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MacArthur's Luck: Part Two: Running the Table
Important note to prior purchasers of MacArthur's migration of this book from Pronoun to Amazon Kindle Direct (as well as the production of an audiobook version) required the original novel to be split into two parts. This is NOT the sequel to the original "MacArthur's Luck"--that's "Stalin's Wager" (which is now available for pre-order). So if you've already read the omnibus edition that contains both Parts One and Two, don't get fooled into thinking this is something it's not. On the other hand, if you just read Part One on Kindle Unlimited ... read on! Commander Robert Heinlein at the Battle of Okinawa! Major Barry Goldwater firebombing Tokyo! Captain Jackie Robinson--first across the Rhine! This is alternate history in the grand tradition. March 1945: With General George Marshall's untimely death, Douglas MacArthur is now the US Army Chief of Staff, and George Patton's Third Army has already forced the Rhine River. The race for Berlin is on! Just east of that city, along the Oder River, famed panzer general Heinz Guderian faces off against Marshall Georgi Zhukov in a titanic battle to determine the fate of Europe. In the Pacific, suddenly different Japanese tactics appear to have stalemated the Americans at Okinawa unless a new army commander--Dwight D. Eisenhower--can get things moving again. Continuing the story begun in MacArthur's Luck (Part One): Laying the Bet, this installment brings the war against Hitler in Europe to a climax, while setting the stage for an even greater conflagration that will engulf the entire globe as the Anglo-American alliance with the Soviet Union crumbles into ashes. And don't miss the third installment (arriving this February): Stalin's Wager (Part One): Inside Straights.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 27, 2018
WW2 redeaux. But different.
By Charles van Buren on March 27, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
As I write this review there are three one star reviews on Amazon which state that this second volume is a repeat/copy of volume one. That is not the case with the volume which I downloaded. Even the very beginning is completely new material concerning SS General Wolfe's attempt to reach a surrender agreement with the United States through OSS officer Alan Dulles in Switzerland. In this alternative history the meetings between Wolfe and Dulles bear much more fruit than they did in actual history.
An interesting and entertaining thing about this alternate history is that, in addition to the tipping point of General George Marshall's death (see volume one), there are numerous small things which affect the changes in the outcome of WW2. There are also little changes which Mr. Newton apparently put in primarily for the fun of it. Things such as the navy accepting Robert A. Heinlein for active duty as a combat officer in the Pacific. Barry Goldwater managing a transfer from piloting transport planes in the CBI theater to flying B29's from Guam under the command of General Curtis LeMay. A major role for black units in the crossing of the Rhine. Particularly for one Captain Jack Roosevelt Robinson, late of UCLA.
The only serious downside to the book which I noticed seems unavoidable - it is going to take several volumes to complete this story. There are some minor editing problems and a few instances of Mr. Newton getting history and equipment wrong. Lavrentiy Beria commanded the NKVD in WW2, not the KGB. The Jagdtiger was equipped with a 128mm gun not an 88. The Iron Cross First Class was pinned to the uniform not worn around the neck. I doubt that most readers really care much about a few similar small errors. All in all this is a fun book for history buffs as well as those just interested in an exciting story.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
By Charles van Buren on March 27, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
As I write this review there are three one star reviews on Amazon which state that this second volume is a repeat/copy of volume one. That is not the case with the volume which I downloaded. Even the very beginning is completely new material concerning SS General Wolfe's attempt to reach a surrender agreement with the United States through OSS officer Alan Dulles in Switzerland. In this alternative history the meetings between Wolfe and Dulles bear much more fruit than they did in actual history.
An interesting and entertaining thing about this alternate history is that, in addition to the tipping point of General George Marshall's death (see volume one), there are numerous small things which affect the changes in the outcome of WW2. There are also little changes which Mr. Newton apparently put in primarily for the fun of it. Things such as the navy accepting Robert A. Heinlein for active duty as a combat officer in the Pacific. Barry Goldwater managing a transfer from piloting transport planes in the CBI theater to flying B29's from Guam under the command of General Curtis LeMay. A major role for black units in the crossing of the Rhine. Particularly for one Captain Jack Roosevelt Robinson, late of UCLA.
The only serious downside to the book which I noticed seems unavoidable - it is going to take several volumes to complete this story. There are some minor editing problems and a few instances of Mr. Newton getting history and equipment wrong. Lavrentiy Beria commanded the NKVD in WW2, not the KGB. The Jagdtiger was equipped with a 128mm gun not an 88. The Iron Cross First Class was pinned to the uniform not worn around the neck. I doubt that most readers really care much about a few similar small errors. All in all this is a fun book for history buffs as well as those just interested in an exciting story.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
September 2, 2018
Andy's review
Started this straight after I'd finished the first part & I'm not sorry I did - it's just as good & I liked the way the author introduced figures from OTL , such as Ronald Reagan & Barry Goldwater (whose running mate in 1964 was Curtis LeMay). Can't wait to read the next instalment!
Started this straight after I'd finished the first part & I'm not sorry I did - it's just as good & I liked the way the author introduced figures from OTL , such as Ronald Reagan & Barry Goldwater (whose running mate in 1964 was Curtis LeMay). Can't wait to read the next instalment!
October 21, 2018
Alternative history at its best
This second part turned out to be a good story of how the Americans should have beat the Russians to Berlin. Why we put up and gave into the Russians I find hard to understand.
This second part turned out to be a good story of how the Americans should have beat the Russians to Berlin. Why we put up and gave into the Russians I find hard to understand.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews