Rating: 
Summary: Be Prepared for a Long Haul
Review: This initial offering of Turtledove's first WWII alternative history tetrology (amazingly, there is more than one) is, regrettably, the best that will be offered. Alternatingly fascinating and draggy, the four books could easily have been condensed into two. This first installment presents intriguing premises, e.g. what if extraterrestrial invaders came to Earth expecting the late middle ages, only to find a technological global war in progress? What if they could not find a way to use their superior technology to vanquish the combined armies of Earth without ruining the environment for their upcoming colonization fleet (see next tetrology)? The reptilian invaders owe a great debt to Niven and Pournelle's pachyderms (Footfall) in their persistent inability to understand the complexities of human behavior. Unfortunately, these premises are often poorly realized and insufficient to carry even one book, let alone four.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough to keep you reading, but somewhat repetitive.
Review: This is as far as I've gotten in the series. I admit that these books often had me immersed and rapidly turning pages, but it's really starting to get repetitive, and I'm tired of the whole setting that's been created. There were some good human and alien characters, and lots of action in spots. It's what I'd call "light reading".There's something about the lizard technology that doesn't make sense: A species like this wouldn't have this sort of weaponry. Think about it: The other two worlds in their empire that they conquered were primitive, easily-defeated tribal societies. So why would the lizards have tanks and air-to-air missiles? Their home world has been unified since ancient times. Things like tanks are invented due to the circumstances of particular types of warfare. In WWI, there was a need to cross trenches and barbed wire, and the tank was developed in response to this. The lizards never fought a war like this, so how would they have thought of something like this? Same for fighter aircraft.
Rating: 
Summary: Ending and Beginning
Review: Turtledove continues to maintain interest in the final book of the first subseries of World War. It is a satisfactory ending, and beginning. The plotlines are neatly wrapped up, with a number of shockers. But not too neatly wrapped up- there is a lot of room to see how the two species will develop next to each other.
It is most enjoyable to see the development of history along parallel lines. After all, this is the purpose of alternative history books. We learn more about history by contemplating what might have been, and therefore learn what could be. Turtledove does this very well, showing how the major powers of WWII might have responded to an alien attack. He does this precisely and accurately, not simply using the 1940's as background to his real story, but trying to truly predict what might have been, based on what was- the facts and people on the ground. And so the ending is really very realistic- what we would expect from an advanced species attacking earth, but a species that has a much slower cultural evolution than do we.
It is a bit depressing to see so many cities destroyed by nuclear warfare- especially a good number of cities I've lived in. This detracts a little from the enjoyment of the work. But I am eager to begin reading the next subseries.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining but painfully flawed
Review: Turtledove has taken his hugely promising premise and allowed it to meander along for page after page. Familiar characters get introduced to us again and again while the main thread of the plot loses its way. I found myself skipping entire paragraphs of character background that kept re-appearing inexplicably throughout the entire book (and series). ("Oh no, not again, I know you were a minor league ballplayer for ten years, please just get on with it...") The vast scope of a multi-world war creates a nearly endless supply of potentially interesting first-person accounts for Turtledove to recount. However, therein lies the problem - he gives us so many firsthand accounts that the main sweep of the story progresses at a glacial pace.
Despite the painful shortcomings, the novel sustains the reader's interest, and leaves me wondering if we'll be seeing more from the author in this series. Another novel could bring welcome closure to this saga, but only if Turtledove can use the restraint so absent from this and the previous installments.
Rating:
Summary: Save yourself!!! Run!!
Review: Turtledove manages to finish this series off in a way that leaves us both satisfied and longing for more. As with the previous novels, Turtledove shows his talent for getting inside the minds of very different characters. If you are even consering not buying this, it is probable that you haven't read the previous 3, because they are addictive page-turners. Buy all the books in the series and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A very believable conclusion
Review: Turtledove manages to finish this series off in a way that leaves us both satisfied and longing for more. As with the previous novels, Turtledove shows his talent for getting inside the minds of very different characters. If you are even consering not buying this, it is probable that you haven't read the previous 3, because they are addictive page-turners. Buy all the books in the series and enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: After a real flogging, this horse is finally dead!
Review: Turtledove must have had a golfing appointment and needed to finish his excellent Word War series in a hurry.
After three exciting books, this final volume was a real let down, with main characters being led through one pointless situation after another until they either died a trivial death or just dissapeared in a puff of banality. I have found that epic, multi volume series are very difficult for authors to finish off as well as they began them (such as Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars series), and this one is no different.
Unfulfilling and ultimately a grab for cash is the unfortunate fate of this work.
Rating: 
Summary: Thank God It's Over
Review: Unfortunately, I was sucked into this book series by the idea behind the books. What could have been a fantastic series was totally destroyed by an author who has no concept of the written word. Mr. Turtledove, I GET IT ALREADY! For God's sake, get on with your story. Every aspect of this series was described, in detail, mutiple times throughout the book. There is no need for the reader to do any thinking while reading these books because the author has taken it upon himself to describe at great length every connection a reader can make for himself. If you are thinking of buying this book, be warned...you will be sucked in so that you have to finish them, but you will wish you hadn't.
Rating:
Summary: Thank God It's Over
Review: Unfortunately, I was sucked into this book series by the idea behind the books. What could have been a fantastic series was totally destroyed by an author who has no concept of the written word. Mr. Turtledove, I GET IT ALREADY! For God's sake, get on with your story. Every aspect of this series was described, in detail, mutiple times throughout the book. There is no need for the reader to do any thinking while reading these books because the author has taken it upon himself to describe at great length every connection a reader can make for himself. If you are thinking of buying this book, be warned...you will be sucked in so that you have to finish them, but you will wish you hadn't.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting alternate history
Review: World War II is getting a lot of attention lately, what with that new novel, "The Triumph and the Glory" and the ever popular Turtledove WorldWar series. I thought Striking the Balance was the best book of the four, not quite as pedantic as the others, and less repetitive in theme.
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