CoDominium
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The fictional CoDominium universe is a future history (now alternate history) setting for the books in the CoDominium Series by Jerry Pournelle.
The CoDominium series
- A Spaceship for the King (1973) (later expanded as King David's Spaceship)
- The Mote in God's Eye (1975, with Larry Niven)
- Falkenberg's Legions (1990) which incorporates:
- West of Honor (1976)
- The Mercenary (1977)
- Prince of Mercenaries (1989)
- Go Tell the Spartans(1991)
- Prince of Sparta(1993)
- The Gripping Hand (1993, with Larry Niven) (also titled The Moat around Murcheson's Eye)
- Several collaborative works in the War World series
- The Prince (2002) (incorporates Falkenberg's Legions, Prince of Mercenaries, Go Tell the Spartans and Prince of Sparta)
A History of the CoDominium Universe
The point of departure of Pournelle's history is the establishment of the CoDominium, a political alliance and union between the United States of America and a revitalized USSR. This union, achieved in the name of planetary stability, reigns over the Earth for over a hundred years. In that time, it achieves peace of a sort, as well as interstellar colonization, but at the price of a complete halt in research, development, and political evolution.
Corruption and social decay force the CoDominium's BuReloc (Bureau of Relocation) to forcibly transport people from Earth to offworld colonies. This mass expulsion is made possible by the Alderson Drive, a device that allows instantaneous travel across distances of light-years. The starlanes are patrolled by the CoDominium Armed Forces, an elite fighting force created from the French Foreign Legion. The Navy, in particular, sees what the politicians and common people of Earth do not: that Earth is headed for disaster, and their primary mission is to remove as many people from Earth as possible before the holocaust.
In due time, the CoDominium collapses under mounting nationalism worldwide. The United States and Soviet Union each regain their desire for world supremacy; the nations of the Third World chafe after years of CoDominium oppression. The inevitable result is the Great Patriotic Wars, the long-delayed Third World War that begins and ends with massive nuclear exchanges. Much of Earth is devastated; civilization collapses there, and much of the surface is rendered temporarily uninhabitable.
Before the end, the CoDominium Fleet evacuated their families and children from Earth; they plant them at the colonies of Sparta (for the American and European families) and St. Ekaterina (for the Russian and Asian families). Within a few years, the Fleet has sworn allegiance to King Lysander I of Sparta. Sparta and the Fleet soon begin the Formation Wars, taking advantage of the political, economic, and technological vacuum caused by the collapse of Earth to weld the human colonies into a unified government under Sparta's rule -- the Empire of Man.
For several hundred years, the Empire is the sole government of humanity. Among its many worlds is Sauron, where the culture has grown militaristic and adheres to a literal interpretation of the philosophy of Nietzsche, namely that "man is something to be surpassed." In service of this aim, they engage in extensive genetic modification and eugenic breeding programs to turn themselves in what become know in the galaxy at large as the Sauron Supermen. Bristling under Imperial hegemony, in the 27th century they lead several worlds into open revolt, starting with the mass bombardment of St. Ekaterina, butchering one billion people.
The Secession Wars are long and fierce, spanning decades. The Empire's edge in quantity is matched by Sauron's edge in quality. However, Saurons average superiority and arrogance leads to their downfall. For them, the war is to be free of constraint on their behavior and is run with the cold rationality of professionals. For the subjects of the Empire it becomes a war to survive and their passion has no place in Sauron equations. The war is fought until Sauron is bombed to bedrock. The Empire's victory is pyrric though, as the Imperial forces have mostly been sacrificed to destroy the Saurons. With the Empire weakened, new factions spring up, including claimants to the Imperial throne. The Empire dissolves to its core of loyal planets and marginal worlds are isolated. Some, their industries lost to orbital bombardment, descend into barbarism.
In the thirtieth century, Lysander IV of Sparta proclaims a Second Empire of Man, and pledges to unite humanity by force, in order to prevent future wars of the magnitude that ended the First Empire. Many worlds quickly accept; others, known as outies, continue to resist the Empire's hegemony. Against this backdrop of renewal and conflict, humanity makes its first contact with another intelligent, spacefaring species -- the Moties, which may represent a far more grave threat than even the Sauron Supermen. After initial difficulties, the contact between the two species would have dramatic impacts on both the Empire and Motie civilization.
Astrography of the CoDominium
For the most part, the stars with inhabitable planets in the CoDominium are obscure and unnamed. For instance, the world of New Washington and its sister planet Franklin orbit a red dwarf at some distance from the solar system. Such stars are very common in the galaxy but even the closest ones are too dim to observe without equipment, Proxima Centauri being the obvious example. Other habitable systems in the CoDominium have stars in the stellar classes F, G and K, which are common but dim compared to the named stars in the night sky. One of the few stars explicitly named in the CoDominium stories is 82 Eridani, containing the Meiji colony. Viewed from Earth, 82 Eridani is a star of the fourth magnitude at 20 light-years distance. Beyond 50 light-years such stars are below sixth magnitude and therefore invisible to the naked eye, so they are unnamed and largely unrecorded, except in astronomical sky surveys. These are the stars likely to host colonies of the CoDominium. There is no mention in the canon of closer candidate systems such as Tau Ceti and Epsilon Indi.
The Imperial planet of Sparta occupies a system containing an orange dwarf K0 primary with a red dwarf companion (described in The Gripping Hand) which makes passes close enough to impact Sparta's climate. References to Acrux and Crucis Court in the novels probably do not indicate planets around Alpha Crucis, since this system is composed of bright, short-lived stars. However it is certain that Sparta lies in the direction of the Coalsack Nebula from Earth, with another part of the Empire, known as the Trans-coalsack Sector on the other side of that nebula, where most of the action of the two Motie novels takes place. The Coalsack is 600 light-years away and several of the named planets are mentioned as being variously 20, 60 etc. parsecs away. At these distances stars with inhabitable systems would be dim and uncatalogued.
Ships of the CoDominium
The spaceships of the CD use "photon drive", which apparently produces only light to propel the craft in normal space. This allows an estimate of the power capabilities of such a ship. Radiation pressure can produce about 3.35 nanonewtons of force per watt of luminosity, so for a 1-gravity drive there would have to be about 3 gigawatts of luminosity per kilogram of ship mass. A typical ship might be 10,000 tonnes or 10 million kilograms, bringing the power level to 30 petawatts. For comparison, US electrical generating capacity is only in the terawatt range. 10 petawatts is about the equivalent of a megaton nuclear device exploding every second. Interstellar travel is accomplished by use of the Alderson drive which instantaneously warps ships along tramline paths between stars.
Structure of the CoDominium
The CoDominium (CD) is a supranational alliance of the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This alliance eventually becomes a de facto planetary government, and later, an interstellar empire. Dispite this, no other nations on Earth are given representation or membership. Other major powers become mere client states. It is governed by a "Grand Senate", which is composed of Senators chosen from the two superpowers. It should be noted that the CD did not unify the United States and the USSR, who appear to retain their separate identities and mutual distrust. The CD was only created for the shared benefit of the two member states. It does not govern either nation, and each state has been allowed to retain their government structures, nationalities, militaries, and to run their own internal affairs.
There are several Bureaus and agencies of the CD. The Bureau of Relocation (BuReloc) is responsible for off-planet transportation of colonists and deportees, voluntary or otherwise. A Bureau of Corrections (BuCorrect) is presumably an agency for criminal corrections of the justice system. CD Intelligence Services (BuInt) are used to suppress research and development. The Intercontinental Bureau of Investigations (IBI) is presumably the CD equivalent of the FBI. The CoDominium Council is mentioned in the War World novels, and may serve as a judicial branch of the CD. The Colonial Bureau helps run colony worlds by providing planetary governors, law enforcement, and other specialists. Edicts of the Grand Senate are enforced by the CD's armed forces, the CoDominium Space Navy and Marines, headed by a Grand Admiral.
The CD seal is a mix of symbols from the United States and the Soviet union. The seal combines an eagle, sickle and hammer, with red and white stars.
Technology of the CoDominium Era
CoDominium policy is to restrict almost all research and development. As a result, technology has stagnated and there have been few developments in military weapons. Soldiers still use chemically-propelled projectile rifles. Countermeasures can not be developed for rail guns, lasers, or anti-aircraft missiles, so aircraft have ceased being used in most combat situations. On many colony planets, technology is a rarity; they lack the infrastructure and supporting equipment to sustain high technology. On such worlds, warfare is largely fought by infantry, artillery is important, and a few tanks can decide the outcome of wars. Only the elite worlds can escape these restrictions, and have even developed their own fleets.
Despite these limitations, the CD still has some superior technologies. The Alderson and Fusion drives propel starships to other star systems. Fusion power plants supply energy, and medical sciences have developed medical regeneration technology. Soldiers are equipped with precise, cheap, and handheld anti-aircraft weaponry, light-amplification goggles, and the effective Nemourlon body armor. Anti-satellite rockets that can be used by a military force lacking technology have also been developed as well.
Structure of the Second Empire of Man
The Second Empire of Man is an interstellar empire, containing 200 planets. Centralized on Sparta, its government is a parliamentary monarchy, with a hereditary Emperor as head of state. A hereditary Aristocracy also exists, and is referred by Western nobility titles. There are mentions of the Imperial Parliament, Senate, and Assembly, which most likely serve as the legislative branch. The Senate is made up of Senators, and the nobility have seats in the Parliament. There is also an Imperial Council.
Apparently, the Empire is organized by sectors, ruled by a Viceroy serving as a representative of the Crown. The sector has its own Council, headed by a Lord President, and a Parliament. The Viceroy, and in all probability the Imperial government, has several ministries, such as External Affairs, War, and Science. A Foreign office is also mentioned. Some planets are governed by the nobility, and others may be ruled by a Governor-general, with a council and planetary-elected assembly. Such worlds may be allowed to send representatives to the Paraliment.
The military arm of the Second Empire is the Imperial Space Navy. It's enforces the will of the Crown and its representatives, as well as protecting worlds from pirates and suppressing revolts. The Navy also consists of its fleets of starships and it crews, Marines, an Admiralty, Intelligence, and a Reserve component. Like the CD Fleet, the Imperial forces are headed by a Grand Admiral.
There are mentions of several civilian organizations that seem to have some influence on government affairs. The Imperial Traders Association is a group of interstellar merchants. The Church and the Humanity League is also mentioned. The Humanity League is also mentioned during the CD era, and the Second Empire era "League" might be a contiunation of that group. The Church uses a hierarchy and follows traditions similar to the Roman Catholic Church.
Imperial policy is to reunify all Human planets into the Second Empire, wither they are willing or not. Usually, the Empire will option for non-violent means to integrate these worlds. However, the Empire will use its military might when no other choice is available. The term "Outie" refers to human planets not yet under the empire.
The Second Empire's seal is a combination of the CoDominium great seal, added with a spaceship and crown. However, there is no mention of stars on this seal.
Planets of the CoDominium and the Empire of Man
During the CoDominium Era
Instantaneous interstellar travel of the Alderson drive easily gave humanity the ability to explore, colonize, and exploit various star systems. As a result, many of the space settlements are on planets that are similar to Earth. At the very least, a colony world was barely inhabitable for human life without technological support. Many colonies were founded by ethnic minorities, religious groups, or political groups. Some are started by businesses, for commercial reasons. Most lack an industrial base, and have little advanced technology as a result. The elite, more technologically advanced colonies are ones settled and supported by the Earth countries.
After the CoDominium
During the Empire of Man, new worlds were colonized, and some were even terraformed. However, after the collapse of the First Empire, and birth of the Second Empire, it appears no new planets have been settled. Many worlds were devasted during the Sucession Wars, and their civilizations reverted back to primative levels, while others eventually recovered from the wars.
- Arrarat — During the CD era, an Agricultural world settled by devout Christians, later used as a dumping ground for CD convicts and other involuntary transportees.
- Churchill — English-ethnic world, one of the elite colony worlds.
- Covenant — Scottish-ethnic world. During the waning days of the CD, it was known for its mercenaries specializing in infantry.
- Dayan or Dyan — Israeli-ethnic world, one of the elite colony worlds.
- Danube — Planet that was operating its own independent fleet during the CD era.
- Earth — Homeworld of humanity, main world of the CoDominium. After Great Patriotic Wars, Earth receives heavy damage and ceases being the center of Human civilzation. However, Earth is still inhabbited by the Second Empire, with the Alps and Jammica surviving, and has the Naval Academy located there.
- Luna — Earth's Moon. During the CD era, this was were the Grand Senate meets, as well as the office of the Grand Admiral.
- Fulson's World — A cold planet. During the CD era, it is known is that involuntary transportees are sent to this world unless they can bribe their way to a better one.
- Franklin — Planet settled by Americans from the South, in the same star system as New Washington.
- Friedland — German-ethnic world, one of the elite colony worlds.. During the waning days of the CD, it was known for its mercenaries specializing in armored warfare
- Frystaat — Afrikaner-ethnic world with high gravity and intense heat.
- Hadley — Earth-like world with a large city. The planet was controlled by the CD for its thorium mines, and was used as a dumping ground for transportees. Also appears to have many farms.
- Haven — Marginally inhabitable Moon of the Jovian planet Cat's Eye in the Beyers system, cold and dry with a thin but breatheable atmosphere. It is partially tide-locked, giving it a very long (86 hour) day-night cycle. During the CoDominium, it was settled by the Universal Church of New Harmony, and later by exiled miners and other involuntary groups such as nationalists and ethic minorities of the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.
- High Shanghai — Chinese-ethnic and Thai-ethnic world.
- Kennicott — Mining Planet.
- Levant — Arab-ethnic world.
- Makassar — Planet that is featured in King David's Spaceship, settled mostly by Malaysians, by the Second Empire it had a primitive culture.
- Meiji — Japanese-ethnic world, one of the elite colony worlds.
- Mote Prime — Located at The Mote in Murcheson's Eye, homeworld of the Motie race, mutant non-symmetric semi-vertebrates who have been locked in ten thousand year cycles of chaos due to being trapped in one star system and their reproductive drives. Appears in The Mote in God's Eye, written with Larry Niven.
- New Chicago — World in revolt from the Second Empire of Man at the beginning of The Mote in God's Eye.
- New Ireland — Another partly terraformed world of the New Caledonia system.
- New Scotland — Capital of the Trans-Coal Sack sector in New Caledonia. It is a terraformed world settled by New Scots.
- New Washington — Planet settled by Pacific Northwest Americans, in the same star system as Franklin.
- Nuliajuk —Inuit/Eskimo-ethnic world, cold with ice caps covering much of the surface.
- Prince Samual's World — Important planet in King David's Spaceship. During the Succesion Wars, it was bombed back to a dark age, has had to reinvent much of its technology. When the Second Empire reestablished contact, this world was in the early Industrial age.
- Sauron — Homeworld of the Sauron Supermen. Known for high metal content, and its genetically modified denizens' belief that war was the ultimate expression of humankind. Started the Secession Wars that ended the First Empire of Man.
- Sparta — Capital world of the First and Second Empires of Man, originally called Botany Bay. Generally North American in population.
- St. Ekaterina — Russian-ethnic world. The first planet attacked by the Sauron Supermen in the Secession Wars.
- Tanith — A jungle planet known for the drug borloi. During the CD era, it was another infamous dumping ground for transportees.
- Tabletop — American-ethnic colony. Has plains, and seems to lack trees.
- Thurstone — Earth-like dry world, with three nations, one of which is Santiago (Spanish-ethnic w/ involuntary colonists).
- Xanadu — Chinese-ethnic world, one of the elite colony worlds. Low gravity.
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The War World Series
The War World series is set mostly on a single world, Haven. It is a marginally habitable moon originally settled by exiles from the CoDominium. Following the defeat of the Saurons, a remnant of the Sauron forces occupy the planet as a last hidden refuge.
The books in this series were written by several authors. They consist of five collections of short stories and two collaborative novels. The first three volumes take place in roughly chronological order. The other two collections cover events that occur in other time periods. Blood Feuds incorporates material that originally appeared in the short story collections.
- War World, Vol 1: The Burning Eye (1988)
- "Prolog: Discovery" (unattributed)
- "Haven" (unattributed)
- "Dream Valley" - Edward P. Hughes
- "The Toymaker and the General" - Mike Resnick
- "The Deserter" - Poul Anderson
- "Rate of Exchange" - Roland Green and John F. Carr
- "The Coming of the Eye" - Don Hawthorne
- "The Great Beer Shortage" - Janet Morris and David Drake
- "Necessity" - S. M. Stirling
- "Tribute Maidens" - Harry Turtledove
- "A Lion to the Sea" - John Dalmas
- "Discovery" (unattributed)
- "Excerpt from Bar Lev's A Traveler's Tale of Twenty Worlds" (unattributed)
- War World, Vol 2: Death's Head Rebellion (1990)
- Introduction (unattributed)
- "The Face of the Enemy" - Don Hawthorne
- "Death's Head Patrol" - Roland Greene and John F. Carr
- "Strong Blood" - G. C. Edmondson
- "Brenda" - Larry Niven
- "Some Things Survive" - John LaValley
- "No Such Thing as a Non-Lethal Weapon" - James Landau
- "Loved Not I Honor More" - Martin Tays
- "The Field of Double Sowing" - Harry Turtledove
- "Far Above Rubies" - Susan Shwartz
- "Tayok's Base" (unattributed)
- War World, Vol 3: Sauron Dominion (1991)
- "Prologue" (unattributed)
- "War World Economics" - (unattributed)
- "The Gates of Paradise" - Don Hawthorne
- "Maitreya and the Cyborg" - John Dalmas
- "Building a Pillar" - John LaValley
- "Aegir's Children" - Phillip Pournelle
- "Ceremonies at the Last Bar in the Village" - John Hartnett
- "Juchi the Accursed" - Harry Turtledove
- "Seven Against Nûrnen" - Susan Shwartz
- "Shame and Honor" - S. M. Stirling
- War World, Vol 4: Invasion (1994)
- "Introduction" - Charles E. Gannon
- "The Railroad" - John Dalmas
- "A Better Kind of War" - Don Hawthorne
- "The Boatswain" - Alan Brown
- "The Gift of the Magi" - Charles E. Gannon
- "A Little Beastliness" - Edward P. Hughes
- "Those Who Lose" - Harry Turtledove
- "Kings Who Die" - S. M. Stirling
- CoDominium: Revolt on War World (1992)
- "The Lost and the Founder" (unattributed)
- "The Garden Spot" - Don Hawthorne
- "In Concert" - E. R. Stewart
- "Janesfort War" - Leslie Fish and Frank Gasperik
- "The Coming of the Dinneh" - John Dalmas
- "Politics of Melos" - Susan Shwartz
- "Hang Together" - Harry Turtledove
- "Sons of Hawaii" - William F. Wu
- "Fire and Ice" - Eric Vinicoff
- "Farewell to Haven" (unattributed)
- Blood Feuds (1992) Susan Shwartz, S.M. Stirling, Judith Tarr, and Harry Turtledove
- Blood Vengeance (1994) Susan Shwartz, S.M. Stirling, Judith Tarr, and Harry Turtledove