
Fans of Conroy will be delighted to know of the three books, 1882: Custer in Chains, is the best of the lot and likely the best of Conroy’s I’ve read in some time. The point of divergence is that George Armstrong Custer not only survives Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876, but actually wins it, only to be propelled into the office of President in 1882, a role that he is totally unsuited for. Looking to establish a legacy and some colonies, he goes to war with Spain over Cuba, some 16 years earlier than in our timeline. I won’t give away too much more, except to say, this is a demonstration of the type of superior alternate history Conroy could do and should be remembered for. Historical research and characterizations are first-rate. Recommended.
Unfortunately, I wish I could say the same about Germanica. The book, which takes place in 1945 at the end of the war in Europe and is based upon fears by the Allies that the Nazis would establish an Alpine Redoubt, feels like I’ve read it before. Too many evil Nazis, too many plucky resistance fighters, and too many brave Allied (read: American – sorry) soldiers. I guess maybe I’ve read and reviewed too many alt-history books like this. It doesn’t seem too original. Maybe I need to stay away from this stuff.
The third book, Red Inferno: 1945 is definitely an improvement. Like Germanica, it also takes place at the end of the war in Europe, but its point of divergence occurs when a shooting war breaks out between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. The book is well-written and the plot hums along nicely. I can say that it appears Conroy is more in his element here. Characterizations are more in depth that in some of the author’s earlier novels. This should appeal to fans of Conroy and of military alt-history looking for a something a little different.
Up Next:
Over the next couple of months, I’ll have a review of the five-episode miniseries SS-GB and then, after that, the final novel in Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter’s Long Earth series, The Long Cosmos. Thanks for reading and stay tuned.
Meanwhile, you can help out a poor unemployed writer by purchasing Elvis Saves JFK! for just 99 cents and War Plan Crimson, A Novel of Alternate History, for $2.99 and now The Key to My Heart, also $2.99 (all are free to preview). All books -- which are already on Smashword's premium distribution list -- are also available through such fine on-line retailers such as Sony, Chapters Indigo, Barnes & Noble and Apple's iTunes Store. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment