Book Review: The Guns of the South – Harry Turtledove

This book was on my Amazon wish list and was brought for me as a Christmas present. Originally published in 1992, this novel was an incredible read.

Harry Turtledove has a writing ability that stands out from his competition. His ability to craft a storyline is breathtaking. The emotional investment in the characters of his books he garners from his readers is testament to research, consistency and his talent as a story teller.

His writing pace never seems rushed, just the opposite, only upon review to realise just how much he truly has cramped into this book.

This book covers an alternate American history. A group of time travels have emerged in the past and are helping the south win the war. What are consequences of these actions, not just who wins a battle, a campaign, a war, but the effect on slavery and the very way of life for all Americans.

Following closely General Robert E. Lee this book writes a fictional chapter or two of his life, if had lived in alternate America at war with itself. The decisions he makes both military, morally and in his personal life.

The time travel aspect is well written, especially how people perceive items from the future, such as guns, food and more. How would time travelers interact in the past and what motivated the travel in the first place?

It was disturbing at times to read how Americans were treated if their skin pigmentation was anything other than ‘white’. Slavery was a cruel system, yet I believe the world has still not learned enough and many throughout the world still fight and stride for equality. Racism still lives on in societies, which disgusts me.

One of my favourite aspects of this book was the storyline evolving a Sargent in the southern army. A school teacher by trade and how his outlook evolved as the time line altered. An educated man reassessing his own society. His daily life was also well written and at times could of been considered mundane, if it wasn’t for how it tied into the whole book and those moments just aided the overall storyline.

I’m not American and perhaps an American could of written a far greater review, based on their study of history. Even though the storyline saddened me at times, the outcome was well received and this book was a great read.