Iron Maiden

by James Musgrave

Jared Diamond's COLLAPSE inspired this alternate history that takes place during the American Civil War, and tells the story of eight people who come together after the battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. 

Using the money they earned by tricking the U. S. Government into buying more Monitor-class ships, they attempt to escape the war and retreat to "paradise," Easter Island. However, this paradise has been transformed by the natives into a human ecological disaster and monument to pagan fertility rights and even cannibalism. 

Through the inventiveness and labors of the main characters, the fanatical Bird Man cult is finally banished, but not before many people have died as a result.

360 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2006

About the author

James Musgrave was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. He taught as a Professor of English and worked as a Supervisor, Management Development at Caltech, Pasadena and at various San Diego colleges. He is now the author and publisher at EMRE Publishing, LLC in San Diego. He has won many writing awards, and his mysteries are "featured selections" by the American Library Association. He was also a Finalist in the Bram Stoker Awards, First Place Award for Best Historical Mystery in the Chanticleer International Book Awards, and a Finalist in the Heekin Fellowship.

Please contact the author at: jamesmusgrave2122@att.net
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Reviews

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iron Maiden is an alternate historical story about the American Civil War. I'm actually a little wary about this genre. I tend to know just enough about the time period that the lack of historical accuracy really irritates me. Then, the aliens arrive or some other dramatic paranormal event occurs. This tends to make the situation so laughable that I start to think of the work as comedy. Usually, the authors of such works don't share my sense of merriment.

Iron Maiden is different, in a good way- a really good way. The author obviously knows his time period and has done a lot of research to make his story fit seamlessly into place. His attention historical accuracy definitely shows. Two of the characters were real people and the author's story fits very neatly with the records of their personalities and their life stories. I even felt the need to do some checking to see where the alternate history started and ended. I liked that aspect.

This book also made me laugh. The characters were so set on "going native" in the Easter Islands but they really had no clue about these islands or the inhabitants (fitting in perfectly with the knowledge that these people would have actually had at that time). The results are incredibly ironic.

[Geraldine Cosentino · Rating 3 out of 5]

The real John Ericcson was a Swedish-born American naval engineer and inventor who built the first armored turret warship and developed the screw propeller, both used by the Union during the Civil War. The character with his name is very different in The Iron Maiden by Jim Musgrave. He is a man who is interested only in making enough money from his inventions to enable him to leave with his wife and friends to establish a Utopian colony on Easter Island in the Pacific. This alternative history is mildly interesting when it depicts life in New York City during the early days of the Civil War. The Brooklyn Navy Yard, Barnum's Museum, John Wilkes Booth, along with large helpings of Walt Whitman's writing all make an appearance in the first half of the book.
The plot goes completely berserk in the second half when our hero and friends embark for Easter Island. What they find and how they react might be considered bizarre if it weren't so mind-numbing. Musgrave's writing is at its best pedestrian and can become boring. Many of the characters are caricatures. The author may have enjoyed writing and publishing The iron Maiden. I doubt that most readers will enjoy reading it.
I received an advance copy and this is my honest opinion.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just LOVE alternate histories and this was my first one on the American Civil War. But it wasn't merely about the ACW; there was machinery, social commentary on relationships (based on status), and bits & pieces of the Mutiny voyage... The parts about Easter Island reminded me fondly of James Michener's "Caribbean".

As another reviewer mentioned, I kept looking up things and spent waaaay too much time on Google Maps. Not that I'm complaining about learning new things - au contraire.

I'm not a writer, so I'm gonna leave it at this: I really enjoyed this realistic alternate history and I recommend it for others.

[Mark Moncure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Disclosure...I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a fan of so-called "alternate-history" books (the South won the Civil War, etc.) , which usually involves a time machine or some other type of plot device. "Iron Maiden" was a pleasant surprise. I found it to be fairly entertaining, although the story did drag in a few spots and the ending seemed a bit rushed. Overall it was a pretty decent book and if you're into Civil War-era stories, I would recommend reading this one.

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the blend of real persons and events with the possible alternate history fiction.
There were numerous twists and turns, self serving and other characters. At times there was some doubt in my mind as to whom the good guys were.
The only shortcoming for me was an apparent rush to conclude, although handled well it lacked body.
Regardless of that the story was completed satisfactorily.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed in this book, I was under the impression that this was about Easter Island not the Civil War. A lot of the information about the Civil War was factual at least what I learned in school but a lot of liberties were taken. If I had been more interested in the Civil War I might have enjoyed this book more. I gave this a 3/5.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my usual type of book but I enjoyed it. I liked the alternate history of the civil war with some real characters and some self-serving ones. The story was well researched and well written and I would recommend it to history buffs. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Steve Filson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry this one is just to Boring...

[Kathy Mensendick]

Loved the book. Would definitely recommend for anyone who likes outer space sci Fi.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say that l couldn't muster enough enthusiasm to finish the book. I love historical fiction, but this just wasn't my cup of tea.