Worldwar

Upsetting the Balance

By: Harry Turtledove

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Length: 25 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Communist China, Japan, Nazi Germany, the United States: they began World War II as mortal enemies. But suddenly their only hope for survival---never mind victory---was to unite to stop a mighty foe: one whose frightening technology appeared invincible.

Far worse beings than the Nazis were loose. From Warsaw to Moscow to China's enemy-occupied Forbidden City, the nations of the world had been forced into an uneasy alliance since humanity began its struggle against overwhelming odds. In Britain and Germany, where the banshee wail of hostile jets screamed across the land, caches of once-forbidden weapons were unearthed, and unthinkable tactics were employed against the enemy. Brilliantly innovative military strategists confronted challenges unprecedented in the history of warfare.

Even as lack of fuel forced people back to horse and carriage, physicists worked feverishly to create the first atomic bombs - with horrifying results. City after city joined the radioactive pyre as the planet erupted in fiery ruins. Yet the crisis continued - on land, sea, and in the air - as humanity writhed in global combat. The tactics of daredevil guerrillas everywhere became increasingly ingenious against a superior foe whose desperate retaliation would grow ever more fearsome.

No one had ever put the United States, or the world, in such deadly danger. But if the carnage and annihilation ever stopped, would there be any pieces to pick up?

©2009 Harry Turtledove (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Turtledove exhibits his genuine feel for crafting believable answers to historical 'what ifs.'" ( Library Journal)

Liked it!

I loved it but I'm a sucker for humanity kicking an unrealistic amount of alien ass.

Good Stuff

Same narrator and he does a great job keeping in character, changing tone and volume for all of the sound effects etc, and even keeps a steady voice while plowing through the terrible sex scenes. Not sure Turtledove thought through all of the strategic decisions being made by the Earth factions but hey, I'm sure stretching this out to four books has left less time for that sort of thing. Also we have only vague ideas about the state of the various armies on a grand scale, hence each atomic detonation seems to translate less meaning each time. Ah well, here's to hoping that's better felt in the last book!

More a soap opera than a war story

It's so unfortunate because the performance is so great and some of the stories are really good and interesting. Unfortunately you have to stomach the other stories to get to them, and they're hardly worth the time.
Whilst certainly a step up from the previous novel, it leaves the listener impatiently waiting to get back to the better characters and stories instead of enjoying all of them

Masterful!

Harry Turtledove deserves all of the praise he has received over his career. A true genius. And Todd McLaren is one the the very best narrators out there and didn't not fall short with this reading.

Good read

This was one of the better reads in the world war series. A good pivotal books in the series and an excellent transition from past books to ones to come.

They just get better and better!

Turtledove does an excellent job at making you care for every character, even while accepting their flaws. From the leader of the alien invasion to his troops, to the human characters including the Soviets and even somehow the Nazis you feel for them all and hope they get through the fire alright in the end.

And honestly you aren't sure how to feel about that.

I can't wait to get the next one!

Loved it!

I didnt know when i started this book that it was the 3rd in a series of 4 books, my mistake but it really didnt matter the book tells enough of the back story to fill in the past. Now to go back to the forst book. haha

Wonderful book

Awesome book. One point of frustration is that the story teller uses a tone that displays the women as soft, while they certainly are not in this story

best.. ending.. EVER!

so the war went extremly hot. this in itself is excellent. but the events in the ending? wow.. did not see that coming.
Got to go, next book here i come!

Better Commutes

As is normally the case the longer you listen to a series of books, the more you invest in it. The story unfolds through the lives of various characters about whom we care. As a privileged observer we can predict what it's coming, but I for one still look forward to the train to and from work.

Like sci-fi? You'll like this series.