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Alpha and Omega
New York Times bestselling author Harry Turtledove reveals a new side of his potent imagination in a gripping speculative novel about the End of Days--and a discovery in the Middle East that turns the world upside down.
What would happen if the ancient prophecy of the End of Days came true? It is certainly the last thing Eric Katz, a secular archaeologist from Los Angeles, expects during what should be a routine dig in Jerusalem. But perhaps higher forces have something else in mind when a sign presaging the rising of the Third Temple is located in America, a dirty bomb is detonated in downtown Tel Aviv, and events conspire to place a team of archaeologists in the tunnels deep under the Temple Mount. It is there that Eric is witness to a discovery of such monumental proportions that nothing will ever be the same again.
Harry Turtledove is the master at portraying ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events, and what is more extraordinary than the incontrovertible proof that there truly is a higher force controlling human destiny? But as to what that force desires . . . well, that is the question.
What would happen if the ancient prophecy of the End of Days came true? It is certainly the last thing Eric Katz, a secular archaeologist from Los Angeles, expects during what should be a routine dig in Jerusalem. But perhaps higher forces have something else in mind when a sign presaging the rising of the Third Temple is located in America, a dirty bomb is detonated in downtown Tel Aviv, and events conspire to place a team of archaeologists in the tunnels deep under the Temple Mount. It is there that Eric is witness to a discovery of such monumental proportions that nothing will ever be the same again.
Harry Turtledove is the master at portraying ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events, and what is more extraordinary than the incontrovertible proof that there truly is a higher force controlling human destiny? But as to what that force desires . . . well, that is the question.
468 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2019
159 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
561 books1,937 followersDr Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced a sizeable number of works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
February 22, 2019
No matter what one's religious beliefs (or non-beliefs) I thoroughly believe every single adult should read ALPHA AND OMEGA. I cannot remember a work of fiction that has had this much impact on me in the matter of religion and the psychology of religion and of Eschatology. I believe Harry Turtledove to be a genius. He has taken the religious, social, ingrained, ancestral, and contemporary beliefs of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and of various ethnicities espousing those beliefs (particularly throughout the Middle East and in the U.S.) and has created a tapestry that weaves the unbelievable, the believable, the matters strictly of faith, the matters of science, and the impossible, together and created a syncretic synthesis that is greater than the sum of its components.
In Jerusalem, members of a team of archaeologists (some Israeli, one an American secular Jew, one an Israeli Muslim) excavate below the Muslim Dome of the Rock, where Judaism believes the Second Temple to have been. What they discover issues in a book that is mind-exploding and spiritually uplifting and terrifying (simultaneously). I am definitely not the same reader I was before I read this book. I started it two evenings ago and have not been able to stop. It is making me examine who and what I am in a way that is life-changing.
In Jerusalem, members of a team of archaeologists (some Israeli, one an American secular Jew, one an Israeli Muslim) excavate below the Muslim Dome of the Rock, where Judaism believes the Second Temple to have been. What they discover issues in a book that is mind-exploding and spiritually uplifting and terrifying (simultaneously). I am definitely not the same reader I was before I read this book. I started it two evenings ago and have not been able to stop. It is making me examine who and what I am in a way that is life-changing.
June 22, 2021
I've long been a fan of Harry Turtledove's historical fantasy. "Alpha and Omega" was new territory though. I wasn't sure what to think and certainly did not expect the ending, but this was a really interesting story and I devoured the book quickly.
Under the Temple Mount in Israel, a Jewish Archeology team finds the Lost Ark of the Covenant. Is it real? World events intrude as Islamic terrorists detonate a dirty bomb in Tel Aviv, which leads to the removal of the Dome of the Rock and the building of the prophetic Third Temple. Then things start to get really interesting, beyond the global political implications, as it looks like the Ark is real and the End of Days approaches.
This odd story about the prophecies surrounding the End of Days, as seen by all three of the Abrahamic religions is well done. At the start it seems like a typical political thriller, but as the supernatural events begin to kick in it takes on a completely different feel. I would say more but there are spoilers so I shall not.
The ending was also well done and neatly tied up this crazy story with a very interesting ending. A great book. It has plenty of thriller action to keep fans interested, but the supernatural happenings and the way they are viewed by the three main religions is what makes this a great story.
I absolutely enjoyed this Turtledove novel and would recommend it to those who are interested in Supernatural stories rooted in Biblical situations. Though in this case it would be the Torah.
Under the Temple Mount in Israel, a Jewish Archeology team finds the Lost Ark of the Covenant. Is it real? World events intrude as Islamic terrorists detonate a dirty bomb in Tel Aviv, which leads to the removal of the Dome of the Rock and the building of the prophetic Third Temple. Then things start to get really interesting, beyond the global political implications, as it looks like the Ark is real and the End of Days approaches.
This odd story about the prophecies surrounding the End of Days, as seen by all three of the Abrahamic religions is well done. At the start it seems like a typical political thriller, but as the supernatural events begin to kick in it takes on a completely different feel. I would say more but there are spoilers so I shall not.
The ending was also well done and neatly tied up this crazy story with a very interesting ending. A great book. It has plenty of thriller action to keep fans interested, but the supernatural happenings and the way they are viewed by the three main religions is what makes this a great story.
I absolutely enjoyed this Turtledove novel and would recommend it to those who are interested in Supernatural stories rooted in Biblical situations. Though in this case it would be the Torah.
July 8, 2019
Harry Turtledove has written a lot of books. Really, a lot. Alternate history, pure science fiction, whimsical fantasy, humor, historical fiction, and more. I haven’t come across a single one that wasn’t a fast, smooth read with plenty of action and a ton of nifty ideas. Every once in a while, though, he so completely nails a story, concept and prose and thematic resonances, that it stays with me and I find myself blabbing about it like a fangirl to all my friends. The Guns of the South (time-traveling racists arm the Confederacy with automatic weapons) was one such. Also Ruled Brittanica (the Spanish Armada prevails and William Shakespeare writes insurrectionist plays) and In the Presence of Mind Enemies (Jews survive in the shadow of victorious Nazi Germany). Now I can add Alpha and Omega to that list.
The elevator pitch for this book might run, “Indiana Jones in 21st Century Israel, complete with American evangelicals, ultra Orthodox Jewish settlers, Muslim terrorists, and journalists on the lookout for a good story, with an occasional miracle.” But it’s much more. It begins in a perfectly ordinary thriller-ish way with a dirty bomb detonated in Tel Aviv and team of Israeli archaeologists (Jewish and Arab, with a nonobservant Jewish American and a dewy-eyed Christian student thrown in for good measure) excavate under the Temple Mount and find (of course, Indiana Jones style) the Ark of the Covenant . . . floating inches above the floor. And the skeptical journalist who unwisely lays hands on it is summarily carbonized.
What to make of this miracle?
Everyone with an ax to grind about the fate of the Middle East has an opinion, and Turtledove minces no words in depicting the sincerity, fervor, and insanity of the different viewpoints. Muslims, Jews, and Christians are all convinced the End Times are nigh and that their version of who wins and who loses is the correct one. The only thing they can agree on is that the Ark floats “because God wants it to.”
It would be all too easy for a story such as this to devolve into proselytizing, taking sides, playing religious favorites, or turning the various proponents into caricatures. Turtledove avoids all these pitfalls, forging ahead at pager-turner speed while subtly weaving in threads that reflect not only our human prejudices but also our shared human experiences. To say that the ending transcends the current political polemic is an understatement.
Go out and buy this book, and then use it as the context for discussing the difficult issues of today with people you don’t agree with . . . yet.
The usual disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book, but no one bribed me to praise it. Although chocolates and fine imported tea are always welcome.
The elevator pitch for this book might run, “Indiana Jones in 21st Century Israel, complete with American evangelicals, ultra Orthodox Jewish settlers, Muslim terrorists, and journalists on the lookout for a good story, with an occasional miracle.” But it’s much more. It begins in a perfectly ordinary thriller-ish way with a dirty bomb detonated in Tel Aviv and team of Israeli archaeologists (Jewish and Arab, with a nonobservant Jewish American and a dewy-eyed Christian student thrown in for good measure) excavate under the Temple Mount and find (of course, Indiana Jones style) the Ark of the Covenant . . . floating inches above the floor. And the skeptical journalist who unwisely lays hands on it is summarily carbonized.
What to make of this miracle?
Everyone with an ax to grind about the fate of the Middle East has an opinion, and Turtledove minces no words in depicting the sincerity, fervor, and insanity of the different viewpoints. Muslims, Jews, and Christians are all convinced the End Times are nigh and that their version of who wins and who loses is the correct one. The only thing they can agree on is that the Ark floats “because God wants it to.”
It would be all too easy for a story such as this to devolve into proselytizing, taking sides, playing religious favorites, or turning the various proponents into caricatures. Turtledove avoids all these pitfalls, forging ahead at pager-turner speed while subtly weaving in threads that reflect not only our human prejudices but also our shared human experiences. To say that the ending transcends the current political polemic is an understatement.
Go out and buy this book, and then use it as the context for discussing the difficult issues of today with people you don’t agree with . . . yet.
The usual disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book, but no one bribed me to praise it. Although chocolates and fine imported tea are always welcome.
July 4, 2019
While Harry Turtledove is best known for his alternate history series, this latest novel from him is a stand-alone, and of a somewhat different genre category. It is speculative fiction without being identifiably science fiction, fantasy, or alternate history. You see, the proposition is, what if all the ancient prophesies of the Abrahamic family of religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) turned out to be observably true, in the light of modern media and technology? Impossibilities, logical contradictions, and indeed rational judgement need to be tossed aside as real events following the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant can only be explained simply as the will of God. How then would a cast of modern characters, with contemporary perspectives, motivations, and politics respond?
I was disappointed with the novel as answer to that proposition. The characters are not more than stereotypes of their religion or social role - The Orthodox Jews, the Fundamentalist Christians, the Islamic Terrorists, the secular archaeologists, the television hacks, the power-mongering politicians – and their thoughts and actions are explained repeatedly in those terms. All this proof that Turtledove knows the vocabulary of various hyper-religious traditions leads to a very slow exposition of the extra-ordinary events that are the conceptual meat of the novel. It felt to me like a short story concept padded out to novel length. I don’t really know Harry Turtledove’s personal religious views, but I suspect some of them are coming through here, as in the world would be a better place if we would set aside creeds and theology and just accept the one real God behind them all. In his fictional universe, that is certainly true. In the real universe, well I think it’s not so simple.
I read the novel “Alpha and Omega” in kindle ebook, which I received from Del Rey (Random House) through netgalley, in exchange for publishing an honest review. I finished my read on the publication date of 2 July 2019. I have previously read many of Harry Turtledove’s alternate histories – particularly the “The Great War/American Empire/Settling Accounts” sequence concerning an alternate US history starting from the Civil War onwards, and “The Hot War” in which the Korean War goes nuclear - which I liked, and “The Worldwar Saga” concerning an alternate World War II in which aliens invade Earth after the onset of the human war - which I did not like, and a few of his standalone novels as well.
I was disappointed with the novel as answer to that proposition. The characters are not more than stereotypes of their religion or social role - The Orthodox Jews, the Fundamentalist Christians, the Islamic Terrorists, the secular archaeologists, the television hacks, the power-mongering politicians – and their thoughts and actions are explained repeatedly in those terms. All this proof that Turtledove knows the vocabulary of various hyper-religious traditions leads to a very slow exposition of the extra-ordinary events that are the conceptual meat of the novel. It felt to me like a short story concept padded out to novel length. I don’t really know Harry Turtledove’s personal religious views, but I suspect some of them are coming through here, as in the world would be a better place if we would set aside creeds and theology and just accept the one real God behind them all. In his fictional universe, that is certainly true. In the real universe, well I think it’s not so simple.
I read the novel “Alpha and Omega” in kindle ebook, which I received from Del Rey (Random House) through netgalley, in exchange for publishing an honest review. I finished my read on the publication date of 2 July 2019. I have previously read many of Harry Turtledove’s alternate histories – particularly the “The Great War/American Empire/Settling Accounts” sequence concerning an alternate US history starting from the Civil War onwards, and “The Hot War” in which the Korean War goes nuclear - which I liked, and “The Worldwar Saga” concerning an alternate World War II in which aliens invade Earth after the onset of the human war - which I did not like, and a few of his standalone novels as well.
July 29, 2019
A Joel C. Rosenberg like story. The title is not good, it could be on a book about the Greek alphabet. Had some good insight on life in Israel.
September 4, 2021
What if The Book of Revelations became true?
March 20, 2019
Wow! What a great end-times book! Excellent writing by the author, I truly felt like I was watching the text play out!
What happens when an a team digging under the Temple Mount finds the Ark of the Covenant? How will this change the lives of the team, religious leaders from around the world, and a young boy forever? What happens when the same young boy stands up for his feelings and what he thinks is right?
If you love end-times fiction, this book is for you! Told from multiple perspectives (Jewish, Muslim, Christian, non-believing, secular) you are in the middle of all of the action.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this work!
What happens when an a team digging under the Temple Mount finds the Ark of the Covenant? How will this change the lives of the team, religious leaders from around the world, and a young boy forever? What happens when the same young boy stands up for his feelings and what he thinks is right?
If you love end-times fiction, this book is for you! Told from multiple perspectives (Jewish, Muslim, Christian, non-believing, secular) you are in the middle of all of the action.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this work!
July 20, 2019
Can’t believe I hadn’t read Turtledove before!
Excellent book. As befits a Ph.D in history, there’s a sense that Turtledove meticulously researched the religions in this book along with the historical tensions between them.
Excellent book. As befits a Ph.D in history, there’s a sense that Turtledove meticulously researched the religions in this book along with the historical tensions between them.
May 31, 2021
This is a very unique book, but it is one I enjoyed quite a bit. It's unique in that I'm not really sure what genre I would put it in. It was in the sci fi section of the book store but I wouldn't call it sci fi. You could make an argument that it's fantasy, but it bares little resemblance to almost any other fantasy work. Maybe it's supernatural mystery or alternate history, but it's not really those either.
What it really amounts to is a book that starts with an interesting "what if" premise and throws normal people into very unusual situation and we see how they react as it plays out. In this case the "what if" is what if the biblical account of the end times played out verifiably for all of the world to see, and how would various people from all backgrounds both faithfully religious and secular react as it plays out.
That was enough to get me hooked, but I can see how it wouldn't work for a lot of people. If you really want a driving plot, action, or traditional protagonists and antagonist you're not really going to find that here. What you will find is some really interesting characters that all have very distinct viewpoints and voices trying to reconcile their beliefs or lack there of with what is happening before their very eyes. As someone who has always loved to speculate, and think of counter-factual theories of historical events I ate this up.
Also I appreciate all the research that Turtledove put in regarding all of ancient history and biblical history here. And I appreciate the way he wrote about the various religious beliefs without either being preachy or mocking of said beliefs. Each religion gets handled both with reverence and sometimes a little skewering without being offensive.
If I had to criticize anything here I'd probably say I found the ending a bit of a letdown. It was fine in the context of the rest of the story, and it makes a point, but I prefer more resolution and less open-endedness. I didn't need an action packed climax. That wouldn't fit the tone of the rest of the book. But what I would have liked was it not to be quite so rushed and just a bit more definitive. However, I will admit maybe definitive answers also don't fit the tone of the book.
In summary I really enjoyed this as an entry point to Turtledove's work. He has so many books and series it's a bit overwhelming to figure out where to start. This is as good of a place as any. I will be checking out more of his work. I would also recommend this to a specific type of reader. Maybe one who is interested in the premise and ideas of books like those of Dan Brown, but are interested in a more thoughtful and less "pot boilerly" story with better writing.
What it really amounts to is a book that starts with an interesting "what if" premise and throws normal people into very unusual situation and we see how they react as it plays out. In this case the "what if" is what if the biblical account of the end times played out verifiably for all of the world to see, and how would various people from all backgrounds both faithfully religious and secular react as it plays out.
That was enough to get me hooked, but I can see how it wouldn't work for a lot of people. If you really want a driving plot, action, or traditional protagonists and antagonist you're not really going to find that here. What you will find is some really interesting characters that all have very distinct viewpoints and voices trying to reconcile their beliefs or lack there of with what is happening before their very eyes. As someone who has always loved to speculate, and think of counter-factual theories of historical events I ate this up.
Also I appreciate all the research that Turtledove put in regarding all of ancient history and biblical history here. And I appreciate the way he wrote about the various religious beliefs without either being preachy or mocking of said beliefs. Each religion gets handled both with reverence and sometimes a little skewering without being offensive.
If I had to criticize anything here I'd probably say I found the ending a bit of a letdown. It was fine in the context of the rest of the story, and it makes a point, but I prefer more resolution and less open-endedness. I didn't need an action packed climax. That wouldn't fit the tone of the rest of the book. But what I would have liked was it not to be quite so rushed and just a bit more definitive. However, I will admit maybe definitive answers also don't fit the tone of the book.
In summary I really enjoyed this as an entry point to Turtledove's work. He has so many books and series it's a bit overwhelming to figure out where to start. This is as good of a place as any. I will be checking out more of his work. I would also recommend this to a specific type of reader. Maybe one who is interested in the premise and ideas of books like those of Dan Brown, but are interested in a more thoughtful and less "pot boilerly" story with better writing.
September 18, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest review.
If given unequivocal proof that god exists, what would happen to the world's religions?
That is the question that Turtledove asks in his newest alternate world science fiction novel called Alpha and Omega. Turtledove is famous for asking the big "What if's" in alternative history. Previous stories include a second civil war (How Few Remain), third world war (American Empire series), supervolcano (Eruption) plus many more. Turtledove is a highly prolific author.
Alpha and Omega sees ancient prophecy realized in Jerusalem. All prophetic triggers for the end of days. This proves that without a doubt that God is real. But the question becomes "whose god?" What should the followers of Christianity, Judaism or Islam expect from the realized prophecies?
This was a difficult read for me. The subject matter is interesting, alternative history can be engrossing especially when you are somewhat familiar with the subject matter. This might have been my issue with this book and why it did not resonate with me. I am not overly familiar with Judaic and Islamic traditions and history. I think had I been more familiar this would have been a more engrossing read. As it stood though, I found it very dry and difficult to get into. I attempted to finish this but I ended up DNF at 80%. I could not get into the story. I just did not care about the characters enough to be interested in their plight.
If you would like to see more of my reviews, please check out my website at https://beforewegoblog.com/
If given unequivocal proof that god exists, what would happen to the world's religions?
That is the question that Turtledove asks in his newest alternate world science fiction novel called Alpha and Omega. Turtledove is famous for asking the big "What if's" in alternative history. Previous stories include a second civil war (How Few Remain), third world war (American Empire series), supervolcano (Eruption) plus many more. Turtledove is a highly prolific author.
Alpha and Omega sees ancient prophecy realized in Jerusalem. All prophetic triggers for the end of days. This proves that without a doubt that God is real. But the question becomes "whose god?" What should the followers of Christianity, Judaism or Islam expect from the realized prophecies?
This was a difficult read for me. The subject matter is interesting, alternative history can be engrossing especially when you are somewhat familiar with the subject matter. This might have been my issue with this book and why it did not resonate with me. I am not overly familiar with Judaic and Islamic traditions and history. I think had I been more familiar this would have been a more engrossing read. As it stood though, I found it very dry and difficult to get into. I attempted to finish this but I ended up DNF at 80%. I could not get into the story. I just did not care about the characters enough to be interested in their plight.
If you would like to see more of my reviews, please check out my website at https://beforewegoblog.com/
October 9, 2020
This book explores the question "What if the Bible is true about the end times?" In the book's opening pages, a red heifer is found in Arkansas and brought to Jerusalem where the 3rd temple is being built. Missing for centuries, the Ark of the Covenant has been located. The book includes Jewish, Islamic, and Christian characters, and various reactions to the drama unfolding before their eyes occurs. Who is the antichrist? Some scoff the rapture hasn't occurred yet. It's an interesting exploration of the theme by a mainstream author, but in the end, it fell a little short. (3.5 stars)
June 30, 2019
What if God proved to be real? Beyond all doubt?
Harry Turtledove, the master of alternate history, creates an alternate present-day scenario in Alpha and Omega in which various people react to an incontrovertible series of demonstrations that God exists. Set almost entirely in Israel, he gives us the points of view of people on all points on the compass of faith -- secular archeologists, fundamentalist leaders of all three major western religions, disinterested television personalities out for the best possible story, a young Israeli boy and his uncle, and a cast of additional characters.
I don't have a firm grasp of the body of work that exists in fiction that deals with proof of God. I read Calculating God by Robert Sawyer, and I guess you can count The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta (which I read before watching the TV show). There's the current TV show God Friended Me, though it's not yet clear whether that's really God. Indeed, my only published work of fiction (albeit from forty years ago) was a short short story speculating a specific form that God could take. As a high concept, I found it quite interesting to read Turtledove's take on what proof of God could look like in this day and age.
That said, I have a number of issues with his presentation. The most obvious is the length of the book, padded with what I find to be an inordinate amount of repetition in the characters' reactions to each succeeding event -- there are maybe six or seven discreet events, which makes it about one every 75 pages, and each time, we get pretty much the same set of responses, with the needle moving just a little more. It's all too much. By at least half -- and we're talking nearly 500 pages here.
Now place that alongside glaring omissions that could've filled that space instead of repetitive musings. Like the reaction of societies around the world, mostly in Asia and Africa, that now number upwards of three billion people who have no history of ever even conceiving of a God like the one that is the singular focus of this book, the God of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Not. One. Single. Word. The perspective here is as white and Euro-centric as you can get (defining white Euro-centrism as having its roots in the ancient civilizations of the Near East).
And what about alternative reactions within the world of western religion itself, like, uh, panic, or celebration, or mass demonstration, or anything other than continuing to make the buses and trains run on time, a highly unlikely response to God suddenly appearing and doing the things he does in Alpha and Omega. There doesn't even seem to have been much of a mass reaction around the world to a disaster early in the book -- think about 9/11, how can master speculator Harry Turtledove not imagine how a real-life event of that type would be greeted?
Several times during Alpha and Omega, as it begins to dawn on people that God may actually be manifesting himself (yes, HIM-self), the question is asked: Why now? Where was he when millions were slain during the Holocaust? You could easily ask that question about slavery, the black death, the vast senseless slaughter of World War I, and countless other atrocities committed by humans over the centuries and millennia (although those are not asked in this book, only the Holocaust). Turtledove never attempts to answer that question -- which would be fine, except that he's the one who brought it up in the first place.
I hesitate to ascribe the apparent point of view of this book to the author. I have no way of knowing what Turtledove himself believes. But the scenario he presents is highly specific, leaving no room for interpretation (especially by those other three billion people out there). So specific that in the end he doesn't answer the question about proof of God in general, not in any way. To me, that means that he has failed in what I believe to be his reason for writing this book -- or at least, what I was looking for in this book, once I realized as I was reading what it was about.
I didn't know ahead of time what I was getting, other than the name of an author I have previously read and liked. I got an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for the chance to do so, and I have to qualify my honest opinion with a note that your mileage may vary -- that will likely depend on what you believe as you enter into this endeavor, just as mine is surely influenced by my journey from an Orthodox Jewish upbringing to a life of secular humanism and atheism.
Harry Turtledove, the master of alternate history, creates an alternate present-day scenario in Alpha and Omega in which various people react to an incontrovertible series of demonstrations that God exists. Set almost entirely in Israel, he gives us the points of view of people on all points on the compass of faith -- secular archeologists, fundamentalist leaders of all three major western religions, disinterested television personalities out for the best possible story, a young Israeli boy and his uncle, and a cast of additional characters.
I don't have a firm grasp of the body of work that exists in fiction that deals with proof of God. I read Calculating God by Robert Sawyer, and I guess you can count The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta (which I read before watching the TV show). There's the current TV show God Friended Me, though it's not yet clear whether that's really God. Indeed, my only published work of fiction (albeit from forty years ago) was a short short story speculating a specific form that God could take. As a high concept, I found it quite interesting to read Turtledove's take on what proof of God could look like in this day and age.
That said, I have a number of issues with his presentation. The most obvious is the length of the book, padded with what I find to be an inordinate amount of repetition in the characters' reactions to each succeeding event -- there are maybe six or seven discreet events, which makes it about one every 75 pages, and each time, we get pretty much the same set of responses, with the needle moving just a little more. It's all too much. By at least half -- and we're talking nearly 500 pages here.
Now place that alongside glaring omissions that could've filled that space instead of repetitive musings. Like the reaction of societies around the world, mostly in Asia and Africa, that now number upwards of three billion people who have no history of ever even conceiving of a God like the one that is the singular focus of this book, the God of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Not. One. Single. Word. The perspective here is as white and Euro-centric as you can get (defining white Euro-centrism as having its roots in the ancient civilizations of the Near East).
And what about alternative reactions within the world of western religion itself, like, uh, panic, or celebration, or mass demonstration, or anything other than continuing to make the buses and trains run on time, a highly unlikely response to God suddenly appearing and doing the things he does in Alpha and Omega. There doesn't even seem to have been much of a mass reaction around the world to a disaster early in the book -- think about 9/11, how can master speculator Harry Turtledove not imagine how a real-life event of that type would be greeted?
Several times during Alpha and Omega, as it begins to dawn on people that God may actually be manifesting himself (yes, HIM-self), the question is asked: Why now? Where was he when millions were slain during the Holocaust? You could easily ask that question about slavery, the black death, the vast senseless slaughter of World War I, and countless other atrocities committed by humans over the centuries and millennia (although those are not asked in this book, only the Holocaust). Turtledove never attempts to answer that question -- which would be fine, except that he's the one who brought it up in the first place.
I hesitate to ascribe the apparent point of view of this book to the author. I have no way of knowing what Turtledove himself believes. But the scenario he presents is highly specific, leaving no room for interpretation (especially by those other three billion people out there). So specific that in the end he doesn't answer the question about proof of God in general, not in any way. To me, that means that he has failed in what I believe to be his reason for writing this book -- or at least, what I was looking for in this book, once I realized as I was reading what it was about.
I didn't know ahead of time what I was getting, other than the name of an author I have previously read and liked. I got an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for the chance to do so, and I have to qualify my honest opinion with a note that your mileage may vary -- that will likely depend on what you believe as you enter into this endeavor, just as mine is surely influenced by my journey from an Orthodox Jewish upbringing to a life of secular humanism and atheism.
July 8, 2019
Alpha and Omega is the most thought-provoking thriller I’ve read this year.
A dirty bomb carried by a suicide bomber destroys the Tel Aviv bus station in Israel. An American talk show personality is on site and gets the aftermath on tape. Israelis are understandably upset. They decide to flout the long standing agreement with the Muslims by beginning an archeological dig under the Temple Mount. What they find will stun the world. What happens later will affirm God’s power over mankind. But which religion is the “correct” one?
Alpha and Omega is an awesome book. It ties Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious theory together with Middle Eastern politics and history. Readers are guaranteed to learn something new by reading this book. However, it can also be read strictly as a thriller. Will the Muslims or Jewish people win the battle over the Temple Mount? There are two love stories here too.
I can’t recommend Alpha and Omega highly enough. I loved it! Even if you are staunchly religious, this book will treat your views with respect. I liked it much better than the Left Behind series. 5 stars!
Thanks to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
A dirty bomb carried by a suicide bomber destroys the Tel Aviv bus station in Israel. An American talk show personality is on site and gets the aftermath on tape. Israelis are understandably upset. They decide to flout the long standing agreement with the Muslims by beginning an archeological dig under the Temple Mount. What they find will stun the world. What happens later will affirm God’s power over mankind. But which religion is the “correct” one?
Alpha and Omega is an awesome book. It ties Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious theory together with Middle Eastern politics and history. Readers are guaranteed to learn something new by reading this book. However, it can also be read strictly as a thriller. Will the Muslims or Jewish people win the battle over the Temple Mount? There are two love stories here too.
I can’t recommend Alpha and Omega highly enough. I loved it! Even if you are staunchly religious, this book will treat your views with respect. I liked it much better than the Left Behind series. 5 stars!
Thanks to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2019
Great book
One of mr. Turtledoves best books in a long line of excellent tales. I hope this part one of a series.
One of mr. Turtledoves best books in a long line of excellent tales. I hope this part one of a series.
July 13, 2019
A++++. Wild ride for Turtledove fans!
July 12, 2019
Coming of the Last Days?
In what can be considered a bold undertaking Turtledove takes on religion to put a sci-fi twist to it. After terrorists attack Tel Aviv with a dirty bomb Israel takes over the Temple Mount from the Muslims who have held it for 1,300 years with the intention to dismantle the Dome of the Rock and build a third Temple on the site.
The signs appear right to begin and with the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant plus a sacrificial cow to purify the Temple site and all for construction the deal is sealed. Further developments indicate the Hand of God is present for all these events and a young Jew is deemed the Messiah then a young Iranian is revealed to be the Mahdi both a symbol of their respective religions to herald the End of Days.
The characters are believable and the sites in Jerusalem accurate. For the ending there is a twist that says a lot about the condition and state of our world. This is a different but fascinating book by one of my favorite authors.
In what can be considered a bold undertaking Turtledove takes on religion to put a sci-fi twist to it. After terrorists attack Tel Aviv with a dirty bomb Israel takes over the Temple Mount from the Muslims who have held it for 1,300 years with the intention to dismantle the Dome of the Rock and build a third Temple on the site.
The signs appear right to begin and with the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant plus a sacrificial cow to purify the Temple site and all for construction the deal is sealed. Further developments indicate the Hand of God is present for all these events and a young Jew is deemed the Messiah then a young Iranian is revealed to be the Mahdi both a symbol of their respective religions to herald the End of Days.
The characters are believable and the sites in Jerusalem accurate. For the ending there is a twist that says a lot about the condition and state of our world. This is a different but fascinating book by one of my favorite authors.
October 14, 2023
Wow; I really loved "Alpha and Omega." I found it very engaging, and couldn't put it down. I lost sleep, but didn't regret it. I thought about it all day. When the book ended, I wept, but not in sadness.
One of the things I loved about the book was it felt very much like it could happen today. Characters looked at Instagram on their phones, read on Kindles, referenced recent current events, made a joke about Donald Trump, and more, and it was very refreshing. I don't know how the book will read in 10 years (or 50) but today, I read it and I felt like it was real. Perhaps that's why it affected me so much.
Having read and also enjoyed "Guns of the South," I shouldn't have been surprised. Harry Turtledove takes topics filled with controversy and somehow turns them into a message everyone can agree on. Either that or he and I are on the same wavelength and both wrong about what 'everyone can agree on' haha.
I'll end by saying that it must be a good sign that I am already planning to reread parts of the book when I get home from work.
One of the things I loved about the book was it felt very much like it could happen today. Characters looked at Instagram on their phones, read on Kindles, referenced recent current events, made a joke about Donald Trump, and more, and it was very refreshing. I don't know how the book will read in 10 years (or 50) but today, I read it and I felt like it was real. Perhaps that's why it affected me so much.
Having read and also enjoyed "Guns of the South," I shouldn't have been surprised. Harry Turtledove takes topics filled with controversy and somehow turns them into a message everyone can agree on. Either that or he and I are on the same wavelength and both wrong about what 'everyone can agree on' haha.
I'll end by saying that it must be a good sign that I am already planning to reread parts of the book when I get home from work.
January 4, 2020
In this book at one point, three significant world leaders are suddenly killed. Six months after publishing one of those three are suddenly killed? Prophesy? Well, only if you think DT is the hand of God.
OK, now on to my real book review. Pretty much any time Harry Turtledove puts something in print, I pick it up and read it. He isn't the greatest author out there. He isn't even the best alt-history author out there, but he always does have some really good thought experiments. Most of his books revolve around an idea that any lover of history has probably played around in their own mind. What would England look like if they had not stopped the Spanish Armada? (Ruled Brittania) What would life be like for a modern day Jew in Germany if Hitler had won the war? (In the Presence of Mine Enemies) You get the picture.
This book is not alt-history, but it is still a great thought experiment. What if Israel took down the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock) and rebuilt the Temple in its proper place? He lays out a scenario where Jews in Israel give up trying to play nice with their neighbors, political sentiment swings to the extreme far right, and the next thing you know, construction crews are taking down the third holiest site in Islam that they might rebuild the holiest site in Judaism.
The scenario is definitely an interesting one and HT does a great job of pacing the plot well and keeping the reader hooked. He also shows well the incredible complexities involved when three major world religions all are focused in on the same small plot of ground. A victory for one group always makes losers for the others and HT shows what those might look like. At points, this book is as unbelievable as anything since he wrote about sentient dinosaurs (what if the asteroid missed?) but you ought to expect miracles to occur when religion plays such a key point in a book.
One thing that did not surprise me, but might surprise someone not as familiar with Turtledove, is how unsympathetic or even how unbelievable his characters are. Turtledove is writing about radicals from three different faiths and he makes it very clear he doesn't know the first thing about what they really believe or how they think. He just keeps reverting back to stereotypes. Since I was raised as a fundamentalist Christian, now live in the Muslim world, and have spent decades reading up on God and history I probably know more than the average reader here, but I am guessing anyone picking up this book will see through his stereotypes and poor characterization just as easily.
What really got to me, though, was his absolutely horrible ending. I won't throw up any spoilers, but I will say that I was fighting back a gag reflex at how despicably bad the last 20% or so of this book was. This book really should be a 2, but considering all the anti-Semitic attacks in NYC, the Iranian attack on the US embassy, and Trump's retaliatory strike on that Iranian general, I am bumping it up one star for its timliness.
OK, now on to my real book review. Pretty much any time Harry Turtledove puts something in print, I pick it up and read it. He isn't the greatest author out there. He isn't even the best alt-history author out there, but he always does have some really good thought experiments. Most of his books revolve around an idea that any lover of history has probably played around in their own mind. What would England look like if they had not stopped the Spanish Armada? (Ruled Brittania) What would life be like for a modern day Jew in Germany if Hitler had won the war? (In the Presence of Mine Enemies) You get the picture.
This book is not alt-history, but it is still a great thought experiment. What if Israel took down the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock) and rebuilt the Temple in its proper place? He lays out a scenario where Jews in Israel give up trying to play nice with their neighbors, political sentiment swings to the extreme far right, and the next thing you know, construction crews are taking down the third holiest site in Islam that they might rebuild the holiest site in Judaism.
The scenario is definitely an interesting one and HT does a great job of pacing the plot well and keeping the reader hooked. He also shows well the incredible complexities involved when three major world religions all are focused in on the same small plot of ground. A victory for one group always makes losers for the others and HT shows what those might look like. At points, this book is as unbelievable as anything since he wrote about sentient dinosaurs (what if the asteroid missed?) but you ought to expect miracles to occur when religion plays such a key point in a book.
One thing that did not surprise me, but might surprise someone not as familiar with Turtledove, is how unsympathetic or even how unbelievable his characters are. Turtledove is writing about radicals from three different faiths and he makes it very clear he doesn't know the first thing about what they really believe or how they think. He just keeps reverting back to stereotypes. Since I was raised as a fundamentalist Christian, now live in the Muslim world, and have spent decades reading up on God and history I probably know more than the average reader here, but I am guessing anyone picking up this book will see through his stereotypes and poor characterization just as easily.
What really got to me, though, was his absolutely horrible ending. I won't throw up any spoilers, but I will say that I was fighting back a gag reflex at how despicably bad the last 20% or so of this book was. This book really should be a 2, but considering all the anti-Semitic attacks in NYC, the Iranian attack on the US embassy, and Trump's retaliatory strike on that Iranian general, I am bumping it up one star for its timliness.
May 25, 2019
3 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary:
In the heart of the Holy Land, ancient prophecies begin to come true. But whose prophecies, exactly, and to whose benefit?
Review:
I enjoy Harry Turtledove’s writing, though I’m not really a fan of the alternate history niche that he’s claimed as his particular specialty. Here, he’s strayed from the SFF field into what’s more of a religion-heavy pop thriller with supernatural overtones. It’s a quick, smooth read with strong characters, but it didn’t win me over.
The book is largely set in Jerusalem, and Turtledove does what I imagine he thinks is a painstaking job of presenting all viewpoints fairly. Unfortunately, he doesn’t really pull it off, and the Palestinians get short shrift, coming off as only slightly rounded villains. Most writers do worse, so I suppose we should be thankful that he tried at least, but that’s faint praise. Gender issues don’t always fare better, and while it’s possible to attribute some of these to character viewpoint, the story would have been fine without them. There’s also a tendency to believe that anyone who’s served in the military (especially the Israeli military) is and always will be a noble killing machine. In short, while I don’t know anything at all about Turtledove’s politics, the book fits comfortably in moderate right of center perspective. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but because of nature of the book, the thin presentation of the Palestinian case undermines the entire thing.
The supernatural elements come up mostly toward the end. Most of the book is taken up with an examination of the characters and the political and theological questions they face. To Turtledove’s credit, he faces the political questions head on (if not with perfect balance). That makes it all the more disappointing that he avoids all the theological questions he so carefully tees up. That the end of the book is a cop-out is putting it mildly. He brings us and his characters along with the promise of revelations to come, and then … vanishes into the air. And even then, only the three main Abrahamic religions are addressed. Atheists, Hindus, etc. aren’t involved.
It’s a disappointing book. Turtledove introduces interesting, engaging characters, but then does little with them. While he tries for balance, he doesn’t succeed. Where he raises interesting theological questions, he avoids them in the end. If you’re already to the right on Middle East issues, this book will confirm your views, and you might enjoy it. I can’t really recommend it to anyone else.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
In the heart of the Holy Land, ancient prophecies begin to come true. But whose prophecies, exactly, and to whose benefit?
Review:
I enjoy Harry Turtledove’s writing, though I’m not really a fan of the alternate history niche that he’s claimed as his particular specialty. Here, he’s strayed from the SFF field into what’s more of a religion-heavy pop thriller with supernatural overtones. It’s a quick, smooth read with strong characters, but it didn’t win me over.
The book is largely set in Jerusalem, and Turtledove does what I imagine he thinks is a painstaking job of presenting all viewpoints fairly. Unfortunately, he doesn’t really pull it off, and the Palestinians get short shrift, coming off as only slightly rounded villains. Most writers do worse, so I suppose we should be thankful that he tried at least, but that’s faint praise. Gender issues don’t always fare better, and while it’s possible to attribute some of these to character viewpoint, the story would have been fine without them. There’s also a tendency to believe that anyone who’s served in the military (especially the Israeli military) is and always will be a noble killing machine. In short, while I don’t know anything at all about Turtledove’s politics, the book fits comfortably in moderate right of center perspective. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but because of nature of the book, the thin presentation of the Palestinian case undermines the entire thing.
The supernatural elements come up mostly toward the end. Most of the book is taken up with an examination of the characters and the political and theological questions they face. To Turtledove’s credit, he faces the political questions head on (if not with perfect balance). That makes it all the more disappointing that he avoids all the theological questions he so carefully tees up. That the end of the book is a cop-out is putting it mildly. He brings us and his characters along with the promise of revelations to come, and then … vanishes into the air. And even then, only the three main Abrahamic religions are addressed. Atheists, Hindus, etc. aren’t involved.
It’s a disappointing book. Turtledove introduces interesting, engaging characters, but then does little with them. While he tries for balance, he doesn’t succeed. Where he raises interesting theological questions, he avoids them in the end. If you’re already to the right on Middle East issues, this book will confirm your views, and you might enjoy it. I can’t really recommend it to anyone else.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2020
I haven't read much by Harry Turtledove, as I'm not fond of alternate history. This book is not that. Set in modern Israel, it deals with modern believers, and nonbelievers, of the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
Archaeologists discover the Ark of the Covenant under the Temple Mount, and it has some inexplicable properties. Meanwhile, a fundamentalist Jewish sect finds a rare red heifer, which they plan to sacrifice in order to rebuild the original Temple. Then fundamentalist Muslims set off a dirty bomb in Tel Aviv. All kinds of stuff ensues.
There are quite a few viewpoint characters. An American archaeologist and his Israeli archaeologist girlfriend; a Muslim holy man; a Jewish youth who has been brought up to be ritually pure to contribute to the red heifer slaughtering ceremony and afterwards (and who becomes fond of said cow and wants to save it from being killed); a pair of American TV personalities (think Jerry Springer); an American TV evangelist who is a pretty decent guy; and more.
The book was a pleasure to read. Seriously. I'd been reading several books that were okay but kind of hard to read. The writing in this one grabbed me right away. Straightforward; not simple - lots of interesting details - but not convoluted. Good characters, though not necessarily likable, and good pacing - the story moved right along. Interesting looks at fundamentalists of these three religions.
However, I was disappointed at the ending. It was abrupt, and it left basic questions unanswered. I'm sure that was the author's intent, and I kind of see why he did it that way, but it just didn't work for me.
Still, four stars for lovely writing and a delightful reading experience.
Archaeologists discover the Ark of the Covenant under the Temple Mount, and it has some inexplicable properties. Meanwhile, a fundamentalist Jewish sect finds a rare red heifer, which they plan to sacrifice in order to rebuild the original Temple. Then fundamentalist Muslims set off a dirty bomb in Tel Aviv. All kinds of stuff ensues.
There are quite a few viewpoint characters. An American archaeologist and his Israeli archaeologist girlfriend; a Muslim holy man; a Jewish youth who has been brought up to be ritually pure to contribute to the red heifer slaughtering ceremony and afterwards (and who becomes fond of said cow and wants to save it from being killed); a pair of American TV personalities (think Jerry Springer); an American TV evangelist who is a pretty decent guy; and more.
The book was a pleasure to read. Seriously. I'd been reading several books that were okay but kind of hard to read. The writing in this one grabbed me right away. Straightforward; not simple - lots of interesting details - but not convoluted. Good characters, though not necessarily likable, and good pacing - the story moved right along. Interesting looks at fundamentalists of these three religions.
However, I was disappointed at the ending. It was abrupt, and it left basic questions unanswered. I'm sure that was the author's intent, and I kind of see why he did it that way, but it just didn't work for me.
Still, four stars for lovely writing and a delightful reading experience.
September 18, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest review.
If given unequivocal proof that god exists, what would happen to the world's religions?
That is the question that Turtledove asks in his newest alternate world science fiction novel called Alpha and Omega. Turtledove is famous for asking the big "What if's" in alternative history. Previous stories include a second civil war (How Few Remain), third world war (American Empire series), supervolcano (Eruption) plus many more. Turtledove is a highly prolific author.
Alpha and Omega sees ancient prophecy realized in Jerusalem. All prophetic triggers for the end of days. This proves that without a doubt that God is real. But the question becomes "whose god?" What should the followers of Christianity, Judaism or Islam expect from the realized prophecies?
This was a difficult read for me. The subject matter is interesting, alternative history can be engrossing especially when you are somewhat familiar with the subject matter. This might have been my issue with this book and why it did not resonate with me. I am not overly familiar with Judaic and Islamic traditions and history. I think had I been more familiar this would have been a more engrossing read. As it stood though, I found it very dry and difficult to get into. I attempted to finish this but I ended up DNF at 80%. I could not get into the story. I just did not care about the characters enough to be interested in their plight.
If you would like to see more of my reviews, please check out my website at https://beforewegoblog.com/
If given unequivocal proof that god exists, what would happen to the world's religions?
That is the question that Turtledove asks in his newest alternate world science fiction novel called Alpha and Omega. Turtledove is famous for asking the big "What if's" in alternative history. Previous stories include a second civil war (How Few Remain), third world war (American Empire series), supervolcano (Eruption) plus many more. Turtledove is a highly prolific author.
Alpha and Omega sees ancient prophecy realized in Jerusalem. All prophetic triggers for the end of days. This proves that without a doubt that God is real. But the question becomes "whose god?" What should the followers of Christianity, Judaism or Islam expect from the realized prophecies?
This was a difficult read for me. The subject matter is interesting, alternative history can be engrossing especially when you are somewhat familiar with the subject matter. This might have been my issue with this book and why it did not resonate with me. I am not overly familiar with Judaic and Islamic traditions and history. I think had I been more familiar this would have been a more engrossing read. As it stood though, I found it very dry and difficult to get into. I attempted to finish this but I ended up DNF at 80%. I could not get into the story. I just did not care about the characters enough to be interested in their plight.
If you would like to see more of my reviews, please check out my website at https://beforewegoblog.com/
October 23, 2022
As an ex-Catholic Atheist, it's a little strange how much I love a good Biblical end-of-days story. It's my catnip. Gimme gimme gimme.
And luckily, Harry Turtledove is one of those authors I consistently enjoy. I appreciate the level of detail and research he brings into his works and the different viewpoints in the characters he builds. Mostly he's just fun.
So I went in to Alpha and Omega expecting an apocalyptic romp. And that's what I mostly got.
The beginning started a little slow. Not unexpected, since Turtledove had to set up a lot of history and legend, not to mention a cast of a dozen characters. But once the supernatural entered the story, it was off like a rocket. But I thought there could have been more! More signs, more portents, more miracles, and more ghosts! I wanted the most end-of-days-iest plot ever.
The ending also fell totally flat. It wasn't a cliffhanger... it felt like a chapter end. Perhaps this isn't a standalone; Turtledove historically has series that go on forever and perhaps that's the intention here. Otherwise I cannot comprehend this dry-fart-in-a-big-room of a conclusion.
And luckily, Harry Turtledove is one of those authors I consistently enjoy. I appreciate the level of detail and research he brings into his works and the different viewpoints in the characters he builds. Mostly he's just fun.
So I went in to Alpha and Omega expecting an apocalyptic romp. And that's what I mostly got.
The beginning started a little slow. Not unexpected, since Turtledove had to set up a lot of history and legend, not to mention a cast of a dozen characters. But once the supernatural entered the story, it was off like a rocket. But I thought there could have been more! More signs, more portents, more miracles, and more ghosts! I wanted the most end-of-days-iest plot ever.
The ending also fell totally flat. It wasn't a cliffhanger... it felt like a chapter end. Perhaps this isn't a standalone; Turtledove historically has series that go on forever and perhaps that's the intention here. Otherwise I cannot comprehend this dry-fart-in-a-big-room of a conclusion.
July 22, 2019
Immensely ambitious, which is good. I was also happy with Turtledove's decision to go against the grain by presenting the evangelist preacher character as fundamentally sincere. It's a good novel, but it falls short of having the epic sweep that I think was intended.
I have liked a lot of Harry Turtledove's stuff over the years, such as the Timeline-191 material and particularly his stand-alone novel Ruled Britannia. In those environments, Turtledove's native style--which verges on the hokey in spots--is often effective. In his short story "Father of the Groom," it was VERY effective.
It's less effective when it's being presented as the inner monologue of characters of world-historical import (Vyacheslav Molotov excepted). Turtledove's great gift has been to provide a voice to history's "man on the street" types, but when his roster of Everyday Joes is witnessing events of the type he describes here, the scale of what's being witnessed isn't successfully conveyed, and the dad jokes wind up landing with a thud. Turtledove is great at bringing history down to earth--but the end of history CAN'T be "brought down to earth" without losing its sheen.
I enjoy Turtledove's writing. I admire the concept of this book. I'm not in love with the match between them.
I have liked a lot of Harry Turtledove's stuff over the years, such as the Timeline-191 material and particularly his stand-alone novel Ruled Britannia. In those environments, Turtledove's native style--which verges on the hokey in spots--is often effective. In his short story "Father of the Groom," it was VERY effective.
It's less effective when it's being presented as the inner monologue of characters of world-historical import (Vyacheslav Molotov excepted). Turtledove's great gift has been to provide a voice to history's "man on the street" types, but when his roster of Everyday Joes is witnessing events of the type he describes here, the scale of what's being witnessed isn't successfully conveyed, and the dad jokes wind up landing with a thud. Turtledove is great at bringing history down to earth--but the end of history CAN'T be "brought down to earth" without losing its sheen.
I enjoy Turtledove's writing. I admire the concept of this book. I'm not in love with the match between them.
August 17, 2020
Rather than alternate history, Turtledove has dived into a different kind of speculative fiction with his novel. It is really a What If...? tale. The concept is what would happen if it seemed like people tried to help bring about Armaggeddon while using some of the prophecies found in the Bible's Book of Revelation. It all starts when a completely red heifer is found in Texas. A group arranges to have it brought to Jerusalem so it can be sacrificed to help in blessing the founding of the Third Temple on the Mount. Things become even more intense as a dirty bomb is set off in Tel Aviv, causing bigger rifts that make the distruction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the same mountain more likely.
One of the things that have always made Turtledove such a great read is how he creates very interesting (and often ordinary) characters to people his worlds. Readers are not just learning about events throug hthe eyes of those who are important and influential, but also from those who are just everyday people.
I have to admit that I struggled more with reading this one. I normally just eat up Turtledove's books despite the fact that they are full of rich writing and lots of characters. While all of this was still true in this novel, the darkness at the core of the story and how it reflects the darker nature of humanity we seem to be currently surrounded by makes everything a little too real FOR ME.
I do think that those who are fans of Turtledove will likely really enjoy this read. I would also be curious as to what readers of the Left Behind series would think about this book.
One of the things that have always made Turtledove such a great read is how he creates very interesting (and often ordinary) characters to people his worlds. Readers are not just learning about events throug hthe eyes of those who are important and influential, but also from those who are just everyday people.
I have to admit that I struggled more with reading this one. I normally just eat up Turtledove's books despite the fact that they are full of rich writing and lots of characters. While all of this was still true in this novel, the darkness at the core of the story and how it reflects the darker nature of humanity we seem to be currently surrounded by makes everything a little too real FOR ME.
I do think that those who are fans of Turtledove will likely really enjoy this read. I would also be curious as to what readers of the Left Behind series would think about this book.
August 22, 2019
This was quite a thrilling book. It is fast paced and thrilling, but the draw of the book is not peril to the characters -- they are none of them so interesting that the reader would really care -- but how is Turtledove going to render an Apocalypse that is true to all three of the Judaic religions? He pulls it off. It is a hopeful book.
However, the book ends just after the Rapture, but before the Tribulation.
However, the book ends just after the Rapture, but before the Tribulation.
July 15, 2022
Careful, even-handed, final.
September 5, 2019
Nearly all of Harry Turtledove's books are very very good. This one is great.
It's hard to review this book without giving too much away. Let's just say, what would you do if various Jewish, Christian and Muslim clerics started to preach that the biblical, or Qur'anic, End Times are near? What would you do if the signs and portents of the End Times really started to happen? In clear, unmistakable ways? What if Temple Mount were to be ritually cleansed according to Jewish rule? What if the Ark of the Covenant were truly found, and in an unimpeachable state? What if a 12 year old Orthodox Jewish boy exhibited all the signs of being the Messiah? Even if he didn't want to be?
What would it take for you to believe?
It's hard to review this book without giving too much away. Let's just say, what would you do if various Jewish, Christian and Muslim clerics started to preach that the biblical, or Qur'anic, End Times are near? What would you do if the signs and portents of the End Times really started to happen? In clear, unmistakable ways? What if Temple Mount were to be ritually cleansed according to Jewish rule? What if the Ark of the Covenant were truly found, and in an unimpeachable state? What if a 12 year old Orthodox Jewish boy exhibited all the signs of being the Messiah? Even if he didn't want to be?
What would it take for you to believe?
October 23, 2019
The Ark of the Covenant has been found, along with miracles. Jews, Christians, & Muslims are responding to the miracles.
(I wonder what Hindus would have thought)
(I wonder what Hindus would have thought)
July 26, 2019
Interesting beginning but more boring as it went on and a very unsatisfactory ending.
May 14, 2021
........
........
really?
........
it has at lot more pages than it should
and that ending -_-
........
really?
........
it has at lot more pages than it should
and that ending -_-
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