Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card

This is another alternate reality/history. This novel begins in the distant future. A future where multiple wars, famine, disease, planetary devastation, etc have led to the creation of an ideal society. In this Utopian society a technology has been developed allowing reasearchers to review history. Actually view it like a movie or reality show. One such researcher-Tagiri-in Africa discovers what she believes to be a fulcrum in the history of the world-Christopher Columbus and his ill-fated voyage to the America's. She decides to try and figure out what would have happened had Chrisopher Columbus not made the mistakes he did, setting into motion slavery, colonization and genocide. Then send people back to make changes and prevent the devastation that befalls the world. But, to send people back you erase the timeline in which exist-you do not die because you never were-nor were your parents, children, friends, mate, etc. How much is it worth it to erase the past horrors of history? Do you sacrifice the Utopia you now have on a hypothesis that the world would have been a better place if a few things had been different?
A fascinating look at history and how one person can make a difference-and not always for the better. I grew up in a time that did not revere Christopher Columbus. I view him as an idiot-he never even at the time of his death realized that A) he was NOT in India and B) that the American continent was just past modern Haiti and the Bahamas. I am also disgusted that he talked some of the native american Taino Indians into returning to Spain with him where he presented them as slaves to the King and Queen. He wanted to bring Christianity to the heathens and savages-by making them slaves and felt he was improving their lives. In short-I hate him and think it is sick that even now that we know true history and his role in it that we still honor his sorry ass with a holiday in his name. But, I digress, Card portrays Columbus as a spiritually driven man who wanted to bring Christs message and glory to all. I liked much of the supposition of the book but was frankly offended by his solution to the issue-which was to change the colonization of America and make everyone Christians-barf. Like the native americans did not have their own religion and it was not good enough or civilized enough. Otherwise a truly good book.
~~~~Where ever you go, There you are!