– Customer review on 25/07/2006

Curious Notions by Harry Turtledove.
Curious Notions is the second in the Crosstime Traffic series by the master of alternate history; Harry Turtledove. The series is based on the premise that in the future our resource starved world finds a way to travel to alternate versions of our world where history has run a different course. In this book the adventure takes place in a world where Germany won the First World War and the Kaiser’s influence has spread across the globe. It takes place in a San Francisco under German rule.
Paul Gomes and his father Lawrence have just been sent to run the shop, Curious Notions. The shop sells products from our world, which are far more advanced than anything from the other world. With the funds they receive they buy food to send back to our world. One of the main things that those who travel to other worlds is that they should never be discovered, this would cause untold damage. Unfortunately for Paul and his dad the German secret police, as well as the Chinese Triads, have become curious about Curious Notions and want to know where the advanced products are actually coming from.
Soon Paul and his father are desperately trying to avoid the attention of both these very dangerous organisations. They try to make sure that nobody discovers that they come from another world, which is not an easy task when confronted by men willing to use torture and blackmail.
Again Turtledove has outdone himself, his great knowledge of history allows him to manipulate events to show what our world would have been like if only a few things had been different. It is exciting and frightening. A very enjoyable read, especially for teen readers. Well done.