sdlotu
4/8/2021
This story, with it's invented colloquialisms used by the 'good old boys' of the future New South, presents the topics of racism and ethnic conflict in stark terms. Two analogs of the current day, labeled N'Alabama and N'Haiti, are at war primarily because of the racist white superiority belief of the N'Alabamans.
The author explores the effects of total war even over the wide distances of space, in the context of both white superiority and the use of Haitian nativist religion (vodun) to aid in acheiving victory.
It can be quite difficult at first to understand what the author has the N'Alabaman's saying, since it is a combination of 'good old boy' speak, misspelling and typed/auditory puns. Once that first hurdle is crossed, the rest of the story is engaging and thought provoking.
The language used might make this story difficult to publish even now. It is deservedly among the stories nominated for an award for the skillful writing and cultural characterizations for both sides, and the tragic end that both sides face from their efforts.