ecl@mtgzz.UUCP (e.c.leeper) (02/09/86)
THE PROTEUS OPERATION by James P. Hogan
Bantam, 1985, $16.95.
A book review by Evelyn C. Leeper
Hogan has written an unusually complex alternate history novel.
Unfortunately, I can't explain the complexity without ruining some of the
surprises, but I can say that he does think through many of the real
questions of time travel and alternate history.
The main character, living in a 1974 in which Germany has won World War
II, travels back in time to 1939 to try to convince Winston Churchill to
take action to prevent this from happening. In addition to all the usual
obstacles they expect, there are many surprising twists and turns which make
this a most satisfying novel. I can't speak for the accuracy of all the
historical details, but I found no obvious errors, except for Hogan's
portraying Isaac Asimov as "somebody [...] who entertained hopeful notions
of becoming a famous science-fiction writer one day." Since Asimov himself
has said that it was decades later that he even considered making science
fiction a career rather than a mere sideline, this sort of name-dropping
definitely falls under the heading "gratuitous."
This book is a definite must for alternate history fans.
Evelyn C. Leeper
...ihnp4!mtgzz!ecl
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* Get a Usenetter on the ballot at Confederation! *
* Nominate MARK R. LEEPER for Hugo for Best Fan Writer in 1986! *
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