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The Second World War: WW2 - An Alternate History
What would have happened in WW2 if FDR had decided to meet the Japanese in a sea battle north of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941? Would the war be ended in that battle? New Second edition published September 27, 2015
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 6, 2020
This is an alternate history version of how the Second World War may have gone given that the American fleet sailed to meet the Japanese fleet on its way to Pearl Harbor. It's an interesting concept, but poorly executed. Apart from other issues that I will discuss later, the author seems unable to make up his mind whether he wants to tell the story through a series of stories about people in the war (the way that Turtledove does) or whether he wants to write the story as a history book. The combination of the two doesn't really work, and it's certainly not helped by the need for dome serious proof reading. The rest of this review contains spoilers.
The premise here is that Roosevelt found out about the incipient Japanese attack on Pearl shortly before it happened, and sent the US Pacific Fleet out to meet the Japanese. Of course, as was the case in reality, the American carriers weren't present, as they were several hundred miles to the south conducting exercises. Ultimately, this led to a greater disaster for the US Navy, as the Japanese were able to attack the American battleships and carriers separately, and American losses were much greater. This is a reasonable assumption.
In the book, this leads to a complete dominance of the Pacific by the Japanese, save only Pearl and Midway. One wonders why the Japanese would have allowed the Americans to keep Midway - they certainly wouldn't have been able to hold it in the face of a concerted Japanese attack without a fleet to defend it - but this question is never answered in the book.
Whilst not really discussed in detail, presumably the extra setback for the Americans in the Pacific led to them not assisting the British in Africa, which led to the Germans having more troops and led to the fall of Moscow. So Germany and Italy have complete control over Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa - although Britain is never invaded.
Ultimately this leads to the war lasting until 1947 and ends with atomic weapons being used on Germany and Italy as well as Japan. These are the areas in which the book struggles with internal consistency. One of the reasons that Yamamoto was against the Japanese plans to attack Pearl in the first place was that he understood America's industrial strength - this never really happens in this book, and no reason is given. The Pacific surface fleet is never rebuilt, although they do build lots of submarines, and make several advances in submarine technology.
The atomic bomb is developed in the same timeframe as in reality, but it can't be delivered as it is too large - the B-29 is never developed in this story, as the author explains that the American focus is on beating Hitler first. However, if that is the case, why was there no American presence in north Africa and subsequent invasion of Italy? Why was the bomb first used on Japan when the war in Europe was still going on, and there hadn't been a Normandy invasion? None of this is discussed as 80% of the story concerns the war in the northern Pacific.
As I stated at the start, an interesting premise, but I don't think it was well thought through.
The premise here is that Roosevelt found out about the incipient Japanese attack on Pearl shortly before it happened, and sent the US Pacific Fleet out to meet the Japanese. Of course, as was the case in reality, the American carriers weren't present, as they were several hundred miles to the south conducting exercises. Ultimately, this led to a greater disaster for the US Navy, as the Japanese were able to attack the American battleships and carriers separately, and American losses were much greater. This is a reasonable assumption.
In the book, this leads to a complete dominance of the Pacific by the Japanese, save only Pearl and Midway. One wonders why the Japanese would have allowed the Americans to keep Midway - they certainly wouldn't have been able to hold it in the face of a concerted Japanese attack without a fleet to defend it - but this question is never answered in the book.
Whilst not really discussed in detail, presumably the extra setback for the Americans in the Pacific led to them not assisting the British in Africa, which led to the Germans having more troops and led to the fall of Moscow. So Germany and Italy have complete control over Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa - although Britain is never invaded.
Ultimately this leads to the war lasting until 1947 and ends with atomic weapons being used on Germany and Italy as well as Japan. These are the areas in which the book struggles with internal consistency. One of the reasons that Yamamoto was against the Japanese plans to attack Pearl in the first place was that he understood America's industrial strength - this never really happens in this book, and no reason is given. The Pacific surface fleet is never rebuilt, although they do build lots of submarines, and make several advances in submarine technology.
The atomic bomb is developed in the same timeframe as in reality, but it can't be delivered as it is too large - the B-29 is never developed in this story, as the author explains that the American focus is on beating Hitler first. However, if that is the case, why was there no American presence in north Africa and subsequent invasion of Italy? Why was the bomb first used on Japan when the war in Europe was still going on, and there hadn't been a Normandy invasion? None of this is discussed as 80% of the story concerns the war in the northern Pacific.
As I stated at the start, an interesting premise, but I don't think it was well thought through.
October 5, 2017
Terrible technical flaws, though otherwise a very readable work of fiction! Very little though about submarine architecture, and what is and is not feasible! Same goes for some of the aviation concepts as well! The raid on the Japanese aircraft base is just way too incredible, as it neglects all the normal safeguards, including radar surveillance, CAP over such a facility, and many other safeguards!
Just another fantasy story! So many technical flaws, dont know where to start! Also mass confusion about right names Admiral Short in Hawaii, vice General! Very little credit to British, or anyone else!
Just another fantasy story! So many technical flaws, dont know where to start! Also mass confusion about right names Admiral Short in Hawaii, vice General! Very little credit to British, or anyone else!
July 27, 2018
Great read
Well written and thought out a few assumptions in the damage done to support ships and no mention of the U.S. Generals but a great read
Well written and thought out a few assumptions in the damage done to support ships and no mention of the U.S. Generals but a great read
November 26, 2018
A Pretty Good Read
Storyline was interesting and more than plausible. Book suffered from a large no of typo/grammar errors and some incorrect facts. Still a good story.
Storyline was interesting and more than plausible. Book suffered from a large no of typo/grammar errors and some incorrect facts. Still a good story.
January 21, 2019
Andy's review
Downloaded this as I am into alternative history and I was intrigued by it . Glad I did - although quite slow at first it soon picks up and the ending is amazing!
Downloaded this as I am into alternative history and I was intrigued by it . Glad I did - although quite slow at first it soon picks up and the ending is amazing!
October 5, 2017
Fair Reading. Terrible Writing.
Reasonable plot. But doesn't ANYONE edit books anymore??? Commas, subject-verb agreement, complete sentences. Anyone? Anyone? Really distracts when you're wondering when the next error will happen. Yes, I'm an English Nazi!
Reasonable plot. But doesn't ANYONE edit books anymore??? Commas, subject-verb agreement, complete sentences. Anyone? Anyone? Really distracts when you're wondering when the next error will happen. Yes, I'm an English Nazi!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews