Worldwar - Harry Turtledove

Advantages: An outstanding series
Disadvantages: Too little sleep

...difference for them over a 1000 or even 100,000 years. They have never come across mammallian creatures like we humans before and our rate of evolution and change is completely "alien" to them! . We ,or the "Big Uglies" as they refer to us,are very unpredictable and together, with the unknown skill of adaptability ,we manage to throw rather a large spanner into their plans for the colonization of Earth.After all they do have a colonization fleet of millions of more aliens due to arrive in 20 years time and their plans have taken about 700 years to be devised. The already battling nations of Earth must somehow put aside their mutual hostilities and band together to fight this terrifying new foe! Harry Turtledove-a master of Alternate History blends historical fact and figures together with very credible characters,both human and aliens to... Read review

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Advantages: A very entertaining read
Disadvantages: None that I have found

...It is the year of Our Lord 1597.The Place is London in England. Let your eye zoom in on the bustling crowds as they go about their daily chores. The language may prove strange to your ears. Step back quickly to the side of the road as this group of swaggering armed men walk the street. You do not want any trouble with these men. Near by there is a quiet man in a green doublet. He doesn't know it yet but soon he will be placed in mortal danger. He is only an actor and playwright who wishes to make a decent living. Soon he will be hired to do what he does best, write a play. But not just any play. It must fire the hearts of Englishmen. His name, William Shakespeare. In this view of an alternate history, Harry Turtledove has an England that has been under Spanish Rule for nearly ten years following a sucessful invasion... Read review

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Advantages: Absolutely fascenating
Disadvantages: Getting hold of the book

...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... Read review

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