Turtledove

[Wolf]

Harry Turtledove is an American author who's been proclaimed as "the master of alternate history." I've been reading a series of his for some time, and I think it's interesting. This might make a lot more sense to American forum-members than not, though, since the series centers on American history.

How Few Remain

American Front

Walk in Hell

Breakthroughs

Blood and Iron

The Center Cannot Hold

The Victorious Opposition

Return Engagement

These books are weird. Turtledove changes one single event in history. During a critical battle in the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee wrapped his battle orders around three cigars to have them sent out. In our world, the orders were dropped and found by Union General McClellan, and Lee lost the battle. In Turtledove's world, the orders were picked up by a loyal Confederate soldier, and Lee won. Only one moment in history was changed, and everything changes. Yet... everything also stays the same. From a wider view, the same things happen. There are two world wars. There is genocide. There is a socialist revolution. But how, who, what, and why they happen are... all turned around. I'd tell more, but I fear for spoilers.

[Khan]

I've seen his books around, mainly the 'Colonization' series, but never dared to buy any of them, would you recomend that I do?

[Wolf]

I've got the Colonization books, and those are alright, but not as good -- in my opinion -- as the American Empire series. I'd recommend those -- as in, the ones I've got listed above.

[Khan]

Ok, thanks, and is the order that you gave the correct reading order for the series?

[Wolf]

Yessir. If you know a lot about American history, this series will be supremely interesting. If not, the series will be a good story.

[Khan]

Well I can do with just reading a good story. :), but I do have a fairly good knowledge of American history.

[Wolf]

Oh, enjoy. And it's great. The series covers almost a hundred years of history. Characters in the first books have children and the focus is on that family, and when the original characters die, the focus goes to the children, and then to their children, and so on. There are so many threads and connections... its amazing how the story is woven together.

[Dunenewt]

Do any of them focus on British History?

[Wolf]

Not extensively... the British are talked about as helping the Confederacy secede, and they're mentioned as staunch allies of the Confederates. Actually, in one of the books, [hide]The British force the Confederacy to manumit their slaves and grant them citizenship, because the British Empire cannot support a slave-holding nation. So, the CSA does this, and actually gives African Americans freedom faster than would have happened in normal history. It's ironic, but it doesn't last for very long, anyway, not when the Freedom Party comes to power...[/hide]

So, the British do play a part. Churchill is in the later two books, The Victorious Opposition and Return Engagement. His portrayal is interesting, but not extensive.