Bombs Away: The Hot War

Bombs Away: The Hot War

In his acclaimed novels of alternate history, Harry Turtledove has scrutinized the twisted soul of the twentieth century, from the forces that set World War I in motion to the rise of fascism in the decades that followed. Now, this masterly storyteller turns his eyes to the aftermath of World War II and asks: In an era of nuclear posturing, what if the Cold War had suddenly turned hot?
Â
Bombs Away begins with President Harry Truman in desperate consultation with General Douglas MacArthur, whose control of the ground war in Korea has slipped disastrously away. MacArthur recognizes a stark reality: The U.S. military has been cut to the bone after victory over the Nazisâ€”while China and the USSR have built up their forces. The only way to stop the Communist surge into the Korean Peninsula and save thousands of American lives is through a nuclear attack. MacArthur advocates a strike on Chinese targets in Manchuria. In actual history, Truman rejected his generalâ€™s advice; here, he does not. The miscalculation turns into a disaster when Truman fails to foresee Russiaâ€™s reaction.
Â
Almost instantly, Stalin strikes U.S. allies in Europe and Great Britain. As the shock waves settle, the two superpowers are caught in a horrifying face-off. Will they attack each other directly with nuclear weapons? What countries will be caught in between?
Â
The fateful global drama plays out through the experiences of ordinary peopleâ€”from a British barmaid to a Ukrainian war veteran to a desperate American soldier alone behind enemy lines in Korea. For them, as well as Truman, Mao, and Stalin, the whole world has become a battleground. Strategic strikes lead to massive movements of ground troops. Cities are destroyed, economies ravaged. And on a planet under siege, the sounds and sights of nuclear bombs become a grim harbinger of a new reality: the struggle to survive manâ€™s greatest madness.

Praise for Bombs Away
Â
â€œA fascinating and compelling story of real people caught in forces beyond their control . . . [Harry Turtledove is] the unrivaled monarch of alternate history.â€â€”Analog
Â
â€œTurtledove is an undisputed centerpiece of the alternate-history genre, and now, to his already grand display, heâ€™s adding the ambitious tale of a WWIII that could have happened.â€â€”Booklist
Â
â€œThis is Turtledove at his best.â€â€”SFRevu
Â
â€œAlternate-world warrior extraordinaire Turtledove delivers the opening barrage of a new speculative conflict.â€â€”Kirkus Reviews
Â
Praise for Harry Turtledove
Â
â€œTurtledove is the standard-bearer for alternate history.â€â€”USA Today
Â
Last Orders
Â
â€œAll quite plausible . . . Turtledoveâ€™s focus on the characters serves to fill out the big picture with patient, nitty-gritty detail. . . . Armchair warriors will have much to ponder.â€â€”Kirkus Reviews
Â
Two Fronts
Â
â€œA you-are-there chronicle of battle on land and sea and in the air.â€â€”Tor.com
Â
Coup dâ€™Etat
Â
â€œThis is what alternative history is all about.â€â€”Historical Novel Society
Â
The Big Switch
Â
â€œThe Hugo Award winner continues to delight in exploring the world of â€˜what if?â€™ â€â€”Library Journal

From the Hardcover edition.
Country USA
Brand Del Rey
Manufacturer Del Rey
Binding Paperback
ItemPartNumber 9780553390728
Color Black
ReleaseDate 2016-06-28
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780553390728

Country	USA
Brand	Del Rey
Manufacturer	Del Rey
Binding	Paperback
ItemPartNumber	9780553390728
Color	Black
ReleaseDate	2016-06-28
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780553390728

Bombs Away: The Hot War

You might also like...