What if the U.S. had never abolished slavery?

In an acclaimed new thriller that's been called "tragically plausible," Ben H. Winters imagines that slavery persists in four southern U.S. states. Underground Airlines follows Victor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter who tracks down and re-captures those trying to escape forced servitude.

Today the novelist joins guest host Rachel Giese to discuss his parallel universe, in which the Civil War and abolition never took place. 

"It's an alternate history, but it's not alternate enough," says Winters, who says the story is meant to be uncomfortably familiar. 

Good, but not 'brave'

Winters also reflects on what it means to have a white author tackle this subject, and both the high-profile praise and sharp criticism the book has generated so far. Although he loves the story, Winters says he doesn't consider it groundbreaking, nor himself "brave" for writing it.

He points to several writers of colour who have navigated this difficult terrain before him, adding that several of them have been key influences. 

"It was a book that required as much knowledge as I could possibly find," he says, adding that deep research grounded his process. 

"I hope people read the book before they judge it."