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Russia, Communist China, Japan, Nazi Germany, the United States: they began World War II as mortal enemies. But suddenly their only hope for survival--never mind victory--was to unite to stop a mighty foe--one whose frightening technology appeared invincible. Far worse beings than the Nazis were loose. From Warsaw to Moscow to China's enemy-occupied Forbidden City, the nations of the world had been forced into an uneasy alliance since humanity began its struggle against overwhelming odds. In Germany, where the banshee wail of hostile jets screamed across the land, caches of once-forbidden weapons were unearthed, and unthinkable tactics were employed against the enemy. Brilliantly innovative military strategists confronted challenges unprecedented in the history of warfare. Even as lack of fuel forced people back to horse and carriage, physicists worked feverishly to create the first nuclear bombs--with horrifying results. City after city joined the atomic pyre as the planet erupted in fiery ruins. Yet the crisis continued--on land, sea, and in the air--as humanity writhed in global combat. The tactics of daredevil guerrillas everywhere became increasingly ingenious against a superior foe whose desperate retaliation would grow ever more fearsome. No one had ever put the United States, or the world, in such deadly danger. But if the carnage and annihilation ever stopped, would there be any pieces to pick up?… (more)
User reviews
This is by far the most readable of the series so far. With the first two I struggled a bit - at times they were slow-moving and turgid. I
This one has more action in Britain. Generally the books seem to be very well researched, but there are a few small errors which grate a bit. Turtledove introduces a Royal Air Force "Flight Officer", whereas unless I'm mistaken the RAF rank is "Flying Officer". He has a BBC newsreader use the word "momentarily" in the US way, meaning "very soon", whereas in British usage momentarily means "for an instant or moment" or "for a very short time" - the BBC in that era were sticklers for correct grammar and pronunciation. These are small things in themselves, but they niggle precisely because so much else is correct. I wonder whether Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Polish and Russian readers would also find similar things? Turtledove enters a minefield when he starts using British regional accents, but seems to have got away with it.
There's a nice little dig at Pope Pius X11 right near the end, quite insightful really considering a lot of recent speculation about the extent of his collaboration with the Nazis in the real war.
All in all, a very good book, by far the best of the series so far.