What do you think?
Rate this book
Powerless
In a society where lies are law, a simple act of honesty can become the ultimate rebellion.
When does silent compliance with an oppressive regime become unbearable? For Charlie Simpkins, the manager of a small vegetable shop in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, part of the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic, the breaking point comes when he is asked to display a meaningless propaganda poster in his shop window.
It is a seemingly insignificant act in a lifetime of obedience. But Charlie just can’t bring himself to doing it. This minor act of defiance, however, show too much independent thinking on Charlie’s part, setting off a chain of escalating consequences for Charlie and his wife and two children.
Powerless is a haunting dystopian tale of how even the smallest act of defiance can spiral into disaster in a society that demands total conformity. It serves as a chilling reminder of how easily standing up for one’s principles can lead to crushing consequences, erringly echoing the challenges we face today for speaking our truth, even in societies that claim to uphold freedom.
While the novel draws original inspiration from Alexander Dubček's 1968 vision of "socialism with a human face" in Czechoslovakia (the reformist movement sought to humanize authoritarian rule), it will resonate with many who fear that individual freedoms are under attack in many parts of the world. In Powerless, Charlie Simpkins' growing disillusionment mirrors the psychological toll experienced by many today as political stress and uncertainty become ever more pervasive.
As Charlie seeks out others who share his dissatisfaction, his increasingly deliberate and risky actions symbolize the quiet acts of defiance that offer hope and resistance in a society where the powerful suppress dissent. Powerless serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences that can arise when standing up for one's principles in an environment that demands conformity.
When does silent compliance with an oppressive regime become unbearable? For Charlie Simpkins, the manager of a small vegetable shop in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, part of the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic, the breaking point comes when he is asked to display a meaningless propaganda poster in his shop window.
It is a seemingly insignificant act in a lifetime of obedience. But Charlie just can’t bring himself to doing it. This minor act of defiance, however, show too much independent thinking on Charlie’s part, setting off a chain of escalating consequences for Charlie and his wife and two children.
Powerless is a haunting dystopian tale of how even the smallest act of defiance can spiral into disaster in a society that demands total conformity. It serves as a chilling reminder of how easily standing up for one’s principles can lead to crushing consequences, erringly echoing the challenges we face today for speaking our truth, even in societies that claim to uphold freedom.
While the novel draws original inspiration from Alexander Dubček's 1968 vision of "socialism with a human face" in Czechoslovakia (the reformist movement sought to humanize authoritarian rule), it will resonate with many who fear that individual freedoms are under attack in many parts of the world. In Powerless, Charlie Simpkins' growing disillusionment mirrors the psychological toll experienced by many today as political stress and uncertainty become ever more pervasive.
As Charlie seeks out others who share his dissatisfaction, his increasingly deliberate and risky actions symbolize the quiet acts of defiance that offer hope and resistance in a society where the powerful suppress dissent. Powerless serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences that can arise when standing up for one's principles in an environment that demands conformity.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2025
37 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
564 books1,964 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 26, 2025
That was horrifying. Really well written, and a terrifying book to read in April of 2025. Turtledove does an excellent job blending the every day mundanities of life with the horror of living under a dictatorship. And yet I walk away with hope, which hits just right.
May 15, 2025
An ordinary guy in a communist-dominated world
Charlie Simpkins is an ordinary guy, manager of a fruit and vegetable shop in the San Fernando Valley in the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic. Charlie, like his neighbors, ordinarily bows down to whatever the Party deals out, but one day, when a political poster arrives for him to put in the shop window, he rebels and throws it into the trash. There are consequences!
Powerless displays the engaging narrative style that makes Turtledove’s books so enjoyable. Even in the depressing atmosphere of a communist-dominated world, there is humor as well as the suspense and tension that readers would expect in such a society. Page 1 has a marginal note from me that “It sure is dystopia”, but I also inserted a number of “ha ha”s throughout.
The book contains some challenging big events in the world of the WCPDR, but it is about how such events affect average citizens like Charlie rather than the competition within the elites. The people are believable folks dealing with a tough society, and Turtledove describes them well. They all seem to smoke and drink to excess, which was sad. Even sadder were the lessons Charlie’s 11-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son already had learned about how to behave or not behave.
I was drawn in by the struggles of the masses, but as an alternate history, I wanted a bit more background. It is clear that North America and some other countries are communist and they are dominated by the USSR, but is the whole world communist or do they have opponents? How did the takeover come about and when? I got no feel for the date either of the events in the book or the communist takeover.
I also was anticipating a stronger denouement, either positive or negative. This disappointed me, but perhaps Turtledove intended exactly the message I got!
I received an advance review copy of Powerless from Edelweiss and Arc Manor LLC.
Charlie Simpkins is an ordinary guy, manager of a fruit and vegetable shop in the San Fernando Valley in the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic. Charlie, like his neighbors, ordinarily bows down to whatever the Party deals out, but one day, when a political poster arrives for him to put in the shop window, he rebels and throws it into the trash. There are consequences!
Powerless displays the engaging narrative style that makes Turtledove’s books so enjoyable. Even in the depressing atmosphere of a communist-dominated world, there is humor as well as the suspense and tension that readers would expect in such a society. Page 1 has a marginal note from me that “It sure is dystopia”, but I also inserted a number of “ha ha”s throughout.
The book contains some challenging big events in the world of the WCPDR, but it is about how such events affect average citizens like Charlie rather than the competition within the elites. The people are believable folks dealing with a tough society, and Turtledove describes them well. They all seem to smoke and drink to excess, which was sad. Even sadder were the lessons Charlie’s 11-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son already had learned about how to behave or not behave.
I was drawn in by the struggles of the masses, but as an alternate history, I wanted a bit more background. It is clear that North America and some other countries are communist and they are dominated by the USSR, but is the whole world communist or do they have opponents? How did the takeover come about and when? I got no feel for the date either of the events in the book or the communist takeover.
I also was anticipating a stronger denouement, either positive or negative. This disappointed me, but perhaps Turtledove intended exactly the message I got!
I received an advance review copy of Powerless from Edelweiss and Arc Manor LLC.
July 18, 2025
Just as good
This story was different in the context of the tale. The writing was excellent and the characters well thought out. I recommend this book.
This story was different in the context of the tale. The writing was excellent and the characters well thought out. I recommend this book.
September 9, 2025
Powerless is the first novel I have ready by Harry Turtledove. I chose it because of its anti-authoritarian message. The structure and function of this alternate reality in which communism has taken over the United States (and apparently much or all of the world) seemed familiar and frighteningly plausible to me based on my study of the years under Lenin and Stalin.
Our protagonist is Charlie Simpkins, more of a regular guy than any kind of superhero. But he is a regular guy with more spine than most around him who buckle under every order and demand of the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic. Charlie manages a small (state-owned) vegetable shop in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Under threat of the hammer coming down on him, he has so far obeyed orders and been a “good” (obedient) citizen. But one day he is told to put up a ludicrous propaganda poster in his shop window. Charlie has had enough and tosses it in the trash, thereby setting off a chain of unpleasant events.
This is a static society and economy where communist party members are in control and want to continue enjoying their benefits at the expense of everyone else and at the cost of halting progress. One of the local party members, Mary Ann Hannegan, drops in every so often to lecture, berate, and threaten him. As she says, “Any change threatens the system. Any unauthorized change, all the more.” “Deviationism will not be tolerated, will not be permitted.”
Like the communists of our world, “The leaders might talk about the arrival of true Communism and the withering away of the state, but they ruled as if they and their successors, like the dead leaders who appeared only on coins and postage stamps and monuments these days, were in for the long haul.”
Charlie persists in being a thorn in the side of the system, encouraged and infused with a flicker of hope by a rising party member who seeks to loosen things up a bit. The situation seems to be improving a little for a while but this is a dystopian tale in which the authoritarians reassert their dominance. Charlie’s initial act of defiance is small but leads toward major trouble in a world where conformity and obedience are required to be absolute.
Although the story is set in a communist world, the events painfully reminded me of the less extreme pressures to not speak out against a proclaimed orthodoxy or consensus, whether relating to woke obsessions or climate apocalypticism. It also reminded me of some other recent novels, such as the excellent Cancelled: The Shape of Things to Come by Danny King and Mania by Lionel Shriver, as well as the older classic that I only recently read, This Perfect Day, by Ira Levin.
My one criticism is that Turtledove gets a little repetitive in hammering home some obvious points. An example: ‘Then Eichenlode said, “Maybe you’d like to talk outside, where we have more space?” Charlie heard Maybe you’d like to talk outside, where the Nibbies can’t listen?’ Similar unnecessary passages appear throughout, which feels a bit like being spoon-fed.
While not an uplifting read, Powerless is focused on a man who stands up against the powers that be, a man willing to pay the price. I was expecting to feel depressed when I finished it but the ending could have been worse for Charlie and others and does leave us with some hope, however faint.
Our protagonist is Charlie Simpkins, more of a regular guy than any kind of superhero. But he is a regular guy with more spine than most around him who buckle under every order and demand of the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic. Charlie manages a small (state-owned) vegetable shop in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Under threat of the hammer coming down on him, he has so far obeyed orders and been a “good” (obedient) citizen. But one day he is told to put up a ludicrous propaganda poster in his shop window. Charlie has had enough and tosses it in the trash, thereby setting off a chain of unpleasant events.
This is a static society and economy where communist party members are in control and want to continue enjoying their benefits at the expense of everyone else and at the cost of halting progress. One of the local party members, Mary Ann Hannegan, drops in every so often to lecture, berate, and threaten him. As she says, “Any change threatens the system. Any unauthorized change, all the more.” “Deviationism will not be tolerated, will not be permitted.”
Like the communists of our world, “The leaders might talk about the arrival of true Communism and the withering away of the state, but they ruled as if they and their successors, like the dead leaders who appeared only on coins and postage stamps and monuments these days, were in for the long haul.”
Charlie persists in being a thorn in the side of the system, encouraged and infused with a flicker of hope by a rising party member who seeks to loosen things up a bit. The situation seems to be improving a little for a while but this is a dystopian tale in which the authoritarians reassert their dominance. Charlie’s initial act of defiance is small but leads toward major trouble in a world where conformity and obedience are required to be absolute.
Although the story is set in a communist world, the events painfully reminded me of the less extreme pressures to not speak out against a proclaimed orthodoxy or consensus, whether relating to woke obsessions or climate apocalypticism. It also reminded me of some other recent novels, such as the excellent Cancelled: The Shape of Things to Come by Danny King and Mania by Lionel Shriver, as well as the older classic that I only recently read, This Perfect Day, by Ira Levin.
My one criticism is that Turtledove gets a little repetitive in hammering home some obvious points. An example: ‘Then Eichenlode said, “Maybe you’d like to talk outside, where we have more space?” Charlie heard Maybe you’d like to talk outside, where the Nibbies can’t listen?’ Similar unnecessary passages appear throughout, which feels a bit like being spoon-fed.
While not an uplifting read, Powerless is focused on a man who stands up against the powers that be, a man willing to pay the price. I was expecting to feel depressed when I finished it but the ending could have been worse for Charlie and others and does leave us with some hope, however faint.
November 22, 2025
Thanks to Arc Manor and Netgalley for this eARC.
Harry Turtledove’s Powerless is a stark, unsettling alternate history novel that asks what happens when truth itself becomes rebellion. It’s a story that thrives on quiet defiance, showing how even the smallest refusal can ripple through lives under authoritarian rule.
Set in a dystopian Los Angeles that has fallen under the control of the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic, Powerless follows Charlie Simpkins, a greengrocer who lives a cautious, compliant life with his wife and children. His existence is defined by obedience—until one moment of conscience changes everything. When ordered to display a Party propaganda banner in his shop window, Charlie refuses. That single act of resistance, seemingly trivial, becomes the catalyst for escalating consequences that threaten his family and community.
Turtledove captures the suffocating dread of a society where ideology dictates every gesture. The novel’s power lies in its depiction of how fear infiltrates ordinary routines, making even silence dangerous.
Charlie is not a grand revolutionary but an ordinary man whose conscience collides with authoritarian demands. His vulnerability makes him relatable, and his quiet courage underscores the precariousness of living under totalitarianism.
Inspired by Václav Havel’s essay The Power of the Powerless, the book explores the fragility of truth, the moral cost of obedience, and the ripple effects of honesty in a world built on lies.
Originally a novelette, the full-length novel broadens the scope, tracing Charlie’s radicalization and the long-term impact of his defiance on family and society.
Turtledove’s prose is direct and unadorned, allowing the weight of the situation to speak for itself. The pacing is deliberate, building tension gradually as Charlie’s refusal reverberates outward.
Powerless is dystopian fiction and moral meditation. It asks readers to consider how much truth they are willing to sacrifice for safety, and whether silence in the face of oppression is itself complicity.
For readers who value alternate history with ethical depth, this novel stands alongside classics like 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, offering a fresh yet haunting perspective on conscience under authoritarianism.
Harry Turtledove’s Powerless is a stark, unsettling alternate history novel that asks what happens when truth itself becomes rebellion. It’s a story that thrives on quiet defiance, showing how even the smallest refusal can ripple through lives under authoritarian rule.
Set in a dystopian Los Angeles that has fallen under the control of the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic, Powerless follows Charlie Simpkins, a greengrocer who lives a cautious, compliant life with his wife and children. His existence is defined by obedience—until one moment of conscience changes everything. When ordered to display a Party propaganda banner in his shop window, Charlie refuses. That single act of resistance, seemingly trivial, becomes the catalyst for escalating consequences that threaten his family and community.
Turtledove captures the suffocating dread of a society where ideology dictates every gesture. The novel’s power lies in its depiction of how fear infiltrates ordinary routines, making even silence dangerous.
Charlie is not a grand revolutionary but an ordinary man whose conscience collides with authoritarian demands. His vulnerability makes him relatable, and his quiet courage underscores the precariousness of living under totalitarianism.
Inspired by Václav Havel’s essay The Power of the Powerless, the book explores the fragility of truth, the moral cost of obedience, and the ripple effects of honesty in a world built on lies.
Originally a novelette, the full-length novel broadens the scope, tracing Charlie’s radicalization and the long-term impact of his defiance on family and society.
Turtledove’s prose is direct and unadorned, allowing the weight of the situation to speak for itself. The pacing is deliberate, building tension gradually as Charlie’s refusal reverberates outward.
Powerless is dystopian fiction and moral meditation. It asks readers to consider how much truth they are willing to sacrifice for safety, and whether silence in the face of oppression is itself complicity.
For readers who value alternate history with ethical depth, this novel stands alongside classics like 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, offering a fresh yet haunting perspective on conscience under authoritarianism.
September 1, 2025
This is a review of an ARC from publisher Caezik SF and Fantasy and Netgalley.
I found this a strange experience. Published in 2025, this nevertheless read like it was written 60 years ago. It has a real “New Wave” 1960s vibe, and might have been spawned at the height of the Cold War, when American paranoia about the Soviet threat was at its height.
But why now? Set in an alternate California, we find the landmass we know as the USA split into smaller communist states, all in thrall to the Russian powerhouse, which dictates policy and threatens Hungary-1956 or Czechoslovakia-1968 style reprisals. It’s a curiously timeless place. There are neighbourhood stores: produce, hardware, etc. but no supermarkets. Queues and waiting lists for everything, just like Moscow in the Soviet era. But to what end?
It seems so odd, to write about an oppressive totalitarian communist state at this moment, when there is an actual fascist dictator in the White House who is occupying cities with his National Guard, bullying the media, installing giant portraits of himself on public buildings, covering everything in gold paint and ruling by decree. Perhaps the author thinks Powerless is an allegory? But why pick on the communists? Communism isn’t and hasn’t been a problem in America, but capitalism certainly has.
Although I enjoyed the 60s-“new wave” vibe, I found the rest of this a bit of a drag. I feel it’s overwritten, repetitive, lacking in pace, and short on plot. It’s more of a Menippean satire than a novel, but like the proverbial meeting that could have been an email, this is a novel that could have been a short story. It would have worked much better at shorter length, with a lot less repetition. For example, several times during the novel, the protagonist arrives home from work to be greeted by his wife with an official envelope. He opens it, reads the message inside, reacts, and then tells her/us what it says. The first time this happens, it’s a bit of a drag. But then it happens four, five, six more times, which is… something else.
I found this a strange experience. Published in 2025, this nevertheless read like it was written 60 years ago. It has a real “New Wave” 1960s vibe, and might have been spawned at the height of the Cold War, when American paranoia about the Soviet threat was at its height.
But why now? Set in an alternate California, we find the landmass we know as the USA split into smaller communist states, all in thrall to the Russian powerhouse, which dictates policy and threatens Hungary-1956 or Czechoslovakia-1968 style reprisals. It’s a curiously timeless place. There are neighbourhood stores: produce, hardware, etc. but no supermarkets. Queues and waiting lists for everything, just like Moscow in the Soviet era. But to what end?
It seems so odd, to write about an oppressive totalitarian communist state at this moment, when there is an actual fascist dictator in the White House who is occupying cities with his National Guard, bullying the media, installing giant portraits of himself on public buildings, covering everything in gold paint and ruling by decree. Perhaps the author thinks Powerless is an allegory? But why pick on the communists? Communism isn’t and hasn’t been a problem in America, but capitalism certainly has.
Although I enjoyed the 60s-“new wave” vibe, I found the rest of this a bit of a drag. I feel it’s overwritten, repetitive, lacking in pace, and short on plot. It’s more of a Menippean satire than a novel, but like the proverbial meeting that could have been an email, this is a novel that could have been a short story. It would have worked much better at shorter length, with a lot less repetition. For example, several times during the novel, the protagonist arrives home from work to be greeted by his wife with an official envelope. He opens it, reads the message inside, reacts, and then tells her/us what it says. The first time this happens, it’s a bit of a drag. But then it happens four, five, six more times, which is… something else.
November 17, 2025
It has been a while since I have read one of the author's books. I think that I read every book he wrote in the 1990's and through the early 2000's. Then I seemed to burn out on his writing, finding much of it so similar to his last book that I wandered away.
I decided to give the author another chance, and requested an ARC of his latest book from NetGalley.
Powerless is the story of a Joe Everyman, who is trying to cope with the reality that life in the US has completely changed, and your every move is controlled by the powers representing Russia. Turtledove does a good job of demonstrating daily life, and the frustrations of the average person. The main character, one day, decides he is fed up with the system, and does a little act of rebellion by not hanging up the latest propaganda poster in his store. That act takes on a life of it's own, as the main character finds his (and his family's) situation completely changed for the worse. This leads the main character to slide deeper into the oppositions side, until you don't know what will happen to him next.
The plot was good. Where the book fails is in not explaining what exactly happened to the US, and is it a world wide problem. Plus, the author is still writing in the style of the 1990's, where there are LOTS of little dialogues that would seem to have been more appropriate to a book set in the 1930's or 1940's. Plus, everyone is very cynical, and almost always drinking or drunk. It just makes for a rather depressing book.
I am glad that I gave the author another chance, and feel like I can now shut the door on his writing for good.
I decided to give the author another chance, and requested an ARC of his latest book from NetGalley.
Powerless is the story of a Joe Everyman, who is trying to cope with the reality that life in the US has completely changed, and your every move is controlled by the powers representing Russia. Turtledove does a good job of demonstrating daily life, and the frustrations of the average person. The main character, one day, decides he is fed up with the system, and does a little act of rebellion by not hanging up the latest propaganda poster in his store. That act takes on a life of it's own, as the main character finds his (and his family's) situation completely changed for the worse. This leads the main character to slide deeper into the oppositions side, until you don't know what will happen to him next.
The plot was good. Where the book fails is in not explaining what exactly happened to the US, and is it a world wide problem. Plus, the author is still writing in the style of the 1990's, where there are LOTS of little dialogues that would seem to have been more appropriate to a book set in the 1930's or 1940's. Plus, everyone is very cynical, and almost always drinking or drunk. It just makes for a rather depressing book.
I am glad that I gave the author another chance, and feel like I can now shut the door on his writing for good.
September 21, 2025
Extremely mediocre
First, this has got to be his most anticlimactic book Turtledove ever wrote. Just when you think something is going to happen, it doesn't. Then it's a bunch of nothingness all the way to its fitting conclusion. He had an opportunity to create another alternate universe series, but thankfully chose to put it out of its misery.
Also, in what universe on what political spectrum is Communism to the right of Socialism? I guess the same one where Jim Beam is a premium Bourbon. I'm all for "the best whiskey is the whiskey you like to drink," but even Beam lovers agree it ain't premium. Guess the craft Bourbon industry never took off in this timeline, in which case, I guess Jim is the best-ish.
Anyway, back to the book... "freedom" of communism? Yeah, where the state owns everything, you own nothing and be happy? WTF Turtledove? In no alternate universe would this be an acceptable form of freedom.
Lastly, if this book is a commentary on how we need to live our lives, it's even more depressing. Is Turtledove suggesting if we conservatives want freedom to do what we want, WE need to move in the middle of nowhere? Silencing the opposition is what has gotten us to where we are right now as a country. Only through true discourse and sharing of opinions can we move forward as a country, but when one side wants to silence the other, that's when we get your leftist utopia and that's not any place I'll ever live in.
First, this has got to be his most anticlimactic book Turtledove ever wrote. Just when you think something is going to happen, it doesn't. Then it's a bunch of nothingness all the way to its fitting conclusion. He had an opportunity to create another alternate universe series, but thankfully chose to put it out of its misery.
Also, in what universe on what political spectrum is Communism to the right of Socialism? I guess the same one where Jim Beam is a premium Bourbon. I'm all for "the best whiskey is the whiskey you like to drink," but even Beam lovers agree it ain't premium. Guess the craft Bourbon industry never took off in this timeline, in which case, I guess Jim is the best-ish.
Anyway, back to the book... "freedom" of communism? Yeah, where the state owns everything, you own nothing and be happy? WTF Turtledove? In no alternate universe would this be an acceptable form of freedom.
Lastly, if this book is a commentary on how we need to live our lives, it's even more depressing. Is Turtledove suggesting if we conservatives want freedom to do what we want, WE need to move in the middle of nowhere? Silencing the opposition is what has gotten us to where we are right now as a country. Only through true discourse and sharing of opinions can we move forward as a country, but when one side wants to silence the other, that's when we get your leftist utopia and that's not any place I'll ever live in.
July 19, 2025
3/5. A very stereotypical novel about a United States that was somehow taken-over by Russia and broken-up into multiple “People’s Republics.” These Soviet satellites are bleak, downtrodden, and repressive. Everything is being watched and the slightest deviation from good, communist living is reported and punished. A new, progressive leader is installed in the Western Republic (the former states of WA, OR, and CA). At the local level, the book’s protagonist feels similarly. [Spoiler alert!] Surprisingly, some liberal changes are introduced, life improves slightly, the people are happier, and the future holds promise. Unfortunately, other American governments fear radical changes and a Russian invasion restores the status quo. This novel seems ripe for a sequel.
November 22, 2025
This book is a timely read relating to what is happening in the USA with socialist/communist politcians becoming more popular. People in this book put up with the socialist government out of fear and intimidation, not because they like it. Freedom is a precious thing and can easily be taken away. I liked the character of Charlie, finally trying to resist by a simple act of not posting a propaganda sign in his store window. Not really his store, it belongs to the government. I was left with a slight feeling of hope, but the ending was a little depressing. Worth the read and thought provoking!
July 20, 2025
Another solid story from Turtledove. Imagine a world where the Soviet Union ruled. What would the US be like then? What would daily life be like?
Interesting characters, living prosaic lives. One, Charlie, gets counterrevolutionary by not putting up a poster. His life changes, a bit.
Too short- as with many Turtledove books, though they can have many pages. I wished it weren't over so soon. The ending was all too predictable (if you know history.) I'll have to reread some favorites of his while I wait for his next novel (he does seem to have several coming out and in the works.)
Interesting characters, living prosaic lives. One, Charlie, gets counterrevolutionary by not putting up a poster. His life changes, a bit.
Too short- as with many Turtledove books, though they can have many pages. I wished it weren't over so soon. The ending was all too predictable (if you know history.) I'll have to reread some favorites of his while I wait for his next novel (he does seem to have several coming out and in the works.)
May 2, 2025
It started out feeling like dogmatic alt history - the Communists win the Cold War and Americans get a taste of totalitarian life. But by bringing it down to the street level, Turtledove offers a nuanced view that explores what it requires to resist an authoritarian regime without becoming the thing you are fighting against. Draw real-life political parallels as you wish. Read an advance copy, forthcoming July '25
October 13, 2025
In an alternative America there is an attempt by the West Coast People’s Democratic Republic government to reduce corruption, increase transparency and improve social systems for people. This is too much for the USSR overlords who invade along with forces from the former CSA and Canadians.
A better than average revolution novel, the people feel real and while its a harsh reality, there is some hope at the end. An interesting read.
A better than average revolution novel, the people feel real and while its a harsh reality, there is some hope at the end. An interesting read.
July 17, 2025
An interesting tale of a world where communism has succeeded in taking over the world, a world that has a different history than ours. Throw in a combination Prague spring and a Gorbachev type figure set in the western United States. There is a lot going on here but it is an interesting and compelling story. Well worth your time.
August 6, 2025
What does the world look like if the Communists had won the Cold War? The author did a very good job of portraying that world from the point of view of an ordinary workman, including all the contradictions and paradoxes of Marxist Communism. What would it take to overthrow such a society? I wonder if the author will write something about that.
October 2, 2025
Sad
I used to love Turtledove. Read all of his books. For some reason I thought he had died. I started the book and thought this was an old book finally seeing light of day. Asked AI when written and tools current.
I was terribly disappointed in book. I suspect first of all series which I will absolutely NOT read.
I used to love Turtledove. Read all of his books. For some reason I thought he had died. I started the book and thought this was an old book finally seeing light of day. Asked AI when written and tools current.
I was terribly disappointed in book. I suspect first of all series which I will absolutely NOT read.
October 23, 2025
Love love love this book. What used to be the United States became a series of “People’s Republics” under Soviet domination where even small acts of defiance are met with an iron fist. When a new premier loosens the reins a bit the reactions from both Moscow and ordinary people are about what you expect. Great characters in a realistically constructed world.
June 11, 2025
An intense story of an ordinary man in a totalitarian Russian controlled America that never was from the master of alternate history. I hope there will be more of Charlie’s story, I want to know what happens next.
August 28, 2025
I enjoy nearly all of Turtledove's books but could not get into this one. The characters seemed very bland and the plot was lacking.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews