing but I also appreciated the irony. For in this novel the Europeans are getting back what they have given to others over the centuries only this race of conquers is in many respects superior. They don't mindlessly exploit the land and it's resources for they to live there. Most of the Draka treat their Serfs (or slaves) with a modicum of humanity and they are not cruel for the sake of cruelty(well most aren't). But the Draka are descended from history's losers and this time they are determined not to end up at the bottom. For those who find this series to be depressing try looking upon it as cautionary tale. This is what the Human race could have ended up like. In reality we are sloppy,self-indulgent,silly,and even lovable,but we are free and we have no Draka. Stirling knows this,but he also knows that we must always be vigilant. Incidentally he is also a fantastic action writer.

the best volume of the best alternate history series

This is the sequel to Marching Through Georgia, itself a stunning piece of alternate history/military sf. If you can't find MTG, start here; UTY has an inexorable political logic, fascinating characters, splendid writing and the most disturbing plot and theme in sf, with the exception of its sequel, The Stone Dogs. Set in the aftermath of the most distressing alternate WWII I can imagine, this is the book that established Stirling as the greatest AH writer of our time.

Best background creation since McCaffrey's Dragonriders

Stirling writes military SF as well as Drake or Pournelle - fast paced with lots of action. Stirling does the best job I have ever seen an author do of creating a background for his novels. McCaffrey is the only other author I've read who came close. However, she created a world, society, and complete culture on Pern in her Dragonrider series. Stirling creates just as convincing and detailed a background when he creates the timeline of the Draka, which diverges from our own during the American revolutionary war. In the Draka timeline, the Netherlands entered the war on the American side and the British take South Africa from them during the war. After the war is lost, Hessian mercenaries and loyal colonists (mostly from the southern colonies) are resettled in South Africa by the British as compensation for pay and losses in the American colonies. From that point, the new settlers in South Africa (renamed "Drakesland", later the "Domination of the Draka") display a societal militarism and aggressiveness (and a perpetual animosity towards "Damn Yankees") that by the time of Under the Yoke, immediately after World War II, has them ruling about half the world. Aside from being an excellently written military adventure and alternate history novel, Under the Yoke gives the reader a disquieting view of what slavery might actually mean. Having a heritage of southern slaveholders, the Draka never gave up the institution, and have extended it to encompass ALL subject people (not just Africans) in the lands they've conquered. The very title "Under the Yoke" refers to the subjugation of conquered people to Draka slavery - at the time of this novel, the Draka are consolidating their conquests of most of Asia, and all of continental Europe during WWII. Whereas slavery was already waning in the US by the US Civil War, and would have eventually died out due to inefficiency, mismanagement, and ineptitude on an institutional scale, it survived and flourished in the Domination of the Draka. The Draka are efficient, practical, and ruthless. Accept your slavery to them and life is tolerable and rather pleasant - fight the Draka and they will crush you. A very chilling, but highly accurate analogy would be to compare the Draka to hereditary coprate executives, and their slaves to the regular clock-punching employees. They regard human slaves just the same as any other tool or labor animal (gives new meaning to 'human resources'). It's just common sense - take care of a work animal and treat it well to get the best work out of it. But just as you destroy a dog that turns on you, the Draka don't tolerate a rebellious slave. Under the Yoke is the second (and best) of 4 in this series. I highly recommend it and the others for a good action SF read, and as thought provokers