The Worldwar series by Harry Turtledove

Kraut · Post by **Kraut** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 2:32 am

I can really recommend this series. It's a alternate history with aliens invading during World War II.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

rbrunsman · Post by **rbrunsman** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 3:27 am

I am reading Guns of the South because I kept reading that it was the best alternate history novel available. Oh, boy!? If that's the best then I won't be reading any more alternate history. I don't think I can make myself finish it and I am 3/4 of the way through. Is there more action in the book you recommend?

Kraut · Post by **Kraut** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 3:59 am

Originally posted by rbrunsman
I am reading Guns of the South because I kept reading that it was the best alternate history novel available. Oh, boy!? If that's the best then I won't be reading any more alternate history. I don't think I can make myself finish it and I am 3/4 of the way through. Is there more action in the book you recommend?

What's your problem with Guns of the South? I really liked that Turtledove didn't just portray the action but also the political and social consequences.

The Worldwar series consists of four books, there are multiple viewpoint characters, some of them fighting in the Soviet Union (on both sides), but there also is a lot of politics and so on. Maybe not your cup of tea.

Warhorse · Post by **Warhorse** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 7:04 pm

Turtledove is one of my personal fav's!! I read the world war series, there are actually about six in the series, counting the colonization works related, then I also read Guns of the South, and also the Great war series, as well as most of his stand-alone works, good stuff!! You're either into it, or not, simple as that, Kraut!!:D

tracer · Post by **tracer** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 8:34 pm

Guns of the South was my introduction to Turtledove's alternate history formula...when I saw the picture on the cover of R.E. Lee holding an AK-47 I was curious about the story behind it. Its certainly not for all tastes, but I've read it enough times to dog-ear my copy

I read the 4 books in the World War series; good plot but I thought it ended on a low note. Looks like I need to read the 'colonization' series, which I didn't know about.

Kraut · Post by **Kraut** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 8:35 pm

I agree, Warhorse. There are actually three books in the Colonization series, that makes a total of seven and another is coming up.

Kraut · Post by **Kraut** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 8:44 pm

Originally posted by tracer
Guns of the South was my introduction to Turtledove's alternate history formula...when I saw the picture on the cover of R.E. Lee holding an AK-47 I was curious about the story behind it. Its certainly not for all tastes, but I've read it enough times to dog-ear my copy

I read the 4 books in the World War series; good plot but I thought it ended on a low note. Looks like I need to read the 'colonization' series, which I didn't know about.

Here's an overview of all series by Turtledove:

http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/series.html

The Colonization series has a bit more of a Science Fiction slant, since these books are set 20 years later and Turtledove had to extrapolate what impact the alien technology would have on Earth. I can recommend that series too.

Great Dane · Post by **Great Dane** » Sun Jan 12, 2003 2:48 pm

I bought the first 3 books about the fun-loving lizards invading during the height of WWII.
I bought them, so I finished reading them. When Harry is talking about action, he is pretty good. When he talks about politics, he is okay. His American love story stunk. IMHO.

And I don't ever want to hear about a bunch of Limey's stuck in Russia again. Unless it's James Bond. At least he actually DOES something.

Anyway, I certainly wouldn't recommend the books to anyone. And using this as a guide, I would not use reader ratings on Amazon either.

If someone gives me another of his books, I might try to read it (no more lizards though. I don't have enough ginger) That way, I won't feel compelled to finish reading it.

I think his biggest problem is too many characters.

Now, why doesn't someone do a REALLY cool story, like Arnold Schwarzenegger type Commando with full kit suddenly appears in the Alamo? Becomes King of the Empire of Texas....

Now, back to blowing up British tanks in NA.

troopie · Post by **troopie** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 8:42 am

I found the premise of Guns of the South hard to swallow. A time traveling Afrikaner with modern weapons to hand out wouldn't go to the Confederacy in the 1860's. He'd go to the Boer republics in the 1890's and the weapon's would be used against the British.

I just received 1632 by Eric Lint. A village of modern Americans is sent back to 1632 Germany. Haven't started it yet. I'm reading "The Chopper Boys" by Al Venter.

troopie

Karnaaj · Post by **Karnaaj** » Sun Jan 19, 2003 8:04 am

GUNS OF THE SOUTH fits more along the lines of your basic "South wins the war" alternate history; A REBEL IN TIME by Harry Harrison does roughly the same thing (Sten guns for the Southrons) but is a much lighter work.

HOW FEW REMAIN is his more serious historical "South wins" novel, and leads into his "Great War" series; it does stand alone nicely, though, and presents some interesting ideas as to how things *might* have been.

THE TWO GEORGES (with Richard Dreyfuss as co-authour <?>) pushes things a different direction, and THE CASE OF THE TOXIC SPELL DUMP dances *waaaay* out there. I've not read RULED BRITANNIA yet, but from the blurb, I dunno: seems that Britain was conquered by the Spanish, the Queen's in the Tower, and William Shakespeare is writing a new play that will cause problems... just saw it new in hardcover, so it'll be a while 'fore I get to it.