The United States of Atlantis

October 27, 2008
Several years after the events of 2007’s Opening Atlantis
, Victor Radcliff, now middle-aged, is called upon to lead the Atlantis colonies’ fight for independence from England. Victor, aided by his ex-slave friend Blaise, agrees to train and lead the ragtag colonial army against experienced British soldiers under Generals Howe and Cornwallis. Between battles, Victor and his friends debate questions of politics and religion, particularly the troubling dilemma of slavery. Readers familiar with the American Revolution will find analogues to Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold as well as real figures, such as Marquis de la Fayette and Thomas Paine, and elements of real battles of the American Revolution. Victor excels as a general, but makes one personal error that sharply ramps up his stake in the developing conflict and opens the door for a third book.

December 15, 2008
The colonization of the eighth colony of Atlantis has gone well for the British, who have driven the French from its shores and have tightened their rule over the colonists through taxes on goods imported from Europe. Rebellion against King George reaches a crisis, and Victor Radcliffe, leader of the freedom fighters, determines to achieve independence for Atlantis, regardless of the cost. The sequel to "Opening Atlantis" provides the prolific creator of alternate histories the chance to rewrite the American Revolution, Atlantean style. Turtledove excels in exploring historical what-ifs with confidence in his ability to bring not only his characters but also his ideas to life. A good choice for most sf and speculative fiction collections.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 15, 2008
Victor Ratcliff would rather stay home on his farm, raise crops, and console his wife for the loss of their children. But his military leadership in expelling the French and Spanish from Atlantis makes him an obvious candidate to lead a rebellion against the British crown when it restricts Atlantean trade with settlements in Terranova (i.e., North America). The course of the ensuing war is very much like that of the American Revolution in terms of battles won and lost, shortages of everything, and complexnay, convolutedpolitics. Generals Howe and Cornwallis oppose Ratcliff, and the Marquis de la Fayette and the Baron von Steuben help him. But the marquis we recall didnt supply Washington with a colored bedwarmer, who in due course bore him a son, as Ratcliffs marquis does. The birth brings Ratcliff a whole new set of problems, private and public, not the least of which arise from the fact that his new fatherhood bolsters his inclination to push harder than ever for the abolition of slavery in Atlantis, though many fellow Atlanteans are determined to defend it unto death. Stay tuned for the third volume of Turtledoves admirable new alternate history to find out whether conflict is irrepressible.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)