Rating: 
Summary: Kind of dull.
Review: The biggest problem with this book is that NOTHING HAPPENS. 2 things happen repeatedly in this book:1). Members of the race complain about 500 times aobut how fast humans advance. I mean that quite literally. I don't think there is a single part of the book that doesn't have a member of the Race in it whining about how they expected to find a midieval civilization and instead found an industrial society. 2). The Race's problems with ginger continue to grow out of hand. Turtledove's continuous dwelling on the effects of ginger on The Race only enhances the tedium. That's it. That's the entire book, pretty much. Unlike the Worldwar series, there isn't even any action to break up the tedium. Turtledove's focus here is on the time of the Cold War, now influenced by the alien invaders. Rather than a war novel, it's pretty much an espionage/spy/mystery novel, and Turtledove doesn't seem to have much skill at writing that kind of thing. Nothing happens in this book that couldn't have been included in a few extra chapters of the NEXT book in the series. Haven't read that one yet, not sure if I'll bother after this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Escape
Review: Colonization : Second Contact was my introduction to Harry Turtledove. I enjoyed it enough that, upon finishing I went out and found the four previous books in the Worldwar series. His plotting is complex, weaving together a dozen or so main threads, but everything holds together, and Turtledove doesn't rush things to a conclusion at the end, as so often happens with novels in this genre. Turtledove has a keen eye for social comment and historical detail, and he extends real human problems to a new situation in an alternative history. My only real complaint is that the military technology of the Race (the lizardlike invaders who interrupted World War II in 1942, and whose interaction with humankind is continued 20 years later in this book) is amazingly similar to that of the United States in the 1990's -- not a great deal of imagination here, and a little hard to accept from a species that has mastered interstellar travel. Aside from this quibble, Turtledove does a masterful job of speculating on the mutual influences of two different species on each others' cultures. Colonization : Second Contact is less science fiction that well crafted historical fiction on a parallel timeline. Unlike much science fiction writing, Turtledove invests a lot of effort on characterization -- even the lizards are well-drawn, and often likeable. I'm looking forward to finishing the Worldwar series, and to the arrival of the next volume in the series, Colonization : Second Contact, when it is released in the spring of 2000.
Rating: 
Summary: Good series, but Mr. Turtledove needs a better editor.
Review: I enjoy explorations of alien races' cultures, so these books have been highly enjoyable in that respect. However, one thing has marred my appreciation of the "Colonization" series: either Harry Turtledove thinks his readers have the short-term memory of an avocado, or he places a higher priority on wordcount than on good writing. How many times must we be told that Mordechai Anilewicz has pains in his leg muscles because he breathed Nazi poison gas twenty years ago? Every time he appears in the story, apparently. How frequently must we be reminded that Earth years are twice the length of the Race's years? Why, every time a member of the Race mentions years, or whenever a human mentions years to a member of the Race. How often must it be recounted that the Race prefers temperatures higher than those which humans find comfortable? Any time someone enters or exits a building inhabited by the Race! How many times must we be told that Sam Yeager's wife would disapprove of common-usage English? Every time her husband or son speaks or thinks in the vernacular, of course! If you come away from this book (and its sequels) without knowing the effect ginger has on females of the Race, then you clearly read only the first and last pages, because (as with many more things) it's described at great length more times than you'll be able to count. Characters explain the same things over and over again, sometimes even to the same people. When nobody else is around, they'll sometimes think the explanations to themselves! Further padding out the wordcount is the all-too-common SF cliche that intelligent aliens seem unable to grasp the concept of contractions when speaking English. I loved the tale, but the telling of it could have been vastly improved by an editor who'd had the fortitude to tell Harry Turtledove to trim the fat.
Rating: 
Summary: Another masterpiece by Turtledove!
Review: "Colonization : Second Contact" proves, yet again, that Doctor Turteldove is THE master of alternate history. This first book in his latest series is different from the Worldwar series but different does NOT mean bad. Rather than focusing solely on war this book focuses more on the messy results of the WorldWar. We have mysterious attacks on the Lizard fleet by unknown assailants, we have the mystery of a massive ship built by the U.S., we even have Sam Yeager surfing the Lizard version of the Internet. Some people who have posted reviews on this book complained that is too padded. I totally disagree. I read a book with very well developed characters, extremely well though out sub plots, and a very high level of detail. Some people seem to have a problem with the concept of a series or a sequel. To me a series means the author can write a more detailed and involving story. Instead of trying to cram the story into one book Turteldove has plenty of room to get creative. This book is a must-read for Turtledove fans and all alternate history fans in general. Beyond that fans of science fiction should also love the book. One last thing, about the cover art. I agree the cover art is very weak but Turtledove has NO control over that, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the book. I would rate this book a six stars if I could.
Rating:
Summary: Languid, but better than the first series
Review: This is a continuation of the first series of books involving alien contact in the middle of WWII called Worldwar. I like this continuation better, actually. It deals with more complex issues, and it actually HAS a little of that alternate history Turtledove fans brag so much about. Too often, in Turtledove's books, the Worldwar series being an excellent example, there is very little alternate history in the sense that we have no feel for the forces that shape history, for the decisions that different people had to make, and so one. In "Worldwar" we find that FDR, Hitler, et al have to join together, but there is little effort or detail regarding those problems. It's mostly a shoot-em-up war book with lotsa combat. Fair enough--but lets not oooh and aaah over the barely existent "alternate history." This book does a bit better, and is more pointed than the first series. It also deals with more complex issues, for example whether someone is a traitor or hero. (...) This series is again an improvement. IN WORLDWAR it sometimes seemed as if each character would be reintroduced with every last motivation they held every last time. We could never meet Atvar for instance without being told how he regretted that Earth was an industrial power and not the primitive society he thought his probes showed. So maybe Turtledove got an editor in this series? If so it helps--although the problem is not entirely cured.
Rating: 
Summary: Dull, unrealistic, pathetic writing
Review: I swore never to subject myself to another Turtledove alternate history but I was a bad boy and didn't keep my word. His novels have always appeared incredibly preposterous for one reason: Despite stupendous changes and dramatic events on the alternate world, the same old people emerge from the rubble - Kennedy, FDR, Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Ho Chi Minh, MLK, etc.... Different circumstances demand different leadership in all worlds except Harry's. The writing is just...awful. What can one say? Repititious, long-winded, dull, predicatable, everyone's character is on the extreme. Hitler is a madman 24 hours/day, FDR is constantly thoughtful and "leading", Stalin is ruthless, secretive and cunning, etc... And what can one say about the RACE - an alien species with the ability to cross interstellar space but unable to defeat a backward Earth? They must be the dumbest aliens in existence. And if I hear one more time about how humans seem to catch on "quickly" I will scream. Turtledove is stuck in a groove - one that needs uprooting. The problem is not alternate historical fiction - it is the fact that he has run out of ideas and is into repeat mode. As one reader says, "Nothing Happened." Don't waste your time with this dreadful "novel".
Rating:
Summary: Not as great as the 1st series, but still good
Review: Fans of the World War series will not be let down. Many of your favorite characters are back, some changed by the years, some not. My only negative criticism is that unlike the books of the World War series, there is no definite ending. Going from the last chapter of the first book into the second, and from the second to the third is much like just going on to the next chapter in the same book. So plan on having a copy of the next one handy when you are finishing up. Bad luck for us that have finished the 3rd book and are waiting for the next chapter. The 3rd book can leave you feeling a little unsatisfied, but, as always, the characterizations are great and the story is very believable.
Rating:
Summary: It could be great
Review: The story and people inside are great, marvelous. But Turtledove way of write it's so pitiful! Each time, in the book, come a caracther, he have to wirte down the same things as if was introducing to us, even at the end of the book!
I felt so sad and offended by this kind of waste of paper and word.
I?ve bougth the C, down to eart too, but I'l dont read it. I'll throw it in trash can.
Rating:
Summary: To Read or Not to Read....
Review: I've now read all three of the WorldWar books and the
first installment of the Colonization saga. I'll probably
not continue reading the series unless I can borrow the
books or pick them up at a 1/2 price book store. Too little depth in the writing. Too little character
development. Tries to cover too much in too little
space. Seems to be written for the 12-15 year old crowd.
Rating:
Summary: Another Turtledove Masterpoece
Review: Same story line and characters as previous books. Turtledove does an excellent job of "refreshing" our memories so this can be a stand alone book. The Lizards, who invaded during an alternative WWII, have control of the Middle East, Poland, China and Austrlia. There is an uneasy peace as the US, USSR, 3rd Reich all have the Atomic Bomb. USSR is supplying Mao with the means of rebelling. Arabs are waging a Jihad. The 3 super powers are jockying for Power amoungst themselves as well as the Lizards. It is not a world versus Lizard united front. (Probably very realistic in that sense). The US has a secret Space Project. Lizards are being corrupted by Human ways. Human youth is imitating the Lizards by running around naked with body paint. Into this powderkeg are some great characters and character development. There are not too many characters that one will not be overwhelmed but enough to put this "history" into a personal perspective. Turtledove can really pull off a situation like this and I am always awaiting his next book.
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