Pages

Nov 26, 2012

eBook Review–Stalin’s Hammer–Rome

 

wpid-9781743340769_Stalins-Hammer_cover

Stalin’s Hammer: Rome is the first in a set of serialised novellas from John Birmingham.  I managed to pick it up at the introductory price of $2.99 (it’s since reverted to $4.99).

So, I am ashamed to admit, this is my first Birmingham – but it won’t be my last.  Set in the alternate history of the Axis of Time series, it focuses on Stalin’s attempt to derail the future as the uptimers have foretold it.

But Stalin’s machinations largely take a back seat in this instalment. The setting is Rome, segregated much like Berlin was in our timeline.  The West on one side, the communists on the other.  We follow the adventures of two uptimers  Prince Harry, commando, heir to the future English throne and Pavel Ivanov, ex–Spetsnaz, freelance spy, as they attempt to uncover Stalin’s plans. There’s action and intrigue aplenty - a nice intro to the alternate history and it sets up some interesting plotlines for future resolution.

Birmingham’s style is engaging and the take on history inventive. I would have liked more of the story, but I guess that’s the point of serialised fiction, to get you to want to read more. It falls more into the camp of the post war spy fiction category in terms of pacing, the short nature of the medium really doesn’t allow for an escalating run up to a techno thriller ending.

I’ll be coming back for more.


Did you enjoy this review? Would you like to read more? You can subscribe to the blog through a reader,by Email or Follow me on twitter.

Comments (4)

Loading... Logging you in...
  • Logged in as
I was under the impression this was a novel, but your review makes it sound shorter. Is it novella length? I've been interested in giving this a go, but didn't really want to commit to anything too long (drowning under books).
My recent post Moscow But Dreaming by Ekaterina Sedia
3 replies · active 641 weeks ago
Yes I was under the same impression until I read a review of it. Amazon lists the page count as 120. If you are wanting a really quick read I'd suggest Rowena's The Kings Man novella out in a week or so.
Step ahead of you there; already got Rowena's novella lined up next on my virtual shelf ;-)
Finished it this afternoon. Very good as always - more mature content than in KRK though I think

Post a new comment

Comments by