Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining fantasy romp
Review: A decent tale of what the world might be like if magic were the foundation of our civilization. a well thought out and engaging story with the usual everyman hero saving the day, world, girlfriend, etc....Read The Guns of The South for a real look at what this wrter can do
Rating: 
Summary: Absorbing realistic magic/SF which feels like "hard" SF.
Review: Fun to read, consuming, full of sophisticated puns; they use a "spell checker" to determine what kind of spell is on something. Couldn't put it down, and I don't normally like "magic" type books, but this one feels like you're reading
"hard" sf where there's an explanation for all.
Mike
Rating:
Summary: Best description of life in a federal regulatory agency.
Review: I like all of Turtledove's alternate history/alternate universe writing (well-researched) but in this one he has the best description of the frustrations of trying to work in a federal regulatory agency I have ever seen--the shortage of resources, the sleazebags and bottom feeders out there, etc. And it's fun
Rating:
Summary: absolute fun!
Review: I only give 10s to "hard" fantasy but this one nearly made me change my mind. This is about detective work, government work, toxic dumps, and aztec and other native american gods what more do you need? Just remember one thing it is fun
Rating:
Summary: Great entertainment!!
Review: I picked this book up not long after it came out due to the title (I have to deal with EPA issues for real). I'm currently reading it for the third time now and am enjoying it as much as the first time. Yes, the story is easy to follow, and yes, it does help to have a working knowledge of current and ancient religions and magic terminology (so you don't miss out on any hilarious puns) but so what? If you want a book to read for pure enjoyment and a lot of laughs (mostly at the expense of those cursed by endless red tape) then this is a great choice!
Rating: 
Summary: Not one of his better books
Review: I'm a really big fan of Turtledove's alternate history series. In comparison I found this book to be disappointing. Granted, it's a completely different kind of book. It's a humorous first person story dealing with magic, whereas his alternate history series of World War II and the Civil War are serious and in the third person format with a large cast of characters. But if you're interested in humorous fantasy, I think the Xanth series by Piers Anthony or the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett is a better place to start.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite weak for Turtledove
Review: I'm rather a fan of Turtledove's work, but this one left me mostly annoyed. The conceit is amusing, but the meticulous attention to detail that Turtledove uses so well in his alternate histories serves him poorly here. The inside jokes about LA, in particular the San Fernando Valley, are fun; and the mechanics of the world are well thought out -- but the result is somehow tedious; I found myself turning pages to get the punch line, rather than savoring each page as I did with (for example) his Civil War books. I'm disappointed. It sure won't stop me from scooping up other Turtledove books, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone either.
Rating:
Summary: wotta read!
Review: In my humble opinion, the best Turtledove has done! altho I enjoy the historic detail of the other series, I never fail to feel refreshed at the humor, detail, and the corking good story whenever I re-read this. I recommend without reservation this book, and I continue to hopr that Mr. Turtledove will take some time off from his other projects and write a sequel! Enjoy this one!
Rating:
Summary: One of my most frequently re-read books
Review: So it's not great literature; frankly most of the time I'd rather read this. There aren't many books out there that make me laugh as hard as this one does. If you don't like puns however, stay far, far away. The world is a well thought out "modern" world of magic, with Turtledove showing a good understanding of how technology (or in this case magic) advances layer one upon another to produce larger scale changes. A must for anyone lost in the bowels of government beauracracy.
Rating:
Summary: And you thought Nuclear waste was bad?
Review: The book is magic-as-technology. Instead of world wars, there are "sorcerous wars". Instead of nuclear waste, there is magical waste, and that goes in the toxic spell dump. Lots of stuff goes into the toxic spell dump. Of course, magic requires magicians. Gods require priests. Priestly politics can be just as bad as real life politics. Gods fight gods. Sometimes they do it in your backyard. I think you get the idea. The hero fixes such a problem, in the midst of a great deal of irreverent, droll humor that makes about 1 laugh/page. My only favorite Turtledove book. He should write more of this kind of book. He should also be commended for his census-taking monastery... (deleted spoiler) brothers, indeedy! (har!)
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