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A review by davidr
Second Contact by Harry Turtledove
4.0
This novel is the first in the Colonization Trilogy. Set in the 1960's, twenty years after the Second World War was interrupted by an alien invasion. There are still enormous enmities between the three super-powers; the United States, the German Reich, and the Soviet Union. But somehow the humans had fought off the extra-terrestrials in some regions, come to a stalemate in others, and had lost their territory in yet other regions.
The extra-terrestrials, who call themselves "the race", are lizard-like creatures. They have not totally subdued the humans, but in some regards are more humane than humans. They do not kill for sport or for irrational prejudices. They are generally less aggressive and are not as calculating or vindictive as humans. They assumed that since their earlier probes of a couple thousand years ago showed that humans were primitive hunters and agriculturists, they would still be primitive in 1940. They were totally caught off-guard by the rate at which humans had advanced in technology. Prepared for a quick lop-sided battle, they were flummoxed by the advanced weaponry of the humans. While humans were still behind the race in technology, they learned fast and were wily opponents.
The novel follows the everyday lives of humans in each civilization, and of aliens in the 1960's. Conversations are a bit stilted at times. Alien gestures are narrated in a very stilted manner. But the humanity comes through in each main character, and even in the aliens. The book tends to be a bit repetitious at times, but the fascinating scenario kept my interest throughout.
I did not read this book--I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Patrick Lawlor. The reading is creditable, but not the best. Some of the German accents are rendered with a Russian-like accent, and the narrator's voice is not always a pleasure to listen to.
The extra-terrestrials, who call themselves "the race", are lizard-like creatures. They have not totally subdued the humans, but in some regards are more humane than humans. They do not kill for sport or for irrational prejudices. They are generally less aggressive and are not as calculating or vindictive as humans. They assumed that since their earlier probes of a couple thousand years ago showed that humans were primitive hunters and agriculturists, they would still be primitive in 1940. They were totally caught off-guard by the rate at which humans had advanced in technology. Prepared for a quick lop-sided battle, they were flummoxed by the advanced weaponry of the humans. While humans were still behind the race in technology, they learned fast and were wily opponents.
The novel follows the everyday lives of humans in each civilization, and of aliens in the 1960's. Conversations are a bit stilted at times. Alien gestures are narrated in a very stilted manner. But the humanity comes through in each main character, and even in the aliens. The book tends to be a bit repetitious at times, but the fascinating scenario kept my interest throughout.
I did not read this book--I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Patrick Lawlor. The reading is creditable, but not the best. Some of the German accents are rendered with a Russian-like accent, and the narrator's voice is not always a pleasure to listen to.