The Union (book)

The Union is a dystopian Social science fiction book written by Sir Jonathan Barion in 1968 and published in 1970. The book focuses on an alternate universe where Ocraita becomes Authamphist.

The book takes place in a different reality, the year 1968, where government surveillance and widespread propaganda is present. The Federation of Ocraita, known in the book as the Ocraitan State, has become a one-party state dictatorship.

The protagonist, Martin Gregory, is a high ranking member of the National Authamphist Front who secretly wants to become the leader to reform Ocraita back to a democracy.

Background and Title
Johnathon Barion started his work in 1968, where he drafted a short story loosely based on the Cold War. The title of the book directly references the resistance movement in the novel, The Union.

The New Order in Europe was an early title for the novel, but Johnathan wrote about hesitating between that title and The Union. He eventually chose the latter as it seemed as a more marketable option.

Plot
In the year 1968, the world is in a three-way cold war between the Authamphist Internationale, The Association of Free Nations and the Pan-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. The islands of Ocraita has developed into one large city. Slavery and government surveillance is normalised. Ocraita is lead by Sigmund Østrum, who is rumoured to be in bad health.

Martin Gregory is a high ranking member of the National Authamphist Front, who dreams of a democratic free world. Martin is aware of Sigmund's declining health, and hopes to seize control after Sigmund's inevitable death.