Wages of Sin

The Wages of Sin is a terrifying tale set in early 1850s England in a world where HIV started spreading in the early 1500s rather than the late 1900s. Without modern medicine, anybody who catches HIV is going to die How does a patriarchal society adapt to this? It sequesters women as much as possible, limiting contacts between the sexes except for married couples. While imperfect, it is better than nothing at a time when society is desperate. The '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 by us. Meticulously 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.