Great alternative history
354295
I love picking up a Robert Conroy alternative history/what-if book when I get too mired in serious history, particularly when reading about the complexities of world war two.  Like Kim and the Prisoner of Zenda, Robert Conroy provides a delightful escape for the reality of history into well written alternative pathways that always leave me with an upbeat feeling.
2629769
When I first decided to read this, I was a little concerned.  I learned to read in the great science fiction tradition of which the alternate history novel was a popular enough subgenre with some great examples: The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick for one.  Though I admire Philip Roth greatly, I wasn't sure how his stab at alternate history was going to stand up to my science fiction past.  Fortunately, it stands up very well.

One reason why this novel stands up so well is that it is an alternate history novel only in the most superficial sense.  Yes, we are in a world where Charles Lindbergh defeats FDR in 1940 and begins the "nazification" of America.  But this is just the canvas for the examination of a family--the fictional Roth family where our author/narrator is a little boy living with an older brother, a cousin and his parents in the Jewish neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey.  By the time the novel ends, the Lindbergh administration runs out to be just a two year interregnum before things straighten out and American history turns back into what it is now.  This two year space, however, gives Roth an opportunity to do what he does so well which is to detail the inner lives of human beings.  In this case, the extraordinary experience of a virulently anti-Semitic America allows Roth to put a group of basically normal, decent people through harrowing events including his young alter ego.

Roth's ability to send his characters on a journey of tremendous change while remaining true to their character is incredible.  We see cousin Alvin reach for honor by fighting the Nazis for Canada and then fall back to his lower nature when he is wounded.  We see charming and talented brother Sandy fall under the sway the new regime but then give up and focus his attention to more normal teenage concerns: girls.  We see his parents stepping up and being strong under great pressure, being consistent but often in ways incomprehensible to their children.  All in all, we see a very real family brilliantly drawn.

And, of course, within this fictional alternate history, we can detect Roth's sly commentary on the injustices that still remain in America today.  In his accurate description of Newark of the 1940's, we see our real America undergoing a seemingly believable social change.  In a world where fear of terror has convinced some of us to slowly give away our freedoms, The Plot Against America stands as a reminder of what our country can go through if we're not vigilant.

In the end, I found myself enjoying this novel much more than I expected going in.  This is an excellent novel.  Maybe the best I've read this year.
1229002
Title says it all, fun read. Enjoyed the alternate history take, new and fresh ideas on a trope that has a lot gone before it.
1331663
I've been rather fond of alternative histories for quite some time. This one is done very well.

I was engaged from the start and had no idea where it was going, boy was I pleasantly surprised. Very well written and plausible, I will be seeking out more of Mr. Andrews work in the future.
59898
There are some really fun alternate history short stories in the collection. Also a definate must if you enjoyed Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga.
764151
This was written as a series of columns meant to give RPG gamers story seeds for their sessions, but anyone who is a fan of the alternate history genre will find plenty in here to love. These are well-researched essays that cover dozens of personalities and topics that provide points of departure for any number of secret histories or conspiracies. Wonderful stuff.
335110
Great alternative history in an original time era, with castaways stranded near what is sometimes called "the first dark age" in western civilization. The author knows their stuff, and the encounters with Bronze-age cultures and civilizations are very detailed and tied back to real history. Also, the behavior of the main characters is more consistent with being "stranded in time" than most alt-histories I have read. A good book to be stranded in time yourself - lots of detailed descriptions of how 20th century castaways could reconstruct their machines 3,000 years ago.
4138352
I personally know Ben and his book is a fun "alternative history" with a 1860's "James Bond" taking out the most effective Confederate Corps commander.  Ben's command of the knowledge, equipment and the history of the period is unassailable.  Were I the Yankee army, I certainly would have considered the tactical genius of 2nd Manassas and Chancellorsville as a good target to a strategic assassination. Jacksons movements in both are classic and dynamic.  His loss was truly the loss of Massa Roberts right arm, I do not think he ever recovered from the loss of Jackson.  This book is certainly a fun read for an alternative history of the events.  And King's comprehensive knowledge of the period lends it credibility.
1564090
This what-if history was written as a popular history of an invasion of the UK in 1941. The pacing and drama keeps one reading on voraciously. The very careful research and the inclusion of faux first hand accounts keeps the pros fresh throughout. The adept understanding of the fog of war keep you wondering what will be the final outcome. This very thoughtful and well written tome in the alt-history genre will be enjoyed by alternate history fans and students of World War II alike.
2636375
This is the beginning to an awesome new series of alternative history based on Japan going "modern" (steampunk actually) just before Commodore Perry arrived. Aside from breaking a few laws of physics and totally lacking any perception of how much time and money it would take to establish railroads, foundries, and a modern arms industry, it was very entertaining. While it bent the formality of 1850's Japanese culture to accomplish a steampunk alliance between renegade daimyo and their peasants it still felt plausibly Japanese. Even in rebellion toward the Shogunate, the rebel alliance was loyal to the Emperor and their country. Having spent ten years living and working in Japan, I believe the Japanese could carry off this loyalists in rebellion coup. Their accomplishments in rebuilding after World War Two clearly show they have the reverse engineering chops to pull off the technological portion of the coup as written in this book, if not in the year or so of this story, certainly in a decade or two. So suspend reality a bit and enjoy a pantheon of great characters as they save Japan from the warmongering Americans.
2763918
I'm a big fan of alternative history, plan to follow this series.  Little confusing to track as this is a prequel to the rest of the series.  I was able to get a sense of the characters history as I read the novella.
4064632
Typical Harry Turtledove, he takes history and turns it on it's ear. A great read for fans of the Alternate Fiction genre!
53613
I'm an alternative history fan and these stories provide solid entertainment.
4425903
Always a fan of alternative history and Robert Conroy is one of my favorites in this genre. Once again he did not disappoint.

The best alternative history is one that is based as closely as possible on true events and that is what Red Inferno does. In 1945 the Allies stopped their drive east at the Elbe River. This is a political as well as strategic bone thrown to the Soviets. As historians know, Germany was stripping the Western Front and sending everything to the Eastern Front in order to hold off Soviet Forces long enough for the Allies to take Berlin which they could have done weeks before the Russians. The strategic part is what the book is based upon, that if the Western Allies hadn't stopped would have an "accidental" clash between the two sides lead to a larger war?

Conroy does an excellent job of building the background and the characters with enough action thrown in to make it an fairly fast paced read. My only letdown with the book is the ending seemed a little rushed and could have been drawn out more.

If you like this genre then I highly recommend this book.
787438
The premise of The Fifth Lectern should seem familiar to anyone who followed this year's UK elections.  But this and its prequel The Fourth Lectern were written prior and offer a unique look at if the change in the British political system occurred earlier and faster.  Cooke keeps the reader engaged through the twists and turns of the parties' campaigns.  The Fifth Lectern is a great read for any alternate history fan.
1015091
Just a great book - I read a lot of alternative history and mystery/suspense and this one is among the best.  It shows the complexity of the decisions that British people would have had to make under occupation and the fact that friendships and loyalties would cut all ways.  Really well done - captures the atmosphere of old London dead (a vaguely remember as a child) and has really well developed characters.  I strongly recommend the other book in the series "The darkest hour".
360552
Alternate history novels are becoming increasing popular.  Harry Turtledove sees to that.  But almost as quickly is the category of non-fiction alternate history.  In this latter 'history' the author takes a real life event and makes it come out different from the original.  He makes no attempt to novelize it; thus, he does not have to worry about the proper use of typical writer's tools such as character development, symbolism, dialogue, and style.  What this author must do is to write expository prose, clearly showing the relation of original cause to changed event.  In DISASTER AT D-DAY, Peter Tsouras posits a German victory at Normandy in June of 1944.  Tsouras notes that only a few changes would have been needed to insure an Allied debacle.  In real life, Hitler refused to commit his reserve tank corps to back up his western wall on the beaches of Normandy. Had he done so, the Allies' advance could well have slowed.  The problem with books of this type is that only the most determined of readers who have accumulated a vast reservoir of military history would have the fortitude to plow through a series of unconnected dots on a swirling map of war.  I am a big fan of war in general and alternate war in particular, but even I had trouble keeping straight a constantly changing series of men, divisions, battles, and minor victories and defeats.  The very nature of this genre precludes an author from connecting too many dots.  The staying power of this book was the immensity of the background, but after having read it, I found that all I could take away from it was the realization that we came THISCLOSE to losing the big one.