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The War That Came Early #6
Last Orders
In an extraordinary saga of nations locked in war, master storyteller Harry Turtledove tells the story of World War II, which begins over Czechoslovakia rather than Poland, eleven months earlier than it really came. Now we have the final installment in Turtledove’s landmark World War II series.
Hitler’s Plan A was to win in a hurry, striking hard and deep into France. There was no Plan B. Now the war grinds on. Countries have been forced into strange alliances. The Nazis fortify thin lines with Hungarian and Romanian troops. England, finding its footing after the suspicious death of Winston Churchill and a coup d’état, fights back in Europe and on the seas of the North Atlantic. Jews fight on both sides of the war—in secret in German uniform, openly in Spain, France, and Russia. Into the standoff come new killing tools, from tanks to bazookas. In the Pacific, Japan prepares bombs filled with macabre biological concoctions to be dropped on Hawaii.
For the U.S., the only enemy is Japan, as there has been no casus belli for America in Europe. Then Hitler becomes desperate and declares war on the United States. But is it too late? His own people are rising up in revolt. The German military may have to put down the violence, even perhaps bomb its own cities.
In this epic drama, real men and women are shaped by the carnage, and their individual acts in turn shape history: a Czech sniper fighting with the Republicans in Spain changes the war almost single-handedly. In Philadelphia, an American woman meets a scientist who reveals a momentous secret.
Drawing on the gritty, personal reality of war and on a cast of unforgettable characters, Harry Turtledove has written an alternate history that intrigues, fascinates, and astounds.
Praise for Harry Turtledove
“If you like alternate histories, you’re going to like this series a lot.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune
“Turtledove is the standard-bearer for alternate history.”—USA Today
Coup d’Etat
“This is what alternative history is all about.”—Historical Novel Society
The Big Switch
“The Hugo Award winner continues to delight in exploring the world of ‘what if?’”—Library Journal
West and East
“There’s plenty to satisfy fans of military strategy, tactics, and armaments.”—Publishers Weekly
Hitler’s War
“Turtledove is always good, but this return to World War II . . . is genuinely brilliant. . . . The characterizations in particular bring the book to extraordinary life.”—Booklist
Hitler’s Plan A was to win in a hurry, striking hard and deep into France. There was no Plan B. Now the war grinds on. Countries have been forced into strange alliances. The Nazis fortify thin lines with Hungarian and Romanian troops. England, finding its footing after the suspicious death of Winston Churchill and a coup d’état, fights back in Europe and on the seas of the North Atlantic. Jews fight on both sides of the war—in secret in German uniform, openly in Spain, France, and Russia. Into the standoff come new killing tools, from tanks to bazookas. In the Pacific, Japan prepares bombs filled with macabre biological concoctions to be dropped on Hawaii.
For the U.S., the only enemy is Japan, as there has been no casus belli for America in Europe. Then Hitler becomes desperate and declares war on the United States. But is it too late? His own people are rising up in revolt. The German military may have to put down the violence, even perhaps bomb its own cities.
In this epic drama, real men and women are shaped by the carnage, and their individual acts in turn shape history: a Czech sniper fighting with the Republicans in Spain changes the war almost single-handedly. In Philadelphia, an American woman meets a scientist who reveals a momentous secret.
Drawing on the gritty, personal reality of war and on a cast of unforgettable characters, Harry Turtledove has written an alternate history that intrigues, fascinates, and astounds.
Praise for Harry Turtledove
“If you like alternate histories, you’re going to like this series a lot.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune
“Turtledove is the standard-bearer for alternate history.”—USA Today
Coup d’Etat
“This is what alternative history is all about.”—Historical Novel Society
The Big Switch
“The Hugo Award winner continues to delight in exploring the world of ‘what if?’”—Library Journal
West and East
“There’s plenty to satisfy fans of military strategy, tactics, and armaments.”—Publishers Weekly
Hitler’s War
“Turtledove is always good, but this return to World War II . . . is genuinely brilliant. . . . The characterizations in particular bring the book to extraordinary life.”—Booklist
405 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2014
32 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
561 books1,939 followersDr Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced a sizeable number of works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 31, 2023
Harry Turtledove's "The War That Came Early" series has suffered from two major flaws: a lack of plot development and a limited and repetitive perspective on events. Over five books, the grinding nature of a drawn-out stalemate has been viewed from the perspective of a dozen or so characters. Because most of them are ordinary soldiers, what the reader has gotten was a lot of the day-to-day monotony of combat, with the experiences basically interchangeable.
As this is the final volume of the series Turtledove has been forced to address the first of these flaws. With a need to wrap up events he gives developments an impetus that they had been lacking until now. Things actually start to happen, even if it does so in a rather boring and predictable manner. The improvement, though, might have been even more noticeable had he been able to draw upon a wider range of perspectives, but the fact that he still depends on the same limited range of experiences means that the problem with repetition still holds, as larger events are only told through gossip and radio reports. It's all a far cry of what Turtledove accomplished with his previous series (such as his Timeline-191 decalogy), and left me with the impression that he is just going through the motions at this point.
As this is the final volume of the series Turtledove has been forced to address the first of these flaws. With a need to wrap up events he gives developments an impetus that they had been lacking until now. Things actually start to happen, even if it does so in a rather boring and predictable manner. The improvement, though, might have been even more noticeable had he been able to draw upon a wider range of perspectives, but the fact that he still depends on the same limited range of experiences means that the problem with repetition still holds, as larger events are only told through gossip and radio reports. It's all a far cry of what Turtledove accomplished with his previous series (such as his Timeline-191 decalogy), and left me with the impression that he is just going through the motions at this point.
December 31, 2014
When I first heard the announcement for The War That Came Early series, I was extremely excited. After all, Turtledove, the master of alternative history would finally be focusing on a World War II story that involved it starting early. I was left wondering all of the different scenarios that could possibly take place, considering my own love for alternative history stories. There was a great deal of potential to be had.
Instead, the story was fairly predictable throughout the entire series with a couple of good twists here or there. The story felt more of a rehash of World War I than anything else. Turtledove's prose varies from me depending on the series or even the book. He has a strong writing style that I've come to appreciate (otherwise I wouldn't have read so many of his books) and he has his creative moments.
Last Orders feels more of a lackluster effort and going through the motions more than anything. I was waiting for the real action to pick up or something to happen that wasn't completely mundane or predictable. Unfortunately, that moment never came. Last Orders is not the worst alternative history book I've read by far, but it's certainly not some of Turtledove's best work. Although I suppose it is only fitting that I feel the last book in this series didn't live up to the potential of it. If you've gotten this far in the series, I suggest finishing it since it would only take you an afternoon to read.
Instead, the story was fairly predictable throughout the entire series with a couple of good twists here or there. The story felt more of a rehash of World War I than anything else. Turtledove's prose varies from me depending on the series or even the book. He has a strong writing style that I've come to appreciate (otherwise I wouldn't have read so many of his books) and he has his creative moments.
Last Orders feels more of a lackluster effort and going through the motions more than anything. I was waiting for the real action to pick up or something to happen that wasn't completely mundane or predictable. Unfortunately, that moment never came. Last Orders is not the worst alternative history book I've read by far, but it's certainly not some of Turtledove's best work. Although I suppose it is only fitting that I feel the last book in this series didn't live up to the potential of it. If you've gotten this far in the series, I suggest finishing it since it would only take you an afternoon to read.
September 14, 2014
This was a disappointing end to a disappointing series that really had a lot of promise. Turtledove is capable of great works in alternate history, however this one was not even close. It starts with Germany now clearly on the ropes. The civilian population is growing restive, with outright revolts happening in some cities. The Russian Front is tottering and the Hungarian and Romanian troops are not proving to be effective allies. So, Hitler's 'great plan' to reinvigorate the war effort is to declare war on the United States, who up until now have only been fighting the Japanese. When the book starts the Japanese still have Midway and still drop disease vectors on Oahu on occasion. The US Marines finally take Midway back, but then the garrison cannot leave or be reinforced because of the existence of said germ warfare. The book ends with these poor saps still being there.
The ending of the war in Europe is somewhat predictable. Suffice it to say a cabal of German generals get fed up with Hitler and do away with him. The negotiated peace may sound far fetched, but in this alternate reality I could see it.
A few reviewers are mentioning the possibility of one more book in this series to wrap up Japan. I hope that doesn't happen. It is time for this series to close.
The ending of the war in Europe is somewhat predictable. Suffice it to say a cabal of German generals get fed up with Hitler and do away with him. The negotiated peace may sound far fetched, but in this alternate reality I could see it.
A few reviewers are mentioning the possibility of one more book in this series to wrap up Japan. I hope that doesn't happen. It is time for this series to close.
November 21, 2014
Take a look at my review for the fifth book in this series. Turtledove fails to address most of the issues I had, and it's clear at this point I just read this because I'd read the previous books. It's still not a truly awful book, but it felt more like a chore to read this than anything else.
Much like the show 'How I Met Your Mother,' I limped along through the degrading storytelling just because I wanted to reach the end, and just like that show, Turtledove left me with a bitter and somewhat predictable taste in my mouth.
There's no real closure here, and it almost seems like there should be another book.
I hope not.
Much like the show 'How I Met Your Mother,' I limped along through the degrading storytelling just because I wanted to reach the end, and just like that show, Turtledove left me with a bitter and somewhat predictable taste in my mouth.
There's no real closure here, and it almost seems like there should be another book.
I hope not.
August 3, 2014
The final entry in a six volume set that could have been told in two or three.
March 22, 2021
A somewhat anti-climactic ending to the Second World War, if I must say. Whilst, I still found this book entertaining and it did have the feel of conclusion...it definitely sets up a world in which a Third World War is not only possible, but entirely plausible, if not downright inevitable within the next 20 years or so.
With the German Army pulling off a successful coup and gaining an antebellum peace (and apparently successfully arguing that they get to keep Austria and the Sudetenland, at the least (its heavily implied that they are also getting to keep the Czech portion of Czechoslovakia), Germany ends the war in a very powerful, practically European-dominating position. The horrors of fascism will never really be thought about, the tragedy of the Holocaust can be quickly swept under the rug, and those who support fascism in other nations (especially the United Kingdom) will still be seen as viable leaders.
I guess, the victory of the Spanish Republic is one bright note. Although, it makes me believe that a German-dominated anti-Soviet NATO is far more likely in the future, than an American one. Germany will be able to paint Europe as "placed between the Spanish Anvil and the Russian Hammer" no doubt.
It's a bleak future to be sure.
A good end to the series, though, overall. I would definitely recommend it.
With the German Army pulling off a successful coup and gaining an antebellum peace (and apparently successfully arguing that they get to keep Austria and the Sudetenland, at the least (its heavily implied that they are also getting to keep the Czech portion of Czechoslovakia), Germany ends the war in a very powerful, practically European-dominating position. The horrors of fascism will never really be thought about, the tragedy of the Holocaust can be quickly swept under the rug, and those who support fascism in other nations (especially the United Kingdom) will still be seen as viable leaders.
I guess, the victory of the Spanish Republic is one bright note. Although, it makes me believe that a German-dominated anti-Soviet NATO is far more likely in the future, than an American one. Germany will be able to paint Europe as "placed between the Spanish Anvil and the Russian Hammer" no doubt.
It's a bleak future to be sure.
A good end to the series, though, overall. I would definitely recommend it.
September 2, 2016
Oh Harry Turtledove...
Harry Turtledove was one of my favourite authors for many years. I am a voracious reader and a good deal of the credit goes to him. When I was in middle school I picked up one of his books and since then I've been reading his books and spread to other series.
As I became a more sophisticated reader Turtledove's shortcomings as a writer became more obvious. As the sixth and final book in the series we pick up largely where we left off. The French and British are bogged down in France/Belgium. The Russians are inexorably pushing forward. Japan is gradually losing ground to the Americans as the juggernaut moves towards them.
The series plodded along with somewhat uninteresting twists, but the last half or third of this novel was genuinely interesting, in my opinion. Tensions within Germany explode into civil war between the Nazis and a coup led by the officer corps. Hitler and senior Nazis are killed or arrested. The civilian population, after years of unsuccessful war, are not so enamored with their one-party state. The civil war ends relatively quickly and leads to a peace process and a very different Europe. Likewise the Spanish Civil War ends with a leftist victory for better and for worse.
The world events and ideas are interesting and kept me turning pages at the end, but the characters and writing remained dismal at worst and adequate at best. The characters all have their own cliches that Turtledove revisits again and again. The life of a front line soldier isn't so different... and not so interesting after six of these books (and many similar others). Turtledove needs to focus on characters. I can rarely offer distinctive features of a given character outside of their nation, rank and service branch. This is probably just a product of him pumping out two of these books a year. The concluding section was far better than most of the middle books of this series. I am not sure I could recommend it for anyone but the most diehard of Turtledove fans.
Harry Turtledove was one of my favourite authors for many years. I am a voracious reader and a good deal of the credit goes to him. When I was in middle school I picked up one of his books and since then I've been reading his books and spread to other series.
As I became a more sophisticated reader Turtledove's shortcomings as a writer became more obvious. As the sixth and final book in the series we pick up largely where we left off. The French and British are bogged down in France/Belgium. The Russians are inexorably pushing forward. Japan is gradually losing ground to the Americans as the juggernaut moves towards them.
The series plodded along with somewhat uninteresting twists, but the last half or third of this novel was genuinely interesting, in my opinion. Tensions within Germany explode into civil war between the Nazis and a coup led by the officer corps. Hitler and senior Nazis are killed or arrested. The civilian population, after years of unsuccessful war, are not so enamored with their one-party state. The civil war ends relatively quickly and leads to a peace process and a very different Europe. Likewise the Spanish Civil War ends with a leftist victory for better and for worse.
The world events and ideas are interesting and kept me turning pages at the end, but the characters and writing remained dismal at worst and adequate at best. The characters all have their own cliches that Turtledove revisits again and again. The life of a front line soldier isn't so different... and not so interesting after six of these books (and many similar others). Turtledove needs to focus on characters. I can rarely offer distinctive features of a given character outside of their nation, rank and service branch. This is probably just a product of him pumping out two of these books a year. The concluding section was far better than most of the middle books of this series. I am not sure I could recommend it for anyone but the most diehard of Turtledove fans.
February 14, 2017
World War 1.5
War is hell. And slooooowwwww. Turtledove's final volume in his "War That Came Early" series began with the premise of Hitler launching a preemptive strike into Czechoslovakia to take the Sudetenland (rather than it being given to him at Munich). After a couple of odd twists (France and England switching sides to JOIN Hitler against the Soviets and a military coup in England to bring things back to "normal") we're finally at the end.
The book ends with a whimper rather than a bang. Several of the conflicts are either still ongoing (Japan/Soviets) or just kind of peter out (Spanish Civil War). Even the major European conflict against the Nazis ends in a less than dramatic fashion.
While there's a coup against Hitler, we learn of it secondhand over the radio and it removes nearly all the dramatic tension.
That's been my biggest problem with this series is that that's just no tension. HT boxes himself in by writing almost exclusively from the POVs of common soldiers against whom events happen. It makes them feel less like actors than billiard balls being bounced around a table.
One problem is that they don't bounce very far...the books read and FEEL like stalemates where no real movement across fronts happen. Hence it's more like WW1.5 rather than WWII.
As another reviewer mentioned, a six book series that could/should have been told in 3.
War is hell. And slooooowwwww. Turtledove's final volume in his "War That Came Early" series began with the premise of Hitler launching a preemptive strike into Czechoslovakia to take the Sudetenland (rather than it being given to him at Munich). After a couple of odd twists (France and England switching sides to JOIN Hitler against the Soviets and a military coup in England to bring things back to "normal") we're finally at the end.
The book ends with a whimper rather than a bang. Several of the conflicts are either still ongoing (Japan/Soviets) or just kind of peter out (Spanish Civil War). Even the major European conflict against the Nazis ends in a less than dramatic fashion.
While there's a coup against Hitler, we learn of it secondhand over the radio and it removes nearly all the dramatic tension.
That's been my biggest problem with this series is that that's just no tension. HT boxes himself in by writing almost exclusively from the POVs of common soldiers against whom events happen. It makes them feel less like actors than billiard balls being bounced around a table.
One problem is that they don't bounce very far...the books read and FEEL like stalemates where no real movement across fronts happen. Hence it's more like WW1.5 rather than WWII.
As another reviewer mentioned, a six book series that could/should have been told in 3.
July 31, 2014
Let me say 1st that Harry Turtledove is my favorite author by far.
However, after finishing "Last Orders", I am quite disappointed. When compared to the "Timeline 191 Series", it was terrible. Several plot points were easily predictable. Not to mention, the action was limited, and several characters were incredibly boring, such as Hideki Fujita.
What i consider to be the biggest tragedy, is that some of the best characters (Adi Stoss, Vaclav Jezek, Julius Lemp, & Peter McGill), never got a conclusive end.
It was a Sopranos style ending. The only good part is, is that it easily leaves open the possibility for a sequel.
However, after finishing "Last Orders", I am quite disappointed. When compared to the "Timeline 191 Series", it was terrible. Several plot points were easily predictable. Not to mention, the action was limited, and several characters were incredibly boring, such as Hideki Fujita.
What i consider to be the biggest tragedy, is that some of the best characters (Adi Stoss, Vaclav Jezek, Julius Lemp, & Peter McGill), never got a conclusive end.
It was a Sopranos style ending. The only good part is, is that it easily leaves open the possibility for a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2022
Last in a great series. “Politics is way to important to be left to politicians. All they ever do is make a hash of it.” “What’s the answer then?” Lemp asked. “I haven’t got one, Mayer said. “I wish I did, but I don’t. We’re people. Making messes is what we do. Love affairs should be great. And they are-till we see someone else we’d rather have. We spoil our children, or else we’re so mean we make them hate us. We lie. We cheat. We steal. Is it any wonder our countries do the same?”
August 24, 2014
Typical Turtledove. Everything is from the point of view of the little guys and written, purportedly, in their language. This is not too bad.
The inexplicable history is extremely annoying. I still can't see why the Japanese would attack the Soviets - there is nothing they really need in Siberia - and how the Soviets didn't beta them up, which they did easily in reality.
Why id the U.S. contending with biological warfare and not taking Midway. I reality the Japanese experimented with biologicals but never dared using them.
The inexplicable history is extremely annoying. I still can't see why the Japanese would attack the Soviets - there is nothing they really need in Siberia - and how the Soviets didn't beta them up, which they did easily in reality.
Why id the U.S. contending with biological warfare and not taking Midway. I reality the Japanese experimented with biologicals but never dared using them.
October 16, 2014
I have read A LOT of Harry Turtledove as I have been a long-time fan of alternate history. And the "what-if" here is a good one. What if WWII started a year earlier-over Czechoslovakia rather than Poland?
But Turtledove is so plodding in developing the story, it got painful. He had a dozen different characters when it should have been more like six. Overall, disappointing and not up to the level of his other series.
Anyway, he winds up the story in a very rushed manner after dragging it out over 5 books- or was it 6? Guess I'm a real fan, as I stuck it out!
But Turtledove is so plodding in developing the story, it got painful. He had a dozen different characters when it should have been more like six. Overall, disappointing and not up to the level of his other series.
Anyway, he winds up the story in a very rushed manner after dragging it out over 5 books- or was it 6? Guess I'm a real fan, as I stuck it out!
May 3, 2015
It's Harry Turtledove, so you know what you're going to get: a multi-threaded narrative, told in meticulous detail, usually from the "lower" point of view -- infantry privates, air force mechanics, refugees, housewives, etc. The soldiers develop new ways of cursing, most of the female characters discover inner strength they never knew they had - except for that one female character who always knew she had it. They all work toward one goal -- getting themselves out of this horrible situation they're in. In this book, that's a World War II that started in 1938 instead of 1939.
November 20, 2016
As a huge fan of alternative history, I have looked forward to getting my hands on some of Turtledove's work. Perhaps this was a weird one to start with, but I'm not really sure what I am reading?
The writing is well crafted, but it just seems like an aimless meandering hodgepdoge. Like a dozen miniature versions of AQotWF woven together.
For mine, Alternative history has to be about the "Big Picture." Using it as vehicle to explain that war is hell nomatter who you're fighting, just seems pointless.
The writing is well crafted, but it just seems like an aimless meandering hodgepdoge. Like a dozen miniature versions of AQotWF woven together.
For mine, Alternative history has to be about the "Big Picture." Using it as vehicle to explain that war is hell nomatter who you're fighting, just seems pointless.
December 14, 2015
This is the book I liked more from the series, although I feel Turtledove ran out of ideas at the end... The final chapters seem disconnected and it seemed to me they were a missed opportunity. Without spoilers, let me just say that the fate of Japan is left unfinished, and that the style of telling the story through their protagonist seriously limited the story. Turtledove painted himself into a corner. Although he made the most of it - a good story, but it did not reach its full potential.
April 24, 2021
Okay... I have enjoyed Turtledove since I read Guns of the South forever and an age ago. I enjoy the way he breaks out the various character lines. I enjoy the way he tells a story that makes me want to turn to the next page. He is not Hemingway. He is not King. He is not Joyce.
This series was a tad disappointing to me. Oh sure, the stories were well told in Books 1 & 2. But 3 & 4 were more of a slog than I wish they were.
AVAST YE LUBBERS... THERE BE SPOILERS AHEAD...
The way characters transitioned after other’s deaths, bringing Kuchkov and Hasselbach to the front were well done. Peggy Druce had a good start, but became this two-dimensional, “Oh, woe is me... my marriage is going badly...” character. And reading another three sentence summary of a character was going to make me throw my iPad into a shredder.
I am, however, an obsessive completist. So, I worked hard to complete this series. I have read all the books, one after the other, with no other books squeezing in between. This has felt like a spring salmon run, heading to that great spawning ground of a conclusion, interrupted by the obstacles of books 3 & 4 in my way.
Book 5... Chapter 15... the last section of Chapter 15... Sarah Sarah’s section... gave me the hope that something clicked in Turtledove’s writing. Maybe, it was the lack of another three sentence flashback summary... But, the story really picked back up, and I felt like I was reading Turtledove at his better. Someone had put in a salmon run alongside the obstacle, and I got by... I did my little job, died happy, and then floated upside down on the surface.
Without sounding like an apologist - too late, I’m sure - I would like to offer a thought. War is awful, depressing, repetitive moments of boredom strewn with moments of terror... I have been led to believe by soldiers I have met and my deceased father’s Vietnam War stories I could pry from him. Is it possible that Turtledove has simply created that sense in his book 3 & 4 of this series? Or... is this bear just a bear? A big, lumbering, slow, stinky bear that needs an angry little Jewess in Chapter 15 of book 5 to clap her hands and make some noise so that he is frightened off and lets the story salmon get going back up the stream.
Dang... that’s a lot of metaphor mash.
This series was a tad disappointing to me. Oh sure, the stories were well told in Books 1 & 2. But 3 & 4 were more of a slog than I wish they were.
AVAST YE LUBBERS... THERE BE SPOILERS AHEAD...
The way characters transitioned after other’s deaths, bringing Kuchkov and Hasselbach to the front were well done. Peggy Druce had a good start, but became this two-dimensional, “Oh, woe is me... my marriage is going badly...” character. And reading another three sentence summary of a character was going to make me throw my iPad into a shredder.
I am, however, an obsessive completist. So, I worked hard to complete this series. I have read all the books, one after the other, with no other books squeezing in between. This has felt like a spring salmon run, heading to that great spawning ground of a conclusion, interrupted by the obstacles of books 3 & 4 in my way.
Book 5... Chapter 15... the last section of Chapter 15... Sarah Sarah’s section... gave me the hope that something clicked in Turtledove’s writing. Maybe, it was the lack of another three sentence flashback summary... But, the story really picked back up, and I felt like I was reading Turtledove at his better. Someone had put in a salmon run alongside the obstacle, and I got by... I did my little job, died happy, and then floated upside down on the surface.
Without sounding like an apologist - too late, I’m sure - I would like to offer a thought. War is awful, depressing, repetitive moments of boredom strewn with moments of terror... I have been led to believe by soldiers I have met and my deceased father’s Vietnam War stories I could pry from him. Is it possible that Turtledove has simply created that sense in his book 3 & 4 of this series? Or... is this bear just a bear? A big, lumbering, slow, stinky bear that needs an angry little Jewess in Chapter 15 of book 5 to clap her hands and make some noise so that he is frightened off and lets the story salmon get going back up the stream.
Dang... that’s a lot of metaphor mash.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2022
Last Orders is the sixth and final book in the War That Came Early alternate history series by author Harry Turtledove. Alternate history is a genre where the author takes a particular event in history and extrapolates what would have happened if things had gone a little differently. In this case, Turtledove supposes that France and England so not practice appeasement with the Nazis early on in their aggression, but declare war about a year earlier than they actually did.
I’d like to say that it was worth it to read all of these books. I had hopes that I’d muddle through the other books in the series and feel like at least the conclusion felt like it was worth it. Turtledove has a tendency to be repetitive. There are many times when he jumps between characters and it seems there was no point to switching to their viewpoint other than to reiterate that the same things are still going on in their lives and their corner of the war.
The war is winding down, as you probably have surmised, this being the last book in the series. The German people aren’t too happy that after all of this they are heading for a second defeat in just about 25 years. They begin rising up against the Nazis and eventually Hitler is assassinated after deciding to go hold a rally right at the heart of the unrest. Of all the contrived plot twists along the way of this series, I think this was the worst. I was waiting for it to be revealed that it really wasn’t him; that he somehow outsmarted those who were against him; but no, he makes one of the blatantly stupid decisions that makes absolutely zero sense.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
I’d like to say that it was worth it to read all of these books. I had hopes that I’d muddle through the other books in the series and feel like at least the conclusion felt like it was worth it. Turtledove has a tendency to be repetitive. There are many times when he jumps between characters and it seems there was no point to switching to their viewpoint other than to reiterate that the same things are still going on in their lives and their corner of the war.
The war is winding down, as you probably have surmised, this being the last book in the series. The German people aren’t too happy that after all of this they are heading for a second defeat in just about 25 years. They begin rising up against the Nazis and eventually Hitler is assassinated after deciding to go hold a rally right at the heart of the unrest. Of all the contrived plot twists along the way of this series, I think this was the worst. I was waiting for it to be revealed that it really wasn’t him; that he somehow outsmarted those who were against him; but no, he makes one of the blatantly stupid decisions that makes absolutely zero sense.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
November 22, 2018
Solid conclusion to the war in Europe in the alternate history of the conflict told through this series of novels. The final one follows the formula of keeping up with several (actually a pretty full cast) characters as they fight and sometimes are killed on both sides of several conflicts and on the home front. Most of the action takes place in Europe, where England and France face Germany in the West and Russia takes on the Nazi regime in the east. The United States, meanwhile, has its hands full.in the Pacific as they try to retake islands captured by Japan, who have launched a revolutionary tactic - germ warfare - against Hawaii. There is also the nasty civil war in Spain that has dragged on through the start of war between the major powers.
The author has followed this formula through several series, and I have enjoyed seeing what happens to the characters as they go from book to book and sometimes not, as it is pointed out, in war people die.
Recommended for both history and alternate history fans alike.
The author has followed this formula through several series, and I have enjoyed seeing what happens to the characters as they go from book to book and sometimes not, as it is pointed out, in war people die.
Recommended for both history and alternate history fans alike.
May 24, 2023
This is really a quick comment on the whole six-book series, and I'm being generous with 6 stars. I read the first three books over a few months, and the last three over a few weeks--and, well, I like the idea of telling the war story from on-the-ground perspectives. That's the three-star part. The sheer repetition, the slowness of it all, did I mention the sheer repetition (and that the soldiers all seem to be either fanatics or only interested in drinking, swearing, finding women of negotiable virtue, and saving their own skins), oh, and let me note the tendency to repeat...
The concept was good. I like most of what I've read of Turtledove. I'll read more...but maybe not for a few months, and certainly not if I see another pentalogy approaching. I'm too old and life is too short. And all of that is the two-star part: this is really 2.5-stars. [Not writing five other reviews.]
The concept was good. I like most of what I've read of Turtledove. I'll read more...but maybe not for a few months, and certainly not if I see another pentalogy approaching. I'm too old and life is too short. And all of that is the two-star part: this is really 2.5-stars. [Not writing five other reviews.]
May 18, 2018
I just finished "Last Orders," the final book in Harry Turtledove's "The War That Came Early" series, and, boy what a way to wrap up a series! The countries opposing Germany prevail, thanks in part to an internal power shift that results in Adolf Hitler being permanently deposed, and Nazis being treated as outlaws. The United States is still at war with Japan, but now has the Soviet Union as an ally. The Spanish Civil War is finally over, and a surviving member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade returns home to New York City. If you enjoy alternate history novels, check out "The War That Came Early" series. It's worth it.
May 7, 2021
All in all this is a fun series. but I wish that the author had spent more time telling the story from more perspectives, but of course that would make the stories more difficult to follow. I also would differ on the plausibility of some of the alternatives, but hey, maybe that means that I should go and write my own book, which of course would be much worse. Some times the repetitiveness gets a little tiring, you wish the author would come up with something new to say rather than repeating the smae thing for the 5th or 6th time. But read this series for fun, and don't spend too much time second guessing the author.
March 11, 2024
The problem when your writing style is to have a "main character" on every side in every battle of the war, is how do these loved characters' stories finish? They can't just die or win, so I thought HT did a great job of wrapping those storylines up.
This is Alternate History, so it is good when the ending, doesn't follow our history, but again, you can't have the bad-guys win, so again I think HT did a great job in finalizing the series.
So 5 stars for ending the series so well, -1 star for taking SIX 400p books to drag out a story that could have been told in half as many pages.
This is Alternate History, so it is good when the ending, doesn't follow our history, but again, you can't have the bad-guys win, so again I think HT did a great job in finalizing the series.
So 5 stars for ending the series so well, -1 star for taking SIX 400p books to drag out a story that could have been told in half as many pages.
September 30, 2020
What an ending! On top of all the action, intrigue and drama there is still left an opening for continuing this alternate reality. I would love to continue this story, a different Cold War with a still powerful Germany developing unknown technologies while the US and USSR are kept engaged with a still strong Japan. I think this series was a success, I enjoyed all of the books, but thought the ending was probably the best part! I will have to keep my eye out for a sequel.
August 28, 2021
I didn’t love the conclusion to this series it was okay. Part of the Brilliance of Turtledove is his ability to write a historical fiction story and have a complicated within a story. The bad part is like history there is no end, even though he could do a better job of finishing each of the mini stories in a more definitive way. I feel like there was too much left in the table. The war with Japan isn’t even done yet.
November 12, 2019
better than the middle entries, an interesting ending where everything's tossed around for something that's better in some cases, worse in others, but mostly a recognisably close alternate. After six books these characters do feel lived in and breathed in and those that go on living still have more to say. I don't know if I would say a fun read but certainly interesting.
April 10, 2022
Good ending to these six books. Some characters die and others will continue their lives post book. I liked the punch line ending. Logical plot. The characters do grow on you after following them book after book. Worthwhile series, especially for one like me who already knows lots about history and World War Ii. Turtledove has fun playing with ideas. Recommended.
October 23, 2021
A great ending to a great series. The unexpected twist which brings an end to this 6 book series is a doozy. It isn’t a happy ending for all the characters we’ve followed through the entire series, but as great historical fiction, is very believable.
June 10, 2018
And it all comes to an end. The whole series is not great but it is a fun read. The ending wasn't far off what I expected.
June 25, 2018
Better than the last one.
September 21, 2018
An excellent read.
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