Alternate History discussion

I've not started reading Harry Turtledove yet. So far my experience with alternate history is primarily with the Eden trilogy by Harry Harrison, a bit of Eric Flint and S.M. Stirling.

Does anyone know where a good start with Turtledove would be?

Guns of the South is really good. also How Few Remain is the beginning of a 11-book series about how the south won the civil war and how it changes to world up into a different version of world war 2. i started with the last 4 books by mistake and i'm just now reading how few remain but from what i've read really good stuff.

Thanks for the comments... I think I will read Guns most likely, sounds like some of his best work from what I can hear.

First I have to finish reading (or find a breaking point in) the Aubrey-Maturin series... Not exactly alternate history, but quite a break from the normal fare I've been reading.

I haven't read much of his stuff yet - but I go thru the worldwar series, followed by the colonization books after that (continuing the story)... very enjoyable for me. I'm gonna read the Guns sometime soon... but my "to read" list is getting longer and longer...

Harry dragged out his alternative North/South storyline far too long to the point that it is more cliche than "alternative". The 4-volume set has been tedious beyond belief. I took a one-year hiatus between Book 2 & Book 3 and might take as long before the final intallment even though I am partially of the mind to just nut-up and plow into it so I can be done with it once-and-for-all.

That said, the stand-alone How Few Remain and the first 3-book set, The Great War were compelling and enjoyable.

I'm kind of with Dave here...I read GOTS [It was ok:] and tried the first one of the WW2 series [not so ok:]. Of course, I'm trying to compete with him!! ;-)

My favorites are Ruled Britannia and In the Presence of Mine Enemies. The first is set in London 10 years after the Spanish Armada successfully conquered Britain. The second is set in Berlin 60 years after the Germans won World War II.

Both are very good in different ways.

Geoffrey wrote: "My favorites are Ruled Britannia and In the Presence of Mine Enemies. The first is set in London 10 years after the Spanish Armada successfully conquered Britain. The second is set in Berlin 60 y..."

I've got Hitlers War sitting on my shelf waiting to read.Hitler's WarHarry Turtledove

Liberating Atlantis Harry Turtledove I've enjoyed all these Atlantis series. I would recommend them all.

I really enjoyed his World War series, followed by the Colonization series. Also excellent is the newer Atlantis series. Highly recommend!

I can't say I was impressed enough the 1st 'Atlantis' story to bother picking up any more. Very pedestrian & methodical.

Two of my turtledove favorites that I noticed no one mentioned above are the pearl harbour books "Days of Infamy" and "End of the Beginning". My only dissapointment with them is that there are not more.

Has anyone else read "Hitler's War" aka book 1 of his new series "The War That Came Early"?

I thought it has its merits and moments, but doesn't really escape the repetitiveness of Settling Accounts.

Josh wrote: "Has anyone else read "Hitler's War" aka book 1 of his new series "The War That Came Early"?

I thought it has its merits and moments, but doesn't really escape the repetitiveness of Settling Accounts."

I read it several months ago. I found it somewhat disjointed but also hard to put down.

I recommend the book he co-authored with Richard Dreyfuss The Two Georges in which the American Revolution never happened because George III and George Washington sat down and worked things out keeping British North America in the empire with self-government( much like happened with Canada and Australia in real world).

Guns of the South and How few Remain are the best to start. I do agree with The Two Georges and with Ruled Britania, two of my favorite independent ones he did along with 'in the presence of mine enemies'.

I red the current Hitler's war books but I find it to be his absolute worse series ever. Just poorly written and thought out

I am currently in the middle of reading American Front and I find it hard to keep track of. I finished How few remain and guns of the south and want to finish the 11 book set but finding it difficult to follow at times. Any other sugestions for good alternative history authors about civil war and/or wwII

by Harry Turtledove

2nd book in the series of what would it have been like if world war II had started in 1938 when Britain and France had not backed down over Czechoslovakia. Follows a lot of different story lines and somewhat confusing but you get a view of China, Siberia, France, Norway, Poland and Spain. Interesting.

Carolyn wrote: "I really enjoyed his World War series, followed by the Colonization series. Also excellent is the newer Atlantis series. Highly recommend!"

Oh i agree, his worldwar series was so great, i've just started reading his colonization series now. i've also got one of his newest books, after the downfall sitting on my shelf waiting to start that when i finish the colonization series.

Alvin wrote: "I've not started reading Harry Turtledove yet. So far my experience with alternate history is primarily with the Eden trilogy by Harry Harrison, a bit of Eric Flint and S.M. Stirling.

Does anyon..."

They're old now, but I really loved his Videssos series, having said that I've liked virtually everything he has written.

If you're coming from a SF background, I'd suggest you start with the "Worldwar" series.

Loren wrote: "Guns of the South and How few Remain are the best to start. I do agree with The Two Georges and with Ruled Britania, two of my favorite independent ones he did along with 'in the presence of mine e..."


I think his stuff is getting worse by the year. He's writing too many series and publishing far too often that it's all become quite pedestrian.

Dave wrote: "Loren wrote: "Guns of the South and How few Remain are the best to start. I do agree with The Two Georges and with Ruled Britania, two of my favorite independent ones he did along with 'in the pres..."

Have to admit his latest books (Atlantis series, while creative, the Pearl Harbor series and now this war that came early series) while interesting ideas have definitely fallen flat. Not sure why. Doesn't take away from his very impressive past works, nor should it spook you away from them. The CSA series is one of the best I've ever red. The stand alone novels were very enjoyable as was the Worldwar series. Just because he's fallen somewhat flat doesn't take away the genius of his past work

While I still read him as often as I can I do agree he is getting a little similar in his stories.

book 4 in the war that came early series. Continues to follow the characters in the earlier books. I enjoyed it and gave it four stars.

Patricrk wrote: " book 4 in the war that came early series. Continues to follow the characters in the earlier books. I enjoyed it and gave it four stars."

Just started this one last night

I gave it three stars. I think he has too much going on for the size of the book.

Did enjoy the early Great War Series but it does get repetitive. Thought Guns of the South was very good. My personal favourites are the Eric Flint 1632 universe and the Belisaurius series. Excellent treads.

Ruled Britannia is fantastic as is Guns of The South.

How Few Remain is very good, but the follow-up series never really lived up to its potential, and after chugging through numerous books it tries too hard to be a sort of parallel to our own time, told in a different way, rather than an interesting series in its own right.

The World War series with the Race is great fun, but the Colonisation follow-up series IMHO gets more dull the longer it goes on, and the final book is just awful.

Regards
Grey Wolf

Patrick wrote: "I recommend the book he co-authored with Richard Dreyfuss The Two Georges in which the American Revolution never happened because George III and George Washington sat down and worked things out kee..."

I forgot about this one! I rather enjoyed it too.

Regards
Grey Wolf

Just finished by Harry Turtledove This is a continuation of the the War that came early series where world war II starts in 1938 with the invasion of Czechoslovakia. It is written in the same style and while interesting I only give it three stars.

My favorites are the the series that he wrote in the world of Videssos. They aren't really alternate history but are quite entertaining. Make sure to do some research to find out the correct chronology before you start.

Check out the site www.ucronia.net aka The Alternative History List.

Karl wrote: "Check out the site www.ucronia.net aka The Alternative History List."

there is nothing but a place holder page there, no site yet

Steven wrote: "Karl wrote: "Check out the site www.ucronia.net aka The Alternative History List."

there is nothing but a place holder page there, no site yet"

Sorry, I made a typo... The correct adress should be www.uchronia.net
Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Steven.

Karl wrote: "Steven wrote: "Karl wrote: "Check out the site www.ucronia.net aka The Alternative History List."

there is nothing but a place holder page there, no site yet"

Sorry, I made a typo... The correct..."

Thank you Sir...

http://www.uchronia.net/ is the correct address