Conquistador: A Novel of Alternate History

Rating:
Summary: Typical Eurocentric Garbage
Review: Let me start by saying that I had high hopes for this book and its premise. After the first chapter those hopes were dashed. The book is based around a society of people mostly of European descent that at most levels have a confrontational and aggressive policy towards Native Americans on the other side. Just like it occured over here in real history. Napalming a rogue band of "indians"? The book bases its storyline around a eurocentric point of view that, due to superior firepower, the indians are on the loosing end again. Lame. This book could've been so much more. Its just a case of alternate history repeating history. Lame. To much Flash-Bang and repetitive themes and not enough substance. How about a storyline where indians and "settlers" get along? If your going to rewrite a "history" try being original. I got about half way through this dump of a book and couldn't take it anymore. Not worth the effort to get to the punchline.

Rating:
Summary: a surprise
Review: Most of the on line reviews nearly convinced me to skip this one. However, I really love the author (Island in the Sea of Time+ 2 follow on volumes and Raj Whitehall series were GREAT)..so I tried this one. Surprise... really loved it. Anyone who likes nature, wildlife, environment will LOVE it. Wonderful descriptions of what CA would be like if no white "discovery" of America, and final settlement by only 250,000 people from San Diego to Seattle who are environmentally astute/friendly AND realistic about wildlife etc. Good "thriller" element too.

Rating:
Summary: No Game of Patty-Cake
Review: Overall this was pretty entertaining. The idea of starting society over with the advantage of hindsight, current technology and virtually infinite wealth is pretty intriguing. I got a little tired of hearing how big and in shape the main character was and I skipped countless paragraphs describing some plant that grand pappy Hatley mowed down to start his strip mining operation. The book did slow toward the latter third, not leaving much time for the climactic finish, which was a little disappointing, but overall it was a quick entertaining read.

Now to the subject of playing patty-cake with the natives. Several reviewers didn’t like the fact that once again the indigenous peoples were either wiped out or became virtual subjects of the “invaders”. Why does this need to be a feel good story where people act differently that they have for… well… ever? You take some WWII vets, put them in pre-Columbus America and all they know is working hard, taking what they want/need and rebuilding a close proximity to what they thought an ideal America was. Seems pretty realistic to me (sans the magical portal created by a radio).


Rating:
Summary: Sounded Good, Read Terribly
Review: Really, truly, profoundly awful.

I wasn't expecting The Great Gatsby, but a light pleasant read in decent prose would have been nice. The terrible characterizations and bombastically offensive stereotyping make me wonder what rock the author has been hiding under. Some of this is passed off as the differences between us and our Forties ancestors, but that's just sophistry painting over incompetence.

FYI, I did like the author's Draka books and am a great fan of alternative history. It's not the idea that I'm knocking, only the bad war movie implementation (the Italian, the Jew, the Southerner, etc).

Rating:
Summary: Stirling's done it again!
Review: S.M. Stirling goes from strength to strength as an author, and his latest outing shows it.

Put simply, this book's about a man who finds a way to an alternate-America never seen by white men from 1945 California---and the consequences of his decisions. John Rolfe VI is Not Nice in the way so many of Stirling's characters are, but compared to the _real_ villains, he's very nice indeed. His ideas of Utopia are not what I would choose, but make a lot of sense considering where he's starting from and who he is. I could fare farther and do worse than to live in his "New Virginia."

When a "First Side" game warden stumbles across evidence of large-scale smuggling of endangered species, he has to team with a person from "New Virginia," Rolfe's new country, to put things to rights.

There's a few clues that "First Side" isn't _quite_ our own timeline; I spotted a reference to a Mark Twain novel that was altered, and there are other clues here and there.

Rating:
Summary: A thoughtful Approach to Parrallel Worlds
Review: Similar in thought process to the "Island in the Sea of Time" trilogy, this stand alone (I believe) novel is well thought out, almost logical and technically believable, especially the ending (which I won't reveal).

Tom Christiansen, Fish and Game Warden, finds unusual (illegal by our standards)items as part of his job. He is enticed (trapped) into going through to the other side (parrallel world gate) and is gradually won over (with the assistance of a beautiful girl) to the side of the founder of the now hereditary semifeudal 100,000 or so 20th century refuges who have built a new society there. There is little in common with our nation/world other than the technology, old social ideas and animals (mostly African) brought secretely thru the gate.. Of course, some of the other top leaders conspire to go for "it all" (with their more 18-19th century value systems, so it appears). A small war ensues, which you can argue from several techno/military viewpoints. Of course, Tom, his friends and allies win, though the gate goes down. Lots of loose ends get mopped up and then we have an ending and some fascinating historical review appendices to extend your thoughts. SM, this one is better than your trilogy. Certainly more believable. Thanks! And, with the rating, I'll put this one up with the best.

Rating:
Summary: Paradise for Great White Hunters
Review: Steve Stirling has done it again: he created a new alternative world, this time a parallel one similar to the 'paratime' by H. Bean Piper. This one gets discovered by a WW2 veteran and VMI graduate who figures that he gave his due to Uncle Sam and starts to create a world to his liking. He collects an assortment of his Army buddies and desperate refugees and creates the 'Commonwealth of New Virginia'.

In his 'Islander' series Stirling had a group of Americans in a new world who choose careful cooperation as their way of dealing with its inhabitants. In 'The Peshawar Lancers' it was integration, the English refugees became one more caste in their Indian empire. In this novel the colonialists, supported by their secret paratime-gate, can afford to create a dreamland.

A colony that avoids the mistakes made by the imperialists since 1700 and so creates a paradise for great white hunters, a utopian Rhodesia with a small population, lots of big game and a perfect California weather. No underclass or slaves since they have modern machinery and keep their Mexican Gastarbeiter on strict time-contracts. A world with no problems, unspoiled and beautiful, almost perfect.

Now if one thinks about it the catch becomes obvious very soon. A world like this could only work with a paratime-gate through which it exports minerals and imports technology. Without the gate everything would change, especially the perspective of the ruling class, the so-called 30 families. Now I wonder if there will be a sequel'

Taking aside all that the novel is just great fun to read, an enchanting escape from reality. Only towards the end, when the four heroes went out to fight for this land, not at the OK coral but close, it becomes a bit silly. First through the dessert, fighting Indians, storming and shooting up an enemy camp and army, shooting down their planes ' A bit much for so few people and pages. Maybe a little less action towards the end would have made it a better book. After all on the last few pages tell a few great jokes without a gunfight'

At first I did not want to buy this book because I was disappointed that it was not a sequel to 'The Peshawar Lancers' but some of the Amazon reviews awoke my curiosity. Now, on one hand I am glad that Stirling does not do a Turtledove by expanding every book into never-ending series; on the other I really would like to read a sequel one day. But then he will probably write something new, something even better. I guess I just have to keep on buying them.

Rating:
Summary: Stirling doing what he does best
Review: Steve Stirling has made a name in alternate fiction for his ability to create a totally new society and contrast it with a familiar one.

Here, he suceeds once again in that area. While his characters have definite values, the author is careful to portray them as exactly that; the views of his characters. Thus he is able to cause the reader to engage in a subconcious seesaw of values.
He begins this contrasting early in the book. Who are the bad guys? The ones who destroy valuable seal pelts and other rare animal products rather than be exposed? Or those who would engage in murder to stop them? Later, it gets even more convoluted.

Another clever and entertaining example of 'what-iffing' from a master of the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Are there going to be more/series?
Review: Super book could not put it down until finished, I hope there will be more about the subject, of New Virginia. Surely the book has enough potential to have additional stories wrtten, and I for one would really love to read them. I recommend this story and all the others written by Mr. Stirling. Great subjects of what if and alternate history. Larry.

Rating:
Summary: Save your money! Skip this dog!
Review: The slick cover tantalizes, the blurbs on the back glow and the premise is pretty cool. But as someone who's enjoyed science fiction for some 25 years, let me tell ya: this book is AWFUL! Clumsy prose, drab characters, wooden dialogue, a sloppy plot that goes nowhere (and takes forever to get there) -- and that's just for starters! How about a gooey nostalgia for a Leave It To Beaver 1950s cultural sensibility, a primary romance devoid of resonant emotions, a shrug over the near-extermination of native peoples, and a celebration of a neo-feudal political arrangement? Ugh. Thoughtless sexism, racism, cultural imperialism... all here. And if you want interesting science or technology or compelling ideas, forget it.

I've lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for a long time, so I at least related to the local references. But I suspect Stirling's endless descriptions will be of scant interest to those who have no familiarity with the area; I found them tiresome after a while. By the way, I like the Bay Area just fine, thanks -- it's a beautiful, diverse, stimulating place to live. The book's subtext that Northern California is somehow morally lost and overrun with unsavory people is plain offensive and bizarre.

Did I mention that I think this is an awful book?!