Volume 7- Issue 2, Febraury 2008
Published by Llumina Press

Review of Never Again: War and Democide

January 30^th, 2008

Reviewed by Daniel J. Neumann

For E Writer Magazine

Historical What If?

            John Banks, history professor, has a unique curriculum concerning governments. His research has led him to discover that democracies never wage war against other democratic nations. Thus the Benevolent Society, whose existence relies on the pursuit of world peace, sends their strongest (and most attractive) warrior, Joy Phim, to persuade him to join their cause. After a few dinners with Ms. Phim and a few war anecdotes by survivors, John Banks agrees to help—by traveling back in time and creating an alternate universe.

            I must warn you about this story. There is graphic, adult content. I am not just referring to “rated R” violence. The book rings true to explicit happenings: The reader will experience the cold blooded murders, the pain, the sorrow, the rape. Casual sexual situations arise, which are not only entertaining and realistic, but also serve to contrast corporeal violations from love-making. R. J. Rummel does justice to the magnitude of perverting typically pleasurable physical acts. Just as A Clockwork Orange can be utterly disgusting yet completely appropriate, so is Never Again. If you are not interested in this type of story, however, I suggest you avoid Never Again.

            The narration, for the most part, is John Bank’s. He does relate extended monologues of other characters as his own, though, so you never tire of his voice. Rummel’s writing style remains crisp and modern. While the vocabulary may be somewhat restricted, his readership grows to include those with shorter attention spans (like me at times). This a novel you can enjoy picking up and putting down as time permits.

            Never Again has a welcomed, epic feel to it. Each chapter opens with a headline from the Old Universe, which pertains to what shall be changed in the New Universe. Tensions build between John Banks and Joy Phim until key climaxes play out that build into a conclusion that will leave the reader’s mouth wide open. I am not in the business of giving out spoilers, but I will reveal that it took me by surprise.

            R. J. Rummel put together a solid novel that has the potential of becoming a well-received series. It certainly has a not-so-subtle moral message, but I suppose a man such as the author needs to preach. Nevertheless, that is my sole criticism: The plot could have conveyed the author’s message without saying it so often. Still, I have to give this story a five out of five. It is a must read for anyone interested in a historical “What If?” What if we could go back in time, with all our amazing technology, and rid the world of the Hitlers, Stalins, and Mao Zedongs? What if humanity should not have war?