Customer Reviews

A Damned Fine War

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I love alternate history books. But you expect two things from them - some basic historical accuracy and some plausibility. Sadly, this book is seriously flawed in both respects.

For example, at one point when Sgt. McKinley reaches US lines at the beginning, US troops are armed with M-14s ... a 1950's/60's version of the M-1 Garand that simply didn't exist in 1945. A major gaffe that shows piss poor editing as well as crappy research. Later on when McKinley saves the "lost patrol" one of the soldiers there has a BAR ... which, according to Mr Yenne is a "20mm" calibre weapon. Bzzt. Wrong. .30-06 ... say 7-8mm or so. Again, piss poor editing and crappy research.

As far as plausibility is concerned ... no explanation for Stalin going insane is offered. And Stalin, while crazy, knew that he was in no position to fight a war with the Western Allies in 1945. This just comes out of the blue for no obvious reason or believable justification. The author shows no comprehension of logistical reality, either, having defecting Soviet troops seamlessly integrated into western allied forces virtually overnight ... despite having different caliber weapons, vehicles etc.

This is the sort of book you buy for a long plane flight or bus trip and throw away, finished or unfinished, at the end.

I've never felt the need to write a review before, but after reading the other reviews for this book, I had to speak out.

I had high hopes for this book. And while I, too, noticed quite a few goofs regarding the weaponry (for example, in the climactic shootout between Patton and Stalin, Patton's driver, wielding a Colt 1911, "squeezed the trigger and felt the hollow click of an empty chamber"--anyone who knows anything about how the 1911 is supposed to operate will tell you that this could happen only if the gun was malfunctioning), I was willing to let such goofs slide. I was even willing to overlook all the implausible scenarios spun for the author's version of WWIII (need I mention that ridiculous shootout again?). What bothered me most was the terrible writing.

Whatever you think of Patton, the fact is that the man was larger than life. He had a presence--gravitas--that was undeniable. Just look at George C. Scott's portrayal if you don't know what I mean. None of that gravitas came through in this book. Patton's lines could have been spoken by Omar Bradley and nobody would have known the difference. I don't call this a "positive" or "negative" depiction of Patton--I call this a "bad" depiction. Whether you think Patton was a genius or a madman, in the book he comes off as bland. I had the same complaint about the depiction of Stonewall Jackson in that unwatchable movie "Gods and Generals." What made Jackson so interesting is that he was nuts--take that nuttiness away and you could call him "Drywall Jackson."

Then there were the love scenes between Nate McKinley, the stereotypical farmboy, and Rosie O'Leary, the spunky newspaper reporter. These were so cloying that they made me gag. I found myself skipping entire chapters when they were together--something I never do. And if Nate insisted on calling his sweetie a "Celtic goddess," he could have had the decency to do this only once or twice. Several times each page was just a little excessive.

Certainly, historical research is important to any alt-hist story. But alternate history is not only about the facts. Alternate history, like any other genre of speculative fiction (or fiction generally, for that matter), is about the storytelling. The problem with this book is that the author, despite what should have been compelling material, failed to tell a decent story.

Don't waste your money on this book. If you insist, go to Goodwill--that's where you'll find my copy.

I, too, enjoy alternate history. Unfortunately, this book has far too many CLANKS that remind you that you are reading an author who doesn't know much of anything about what he's writing about. Like the previously mention M-14s -- CLANK. And as for the 20mm BAR -- CLANK -- no wonder the poor guy thought it was too heavy, the author had Supersized the gun. And would maps have been so hard to include in a military novel? Apparently so.

The main characters, aside from the historical ones, were simply unbelieveable. Even Patton could never make so much as a small mistake in this unexpected conflict. This was more like "The Hardy Boys Go To War" ... and stay faithful to "dead" dream girls. Gimme a break.

However, the absolute worst aspect, for me, was the grossly inaccurate portrayal of the people of the Caucasus. Mr. Yenne would have you believe that they are horse-worshipping Central-Asian yurt-dwellers when nothing could be farther from the truth. How do I know? I have lived in Tbilisi for most of the last three years and I know that part of the Caucasus fairly well. Certainly much better than does Mr. Yenne.

Is there regional friction in the Caucasus? Sure there is, but Chechnya was a non-issue then, mostly because Stalin had depopulated it by mass executions and forced resettlements. As for the Azeris hating the Georgians? Bull pucky. Read the classic *Ali and Nino* for a better understanding, quite unlike the feelings between, say, Azerbaijan and Armenia. And as for the Don Cossacks, well, there are a lot of cossacks and their simplistic portrayal was unknowledgeable at best.

Good alternate fiction assumes some basis in fact, from which interesting twists may be developed. There was little such in this book and no interesting twists whatsoever. The money I spent on this book was wasted but I will not repeat that mistake with any of Mr. Yenne's other efforts. Save yours.

The book starts when, at the end of World War II in Europe, Stalin decides that half of Europe doesn't suffice. He wants it all, Urals to the Pyrennes and beyond. So the massive Soviet legions that helped to crush Hitler turn on the Western Allies. The Red Army meets with some success in the north. But, in the south, in Barvaria, the Red hordes face General Patton's Third Army and that's where things start to get interesting.

I'm not sure that I agree with the scenario that follows. It seems a lot like a wish fullfillment fantasy. Yet, in the back of my mind, I wished that George C. Scott were still alive for one more film, this time of the war Patton really wanted to fight.

--Mark R. Whittington (...)

America's favorite wartime general always wanted to head east, and now he gets his way. I thoroughly enjoyed the setup where the fledgling UN falls apart over executed Polish officers. With our own history of Soviet invasion and oppression, I felt that the story presented a very legitimate What-If, without resorting to literary license. I especially enjoyed the tactics used by Patton, and the reluctant republics under Soviet command. The characters were well thought out, and the plot really held my interest. I do wish the book were longer, or possibly the setup for another volume or two, as I would like to see what kind of world arises from the story.

I just finished this and thought it was a good attempt at a alternative history story. However, there were numerous flaws and plot holes that just kept me from seriously enjoying it. The author states that his idea and the actual departure from real history occurs on the 2nd of May 1945. Yet, numerous times through out the book it actual seems as though he starts the counter-factual earlier. For example he states that the P-80 was in squadron service by the 1st of August 1945. That isn't right since it was still being flight tested in the real world by the time the 2nd World War end. Another seems to be the fact that he has a number of ships that particapate in the invasion of Southern Russia that weren't commissioned or weren't started to be built (such as the Battleship Montana and a couple more of the Essex class Aircraft carriers such as the Reprisal). This and as others have stated the inaccuracies with what both the US and Russian forces were wielding as firearms. The plot holes are just numerous. The war against the Russians are going on along with the war against the Japanese, so he has the invasion of the home islands go ahead but at the same time strips nearly all of the forces that were supposed to invade the Japanese away and puts them in Europe (inculding US Marines) to fight the Soviets. He ends up killing the love intrest of one of his heros and then as an afterthough brings her back to life as though he was told this was a stupid idea by an editior and ends up having a chance to really build his other hero (the US Army Sargent. The main hero seems to be Patton) beyond a typical sterotype of western cowboy. The other major plot hole seems to be after the first big battle near the opening of the book the whole Red Army just collapses upon itself and never again gives the US Army ( and the 3rd Army which is constantly mentioned) a run for thier money. The Russian Generals either switch sides or kill themselves and whole armies surrender.

I am glad that I got this as a pass down from a friend and didn't actually buy this. I really, really tried to like it but it just got harder and harder to like it as I got further and further into the book. I wasn't expecting a Harold Coyle or Tom Clancy style book, but at least something that seem tighter from someone who has other book writing credentials under thier belt. I am going to be wary of anything else this author writes if this is typical of his research and writing abilities.

Never mind the inaccuracies. Never mind the pedestrian love-story. Never mind the puerile kill-the-heroine-and-bring-her-back.

This book is exciting!

The things that the chief historical characters do are the things I would expect from the people themselves.

Those who complain that Patton-in-the-book is larger than life forget that Patton-in-the-flesh was larger than life. If anyone could have kicked Stalin's butt, it would have only been Patton, and he would have gone about it with the same panache and drive as Yenne's Patton.

If you want to read a book for historical accuracy, read a history book. If you want to read a book for fun, read this one!

I am a great fan of alternate history and as such, I have read many books of the genre. Some are in-depth, with every detail. Others, such as this, have enough details, but are faster paced and are more of a light read.

That said, this books is a very enjoyable read. Some things may not be the most believable, but many things in history wouldn't have been believable if they had not actually happened. And since this is alternate history...Anyway, if you don't like Patton, this probably isn't your book. He is portrayed in the most favorable light possible. However, it is still very interesting and you really get into the story. As for the previous reviewers and their minor flaws, such as an M-14 instead of an M-1 and the caliber of the BAR, did y'all ever think maybe it was just a misprint? It does happen. I seriously doubt that would ruin the story for 99.9% of readers.

We don't actually know why Stalin invades, but a probable reason is that he thought this was his best time, with the massive amount of firepower he had in Europe at the time. His logistics situation was in a jumble, but that wouldn't have stopped him if he wanted to invade. The lack of Russian characters is alright, since the story is about the Americans, not a two-sided examination, as some alternate histories are.

Since some reviewers thought it alright to include where Mr. Yenne screwed up, how about the fact that he did pretty meticulous research on the Orders of Battle for the post-war situation in Europe. I didn't recognize a single problem there. And as for the reviewer who was talking about the Caucasus, guess what, darn near everyone hated Stalin. I don't know about the racial situation, but I'm sure most folks would have gladly taken up arms against the tyrant. Some even joined the Germans during WWII. Oh, and in 1945, I'm sure that region was not very advanced technologically.

In summary, the book is an excellent, fast-paced alternate history. With some flaws, including a tad of hero worship, but many more good points, this book is a great introduction to alternate history or just a great read!

As a history teacher myself, who has written alternate history from time to time, I applaud this excellent book. I suspect the detractors, who base most of their complaints on weaponry, have a different agenda. Only a few war buffs read alternate history to see if everything technology wise is completely accurate. What is more important is the social/political effects of certain actions, cause and effect. Yenne has surpassed the great Harry Turtledove whose last few books have been bombs and he comes close to the rising star of Eric Flint.

Now let's look at that different agenda. Thre is no doubt that we messed up at Yalta. President Roosevelt was a great man, but a very sick man and Winston Churchill was unable to do anything when FDR united with Joe Stalin. We gave away the farm and "Uncle Joe" definitely wanted to revive the policy of first European, than world domination. We sold the Polish out and I have Polish friends who visit over there now and report that bitterness still exists over our sell out. President George W. Bush got in trouble with some in the press when he repeated that truth recently. Every bit of this book traces with accuracy what could have happened and almost did happen.

Would General George S. Patton have been the answer? We don't know, but General Dwight Eisenhower, as much I loved him, probably would not have been nor anyone else. It would have taken a Patton to prevent what nearly happened and we would have been better off today.

Think about it. There would have been no Iron Curtain. The U.S.S.R. would not have captured the one million Japanese in Manchuria and turned their weapons over to Communist leader Mao Tse Tung. China might have survived Communist domination. At the least there would have been no Korean War, no war in Vietnam and no Castro running Cuba. With China there may or may not have been a Cold War or an Arms Race. China would have no U.S.S.R. to get atomic secrets from. Our political landscape would have changed too as Eisenhower would not have been president and likely not Richard Nixon. Who knows what that would have meant for the Kennedys and others. Likely they too would no longer be factors.

Would President Harry Truman's re-election in 1952 (he'd have no reason not to run) mean a continuation of New Deal and Fair Deal policies? What changes would come about in the Republican and Democratic party since Communism would no longer be the big issue? Russia, what is left of it, certainly could not have supported radical Islamic forces. It is possible a War on Terror would also not be in the cards for the United States. China and Russia would have little or no influence in Africa so what sort of political situation would we have there? Mr. Yenne, we might need a followup novel.

This is one book I strongly recommend for any intelligent conversation about world politics.

I wanted to like this book, I really did. There is a fair amount of action and a great idea for an area of alternate history no yet explored. Sadly the story falls apart on several levels.
Spoilers coming. You have been warned!

First, the author seems to have a case of hero worship for Patton. The man can do no wrong here. He always comes up w/ unstoppable plans and his analysis of enemy strategy is never wrong. It simply isn't fun to read about someone who has no real flaws (even superman had a weakness).

Second, The love story Yenne trys to develop is shaky at best. It wasn't hard to predict how things would turn out between the two characters. Again we have a few misunderstandings but zero conflict, just two people idolizing each other from afar.

Third, no background is given as to what caused Stalin to attack. If you are going to deviate from history there should be a reason given.

Fourth, There is very little perspective from the russian side. Russian characters are really nonexistent except to show how amazingly over confident they are.

5th, We really need some maps to follow the action as I have no idea where many of the cities mentioned in the book are.

I simply had to force myself to finish this book. I knew about halfway through what the result was going to be and I kept waiting for the twist that never materialized.