The Great War: Breakthroughs (Great War)

Rating:
Summary: General Custer ends up the hero!
Review: Breakthroughs wraps up the story of WWI as fought on American soil and at risk of giving away the ending: the US wins. Turtledove brings closure to most of the stories he has woven into the war. Some end well, others in tragedy. There were some very interesting twists and turns, not the least of which is that General Custer turns out to be the hero of the war. He also sets many of the cast up for their part in the American Empire series which follows. The main complaint I have about Breakthroughs (and the entire series in general) is Turtledove's need to rehash the core point of each story as he switches back and forth between them. In theory one could read any of the books independently, but I don't think he should have wasted the space rehashing every little thing that happened in the first two novels over and over again.

Rating:
Summary: The "Great War" winds down...or does it?
Review: I usually look forward to Harry Turtledove's "next book" in several of the series that he has running. I particularly like to keep up with various characters that he has developed rather nicely,such as Jake Featherston and Cinncinnatus. At times this book moves along rather well and some of the writing is paticularly inspired,but for the greater part of the book we are simply plodding along from one telegraphed situation to another. Not very satisfying;therefore--2 stars. I thought that the situation in which the CSA found itself in regards to armaments to be a bit odd,considering that their major ally, Great Britain, was one of the World's leading industrial powers...and a naval power! My conclusion regarding this particular "installment" in the neverending saga ,is that it is really a setup for a real doozer of a "Second World War". The parallel of the CSA being disarmed and occupied,as was Germany at the end of "real-time" W.W.I,is a good teaser for history buffs.Of course the anger, resentment, and the loser's desire for revenge sets up the next war. I suspect that the next book in the series will really make this one an important cornerstone for future developments. The generally flat tone of this book was not very satisfying,but it did leave me wanting more. Overall,this book was a necessary evil in order to further bring Dr. Turtledove's alternate history timeline to completion. I look forward to the next volume with enthusiasm.

Rating:
Summary: Another Home Run!
Review: Once again Harry Turtledove churns out yet another great crowd-pleaser, wrapping up just one phase of his ongoing alternate American history epic. There's a little something for everybody in this book. The sudden use of blitzkrieging tanks resulting in a lot of hard-fought battles and victories for action buffs to enjoy. More cameos by crazy old General Custer, wily Teddy Roosevelt, a flustered William Howard Tuft, and mention of a young arrogant Douglas MacArthur. Political maneuvering by our favorite Socialist Congresswoman Flora Hamburger. Actual insight into the psyche of our Canadian friends to the north. Finally an overseas plot involving South America and info on how the war really fares in forgotten Europe and Asia. A murder mystery plot resolved with a shock. As well as the tugging of emotions with a few surprise deaths of long-running characters, some will make you cry, others will make you smile in triumph. The only little nit I have is with the continued treatment of Covington, Kentucky in the Cincinnatus plot as a racist Confederate hotbed. I live right next to the city and know it's history. It could just be hometown pride but from what I understand the entire area has always been more Yankee than the southern part of the state any day.