Rating: 
Summary: Great Alternate History
Review: Another Good Book from an alternative World War II History. Great initial Ideal and execution. Mr. Turtledove is a World Wide Treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Great Alternate History
Review: Another Good Book from an alternative World War II History. Great initial Ideal and execution. Mr. Turtledove is a World Wide Treasure.
Rating:
Summary: About Biting Off More Than You Can Chew
Review: Darkness Descending is the second novel in the World At War fantasy series, following Into the Darkness. In the previous volume, the Algarvians have rounded up the Kaunians in their country and put them in camps. In Kuusamo, Pekka has found a anomaly in magic and takes it to her Masters. In Lagoas, Fernao notices that the foremost Kuusaman theoretical sorcerers are no longer publishing articles and takes this information to his Master. Cornelu has unexpectedly come home to Tirgoviste. In Forthweg, Major Spinello has sent Brivibas to the work gangs and Vanai has given herself to Spinello protect her grandfather. Istvan's unit on Obuda has been transferred back to the mainland to fight in Unkerlant.In this novel, the Algarvians are advancing across the seeming endless plains of Unkerlant and King Swemmel has ordered that all food must be hidden or delivered to his inspectors to keep it from the invaders. Marshall Rathar has come south to learn why the Unkerlantian army is being pushed back so quickly. Gyongyos has once more invaded far western Unkerlant and the Zuwayzin have pushed their border with Unkerlant back to where the Treaty of Bludenz had set it. Fernao has come to Kuusamo to find out about their new research, but is rebuffed. Marquis Skarnu has discovered love with a Valmieran peasant woman while his sister meets her match in Colonel Lurcanio. Trouble is brewing within Ealstan's family. This series is an allegory of the World Wars. However, the various national characteristics have been scrambled to preclude identification by stereotypical characteristics. For example, the Argarvians are red haired, with waxed mustaches. The Yaninans are short and wiry, with olive skins, dark eyes, dark hair, and thick bushy mustaches. The Kuusaman are short, with swarty skin, dark hair, and brown slanted eyes. The Gyongyosians are tall, with blondish hair and beards. The Obudan Islanders have coppery skin. The Kaunians are blue eyed and blonde haired. The Forthwegians have a mania for mushrooms. The Gyongyosians do not eat goat meat. King Swemmel of Unkerlant has a passion for efficiency. The Forthwegians are stubborn and persistent. The Ice People herd camels and the Kuusaman herd reindeer. The Yaninans have bagpipe bands. Every day dress is also mixed in this story, from the kilts of the Algarvians to the pants of the Kaunians. The major difference from the real worldline is probably the Kuanians, who are the persecuted people of Derlavai. Long ago the Kuanians built an empire that conquered most of the known world, leaving relics such as roads and memorial arches throughout this domain. Then they were defeated and dispersed, with only Valmiera and Jelgava remaining as predominantly Kuanian states. Throughout the known world, however, the Kuanians are known for their scholarship and classical Kuanian is the international language of diplomacy and trade. In effect, the author has combined the Jews and the Romans in this worldline. Recommended for Turtledove fans and anyone else who enjoys speculative fiction with a strong historical and moral component.
Rating:
Summary: About Biting Off More Than You Can Chew
Review: Darkness Descending is the second novel in the World At War fantasy series, following Into the Darkness. In the previous volume, the Algarvians have rounded up the Kaunians in their country and put them in camps. In Kuusamo, Pekka has found a anomaly in magic and takes it to her Masters. In Lagoas, Fernao notices that the foremost Kuusaman theoretical sorcerers are no longer publishing articles and takes this information to his Master. Cornelu has unexpectedly come home to Tirgoviste. In Forthweg, Major Spinello has sent Brivibas to the work gangs and Vanai has given herself to Spinello protect her grandfather. Istvan's unit on Obuda has been transferred back to the mainland to fight in Unkerlant. In this novel, the Algarvians are advancing across the seeming endless plains of Unkerlant and King Swemmel has ordered that all food must be hidden or delivered to his inspectors to keep it from the invaders. Marshall Rathar has come south to learn why the Unkerlantian army is being pushed back so quickly. Gyongyos has once more invaded far western Unkerlant and the Zuwayzin have pushed their border with Unkerlant back to where the Treaty of Bludenz had set it. Fernao has come to Kuusamo to find out about their new research, but is rebuffed. Marquis Skarnu has discovered love with a Valmieran peasant woman while his sister meets her match in Colonel Lurcanio. Trouble is brewing within Ealstan's family. This series is an allegory of the World Wars. However, the various national characteristics have been scrambled to preclude identification by stereotypical characteristics. For example, the Argarvians are red haired, with waxed mustaches. The Yaninans are short and wiry, with olive skins, dark eyes, dark hair, and thick bushy mustaches. The Kuusaman are short, with swarty skin, dark hair, and brown slanted eyes. The Gyongyosians are tall, with blondish hair and beards. The Obudan Islanders have coppery skin. The Kaunians are blue eyed and blonde haired. The Forthwegians have a mania for mushrooms. The Gyongyosians do not eat goat meat. King Swemmel of Unkerlant has a passion for efficiency. The Forthwegians are stubborn and persistent. The Ice People herd camels and the Kuusaman herd reindeer. The Yaninans have bagpipe bands. Every day dress is also mixed in this story, from the kilts of the Algarvians to the pants of the Kaunians. The major difference from the real worldline is probably the Kuanians, who are the persecuted people of Derlavai. Long ago the Kuanians built an empire that conquered most of the known world, leaving relics such as roads and memorial arches throughout this domain. Then they were defeated and dispersed, with only Valmiera and Jelgava remaining as predominantly Kuanian states. Throughout the known world, however, the Kuanians are known for their scholarship and classical Kuanian is the international language of diplomacy and trade. In effect, the author has combined the Jews and the Romans in this worldline. Recommended for Turtledove fans and anyone else who enjoys speculative fiction with a strong historical and moral component.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantasy World War II Continues
Review: Harry Turtledove continues his fantasy version of World War II set in a world parallel to our own. Most (Turtledove is not afraid to kill of some of his characters, but I'm not telling who...) of the same characters are back for this book with continuations of the plot lines they were on in the first book. Like the first book, Turtledove does a good job with his combat scenes and perhaps not as well with other kinds. The way in which he continues to draw parallels between WWII and his own war kept this reader interested. By the second book you are also better able to keep track of which character was which and more apt to care about what was happening to them. The same things that are good about the first book, are also the same things that are wrong with the second book. The parallels to WWII continue, but to what purpose? Sure its neat and clever, but after two books and almost 1500 pages, so what? Yes, certain things are different in Turtledove's war - but I am willing to bet money that at the end of the war Algarve is beaten. As I mentioned in my other review, why not use this alternate reality to show what went wrong in our world. Some of Turtledove's characters can be a little wooden and he seems to use the same types of characters in all his books - the one that leaps to mind is the nasty nationalist women who is behind the lines while her brother fights in the army (trust me she is in Turtledove's books about the alternative-Civil War). And Turtledove should definitely stay way from writing sex scenes, they sound horrible. As another reviewer mentioned, if you liked the first book you will enjoy this one. Honestly, I was hoping for more from ths series then the author has delivered so far, but there is enough going on to keep a reader interested. Just make sure you read the first book first.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy World War II Continues
Review: Harry Turtledove continues his fantasy version of World War II set in a world parallel to our own. Most (Turtledove is not afraid to kill of some of his characters, but I'm not telling who...) of the same characters are back for this book with continuations of the plot lines they were on in the first book. Like the first book, Turtledove does a good job with his combat scenes and perhaps not as well with other kinds. The way in which he continues to draw parallels between WWII and his own war kept this reader interested. By the second book you are also better able to keep track of which character was which and more apt to care about what was happening to them. The same things that are good about the first book, are also the same things that are wrong with the second book. The parallels to WWII continue, but to what purpose? Sure its neat and clever, but after two books and almost 1500 pages, so what? Yes, certain things are different in Turtledove's war - but I am willing to bet money that at the end of the war Algarve is beaten. As I mentioned in my other review, why not use this alternate reality to show what went wrong in our world. Some of Turtledove's characters can be a little wooden and he seems to use the same types of characters in all his books - the one that leaps to mind is the nasty nationalist women who is behind the lines while her brother fights in the army (trust me she is in Turtledove's books about the alternative-Civil War). And Turtledove should definitely stay way from writing sex scenes, they sound horrible. As another reviewer mentioned, if you liked the first book you will enjoy this one. Honestly, I was hoping for more from ths series then the author has delivered so far, but there is enough going on to keep a reader interested. Just make sure you read the first book first.
Rating:
Summary: Darkness grows
Review: Harry Turtledove's alternative telling of World War Two fought in a world of magic continues as the war heats up. The seemingly unstoppable kingdom of Algarve may have met its match in Unkerlant. As its sorcerors unleash magical attacks fueled by the life energies of murdered Kaunians, Unkerlant responds by slaughtering its own peasantry. Meanwhile, citizens are feeling the increasing pressures in the occupied lands like Sibiu, Valermia, and Forthweg. The citizens are struggling to go on with their lives under martial rule. The stories of characters caught in situations beyond their control continues as well, some for the better, others for the worse. Kaunian giel Vania, forced to give herself to an Algarivan officer, leaves her ungrateful grandfather for her new lover. Battle mage Cornelu finds his wife literally sleeping with the enemy and escapes back to the high seas. Fearno assists troops on the southern wastelands. And Istvan finds his troops in an endless forest. While a few of the stories get a little vague at times, the novel holds all of Turtledove's strong points. His strengths, the ability to weave a world we can enjoy. The worst, another Turtledove hallmark, is the redundant character descriptions as phrases. If readers don't know Bembo is fat and Kun wears glasses and has a scraggy beard, we won't ever. Still, fantasy and history buffs alike will love this story, and eager for its conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: WWII in a parallel magical Universe
Review: Harry Turtledove's sequel to "Into the Darkness" is an interesting and enjoyable book about an alternate universe where magic rules. In this universe, there are nations who serve as proxies for the nations which fought WWII, e.g. Algarve is Germany, Unkerlant is the Soviet Union, Zuwayza is Finland, Forthweg is Poland, Valmiera is France, etc. We see dragons instead of aircraft, behemoths instead of tanks, leviathans instead of submarines. The period of time paralleling WWII in this book is roughly Summer 1941, to Spring 1942. As a result we get to see the equivalants of Operation Barbarossa, and the beginning of an alternate Holocaust. Turtledove has not created a mirror of our own universe and thrown magic, dragons, mages, and behemoths into the equation. This is a seperate universe, which results in differences which can be significant. For example, the equivalant of the Jewish people, the Kaunians, are rounded up for execution not merely because of their race, (which is, of course, why they are chosen), but because their blood sacrifice results in powerful military magic. However, the people of this world are well aware that a person's lifeforce can be sacrificed for magic. This results in strained credulity because the Kaunians' reaction parallels that of the Jews in our own world, which is unbelievable, given that the Kaunians have a greater knowledge than the unfortunate victims of the Holocaust in our world. Turtledove does a masterful job of creating characters. The sheer number of characters is almost overwhelming, but less so than the first book of this series. To his credit, Turtledove always makes me think when I read his books. This book benefits from not being an absolute duplicate of our world, and is a worthwhile read.
Rating:
Summary: WWII in a parallel magical Universe
Review: Harry Turtledove's sequel to "Into the Darkness" is an interesting and enjoyable book about an alternate universe where magic rules. In this universe, there are nations who serve as proxies for the nations which fought WWII, e.g. Algarve is Germany, Unkerlant is the Soviet Union, Zuwayza is Finland, Forthweg is Poland, Valmiera is France, etc. We see dragons instead of aircraft, behemoths instead of tanks, leviathans instead of submarines. The period of time paralleling WWII in this book is roughly Summer 1941, to Spring 1942. As a result we get to see the equivalants of Operation Barbarossa, and the beginning of an alternate Holocaust. Turtledove has not created a mirror of our own universe and thrown magic, dragons, mages, and behemoths into the equation. This is a seperate universe, which results in differences which can be significant. For example, the equivalant of the Jewish people, the Kaunians, are rounded up for execution not merely because of their race, (which is, of course, why they are chosen), but because their blood sacrifice results in powerful military magic. However, the people of this world are well aware that a person's lifeforce can be sacrificed for magic. This results in strained credulity because the Kaunians' reaction parallels that of the Jews in our own world, which is unbelievable, given that the Kaunians have a greater knowledge than the unfortunate victims of the Holocaust in our world. Turtledove does a masterful job of creating characters. The sheer number of characters is almost overwhelming, but less so than the first book of this series. To his credit, Turtledove always makes me think when I read his books. This book benefits from not being an absolute duplicate of our world, and is a worthwhile read.
Rating: 
Summary: Yawn
Review: If you liked "Into the Darkness", you'll like "Darkness Descending". If you didn't like "Into the Darkness", you won't like "Darkness Descending". That's the bottom line. I already wrote a lengthy review of "Into the Darkness"; to summarize: the battle scenes and military strategy are good, everything else is a waste of time, and the writing is lousy. In "Darkness Descending", Turtledove gives us more of the same ... a lot more. We get the same cast of sixteen major characters, the same choppy style as the entire book is divided into four-page sections, and the same space wasted on reminding us that Kaunians wear pants while Algarvians wear kilts, Unkerlanters drink beer while Zuwazi drink wine, etc... The problem, as I see it, is that the plot is now moving intolerably slowly. In fact, only three things of significance happen during this entire book: the Kaunians are rounded up and slaughtered, the Algarvian attack on Cottbus fails, and Kuusammo joins the war. All of this happens right at the start, and the rest of the book consists of nonsense like mushroom picking and shopping and characters saying "Aye" and "Powers above!" and "Curse those Algarvians!". To put it bluntly, it don't care about Sabrino's domestic woes or Talsu's dietary choices. If Turtledove had decided to focus only on the war and to leave out the silly subplots, he could have written a much more enjoyable (and shorter) series.
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