About the Author

Harry Turtledove is the Hugo-winning author of many SF and fantasy novels. His alternate-history novels, include the bestselling "The Guns of the South, How Few Remain, " the Worldwar series, and the recent" Ruled Britannia." He lives with his wife and daughters in Los Angeles.

Reviews

"Turtledove has proved he can divert his readers to astonishing places...I know I'd follow his imagination almost anywhere."
--"San Jose Mercury News""The author's ability to convey complex abstract issues through strong characterizations sweeps this complicated narrative along ... and he succeeds especially well at portraying inner conflicts caused by hate and pride."
--"Publishers Weekly "on "Out of the Darkness""Magic and technology provide the trappings for an all too human tale of courage amid chaos.... a good choice for fans of military fantasy."
--"Library Journal "on "Out of the Darkness""Turtledove skillfully handles the fates of a cast in whose ranks many readers have found friends."
--"Booklist "on "Out of the Darkness""The strongest yet in the series...Long but ultimately compelling, this book augurs well for the last volume and underscores Turtledove's astonishingly fertile imagination."
--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) on "Jaws of Darkness"
"Turtledove is almost certainly unique in reconceiving World War II in magical fantasy terms and on an immense scale--so far, completely successfully."
--"Booklist" (starred review) on "Darkness Descending"

Turtledove concludes his six-volume magical fantasy alternative history of WWII (Into the Darkness, etc.) with this hefty multifaceted account of the price of winning and the cost of losing. Leaping between vignette-sized glimpses told through each of 16 "viewpoint characters" from different races and kingdoms, this final installment of the Derlavaian world war begins with climactic battles on several fronts, examines the bitter fruit of the Algarvians' genocidal policies against the Kaunians, traces the development and first use of uncanny new magical weapons of mass destruction and sows the seeds for a new conflict between Unkerlant and its former allies. The author's ability to convey complex abstract issues through strong characterizations sweeps this complicated narrative along with a minimum of stereotypes, and he succeeds especially well at portraying inner conflicts caused by hate and pride. As the war grinds to a halt and various story lines start to converge, individual characters' fates gain urgency. Can Vanai, a Kaunian woman masquerading as a Forthwegian, trust her neighbors and safely reveal herself and her child? Can Unkerlanter Marshal Rathar trust his paranoid kin Swemmel not to strike out at the loyal Rathar as a possible rival? By personalizing the frightful tragedies of war, Turtledove makes the big bang of the war's ultimate weapon far less affecting than the whimpers of its many victims. (Apr. 25) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

"Turtledove has proved he can divert his readers to astonishing places...I know I'd follow his imagination almost anywhere."
--"San Jose Mercury News"

"The author's ability to convey complex abstract issues through strong characterizations sweeps this complicated narrative along ... and he succeeds especially well at portraying inner conflicts caused by hate and pride."
--"Publishers Weekly "on "Out of the Darkness""Magic and technology provide the trappings for an all too human tale of courage amid chaos.... a good choice for fans of military fantasy."
--"Library Journal "on "Out of the Darkness""Turtledove skillfully handles the fates of a cast in whose ranks many readers have found friends."
--"Booklist "on "Out of the Darkness""The strongest yet in the series...Long but ultimately compelling, this book augurs well for the last volume and underscores Turtledove's astonishingly fertile imagination."
--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) on "Jaws of Darkness"
"Turtledove is almost certainly unique in reconceiving World War II in magical fantasy terms and on an immense scale--so far, completely successfully."
--"Booklist" (starred review) on "Darkness Descending"