The Guns of the South

By: Harry Turtledove

Narrated by: Paul Costanzo

Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

January 1864: General Robert E. Lee faces defeat. The Army of Northern Virginia is ragged and ill-equipped. Gettysburg has broken the back of the Confederacy and decimated its manpower. Then, Andries Rhoodie, a strange man with an unplaceable accent, approaches Lee with an extraordinary offer. Rhoodie demonstrates an amazing rifle: its rate of fire is incredible, its lethal efficiency breathtaking - and Rhoodie guarantees unlimited quantities to the Confederates. The name of the weapon is the AK-47.

©1992 Harry Turtledove (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An exceptionally riveting and innovative narrative that successfully straddles the gulf between fact and fantasy." ( Booklist)

Loved the book but...

This has been a favourite of mine since I bought my first copy in 1992. I love the storyline and how the author works out the plot lines. I also love how Lee deals with the oddity of time travel with the greatest of ease. It might've been interesting to see how he would've marveled at the modern world had he had the chance to see it.

I did NOT care much for the performance. While he did make effort to have the characters speak with the proper enthusiasm, he mispronounced simple words, all the characters sounded the same, and the reading of the story outside of the characters speaking was very dull and monotonous. Many times during long spells of just story, I found myself nodding off. I would not recommend this for listening to while driving.
I WOULD listen to it again, as it's a favourite of mine but please let me know if you ever get someone who knows how to read and make a book come alive for the listener to perform this title.

Good, but.

Very interesting, but the book seems an attempt to rehabilitate Robert E Lee and Nathan Bedford Forrest. RE Lee may have been more believable, but NB Forrest was rivaled in evil only by Hitler and deserves no attempt at rehabilitation.

Absolutely Amazing

This book is just absolutely amazing you grow attached to characters and learn to hate others. The narrator did amazing aswell

The Gun of The South...what if the South had AK47s

Imagine for a moment how different our Civil War might have ended IF the South had been given AK47s.. Visitors from the future approach Robert E Lee and introduce his army to rapid fire automatic weapons. And the rest is an alternative history!

Fantastic!

I had just finished the Southern Victory series and needed some more alternative history. This book is fantastic, I’m glad it’s one novel and sad in a way as well. This book leaves you wanting more, I want to know what happens to Lee and the CSA!

One of Turtledove's very best...

If you like his alternate histories, this is a must buy. Give up that Audible credit!

great brook

great book good story compelling characters and very interestingi would highly recommend this book to anyone

A ludicrous premise played straight to great result

What a wonderful story! All the historical characters are played to the "T", and Turtledove never feels like he personally killed a character, rather that it was another character. Now I need to consume as much Turtledove as I possibly can!

Well written and read.

This was an interesting book to listen to, and an interesting take on an alternative version of history.

It would be well worth your time to take this publication up if you are a fan of this genre.

Speculation or Prophesy

This was an unabridged version of the paperback I read when it was originally published. Having served in the United States Air Force (in tactical and management positions) and the Churches of Christ (as an Evangelist or Preaching Minister) I found myself identifying with one character then another, except for Molly Bean or the store keeper (Mr. Drucker in Hooterville?).