What first drew my eye to this book was its cover.
There was this picture of General Robert E Lee. holding some kind of gun.
So I picked it up to have a clearer look. As I looked closely I realised that what he was holding was an AK-47.
That intrigued me enough to read the notes. That ... Read review
Advantages: Absolutely fascenating Disadvantages: Getting hold of the book
What first drew my eye to this book was its cover.
There was this picture of General Robert E Lee. holding some kind of gun.
So I picked it up to have a clearer look. As I looked closely I realised that what he was holding was an AK-47.
That intrigued me enough to read the notes. That did it. I had to have this book. The story line was intriguing. I will try not to give away too much plot.
Basically, It ... ...ill equipped force They have just lost the battle of Gettysburg. Everything
is in short supply except courage.
The South is facing a slow, and not so slow, inevitable disaster.
Jefferson Davis knows it, So does General Lee. Along comes a man who is dressed in strange, mottled green and brown clothing. He speaks in a strange accent almost a Britisher but somehow more guttural. His name is Andries Rhoodie.
What first drew my eye to this book was its cover. There was this picture of General Robert E Lee. holding some kind of gun. So I picked it up to have a clearer look. As I looked closely I realised that what he was holding was an AK-47.
That intrigued me enough to read the notes. That did it. I had to have this book. The story line was intriguing. I will try not to give away too much plot.
Basically, It is 1864; The Army of Northern Virginia is a ragged, ill equipped force They have just lost the battle of Gettysburg. Everything is in short supply except courage.
The South is facing a slow, and not so slow, inevitable disaster. Jefferson Davis knows it, So does General Lee. Along comes a man who is dressed in strange, mottled green and brown clothing. He speaks in a strange accent almost a Britisher but somehow more guttural. His name is Andries Rhoodie.
He and his associates will supply the South with weapons and ammunition in return for a small price and some Political favour.
What do you do in such a situation. All that you hold dear in your way of life is going to be destroyed. So you agree.
Mr Rhoodie and friends bring in wagon loads of this strange weapon. They have very strange gun markings on them. Just what is USSR? Where is the Czech republic? Republic of China? All very strange. He tells you that he did not make the weapon. It is not called the Rhoodie. It is called the AK-47.
Thus begins this tale of an alternative world history.
Mr Turtledove has woven an intriguing tale using actual historical persons. Something about them is known but not everything. General Robert E Lee, for instance, is the only surviving general who did not write a memoir.
So his actual views on some issues can only be speculated upon. The reported pronouncements of other historic figures can give an idea into their thoughts and feelings.
What we have in this book is a very skilful blend of facts and suppositions. Just how would the world have changed if the Confederate States not lost their fight? You must remember that at this time Great Britton was a paramount world power and did not like slavery at all.
How it all resolves makes for a very entertaining read. You are back into the world of mid 19th century America, with all it's attitudes of that time. The word picture of rural and early urban America are very realistic. Characters are really believable. Both historic and fictional.
The descriptions of a land shaken to the core by a war and trying to put itself back together again are very revealing.
This for me was a real page turner. I may disagree with some of the attitudes expressed by persons both historical and fictional, but that does not detract from a thoroughly entertaining read.
Sometimes reading either history or historic fiction makes me pleased that I am alive in this time rather than then. We might like to visit if it was possible but I do not think most of us could live there.
Most of us can live in the past quite happily inside our own heads.
You may have difficulty in obtaining a hardcover version of this book, as I believe it is out of print. It was first published May 1992
Both hardcover and Paperback are listed on Amazon.co.uk Hardcover is listed as used priced from £3.08 Paperback is listed priced new from £7.04 published May 1997 Ballantine ISBN: 0345413660
Lovers of the alternative world history type novel should love this.Get your self a copy, Turn of the television and lock the door. Then settle in for a good read with no distractions.
If female send husband/partner and/or children out for the day and to the local take away. Put up feet and have some time to your self.
If male, lay in supply of favourite beverage and snacks.
Advantages: A good stand alone novel. Disadvantages: None
If you are a fan of Alternate History or have an interest in the American Civil War then this novel is a "must read"!Turtledove once again amazes me by the historical detail and solid grasp of events that he displays in this novel.
Imagine it`s early 1864-the Confederacy have just been knocked for six at the Battle of Gettysburg and the tide of the war has turned in the Norths favour-or has it?
The Souths General Robert E.Lee is approached by a ... ...that can not only resupply his Army of Northern Virginia but also provide each man with unbelieveable firepower.This unknown mans accent is very strange but so is the weapon on offer.Its an offer that Lee cannot refuse for there is no denying what an AK-47 automatic assault rifle could do to the progress of the Civil War!!
Turtledove has created an history of a Civil War that never happened.His storyline is complex.innovative and also highly believeable.The ...
bwanamdevu 05.01.2001 (29.12.2000)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Guns of the South - Harry Turtledove
Advantages: Enthralling, Educating, will leave you hungry for more of his work Disadvantages: None, really there are none!
This book was bought by my Father from a mail order book company because the story looked interesting. My father never read the book but I did and what a book!
This book is set during the American Civil and tells us a story of what might of happened. I don't want to give too much away as it'll spoil several aspects of the book. Needless to say the war goes a little differently than our history shows and the cover of the book shows Robert E. Lee ... ...got it! The book tells the story through the eyes of several characters, some famous ones such as Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln and other characters such as Nate Caudell a ficticious character who fights for the Confederate States of America.
If you are a interested the US Civil War then this book is a must read as it is simply stunning. I have read this book over a dozen times and it is still as good as the first time I read it. This book also ...
lukerussell 27.05.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Guns of the South - Harry Turtledove
Advantages: Brilliant, imaginative a great read Disadvantages: can't think of any
This book is brilliant. I bought this book as i had just finished reading the World War Series which is another fantastic read by Harry Turtledove. Having also studied parts of the American Civil War it was a title that just jumped at me from the shelf.
And i'm glad that it did......
The story is that of the Confederate states winning the civil war helped by the use of the infamous AK-47. This twist runs right through the book which also includes ...
Cobes 04.11.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Guns of the South - Harry Turtledove
Advantages: Is a one off book so no further issues to buy Disadvantages: None
Machine Guns in 1860 - who would have thought it!! The first alternate history book I read, it was bought for me by my father as he knows I love American History . It is still be far the best, the story is excellent with plenty of twists and it really sucks the reader into how the American Civil War may have turned out. Turtledove has a good and readable style that always makes me want to read more and turn the page. The characters are believable ...
bbicuk01 07.02.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Guns of the South - Harry Turtledove
Advantages: A fantastic one off story. No waiting for sequels! Disadvantages: None I can think of!
Reply to Bollinger - yes I did. But in the interests of fair play I'll write another.
Damned good book - read it! An interesting, if slightly flawed, pretext based on the idea that the AWB could travel back in time and 'save' the confederate cause. Only problem being they want to save it in their own image. Eg keeping slaves in their 'place'. Still the idea of a hard pressed South issued with AK47's is fun enough to go with and the battle scenes ... ...roaring read that really is tough to put down. Thankfully it's short enough to be able to read it in one (long) sitting.
I bought this in Waterstones years ago and have rarely seen it in shops since. It does seem to be a popular buy on the internet book shops however.
I usually re-read this every year or so as it is a perennial favourite of mine. ...
Knavesmire 02.02.2007 (03.02.2007)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Guns of the South - Harry Turtledove
Would you read it again?
Story
Characters
Readability
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Guns of the South - Harry Turtledove"
Advantages: A Masterpiece Disadvantages: If you don't like long books then it could be a problem as each of the four has about 650 pages
I found this book in my local library after searching for more of HarryTurtledove's work after reading the Guns of the South.
This story is set during World War Two and conflict is raging around the globe between the Allies and the Axis forces. As if this wasn't bad enough for humankind to contend with a group of Aliens calling themselves The Race who look like Lizards show up to add Earth to their Intergalactic Empire.
It sounds crazy and silly and like a load of rubbish to many people. i know because I've tried to persuade friends to read them and they won't. It does make a good story and there are four books in the series: Worldwar: In The Balance, Worldwar:Tilting The Balance, Worldwar: Shifting the Balance and Worldwar: Striking the Balance.
Humans now have to put aside World War Two and work together to repel ...
Similar products and search queries by other users »
Guns Turtledove, Guns of Turtledove, Guns the Turtledove, Guns South Turtledove, Guns Harry Turtledove, Guns of the Turtledove, Guns of South Turtledove, Guns of Harry Turtledove, Guns the South Turtledove, Guns the Harry Turtledove, Guns South Harry Turtledove, Guns of the South Turtledove, Guns of the Harry Turtledove, Guns of South Harry Turtledove, Guns the South Harry Turtledove
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Guns of the South - Harry Turtledove? Click here
