1945 [Paperback]

Newt Gingrich (Author), William Forstchen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1996

An alternate-world retelling of the events of 1945 considers what would have happened if the fictional super weapons of the Luftwaffe had been real. Reprint. NYT.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Baen (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671877399
• ISBN-13: 978-0671877392
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #760,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A great concept and an exciting plot collide. December 15, 2001

By Mike B.

Format:Hardcover

Once you get into 1945, you won't want to put it down as the stakes raise, the action keeps rising and the plot thickens in a story that might have become history. The United States emerges from World War II the victors over Japan and the far east, however the United States never battled Germany, who now controls Europe and has its eye on Soviet Union, or maybe they now have the US in their sites as they left as the only two remaining super powers.

The characters in the story are a little one sided but still very good. Twist and turning sub plots and action they engage in easily make up any shortfalls in the charatchers though for it and make the novel interesting and exciting. The only downside is that the sequel for the book has yet to be written and may never be. However, don't let it stop you from reading 1945 for its stand alone value.

What makes the book interesting is that for the most part is its use of real historical characters, political and military, of the time, a few are made up as needed, but for the most part, it helps make the novel seem highly real.

It's 1945, but it could have been our future...

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 1945 'The Big Tease' December 17, 1999

By "recce"

Format:Paperback

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first alternate history book I had ever read. As a history buff, I found it entirely plausible. The Isolationist factions in the U.S. at the time were doing a very good job at keeping America out of 'Europe's War'. If Germany had not declared war on the U.S., we very well could have continued to support the British and the Russians with what material we could send, but our military force would have been centered on Japan as fighting a one front war is much easier than fighting on two fronts. Some of the characters were a two-dimensional in their make-up, but for the most part believable in composition. This wasn't heavy reading, by any means, just an enjoyable story for those of us that like to think 'what if?'. The only down-side to '1945' is after the fast pace at the end of the book, there's NO SEQUEL! Give us a break, the story was left hanging in mid-air. What happen's next? Do the surviving Nazi commandos get out of the country or do they have to set down in the mountains to be possibly helped by Charles Lindberg and sympathizers from the German-American Bund? Does former-Sergeant York hunt them down with the help from the gang from the VFW hall and then have a final sniper-on-sniper confrontation with Skorzeny? Will the A-bomb fall into Hitler's hands? What, check back with us about five years later to find the answer to these and other questions? Throw us a line guys! Where's the next one?

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget who wrote it, just enjoy it. July 10, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

As an avid reader of Alternate History and techno-thrillers Ithought, "1945" was a great book. The weapons involved wereaccurate and the premise of Germany surviving the second world war intact, is hardly outlandish. I felt that the raid on Oak Ridge was stretched, but not totally impossible. Unfortunately it seems too many people let their political beliefs cloud their literary judgement, and chose to ignore a good book. This narrow-mindness has apparently doomed the sequel to this entertaining novel. I just hope that the publisher will reconsider and go ahead with the second part, myself and quite a few others would be most appreciative.

Finally, I have a parting word of advice for those still unable to read a novel written by the Speaker. First, purchase the paperback; now rip off the cover and enjoy. This way you won't have to see the author's name and you can enjoy a great read.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly decent, once the action starts June 9, 2000

By Brad Smith VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I borrowed this and read it in a day, because, well, I had to go back to school.

Amazingly enough, I did enjoy this, up to a point. After the "gimme", it sets up an interesting premise (which I won't bother going into). Unfortunately, the dialogue and writing are atrocious, for the most part. I'm fairly sure real people did not and do not speak the way they do in this novel. Also, the writers are rather tech-happy, too much so for their own good.

Now, the saving grace in this book is the raid on Oak Ridge. Forschten/Gingrich wrote this very well, and I was deeply impressed. I also thought the political element (i.e. the locals taking to arms to defend against the raid) were nicely put, but not obtrusive.

It is unfortunate that the sequel, Fortress America, never found a publisher. Oh, well. Maybe in a few years, it will.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Alternate History at its best July 11, 2005

By Samuel Brown

Format:Paperback

In order to enjoy this book you must have a basic understanding of technology at the end of WWII. All the aircraft and technology existed at the end of the war but in very limited quantity. It was really a page-turner for me as the "What ifs" poured out.

The only weak point was the war with Japan. It was mentioned only in passing and it was portrayed as a walk over. Even with the full might of the armed forces Japan should have put up more of a fight than alluded to.

Having the Doughboys of WWI come in, lead by Sgt. York, really brought some humor into the story and if it did stretch plausibility a little far.

The market for such a book may have been too small and I am sorry that the following books never were published.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Competent alternate history on an overworked what-if. November 13, 1996

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

As a long-time fan of alternate histories, I got ahold of this book as soon as I could. The premise---that Hitler was out of action due to injuries when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and that without a declaration of war by Germany, Roosevelt could not bring the US into the European Theatre, is plausible and has been examined in other alternate histories.

On the whole, I thought it was a competent, Clancyesque job. Although not up to the level of the true classics of the genre, it appeared to be reasonably well-done, with historical characters behaving as they might actually have in these altered circumstances. In my own opinion, a lot of the savaging this book got was due to antagonism against the author-of-record's political stances, instead of being based on an honest reaction to the book itself. It deserves a chance on its own merits.