Walk In Hell (The Great War, Book 2)

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Harry Turtledove marches on through history with The Great War: Walk in Hell. In his alternate timeline, the Confederate States of America won the Civil War, aided by Britain and France. In the 1880s (How Few Remain), Americans fought again after the CSA acquired parts of Mexico--and the CSA won again. When WWI begins with Archduke Ferdinand's assassination in 1914 (The Great War: American Front), the 34-state USA under Teddy Roosevelt allies with Imperial Germany and Austria against Britain, France, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Woodrow Wilson's CSA. Trenches divide Canada, fierce fighting rages from Tennessee and Kentucky into Pennsylvania, a Mormon uprising against the USA consumes Utah, and a black socialist rebellion distracts the CSA, where slavery has ended but blacks still await full citizenship.

Walk in Hell takes us from fall, 1915, through 1916. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen continue the fight, but much happens behind the lines too. Turtledove's characters include Jewish immigrants who are socialist and antiwar, a widow running a coffee house in CSA-occupied Washington, D.C., who passes information to the USA, and two Canadian farmers living under U.S. occupation in Quebec and Manitoba. He vividly conveys the human side of war. When Joe Hammerschmitt gets a shoulder wound in the Virginia trenches:

... pain warred with exultation on his long, thin face. Exultation won. 'Got me a hometowner, looks like,' he said happily. Half the men up there with him made sympathetic noises; the other half looked frankly jealous. Hammerschmitt was going to be out of the firing line for weeks, maybe months, to come, and they still risked not just death but horrible mutilation every day.

Some find Turtledove's cast too large, the story's action too slow. Others complain that Walk in Hell is too similar to his Worldwar series. Alternate history buffs, however, will marvel at his mastery of detail, enjoy following his logic as he pursues military and social developments onward in time, and find it hard to wait for the next in the series. --Nona Vero

Book Description

The year is 1915, and the world is convulsing. Though the Confederacy has defeated its northern enemy twice, this time the United States has allied with the Kaiser. In the South, the freed slaves, fueled by Marxist rhetoric and the bitterness of a racist nation, take up the weapons of the Red rebellion. Despite these advantages, the United States remains pinned between Canada and the Confederate States of America, so the bloody conflict continues and grows. Both presidents--Theodore Roosevelt of the Union and staunch Confederate Woodrow Wilson--are stubbornly determined to lead their nations to victory, at any cost. . .

Customer Reviews:

Succeeds at What it Attempts........2005-09-08

The scope is large: the entire theater of World War I on North American soil. This scale is typical Turtledove. The story here is more vast than a few carefully crafted characters could contain. As a novel reader, one is tempted to wish for a tighter focus. One may want to delve deeper into the tender psyches of several of the more interesting characters, such as Jonathan Moss the flying Ace, or Jake Featherston the artillery Sergeant, or Anne Colleton the Mistress of pillaged Mosslands Plantation, but the theater of WWI in America requires a broad cross-section of humanity; and as such, necessarily, we must be content with the briefest snippets of each character's adventure as part of the grander scheme of the entire drama. So, going beyond the perceived missing characterization, this novel succeeds at what it attempts. It purports to be an alternate history novel of WWI fought right here in America. Reading A Walk in Hell gives one a great feel for the war that never was. The mindsets of the principles are ably represented. The people may be shallow but they are realistic portrayals of early twentieth century people. We get to experience the war from the point of view of people on, and behind, many lines of battle, and on both sides of the conflict. The theme here is that people, though from many a varied background, are very much alike. The reader can empathize with most of the characters.

The entire affair has an air of plausibility due largely to the fact that Turtledove never deviates far from actual historical events. The war in Europe continues as before, and the technological advancements of the weapons of war progress at a pace coinciding with those of the real war. We see the first use of tanks to breakthrough the stalemate of trench warfare, and airplane advances promise to alter the war's outcome as planes become more than just aerial reconnaissance devices.

The characters, while necessarily stereotypes, are consistent with the period, with there racial biases, and vengeful tendencies toward the enemy. Our personal contemporary experiences, with the persistent prevailing animosity between the North and the South, lend credibility to the feelings the characters express toward such political antagonists as depicted in this book, the U.S. and the C.S.A., who have fought not just one civil war, but now are engaged in their third period of hot aggression.

A consistent theme throughout all of Turtledove's Great War books, and The Guns of the South for that matter, is unjustified racial discrimination. More often are whites depicted as people of dubious substance than are blacks. Turtledove does a commendable job of giving reasons for this discrimination in the minds of the white characters, both North and South, and some characters are seen to grow in their empathy for the plight of the Black man.

The experienced Turtledove reader will be immediately engaged in the scope of this novel, enjoying the shifting perspective between the various character vignettes that comprise the structure of the book. Turtledove unfolds his story chronologically even thought told through the eyes of many diverse characters. This chronological structure helps the reader keep track of the grand progress of the war throughout the novel despite following the action through many characters on many different fronts. This diffusion of focus can be unsettling unless one grasps the broader panorama of the world Turtledove is trying to convey. Once that broad panorama is understood the experience of letting it unveil before you is quite enjoyable.

This is a very plot driven novel despite the diffuse focus on many different characters, the plot being the slow plodding of a war. This book is recommended to those who can hold a complicated story firm in their heads while gaining only glimpses of the lives of characters.

The NEVER Ending Story or Deja Vu all over again!- Part 2.......2005-07-03

"Walk in Hell" is the second book of Harry Turtledove's "The Great War" trilogy. To recap where we are in this series: the trilogy is an outgrowth of a single book: "How Few Remain". And, the only character that "remained" from that book to move into the trilogy was General Custer. This book wrought the Great War trilogy: 1) American Front, 2) Walk in Hell, and 3) Breakthroughs. This second book solidifies what has become a truly never ending story of nasty Southerners, displaced Mexicans, incompetent Northern officers and feisty Canadians reappear who NEVER die! As with the first book, by the end of this one you will wish that the carnage had been more complete - you pray for the invention of the atomic bomb to end all of civilization but there are no more volumes to go.
It you are like me and want to make sure that you start at the beginning of an author's work and read through to the end, no matter how many volumes, this second volume is almost guaranteed to stifle your reading desires. I have read the entire trilogy and will review the last volume also, but I'll give you my bottom line here so you don't have to drive through all three of my reviews. Take this trilogy to the beach, mountains or lake and if you have a vacation of rain where you have to be indoors, this trilogy will fill those hours. If you don't finish the trilogy during your vacation, PLEASE leave them for the next humans to inhabit that vacation space.
This volume begins with George Enos and after 484 pages there is no resolution of this minor character's Confederate prison camp experience. Don't get me wrong, all the character story lines - and there are dozens to keep straight - are interesting. They just NEVER end. War is a study of death, destruction and tragedy. By the end of this second of the trilogy you are hoping for a few of these characters - especially the saccharine ones -been an untimely demise. I was drawn to the third volume because I really wanted them to meet their ends.

Good installment in alternative WWI series .......2004-08-02

In The Great War: Walk in Hell, Harry Turtledove continues his tale of an alternate world in which the United States and Confederate States fight the "war to end all wars." From the vantage point of the characters he introduced in the previous volume, American Front, the reader follows events from the fall of 1915 - with the sides deadlocked in a bloody stalemate and facing rebellions at home - to the end of 1916. His command of the period is excellent and, while some characters are better defined than others, the overall depictions are strong enough to sustain a reader's interest throughout the novel. Together their experiences convey the grinding misery of war, with the deaths of a couple of his main characters helping to underline the tragedy of the conflict. As a result, while suffering from some of the drag inherent in any middle novel of a series that seeks to sustain action without reaching conclusion, "Walk in Hell" is an entertaining read and a good addition to his developing tetralogy.

Amazing.......2004-01-21

I started this series expecting to be entertained, but only mildly. I was sept off my feet by all three of the books in this series. It is a great read for anyone into military, historical, or alternate history fiction novels

The Great War gets bogged down.......2004-01-10

Walk In Hell is the continuation of Turtledove's alternative history of WWI as fought on American soil. Walk In Hell continues the story exactly where American Front leaves off and focuses largely on the inability for either side to escape the horror of trench warfare. In the Confederacy the blacks rise up in communist insurrection taking advantage of the South's distraction with the war. With the fight stalled on most fronts Walk in Hell works to further develop the 12 or so characters Turtledove is following through the war.

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4 1/2 Stars -- A Slow Walk To Hell Is A Fast Read For Entertainment!
Complex Plot
Loved It!
A neat surprise
Don't Ask, Don't Tell

A Slow Walk to Hell
Patrick A. Davis
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743474309

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Patrick A. Davis returns with an electrifying novel of murder, the military, and one man's search of the truth.

Air Force investigator Martin Collins is used to bucking the system in the name of justice. But when he is called on to investigate the torture-style slaying of Major Franklin Talbot, Collins is embroiled in the most controversial case of his career. Evidence suggests that the deadly act was a hate crime -- and that Talbot was hiding a shocking secret that may have sealed his fate. Even more shocking are the suspects: all high-ranking officers -- including Talbot's

own uncle, a leading presidential candidate.

Traversing a politically charged minefield of buried secrets, Martin is targeted by powerful forces that cannot afford to let him identify Talbot's killer. And when he finally uncovers the devastating truth, Martin will be forced to make a fateful decision between catching a sadistic murderer -- and destroying the lives of countless innocent men.

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"New York Times bestselling author Patrick A. Davis returns with an electrifying novel of murder, the military, and one man's search of the truth. Air Force investigator Martin Collins is used to bucking the system in the name of justice. But when he is called on to investigate the torture-style slaying of Major Franklin Talbot, Collins is embroiled in the most controversial case of his career. Evidence suggests that the deadly act was a hate crime -- and that Talbot was hiding a shocking secret that may have sealed his fate. Even more shocking are the suspects: all high-ranking officers -- including Talbot's own uncle, a leading presidential candidate. Traversing a politically charged minefield of buried secrets, Martin is targeted by powerful forces that cannot afford to let him identify Talbot's killer. And when he finally uncovers the devastating truth, Martin will be forced to make a fateful decision between catching a sadistic murderer -- and destroying the lives of countless innocent men."

Customer Reviews:

4 1/2 Stars -- A Slow Walk To Hell Is A Fast Read For Entertainment!.......2007-03-20

Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy of A Slow Walk To Hell. This book adds to Patrick A. Davis's long list of fast-paced, suspenseful military thrillers. I don't understand why this author isn't a bigger "name" among thriller lovers. A Slow Walk To Hell involves an Air Force investigator assigned to the torture-slaying of an officer who becomes embroiled in a possible hate crime with high-ranking officers and the victim's uncle, the leading presidential candidate, as the chief suspects. Its plot is well-developed and filled with twists and turns, and its characters are multi-dimensional and interesting. If you decide to read A Slow Walk To Hell make sure you have a lot of spare tme because once you start it, I don't think you'll be able to put it down for any length of time. Without going into detail, the reason I'm not giving the book a 5-star rating pertains to its ending, which, while surprising, isn't explained clearly enough (at least for me). Enjoy!

Complex Plot.......2006-06-11

Martin Collins is the chief of police in a small Virginia town not far from Washington,D.C. Also, he is a former Lt. Col. in the Air Force OSI and is subject to being called back to investigate special cases. He has a 13 year old daughter and has been involved in a romantic relationship with a fellow female officer which has not been fulfilled since he has had problems getting over the death of his wife. An military officer is brutally tortured and killed. The murders to wipe out witnesses to the blackmail plot continue.
A general who is a friend of his from college is a prime suspect.
A congressman who seems to be assured of election as the next president is a key figure as is his wife a beautiful former Olympic athlete. A number of high level officials are involved in homosexual situations. Plenty of excitement along the way.

Loved It!.......2004-09-25

A thouroughly entertaining military police procedural. Marty, Amanda, and Simon once again do what they do best by solving a grippping, sad murder story with many twist and turns, and shocking revelations. Mr Davis fans will not be disappointed with this well written novel. As usual, I can't wait to see what comes next with these three.

A neat surprise.......2004-08-04

Davis has foud niche with his military crime fiction. A terrific story with a neat surprise at end. He moves through the world of the Pentagon and joint chief of staff easily, and his characters have a lot of bite to them. The one problem he has fallen into, and why I gave this only 4 stars, is that he is becoming repetitve in his books with witnesses being shot just as they are being interviewed. It happens in nearly every book he has written.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell.......2004-05-10

Air Force investigator Martin Collins and Major Amanda Gardner are called upon to investigate the torture-slaying of Major Franklin Talbot, the nephew of the next president of the United Sates. Major Talbot revealed that he was gay to Colonel Kelly, but after Colonel Kelly reported him and brought him up on charges, Talbot denied it. Talbot's powerful uncle, Congressman Harris, circumvented what could have been blown up into a full-blown scandal. Unable to prove his charges, Kelly was conveniently reassigned out of the country. Now Talbot is dead and Kelly is back in the country and a prime suspect. The further along in their investigation Martin and Amanda get,the more complicated it gets and the more people end up dead.

He and Major Gardner have many times worked investigations together, but this time proves awkward for them. Martin has lost his wife Nicole five years earlier and is raising his 13-year old daaugher. He and Amanda have had a romantic relationship, but Amanda decided to move on when Martin was not ready to let go of his deceased wife. Now Amanda is engaged and Martin realizes that he loves her. The dynamic in their relationship coupled with an interesting plot makes for a very good story.

Product Description

A Vietnam War Novel. ...get ready to have your socks knocked off...(from back cover) Military writing at its best-Rick Casady

Customer Reviews:

Ridiculous.......2007-09-07

There are a few characterizations in this fantasy piece that ring true, but those few that do exist are smothered by the absurdity of the rest of this novel. It might have helped if the author had taken 10 or 15 minutes to do a little research geography alone. Yes, there were covert missions aplenty into Laos and even southern China. Yes, many were FUBAR at the moment of conception. But the portrayals in "Slow Walk through the Gardens..." don't even reach the level of comic book. Prospective readers are encouraged to save their money. There are plenty of accounts, and even some fiction, available on Amazon regarding US intervention in Laos...all far better than this mess. Without a doubt, "Slow Walk...Gardens of Hell" one of the worst books written to date on the war in Southeast Asia. Too bad "zero" stars was not a rating option.

Not sure if this non-fiction book is really fictional.......2007-07-29

I have read dozens (hundred, plus??) of first person accounts of their action in SE asia. SOme of this story is so radically different I am having a hard time believing it. THe basis is that he was a graduate student in guerilla warfare hired by the CIA to help them in Laos and Thailand. The guy that hires him gets fired so the author is shipped off to do combat patrols.
He appears to be a CIA contractor, but not a CIA actual employee. His willingness and ease with which he supposedly kills superior officers and other members of the US Army either makes him the most honest author of the war to date or not completely honest about his history. As a civilian contractor I don't understand if he was under any contract, and if not why not just leave if it was so bad for him. Also, as a civilian, why the hell was he taking ANY orders from Army personel. As a discharged veteran, any military person who tried to give me orders I would tell to get bent as I am a civilian now. I don't understand why he allowed himself to be ordered into situations when he was not official CIA and his directions weren't coming from the CIA.

That being said I am not a combat veteran so I will leave others to decide if it is true or not.

Other than that it is an interesting read if nothing else. If you can keep a skeptical outlook it is a quick read.

A graphic look at the Vietnam War.......2006-10-10

This novel is an intense look at the realities of war from the perspective of a soldier who was just trying to make it out alive. The main character is an American intellectual who was hired by the CIA to conduct intelligence in Laos and vietnam. Unfortunately for him, the CIA dropped the program and didn't know what to do with him. He was sent to command a small patrol in Laos as an "equivalent" officer, which meant that he was never officially part of the military, but was treated like one. Through a combination of resourcefulness, craziness, booze, drugs, and just plain luck he survived in the enemy-infested jungles of Laos against remarkable odds only to have to fight for his own survival against the local military brass who wished he would just disappear. He made a few friends but even more enemies as he did everything in his power to come through it all alive.

Walk of Faith: Three Near-death Experiences and a Journey from the Brink of Hell to Heaven

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My review
Quite an imagination
Walk of Faith, review
A Little Bit About My Book
Take a journey into Enlightenment

Walk of Faith: Three Near-death Experiences and a Journey from the Brink of Hell to Heaven
Chiemi Lynn Haman
Manufacturer: Xulon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1591602270

Customer Reviews:

My review.......2007-03-17

I am writing because I noticed there are reviews for 'Walk of Faith' on Amazon.com. I really enjoyed reading 'Walk of Faith'. It was very interesting to hear the story of this woman's near death experiences, and it gives me courage to believe that there is life for us after this life, and that we will live forever. I give this book a rating of 5 stars!

Quite an imagination.......2007-01-01

I read this book and at best it is simply entertaining, hence the two stars, otherwise it would be only one star. I do not believe this woman's story. She admits to having been treated for brain damage and mental problems due to an auto accident she was in. I'm sure anyone who is medicated for brain problems could invent such a story. She claims God is very personal to her and comes to her in visions, this I find unbelievable, not unbelievable in a "wow" way, but unbelievable in a " I don't think so" way. If you are looking to be entertained this book is ok, but I'd rather rent Star Wars for entertainment.

Walk of Faith, review.......2006-08-01

If you are looking for a near death experience memoir- this is not the best choice.
It is not well written, nor very interesting. The author quotes often from the bible to make her point, and the whole atttempt comes across as preachy and pedantic. I was disappointed. The book didn't resonate with me, and I didn't find it inspiring.

A Little Bit About My Book.......2006-05-31

'Walk of Faith' opens up for the reading audience my journey to find God, with God's help, through a series of three near-death experiences and miracles. In the first near-death experience, I went to the brink of Hell. In the second near-death experience, I went into the tunnel of Light. In the third near-death experience I went into the Light and met Jesus Christ and my guardian angel, and I had a glimpse of Heaven. I go into detail about my near-death experiences, stating that I did not grow up in a religious family. These experiences are followed by a supernatural quest to find out what the terms meant that Jesus and my guardian angel spoke of, (terms such as first and second seal, final seal, and seventh seal) leading to appearances of Jesus. Jesus gave me many lessons in life, clarifying them with visions, Scripture, and prayer. These lessons are meant for everyone, both for devout believers and also those sitting on the fence of belief. I go into detail 14 of the lessons I learned while conversing with Jesus. Ultimately, my near-death experiences taught me that there is an afterlife, from the mudpit of Hell to the Light of Heaven.[...] I hope you will enjoy my book! chiemi

Take a journey into Enlightenment.......2004-03-18

From the beginning of the book till the end, the author takes us through a journey of enlightenment. As you read the book, you can't help but to be taken in by this woman's near death experiences and the lessons they provide us about our faith. The author's past challenges provide insightful lessons to all. God speaks to us in mysterious ways, and through this book Chiemi shares her conversations with us. The "Walk of Faith" is must read for those who would like to expand upon their spiritual beliefs.

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Walk into hell
Richard Gibson Hubler
Manufacturer: Popular Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Great War: Walk in Hell, The

Manufacturer: Del Rey Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HJZAEU

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The Great War : Walk in Hell
Harry Turtledove
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M66S6M

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My Lonely Walk Through Hell
William E. Eisenbarth
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

"In any U. S. army unit of nine soldiers, one could find an Italian from New Jersey, a Jew from the Bronx, an Irishman from New York, a Swede from Minnesota, a good old boy from Georgia, a swaggering Texan, a smooth-faced Californian, a Bible reader from Tennessee, and a hayseed from North Dakota." Together they discover that serving their country during World War II was not just a duty, but also an honor and a privilege. Filled with warmth and humor, sadness and extraordinary horror, this is a real soldier's unforgettable story, having been a witness to and a participant in an event as monumental as any in history.

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Walk In Hell
Harry Turtledove
Manufacturer: New English Library Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OV67I4

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With brief simplicity and powerful impact
A veteran's honesty
Comments from author

A Walk in Hell
Gregory A. Helle
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1401075185

Book Description

A powerful, emotion packed trip through the mind of a Vietnam Vet disabled with PTSD. As with too many other young boys, he was sent to an unpopular war and experienced many traumas. Even though more than thirty years have passed, the realities of the war remain. Even with the best counseling and medications, the war is only kept at bay. There is no cure. At best there is only coping. The war will never be far away. It invades his days and nights. His poetic journal is sometimes dark. It is the reality of his war.

Customer Reviews:

With brief simplicity and powerful impact.......2003-04-19

A Walk In Hell is the profound work of free-verse poetry by Gregory A. Helle, one of many Vietnam War veterans, whose horrifying experiences induced post-traumatic stress disorder, haunting him with terrible and vivid memories thirty long years after the end of the fighting. The words capture emotion, distress, misery and the shocking reality of war with their brief simplicity and powerful impact. In My War: They had not taught me to fight/To kill/To survive/In my war//Taught to be a clerk/Nothing bad would happen/But that was not reality/They lied//They put me in harm's way/Without being trained/Without warning/They didn't care//Sometimes a bunker/Sometimes a hole/But Always the danger/Always the fear//The weapons were new to me/Had to learn fast/My life was on the line/With the lives of my buddies//Expendable

A veteran's honesty.......2003-04-07

Gregory Helle brings the horror of the aftermath of war to the reader like few have ever done. He writes from his gut. Tells it how it is, and vividly causes the reader to experience the trama he has experienced during and after his service in Vietnam. It is a definitive narrative of the emotional and psychological pain that thousands of our veterans suffer because of the trauma they experienced in combat and sometimes not in combat while serving their country. It also ducuments the callousness of our government in its slowness to help these brave men and women regain their lives.

I must admit that I was stunned by Gregory Helle's honesty in telling his story. You will not put the book down once you start reading it. You will understand that war doesn't end when the war ends, but that it ravages the souls of thousands of our veterans for as long as they live.

Comments from author.......2003-01-22

Most of society takes freedom for granted. And those who are willing to protect that freedom are also taken for granted. That is their job. We morn those who die in war, and then it is back to our safe lives. The soldiers, the young men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line for the rest of us, are forgotten. We are too busy to care about what happens to them after the war. But the price of freedom is much higher than most know. The war never leaves those who have fought. It destroys lives and families. It results in countless suicides. Their war continues... forever.

A WALK IN HELL

A New Book by Gregory A. Helle

A powerful, emotion packed trip through the mind of a Vietnam Vet disabled with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder.) As with too many other young men, he was sent to an unpopular war and experienced multiple traumas Even though more than thirty years have passed, the realities of the war remain. Even with the best counseling and medications the war is only kept at bay. There is no cure. At best there is only coping. The war will never be far away. It invades his days and nights. His poetic journal is sometimes dark. It is the reality of his war.

This is not a book about the war. There are many books that depict the battles and heroes. This is about what happens when the war is over and society has forgotten. There are still thousands of veterans who are fighting the war every day. Through is poetry, Greg uncovers the effects of trauma on those who have served their country. With many wars on the horizon, it is important for everyone to understand what happens when the war is over and the dead are buried.

For many, the war never ends.

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