Talk:Harry Turtledove

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I wonder if someone could add a list of his books, divided according to the series? For example, I know of two sequences: The Great War, and Colonisation. User:Tony Vignaux

That was done quickly - thanks User:Tony Vignaux

I just added a statement to the effect that he's probably the best-known and most people author of Alternate History. Technically that's my POV, and I'm not sure where I would go to get a citation for this claim, but it seems obvious to me. I can name other authors who've written alternate history, but none who've written as many stories or been so consistently popular as Turtledove. Isomorphic 02:56, 15 Apr 2004 (UTC)

No argument here. I've read a fair bit of alternate history, & he's the first guy I think of, too. Trekphiler 13:14, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Lots of books

I love Turtledove, but does anyone know if he uses a ghostwriter or assistants or something? Jeez, the guy is prolific. --Jfruh 03:07, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

No ghostwriters, no assistants. He is a full time writer. If he doesn't write and get his book published, he and his family don't eat.Shsilver 03:38, 14 July 2005 (UTC)
This is true of many people who do not publish one or more 500+ page books per year. I'm not slamming on him -- I'm a fan -- I'm just a little in awe of his output. It wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility. --Jfruh 22:50, 14 July 2005 (UTC)
I'm fairly postive that Turtledove writes so much because it's what he loves and not so much for the money. His interest in his stories shows up in the writings. As to starving if he didn't write, I doubt that given how many copies of Guns of the South, How Few Remain, and many, many previously written books he's sold. Jon 19:42, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
They wouldn't eat? I suspect that Harry could stop writing this very moment and he'd still have enough money to keep food bountiously heaped on the table for several generations. And yes, I'm also fan who is in awe of his combined prolificness and quality. 128.173.242.122 18:33, 18 September 2006 (UTC)
He's not related to Isaac Asimov, by any chance? *grin* Trekphiler 13:16, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Writing Style and/or Criticisms

Would it be appropriate to include some criticisms or complaints of his writing style? I'm a fan, and I've read all of the TL-191 books (9 so far) in addition to Guns of the South and from reviews I've read, I think there is some widely shared criticisms of his writing. Namely that he's very redundant with certain aspects of his characters. Such as how he mentions that Sam Cartsen has fair skin and sunburns easily every time we switch to his point of view. Also, some find his sex scenes a little out of place and/or weird. I personally could have done with out the Teddy Roosevelt and Robert E. Lee sex scenes. --Viper Daimao 14:29, 10 October 2005 (UTC)

I wouldn't think literary criticism belongs on wiki. yes, I agree with some of your critiques, but wiki isn't really the place for that discussion.Shsilver 16:00, 10 October 2005 (UTC)
This is silly, but a quick read of the grandparent comment made me visualize Teddy Roosevelt and Robert E. Lee sex scenes with each other! Holy historical slash fiction, batman! --Jfruh 16:29, 10 October 2005 (UTC)
I agree with the other poster that it doesn't belong in a wikipedia article. Also I disagree with both of your examples. I think the sex scenes help make those characters more "real," less of statues on a pedestal even if they might be slightly heretical =) Similarily a sunburn is something that's constantly itching and bugging you. To be reminded of it repeatedly makes it more part of the character than if it was mentioned once in book #1 never to be said again.
OTOH IMHO he's done more than enough retellings of WW2-with-a-twist 82.135.15.28 22:30, 2 May 2006 (UTC)
A criticism section would not be inappropriate, so long as (1) it doesn't become disproportionately long compared to the rest of the article, (2) it cites its sources—we don't include our own criticism of his work, only criticism in widely-read and respected publications, & (3) it remains balanced—if the majority of published criticism of Turtledove's work is positive, then so should be the majority of the criticism cited in the criticism section. Binabik80 20:05, 13 May 2006 (UTC)
Well, Turtledove's characters talk and think about what is most important to them at the moment. If you burn as easy as Cartsen did and are living in a time prior to effective sunscreen lotions (first effective ones invented in our timeline late WW-II; athough numerous ineffective ones were around before then), unforunately that's going to be what your going to be thinking about much of the time. This is also why reports of what going on in Europe are generally extremely sketchy. (The characters generally don't care.) Jon 19:32, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Some series sections turned into empty links

As a way to strongly sugest someone write fuller articles about them. The books could also use them, except in many cases they need disambig. Similarly, a different name than "Pacific War" is needed because it's already in use by the historic WW II in the Pacific (AND timeline-191 also has it's own "Pacific War" article as well). Maybe something like Japanese Occupation of Hawaii. Jon 15:48, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] On the gripping Mahan

I like the list. I haven't read all of those (yet...), but I don't see the one where Mahan becomes President. So which was it? Trekphiler 13:13, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Opening Atlantis

Anybody have any idea what the new Atlantis trilogy is called? The first book, due out in December, is Opening Atlantis. Corvus cornix 18:28, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

To my knowledge, there is no official overarching, must as his Hawaii duology doesn't have an overarching title and the series from How Few Remain through In at the Death doesn't. For that matter, neither does the "Darkness" series.Shsilver 19:32, 23 July 2007 (UTC)
So I guess we could just call it the "Atlantis trilogy", until something more official comes out.  :) Corvus cornix 20:48, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Seems okay...

Would it be alright if I created a page for Into the Darkness? It seems that you do it for other of his books, so it shouldn't be a problem. I just didn't want to create it and have some people who have been working on pages for a long time yell at me. Its happened before. o_o;Silver seren 23:04, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Of course it is okay, or you can take a look at the Turtledove Wiki, where there are already at least stubs for those items that can use expansion. Shsilver 01:25, 27 July 2007 (UTC)
I'll have to get to it another time. Busy in RL, but I will get to it! The Wiki doesn't help, it only has one sentence. XD Isn't the cover copyright though?Silver seren 03:03, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Colonization section

The recreated second contact link was redirecting to the Colonization series again, so I have cut it again since it's refering to the exact same article as the line above. Jon 21:52, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Rush Limbaugh?

Someone added that Turtledove is friends with Limbaugh, is there proof to this? Zombie Hunter Smurf (talk) 22:47, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Whether he is or isn't really isn't germane to his wiki article. I've removed the passage. Shsilver (talk) 00:19, 14 May 2008 (UTC)
Sounds good to me. Zombie Hunter Smurf (talk) 01:26, 14 May 2008 (UTC)