This is a novel that is in many ways unique in science fiction. It's an alternate history within an alternate history. Spinrad postulates a world that is almost entirely communist-dominated, where Adolf Hitler did not in fact rise to power in Germany in the 1930's, but instead emigrated to the United States a decade before, becoming an illustrator for the SF pulps, then a popular SF novelist in his own right.
The bulk of
The Iron Dream comprises the complete text of Hitler's final, posthumously published novel
Lord of the Swastika. That story concerns a young, genetically pure "trueman" named Feric Jaggar who lives in an alternate Earth which has suffered thermonuclear war and whose population is mostly made up of mutants and the evil, telepathic "Doms," whose agenda is to infiltrate the idyllic haven of Heldon (the fatherland of the Truemen) and corrupt its genetically pure populace. Jaggar was born outside Heldon itself (like Hitler, a German born in Austria), and upon reaching manhood he travels to Heldon to pronounce his genetic purity and claim his legal citizenship.
But no sooner has Jaggar crossed the border than he discovers the horrible subhumans have made greater headway than he realized, and in almost no time at all, Jaggar attracts a fanatical following of angry Truemen and founds the Knights of the Swastika. Massive rallies follow, and Jaggar's hereditary right of leadership is proven to the masses by the fact that he alone is able to wield the legendary Truncheon of Held (like only Arthur could wield Excalibur, you see). Thenceforth, we witness the ghastly pageantry as millions of loyal Truemen follow their fearless leader on his quest to destroy all genetically impure peoples in their path.
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