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Le Suprême Sacrifice
États-Unis, 1863. Joshua Chamberlain, professeur d'université originaire du Maine, est accusé de crimes contre la nation. À ses côtés dans le box des accusés se tient Abraham Lincoln, un avocat de l'Illinois, dont la verve lui vaut d'être considéré comme une menace à la sûreté des États-Unis d'Amérique. Le premier écope de quarante ans de travaux forcés, le second d'une réclusion à perpétuité à Fort Monroe, pénitencier réputé inviolable. Mais la route du professeur Chamberlain croise celle de stratèges militaires rebelles, défenseurs des idéaux fondateurs de la nation, bien décidés à fomenter une révolution. Pour réussir, ils ont besoin d'un meneur capable de rallier le peuple à leur cause...
La guerre civile n'a pas débuté en 1861 et Abraham Lincoln n'est pas le seizième président des États-Unis d'Amérique. Tels sont les prémisses de l'uchronie dans laquelle Campbell — connu des fans de SF militaire pour sa série à succès « La Flotte perdue » — revisite un épisode clé de la guerre de Sécession : la bataille de Gettysburg.
La guerre civile n'a pas débuté en 1861 et Abraham Lincoln n'est pas le seizième président des États-Unis d'Amérique. Tels sont les prémisses de l'uchronie dans laquelle Campbell — connu des fans de SF militaire pour sa série à succès « La Flotte perdue » — revisite un épisode clé de la guerre de Sécession : la bataille de Gettysburg.
91 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2013
59 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Jack Campbell
115 books3,030 followersJack Campbell is a pseudonym for American science fiction author John G. Hemry.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
John G. Hemry is an American author of military science fiction novels. Drawing on his experience as a retired United States Navy officer, he has written the Stark's War and Paul Sinclair series. Under the name Jack Campbell, he has written four volumes of the Lost Fleet series, and on his website names two more forthcoming volumes. He has also written over a dozen short stories, many published in Analog magazine, and a number of non-fiction works.
John G Hemry is a retired United States Navy officer. His father, Jack M. Hemry, also served in the navy and as John points out was a mustang. John grew up living in several places including Pensacola, San Diego, and Midway Island.
John graduated from Lyons High School in Lyons in 1974 then attended the US Naval Academy (Class of '78) where he was labeled 'the un-midshipman' by his roommates.
He lives in Maryland with his wife and three kids. His two eldest children are diagnosed as autistic and suffer from Neuro immune dysfunction syndrome (NIDS), an auto-immune ailment which causes their illness, but are progressing under treatment.
John is a member of the SFWA Musketeers whose motto reads: 'The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword, but the Wise Person Carries Both'.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
John G. Hemry is an American author of military science fiction novels. Drawing on his experience as a retired United States Navy officer, he has written the Stark's War and Paul Sinclair series. Under the name Jack Campbell, he has written four volumes of the Lost Fleet series, and on his website names two more forthcoming volumes. He has also written over a dozen short stories, many published in Analog magazine, and a number of non-fiction works.
John G Hemry is a retired United States Navy officer. His father, Jack M. Hemry, also served in the navy and as John points out was a mustang. John grew up living in several places including Pensacola, San Diego, and Midway Island.
John graduated from Lyons High School in Lyons in 1974 then attended the US Naval Academy (Class of '78) where he was labeled 'the un-midshipman' by his roommates.
He lives in Maryland with his wife and three kids. His two eldest children are diagnosed as autistic and suffer from Neuro immune dysfunction syndrome (NIDS), an auto-immune ailment which causes their illness, but are progressing under treatment.
John is a member of the SFWA Musketeers whose motto reads: 'The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword, but the Wise Person Carries Both'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 10, 2022
Avis Lecture 🧐📖 "Le Suprême Sacrifice", Jack Campbell 🦅 @edlatalante
États Unis, 1863
Dans cette Uchronie où la guerre de Sécession américaine n'a pas eu lieu, Abraham Lincoln n'est pas Président des États-Unis. Pire, il est accusé d'être une menace pour la sécurité du pays et écope d'une peine à perpétuité. Joshua Chamberlain, professeur d'université, est également accusé de crime contre la nation. Avec les siens, ils sont décidés à lancer une révolution et recherchent un leader pouvant rallier les foules... Et qui de mieux que Lincoln et sa verve implacable pour incarner ce rôle ? Seul soucis... Ce dernier va être envoyé dans l'endroit réputé le plus inviolable... Fort Monroe!
C'est mon premier Campbell et ça ne sera certainement pas le dernier ! Je compte faire un petit tour du côté de sa série SF "La Flotte Perdue" toujours chez L'Atalante 😜
J'ai bien aimé l'histoire de cette novella. Je me rend juste compte de combien on est ignorant, en Europe, de cette époque historique, alors que le personnage de Lincoln, par exemple, est tant connu et aimé.
Trop court pour moi, même si j'adore les novella, le texte n'en reste pas moins poignant et porteur de valeurs.
On se retrouve d'un côté avec une oligarchie exploitant les pauvres et les esclaves et de l'autre, des combattants de la Liberté ! Ça reste assez manichéens mais ça marche très bien sur un format si court.
Forcément en un peu plus de 90p, l'auteur ne peut pas survoler toute une période et choisi un point charnière pour poser son cadre. Dès lors, on se retrouve plongé dans un récit militaire avec ses enjeux, ses tactiques et les espoirs des combattants !
Campbell maîtrise totalement son sujet, on ressent les recherches historiques derrière rendant le récit très intéressant.
Après cette lecture je n'ai eu qu'une envie : me renseigner plus sur cette époque américaine !
États Unis, 1863
Dans cette Uchronie où la guerre de Sécession américaine n'a pas eu lieu, Abraham Lincoln n'est pas Président des États-Unis. Pire, il est accusé d'être une menace pour la sécurité du pays et écope d'une peine à perpétuité. Joshua Chamberlain, professeur d'université, est également accusé de crime contre la nation. Avec les siens, ils sont décidés à lancer une révolution et recherchent un leader pouvant rallier les foules... Et qui de mieux que Lincoln et sa verve implacable pour incarner ce rôle ? Seul soucis... Ce dernier va être envoyé dans l'endroit réputé le plus inviolable... Fort Monroe!
C'est mon premier Campbell et ça ne sera certainement pas le dernier ! Je compte faire un petit tour du côté de sa série SF "La Flotte Perdue" toujours chez L'Atalante 😜
J'ai bien aimé l'histoire de cette novella. Je me rend juste compte de combien on est ignorant, en Europe, de cette époque historique, alors que le personnage de Lincoln, par exemple, est tant connu et aimé.
Trop court pour moi, même si j'adore les novella, le texte n'en reste pas moins poignant et porteur de valeurs.
On se retrouve d'un côté avec une oligarchie exploitant les pauvres et les esclaves et de l'autre, des combattants de la Liberté ! Ça reste assez manichéens mais ça marche très bien sur un format si court.
Forcément en un peu plus de 90p, l'auteur ne peut pas survoler toute une période et choisi un point charnière pour poser son cadre. Dès lors, on se retrouve plongé dans un récit militaire avec ses enjeux, ses tactiques et les espoirs des combattants !
Campbell maîtrise totalement son sujet, on ressent les recherches historiques derrière rendant le récit très intéressant.
Après cette lecture je n'ai eu qu'une envie : me renseigner plus sur cette époque américaine !
Want to read
September 19, 2015This is copy 248 of 250 signed numbered copies. This book is signed by Jack Campbell and is illustrated by David Palumbo.
August 5, 2020
Alt Civil War is often done poorly. This is nice as a novella, hopefully it gets fleshed out with more stories or novels for a full fledged series.
March 11, 2019
The audiobook went very quickly. It's less than 3 hours long, but I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed this alternate history. After it finished, I was inspired to read more about the real history. This is the second book by this author I've finished. Like the last one, a collection of short stories, I like how he mixes his own storytelling with historical events and places.
The hero of the story is a unique, but believable character placed into real places with historical figures we know, like Abraham Lincoln.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I was drawn in to the story and the character and inspired to learn more about history.
I enjoyed this alternate history. After it finished, I was inspired to read more about the real history. This is the second book by this author I've finished. Like the last one, a collection of short stories, I like how he mixes his own storytelling with historical events and places.
The hero of the story is a unique, but believable character placed into real places with historical figures we know, like Abraham Lincoln.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I was drawn in to the story and the character and inspired to learn more about history.
January 27, 2024
The Last Full Measure
The Author did a marvelous job of bringing forth a vision of what could have happened, and unfortunately what might yet happen.
The premise is valid and the bringing in some of the actual people and places make this almost prophetic.
Lets hope people have more sense than what happened in the storyline.
The Author did a marvelous job of bringing forth a vision of what could have happened, and unfortunately what might yet happen.
The premise is valid and the bringing in some of the actual people and places make this almost prophetic.
Lets hope people have more sense than what happened in the storyline.
May 22, 2025
An alternative 1860s America where the Southern Slaveholding class controls the government and enslaves men speaking out the real facts. Robert E. Lee still remains a villain and a Professor of rhetoric must stop him. A strange short story.
July 4, 2013
The Last Full Measure is an alternate history novella by Jack Campbell, set in the middle of the Nineteenth Century in the US around the time of the Gettysburg Address. (The title is actually a famous quote from that speech.)
Well, I didn't like this one at all as you can see from the rare one star rating. If you're interested in finding out more, you can read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!
Well, I didn't like this one at all as you can see from the rare one star rating. If you're interested in finding out more, you can read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!
April 25, 2020
The Last Full Measure has a very interesting premise, re-imagining the American Civil War (or the start of it) from a unique starting point - the point of deviation is the Thomas Jefferson/Aaron Burr administration in the early 1800's and imagines a US that becomes dominated by a vicious self-sustaining circle of the military and politicians supporting each other, so by 1863 (when the story is set) US history has been revised and the military controls the politicians from behind the curtain, kangaroo courts rule the land, and a burgeoning "New Republic" is fighting for freedom from the tyranny. Into this mix we are introduced to Professor Joshua Chamberlain of Maine, on trial for treason for reading George Washington's original papers. There he meets a lawyer and orator, Abraham Lincoln, also being tried for treason. The events move along rapidly and while being taken to serve on the southern plantations, Chamberlain's train is attacked by New Republic rebels. The Professor joins their cause and must work to free Lincoln so that the growing, but unorganized rebels can take the fight to the government while instilling a reason and cause for the civilians. The story progresses to a very different Battle of Gettysburg between the forces of the New Republic led by Col. Lewis Armistead and (now) Capt. Joshua Chamberlain, and Federal troops led by Col. Robert E. Lee.
I enjoyed the alternative history world-building that Campbell has done, bringing in many famous historical figures (not only Chamberlain and Lincoln, but also Lee, Armistead, Buford, Longstreet, and others) in different roles. The characters (mostly) stay true to their known personalities, and the reasons they give for their roles in the alternative world are plausible. There is some minor character development for Chamberlain, who is the main character, but not much development for other characters. Since this is a novella, that's a bit understandable, but that is the main complaint that I have. This is a story, a premise, that deserved to get a bigger treatment. It should have been a full novel, as by the time the story is resolved you are left with so many threads and unanswered questions that instead of being fulfilling, the story feels empty and half-completed. (It probably could have been a trilogy to better cover the full story.) That the novella ends where it does, uncompleted, is a big disappointment for me.
A good alternate history premise, with decent and interesting characters, but the choice to convey the story in a novella left incomplete threads and unanswered questions about the story and plot.
I enjoyed the alternative history world-building that Campbell has done, bringing in many famous historical figures (not only Chamberlain and Lincoln, but also Lee, Armistead, Buford, Longstreet, and others) in different roles. The characters (mostly) stay true to their known personalities, and the reasons they give for their roles in the alternative world are plausible. There is some minor character development for Chamberlain, who is the main character, but not much development for other characters. Since this is a novella, that's a bit understandable, but that is the main complaint that I have. This is a story, a premise, that deserved to get a bigger treatment. It should have been a full novel, as by the time the story is resolved you are left with so many threads and unanswered questions that instead of being fulfilling, the story feels empty and half-completed. (It probably could have been a trilogy to better cover the full story.) That the novella ends where it does, uncompleted, is a big disappointment for me.
A good alternate history premise, with decent and interesting characters, but the choice to convey the story in a novella left incomplete threads and unanswered questions about the story and plot.
March 12, 2019
The primary quality of this book is the fact of the signed, limited edition run of 250 copies, by the absolutely wonderful #SubterraneanPress that I purchased a while back, but had yet to read. Before any comments on the particular work, I strongly recommend @SubPress for your collecting perusal of signed or limited edition works.
The novella under the pen name of Jack Campbell (AKA John Hemry) of The Lost Fleet fame is a quick and easy read of alternative timeline history, and entertaining. However, if you choose to, you can delve more deeply into the author's attempt to re-align various military officers during the Civil War, and attribute the cause to a brief summation of the change in history beginning with Adams and Jefferson, and specifically Burr, who apparently became Co-President instead of the Vice-President, the implication being that Adam's stacking of army officers and government positions before giving up the presidency, and poor decisions by Jefferson and Burr led to the rapid politicization of the American military, which in turn led to sixty years of political rule dominated by wealthy Southern slaveholders sustained by military "civilian" governance.
I think the extension of this novella into an actual full blown novel, even a trilogy would prove very exciting. The one problem I actually had is the "convenience" of aligning, on different sides of course, and in different ways, a much smaller battle at Gettysburg as the beginning of a new Revolution, or civil war, and many officers who "truly" fought there leading in different ways.
The problem I have is the one I have with many alternate histories, the bringing of so many specific historical figures to a similar place, in a similar time. But, I guess that's an attack on alternative history fiction as a genre in many way. I would much prefer the author turn the entire thing into a much longer work, and the political and social commentary that could come from that as well.
The novella under the pen name of Jack Campbell (AKA John Hemry) of The Lost Fleet fame is a quick and easy read of alternative timeline history, and entertaining. However, if you choose to, you can delve more deeply into the author's attempt to re-align various military officers during the Civil War, and attribute the cause to a brief summation of the change in history beginning with Adams and Jefferson, and specifically Burr, who apparently became Co-President instead of the Vice-President, the implication being that Adam's stacking of army officers and government positions before giving up the presidency, and poor decisions by Jefferson and Burr led to the rapid politicization of the American military, which in turn led to sixty years of political rule dominated by wealthy Southern slaveholders sustained by military "civilian" governance.
I think the extension of this novella into an actual full blown novel, even a trilogy would prove very exciting. The one problem I actually had is the "convenience" of aligning, on different sides of course, and in different ways, a much smaller battle at Gettysburg as the beginning of a new Revolution, or civil war, and many officers who "truly" fought there leading in different ways.
The problem I have is the one I have with many alternate histories, the bringing of so many specific historical figures to a similar place, in a similar time. But, I guess that's an attack on alternative history fiction as a genre in many way. I would much prefer the author turn the entire thing into a much longer work, and the political and social commentary that could come from that as well.
September 20, 2022
Jack Campbell est surtout connu en France pour sa série : La flotte perdue, devenue un classique du space-opera.
Rien de tel ici, puisque l'on a à faire à une novella se déroulant dans des USA uchroniques. L'histoire se déroule en 1863, dans un pays qui a fortement changé suite à la révolution américaine.
Après la mort de George Washington, ses successeurs ont dévoyé les principes républicains en instaurant un système politique où les postes politiques sont liés aux charges militaires, elles-mêmes achetables par les personnes en ayant les moyens. Une forme d'aristocratie censitaire est ainsi apparu, et toute personne se réclamant des principes démocratiques est donc perçue comme ennemi de l'État.
C'est dans ce contexte que nous retrouvons Joshua Chamberlain sur le banc des accusés aux côtés d'un ex-avocat charismatique : Abraham Lincoln.
Voilà pour le pitch.
Cette Amérique uchronique, bien qu'ancrée dans le 19e siècle fait échos aux problématiques actuels du pays. On perçoit à travers les inquiétudes des personnages quant à l'état de leur démocratie, les propres craintes de l'auteur sur l'Amérique contemporaine. Pouvoir de l'argent, mensonges à la tête de l'état, politiciens incompétents obtenant leur mandat grâce à leur argent plutôt que leur mérite, tout cela sonne étrangement familier...
Le texte est pour sa part plaisant, bien écrit et prenant, permettant de rencontrer plusieurs figures historiques de la guerre de Sécession (qui n'a donc pas eu lieu dans ce récit) et qui met même dans le même camp (et si je ne me trompe pas), des personnes qui historiquement n'était pas du même bord durant la guerre en question.
Un texte sympathique donc, mais qui doit avoir plus de sel pour des Américains un peu plus au fait et des figures historiques de l'époque, et des problématiques actuelles des USA, que pour moi.
Rien de tel ici, puisque l'on a à faire à une novella se déroulant dans des USA uchroniques. L'histoire se déroule en 1863, dans un pays qui a fortement changé suite à la révolution américaine.
Après la mort de George Washington, ses successeurs ont dévoyé les principes républicains en instaurant un système politique où les postes politiques sont liés aux charges militaires, elles-mêmes achetables par les personnes en ayant les moyens. Une forme d'aristocratie censitaire est ainsi apparu, et toute personne se réclamant des principes démocratiques est donc perçue comme ennemi de l'État.
C'est dans ce contexte que nous retrouvons Joshua Chamberlain sur le banc des accusés aux côtés d'un ex-avocat charismatique : Abraham Lincoln.
Voilà pour le pitch.
Cette Amérique uchronique, bien qu'ancrée dans le 19e siècle fait échos aux problématiques actuels du pays. On perçoit à travers les inquiétudes des personnages quant à l'état de leur démocratie, les propres craintes de l'auteur sur l'Amérique contemporaine. Pouvoir de l'argent, mensonges à la tête de l'état, politiciens incompétents obtenant leur mandat grâce à leur argent plutôt que leur mérite, tout cela sonne étrangement familier...
Le texte est pour sa part plaisant, bien écrit et prenant, permettant de rencontrer plusieurs figures historiques de la guerre de Sécession (qui n'a donc pas eu lieu dans ce récit) et qui met même dans le même camp (et si je ne me trompe pas), des personnes qui historiquement n'était pas du même bord durant la guerre en question.
Un texte sympathique donc, mais qui doit avoir plus de sel pour des Américains un peu plus au fait et des figures historiques de l'époque, et des problématiques actuelles des USA, que pour moi.
October 19, 2022
“Un spectacle qui illustrait à la perfection les États-Unis, un pays supposément libre, retenu en otage par ceux chargés de le protéger, des dirigeants devenus geôliers qui exécutaient la volonté de quelques puissants plutôt que celle du peuple.”
Une très belle lecture qui m’a surpris avec ses 90 pages!
Tout d’abord il s’agit d’une uchronie dans laquelle l’auteur revient sur la bataille de Gettysburg, un événement crucial de la guerre de Sécession. Cependant nous sommes en 1863 et Abraham Lincoln n’est pas encore président mais un avocat condamné pour s’être exprimé trop franchement sur cette république qui agit à l’encontre même de ses valeurs d’égalité et de liberté. À côté de cela, nous rencontrons Chamberlain, un professeur d’université qui se retrouve jugé en même temps que Lincoln et qui semble adhérer à ses idéaux. Nous suivons donc dans le récit ces deux hommes au destin étroitement lié à la guerre de Sécession et à l’embrasement d’une nouvelle nation.
J’ai vraiment adoré ce récit très dynamique qui nous fait traverser le pays en quelques pages et qui nous offre de très belles scènes de complots politiques, de prises de risque à vous faire tenir en haleine et également de très gros affrontements.
Je ne pensais pas m’attacher si rapidement aux personnages que l’on a suivi tout au long du récit mais la lutte dans laquelle ils se sont engagés est juste et de cette humanité ne peut qu’en découler une certaine admiration et un attachement. Chamberlain est un super personnage, très courageux dans ce qu’il entreprends et touchant dans son raisonnement.
Je ne m’attendais sincèrement pas à autant aimer le récit sachant qu’il est très court mais il est vraiment complet et cela donne envie de s’intéresser à toute cette guerre qui a mené à l’abolition de l’esclavage sous la présidence de Abraham Lincoln, un grand symbole de liberté et d’homme du peuple pour les États-Unis.
Une très belle lecture qui m’a surpris avec ses 90 pages!
Tout d’abord il s’agit d’une uchronie dans laquelle l’auteur revient sur la bataille de Gettysburg, un événement crucial de la guerre de Sécession. Cependant nous sommes en 1863 et Abraham Lincoln n’est pas encore président mais un avocat condamné pour s’être exprimé trop franchement sur cette république qui agit à l’encontre même de ses valeurs d’égalité et de liberté. À côté de cela, nous rencontrons Chamberlain, un professeur d’université qui se retrouve jugé en même temps que Lincoln et qui semble adhérer à ses idéaux. Nous suivons donc dans le récit ces deux hommes au destin étroitement lié à la guerre de Sécession et à l’embrasement d’une nouvelle nation.
J’ai vraiment adoré ce récit très dynamique qui nous fait traverser le pays en quelques pages et qui nous offre de très belles scènes de complots politiques, de prises de risque à vous faire tenir en haleine et également de très gros affrontements.
Je ne pensais pas m’attacher si rapidement aux personnages que l’on a suivi tout au long du récit mais la lutte dans laquelle ils se sont engagés est juste et de cette humanité ne peut qu’en découler une certaine admiration et un attachement. Chamberlain est un super personnage, très courageux dans ce qu’il entreprends et touchant dans son raisonnement.
Je ne m’attendais sincèrement pas à autant aimer le récit sachant qu’il est très court mais il est vraiment complet et cela donne envie de s’intéresser à toute cette guerre qui a mené à l’abolition de l’esclavage sous la présidence de Abraham Lincoln, un grand symbole de liberté et d’homme du peuple pour les États-Unis.
May 15, 2022
Short, easy read that I never really got into. I don't want to give too much away, but the book's premise is an alternate history where northern industrialists and southern slave-holding plantation owners get together with the military to subvert the US constitution, and a group of freedom-loving leaders start a rebellion against them. The idea is that Longstreet, Armistead and Mosby are part of the rebellion along with Joshua Chamberlain, Hancock and Lincoln, and are opposed by Lee, McClellan and others. For Civil War enthusiasts, especially those who want to believe that Longstreet, Armistead and Mosby were good guys and not traitors.
April 15, 2024
Terribly silly. In a past in which the Confederates rule the U.S. and have avoided a Civil War, a who's who of famous leaders engage in a small battle. I don't like these sorts of fantasies. There are plenty of true stories of heroism in war; why bend over backward imagining something for drama's sake? Here, most of the drama is sucked out by long conversations just when everything should be clipped for the sake of the story's pace. It's a headscratcher that this was ever published.
Decent narrator
Decent narrator
December 8, 2021
Alt-history of the civil war battle of Gettysburg. In this one the rebels/new republic are pro-freedom, using George Washington's original papers as their manifesto. Works really well as an audiobook, although the story itself is confusing. It's interesting having real historical figures with the same personality and psychological traits placed in different roles due to the alt history timeline.
January 8, 2022
Quick read alternate history. A fun revisit of Civil era historical people in an alternate history where the battles for true freedom must be fought again, Civil War style, against an oppressive South dominated U.S. dictatorship. The characterizations of known historical figures hold up well in their alternate circumstances. This book made me wonder if in the real world something similar may be necessary in the near future.
November 6, 2023
This is an alternate history story along the same lines as what Eric Flint did in 1632. In this case President John Adams established a military state. He took away all civil rights. (As I recall my history, John Adams actually did take away some civil rights.) He also made history books top secret and anyone looking into history was subject to enslavement and hard labor on the plantations. Two lawyers are brought before the courts and judged guilty. One of them, Abraham Lincoln, is sentenced to prison. The other is sent to the plantations, but the second lawyer escapes and is determined to free Abraham Lincoln in order to establish a nation based on liberty.
Any problems with this story? It got a little jingoistic at times, but it remained within bounds. I was happy with it.
I'd gladly listen to this audiobook again.
Any problems with this story? It got a little jingoistic at times, but it remained within bounds. I was happy with it.
I'd gladly listen to this audiobook again.
April 28, 2018
One of Mr. Campbell's best stories.
Takes a a note from true history, twists it and makes it believable. Similar to the story about the South getting modern guns but not dependent on the sci-fi element. It introduces the hero called Chamberlain at the start of an epic history. I hope Mr. Campbell fills in more of this alternate history.
Takes a a note from true history, twists it and makes it believable. Similar to the story about the South getting modern guns but not dependent on the sci-fi element. It introduces the hero called Chamberlain at the start of an epic history. I hope Mr. Campbell fills in more of this alternate history.
July 8, 2021
I enjoyed this alternate history novella, with a caveat or two. I did not like the characterization of Robert E. Lee (too cold and stiff, not wise enough) and John Adams (briefly mentioned early on as getting the ball rolling on tyranny). However, I very much enjoyed Joshua Chamberlain's part in the story; he's a Civil War hero of mine.
April 26, 2023
It's different but really good.
I didn't think I would like this book. I'm not one for the genre.
I got into it so quickly, though. I love the what if feeling it gave. How it continued and made sense. A lot of books I found either work or do not. This one worked.
The narrator was amazing with the different characters. I could tell them all apart from each other.
I didn't think I would like this book. I'm not one for the genre.
I got into it so quickly, though. I love the what if feeling it gave. How it continued and made sense. A lot of books I found either work or do not. This one worked.
The narrator was amazing with the different characters. I could tell them all apart from each other.
June 27, 2018
Excellent tale
This book was a fun and an exciting read. The author wove chars from real history into his story in a realistic manor. I rated it at 4 stars because I would have liked it to be longer
This book was a fun and an exciting read. The author wove chars from real history into his story in a realistic manor. I rated it at 4 stars because I would have liked it to be longer
April 26, 2019
Campbell's imaginative what-if works as well in alternate history as in future space. Loved it. Great hero, great setting, great situation. A large cast, though. One needs a more detailed knowledge of Civil War history than average to keep track of everybody, but still kept me fascinated.
October 3, 2020
Well Done
Very interesting and well done alternate history. Joshua Chamberlain’s actions at Gettysburg are deftly recreated - still at Gettysburg - equally inspiring. Win and Lo’s friendship crafted nicely.
Very interesting and well done alternate history. Joshua Chamberlain’s actions at Gettysburg are deftly recreated - still at Gettysburg - equally inspiring. Win and Lo’s friendship crafted nicely.
May 16, 2022
Interesting alternate history book where everyone is living under a dictatorship around the time of our civil war and the people trying to fight it to free all people. It was a good read but short. I wish it was longer because of how enjoyable it was.
May 12, 2024
Definitely interesting. I am not so sure about some of the members of the opposition just based on actual history and their political leanings following the reconstruction era, but this is alternate history. so conjecture be damned.
June 19, 2018
A Campbell classic
Although short , the story is fast-moving and loaded with Civil War allusions . It's a fun read and hopefully will lead to further stories in this genre .
Although short , the story is fast-moving and loaded with Civil War allusions . It's a fun read and hopefully will lead to further stories in this genre .
December 19, 2018
I don't usually go in for alternate history stuff but this one was decent. It also probably helped that is was a quick read.
May 6, 2019
An interesting alternate history of the Battle of Gettysburg and the events leading up to it. I don't read many alternative histories but this one was interesting.
June 17, 2019
Wow what a great read highly recommend!!
September 30, 2020
I like alternate history stories. I like how Jack Campbell writes military action and stories. This was a good story, just felt in-complete or... an idea that needed a bit more fleshing out.
April 11, 2021
A romanticised start of the US civil war, with some well-known heroes (Lincoln, Chamberlain). An ok, short read
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