The Fortune Follies is a work of science fiction penned by author Catori Sarmiento. In this superb reimagining of alternative history, we follow a pair of cousins through their daily lives at a difficult time of adjustment. The novel poses the question: what if the United States had lost their side in World War Two, and Japan had succeeded, and then goes on to reveal an exciting new redevelopment of futuristic technology in the city of Seattle. In this reimagined America, Sarah Igarashi tries to make her way as an outsider, whilst her cousin Penelope sings for her supper in Seattle’s clubs and dreams of something bigger.

Author Catori Sarmiento has created a fascinating cross-cultural read that explores some really fascinating concepts, whilst also delivering an excellent and intrinsically human science fiction plot. I liked the character development and split perspective between Sarah and Penelope very much, showing us two diverse women who view and navigate the world in different ways. For all their flaws, there’s plenty of strength and empathy to be taken from them both, and as their plot-lines intertwine, the overall story begins to take shape. It’s a slow-burning narrative of discovery and intense but lavish description, one which allows readers to enjoy the concept of the new world and its riches before the story really gets going. But what results is a very satisfying plot and conclusion, making The Fortune Follies a fascinating read, recommended for fans who want plenty of substance in their world-building.

The Fortune Follies by Catori Sarmiento takes us back in time to a very different version of life after the Second World War. The author has created a totally different backstory to the defeat of the Japanese. Instead of dropping two nuclear bombs on Japan, the Japanese army was defeated by a mechanical army of soldiers created essentially by one man, Robert Sinclair and his company Sinclair Industries. Sarah Igarashi, of Japanese extraction, and her entire family were interred during the war as a precaution but now she has decided to leave her poverty-stricken native Alaska and head to Seattle, where her cousin Penny, she assumes, is living a life of luxury on an inheritance that Sarah believes her family is entitled to share. When she arrives in Seattle, she quickly realizes the streets are not paved with gold and her cousin has no intention of sharing the inheritance with her. As a non-citizen of Seattle, Sarah has few rights and is forced to work long, hard hours at Sinclair Industries, for minimal wages, just to survive. Against a background of gangs, the Japanese underworld and a massive earthquake that strikes Seattle, Sarah must somehow find her place and her way in this alien environment.

I felt the premise for The Fortune Follies was unique and interesting. The idea that America post-war would become a repressive, almost fascist society was interesting. The struggles of the non-citizens in Seattle, as opposed to those who had citizenship, resonated with me as being not too different from the problems faced by undocumented immigrants in the US of the twenty-first century. Author Catori Sarmiento takes us inside a dark, Japanese underworld and a city ruled by gang violence and the ever-present, overarching specter of Sinclair Industries. The writing style was at times beautifully descriptive. The POV changes constantly between Sarah and her cousin Penny, which was fine and gave variety to the story. The two principal characters were well-drawn as almost opposites, despite them being cousins. I particularly enjoyed the tension and interactions between Sarah, Penny and George (family) in contrast to the warmth and friendship between Sarah, Ruth and some of the other rebels (comrades). All in all, an interesting idea and one worth delving into.