What's some good alternate WW2 history books?
- Thread starter Suspiria
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SKILORD
Insurgent
I never said I was a turtledove fan, for the record I find his fantasy and most of his alternate history terribly unimaginative, he likes retelling the story of franco-prussian relations in different ways (never read Agent of Byzantium, not at liberty to criticise it, I like Ruled Brittania).
But I think that the worldwar series is probably the wildest AH about WW2 ever written and significantly more interesting (again, it drags on too long) than the others in that time period or most of his other books.
I'ma check out that website though.
But I think that the worldwar series is probably the wildest AH about WW2 ever written and significantly more interesting (again, it drags on too long) than the others in that time period or most of his other books.
I'ma check out that website though.
My personal rule of thumb for Turtledove is: avoid the new stuff, get all his older books.
I personally think he's a good writer, but he's succumbed totally to commercialism. Face it, what writer can churn out several books a year and still give quality? I've long had the sneaking suspicion that he no longer writes all his books himself - I think his publishers have a whole team writing under his name.
That description can be applied to far to many authors. That, or they take their fame to use their books as a soapbox to spout political views wrapped up in generic, at best, stories (Michael Crichton is particularly guilty of this one).
Serutan
Eatibus Anythingibus
And he also really likes retelling WWII, just changing names and place.
SKILORD
Insurgent
I (and I can feel Dachs preparing to pounce on me) copnsider that simply an extension of the franco-prussian thing, especially with regards to turtledove.
I think you're both right, honestly, with the caveat that he always tells the story from the French point of view that got so popular in the 1950s. (And which continues to infect the teaching of history at the undergraduate and secondary-school levels.)
But those nasty Germans are the villains, and we all know that villains don't have points of view. They merely twirl their moustaches while laughing and petting their kittens while planning world domination.
Actual photograph of Alfred von Schlieffen:
Blasphemy. You real villain would have a kitten. It is a fat, lazy cat.
sophie
Break My Heart
Actual photograph of Alfred von Schlieffen:
Well, which is worse? That? or von Schlieffen was a mofun GENIUS! and his plan WOULD HAVE WORKED if stupid von Moltke hadn't messed with the plan?
I haven't read much alternative history, but I have one recommendation: Avoid the Turtledove space-lizard thing at all costs. It has absolutely no redeeming qualities - as literature it is a couple of steps beneath twilight, and given that Turtledove likes to make his books ten times as long as necessary, they are boring as well.
Finnish Veikko Huovinen wrote Veitikka ("Rascal"), which isn't actually a novel, but his own investigations into Hitler that portray him in an alternative light. It can be read as a novel though.
Huovinen found out by chance that Hitler was actually a great humorist, and very fed up with German people, who were always so serious and happy only when they hear boots of soldiers marching. Therefore he wanted to give them a lesson that they'd never forget: The World War II.
At the end of the war Hitler and Göbbels framed their deaths and ran. Huovinen has photographic evidence of them leaving Berlin:
And this picture was taken by Franz Müller near Swiss border. The police is checking the passports of the bikers. "Notice how the biker with beret is watchfully ready to take off":
Huovinen found out by chance that Hitler was actually a great humorist, and very fed up with German people, who were always so serious and happy only when they hear boots of soldiers marching. Therefore he wanted to give them a lesson that they'd never forget: The World War II.
At the end of the war Hitler and Göbbels framed their deaths and ran. Huovinen has photographic evidence of them leaving Berlin:
And this picture was taken by Franz Müller near Swiss border. The police is checking the passports of the bikers. "Notice how the biker with beret is watchfully ready to take off":
When aren't they? They're German.Yes, the Germans were planning to rule the world.
sward4347s
Chieftain
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How about novels on HOW the German war effort might have been altered towards winning the war?
"OPERATION HERKULES" explores an Axis invasion of Malta in June 1942, right after Tobruk falls to the Afrika Korp and before the First Battle of El Alamein.
"OPERATION HERKULES" explores an Axis invasion of Malta in June 1942, right after Tobruk falls to the Afrika Korp and before the First Battle of El Alamein.
sward4347s
Chieftain
- Joined
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How about a brand new WW2 Alternate History novel? I'm the author of "OPERATION HERKULES", Alt Hist novel of the planned German/Italian invasion of Malta. The Axis plan in the spring of 1942 was for Rommel to take Tobruk, then pause at the Egyptian frontier to allow Operation Herkules to seize Malta, thus securing his supply lines for a push to Cairo, the Nile River Delta and Suez Canal. Rommel however convinced Hitler to cancel Herkules and allow him to push directly for Cairo, an approach which failed with the Afrika Korp defeat at the 1st Battle of El Alamein.
My novel is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and its premise is that the Axis went ahead with their original plan.
You can read a sample amounting to 10% of the book on Amazon.com. Find the title, then click on the book cover and you can read the sample directly from your PC.
Regards, Scott.
My novel is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and its premise is that the Axis went ahead with their original plan.
You can read a sample amounting to 10% of the book on Amazon.com. Find the title, then click on the book cover and you can read the sample directly from your PC.
Regards, Scott.
Mostly from ... -1933 and from 1945 onwards. So basically during most of German history. (Unlike the British...)
EDIT: Funny by the way that ´alternate history´ turns out to be novels and such, so errr... fantasy.
If you write an alt-hist, why write about one of the most non-contingent major wars of the past few centuries? Please don't tell me Germany makes any sort of favorable peace. Also, I find reading any book about a nazi victory in north africa, frankly, hard to read and rather unpalatable considering that the einsatzgruppen were literally standing by in Morea waiting for the all-clear after a victory at El Alamein to start genociding in Palestine.
SKILORD
Insurgent
Cut him a break. It is hard to sell books and it's a frustrating experience and the odds are that he's not coming back to discuss his divergence. I do the same sort of thing, granted not for AH, but the idea of say, "google relevant topics of my book, find forums discussing such things, try not to look like a spambot but please God I hope someone who shares an interest with me will buy a book so that I can go get some Ramen."
And as a person with some experience in such matters I'll tell you it's quantity over quality (in the end, you're just a spambot with lungs) and he has nothing to gain by pursuing the discussion.
Read the intro chapter at least, if he's using Createspace he should be able to tell when people do, you'll give him a smile and maybe get some idea of what he's trying to do.
But if he had a publishing industry machine behind him, well, one man, manually operated ad campaigns are more or less a hallmark of self publishing. Unless it is a robot...
-
side note: Little Finger, what a pimp!
"I won't say he made her happy, but my losses were covered."
And as a person with some experience in such matters I'll tell you it's quantity over quality (in the end, you're just a spambot with lungs) and he has nothing to gain by pursuing the discussion.
Read the intro chapter at least, if he's using Createspace he should be able to tell when people do, you'll give him a smile and maybe get some idea of what he's trying to do.
But if he had a publishing industry machine behind him, well, one man, manually operated ad campaigns are more or less a hallmark of self publishing. Unless it is a robot...
-
side note: Little Finger, what a pimp!
"I won't say he made her happy, but my losses were covered."
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