Under the Yoke

Draka #2

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 minor reality shift made the future history of that world totally different from our own.

Genres: Science Fiction, Alternate History, Fiction, Horror, Speculative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Military Science Fiction

501 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Stephen Michael Stirling is a French-born Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author. Stirling is probably best known for his Draka series of alternate history novels and the more recent time travel/alternate history Nantucket series and Emberverse series.

MINI AUTO-BIOGRAPHY:
(personal website: source)

I’m a writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin and American by naturalization, living in New Mexico at present. My hobbies are mostly related to the craft. I love history, anthropology and archaeology, and am interested in the sciences. The martial arts are my main physical hobby.

Reviews

[Checkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment in Stirling's Draka quartet. A famous (and controversial) alternative history series in which the European settlers in South Africa become a world conquering empire over a 250 year span. Over the years I've read numerous articles in which Stirling's creation is ripped apart by alternative history connoisseurs, but also defend by others. Stirling himself has been accused of being a sexual pervert, racist and fascist, but he has gone on to have a long and prosperous career so he obviously has numerous fans.

I own the entire set. I have for years. I re-read them periodically. I personally don't try to poke holes in an author's AH scenario. It's pointless. The way I see it a fictional creation is just that. My creation is not better than another author's so why waste so much time ripping it apart? Stirling put in a lot of work into these books. I'm impressed and it does seems plausible. It might not be, but it's strong enough to take me along for the ride. I am somewhat critical myself of Stirling in my review of "Marching Through Georgia" , but in retrospect I have decided that I don't need to take everything so seriously. Sometimes a novel is just a novel.

"Under the Yoke" occurs in 1947 shortly after the end of the Eurasian War (the Draka Timeline second world war). It mostly takes place in France and looks at the assimilation of France (a first world nation) to life under the Draka Empire. It is disturbing at times, but engrossing. A look at the effect of conquest on both the conquers as well as the conquered. More detailed than the first installment it's not just a simple military adventure novel like "Marching Through Georgia" was. It is also an espionage novel and a sociological profile of Stirling's creation.

In my opinion "Under the Yoke" is the strongest of the four books. All are solid and enjoyable(?) reads, but this one is more grounded. I recommend buying all four books instead of the compilation. You will find the individual novels have more of Stirling's additional background information and provide a greater view of his world.

[Duffy Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote a long review of this book and Goodreads ate it. I have to start writing the reviews in a word processor and pasting them here. This has happened too many times. Here's the shorthand version of the review.

Better than the first book.

It concentrates on Draka consolidation of new territory, especially on the domestication of their new slaves. Draka are bastards. New generation of Draka think that its their birthright. They see themselves as becoming a kind of philosopher king after the entire world has been subjugated, but along the way they blithely witness and inflict mass impalings, horrible tortures, gang rapes, and its all just a logical consequence of being supermen.

Stirling does very well by taking seriously what it might mean to create a society of Zarathustras. He makes them totally repugnant, but also manages to make them more than one-dimensional. He also does very well showing a wide range of reactions among their subjects, from defiance to a kind of passive resistance to acceptance to allegiance, and all for different and believable motives.

The plot, a spy story involving secrets on microfilm, is pretty thin, but its there as a skeleton on which Stirling can hang his outlines of the developing Draka plantation society. That picture is done nicely, even if its subject is repellant.

I will definitely move on in the near future to the next book in the series.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a book that supports the idea that all cultures are not equal. Absolutely dreadful dystopia, 2nd in the Draka series. A bit too much military, definitely too much torture. Some editing slips especially in a critical scene - and yet the ideas are strong enough to overcome most of this. 4 of 5.

[Tom Mccarthy · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want to read a book where the bad guys win then this is for you.
Note, the aforementioned bad guys are slaveholding rapists that the author attempts to make sympathetic characters out of.
I wanted every Draka character in this book to die a horrible death. None, NONE of them do. It's, by far, the WORST case of an author shielding their characters I've ever seen.
I HATED this book.

[Ascian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously brutal. I love that Stirling pulls no punches in this book.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Under the Yoke”, second in the Draka series, is largely set in France which is now part of the Draka Domination.
The former citizens are serfs/slaves and chattels.
Their property has been looted and seized.
There is very limited resistance, largely because of the terrible retributions meted out.
An American spy is trying to make his way to a submarine which is submerged off the coast.
He finds his way to the von Shrakenberg estate which is celebrating the birth of twins.
A Draka custom is to invite the first Draka stranger passing by to be a guest and he's it.
It's got the radio he needs to make contact with the sub, and it also has many people who may prove helpful (obviously not Draka).
One, a former nun, is now an office manager. She's also his contact.
While the first book in the series, “Marching Through Georgia”, involved a lot of action, this time around it is sporadic and quick.
Again the reader gets plenty of information about the evolution of Draka society personified in the extended von Shrakenberg family.
They are artistic, gourmets, and capable of acts of great kindness.
They are also psychopaths hell-bent on global conquest.
After two centuries of warfare they don't just think that they are superior, the latest generation know that they are.
There's a lot to think about in the book.
I've just started on the third in the series, “The Stone Dogs”, and I don't know if I'll finish it.
3.5 Stars, brought back to 3 Stars.

[Rick Yagodich · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yoke is heavier than the romp through Georgia; this second Draka volume takes us deeper into the psyche of Stirling's alternate-history master race, in a study that pits four ideologies against each other – some more blatantly than others – but in doing so exposes their ironic similarities: the belief in self-righteousness, in the value of a victory, however shallow, and the willingness to die in support on one's delusions, in furtherance of the hollow good.

The book's weight is not only the psychology involved, but the pace and wordcount; while only 25% longer than Marching, it feels like more: there isn't the endless ripple of physical action that the first book thrives on. instead, we see snippets of events as they gravitate towards a knotty impass that no one – whateer their driving philosophy – should rightly call victory, yet all do.

[Sean Gray · Rating 1 out of 5]

total crap. boring to read stupid boring characters. I only read it because I started the trilogy and I always finish what I start. also I hoped that some of these main characters would die but not even that. I will read the last book in the series just to be completely done with it but I'm quite prepared that it will be crap as well.
and it's a bit much calling this science fiction, more appropriate label would be sick, nacho, ravudt, sexist drival. imagine Hitler writing narnia but with no talent.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times, this was not an easy book to read. So much casual brutality, although an important element to the story, can be disturbing. That said, a great book deals a powerful emotional punch and this one did just that. The Domination of the Draka is a horrible society, yet somehow, Stirling is able to write Draka characters that still have some admirable traits. It's hard to completely "hate" them. Great story, well defined characters and a complex, detailed alternate history.

[Elizabeth Rebecca Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sequel. It has some interesting moments but the ending is quite unsatisfactory. It is about occupation and enslavement of the French by the Draka. It is interesting to think how educated people would respond to being enslaved.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't that great. A small part of a bigger story, and just not that compelling. The bad guys are SO bad, and the good guys aren't that interesting. I may ready book 3 at some point, but no hurry. Stirling is usually much better than this.

[Ken Richards · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just could not get into this. Too much yearning for the supposed virtues of the old south for my liking

[Mike Glaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting concept but what a terrible people, the Draka. A very interesting book to read but hard to feel anything but despair as you do.

[John Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spy novel, instead of being about international conflict between the 2 sides, which I would prefer.

[Max · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing to hate. Nothing to praise. Just very meh. DNF at 28%

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book, although I think it was a good story and well-written. I have nothing against Southerners as such, but reading Southern dialect for page after page after page is painful. It means I have to internalize the single worst English accent and have -that- in my head, which is like finding a lollipop in a gutter and keeping in your mouth for a week. Even worse, the author doesn't use it consistently so characters are dropping in and out of it, which makes it harder to ignore. Terrible. The story had dead Nazis so it gets four stars.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second installment in Stirling's "Draka" series, and alternate history in which slave-holding European settlers took over most of Africa in the 19th century and became a super-power by WWII.
In "Yoke," the action takes place in occupied Europe, where the Draka are semi-frantically attempting to digest their doubled territory. This includes, of course, converting the majority of the population to serfs (their euphemistic term for their slaves.) Many do not take kindly to this new status, and in addition the Americans - still alive and kicking but Very concerned - are starting to think seriously about how they can undermine their former ally.
There are flashbacks to the war itself and sub-plots in Finland, but most of the plot surrounds one particular insurrection that comes to a head on a newly formed plantation in France.
Stirling is an excellent character writer and has a knack of making even his vilest creations at least a little sympathetic as he examines the culture, events, and politics that shaped them. His heroes, of course, are American and serf - he really Does write a good Catholic as he proves once again in the character of Sister Marya. But perhaps more interesting is his examination of those who Do willingly take the yoke of the Draka. It was fascinating to consider in which category I might find myself in similar circumstances: would I really find the will and even Need to resist, or would I acquiesce as long as my masters were not unduly cruel and provided the food and shelter that are their side of the bargain? History gives us plenty of serf-based societies that have lasted for centuries...
A compelling, if challenging and often disturbing read. I'm sure I'll pick up the rest of the series in due time.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd like to go 2.5 stars. It suffers from the same problem of "good guys fail, bad guys are competent and evil". It's essentially a tragedy, and I don't usually like tragedy.

This one is less plot-focused and more character-focused than the previous book. Treating the plot as less important means that it's presented somewhat achronologically, with a couple of extended flashbacks. One flashback makes sense (it occurs before all the other events of the book, and is presented mid-book); the other does not (it's just a normal chapter presented out of order, with a minimal frame). The plot as a whole had some potential but is a bit squandered. I hate the ending...it's not that it's poorly written, I just don't like what the actual events are.

The characters are more interesting than the previous book, but mostly either evil or unlikable.

[David R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in Stirling's "Draka" series. This one takes place five years after the first novel, and the horrifying Draka regime is grinding continental Europe into serfdom. The action largely takes place on a French "plantation" where new serfs (a French communist and Polish nun) confront the realities of their new, highly unpleasant circumstances, and a mysterious American agent strives to make life more difficult for the Master Race. As always, Stirling's style is dark, brooding, and top heavy with military overtones.

[Leagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stirling can be uneven, but he is rarely boring. I vacillated between four and five stars for this book -- thinking I should have given it a five because it disturbed me so much. As one reviewer said, "think about history - then make it worse." Much worse. A hypothetical slavery-based, war-glorifying, ruthless society -- that thrives. Eek.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

UTY is the sequel to Marching Through Georgia. Loyalists from the American Revolution are resettled in the Cape Town colony and become a continental military power known as the Domination of the Draka.
After conquering Eurasia, the Draka begin to remake Europe as they had Africa and southwest Asia prior to the Eurasian War (1942-46).

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second was not as good as the first. There was a switch in major characters, and it wasn't for the better. I was looking forward to seeing the characters develop, but they only played minor roles, if any.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love alternate history stories. This one shows what could happen if you had a country as efficient and dedicated as the Germans but not run by madmen. Extremely great storyline, highly recommended.

[David Hansen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Draka utterly
Repugnant. Author seems to
Like them a bit much.

[Philippe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel to Marching Through Georgia. Will give you nightmares....great read.