- Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
- Publisher: Del Rey Books; 1st Mass Market Ed edition (1 Jun 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0345430220
- ISBN-13: 978-0345430229
- Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 2.4 x 17.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
282,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9 in Books > Fiction > Science Fiction > Alternate History
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Product Description
Product Description
In the extraordinary Worldwar tetralogy, set against the backdrop of the World War II, Harry Turtledove, the "Hugo-winning master of alternate SF" (Publishers Weekly), wove an explosive saga of world powers locked in conflict against an enemy from the stars. Now he expands his magnificent epic into the volatile 1960s, when the space race is in its infancy and humanity must face its greatest challenge: alien colonization of planet Earth.
Yet even in the shadow of this inexorable foe, the United States, the Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany are unable to relinquish their hostilities and unite against a massive new wave of extraterrestrials. For all the countries of the world, this is the greatest threat of all. This time, the terrible price of defeat will be the conquest of our world, and perhaps the extinction of the human race itself.
Yet even in the shadow of this inexorable foe, the United States, the Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany are unable to relinquish their hostilities and unite against a massive new wave of extraterrestrials. For all the countries of the world, this is the greatest threat of all. This time, the terrible price of defeat will be the conquest of our world, and perhaps the extinction of the human race itself.
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First Sentence
Atvar, the commander of the Race's conquest fleet, poked a control with a fingerclaw. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Atvar, the commander of the Race's conquest fleet, poked a control with a fingerclaw. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This second series taking place soon after Turtledove's well received "WorldWar" saga is a good read that kept me entertained. But it is also a disappointment in that it's pretty clear that the author padded the book enough so that he can make what could probably be written in 2 books into a 4 book story.
What's particularly unfortunate is that Turtledove pads the book with largely irrelevant character building that makes the book feel like "Winds of War" with lizards.
A book such as this has so many opportunities to go into detail on how this alternative past is different than our own. The technology changes, the general life of the average American, Japanese, Russian, German, etc could be fleshed out more. In this alternative history, the US apparently goes to Mars. This is just mentioned in passing. What other types of technology do they have?
Another surprising thing is how little detail is given on human military technology. I know in our time line what 1960 era jets, tanks, and ships could do, what is different in this alternative timeline?
One of the most surprising things is how little mention the United States gets in the book from a governmental point of view. The reader gets no real inkling to where the US stands when compared to Nazi Germany or Russia from an economic or military balance other than a vague understanding that the US is "on par" with Germany in military technology.
Some things just don't make historical sense. In this alternative history, Great Britain slowly moves closer to Nazi Germany in behavior. I don't think many historians would agree that such a thing was even possible in a Churchill controlled Britain.
Even some of the character behavior seems senseless. The Race seems too ignorant to be as advanced as they are (not knowing how to deal with Snow? Even their home world would have to have polar icecaps and you'd think they would have been briefed).
But overall, my main disappointment with the book is that it's basically a 150 page book stretched into a nearly 400 page book.
But I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the original series. The original series suffered largely from these same things, especially the later ones). It's a good book but one that could have been so much better.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was wondering how HT would manage the sequel to his epic Worldwar series. I need not have worried. If anything this sequel is better than some of the original works. HT continues several characters and expands on them as well as introducing new ones. Superb work, I await the next episode with baited breath..
Format:Hardcover
The second time was the charm for me. I liked it after the first read, but in the second trip, I picked up all the little things -- ". . .I don't like the TANG of their orange drink. . ."?!!! Spike Jones' "The Fleetlord's Face"?!!! Turtledove is a great punster (who else could appreciate the reason I wanted 'The Two Georges' and 'Greatwar: American Front' so I could have two Turtledoves for Christmas???). I am looking forward to the next entry in this series -- meantime, I'll enjoy Walk in Hell.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
First rate continuation of an excellent series
Since I read the first of the World War series I have been a Harry Turtledove fan. I bought each of the series as it was published in Britain and I still cannot work out how he... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 1999
Some of Turtledove's best work.
Ever since I read Guns of the South, I've been a Harry Turtledove fan, and this book has only stregntend my love of his work. Read more
Published on 27 July 1999
A rather sad follow up to his excellent 'World War' series.
After his excellent 'World War' series the first of the next series is a huge disappointment. It lacks the pace and urgency of his earlier books. Read more
Published on 26 July 1999
It's about dang time!
It seemed to be a long time coming and it was worth the wait. Mr. Turtledove does a fine job writing history as he imagines it to unfold. Read more
Published on 22 July 1999
An entertaining and well-researched tome
Actually, I'd give this one three and a half stars. Since I can't do that, I'll bump it up to four. The research involved in this series had to be near-obsessive (like a Gary... Read more
Published on 21 July 1999
Pretty darn good
Turtledove does it again. He has this knack for finding these outlandish themes and making them appear as if they're happening in your own back yard. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 1999
A worthy continuation of the first series
I've just finished this book and enjoyed it a great deal. It starts out a tad slow as he works in some background on what's happened on Earth since the end of the previous series,... Read more
Published on 19 Jun 1999
He's not through yet.
Second Contact continues the WorldWar series into a fifth book with renewed energy. It was conincidence, but I'd just finished rteading the new WWII novel, The Triumph and the... Read more
Published on 13 Jun 1999
I like it
I've got to admit I've always looked a bit askance at the Worldwar books, especially compared to his "All-Human" civil War and Great war novels. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 1999
Great addition to the WORLDWAR series!!!
One of the best books in the series yet. Leaves you hanging in the end though. Can't wait for the next book.
Published on 3 Jun 1999
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