Rating: 
Summary: fantasy equivalent to World War II
Review: The Second World War continues to rage on and over Derlavai. The continent is methodically being razed by the exchange of magical beams of fire, the battle between giant armored beasts, and dragons shooting fire. At first the powerful military of Algarve blitzkrieg to victory through the conversion of the life force of victims, especially the Kauanians.However, recently the tide seems to be turning as the military of Lagoas and Kuusamo have brought the war to the Algarvian homeland. A sorceress-driven ship of ice has transported their deadly dragons to rain firebombs at the heartland of the enemy. Though the Algarvian might has been dented for the first time in this long war, either side could win the fight especially if one side obtains more powerful magic to use in the fray. In this world gone mad, the little people such as Ealstan and his beloved wife Vanai, a Kaunian, want to simply raise their child in a safe environment, but genocide rules the planet. Though a fantasy equivalent to World War II, aficionados of the Great War as well as the genre's fans will enjoy this superb entry in Harry Turtledove's strong "Darkness" series. The big events of WW II are cleverly changed into a fantasy realm yet here is no question what they equate to in the real world. That and great characters simply trying to survive on a stage of mass destruction are what makes Mr. Turtledove the master of historical fantasy. JAWS OF DARKNESS uses sorcery to paint the true horrors of World War II on everyday people. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: fantasy equivalent to World War II
Review: The Second World War continues to rage on and over Derlavai. The continent is methodically being razed by the exchange of magical beams of fire, the battle between giant armored beasts, and dragons shooting fire. At first the powerful military of Algarve blitzkrieg to victory through the conversion of the life force of victims, especially the Kauanians. However, recently the tide seems to be turning as the military of Lagoas and Kuusamo have brought the war to the Algarvian homeland. A sorceress-driven ship of ice has transported their deadly dragons to rain firebombs at the heartland of the enemy. Though the Algarvian might has been dented for the first time in this long war, either side could win the fight especially if one side obtains more powerful magic to use in the fray. In this world gone mad, the little people such as Ealstan and his beloved wife Vanai, a Kaunian, want to simply raise their child in a safe environment, but genocide rules the planet. Though a fantasy equivalent to World War II, aficionados of the Great War as well as the genre's fans will enjoy this superb entry in Harry Turtledove's strong "Darkness" series. The big events of WW II are cleverly changed into a fantasy realm yet here is no question what they equate to in the real world. That and great characters simply trying to survive on a stage of mass destruction are what makes Mr. Turtledove the master of historical fantasy. JAWS OF DARKNESS uses sorcery to paint the true horrors of World War II on everyday people. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Nice But Nothing Special
Review: This is the fifth and next to last book in the World At War series where a modern world war is re-enacted on a magical fantasy world. I think this book was rather ho-hum because I'm getting tired of Harry Turtledove's formula. It seems like he uses the same characters and storylines in all of his series. And the novelty of the war scenario has long since worn off as you mostly know whats going to happen. I'm also annoyed at Turtledove's cavalier treatment of adultery. I just can't respect characters who sleep around because they have "urges." Despite that, I do have to say the characters are refreshingly complex. Nobody's really a saint or a sinner. With the exception of Unkerlant's mad King Swemmel, they're all flawed human beings. And make no mistake, I did like this book. If it wasn't good, it would have taken me weeks to plow through all 576 pages instead of breezing through it in only a few days. To sum it all up, the book was light and fluffy reading. Nice but nothing special.
Rating:
Summary: Nice But Nothing Special
Review: This is the fifth and next to last book in the World At War series where a modern world war is re-enacted on a magical fantasy world. I think this book was rather ho-hum because I'm getting tired of Harry Turtledove's formula. It seems like he uses the same characters and storylines in all of his series. And the novelty of the war scenario has long since worn off as you mostly know whats going to happen. I'm also annoyed at Turtledove's cavalier treatment of adultery. I just can't respect characters who sleep around because they have "urges." Despite that, I do have to say the characters are refreshingly complex. Nobody's really a saint or a sinner. With the exception of Unkerlant's mad King Swemmel, they're all flawed human beings. And make no mistake, I did like this book. If it wasn't good, it would have taken me weeks to plow through all 576 pages instead of breezing through it in only a few days. To sum it all up, the book was light and fluffy reading. Nice but nothing special.
Rating:
Summary: Turtledove Does It Again
Review: Turtledove's fifth book in his Darkness series is his best yet. The year in his book is the equivalent of our 1944. Even though anyone who is familiar with World War II knows what will happen, it is still an interesting and exciting read. Turtledove goes brings in elements of our timeline such as a magical Manhattan Project, the Warsaw Uprising, and the Holocaust, and Vengeance Wepons that are in this case magically guided. However there are some twists. In Turtledove's world, the Germans (Algarvians) know about the Manhattan Project and are trying to stop it. And the "Allies" are just as horrified of the Death Camps and go out of their way to shut them down. All in all, this is an outstanding book with lots of action. One small flaw would be the number of characters to keep track of. While some are exceedingly interesting, some, like the two wizards at the "Naantali Project," seem very redundant. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading the last book in the series. I am just not sure how I will wait until next spring.
| 
