Rating: 
Summary: Interesting alternative history bringing US history to life.
Review: A good use of historical characters to create a vivid alternative history. Enough introduction for international readers. More plausible than Guns of the South, because little suspension of disbelief is required to imagine Lee forcing a peace on the USA in 1862/63 by successfully campaigning in Pennsylvania. Others will disagree, but at least it's plausible! I thought the liberties with Abe Lincoln and Mark Twain et al fair: a Confederate victory would have changed a lot. It isn't racist - the past is another country. We shouldn't be surprised at the Army's reluctance to embrace new technology! A good yarn.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Many Care To Read It, Either
Review: I never read "The Guns Of The South" (something about Robert E. Lee holding an AK-47 just doesn't work well with me), so I didn't have any background on Turtledove's feelings and opinions regarding the Civil War. I did read "The Two Georges", which I found delightful and fun, so bearing that in mind, I dove into this book. I can honestly say that the two days I spent reading this novel are two days of my life I can never have back; i.e. I wasted my time. Some of the previous reviews entail many of the plots and characters, so there isn't much need for me to rehash them. I will admit to finding surprise that Turtledove was willing to step into a potential mine field regarding the Mormons and their actions, and must confess my deep disgust at the plotline involving Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain to the layman). The Clemens storyline added NOTHING to the plot, and more than that, made no sense whatsoever. It's obvious Turtledove admires and respects Samuel Clemens, and he injected him into this book as a respectful memorial perhaps. But it was not a wise move. I found myself skimming the pages involving Clemens and moving on to the other stories (and lets face it, who in the world wants to read about Samuel Clemens making love to his wife? Not I, that I can assure you...I'd rather witness Colonel Sanders fry chicken with the pig-tailed Wendy's girl). Turtledove's approach in this novel is that of a utopian state (CSA) against a socialistic one (USA). The conclusion that the Confederacy would thrive twenty years after the war, while the Union would be literally hanging by a thread, is folly to say the least. I did find one glaring ommision that I wish was addressed...what about the slaves? Aside from Fredrick Douglas (who is turned into a pulp comics version of Henry Kissinger for this story), the plight of the black man in the south isn't discussed. Oh yes, it is mentioned in passing, usually in the thoughts of a white main character. But for a race of people who would have been heavily affected by a Confederate victory, their voices were silent. Perhaps that is what Turtledove intended, which in itself would have been a brilliant philosophical statment...but having read the book, I think it's just dumb luck.
Rating:
Summary: How Few Remain
Review: Like many others who read this book, I had read "The Guns of the South" as my introduction to Turtledove and started with high expectations. Unfortunately, I have never been so dissappointed and exasperated by a follow-up novel. I actually had to force myself to finish the last few chapters. The author begins by painting a cartoonish, unrealistic and simplistic picture of the US military and it's political leaders. He conversely paints the CSA military and political leaders in a soft John Wayne glow. The dialogue among the CSA military was similar to those old western movies--glib and overly cute. The US military leadership was relegated to constant drunkiness, stark idiocy and complaining about the President to each other and CSA leaders. Thinking that the US military and political leadership had learned nothing from a losing effort in the Civil War, and had produced no talent 20 years later from West Point or elsewhere is beyond comprehension. There is plenty of illogical conduct among the characters. After Custer mows down Indians and Confederate soldiers with Gatling guns in one battle, why does Turtledove persist in him strangely seeing the weapon as nothing more than a useless carrot grater? Senior US military officers are constantly grousing about hanging Abe Lincoln or the current sitting President. It was actually annoying in the manner that he worshipfully describes the CSA activities yet gives an idiotic US premise for invasion and conduct of a bloody battle in Louisville. He injects useless coverage of Sam Clemens, yet ignores his conjectured US President, James Blaine. Whereas in "Guns of the South", he was actually even-handed and plausible in his characterizations, he was sadly lacking here with such rich potential like Custer, Lincoln, Douglas, Jackson, Roosevelt and others. It would not be a stretch to observe that he portrays the entire United States military and government as nothing more than Keystone Kops. I am hoping that his continuing series returns to the higher quality of the promising Guns of the South. A truly annoying read in this title, it's a mystery why such a talented writer could fall so quickly from grace with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Turtledove's 'What If' Is A Wild Ride
Review: 'How Few Remain' is the precursor to Turtledove's 'Great War' series and is infinatly more interesting. After the Union fails to subdue the southern revolt in the 'war of secession,' the Confederate States of America attempt to annex key Mexican territory. This has the US more than a little worried as the deal would extend the US/CS border considerably. After the CS refuses to yeild to the US on this issue war ensues. Turtledove's knack for creating alternate histories is amazing, and his treatment of historical figures within those histories is also amazing. A Socialist Lincoln? A beaten Frederick Douglas? Mormons up in arms? While the stories are entertaining the reader must blink his eye at certain aspects of the history, most notably the fact that the Union and the Confederacy enjoy a realtivly even economic status. Also, one of the fundimental tennants of Mormonism is to obey 'the law of the land.' Putting these relatively minor points aside, 'How Few Remain' is a wonderful exploration of 'What if.'
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but slow
Review: I liked this book, but I have discovered that I have a great interest in the genre, so I may be biased. I enjoyed reading about Lincoln's hypothetical role as a Marxist, given that there was no reason to assassinate him. I found it a bit far-fetched until I read that the speeches his character gave in the book were really his speeches in history. Amazingly, Sam Clemens sounds just like Sam Clemens without taking the same liberties. The US really did send troops to put down the Mormon practice of polygamy. The Mormons did not have great means to resist a United States Army, but given a little covert help, they might have resisted a distracted Union Army. (I think probably not, but it's not implausible.) Other reviewers' criticisms of the plodding pace of the story, however, are not misplaced. How could the plot advance very quickly and end in a stalemate? I found the almost exclusive use of historical celebrities the only thing that saves this book from its plot. While I was not that interested in finding out how the war will end (it's telegraphed fairly obviously) I was interested in reading about the way characters develop when I thought I knew them (although creeping into Sam Clemens bedroom was uncalled for). So, if you're a great fan of alternate history, I recommend this book. If you are just thinking about seeing what the genre is like, try Guns of the South or the World War series (if you like fantastic twists) or skip this one and go straight to Great War: American Front. There's plenty of backfill so you won't get lost.
Rating:
Summary: Amiable celebrity alternate history
Review: I read this book right after reading The Guns of the South, which I enjoyed very much. At first I was somewhat disappointed with How Few Remain, since it did not have a science fiction premise (as Guns of the South did) and because all of the main characters were famous personages like Jeb Stuart and Teddy Roosevelt. Also, the tone of the book was lighter and more whimsical than "Guns". Around page 168, I almost quit. But I kept going, and am glad that I did. While not truly a page-turner, it was a pleasant, informative, thought-provoking read. Turtledove is a good storyteller, and I'm comfortable in his hands. While the books have violence (they are about wars) and sex, they are wholesome and life-affirming. I have already purchased the sequel to this one.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but flawed
Review: Having read GUNS OF THE SOUTH, I could not wait to read HOW FEW REMAIN when I got my hands on a copy. This work of alternative history was easier to accept since he left out time-travelers and AK-47s. How Lincoln spent his years after 1864 is one of the most thought provoking threads in this story. Would a corporate lawyer turn "voice of socialism" and champion of the worker? Many Republicans did, especially Bob Lafollette. But not before the turn of the century. Would Baline ever have won the presidency? Maybe. But its a stretch. I would have hoped for more attention to life in the North and South instead of complete focus on characters who have been placed in alternative locations. Also, notice of Blacks serving in the CSA military would be nice. The main flaw is he obviously is being paid by the word. Throughout the book he writes words simply for the sake of wordiness. I realize that is the current trend, especially for biographers and historians. But this should be a tight story, not a tale stretched with pointless dialog.
Rating: 
Summary: Dead and loose ends abound
Review: I finished reading this book with an empty feeling about the plot of this novel. Probably because the plot WAS empty. Like many other reviewers, I had previously read Turtledove's "Guns of the South" and enjoyed it immensely, leading to high expectations for this novel. The setup for conflict between the two American nations was decent (U.S. angered by C.S. attempts to obtain territory in Mexico which will allow them access to the Pacific), and I was pulled in. The typical Turtledove character hopping annoyed me a little, as it slowed the action down a little to gauge everyone's view of the war, but it wasn't enough to bore me. The war started between the two sides in about the first 100 pages. Okay, I thought, here comes the good stuff. There was stuff alright, but I wouldn't exactly characterize it as "good". It wasn't terrible, mind you, but it was far from satisfying, kind of like eating carrot cake. Maybe I was spoiled by the pure fantasy and speculation of "The Guns of the South", but this novel was just not realistic (well, as relatively realistic I would believe an alternative history of a second civil war between a new Southern nation and it's former government of the U.S. could be)in it's portrayal of the two warring sides. The South, roughly twenty years after gaining its independence from the Union after winning the battle Chancellorsville when it found Lee's Lost Order, decides it wants to have a Pacific seaport. Unfortunately, it has no Pacific coast waters, Texas being the closest thing to the Big Ocean. President James Longstreet fixes this geographical fix when he buys the Mexican provinces of Sonora and Chihuahua, therefor making the Confederacy a two ocean nation. The United States, embittered and humiliated for the past two decades, jumps on this transaction as a cause for war, as the Confederates intend to threaten the U.S. with a new Pacific naval base. When war breaks out, France and Britain side with the Confederacy (Britain having certain interests in U.S. territories near Canada) while the Union is without an ally. When the U.S. is invaded by Jeb Stuart-led forces in New Mexico they are also up against the Apaches and their chief, Geronimo. It gets so bad for the bumbling U.S. forces that they are almost attacked by Utah Mormons! With the deck stacked against them, the U.S. has little chance to win their war of revenge with the best general in charge. Perhaps the author had this in mind, for he portrays the Union Army General Staff as the worst prepared and studied officers this side of the 1904 Russian admiralty, while the Confederates are led by their secession war heroes of Stuart and Jackson. I find it hard to swallow the idea that Union army was so incompetent that it had no idea how to draw up a planned campaign map against an enemy before an actual war broke out between them. Yet, Turtledove describes such Northern idiocy with a straight face, going so far as to have general Orlando Wilcox naively ask a neutral German army attache (a young Albert von Schlieffen) how the Prussians were able to win a war with French by using well-laid out battlefield strategy instead of slap dash frontal assaults. Yeesh. There were many interesting characters to follow (an unharmed Abe Lincoln and Stonewall Jackson, Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass, young TR, von Schlieffen, and George Custer) but some characters' roles (Douglass and Twain) were unneccessary to the plot and seemed only to speculate on how these men would have acted had they seen this war personally. They do nothing to affect the plot other than speak to other unnecessary characters. At the same time, potentially important characters (William Sherman and U.S. Grant) were mentioned briefly and then ignored from thereon in. Turtledove doesn't even mention what happened to Robert E. Lee after the war of secession, and he won it for the South! How can Turtledove include two steamy (and meaningless) forages into the sex lives of Custer and Roosevelt without mentioning what happened to the South's best leader? What about Jefferson Davis? He's not out preaching Socialism in Chicago to factory workers like Lincoln (which was one of the few realistic parts of the book, as Turtledove writes Lincoln as continuing a political career based on his lecturing about Socialism, a political persuasion many people do not he often subscribed to as President) but he has to be somewhere, dead or alive. I want closure, dagnabbit! I guess this book can be considered tolerable solely because it lays the groundwork for the next Turtledove series, The Great War in America and the new American Empire series. That's about it.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting premise ruined by ponderous writing style
Review: Turtledove's goal in this story must have been to write a 600 page novel, rather than tell a crisp and interesting story. Further, his technique of jumping between unrelated vignettes of different characters grew irritating very quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Why the North had to fight - and win - the Civil War
Review: Students of the Civil War often fall into the trap of over-romanticizing the Lost Cause, without considering the future course of an independent Confederacy. Or, after contemplation of the war's tremendous cost in human suffering, they may decide that the war simply wasn't worth it - not for the South to secede, nor for the North to preserve the Union. For both these pitfalls, How Few Remain is a sovereign remedy. It is not so much a popular novel as a compelling argument for why the Civil War had to be fought, and why the North had to win. It is, first of all, a very different book than "Guns of the South." Guns of the South is a sci fi saga with a big deus ex machina (time travel) that creates an alternative future. It has skillfully drawn historical characters, and is a ripping good "read." It also presents a seductively positive view of an enlightened, post-war CSA. Set in the 1880's, How Few Remain presents a darker, and much more plausible, aftermath of a Confederate victory: an apartheid CSA, allied with England and France; an embittered and militarizing USA, allied with the German Empire. How Few Remain is sometimes ponderous and frequently depressing. Turtledove takes full license in extolling those he admires (Longstreet, TR) and savaging those he despises (Custer, Pope). Notwithstanding these faults and indulgences, How Few Remain is a very fine work of alternative history. The grim scenario for the twentieth century with a divided America is perfectly clear from the book, and you don't need to tackle Turtledove's massive sequel WWI tetralogy (American Front, A Walk in Hell, etc.) unless you really like Turtledove's writing, and can take it in unlimited doses.
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