{"product_id":"the-wages-of-sin-9781649731722","title":"The Wages of Sin","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNominee for Sidewise Award. \u003c\/strong\u003eThe Sidewise Awards for Alternate History were established in 1995 to recognize the best alternate history stories and novels of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA terrifying tale about HIV spreading in the early sixteenth century by an author, \u003cem\u003ePublisher Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e calls \"The Master of Alternate History.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat if HIV started spreading in the early 1500s rather than the late 1900s? Without modern medicine, anybody who catches HIV is going to die.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA patriarchal society reacts to this devastating disease in the only way it knows how: it sequesters women as much as possible, limiting contacts between the sexes except for married couples. While imperfect, such drastic actions do limit the spread of the disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 'Wasting' (HIV) has caused devasting destruction throughout the known world and severely limited the development of technology as well, creating a mid-nineteenth century England and London almost unrecognizable to us. This is the world Viola is born into. Extremely intelligent and growing up in a house full of medical books which she reads, she dreams of travelling to far-off places, something she can only do via books since her actions and movements are severely restricted by both law custom.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeticulously researched and exquisitely detailed in a way only a master like Harry Turtledove can do, this book is a tour-de-force from one of the best historical and alternate history writers ever to write in the genre.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Phoenix Pick","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51324597895442,"sku":"9781649731722","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_9a9c0742-2889-4fac-b855-6dcc3f13d81f.jpg?v=1748686770","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-wages-of-sin-9781649731722","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}