Conquistador

What if Christopher Columbus had never arrived? What if an entire continent had remained untouched by European conquest? And what if, instead of discovering this lost world in the fifteenth century, someone stumbled across it armed with twentieth-century technology, modern economics and a healthy appreciation for commercial opportunity? S. M. Stirling’s Conquistador takes that gloriously audacious premise and runs with it, producing an alternate history adventure on an epic scale.

The story begins in the aftermath of the Second World War when ex-soldier John Rolfe makes an impossible discovery: a portal leading to a parallel North America where European exploration never happened. The continent remains largely untouched, populated by thriving indigenous civilisations and spectacular wilderness. Rather than announcing the greatest archaeological discovery in history, Rolfe does what many fictional adventurers apparently consider the obvious course of action. He quietly tells a handful of trusted friends, and together they begin building an entirely new society beyond the knowledge of the modern world. Naturally, keeping a secret of this magnitude proves rather more difficult than expected.

Stirling has long been regarded as one of the masters of alternate history, and Conquistador showcases exactly why. Rather than merely changing one historical event and watching familiar history wobble slightly, he constructs an entirely believable parallel civilisation with its own politics, culture and moral dilemmas. The result is a novel that is every bit as interested in human nature as it is in speculative history.

The irony at the heart of the book is delicious. Humanity spends centuries condemning the excesses of the original conquistadors while quietly wondering whether, presented with the same extraordinary opportunity, we might somehow behave rather better. Stirling gently suggests that access to modern education, democratic ideals and advanced technology does not necessarily eliminate greed, ambition or the temptation to exploit paradise for profit. History, it seems, has an awkward habit of repeating itself, even when given an entirely different continent.

What elevates the novel above a straightforward adventure is its refusal to offer simple heroes or villains. Questions of colonialism, conservation, power and responsibility emerge naturally from the narrative, forcing readers to consider what they themselves might do if handed the keys to an untouched world. It is thrilling, thoughtful and frequently provocative, balancing action with genuine philosophical weight without ever forgetting that a cracking story should remain, above all else, entertaining.

This 2004 Roc edition is in As New condition, remaining crisp, clean and beautifully preserved throughout. It presents superbly, making it an excellent addition to the shelves of science fiction enthusiasts, alternate history collectors or anyone who appreciates books capable of making the imagination work overtime.

Perfect for fans of Harry Turtledove, Stephen Baxter and ambitious speculative fiction, Conquistador is a novel that reminds us the greatest journeys are not always through space or time, but through the countless roads history never travelled. Add it to your collection today and discover an adventure where the New World really is new once again. As always from Crappy Old Books—where forgotten worlds, impossible histories and dangerously addictive page-turners are always waiting just beyond the next shelf.

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