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Rudolf will Reign, Dear - Part 2: Edwardian and Georgian Eras and the Great War
What if the "Man with the Iron Heart" and a steely modern day Russian tennis champion were sent back in time to 1888? Could two people taking their memories and experiences back in time, into the bodies and fused with the memories and personalities of the ill-fated pair Crown Prince Rudolf and Crown Princess Stephanie make a ramshackle Empire like that of the Hapsburg's bloom and grow again?
What would be the historical changes, not only in Europe and in the Great War, but also Africa? Read and find out. Part 2 of a 2 Part ISOT series covering the Great War.
What would be the historical changes, not only in Europe and in the Great War, but also Africa? Read and find out. Part 2 of a 2 Part ISOT series covering the Great War.
- GenresAlternate History
435 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2019
13 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 1, 2020
Quite good, but even wordier than part I.
This is the second novel in a two book set and completes the story begun in volume 1. Unfortunately the author is even more in love with making lists covering multiple pages and interspersing them in the text in part 2 than he was in the first part. If he us reading this I strongly recommend a revised edition be created where all these multi page lists of ship statistics, voting outcomes or other data be excised from the book text an moved to a foot notes section where an interested reader who wants all the details spelled out in intricate detail can peruse them to their hearts content. The rest of would likely be much happier to read the text uninterrupted by drowning in details that break the flow of the story.
The only part of the story I found totally implausible is the territorial adjustments after the Second Mexican American War in the 1912-15 era. I don't believe for a moment the SA would let Mexico get off so lightly. I also find of exceedingly unlikely that new states would be admitted so quickly with so little push back. Heck Puerto Rico has voted twice in the last decade for statehood and Congress hasn't done the necessary legislation to make it possible, and this is the 21st century when racism is far less of an issue than it was in 1915.
This is the second novel in a two book set and completes the story begun in volume 1. Unfortunately the author is even more in love with making lists covering multiple pages and interspersing them in the text in part 2 than he was in the first part. If he us reading this I strongly recommend a revised edition be created where all these multi page lists of ship statistics, voting outcomes or other data be excised from the book text an moved to a foot notes section where an interested reader who wants all the details spelled out in intricate detail can peruse them to their hearts content. The rest of would likely be much happier to read the text uninterrupted by drowning in details that break the flow of the story.
The only part of the story I found totally implausible is the territorial adjustments after the Second Mexican American War in the 1912-15 era. I don't believe for a moment the SA would let Mexico get off so lightly. I also find of exceedingly unlikely that new states would be admitted so quickly with so little push back. Heck Puerto Rico has voted twice in the last decade for statehood and Congress hasn't done the necessary legislation to make it possible, and this is the 21st century when racism is far less of an issue than it was in 1915.
May 2, 2022
Hapsburg Rescue Romance
All of John Hardinge's alternate histories are excellent and enjoyable reads, yet this, his crosstime rescue of the Hapsburg dynasty and empire, also succeeds as a serious romance.
There is a definite sense of well-researched, balanced and skillful story telling throughout. The places and events occasionally sent me out to Wikipedia for a quick refresher on late 19th or early 20th Century colonial and imperial history, and I had to chuckle at some of the warship drawings.
If you enjoy fiddling with the paths and outcomes of wars, diplomacy, even dynastic marriages, the two books of the 'Rudolf Will Reign, Dear' set will provide several days of pleasant diversion. Be warned, however, you might not want to put them down once you start to read.
All of John Hardinge's alternate histories are excellent and enjoyable reads, yet this, his crosstime rescue of the Hapsburg dynasty and empire, also succeeds as a serious romance.
There is a definite sense of well-researched, balanced and skillful story telling throughout. The places and events occasionally sent me out to Wikipedia for a quick refresher on late 19th or early 20th Century colonial and imperial history, and I had to chuckle at some of the warship drawings.
If you enjoy fiddling with the paths and outcomes of wars, diplomacy, even dynastic marriages, the two books of the 'Rudolf Will Reign, Dear' set will provide several days of pleasant diversion. Be warned, however, you might not want to put them down once you start to read.
November 6, 2020
Ok
I like the book, but seemed a lot more list , and statement. Than book one Some might not like, but this is book two so I wanted to read. I read a lot of RPGLit that has lots of stats so did not mind it so much in book one, but notice it in book two
I like the book, but seemed a lot more list , and statement. Than book one Some might not like, but this is book two so I wanted to read. I read a lot of RPGLit that has lots of stats so did not mind it so much in book one, but notice it in book two
November 13, 2020
Great alternate history
Great premise and detailed look at alternate world history and how Austria Hungary could have evolved and survived to present dat
Great premise and detailed look at alternate world history and how Austria Hungary could have evolved and survived to present dat
November 2, 2019
Good follow up to a very good alt history story!
This concludes the peculiar tale of one of the most evil Human Beings in history, Reinhardt Heydrich, getting a different life and avoiding being a monster
And in doing so, making a much better world
But it's his wife, also a "transplanted soul" from the future who has the most effect
This part deals with the Great War mostly and Heydrich's original naval career meant insight and thus great changes to the AustroHungarian military, while his wife's social/moral drive has led to a vastly less unjust, more stable genuine democracy
Alas there are many typos/grammatical errors, seem to be "auto complete" type of screw ups so hope author fixes those!
This concludes the peculiar tale of one of the most evil Human Beings in history, Reinhardt Heydrich, getting a different life and avoiding being a monster
And in doing so, making a much better world
But it's his wife, also a "transplanted soul" from the future who has the most effect
This part deals with the Great War mostly and Heydrich's original naval career meant insight and thus great changes to the AustroHungarian military, while his wife's social/moral drive has led to a vastly less unjust, more stable genuine democracy
Alas there are many typos/grammatical errors, seem to be "auto complete" type of screw ups so hope author fixes those!
October 20, 2019
Interesting story
The narrative is interesting with a new twist on alternative history. Needs some major editing work. If you dont like discussion and detailed comparisons of military organizations you will struggle in some portions of the narrative. Still overall worthwhile read.
The narrative is interesting with a new twist on alternative history. Needs some major editing work. If you dont like discussion and detailed comparisons of military organizations you will struggle in some portions of the narrative. Still overall worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews