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Or Even Eagle Flew
As Britain faces the full fury of the Nazi war machine, hope comes in the form of American volunteers called the Eagle Squadrons. As these units join their RAF cousins during the Battle of Britain, famous woman aviator Amelia Earhart (who survived her world-circling flight) emerges as a rallying point for those willing to stand against fascism.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2021
22 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
561 books1,947 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 31 reviews
February 13, 2021
This is an alternate history novella that asks the question: what if Amelia Earhart hadn't died but instead lived on to enlist in the RAF during WW2? That the RAF would accept female fighter pilots is unlikely but not impossible (the Russians did after all), and if anyone could have convinced them to change their minds it would have been a genuine celebrity like Earhart. The opportunity to have an American hero flying in the RAF might well have proved too good a propaganda coup to pass up. No doubt they’d have tried to keep her out of combat, but during the Battle of Britain… where would that be? Hiding in Bermuda with the Duke of Windsor?
I appreciated that the story wasn't one of natural genius. Too many stories about people breaking gender barriers have them be so unnaturally perfect that they just cannot be challenged. But pilots who burst into the history books as instant aces tend to blast out just as fast, usually in a blaze of glory. Amelia’s more of a slow burn. She’s better than most of her fellow pilots, but not by an order of magnitude. In truth, even the best pilot in their forties would be hard-pressed to keep up with the eyesight and reflexes of those teenagers fresh out of flight school. She just plods along, enduring what she has to and sticking up for herself when she has to, with a determined, professional air that compares favorably to many of her fellow drunken pilots. And some of them are real louts. What, don’t all women like it when men fondle them in their sleep?
The story keeps a firm hand on reality (such as it is) throughout. There are few dramatic moments. Even the escape from rapidly-occupied France is handled breezily. When she gets into confrontations (and she’s not afraid of them) she tends to be pretty steady. In the most memorable one she simply accepts the rebuke and then goes direct to the papers before it can occur to her superior to forbid her from doing so. It’s a fun scene, but not an exaggerated one. I could see someone like Earhart pulling it off. The aerial combat scenes aren’t particularly thrilling either, which is more of a letdown. In a page or two you can go through several flights. They’re basically summary, with less than a paragraph spent on any single dogfight. I’ve never read any novels set in the WW2 air war, but I’ve read aerial combat stories written with more verve and excitement than this. We spend most of our time on base. Not being up-to-date on memoirs from the period, I had the distinct impression that Earhart’s following someone else’s career rather precisely. As in her general trajectory comes from a real person’s memoirs. I may be wrong, but it would explain a lot.
I liked this book. I thought it was a very entertaining look at the Battle of Britain from a female perspective in a way that sadly never happened. Poor Amelia deserved better than dying alone in the ocean somewhere and it’s nice to see her get a chance for one last grand adventure, even if only a fictitious one. The difficulties that she went through getting taken seriously were interesting, as was the slow chipping away of skepticism. The air combat could probably have been more exciting and the ending felt both inevitable and rather a letdown. By that point it didn’t matter and seemed just an expedient way to end a plot that had already gone where it was intending to go. Perhaps this novella could even have been a shorter short story? Dunno. I still enjoyed it and found it compelling.
I appreciated that the story wasn't one of natural genius. Too many stories about people breaking gender barriers have them be so unnaturally perfect that they just cannot be challenged. But pilots who burst into the history books as instant aces tend to blast out just as fast, usually in a blaze of glory. Amelia’s more of a slow burn. She’s better than most of her fellow pilots, but not by an order of magnitude. In truth, even the best pilot in their forties would be hard-pressed to keep up with the eyesight and reflexes of those teenagers fresh out of flight school. She just plods along, enduring what she has to and sticking up for herself when she has to, with a determined, professional air that compares favorably to many of her fellow drunken pilots. And some of them are real louts. What, don’t all women like it when men fondle them in their sleep?
The story keeps a firm hand on reality (such as it is) throughout. There are few dramatic moments. Even the escape from rapidly-occupied France is handled breezily. When she gets into confrontations (and she’s not afraid of them) she tends to be pretty steady. In the most memorable one she simply accepts the rebuke and then goes direct to the papers before it can occur to her superior to forbid her from doing so. It’s a fun scene, but not an exaggerated one. I could see someone like Earhart pulling it off. The aerial combat scenes aren’t particularly thrilling either, which is more of a letdown. In a page or two you can go through several flights. They’re basically summary, with less than a paragraph spent on any single dogfight. I’ve never read any novels set in the WW2 air war, but I’ve read aerial combat stories written with more verve and excitement than this. We spend most of our time on base. Not being up-to-date on memoirs from the period, I had the distinct impression that Earhart’s following someone else’s career rather precisely. As in her general trajectory comes from a real person’s memoirs. I may be wrong, but it would explain a lot.
I liked this book. I thought it was a very entertaining look at the Battle of Britain from a female perspective in a way that sadly never happened. Poor Amelia deserved better than dying alone in the ocean somewhere and it’s nice to see her get a chance for one last grand adventure, even if only a fictitious one. The difficulties that she went through getting taken seriously were interesting, as was the slow chipping away of skepticism. The air combat could probably have been more exciting and the ending felt both inevitable and rather a letdown. By that point it didn’t matter and seemed just an expedient way to end a plot that had already gone where it was intending to go. Perhaps this novella could even have been a shorter short story? Dunno. I still enjoyed it and found it compelling.
February 21, 2021
Alternative WWII History Novella about US Pilots with the RAF
This novella by alternate history expert Turtledove paints a fascinating and detailed picture of the USA pilots who went to fly and fight with the British RAF before the US got in to WWII. It seems a pretty factual picture. With one bug difference.
Spoiler alert:
The main alternative to our universe is that Amelia Earhart survived her round the world trip, and joins these fliers (she’s in all the blurbs and on the cover picture, so not really much of a spoiler).
The character development is not as good here as in others of Turtledove’s works, like Ruled Britannia, for example. Much of the story is through Amelia’s view, but third person. I could not really relate much to her here, nor to others, though I’m a pilot and a fan of A.E.
The story held my interest, but it was a bit remote.
This novella by alternate history expert Turtledove paints a fascinating and detailed picture of the USA pilots who went to fly and fight with the British RAF before the US got in to WWII. It seems a pretty factual picture. With one bug difference.
Spoiler alert:
The main alternative to our universe is that Amelia Earhart survived her round the world trip, and joins these fliers (she’s in all the blurbs and on the cover picture, so not really much of a spoiler).
The character development is not as good here as in others of Turtledove’s works, like Ruled Britannia, for example. Much of the story is through Amelia’s view, but third person. I could not really relate much to her here, nor to others, though I’m a pilot and a fan of A.E.
The story held my interest, but it was a bit remote.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2021
Good enough, but not Great Harry Turtledove
I’ve been reading Harry Turtledove’s alternative histories and other SF for at least 40 years and enjoyed them all. This is pretty good, but just doesn’t feel up to his normal very high standards.
I’ve been reading Harry Turtledove’s alternative histories and other SF for at least 40 years and enjoyed them all. This is pretty good, but just doesn’t feel up to his normal very high standards.
May 6, 2021
I am a huge fan of Mr. Turtledoves, but I have to say, this book disappointed me. I found the premise of the story quite intriguing but the delivery flat.
In the author's defense, I'm well versed in how pilots of various nationalities fared when joining the RAF early in the war. Pilot volunteers from the West Indies and India faced the same social barriers as did the character referred to as A.E. in the book; their complexion was just as prohibitive as her gender.
Despite that, I anticipated a typical Turtledove book; something that would engross me in a character and an entertaining story. Sadly, beyond her crusade for acceptance as an equal, A.E.'s character remains mostly one dimensional.
Finally, just when the story line approaches a point where...it simply abruptly ends.
The story itself seems to be a mirror of her professional career as a pilot; seeking acceptance and ending abruptly.
In the author's defense, I'm well versed in how pilots of various nationalities fared when joining the RAF early in the war. Pilot volunteers from the West Indies and India faced the same social barriers as did the character referred to as A.E. in the book; their complexion was just as prohibitive as her gender.
Despite that, I anticipated a typical Turtledove book; something that would engross me in a character and an entertaining story. Sadly, beyond her crusade for acceptance as an equal, A.E.'s character remains mostly one dimensional.
Finally, just when the story line approaches a point where...it simply abruptly ends.
The story itself seems to be a mirror of her professional career as a pilot; seeking acceptance and ending abruptly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
What if Amelia Earhart survived her round-the-world flight, then enlisted in the RAF in 1940 to fight Hitler? A well-researched, well-written novella of America's RAF volunteers in the early days of World War II. The character of Amelia Earhart and the difficulties she faced as a woman pilot are well-delineated. Recommended.
July 30, 2022
From the mind of the king of Alt-history Harry turtledove the author of books(Guns of the South and Worldwar series).
The latest creation of his mind comes off has abit shorter then his other book has this one is only about 160 pages long. The story shows several famous aviators who in the original timeline died prior to the secound word war, but in that world they lived and decided to join the British RAF to become there fighter pilots against the NAZIs.
I …if you look you’d see I gave this short novel 1 star for several reasons. The story really explains why they’s chacthers lived compared to original timeline counterparts death dates has it was rush into the year 1940 with little background on what was different to effect there lives. Has the story progressed Turtledove in a werid way that came off has empty fan service to LGBT community has he over played Amelia Earhart bi-sexuality, but has I said it was empty it didn’t really feel natural more rush idea then discarded.
Spoiler after this part
After all that story becomes a downer has all the masculine idiots think off ways to bring the main chacther down and how does Turtledove slove this he sends her own a mission that ends with the most hated of all ending types in my opinion an open-ending. The story dosen’t explain if Amelia dies or lives after her plane is shot down which totally ruined my favorite in this book. Then has I look in the pages to look for a nitice of a sequel not seeing really angered me has I said open-endings are the worst has it comes off has an author cheat to avoid more work.
The latest creation of his mind comes off has abit shorter then his other book has this one is only about 160 pages long. The story shows several famous aviators who in the original timeline died prior to the secound word war, but in that world they lived and decided to join the British RAF to become there fighter pilots against the NAZIs.
I …if you look you’d see I gave this short novel 1 star for several reasons. The story really explains why they’s chacthers lived compared to original timeline counterparts death dates has it was rush into the year 1940 with little background on what was different to effect there lives. Has the story progressed Turtledove in a werid way that came off has empty fan service to LGBT community has he over played Amelia Earhart bi-sexuality, but has I said it was empty it didn’t really feel natural more rush idea then discarded.
Spoiler after this part
After all that story becomes a downer has all the masculine idiots think off ways to bring the main chacther down and how does Turtledove slove this he sends her own a mission that ends with the most hated of all ending types in my opinion an open-ending. The story dosen’t explain if Amelia dies or lives after her plane is shot down which totally ruined my favorite in this book. Then has I look in the pages to look for a nitice of a sequel not seeing really angered me has I said open-endings are the worst has it comes off has an author cheat to avoid more work.
March 24, 2023
I really like Harry Turtledove. I really like his truly innovative development of the alternative history genre. His books show outstanding and thoroughly and comprehensive research. His books explore the whole notion of "what if" in the most satisfying ways possible. I am, however, less impressed with this presentation of an Amelia Earhart who survived her famous 1930s global travel only to volunteer for aerial combat service with the Royal Air Force in 1940. This novella lacks the strong character development typical of Turtledove's usual novels. It has an entirely predictable and unsurprising story line. It seems to inexplicably end without a sufficient conclusion. And, finally, what other than "novella" do you call a book of 168 pages with type large enough that I had no need for my reading glasses? The back cover of the book writes "from master of alternate history Harry Turtledove." I still believe that to be a true assessment. But Turtledove could have done much better with a story about Amelia Earhart than this one. He has, after all, readily proven himself to be the "master of alternate history." I expect better of the next Harry Turtledove novel I choose to read.
March 20, 2024
Not much, to be honest. When Turtledove is good, he's brilliant, but I couldn't really see the point here. Alternate history is supposed to be....different. More different than having Amelia Earhart survive the flight where, in our world, she disappeared without a trace.
This is not much of a spoiler since she's pictured on the cover and the blurb makes the situation clear. She shows up in the RAF as a celebrity fighter pilot during WWII. That's it. If something happened that didn't happen in our world, it wasn't that clear. Maybe she shot someone down who wasn't shot down in our world, but we never know that. The character was also curiously flat. I don't know much about her and I don't know any more now.
The ending is very abrupt but gives the possibility of a sequel; however, I don't think there's one planned or not mentioned anywhere if it is, because I did look. There's the expected "oh, you're a woman, women can't fly planes" sexism, but very predictable. Could do better. The author, not Amelia.
This is not much of a spoiler since she's pictured on the cover and the blurb makes the situation clear. She shows up in the RAF as a celebrity fighter pilot during WWII. That's it. If something happened that didn't happen in our world, it wasn't that clear. Maybe she shot someone down who wasn't shot down in our world, but we never know that. The character was also curiously flat. I don't know much about her and I don't know any more now.
The ending is very abrupt but gives the possibility of a sequel; however, I don't think there's one planned or not mentioned anywhere if it is, because I did look. There's the expected "oh, you're a woman, women can't fly planes" sexism, but very predictable. Could do better. The author, not Amelia.
July 7, 2021
I'm not entirely sure why Harry Turtledove wrote this novella. Women have become pilots and joined the military without the help of Amelia Earhart.
But the author has written many alternative history books. I wonder if he was simply enamored with Amelia Earhart, whom he referred to as A. E. throughout the book
In this story she survived her fatal historical flight around the world and joins the RAF in the early days of World War II.
She battles all the sexism and prejudices of the day and goes on to become a great fighter pilot chalking up a few Nazi kills.
I suppose Turtledove nailed her personality. We only know her from historic interviews, press conferences, and news articles. Based on that, the A.E. in this book could well have been the way the real Earhart might have been in a battle situation.
I acquired this book because I have always been fascinated by Amelia Earhart so it allowed my mind to speculate on what might have been.
But the author has written many alternative history books. I wonder if he was simply enamored with Amelia Earhart, whom he referred to as A. E. throughout the book
In this story she survived her fatal historical flight around the world and joins the RAF in the early days of World War II.
She battles all the sexism and prejudices of the day and goes on to become a great fighter pilot chalking up a few Nazi kills.
I suppose Turtledove nailed her personality. We only know her from historic interviews, press conferences, and news articles. Based on that, the A.E. in this book could well have been the way the real Earhart might have been in a battle situation.
I acquired this book because I have always been fascinated by Amelia Earhart so it allowed my mind to speculate on what might have been.
February 21, 2025
A curious story.
I'm not sure why it was written.
As an alt history it seemed an almost pointless exercise as the only difference was AE coming to Britain to fight the Germans, everything else was as we experienced it.
This in itself was a bit daft as desperate as the RAF were for pilots, they were not desperate enough to consider letting women fly in combat roles.
It was written well enough but I'd hoped for something with a greater depth.
It has whetted my appetite to try some of Turtledove's other books, however.
I'm not sure why it was written.
As an alt history it seemed an almost pointless exercise as the only difference was AE coming to Britain to fight the Germans, everything else was as we experienced it.
This in itself was a bit daft as desperate as the RAF were for pilots, they were not desperate enough to consider letting women fly in combat roles.
It was written well enough but I'd hoped for something with a greater depth.
It has whetted my appetite to try some of Turtledove's other books, however.
February 13, 2021
Moves along faster than a spitfire
Harry Turtledove’s short novel about World War 2 posits a world where Amelia Earhart survived her famous trip around the world to join the RAF and fight nazis. Her struggle to be accepted as a fighter pilot and her fight to get the establishment to allow other women in the same role felt real. The attitude of the American Air Force when the US entered the war was entirely accurate.
Loved this book.
Harry Turtledove’s short novel about World War 2 posits a world where Amelia Earhart survived her famous trip around the world to join the RAF and fight nazis. Her struggle to be accepted as a fighter pilot and her fight to get the establishment to allow other women in the same role felt real. The attitude of the American Air Force when the US entered the war was entirely accurate.
Loved this book.
May 24, 2021
This is the latest alternate history from the pen of Harry Turtledove. Amelia Earhart was rescued from Howland Island long before the novel begins. She and three other pilots join the RAF and become fighter pilots. She battles not only the Nazis but also bureaucrats and senior officers who firmly believe that women cannot fight. Hang disbelief on the nearest hook, and enjoy a rousing adventure.
July 19, 2024
A good idea but Turtledove doesn't entirely seem to know what he wants to do with it.
A.E. surviving and joining the RAF isn't big or epic a historical change as his other novels, the message he's going for isn't strong enough to stand on its own and Turtledove can't quite take the step and just go full pulp adventure.
It's a jumble and entertaining, but none of the parts create a satisfying whole.
A.E. surviving and joining the RAF isn't big or epic a historical change as his other novels, the message he's going for isn't strong enough to stand on its own and Turtledove can't quite take the step and just go full pulp adventure.
It's a jumble and entertaining, but none of the parts create a satisfying whole.
February 23, 2025
I love this book! I grew up with Amelia Earhart's story and adventures. I was always entranced by her. This book brought her back to life and sent her on some new adventures!
When the book ended, I was expecting it, I really wanted the story to go on and on.
The characters are so engaging.
It's a fun little book to read.
I read it at night before going to bed to make it last longer :)
When the book ended, I was expecting it, I really wanted the story to go on and on.
The characters are so engaging.
It's a fun little book to read.
I read it at night before going to bed to make it last longer :)
March 27, 2021
Interesting alternative history, and Turtledove is a master of the field. Requires a few moments of "suspension of disbelief," but it is well-researched, well-written, and presents a fairly plausible alternate chain of events. Interesting characters, loads of aviation detail, and just a fun read. Too short, but it's just a novella, and as an ebook it is a good length.
June 6, 2021
Really enjoyed this alternate-history take on Amelia Earhart. Here, she survives her round-the-world flight and goes on to join the RAF in the Battle of Britain and beyond. Filled with the details that always mark Turtledove's stories, this tightly-written short novel also manages to comment on culture, gender, courage, love, and the inevitable loss that comes with warfare.
September 18, 2021
Fun fast read. This Amelia is more competent than the one in our world who got herself killed to soon. Interesting concept and written effectively enough to make a decent book. The book does not go really in-depth into Amelia, but nevertheless is a good read. This one is for light fun not heavy duty. Recommended.
November 25, 2021
Better than a typical Turtledove alt-history novel.
While I enjoy his work, sometimes the narrative seems factory-produced. This is a welcome exception. Taking a character like Amelia Earhart and placing her in WWII is unique, but the author also catches the spirit, danger and ethos of combat aviators. Well done!
While I enjoy his work, sometimes the narrative seems factory-produced. This is a welcome exception. Taking a character like Amelia Earhart and placing her in WWII is unique, but the author also catches the spirit, danger and ethos of combat aviators. Well done!
February 22, 2021
Alternate history I reckon
It took me about a quarter of the book to figure out where the inflection point was. This is a really good book, finished it in one long session. I recommend it!
It took me about a quarter of the book to figure out where the inflection point was. This is a really good book, finished it in one long session. I recommend it!
February 27, 2021
Another Alternate History from Harry Turtledove
What if Amelia Earheart made it in her flight around the world? Then she got bored with speaking engagements and teaching at Purdue.
This is what she'd do. This is that story and it's good.
What if Amelia Earheart made it in her flight around the world? Then she got bored with speaking engagements and teaching at Purdue.
This is what she'd do. This is that story and it's good.
April 11, 2023
Pretty believable
I some how knew how the book would end just based on the wartime casualty rates. This did not stretch the limits of belief too far with her flying in the RAF. The master of Alternate History still has it.
I some how knew how the book would end just based on the wartime casualty rates. This did not stretch the limits of belief too far with her flying in the RAF. The master of Alternate History still has it.
February 16, 2021
A great war yarn
Maybe you're expecting the same old same old from Harry Turtledove, big decisions from the big men.. Be prepared for a real war story, from a flyer's eye view
Maybe you're expecting the same old same old from Harry Turtledove, big decisions from the big men.. Be prepared for a real war story, from a flyer's eye view
September 23, 2021
pretty good for alternate history
Well, if you can accept Amelia Earhart surviving into 1939 then flying for the RAF isn’t such a stretch. Goid reading.
Well, if you can accept Amelia Earhart surviving into 1939 then flying for the RAF isn’t such a stretch. Goid reading.
November 3, 2021
Neat premise
Very enjoyable. Different take on alternate universe with a woman lead for a change. Stayed true to A.E.s pioneering way
Very enjoyable. Different take on alternate universe with a woman lead for a change. Stayed true to A.E.s pioneering way
December 29, 2021
Ok
The ending is very unsatisfying. It stops rather than ends. I understand that books can be tough to end well, but.... I was unhappy with this one.
The ending is very unsatisfying. It stops rather than ends. I understand that books can be tough to end well, but.... I was unhappy with this one.
April 9, 2022
Believable retelling of Earhart's life had she completed the around the world flight.
September 3, 2022
Another amazing Alternate History. What if Amelia Earhart had lived through her circumnavigation of the globe. Would she have joined up to fly fighters?
October 11, 2022
EA vs Nazis
Well done Amelia Airheart what if kind of tale and what she might have become in the Great War. Thank you Mr. Turtledove.
Well done Amelia Airheart what if kind of tale and what she might have become in the Great War. Thank you Mr. Turtledove.
June 1, 2025
A good book and an accurate depiction of war.
July 19, 2025
Not Turtledove's best. It's a passable story if you are a fan of his work. But I wouldn't start here if you weren't already into his works.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews