Harry Harison
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Sorry Mom.
This is easily the most awful set of books that has ever been commited to an Alternate Historians paper. The writing style is embarassing, the research humilating. Can I think of anything positive to say about these books?
Some of Harrison's technological advances that he adds so generously to the American forces in their crusade against Britain (freeing Ireland in what is for the author an obvious wet-dream) are quite ingenious. The miniature tanks which he provides these post civil war troops in particular struck me as rather clever. However such advances, so obvious to the modern author, in such supply as he provides, are entirely unrealistic.
However an implausable scenario might be forgiven if it offers some especial insight into the characters, some philosophy or justification for the far-fetched nature of the book. Harrison's books offer none of that, rather it provides us with a totally unwarranted optomism regarding the power of a Civil War torn America with British power at its height.
There are no surprises in these novels. In the middle of the Civil War an American ship captures a British ship carrying Confederate diplomats (A true event) in Harrison's alternate the British force it to war and the Confederates (whose diplomats had been, you may remember, captured) decide to rejoin the Union and together they thwart the British and liberate Ireland, putting in place a federal republic with separation of church and state. This is happily accepted by the Irish.
They then, through British agression, find themselves in another war, in which they free the Scots (how generous he is) and declare the British a republic (fat chance) which the Britsh people (though not the nobles) happily accept. The premise of this is naive and absurd, but we shan't go into that.
Once you realize that what Harrison will hand you is the least plausable outcome of any situation you have an excellent idea of what will come next.
Purchase: Protest this books awfulness.
Price (Amazon)(Paperback All):
Forever: $6.99
In Peril: $6.99
Triumphant: $6.99