1945 by Newt Gingrich, William Forstchen
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Book Reviews of 1945
Book Review: 1945 'The Big Tease'
Summary: 4 Stars
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?Book Review: Really excellent sci-fi
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm not sure exactly how much of this book that Mr. Gingrich wrote himself, as he is listed as co-author with William Forstchen, but it is a suprisingly good work of historical fantasy.What has been put together here is history as we know it with a few 'what if's' thrown into the mixture of actual events. The authors spin a believeable scenario that is in some ways very close to WW2 history and in some ways drastically different. All very entertaining.
My favorite parts were those dealing with air power. Anyone who has taken a look at the history of the war will know that Germany was very close to putting into production some very advanced aircraft, and in some cases had already used some very high tech equipment to fight the allies (like the ME262 jet fighter). In this book the Nazi's were able to develop their aircraft as they wished with the full industrial capacity of Germany to work with. The weapons that are used in this book are very plausable.
The name dropping is also very entertaining. By this I mean that the authors have inserted actual historical figures into this story as characters. It added a dimension of familiarity that was very easy to digest. Well, maybe the famous Sgt. that makes an apperance at the end was pushing it a bit but I still very much liked that part.
I can't give this book 5 stars because I reserve that for the true classics, which this definately is not. I did however give it four because it is what a sci-fi novel should be, enjoyable to read and well thought out in storyline.
Even if you don't agree with Newt's politics I would suggest putting that aside and picking this book up. It is very much worth reading.
Now if he'd only write a second one!
Book Review: Bad. Very bad.
Summary: 1 Stars
A lame attempt to traverse the terrain Robert Harris already covered- far better -in "Fatherland". Even though this book is called "1945", most of it occurs in 1946. Go figure. Gingrich's characters are dull and the book slows to a glacial pace when his American hero steps onto the page. Was I the only one disturbed by the fact that the Nazi characters are the best written? Maybe the worst book I ever read.Book Review: Great alternate history for WWII buffs
Summary: 4 Stars
Gingrich/Forstchen write an amazing tale, a real page-turner for WWII buffs who have always wondered "what if..." the plot is plausable the action fast paced and Forstchen brings out the war as catalyst for mans advancement theme every bit as well as in his Lost Regiment series. Waiting for Forstchen to get back to this project is becoming painful. Aircorps buffs Gothas V. RATOCats... Nuff' said!! FORSTCHEN get to it man!!Book Review: Inventive entry into the growing alternate history field
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed reading this book very much. Newt has a good grasp of the history of the time the book is set in. Using Otto Skorzeny, Hitlers master commando, as the major protaganist in the novel is both entertaining , and accurate, this is just the type of operation that Skorzeny lived for ,and excelled at. Only one negative.....where is the rest of the book???? Bring on the sequel Newt.