What do you think?
Rate this book
The Best of Harry Turtledove
For more than forty years, Harry Turtledove has been the acknowledged master of one of science fiction's most durable sub-genres: the tale of alternate history. In the course of an incredibly prolific career, Turtledove has created a host of brilliantly imagined revisionist histories on subjects ranging from the American Civil War to the Byzantine Empire to the Second World War (in which an alien invasion plays an unexpected role.) His work includes standalone novels and multi-volume epics, along with an impressive array of short fiction, the best of which has been gathered in this generous, irreplaceable volume. The Best of Harry Turtledove opens with “Peace is Better,” the first of three stories featuring Bill Williamson, the nine-foot-tall Sasquatch who serves as governor of the fictional state of Jefferson, a place where “everyone gets along, regardless of race or size.” Or species. “Bonehunters” posits a world in which the extinction event that ended the reign of the dinosaurs never took place. Two subsequent stories, “Junior & Me” and the Melville-inspired novella, “The Quest for the Great Gray Mossy,” continue to develop this scenario. “The Eighth Grade History Class Visits the Hebrew Home for the Aging” imagines a world in which Anne Frank survived and emigrated to the United States, where she recounts her experiences to a visiting middle school class. “But It Does Move” is the account of a fictional confrontation between Galileo and a leader of the Holy Inquisition. These are only a few of the people, places, and historical epochs you will encounter in this magisterial collection. The twenty-four stories in The Best of Harry Turtledove constitute a master class both in the technique of alternate history and in the art of narrative itself. Longtime Turtledove readers will take this book to their hearts. Newcomers will find themselves searching for more of the author's inimitable—and highly addictive—fiction. They have a lot to look forward to.
579 pages, Hardcover
Published April 30, 2021
96 people are currently reading
87 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 6, 2022
Harry churns 'em out like Isaac Asimov used to, and in both cases the result is always the smooth work of a true professional. Every story here is carefuly constructed. The author's style is always there but never in the way. Each plot unfolds at just the right pace for its length.
Whether they are alternate-timeline or something else, these are almost all "I know we can't but what if we did anyway?" Many wouldn't stand up to close analysis, but they were never meant to. And just when we think they are all amusing, Harry switches us up, and gives us, for example, Gandhi vs. the Nazis.
Recommended.
Whether they are alternate-timeline or something else, these are almost all "I know we can't but what if we did anyway?" Many wouldn't stand up to close analysis, but they were never meant to. And just when we think they are all amusing, Harry switches us up, and gives us, for example, Gandhi vs. the Nazis.
Recommended.
November 28, 2021
8+ There were several five star stories in this collection, But sadly also some I found at best funny or diverting (three stars in my book). Interestingly enough the stories that I really, really loved belonged to a seperate category compared to the ones that were mildly interesting. Those last fell in two categories: stories where the alternate world was used to create humorous circumstances, leading up to a joke, or stories that alluded to known history, or were homages to known works of literature, but with different circumstances. Examples of the first category are 'Bedfellows' that describes two real world politicians from the turn of the century as gay lovers, and 'The weather's fine' that was based on a play with words: 'the seventies' can be an indication of temperature as well as a decade. I found this to be an interesting story, for sure, and the short story 'The Genetics Lecture' got me to chuckle, but to the main they did not fully engage me and they did slip from my recollection quickly (I had to look them up to write this review).
Stories belonging to the second category were 'The Quest for the Great Gray Mossy' that has a well known tale set in a world of intelligent dinosaurs, and 'The Maltese Elephant' that was a hard boiled detective with an unlikeable main character in a world in which the dwarf elephants of Malta never died out. Also the bigfoot stories at the start of the collection fall into this category. I liked the ways in which these worlds were different, but they didn't really surprise me in any way, often playing out just like you would expect. There was no twist in these stories - not in the realisation of when the world diverged from our world, or in the consequences of the divergence.
The true joy of an alternate history tale is when they serve to shine a light on real history, playing out as thought experiments, asking how things would have been different had one thing gone differently. History balances on small events, single decisions ('Jonbar points'). These stories shatter our assumptions about our place in the world. Are our beliefs not based on our upbringing? Would we not believe different things were we raised in a different setting? Of course, the author has a thumb on the scale - this is no more than speculation based on the assumptions of the author. But if the author knows his history and uses genuine facts from history, he or she can makes his assumptions more convincing. And will be able to surprise the reader in showing the conseqences of a different course of events. The five star-stories in this collection all belong to this category. I was genuinely touched by 'The Eight-Grade History Class Visits the Hebrew Home for the Aging', that was well written from the perspective of an older woman as well. 'Shtetl days' is a novella that manages to convincingly transport the reader to a Polish village where Jewish and Polish people live together, more or less peacefully, and then showing that this village is a reconstruction for touristis in a world in which Germany has conquered the world. It was heart-rending, and made me think. And the conclusion was really beautiful. 'Zigeuner' is another tale of the Holocaust, and also one of the best stories in the collection. These stories will stay with me for a long time. Also very powerful in the same vein is 'The Last Article' which asks if the passive resistence espoused by Mahatma Ghandhi would have been effective in resisting a German invasion. I thought the world of a German occupied India well described and the conclusion was harrowing.
Some other powerful stories look at other era's of world history. Always Turtledove manages to vividly describe other times and places, giving them a convincing sense of reality, including all kinds of well thought out details. I enjoyed 'Islands in the Sea', set in a world where Constantinople was conquered earlier in history, and envoys from Islam and Christendom try to convert the ruler of Bulgaria to their cause. A great case showing how history could have been changed, if only one event had played out differently. 'But it does move' had Galileo Galilei talking with a Cardinal from Vienna with some interesting idea's about the human soul ... A very fascinating exploration about the link between personality, science and belief. 'And so to Bed' has seventeenth century British upper class keeping ape men as servants. A fascinating world indeed! I found these to be the best stories in the collection. They made me think by challenging my assumptions, which is what all good stories should ultimately try to accomplish.
Sadly not all the stories in this collection reach the height of these stories, but I concede other readers my like the more humorous stories or the homages to literature more. All in all a great showcase of Harry Turtledove's gift for alternate history. Recommended if you have any interest in this subgenre of speculative literature.
Stories belonging to the second category were 'The Quest for the Great Gray Mossy' that has a well known tale set in a world of intelligent dinosaurs, and 'The Maltese Elephant' that was a hard boiled detective with an unlikeable main character in a world in which the dwarf elephants of Malta never died out. Also the bigfoot stories at the start of the collection fall into this category. I liked the ways in which these worlds were different, but they didn't really surprise me in any way, often playing out just like you would expect. There was no twist in these stories - not in the realisation of when the world diverged from our world, or in the consequences of the divergence.
The true joy of an alternate history tale is when they serve to shine a light on real history, playing out as thought experiments, asking how things would have been different had one thing gone differently. History balances on small events, single decisions ('Jonbar points'). These stories shatter our assumptions about our place in the world. Are our beliefs not based on our upbringing? Would we not believe different things were we raised in a different setting? Of course, the author has a thumb on the scale - this is no more than speculation based on the assumptions of the author. But if the author knows his history and uses genuine facts from history, he or she can makes his assumptions more convincing. And will be able to surprise the reader in showing the conseqences of a different course of events. The five star-stories in this collection all belong to this category. I was genuinely touched by 'The Eight-Grade History Class Visits the Hebrew Home for the Aging', that was well written from the perspective of an older woman as well. 'Shtetl days' is a novella that manages to convincingly transport the reader to a Polish village where Jewish and Polish people live together, more or less peacefully, and then showing that this village is a reconstruction for touristis in a world in which Germany has conquered the world. It was heart-rending, and made me think. And the conclusion was really beautiful. 'Zigeuner' is another tale of the Holocaust, and also one of the best stories in the collection. These stories will stay with me for a long time. Also very powerful in the same vein is 'The Last Article' which asks if the passive resistence espoused by Mahatma Ghandhi would have been effective in resisting a German invasion. I thought the world of a German occupied India well described and the conclusion was harrowing.
Some other powerful stories look at other era's of world history. Always Turtledove manages to vividly describe other times and places, giving them a convincing sense of reality, including all kinds of well thought out details. I enjoyed 'Islands in the Sea', set in a world where Constantinople was conquered earlier in history, and envoys from Islam and Christendom try to convert the ruler of Bulgaria to their cause. A great case showing how history could have been changed, if only one event had played out differently. 'But it does move' had Galileo Galilei talking with a Cardinal from Vienna with some interesting idea's about the human soul ... A very fascinating exploration about the link between personality, science and belief. 'And so to Bed' has seventeenth century British upper class keeping ape men as servants. A fascinating world indeed! I found these to be the best stories in the collection. They made me think by challenging my assumptions, which is what all good stories should ultimately try to accomplish.
Sadly not all the stories in this collection reach the height of these stories, but I concede other readers my like the more humorous stories or the homages to literature more. All in all a great showcase of Harry Turtledove's gift for alternate history. Recommended if you have any interest in this subgenre of speculative literature.
March 26, 2021
I have been reading Harry Turtledove since the 1980's and still found surprising stories in this collection. I had not encountered the Jefferson stories about a sasquatch governor in the West. Nor had I encountered his tales about dino's hunting for great whales. I had encountered Turtledove's neanderthals in the alt history, but I did not remember Pepy's story about the sims in London. I knew of Shetl Days, but had not read it. On the whole, I found plenty to enjoy in this volume. If it is not his best, it will do until that volume comes along.
Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this volume!
Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this volume!
July 17, 2021
I enjoyed this collection of stories. Some more than others.
Unfortunately, it seemed to me that the weakest stories were those placed at the beginning. The collection opens with two sets of linked stories, one set dealing with Bill Williamson, the Sasquatch governor of an alternate-history state of Jefferson in the Pacific Northwest, the other set in an alternate timeline in which dinosaurs, instead of mammals, developed sapience and civilization. These were amusing and cleverly written but really didn't supply the kind of perspective on real history that I look for in alternate-history tales. I suppose the offhand commentary on "race relations" between Sasquatches and "little people" that shows up in the Williamson stories counts for something, but on the whole they're just light entertainment. The dinosaurs-replace-mammals stories seem to me to offer little more than simple substitution. A pulp-western cowboy tale, with a dinosaur replacing the cowboy. A paleontologist-on-the-frontier yarn, with dinosaurs. A pastiche of a well known tale-of-a-whale, with dinosaurs. Is this a clever observation that some things are universal even with reptiles instead of mammals? Or just recycling of well-established storytelling tropes?
The next few stories, though, include some first-rate explorations of alternate histories that really provide a lot of food for thought as well as immediate enjoyment. Vilcabamba turns the tragic history of technologically advanced civilizations wreaking havoc on less-advanced ones on its head. The Eighth Grade History Class Visits the Hebrew Home for the Aged, Shtetl Days, and Zigeuner explore alternate versions of the Holocaust, and all are effective and thought-provoking. These stories are the highlight of the collection, as far as I'm concerned.
There are both hits and misses scattered through the remaining pages. Some (Bedfellows, Mammyth, Deconstruction Gang, The Weather's Fine) are basically comic gags or puns extended to short-story length. Clever but insubstantial; the kind of thing that has filled out the pages of a thousand satirical college-student publications. Others, like Islands in the Sea, News from the Front and The Last Article tread into much more serious territory, very effectively asking unsettling questions about political and philosophical values that most Western readers take for granted. They're also quite intriguingly well-researched, and prompted me to explore several of the real historical events and persons on which they're based.
This is a good collection of stories. Some are profound, and even the ones that didn't wow me were, at worst, competently executed light entertainment. But it's hard to compare it to Turtledove's novel-length explorations of alternate history such as The Guns of the South or Ruled Britannia. Perhaps this is just because short stories are necessarily more uneven and less engrossing. I'll soon be dipping into his 1993 collection, Departures, to see if I find it more consistently captivating.
Unfortunately, it seemed to me that the weakest stories were those placed at the beginning. The collection opens with two sets of linked stories, one set dealing with Bill Williamson, the Sasquatch governor of an alternate-history state of Jefferson in the Pacific Northwest, the other set in an alternate timeline in which dinosaurs, instead of mammals, developed sapience and civilization. These were amusing and cleverly written but really didn't supply the kind of perspective on real history that I look for in alternate-history tales. I suppose the offhand commentary on "race relations" between Sasquatches and "little people" that shows up in the Williamson stories counts for something, but on the whole they're just light entertainment. The dinosaurs-replace-mammals stories seem to me to offer little more than simple substitution. A pulp-western cowboy tale, with a dinosaur replacing the cowboy. A paleontologist-on-the-frontier yarn, with dinosaurs. A pastiche of a well known tale-of-a-whale, with dinosaurs. Is this a clever observation that some things are universal even with reptiles instead of mammals? Or just recycling of well-established storytelling tropes?
The next few stories, though, include some first-rate explorations of alternate histories that really provide a lot of food for thought as well as immediate enjoyment. Vilcabamba turns the tragic history of technologically advanced civilizations wreaking havoc on less-advanced ones on its head. The Eighth Grade History Class Visits the Hebrew Home for the Aged, Shtetl Days, and Zigeuner explore alternate versions of the Holocaust, and all are effective and thought-provoking. These stories are the highlight of the collection, as far as I'm concerned.
There are both hits and misses scattered through the remaining pages. Some (Bedfellows, Mammyth, Deconstruction Gang, The Weather's Fine) are basically comic gags or puns extended to short-story length. Clever but insubstantial; the kind of thing that has filled out the pages of a thousand satirical college-student publications. Others, like Islands in the Sea, News from the Front and The Last Article tread into much more serious territory, very effectively asking unsettling questions about political and philosophical values that most Western readers take for granted. They're also quite intriguingly well-researched, and prompted me to explore several of the real historical events and persons on which they're based.
This is a good collection of stories. Some are profound, and even the ones that didn't wow me were, at worst, competently executed light entertainment. But it's hard to compare it to Turtledove's novel-length explorations of alternate history such as The Guns of the South or Ruled Britannia. Perhaps this is just because short stories are necessarily more uneven and less engrossing. I'll soon be dipping into his 1993 collection, Departures, to see if I find it more consistently captivating.
September 17, 2022
There are some very good stories in this book. Even the ones which I don't consider tops are worth reading. My favorite story is "The Eight-Grade Class Visits the Hebrew Home for the Aging." I teach 8th graders and this story is so right on as to how they are and it was nice to read this alternate ending to a Holocaust story. There, I said that without giving any hints. The stories related to people or events I know much about were quite interesting in their alternate histories. "Islands in the Sea" is one of these stories and it presented the choices and implications very well. Another story "Must and Shall" helps me realize how important Abraham Lincoln and his refusal to revenge and even Andrew Johnson's defiance of the Radical Republicans was in history. "Deconstruction Gang" was different and I will never forget the concepts presented here. I wonder if these are indeed Harry Turtledove's best stories or are they his only shorter works? Worthwhile collection!
Read
August 8, 2024This review is for the short story "Zigeuner" by Harry Turtledove.
I have inserted this review here because Goodreads does not have an entry for this story.
The story originally appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Sept. - Oct. 2017, and also The Year's Best science Fiction: 35th Annual Collection (2018), edited by Gardner Dozois.
A very strong moral tale by the master of alternate time - line and military history stories. Highly recommended.
My rating system:
Since Goodreads only allows 1 to 5 stars (no half-stars), you have no option but to be ruthless. I reserve one star for a book that is a BOMB - or poor (equivalent to a letter grade of F, E, or at most D). Progressing upwards, 2 stars is equivalent to C (C -, C or C+), 3 stars (equals B - or B), 4 stars (equals B+ or A -), and 5 stars (equals A or A+). As a result, I maximize my rating space for good books, and don't waste half or more of that rating space on books that are of marginal quality.
I have inserted this review here because Goodreads does not have an entry for this story.
The story originally appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Sept. - Oct. 2017, and also The Year's Best science Fiction: 35th Annual Collection (2018), edited by Gardner Dozois.
A very strong moral tale by the master of alternate time - line and military history stories. Highly recommended.
My rating system:
Since Goodreads only allows 1 to 5 stars (no half-stars), you have no option but to be ruthless. I reserve one star for a book that is a BOMB - or poor (equivalent to a letter grade of F, E, or at most D). Progressing upwards, 2 stars is equivalent to C (C -, C or C+), 3 stars (equals B - or B), 4 stars (equals B+ or A -), and 5 stars (equals A or A+). As a result, I maximize my rating space for good books, and don't waste half or more of that rating space on books that are of marginal quality.
February 10, 2022
This is a huge book, a rich feast of imagination and consummate story-telling. The stories feature a wide range of characters and situations, including the nine-foot-tall Sasquatch who serves as governor of the fictional state of Jefferson; the descendants of dinosaurs that never got wiped out by the asteroid, digging up their own ancestors’ bones in a Wild West Dinosaur Craze and re-visiting Moby Dick as a mosasaur; heart-breaking tales of Jewish survival of the Holocaust; a fictional confrontation between Galileo and a leader of the Holy Inquisition; Cthulhu as a university lecturer in genetics; and a thriller set in 1940s New Orleans in which defeated Southerners plot to distract the Loyal States from entering World War II. It’s an understatement to say there is something here for every taste, but the scope and effortlessness of Turtledove’s storytelling never falls short.
June 26, 2021
How does one do a "best of" from an author with hundreds of shorts and dozens of novels? This is as good as it gets: shorts and novellas that cover a wide range of styles and subjects, from the leading alternate-history writer. I'd read about half of them before, but the rest were new to me, and it's nice to have them collected together. It's huge, and daunting, but such fun that I sped through it and wanted more. If you've never read Turtledove, this is a nice introduction (and I'd recommend checking out some of his series.) If you're already a fan, get it now. Luckily I pre-ordered and got a signed, numbered copy, which I will treasure. But I'd be happy with it even if I hadn't gotten it early.
September 27, 2021
I'm a habitual Turledove Fan
I thought I had read almost everything the Master of Alt-Hist had written (Except fantasy) but I was wrong. This is a collection of Turtledove shirts taken from magazines over the last 15years. I found several very interesting and a fresh look at things, some were familiar but a great re-read. I have it 4 stars for many of the premises and characters but couldn't reach five as several of his books have, simply because of the lack of development. Overall a very good read despite a couple(in my opinion) klunkers.
I thought I had read almost everything the Master of Alt-Hist had written (Except fantasy) but I was wrong. This is a collection of Turtledove shirts taken from magazines over the last 15years. I found several very interesting and a fresh look at things, some were familiar but a great re-read. I have it 4 stars for many of the premises and characters but couldn't reach five as several of his books have, simply because of the lack of development. Overall a very good read despite a couple(in my opinion) klunkers.
April 15, 2021
This book contains three stories by the master of science fiction. The first story was my favorite about a Sasquatch named Bill Williamson and he is the governor of his fine city. I am so intrigued by his alternate histories that I can never put his books down. As soon as I finish one, I feel like I cannot wait for the next one to come out. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes to read science fiction. The author is truly a master storyteller.
May 9, 2021
It's the first time I read an anthology of Turtledove's short stories and I can say I love them.
His style of writing is unique and the story are interesting.
I received this arc from the publisher via Netgalley
His style of writing is unique and the story are interesting.
I received this arc from the publisher via Netgalley
May 12, 2021
The best of Harry Turtledove
By Harry Turtledove
A brief collection of his extensive career. Showing many of his outstanding short stories. I wanted to get an over view of his writing.
By Harry Turtledove
A brief collection of his extensive career. Showing many of his outstanding short stories. I wanted to get an over view of his writing.
September 18, 2021
My first introduction to this author. Quite an imagination.
May 11, 2021
Well this was sure a different type of book for me. This story contains 3 stories and each is an alternate history/science fiction.
I'm scratching my head here trying to actually find a way to review this bad boy and all I can say is maybe you should just pick up this book and read it for yourself!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in April 2021.
I'm scratching my head here trying to actually find a way to review this bad boy and all I can say is maybe you should just pick up this book and read it for yourself!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in April 2021.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews