The Iron Dream

The Iron Dream brings us the science fiction novel Hitler would have written if he had emigrated to the US in 1919 and become a hack science fiction writer - Lord of the Swastika!

In a post-nuclear holocaust era, we follow the rise to power of Feric Jaggar from ignominious exile amongst mutants and mongrels to absolute rule in the Fatherland of Truemen, having fought his way to power over the corrupt government.

Obsessed with tight black leather and huge crowds, he vows to destroy all mutant scum and defeat the cold, heartless superpower of Zind led by the evil mind-controlling Dominators.

In Spinrad's acid-etched satire the parallels between space opera, sword and sorcery and fascist wish-fulfilment are made explicit as as you find yourself rooting for Jaggar, while realising his rise has sinister parallels with that of Hitler and the Nazi party.