The New Empire is a highly imaginative and well researched alternative history, set in Northern California in the mid-1700s, that postulates that the Chinese beat Europe to the punch during the 15th century’s Age of Discovery. In the process, the Chinese set up trading relations with the Native Americans on the west coast, empowering them with wealth, technology and knowledge of the world.  We learn early in the story the outlines of this alternative history and discover that the main character is a highborn Chinese boy prince from Beijing, Jiangxi, who has been sold into slavery to the native Americans by his older, illegitimate brother. … More “The New Empire” by Alison McBain