book data
174 ratings, 3.67 average rating, 22 reviews
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published
March 2nd 2004
by Roc
binding
Paperback, 608 pages
isbn
0451459334
(isbn13: 9780451459336)
description
A new alternate history of America from the author of The Peshawar Lancers, the bestselling novel the Chicago Sun-Times called "a pleasure to rea...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 250)
Read in April, 2008
This book started slowly, but I was rather enjoying it by the end. It's a very simple read in many ways: there are no real twists in the plot, the you can connect with the characters (albeit on a medium shallow level), and things are not overly technical. That said, there aren't any monster holes in the plot, you feel the characters are motivated, and technical aspects are well researched.
One of the more interesting aspects was exploring what the effects of colonizing North America...more
One of the more interesting aspects was exploring what the effects of colonizing North America...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
alternate history fans
A portal to another California opens up in post-WWII Oakland, California when John Rolfe (descendant of Rolfe and Pocahontas) turns on a radio he'd refurbished. In the alternate reality, Europeans never found America, the Native Americans are the only ones here, and the Aztec empire is well past its prime. Rolfe brings over some relatives and army buddies and their families, and sets up his own society. This book, set in the 21st century, centers on a fish and game officer from Earth prime wh...more
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Read in March, 2008
I'm into time travel/alternate history quite a bit, so this novel is right up my alley. It seems a "gate" to an alternate America is discovered in 1946. This other America had no Europeans coming over--so the country is a vast, underpopulated wilderness.
The story is set in this alternate world and in "our world" as characters bounce back and forth. Kind of genre-y in places--could have done without the protracted bi...more
The story is set in this alternate world and in "our world" as characters bounce back and forth. Kind of genre-y in places--could have done without the protracted bi...more
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Read in April, 2008
I also am a big fan of alternate reality stories, and I enjoyed this one. I found the first third of the novel a bit slow, but then it picked up nicely. I do tend to get caught up with the “suspension of disbelief” aspect of novels. Although the main plotline of the book requires that you buy off on a portal to an alternative universe, there were several times during the novel that I stumbled over actions of characters that left me feeling that no one would act that way regardless of the sit...more
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Read in May, 2008
It's obvious I'm not going to get around to finishing this. I enjoyed what I read (about 40 pages), especially the "big men in Armani suits who look just like what they were--thugs dressed up in Armani suits", but it's not really my normal type of read and my son said he did like any of the characters. After skimming the end, I wasn't enthralled, and I didn't think I liked where the book was going, so it sat and sat, (while I reread a billion Tamora Pierce books) and then sat some mo...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Kyle by:
myselfrecommends it for: anyone
A mesmerizing look at a CA that might have been had Europeans not colonized the new world. In this world Alexander the Great didn't die at 32 like in real life but lived to ripe old age adn consolidated a vast Eurasian empire. Fast forward to CA in 1946 and see how things turned out.
That's just the background. Incidentally, the plot is a pretty fast paced enjoyable adventure yarn.
It also implies the US was involved in a vast worldwide and pretty well executed and s...more
That's just the background. Incidentally, the plot is a pretty fast paced enjoyable adventure yarn.
It also implies the US was involved in a vast worldwide and pretty well executed and s...more
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I really like S.M. Stirling's "Change" series, but this stand-alone didn't really get me going. I had to force myself to read it sometimes. That said, it's not a terrible book, and the plot is good. I guess you just really, really have to suspend belief with it. I don't know why it was so hard for me with this one, but it was.
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This book illustrates two significant things. The first is the environment in California about two hundred years ago, particularly in Southern California. The second is the change in the public's attitude between the mid twentieth century and the present. Please note that I used the word "change" and not "evolution".
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Read in May, 2004
This book took a little time to get into. There were a lot of characters to keep straight. And keeping the "real world" straight from the "alternate world" could get confusing at first. But luckily I was on a business trip in Nebraska when I was reading this, so I had lots of down time with nothing else to do but read.
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Read in July, 2008
This book was an interesting look at an alternate Earth, particularly western America. I liked the interactions between characters Tom, Adrienne and Tully and the ways Tom and Tully noticed the differences between New Virginia and First Side (current Earth).
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Read in August, 2003
"The covers of this book were too far apart." -Ambrose Bierce
"This is not a book to be set aside lightly. No, it should be hurled, with great force." -Dorothy Parker
Really, this is about the worst book I've read this whole millennium.
"This is not a book to be set aside lightly. No, it should be hurled, with great force." -Dorothy Parker
Really, this is about the worst book I've read this whole millennium.
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Rey by:
Elizabeth
This book was excellent with two exceptions. The author presumes that the reader will have a great deal of knowledge about: 1. The Flora and Fauna of pre-colonial California and 2. The physical geography of the Bay Area.
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Read in September, 2007
I love alternate history, and this is one of the better examples. Stirling (no, not Bruce) has done a very credible job building the world and tracing the implications forward and backward in time. Fun read and good yarn!
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Read in January, 2005
Read the hardcover. Another interesting view of history from an alternate view point. More interesting because I live in area of novel's setting.
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A very fine example of alternative history. This was my first introduction to Stirling's work and one of my favorites.
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Read in June, 2007
This has always been a dream to me, to be able to find a 'gate' to another world (alternate Earth), and set up life there.
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Very thought provoking. If you like alternative history stories it is a must read.
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Book 5. The author started losing me here. Not up to par with the others.
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recommends it for:
anyone with an interest in alternative history.
Good read, continues the alternative history bend of this author.
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