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Tosev #8
Homeward Bound
The twentieth century was awash in war. World powers were pouring men and machines onto the killing fields of Europe. Then, in one dramatic stroke, a divided planet was changed forever. An alien race attacked Earth, and for every nation, every human being, new battle lines were drawn.
HOMEWARD BOUND
With his epic novels of alternate history, Harry Turtledove shares a stunning vision of what might have been–and what might still be–if one moment in history were changed. In the WorldWar and Colonization series, an ancient, highly advanced alien species found itself locked in a bitter struggle with a distant, rebellious planet–Earth. For those defending the Earth, this all-out war for survival supercharged human technology, made friends of foes, and turned allies into bitter enemies.
For the aliens known as the Race, the conflict has yielded dire consequences. Mankind has developed nuclear technology years ahead of schedule, forcing the invaders to accept an uneasy truce with nations that possess the technology to defend themselves. But it is the Americans, with their primitive inventiveness, who discover a way to launch themselves through distant space–and reach the Race’s home planet itself.
Now–in the twenty-first century–a few daring men and women embark upon a journey no human has made before. Warriors, diplomats, traitors, and exiles–the humans who arrive in the place called Home find themselves genuine strangers on a strange world, and at the center of a flash point with terrifying potential. For their arrival on the alien home world may drive the enemy to make the ultimate decision–to annihilate an entire planet, rather than allow the human contagion to spread. It may be that nothing can deter them from this course.
With its extraordinary cast of characters–human, nonhuman, and some in between–Homeward Bound is a fascinating contemplation of cultures, armies, and individuals in collision. From the novelist USA Today calls “the leading author of alternate history,” this is a novel of vision, adventure, and constant, astounding surprise.
648 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 28, 2004
68 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
564 books1,963 followersDr Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced a sizeable number of works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
April 14, 2014
Very long and tedious. Too much detail in repetitive conversations. Very slow moving. No real plot. An interesting story line that could have been much better had their actually been some sort of climax in the story.
August 17, 2013
Well, it was good to finally close this out. It's taken almost a year to read these 8 500+ page books, and while it was a good idea and the series had some great characters, but all in all, I was quite disappointed. Lame dialogue, excessive pointless exposition, contrived plot points...I honestly can't recommend it.
November 2, 2021
I am rating all four books, “Second Contact, Down to Earth, Aftershock and Homeward Bound” all at once as the whole was, to me, one single long, long, long story.
First off, there is so much wrong with this series such as writing style, perpetual useless repetition (you'd think it was written as an exercise from some sort of amnesiac therapy), deplorable stereotyping and simplistic world building (our own world in this case reduced to something I could hardly recognize.
That said, the premise is a wonderful idea. In spite of the said problems, I was completely in. I especially loved the “Race/Lizard” characters and some of the plot lines here and there. I was very happy that in the final instalment the story was located on “Home”the planet of the Race.
It was an ambitious undertaking but unfortunately, for the most part, much of the writing was needless and certain opportunities were sorely missed. This is surprising to me as Harry Turtledove, though I have not read much of his work admittedly, is a prolific writer and I had hoped more would have been done with this in quality over quantity.
First off, there is so much wrong with this series such as writing style, perpetual useless repetition (you'd think it was written as an exercise from some sort of amnesiac therapy), deplorable stereotyping and simplistic world building (our own world in this case reduced to something I could hardly recognize.
That said, the premise is a wonderful idea. In spite of the said problems, I was completely in. I especially loved the “Race/Lizard” characters and some of the plot lines here and there. I was very happy that in the final instalment the story was located on “Home”the planet of the Race.
It was an ambitious undertaking but unfortunately, for the most part, much of the writing was needless and certain opportunities were sorely missed. This is surprising to me as Harry Turtledove, though I have not read much of his work admittedly, is a prolific writer and I had hoped more would have been done with this in quality over quantity.
May 21, 2012
After I read the book, I didn't realize that it was the final book in the series. The loose ends weren't resolved. You could infer how things were going to go, but I had expected the last book to resolve them. I enjoyed the series, and did enjoy this book though. Some people say that we should use our own imagination when we read a book, and not expect to have things resolved. I disagree, I am paying to use the author's imagination, if I had wanted to use my own imagination, I would have written the book myself. However, you can figure out where things are likely to go. If you've read and enjoyed the other books, I think you will enjoy this one.
July 15, 2015
This book was the most ironic book I've ever read. Turtledove spends most of the book restating things he's already said. He repeats over and over how the Lizards progress and change slowly, testing things thoroughly while the Humans change quickly, and sometimes recklessly (at least from the Lizard point of view). Yet the book dragged on and on, repeating and reiterating this fact, as well as all the other ways humans and lizards are different, over and over and over. The book could have been written by a lizard it was so slowly paced!
Aside from the sluggish pace caused by the incessant repetition, the story itself was only mildly interesting. Nothing really happens in the 600 pages that couldn't have been told in 100 pages or less. The 'climax' of the book was hinted at around page 200 (although it was expected since about page 1) and then danced around for about 300 pages, as if it would be a big secret and shock. When the 'climax' finally happened it wasn't a shocking revelation. And then there were still another 100+ pages of nothing important happening.
I really enjoyed the first 7 books in the series, but this last one was very difficult to get through. It really seemed like Turtledove had an outline of what he wanted to get through and then spent several years writing small chunks at a time until he had a novel the same length as the others, without seeing (or caring) that he was simply filling the pages with repetitive fluff.
Aside from the sluggish pace caused by the incessant repetition, the story itself was only mildly interesting. Nothing really happens in the 600 pages that couldn't have been told in 100 pages or less. The 'climax' of the book was hinted at around page 200 (although it was expected since about page 1) and then danced around for about 300 pages, as if it would be a big secret and shock. When the 'climax' finally happened it wasn't a shocking revelation. And then there were still another 100+ pages of nothing important happening.
I really enjoyed the first 7 books in the series, but this last one was very difficult to get through. It really seemed like Turtledove had an outline of what he wanted to get through and then spent several years writing small chunks at a time until he had a novel the same length as the others, without seeing (or caring) that he was simply filling the pages with repetitive fluff.
April 2, 2008
This was a partially satisfying conclusion to the series. I read them over the course of about a decade, so I was a little hazy on past details, but Turtledove does his usual good job of reminding the reader (again and again) of what has gone before.
In a way, this represents the best and worst of Turtledove. On the bad side, he's got the big cavalcade of characters his recent books seem to have become, each going through the same events (often using what feels like the same boilerplate descriptions).
Luckily, Turtledove plays with a bit more sci-fi than he usually does, and creates some interesting questions and dilemmas (that he doesn't really resolve).
Though I've got mixed feelings about it after reading it, I will attest (and my wife will complain) that I did not really put it down during the week I was reading it. That's probably worth something.
In a way, this represents the best and worst of Turtledove. On the bad side, he's got the big cavalcade of characters his recent books seem to have become, each going through the same events (often using what feels like the same boilerplate descriptions).
Luckily, Turtledove plays with a bit more sci-fi than he usually does, and creates some interesting questions and dilemmas (that he doesn't really resolve).
Though I've got mixed feelings about it after reading it, I will attest (and my wife will complain) that I did not really put it down during the week I was reading it. That's probably worth something.
October 11, 2020
A satisfying end to a great series. We got to see Home. Travel the stars. I truly loved this series and I am sad to see it end. Bravo to Turtledove creating such a wonderful world .
May 13, 2023
Disappointed by ending.
October 9, 2020
I've read the entire series several times now. Homeward Bound is the conclusion and it is the worst of the lot. In fact, it is the worst concluding book I've ever read. Gah.
Turtledove isn't a great writer - he repeats stuff over and over and has his characters engage in inane dialog. That said, I enjoyed the concept of the Conquest and Colonization series. So to have it all end with Homeward Bound is greatly disappointing.
Two things, although I could mention more. First, Turtledove focuses way too much on a few very uninteresting characters, such as Kassquit and Johnson. I end up just skipping through those sections. Second, there's no real conclusion! The book just sort of peters out, leaving a huge chasm of unknowns concerning the fate of the two species.
This book needs to be abandoned and re-written.
Turtledove isn't a great writer - he repeats stuff over and over and has his characters engage in inane dialog. That said, I enjoyed the concept of the Conquest and Colonization series. So to have it all end with Homeward Bound is greatly disappointing.
Two things, although I could mention more. First, Turtledove focuses way too much on a few very uninteresting characters, such as Kassquit and Johnson. I end up just skipping through those sections. Second, there's no real conclusion! The book just sort of peters out, leaving a huge chasm of unknowns concerning the fate of the two species.
This book needs to be abandoned and re-written.
January 26, 2021
Such a fun series. This is book four in the World at War series. The premise;
WW2 is on. The Germans are knocking at the door of Britain, Russians are working to bear back hitlers forces from Stalingrad, and America is poised to enter the fray.
Suddenly, starships show up, and throw into disarray the course of the war. New weapons appear, and suddenly it’s not clear who the enemy is, other than everyone on on Tosev.. the alien’s name for earth.. knowing that the Lizards.. the name the humans gave the invasion fleet.. were most certainly the enemy.
Books 1-2 are about the fight.. the alliances formed to fight the Nazis and the Lizards at the same time, and the Nazis fighting the lizards and everyone else.
Three is about the conclusion and uneasy peace between the Lizards and the Tosevites..
Book four, this one.. is where the Humans (Tosevites) develop the tech to follow the Race (Lizards) home and throw their home planet (called Home) into disarray. The Race of lizards who for hundreds of thousands of years thought they were the pinnacle of civilization now finds themselves at the mercy of a fast evolving ( but short lived) race called human.
It’s a fun read, well developed characters who stick through all four books, and as good as all Turtledove books are... thoroughly entertaining.
You will learn nothing here, all Sci-fi speculation, but you will enjoy it. But don’t start with this book. Start with the first in the series.
WW2 is on. The Germans are knocking at the door of Britain, Russians are working to bear back hitlers forces from Stalingrad, and America is poised to enter the fray.
Suddenly, starships show up, and throw into disarray the course of the war. New weapons appear, and suddenly it’s not clear who the enemy is, other than everyone on on Tosev.. the alien’s name for earth.. knowing that the Lizards.. the name the humans gave the invasion fleet.. were most certainly the enemy.
Books 1-2 are about the fight.. the alliances formed to fight the Nazis and the Lizards at the same time, and the Nazis fighting the lizards and everyone else.
Three is about the conclusion and uneasy peace between the Lizards and the Tosevites..
Book four, this one.. is where the Humans (Tosevites) develop the tech to follow the Race (Lizards) home and throw their home planet (called Home) into disarray. The Race of lizards who for hundreds of thousands of years thought they were the pinnacle of civilization now finds themselves at the mercy of a fast evolving ( but short lived) race called human.
It’s a fun read, well developed characters who stick through all four books, and as good as all Turtledove books are... thoroughly entertaining.
You will learn nothing here, all Sci-fi speculation, but you will enjoy it. But don’t start with this book. Start with the first in the series.
September 15, 2012
This book is about the dislocations that occur between species, and between people who are separated by time and/or space. The author does a good job of creating consistent characters, and his dialog flows smoothly. However, the story meanders to a considerable extent - in fact, it sometimes appears that the author does not care a great deal about pacing or moving the story forward at all, and instead prefers to embark on a lengthy piece of dialog that may diverge from the story.
In short, the book is an acceptable read, but is overly long.
In short, the book is an acceptable read, but is overly long.
January 25, 2016
And the winner for most disappointing finale to an otherwise great series is ...Homeward Bound.
Boring, boring, boring.
How could Harry Turtledove have write four plus three exciting novels in the World War/Colonization-series and then dump this pile on top?
Pity one can't award zero stars.
Boring, boring, boring.
How could Harry Turtledove have write four plus three exciting novels in the World War/Colonization-series and then dump this pile on top?
Pity one can't award zero stars.
October 19, 2009
I'm not sure why this isn't included in the "Colonization" series because it's really just a continuation of the story and the final piece in the series. Unlike other books in this series, this one focuses on a much smaller range of characters (primarily the Yeagers and a few members of the Race) and I did miss having closure for a lot of the characters we met during the first three books. But overall the ending was properly satisfying.
November 29, 2020
Good story; less action, more almost-politics.
The first four books were about the alien conquest fleet; the next three were about the alien colonization fleet; this last book is about the alien homeworld (and earthlings visiting).
It was also interesting; though still not a conclusion - there is definitely plenty of unresolved issues; as with life - perhaps the story could go on forever....
The first four books were about the alien conquest fleet; the next three were about the alien colonization fleet; this last book is about the alien homeworld (and earthlings visiting).
It was also interesting; though still not a conclusion - there is definitely plenty of unresolved issues; as with life - perhaps the story could go on forever....
January 10, 2012
One of the great alternate history books of all time, and a VERY worthy end to the exceptional Worldwar series. This book has everything - pathos, surprise, clash of civilizations, what makes us human and the others alien, pride and a real sense of completion. Way to go Harry!
February 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book and the whole series; a really fun read. I would really love to see another few books in this series and feel Harry Turtledove left a number of story lines that would make interesting reading. I highly recommend anyone to read the whole series!
May 12, 2012
The last of the series - but not the best one - I like turtledove, but sometimes even the best are not quite the best.
March 25, 2016
Thoughts while reading:
It is amusing/funny/boring how often the author starts off a novel with some member of the Race [usually Atvar] pulling up pictures from when their probe explored the Earth [Tosev-3] way back when and took images from the time of the knights and the Crusades and whatnot. Enough, already! We get it! They were shocked when they got here'!
I know it's a pet peeve, but I do wish the artists who created the covers would have 'drawn' the Lizards 'correctly' for the artwork. The Lizards are described as having eyes/heads like a chameleon, but the covers that show the Lizards show them as looking more like an upright iguana than a chameleon.
The first chapter was a broken batch of sequences that take place across an extended period of time. The author would have been better off [and the reader better served] if the author had included time-frame references before each section. But that is my opinion.
It is kind of 'funny' how after thirty to seventy years Karen is still jealous/insecure in regard to Kassquit.
Hopefully the book gets better as it progresses - it has been a while since I last read it. The author is still repeating a lot of information unnecessarily throughout the course of the first few chapters or so. It is well past old at this point. Maybe the author does not remember what he has written and so repeats himself as a result? He does have a lot of 'stuff' going on in his book[s].
"With our Mart you can build a Wall around the world." Really? The Lizards have a Walmart on their Home planet? Maybe Walmart really is taking over.......
The description about Major Frank Coffey was kind of interesting/humorous: "...Major Coffey, who was the color of coffee with not much cream" [p. 83]. Not sure why, but it took me a minute on this one.
Had to finally look up 'brachiated/brachiation' due to the author's obsessive use of the word in this novel and the last two. I learned something new today! [And it does not mean what I thought it meant, which explains my confusion whenever I came across this word. hahahah]
--------------------------------------------------------
"Did you feel anything?"
"Yes......Not vertigo. What vertigo would feel like if it felt vertigo, maybe." I do so appreciate some of his verbiage in his books, how he spins words together to make memorable phrases.
It moved at a decent pace, once you got past the first couple of chapters. The first chapter is devoted to various crew members being put on ice, as it were. The next two thirds of the book involve the crew of the good ship Admiral Peary arriving at Home and attempting to ensure peace between the US of A and the Empire. The Lizards are naturally antsy. Then SOMETHING BIG HAPPENS and changes the dynamic[s] of the overtures for peace. Obviously, peaceful co-existence is obtained, and then SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS before the crew can return safely to Earth.
It was a good ending to the series. I enjoyed it overall. Some of the characters seemed stuck in time in some aspects [like Karen still being jealous of Kassquit nearly seventy years later], but it did seem to have decent character development of a good portion of the characters.
There was another couple on the 'ambassadorial team' sent to the surface of Home, but they did not seem to have much impact [either good or bad] in terms of the story, so I'm not sure why they were included [unless it was merely to give the party more members].
The interactions of Atvar and Straha were still hilarious to read. They have long been a thorn in each other's sides for a long time, and it was enjoyable to see the rivalry continue in this novel.
The whole 'issue' over what Sam Yeager did in the Aftershocks novel seemed contrived and unneeded. I realize it allowed the author to add almost one hundred pages of exposition that was not really necessary to the overarching theme of the story, but I had the sense of "Really? Really?!? You honestly felt the need to go there?" while reading this part of the book. Perhaps institutional memory lasts longer than I realize, but it just seemed to drag the whole story out longer than it needed to be.
I did like how the author included tidbits about other empires/powers back on Earth throughout the course of the book. It was like he was tying up the loose ends from his Colonization series. At the same time, I did enjoy learning what had happened during the intervening time between the second series and this book.
Nichelle Nichols made it into the book! That was a nice touch on the part of the author, I thought.
I also found it funny that Matt Damon and Saving Private Ryan made it into the book as well [although not necessarily because Matt Damon was in Saving Private Renfell].
It was an interesting book, I think. I felt like the author tried to delve more into philosophical viewpoints in this novel than he had previously. I also think that it worked, on the one hand. At the same time, I almost wish he had gone a bit 'deeper' with his discussions throughout the book. Sometimes it felt like he was on the cusp of something and he moved on instead of digging deeper. At the same time, at almost six hundred pages, it was long enough as it was. Maybe he would have been better off to make it into duology or something. He could have; he could have ended the first novel at the two-thirds point when THE BIG THING HAPPENED and made it the 'cliffhanger' leading into the second novel. That might have worked better, because the last one-third of the novel felt fast and forced, like he realized he was running out of space/pages to say what he wanted to say, so he crammed as much as he could into what little was left.
I did find it hilarious that the talks had to stop until the Race's mating season was over. That was pretty funny.
This book has the least amount of 'action' in it of the eight books in the series. It is mostly exposition. People talking a lot does get kind of old.
I think one of the better 'sub-plots' of the book involved discussion about members of the Race who traveled a lot in cryosleep. Members who are 'displaced in time' because of cryosleep have formed their own sub-community in the Empire because they can no longer relate to the rest of the general population, and the general population does not attempt to relate to them. I did like these discussions in the book; I felt it added something the author could have expanded upon had he chosen to write more than one novel to wrap up the series.
I also enjoyed the Lizards' discussion .
Overall, it was a good book and I enjoyed it.
It is amusing/funny/boring how often the author starts off a novel with some member of the Race [usually Atvar] pulling up pictures from when their probe explored the Earth [Tosev-3] way back when and took images from the time of the knights and the Crusades and whatnot. Enough, already! We get it! They were shocked when they got here'!
I know it's a pet peeve, but I do wish the artists who created the covers would have 'drawn' the Lizards 'correctly' for the artwork. The Lizards are described as having eyes/heads like a chameleon, but the covers that show the Lizards show them as looking more like an upright iguana than a chameleon.
The first chapter was a broken batch of sequences that take place across an extended period of time. The author would have been better off [and the reader better served] if the author had included time-frame references before each section. But that is my opinion.
It is kind of 'funny' how after thirty to seventy years Karen is still jealous/insecure in regard to Kassquit.
Hopefully the book gets better as it progresses - it has been a while since I last read it. The author is still repeating a lot of information unnecessarily throughout the course of the first few chapters or so. It is well past old at this point. Maybe the author does not remember what he has written and so repeats himself as a result? He does have a lot of 'stuff' going on in his book[s].
"With our Mart you can build a Wall around the world." Really? The Lizards have a Walmart on their Home planet? Maybe Walmart really is taking over.......
The description about Major Frank Coffey was kind of interesting/humorous: "...Major Coffey, who was the color of coffee with not much cream" [p. 83]. Not sure why, but it took me a minute on this one.
Had to finally look up 'brachiated/brachiation' due to the author's obsessive use of the word in this novel and the last two. I learned something new today! [And it does not mean what I thought it meant, which explains my confusion whenever I came across this word. hahahah]
--------------------------------------------------------
"Did you feel anything?"
"Yes......Not vertigo. What vertigo would feel like if it felt vertigo, maybe." I do so appreciate some of his verbiage in his books, how he spins words together to make memorable phrases.
It moved at a decent pace, once you got past the first couple of chapters. The first chapter is devoted to various crew members being put on ice, as it were. The next two thirds of the book involve the crew of the good ship Admiral Peary arriving at Home and attempting to ensure peace between the US of A and the Empire. The Lizards are naturally antsy. Then SOMETHING BIG HAPPENS and changes the dynamic[s] of the overtures for peace. Obviously, peaceful co-existence is obtained, and then SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS before the crew can return safely to Earth.
It was a good ending to the series. I enjoyed it overall. Some of the characters seemed stuck in time in some aspects [like Karen still being jealous of Kassquit nearly seventy years later], but it did seem to have decent character development of a good portion of the characters.
There was another couple on the 'ambassadorial team' sent to the surface of Home, but they did not seem to have much impact [either good or bad] in terms of the story, so I'm not sure why they were included [unless it was merely to give the party more members].
The interactions of Atvar and Straha were still hilarious to read. They have long been a thorn in each other's sides for a long time, and it was enjoyable to see the rivalry continue in this novel.
The whole 'issue' over what Sam Yeager did in the Aftershocks novel seemed contrived and unneeded. I realize it allowed the author to add almost one hundred pages of exposition that was not really necessary to the overarching theme of the story, but I had the sense of "Really? Really?!? You honestly felt the need to go there?" while reading this part of the book. Perhaps institutional memory lasts longer than I realize, but it just seemed to drag the whole story out longer than it needed to be.
I did like how the author included tidbits about other empires/powers back on Earth throughout the course of the book. It was like he was tying up the loose ends from his Colonization series. At the same time, I did enjoy learning what had happened during the intervening time between the second series and this book.
Nichelle Nichols made it into the book! That was a nice touch on the part of the author, I thought.
I also found it funny that Matt Damon and Saving Private Ryan made it into the book as well [although not necessarily because Matt Damon was in Saving Private Renfell].
It was an interesting book, I think. I felt like the author tried to delve more into philosophical viewpoints in this novel than he had previously. I also think that it worked, on the one hand. At the same time, I almost wish he had gone a bit 'deeper' with his discussions throughout the book. Sometimes it felt like he was on the cusp of something and he moved on instead of digging deeper. At the same time, at almost six hundred pages, it was long enough as it was. Maybe he would have been better off to make it into duology or something. He could have; he could have ended the first novel at the two-thirds point when THE BIG THING HAPPENED and made it the 'cliffhanger' leading into the second novel. That might have worked better, because the last one-third of the novel felt fast and forced, like he realized he was running out of space/pages to say what he wanted to say, so he crammed as much as he could into what little was left.
I did find it hilarious that the talks had to stop until the Race's mating season was over. That was pretty funny.
This book has the least amount of 'action' in it of the eight books in the series. It is mostly exposition. People talking a lot does get kind of old.
I think one of the better 'sub-plots' of the book involved discussion about members of the Race who traveled a lot in cryosleep. Members who are 'displaced in time' because of cryosleep have formed their own sub-community in the Empire because they can no longer relate to the rest of the general population, and the general population does not attempt to relate to them. I did like these discussions in the book; I felt it added something the author could have expanded upon had he chosen to write more than one novel to wrap up the series.
I also enjoyed the Lizards' discussion .
Overall, it was a good book and I enjoyed it.
March 7, 2019
The final book of the Worldwar series is a mixed bag. It suffers from the same unnecessary repetitiveness that is Turtledove's style in previous books - yes, we remember that the Race likes hotter temperatures and can't make facial expressions, and do we really have to read the same description of chicken broth in a bulb EVERY time a character wakes up from suspended animation?
The book is strongest when it focuses on the Race struggling with the realization that humanity is not just catching up to them technologically, but surpassing them. The idea that a devestating interplanetary war might be the Race's best chance at survival, despite neither side wanting to go down that path, is believable and rather terrifying.
Unlike the other books, the story is pushed forward entirely by dialogue - there really are no action scenes to speak of. Some of the interplay between certain characters is delightful. The childish vitriol between Fleetlord Atvar and the shiplord-turned-defector Straha is extremely funny. On the other hand, the American pilots Flynn and Johnston's constant exchange of tired old jokes became grating very quickly.
Unfortunately, the author couldn't bear to have a book without what is obviously his favourite character, Sam Yeager. I had expected the torch to be passed to his son, but no. Yeager Senior gets tossed into hibernation on the flimsiest of narrative pretexts just so he could be the most prominent character in the final chapter. His son Jonathan actually complains about being in his father's shadow throughout the book, echoing how I felt about his father as a character.
As the story ends, we have a thoughtful scene with Kassquit, the human raised by the Race, and her lover musing over their baby daughter, who may grow up to be a true bridge between the cultures of the Race and humanity. This would have been an excellent scene to end on. That fact that Sam Yeager returns one final time to end the story with a sermon is disappointing, but not surprising.
If you have read the previous books of the series, read this one as well. This final book shares in the strengths and weakness of the series as a whole.
The book is strongest when it focuses on the Race struggling with the realization that humanity is not just catching up to them technologically, but surpassing them. The idea that a devestating interplanetary war might be the Race's best chance at survival, despite neither side wanting to go down that path, is believable and rather terrifying.
Unlike the other books, the story is pushed forward entirely by dialogue - there really are no action scenes to speak of. Some of the interplay between certain characters is delightful. The childish vitriol between Fleetlord Atvar and the shiplord-turned-defector Straha is extremely funny. On the other hand, the American pilots Flynn and Johnston's constant exchange of tired old jokes became grating very quickly.
Unfortunately, the author couldn't bear to have a book without what is obviously his favourite character, Sam Yeager. I had expected the torch to be passed to his son, but no. Yeager Senior gets tossed into hibernation on the flimsiest of narrative pretexts just so he could be the most prominent character in the final chapter. His son Jonathan actually complains about being in his father's shadow throughout the book, echoing how I felt about his father as a character.
As the story ends, we have a thoughtful scene with Kassquit, the human raised by the Race, and her lover musing over their baby daughter, who may grow up to be a true bridge between the cultures of the Race and humanity. This would have been an excellent scene to end on. That fact that Sam Yeager returns one final time to end the story with a sermon is disappointing, but not surprising.
If you have read the previous books of the series, read this one as well. This final book shares in the strengths and weakness of the series as a whole.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2022
For anyone who doesn’t know the name, Harry Turtledove writes in a genre known as Alternate History. This usually means taking a pivotal point in history and asking what would have happened if things had been different. Homeward Bound is the latest novel in a series which began with the premise of aliens deciding to invade Earth in 1942, just as World War II was getting into full-swing.
I’ve read every novel in this timeline, and although the premise might sound a bit far-fetched, Turtledove has handled it well and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the story.
Homeward Bound picks up about twenty years after the last novel in the Colonization series. The Race – or “Lizards” as they are called by humans – have colonized the Earth, gravitating toward the warmer areas of the planet. There are a variety of conflicts both as a result of events detailed in earlier novels and as a result of the clash of cultures. Overall there is an uneasy truce between the races.
The United States has built a ship which can travel to the Lizard’s homeworld, simply called “Home”. Into this ship goes several familiar characters from over the years, including Sam Yeager, a former minor-league baseball player who became an expert on the Lizards, and his son, Jonathan, and daughter-in-law, Karen. Also sent back to Home is Kassquit, a oriental human female raised by one of the Lizard’s behavioral specialists. She and Jonathan once had a torrid affair.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
I’ve read every novel in this timeline, and although the premise might sound a bit far-fetched, Turtledove has handled it well and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the story.
Homeward Bound picks up about twenty years after the last novel in the Colonization series. The Race – or “Lizards” as they are called by humans – have colonized the Earth, gravitating toward the warmer areas of the planet. There are a variety of conflicts both as a result of events detailed in earlier novels and as a result of the clash of cultures. Overall there is an uneasy truce between the races.
The United States has built a ship which can travel to the Lizard’s homeworld, simply called “Home”. Into this ship goes several familiar characters from over the years, including Sam Yeager, a former minor-league baseball player who became an expert on the Lizards, and his son, Jonathan, and daughter-in-law, Karen. Also sent back to Home is Kassquit, a oriental human female raised by one of the Lizard’s behavioral specialists. She and Jonathan once had a torrid affair.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
December 26, 2018
VOTO INTERO CICLO DELLA COLONIZZAZIONE: 3
Decisamente meno riuscito del ciclo precedente, del quale costituisce il naturale prosieguo, soprattutto a causa del quarto libro, che è senza dubbio un tentativo molto mal riuscito di allungare inutilmente il brodo, andando a costituire un infelice concentrato di noia mortale. Assolutamente da evitare, dunque, a differenza dei primi due, che senza dubbio meriterebbero un voto migliore, se non fosse che la media generale viene abbassata drasticamente da una valutazione assolutamente negativa che attribuisco al capitolo conclusivo.
Interessanti alcune scelte narrative e la descrizione dello sviluppo sociologico degli alieni invasori, i quali vengono inevitabilmente influenzati dalla mentalità terreste,soprattutto di quei paesi indipendenti che sono riusciti a resistere all'invasione e a mantenere inviolati i propri confini.
Peccato per l'ultimo libro, conclusione maldestra e infelice di un ciclo senza il quale meriterebbe almeno di essere equiparato al precedente.
Decisamente meno riuscito del ciclo precedente, del quale costituisce il naturale prosieguo, soprattutto a causa del quarto libro, che è senza dubbio un tentativo molto mal riuscito di allungare inutilmente il brodo, andando a costituire un infelice concentrato di noia mortale. Assolutamente da evitare, dunque, a differenza dei primi due, che senza dubbio meriterebbero un voto migliore, se non fosse che la media generale viene abbassata drasticamente da una valutazione assolutamente negativa che attribuisco al capitolo conclusivo.
Interessanti alcune scelte narrative e la descrizione dello sviluppo sociologico degli alieni invasori, i quali vengono inevitabilmente influenzati dalla mentalità terreste,soprattutto di quei paesi indipendenti che sono riusciti a resistere all'invasione e a mantenere inviolati i propri confini.
Peccato per l'ultimo libro, conclusione maldestra e infelice di un ciclo senza il quale meriterebbe almeno di essere equiparato al precedente.
July 22, 2019
Even at their worst, these books retain a sort of compulsive readability. Make no mistake though, this is the series at its absolute worst. The far superior Worldwar portion of this eight (eight!) book series juggles a sprawling cast by leaning hard on propulsive action. There's none to be found in the back half, even as the books themselves get steadily more bloated. At almost 650 pages, this is the longest of the bunch, but perversely little actually happens. You could cut this thing in half and lost literally nothing. Turtledove is often repetitive, which can aid readers in keeping track of his legion of characters and plotlines, but he stretches it to the breaking point here, when he writes the exact same waking-up-from-cold-sleep scene from the PoV of three separate characters. Plotlines go absolutely nowhere, there's a bizarre Columbo homage, and as is normal with this series, there isn't much of an ending. Read the first four books and then stop. You're better off.
August 1, 2025
So upsettingly dull! What I wanted:
1. Sam to be put on trial on two planets.
2. The revelation that humans were a mistake by who ever seeded life in the universe, because dinosaurs should have evolved in to sentient reptiles.
3. A war between 4 planets.
4. A revolution on a planetary scale.
5. Donald the lizard president of the USA or NATO.
6. Nazi made lizard virus.(That’s from the skippyverse)
7. Ginger bombs.
8. Sam returning to a Fascist America.(starship troopers)
9. Astroid warfare.
10. Soviets going to Home and missing the collapse of the USSR.
11. The Japanese dropping an a FTL astroid on Home(Second Pearl Harbor).
12. Spy craft and intrigue.
If you read this, you know the book had none of these.
1. Sam to be put on trial on two planets.
2. The revelation that humans were a mistake by who ever seeded life in the universe, because dinosaurs should have evolved in to sentient reptiles.
3. A war between 4 planets.
4. A revolution on a planetary scale.
5. Donald the lizard president of the USA or NATO.
6. Nazi made lizard virus.(That’s from the skippyverse)
7. Ginger bombs.
8. Sam returning to a Fascist America.(starship troopers)
9. Astroid warfare.
10. Soviets going to Home and missing the collapse of the USSR.
11. The Japanese dropping an a FTL astroid on Home(Second Pearl Harbor).
12. Spy craft and intrigue.
If you read this, you know the book had none of these.
October 16, 2018
Not a great end to the series, but not terrible either. If Sam Yeager had been the main character throughout, rather just another character who gradually grew in importance, it would have been a more satisfying finale. Would've been nice if a few more of the dangling threads had been wrapped up.
The book, and thus series as whole, has an interesting premise, but ends up being more character driven than plot driven. Which wouldn't be so bad except the story is spread across too many characters to grow very attached to any of to any of them. And most of them are pretty two dimensional anyway.
Basically it's a Turtledove book with the same failings and strengths seen in his other writings
The book, and thus series as whole, has an interesting premise, but ends up being more character driven than plot driven. Which wouldn't be so bad except the story is spread across too many characters to grow very attached to any of to any of them. And most of them are pretty two dimensional anyway.
Basically it's a Turtledove book with the same failings and strengths seen in his other writings
August 6, 2024
I would put it at a solid 3.5. This is the first book I have read in the series so I am not up to date with what has happened although what has come before is explained well throughout the book. Interesting ideas with the culture of the Race, especially seeing it on the home world. Nice descriptions of the problems of adults that have been raised from childhood by another species. Good indication of how changes in technology affect relationships between societies. The constant talk about how great the US is does become a bit tiring at times. I'd read more of the series and his books in general.
December 17, 2017
This book series will always have a big place in my heart and I was very sad to finish it. The book spends way too much time with two characters who make moldy jokes that would have been old 50 years ago, but at least the author doesnt spend every second page reminding you the lizards like the temperature warmer like in previous books. Most importantly, Turtledove managed to create an entire race and culture of aliens without them being one dimensional metaphors for humanity and for that he deserves praise.
February 14, 2018
I read the eight books in the series straight thru and they were consistent. The story and sub-stories all tied up and the series ended? on a hopeful?? note.
The question marks leave room for additions to the series and maybe a caution that the human race will be taking our peccadillos with us where ever we spread.
Just as Clarke capped his Odyssey series with "3001", I would like to see how the differing factions fare a thousand years hence.
A good read.
The question marks leave room for additions to the series and maybe a caution that the human race will be taking our peccadillos with us where ever we spread.
Just as Clarke capped his Odyssey series with "3001", I would like to see how the differing factions fare a thousand years hence.
A good read.
May 31, 2018
Normally I don't enjoy 'alternate history' type of books, but this one was fun. Not because of the alternate history, but because of the civilization and habits of the aliens involved. It also does a pretty good examination of some of the positives of what it means to be human. There are some rather grating characters and some of the dialogue is weak, but the ideas are there to make it worth reading.
July 20, 2018
I enjoyed the book and it was very enjoyable to at last see Home and the Empire's culture up close. I did feel though that the story would have benefited with a little less length and a clearer indication of where the future was heading. Things just end without tying up the major questions. Several other reviews indicate this book is the end of the series, if so I am disappointed at where we are left.
December 1, 2019
I didn't read any of the first seven installments but had no trouble following the story line. This book easily stands alone and tells a remarkable tale about what might have been if Earth was visited by a conquering force of aliens back in 1942...ninety years later American ingenuity is about to turn the tables on the Race as they visit Home...a long book but one well worth the investment in time.
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