Reviews

The compelling third volume (after Drive to the East) in Turtledove's third alternate history of WWII series opens with the Confederacy reeling after the loss of their forces in the cauldron around Pittsburgh. The United States is trying to suppress the Mormon rebellion in Utah, while Canadian patriots fight the occupying Yanks to a stalemate. Negro guerrillas who escaped being swept up into death camps authorized by C.S.A. President Jake Featherstone disrupt the rural economy. Meanwhile, both sides work feverishly to win the race to build an atomic bomb. One may question the appropriateness of using the Holocaust as a springboard for an entertainment, but Turtledove convincingly depicts how an American holocaust could well have happened. Some Confederates begin to feel pangs of conscience, just as the U.S. troops who execute hostages among the Mormon, Canadian and Confederate civilians feel nothing but repulsion. While somewhat repetitious and a bit preachy in spots, Turtledove's latest proves that third time is the charm. (July) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

PRAISE FOR HARRY TURTLEDOVE
"Turtledove [is] the standard-bearer for alternate history."
-USA Today
Settling Accounts: Drive to the East
"First-time readers can jump in and enjoy Turtledove's richly rearranged cultural and political landscape."
-The Kansas City Star
"Engrossing . . . thoroughly satisfying."
-Publishers Weekly
Settling Accounts: Return Engagement
"Strong, complex characters against a sweeping alt-historical background."
-Kirkus Reviews
American Empire: The Victorious Opposition
"Powerful . . . demonstrates Turtledove's continuing mastery of historical fiction . . . almost impossible to praise too highly."
-Booklist (starred review)
American Empire: The Center Cannot Hold
"Turtledove never tires of exploring the paths not taken, bringing to his storytelling a prodigious knowledge of his subject and a profound understanding of human sensibilities and motivations."
-Library Journal