AH Bookreview: What If? by Robert Blumetti

[David S Poepoe]

What If? Alternative Historical Time Lines, by Robert Blumetti. iUniverse Inc. 2003. $12.95

I just received this book from Amazon and have only spot read a few of the timelines which include:

WI Napoleon was born in America
WI the Allies won World War One in 1916
WI Bismarck had created Greater Germany instead of Little Germany
Doomed at D-Day: WI the Allies were defeated at Normandy in June 1944
WI the Germans had attacked Moscow in 1942
WI Japan went to war in 1940

Of the six ATL the second and third have been the most interesting. For the Greater Germany ATL he also includes Frederick III surviving. The first, WI Napoleon was born in America, does stretch things a bit; Napoleon serves as President from about 1812 to 1832.

I wasn't impressed with the Doomed at D-Day. The landings go badly and the British later surrender and vote in Lord Halifax - and of course Mosley comes to power.

What if do find interesting is that Blumetti thanks of friend for proofreading the work. The work is littered with typos and poor editing. There are eight pages of illustrations and maps which is a bonus. For the most part only those interested in accumulating a library of AH books should really seek this book out. Others should search their libraries and secondhand bookstores.

AH Rating: 2 hourglasses (out of a possible five)