A new classic of science fiction: you’ll like the humans, the aliens, and the problem!

I am an unashamed fan of ‘old-fashioned’ SF of the kind once written by Robert Heinlein and Larry Niven. The kind where the plot is as important as the characters, and you enjoy figuring out how the protagonists might solve the problems they encounter. The kind that has believable aliens, yet whose biology makes them fundamentally different from humans in thought and action. The kind that has flawed but likeable human explorers as its heroes, and no ‘cheats’ involving virtual reality or nanotechnology.

It’s been quite a while since I found a really good new example. I came across ‘A World Of Difference’ by chance in a library: I might not have bought it in a bookshop, for I don’t normally go for books of the alternate-history genre. But here the premise is a good one. Suppose Mars had turned out to be a world with a thicker, breathable atmosphere, and the Viking landers had returned not ambiguous data but pictures of real live aliens coming to wreck them? Then the American-Russian space competition might well have continued, with a race to make proper contact with the aliens by manned expeditions.

The story follows the fortunes of the rival crews, who reach the not-quite-Mars almost simultaneously. They both find the inhabitants likeable but shocking: the warlike aliens are not interested in either socialist utopias on the one hand, or freedom and democracy on the other. The tribal structure seems very reminiscent of the human race a few thousand years ago. The humans are thus not too surprised by other features of the alien culture, such as the fact that they are not permitted to meet any adult females.

But the similarity turns out to be deceptive. The aliens, despite their human-like personalities, are fundamentally different from us: a startling but believable feature of their biology (which is in fact found in certain earthly species) leads to a very different logic of life. Turtledove follows the process of mutual discovery from the aliens’ as well as the humans’ viewpoint, giving some amusing insights into the human condition.

As comprehension dawns, both sides must struggle to overcome their shock and revulsion at the other species’ lifestyle. And in a way it is the aliens who are more broad-minded: they can accept that humans are different, but the humans for their part find the temptation to meddle irresistible. Can they, should they, seek to introduce the aliens to techniques which may change their way of life forever? Will that really be the improvement that it seems?

Turtledove builds the tension superbly on several fronts. The alien tribes where the Russian and American ships make their respective touchdowns are about to make war on one another. Factions within each society differ as to whether they should accept the humans’ gifts of technology and knowledge. Meanwhile back on Earth - where events on Mars are being avidly followed by billions - the Cold War is building to a far more dangerous climax than happened in our version of reality.

To say more would spoil Turtledove’s tight plotting. Read the book for yourself - you won’t be disappointed!