Victory seems assured as the United States of America drive deep into Confederate States territory, uncovering shocking death camps as they go. But both sides in this war have been working on unimaginably powerful new weapons. Can a new kind of bomb save the Confederate States from defeat at the eleventh hour?
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‘With shocking vividness, Turtledove demonstrates the extreme fragility of our modern world ... This is state-of-the-art alternate history, nothing less’ (Publishers Weekly on HOW FEW REMAIN )
‘Turtledove plays heady games with actual history, scattering object lessons and bitter ironies along the way. Strong, complex characters against a sweeping alt-historical background.’ (Kirkus Reviews on SETTLING ACCOUNTS: RETURN ENGAGEMENT )
'Turtledove’s books are always great entertainment but in all these novels about an alternate North America the possible route of democracy, demagoguery and repression ring all too true . . . the power of the book is in its ordinary people and their struggles.' (SFX Magazine on SETTLING ACCOUNTS: RETURN ENGAGEMENT )
‘Engrossing . . . definitely the work of one of alternate history’s authentic modern masters ... totally fascinating.’ (Booklist on THE GREAT WAR series )
‘Turtledove plays heady games with actual history, scattering object lessons and bitter ironies along the way. Strong, complex characters against a sweeping alt-historical background.’ (Kirkus Reviews on SETTLING ACCOUNTS: RETURN ENGAGEMENT )
'Turtledove’s books are always great entertainment but in all these novels about an alternate North America the possible route of democracy, demagoguery and repression ring all too true . . . the power of the book is in its ordinary people and their struggles.' (SFX Magazine on SETTLING ACCOUNTS: RETURN ENGAGEMENT )
‘Engrossing . . . definitely the work of one of alternate history’s authentic modern masters ... totally fascinating.’ (Booklist on THE GREAT WAR series )
About the Author
Harry Turtledove has lived in Southern California all his life. With a Ph.D. in history from the University of California, he has taught at UCLA, California State Fullerton and California State University, Los Angeles. He has written many works of speculative fiction and fantasy. He is married to the novelist Laura Frankos and they have three daughters.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Mark Klobas
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Harry Turtledove's alternate history series has a lot in common with a summer cinematic blockbuster. They come out like clockwork, offer a good deal of action, but not too much below the surface. The last volume, Settling Accounts: The Grapple, was a particularly disappointing entry, as Turtledove seemed to have lost any interest in what was becoming a monotonous series. This, the concluding volume of his 'Settling Accounts' quartet, however, is a much more enjoyable addition. Rather than stretching things out further, he wraps up his alternate Second World War between the United States and the Confederacy with a bang -- in fact, with several of them.
At the end of the last volume, the Confederacy was sliding towards what seemed an inevitable defeat, with U.S. forces striking towards Atlanta, General Sherman-style. While Turtledove picks up where he leaves off, he throws in enough twists to keep the story interesting. And though the war ends well before the last page, there is more than enough in the later chapters to satisfy readers who have followed the series from its initial volume, 'How Few Remain', as the postwar fates of many lasting characters are sketched out for the reader. As a result, while this volume may lack some of the imagination of his 'Crosstime Traffic' series, longtime fans of the series will find little to disappoint them here.
At the end of the last volume, the Confederacy was sliding towards what seemed an inevitable defeat, with U.S. forces striking towards Atlanta, General Sherman-style. While Turtledove picks up where he leaves off, he throws in enough twists to keep the story interesting. And though the war ends well before the last page, there is more than enough in the later chapters to satisfy readers who have followed the series from its initial volume, 'How Few Remain', as the postwar fates of many lasting characters are sketched out for the reader. As a result, while this volume may lack some of the imagination of his 'Crosstime Traffic' series, longtime fans of the series will find little to disappoint them here.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this is the latest and possibly last in a long series of alternate history novels that have shown us an america where the south won the civil war, and history has taken a different turn as a result.
This started with a book called how few remain that detailed a second civil war in the 1880's.
the following trilogy the great war showed us world war one in america with the north versus the south again.
the next trilogy american empire showed us this world from the 20's to the 30's with the south falling under control of a fascist leader.
and this book is the fourth volume in the series return engagement, which details a new war between the two in the 1940's.
It actually is very easy to read and you might be able to pick it up without having read the former volumes, but I would recommend going right back to the start of the series as you'll get more out of that way.
harry turtledove as usual writes prose which is not great literature but is very readable, and uses a fair few characters as his viewpoints, scenes shifting between each on regular occasions.
the war actually ends two hundred pages before the end of this six hundred and eight page book, and what the last two hundred pages cover is the aftermath. the war may have finished but all the hatreds haven't gone away. and like real wars, it doesn't end with a last minute attack on the villains base and everyone living happily ever after, it ends with peace treaties and people wondering what the future will hold. the writer doesnt shy away from depicting all the hatreds and it does make you think about the resulting moral issues, which is good writing.
I've followed these characters through a lot of books now, and if this is the end of the story I will be sorry to see them go. A good read.
This started with a book called how few remain that detailed a second civil war in the 1880's.
the following trilogy the great war showed us world war one in america with the north versus the south again.
the next trilogy american empire showed us this world from the 20's to the 30's with the south falling under control of a fascist leader.
and this book is the fourth volume in the series return engagement, which details a new war between the two in the 1940's.
It actually is very easy to read and you might be able to pick it up without having read the former volumes, but I would recommend going right back to the start of the series as you'll get more out of that way.
harry turtledove as usual writes prose which is not great literature but is very readable, and uses a fair few characters as his viewpoints, scenes shifting between each on regular occasions.
the war actually ends two hundred pages before the end of this six hundred and eight page book, and what the last two hundred pages cover is the aftermath. the war may have finished but all the hatreds haven't gone away. and like real wars, it doesn't end with a last minute attack on the villains base and everyone living happily ever after, it ends with peace treaties and people wondering what the future will hold. the writer doesnt shy away from depicting all the hatreds and it does make you think about the resulting moral issues, which is good writing.
I've followed these characters through a lot of books now, and if this is the end of the story I will be sorry to see them go. A good read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By J. Doody
Format:Paperback
over at last, though with turtledove he may decide to milk the series further, having initially been a big fan of his i have to say i can't see myself buying another of his books due mainly to the repetitive storeyline, i found myself skipping entire sections of the book, and groaned out loud. It's all be said before in earlier books in the series..
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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
So this is how it ends?
The final (thank goodness) book in Turtledove's unimaginative 11-volume epic about what might have happened had the South won the American Civil War. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr Gordon Davidson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Settling Accounts
Settling Accounts: In at the Death (Great War)
Was sad to see the finish of what had been a quite gripping and compelling series. Read more
Was sad to see the finish of what had been a quite gripping and compelling series. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. John L. Johnston
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ordinary, but fun
So Mr. Turtledove's epic comes finally to an end (or does it?). It is, like its predecessors, a piece of rather ordinary writing with much language repetition - there are times... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2008 by Teemacs
2.0 out of 5 stars
Should have quit whilst he was ahead
Turtledove, that is. As other reviewers have noted, he's just going through the motions these days. I think control-c and control-v have been used a lot in writing this book. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2008 by Dr. T. Flynn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fine end to a fine series
Well, now we know...
This has been one of the most monumental achievements in the alternate history canon. Read more
This has been one of the most monumental achievements in the alternate history canon. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2007 by Bill Kelly
3.0 out of 5 stars
Well it's all over....
I've enjoyed this series, but, I'm glad it's over... I just found that the writing style really began to grate on me, as has been said of Mr Turtledove before, his writing can be... Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2007 by Mr. M. Fee
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