Underground Airlines

336 pages

Published July 18, 2017 by Mulholland Books.

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (17 reviews)

"It is the present-day, and the world is as we know it: smartphones, social networking and Happy Meals. Save for one thing: the Civil War never occurred. A gifted young Black man calling himself Victor has struck a bargain with federal law enforcement, working as a bounty hunter for the US Marshall Service. He's got plenty of work. In this version of America, slavery continues in four states called "the Hard Four." On the trail of a runaway known as Jackdaw, Victor arrives in Indianapolis knowing that something isn't right--with the case file, with his work, and with the country itself. A mystery to himself, Victor suppresses his memories of his childhood on a plantation, and works to infiltrate the local cell of a abolitionist movement called the Underground Airlines. Tracking Jackdaw through the back rooms of churches, empty parking garages, hotels, and medical offices, Victor believes he's hot on …

7 editions

Alt-History -what if slavery didn't end in US

4 stars

Winters does well covering political and legal aspects of US slavery and the domestic and international repercussions, but where he shines is in bringing to life the personal costs to those both inside and outside the "Hard Four" slave states and the violence that underlies it all.

Review of 'Underground Airlines' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Stark, clear writing, describing a hideous society that differs from our own in degree, not in kind. Victor's conflicts - internal and external - are drawn well. The whole thing is frighteningly believable until the climax: I found the ending felt a little hurried, the actions of the Bridge character unconvincing. Hence four stars rather than five.

Review of 'Underground airlines' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I'm not usually much of a fan of alt-history - it just isn't the kind of science fiction I enjoy most. But this was absolutely an exception to this rule. First, I think it probably is an interesting mix between literary fiction and alt-history - there are definitely literary elements to it. The character development of the main character in particular is stunningly well done.

He's complex, and layered, and all of that comes so clear as the story unfolds. There are a lot of surprises, and it's definitely a page turner.

It's also a fascinating look at what could have been, and, frankly, it's not so far-fetched. It has a way of highlighting our current difficulties with race, and region, and culture.

I would recommend this book absolutely for alt-history fans, and I would recommend this book to just about anyone who thinks about the history and culture of …

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