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56th out of 214 books
—
382 voters
The Two Georges
A precious and historic painting has been stolen by terrorists—radical separatists who will stop at nothing to shatter the union. Colonel Thomas Bushell, the government’s most fearless agent, is the only man who can stop them.
But this is not our world. For the stolen painting depicts a treaty between George Washington and King George III—a treaty that has kept America unde...more
But this is not our world. For the stolen painting depicts a treaty between George Washington and King George III—a treaty that has kept America unde...more
Paperback, 596 pages
Published
November 15th 1997
by Tor Books
(first published October 5th 1995)
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This book failed for one reason, and one reason only: complete crap for writing.
I could never bring myself to "believe in" the world that the authors created, it never felt real to me. The characters were wooden cardboard cutouts of stereotypes, and would break that only to do something monumentally stupid and completely out of character. One character is described as being the expert on the enemy, yet within the first page of his introduction he acts as if he has no clue what he is up against....more
I could never bring myself to "believe in" the world that the authors created, it never felt real to me. The characters were wooden cardboard cutouts of stereotypes, and would break that only to do something monumentally stupid and completely out of character. One character is described as being the expert on the enemy, yet within the first page of his introduction he acts as if he has no clue what he is up against....more
Excellent book. The setting is North America if peace had been achieved between the Colonies and King George. The plot involves the theft of a painting called The Two Georges, telling of the meeting between Washington and George III, and the officer of the Royal American Mounted Police's actions in tracking down the thieves. It moves all over the country and is able to showcase much of this alternate America. Sir Martin Luther King as Governor General is one of many well placed touches.
Written b...more
Written b...more
Up to par Turtledove alternate history novel in a world where the North American British colonies and Britain managed to negotiate a peace and didn't split apart. The symbol of this unity, The Two Georges, a painting of King George and George Washington painted by Gainsborough has been stolen, apparently by a militant separatist organization called the Sons of Liberty.
Leading the investigation to recover it is Tom Bushell, a distinguished but near alcoholic officer in the RAMs, essentially the F...more
Leading the investigation to recover it is Tom Bushell, a distinguished but near alcoholic officer in the RAMs, essentially the F...more
I enjoyed The Two Georges. It was a little clunky in places but it had good central characters and a decent plot line. It's real strength lay in its ability to create a very believable world, always the main requirement of a good Alternative History novel. The world of The Two Georges is one in which the American war of independence never happened and America is still part of the British Empire and a very important part at that, with the Franco Spanish Alliance pushing at its borders in the Sout...more
When I saw the name Richard Dreyfuss on the cover on a book in my local library it caught my eye and called me over. Yes, it was in fact the same Hollywood actor we all know (and some love) who apparently co-wrote a book with some guy named Harry Turtledove. OK. I read the back, and WOW! this book sounded interesting. What a concept... It was my first exposure to Alternative History. And Harry Turtledove. I was hooked right from the start. This book was absolutely amazing to me in that here was...more
A whodunnit, about a missing painting, in an alternate universe where the American Revolution never happened.
Suppose the United States never gained its independence from Great Britain. Instead, George Washington and King George III forge an alliance that results in the North American Union. Instead of a war that weakens Britain’s grip on North America and contributes to the gradual decline of its world-spanning empire, peace ushers in an era of near-total British domination of North America, Africa, China, and Australia. Only Russia, and the Franco–Spanish “Holy Alliance” can possibly challenge it.
Agai...more
Agai...more
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Ugh. I thought this would be such an interesting alternate history concept- America stays a British colony rather than gaining independence- that I was willing to overlook having Dreyfuss as a co-author. Never again. This book felt like it was written to be made into a movie starring (surprise surprise) Richard Dreyfus. The movie, like the book, would fail. Awful. Since we didn't gain independence from the british, everyone... flies in dirigibles instead of airplanes? Drives stream powered cars?...more
I tried to read this book three separate times and couldn’t bring myself to finish it. I really liked Turtledove’s “Guns of the South”, so I thought I would enjoy this alternative history. I think the difference is that Guns of the South was alternative history as it occurred, and this book was alternative history from two hundred years ago and these are the consequences. I thought the changes Turtledove and Dreyfus envisioned such as the lack of airplanes (air travel via blimps) and lack of int...more
Interesting plot idea but this book failed (for me) in the execution.
I can buy into the fact that since wars lead to advances in technology, science and etc. then the lack of these wars would retard progress. So I was okay with the idea of traveling around in dirigibles and steam-powered cars. BUT, the premise that people were still wearing victorian-style clothes (dresses to the floor, corsets? cheroots, hats), and still living with that outmoded social style and its stratifications (IN 1996 NO...more
I can buy into the fact that since wars lead to advances in technology, science and etc. then the lack of these wars would retard progress. So I was okay with the idea of traveling around in dirigibles and steam-powered cars. BUT, the premise that people were still wearing victorian-style clothes (dresses to the floor, corsets? cheroots, hats), and still living with that outmoded social style and its stratifications (IN 1996 NO...more
A delicious look into a "what if" world. Some of the assumptions I found just a little stilted and based on stereotypes, but much of the rest of the characterisation was by turns a gleeful or a serious play on real-life people and events. Altogether very entertaining.
Sort of a steam punk novel - I enjoy that genre once in a while. Don't know how much Richard Dreyfuss contributed, but I have read a lot of Harry Turtledove, and like his stuff - well researched. Good alternate history police procedural, enjoyed it.
I give the concept higher marks than the excecution, but I read this quite some time ago and it has cemented a place in my mind where the West Coast, airships and rail could/have should have been more important in the development of the Americas!
I really enjoyed this story, though it was a rather frightening notion of what could have happened under different circumstances. It wasn't difficult to suspend reality through this compelling story.
Read this previously-did not remember until now-good but not great alternative history-
The premise was mildly interesting, but ultimately a big bowl of ham and fluff.
Got me into alt history. Love to find ones not set in wartime.
Mar 07, 2012
Douglas
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
alternate-history,
sci-fi
I think that this was one of the better books I have read in the last year. Good plot and character development.
When Charles (III) stepped off the zeppelin, I felt like I did when Doogie Howser stepped back into the end of the film adaptation of Starship Troopers. I have since learned to appreciate both the Prince of Wales and Neil Patric Harris, especially. Oh, the book? Um, interesting take on a different America, but the necessity of contrasts in timelines lead me to distrust the absence of the sexual revolution and other cultural norms, tech regressiveness (steam punk nod?), etc. Still a fun read in a...more
What if the American Revolution was peacefully avoided? The stripes and the Union Jack fly in the capital city of Victoria. There was no war of 1812, no war between the states, slavery abolished in 1809 by order of the king, and the westward expansion moved at a more gradual pace, respecting Native American tribes. Now a terrorist group calling themselves "The Sons of Liberty" wants the British out, and will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.
Mar 30, 2009
Mary JL
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of alternate history or fantasy
Recommended to Mary JL by:
Found at booksale
Shelves:
main-sf-fantasy
This story asks the fascinating questions: What if America had not revolted? What if George III and George washington had made peace with each other?
I like Turtledove's brand of alternate histry and this is o exception. The portrai of the alternate America he desribes I find beleivable and interesting.
The characters are adequtely drawn, but it is the ideas that I find fascinating. It is a bit long but goes really quicly.
I like Turtledove's brand of alternate histry and this is o exception. The portrai of the alternate America he desribes I find beleivable and interesting.
The characters are adequtely drawn, but it is the ideas that I find fascinating. It is a bit long but goes really quicly.
One of the worse books ever written. Giving it half a star for the input of Turtledove. Richard Dreyfus can act, but NOT write.
May 23, 2013
Christopher
marked it as to-read
May 23, 2013
Nick
marked it as to-read
May 21, 2013
Patrick
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Tim
marked it as to-read
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Richard Stephen Dreyfuss is an Academy Award-winning American actor.
Dreyfuss has dabbled with writing, notably teaming up with Harry Turtledove in 1995 to write The Two Georges, a conspiracy thriller set in an alternate reality in which the American colonies remained under British rule.
More about Richard Dreyfuss...
Dreyfuss has dabbled with writing, notably teaming up with Harry Turtledove in 1995 to write The Two Georges, a conspiracy thriller set in an alternate reality in which the American colonies remained under British rule.
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“Víte," poznamenal Bushell, když zastavili na semaforu před křižovatkou, "že na vzducholodi se jeden cestující při večeři chlubil, že má doma svůj vlastní televizor?"
Jeho přítel se k němu nevěřícně otočil. "To si děláte legraci, ne?" (...) "K čemu by si někdo takovou věc pořizoval domů?" (...) "Rádio je něco docela jiného, při tom se dá povídat, číst... Ale televizor... Ten přece něco ukazuje a člověk se na to prostě musí dívat! Co když máte hosty? O něčem tak... tak vulgárním jsem snad ještě neslyšel!”
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Jeho přítel se k němu nevěřícně otočil. "To si děláte legraci, ne?" (...) "K čemu by si někdo takovou věc pořizoval domů?" (...) "Rádio je něco docela jiného, při tom se dá povídat, číst... Ale televizor... Ten přece něco ukazuje a člověk se na to prostě musí dívat! Co když máte hosty? O něčem tak... tak vulgárním jsem snad ještě neslyšel!”
