Weapons of Choice

Axis of Time, Book 1

By: John Birmingham

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

The impossible has spawned the unthinkable. In 2021, a quantum military experiment goes horrifically wrong. A multinational taskforce of ultra-modern warships is suddenly transported back in time to 1942...right into the path of the U.S. naval battle group bound for Midway Atoll.

History is rewritten in an instant as the future smashes into the past, and high-tech hardware goes head to head with World War Two technology. In the chaos that ensues, thousands are killed, but the maelstrom has only just begun. The veterans of Pearl Harbor have never seen a helicopter, or a cruise missile - let alone nanotechnology, ceramic bullets, and F22 Raptor stealth jetfighters.

Allied and Axis forces are then caught in a desperate struggle to gain the upper hand - each hoping to tip the balance with a fist full of 21st-century firepower. What happens next is anybody's guess - and everybody's nightmare.

Listen to the entire Axis of Time trilogy.©2005 John Birmingham (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Fantastic narration

The story was both enjoyable and easy to follow. That said, there were certainly parts that didn't make sense or seemed unbelievable (even in the context of a time travel story). The narration was far better than expected, and as someone who also owns the physical books, the audiobooks are the only way to go for this series.

-Chad

Really good read

This book reminds me of a very controversial sci-fi book from the early '80s titled Hitler Victorious. I don't recall the author - but the topics explored were a huge "What If". The author got into some real down and dirty social and psychological changes that probably could have occurred had the Axis powers won WW2. Many of the points were the ugly head of racism and how the racist views were only amplified after the end of the war. Sadly, that particular book was canned by the publisher because it really touched a nerve.

Fast forward to this book - and I'm fascinated with the world created. I do whence each and every time the flagship Carriers name is mentioned - but aside from that I've really enjoyed it. I appreciate the author captured the mindset of the day - that could end someone in the world of today.

Excellent Story! Reminds me of The Final Countdown

I thought this book was really great. I was a little skeptical after reading a few negative reviews, but I have to say this is by far one of my best purchases w/ Audible so far!

Time travel

To write a time travel masterpiece is hard enough but this one hit the mark with only a few flaws. And its only hindsight that reviles them.

A ship named Hillary Clinton

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this to people who like military/political fiction and time travel. A multinational battlegroup from an alternate post 911 future (2020s) where Hillary Clinton had been president following Bush including forces from: Britain, USA, Indonesia, Australia, and a single ship from Japan along with some military forces (such as marines) from other countries including Germany and Russia are thrust back into WWII just prior to the battle of midway. The pop into the middle of the night in the middle of the American fleet heading to midway who, of course, spot the single Japanese ship and the opening is the WWII forces fighting the automatic defenses of the future forces since the shift through time knocked everyone out.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There are so many different characters and I enjoy many of them.

Which character – as performed by Jay Snyder – was your favorite?

The Admiral.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

WWII vs 2020 global culture epic clash and proceed to change the playing field in WWII. Who will fall on the axis and who will join the allies in this alternate history?

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed all three books. The author thought through the cultural clashes, the backlash against the future troops from WWII era individuals, how arrivals would change the playing field -- including who uses the first nuclear weapon and where.