The Berlin Project (novel)

The Berlin Project

Company type	Novel
Industry	Publishing
Founded	May 2017 (2017-05)
Founder	Gregory Benford
Products	Science fiction alternate history novel
Website	www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Berlin-Project/Gregory-Benford/9781481475976

The Berlin Project is a 2017 science fiction alternate history novel authored by American writer Gregory Benford. Released in May 2017 in the United States by Saga Press, a branch of Simon & Schuster, the book was shortlisted for the 2018 Sidewise Award for Alternate History.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the plot envisions the American atomic program completing the atomic bomb a year ahead of schedule, enabling its use against Germany and hastening the war’s conclusion. The narrative incorporates numerous historical figures, such as Karl P. Cohen, Harold Urey, Leslie Groves, Richard Feynman, Freeman Dyson, Moe Berg, Werner Heisenberg, Wilhelm Canaris, and Erwin Rommel.

Background

Benford devoted more than four years to researching and composing The Berlin Project. The majority of characters are modeled on actual individuals, several of whom Benford knew personally, including his father-in-law, physical chemist Karl P. Cohen, who serves as the novel’s central character. The idea originated from Benford’s postdoctoral advisor, theoretical physicist Edward Teller, a Manhattan Project veteran who identified a pivotal 1942 decision that delayed bomb development by one year.

Benford detailed that the atomic bomb depended on uranium-235, which had to be enriched from natural uranium. Initially, centrifuge separation—pioneered by Cohen and Harold Urey—was employed to isolate U-235. However, mechanical difficulties with centrifuges led to abandoning this method in favor of gaseous diffusion. This change caused substantial delays in establishing the necessary infrastructure, postponing the project timeline by approximately a year. Cohen argued that persisting with centrifuge technology could have surmounted these challenges, allowing bomb completion by 1944 and potentially shortening the war while saving millions of lives.

Plot summary

During World War II, Karl P. Cohen becomes involved with the Manhattan Project to contribute to uranium enrichment efforts for the US atomic bomb initiative. Alongside Harold Urey, Cohen investigates centrifugal separation—a technique they developed—but mechanical setbacks cast doubt on its viability. In The Berlin Project’s alternate history, Cohen secures private investment and backing from prominent figures like Albert Einstein, resolves technical problems, and successfully implements centrifugation for uranium enrichment. By mid-1944, the atomic bomb is operational.

The bomb is deployed over Berlin concurrent with the Normandy landings in June 1944, aimed at assassinating Hitler and supporting the Allied invasion. Despite causing massive casualties, Hitler survives and retains power. In response, Germany adopts new strategies: Luftwaffe jet aircraft disperse radioactive dust derived from unrefined uranium against Allied forces. Rising apprehension surrounds Nazi nuclear advancements and suspicions that Wernher von Braun's V-2 rockets might be armed with nuclear warheads.

In August 1944, Cohen teams up with US Strategic Services operative Moe Berg to meet German physicist Werner Heisenberg in Switzerland and evaluate Germany’s atomic development. Heisenberg confirms there is no active bomb program but reveals von Braun’s radioactive dust concept was inspired by a science fiction tale. He also voices criticism of Hitler and provides Cohen with details about Hitler’s bunker located in Poland. They subsequently encounter Wilhelm Canaris, head of German military intelligence, who is intent on removing Hitler to negotiate surrender terms.

The United States constructs a second atomic bomb but chooses to target Hitler with conventional explosives instead. The German military assumes control; field marshal Erwin Rommel forms a Provisional Government and surrenders to Western Allied forces. Germany escalates its conflict with the Soviet Union, employing V-2 rockets and radioactive dust as defenses across Eastern Europe. The US concludes the war against Japan swiftly by deploying atomic bombs on both Okinawa and Hiroshima. By 1963, Cohen is honored with a French award for his contributions, while both Eisenhower and Khrushchev receive the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a treaty outlawing hydrogen bomb development.

Critical reception

In Locus, Paul Di Filippo characterized The Berlin Project as an alternate history reminiscent of Harry Turtledove, marked by a "simple yet compelling effectiveness," likening it to works by Michener and Wouk. He commended Benford’s decision to feature Karl P. Cohen as the main character, appreciating the novel’s fresh angle through a "lesser-known ... somewhat unconventional" scientist involved in the Manhattan Project. Di Filippo emphasized Benford’s extensive grasp of academic science, research and development, and U.S. government initiatives, describing the book as a "captivating stepwise reenactment ... of the scientific and technological progression toward creating that bomb."

British academic Tom Shippey noted in The Wall Street Journal that the narrative revolves around "[p]hysics and politics, engineering and imagination," applauding Benford for effectively conveying the thrill of groundbreaking science alongside the political struggles tied to advocating centrifuge technology crucial for global outcomes. Publishers Weekly labeled it an "engaging alternate history thriller," highlighting its readability for general audiences and vivid depiction of Manhattan Project scientists, though they questioned the plausibility of Cohen’s late-stage combat deployment.

Jerry Lenaburg, writing for the New York Journal of Books, described the novel as a "captivating fusion of science fiction, espionage thriller, and military history," blending historical and fictional characters with authenticity. He remarked that Benford’s meticulous attention to bomb development details could feel "tedious" at times, but once the alternate timeline is established, the plot advances "with brisk momentum ... combining style and intelligence."

Science fiction author and critic Norman Spinrad praised the novel’s technical accuracy in Asimov's Science Fiction, admitting he gained significant knowledge beyond his previous understanding of Manhattan Project science. He referred to it as "a compelling true history" where Benford "renders the science, technology, and their intertwined personal and political conflicts dramatically engaging," adding that few authors match Benford’s blend of scientific rigor with literary craftsmanship.

External links

• The Berlin Project at FantasticFiction
• The Berlin Project at Simon & Schuster
• The Berlin Project at the Internet Archive