The Guns of the South cover art

The Guns of the South

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The Guns of the South

By: Harry Turtledove
Narrated by: Paul Costanzo
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About this listen

January 1864: General Robert E. Lee faces defeat. The Army of Northern Virginia is ragged and ill-equipped. Gettysburg has broken the back of the Confederacy and decimated its manpower. Then, Andries Rhoodie, a strange man with an unplaceable accent, approaches Lee with an extraordinary offer. Rhoodie demonstrates an amazing rifle: its rate of fire is incredible, its lethal efficiency breathtaking - and Rhoodie guarantees unlimited quantities to the Confederates. The name of the weapon is the AK-47.

©1992 Harry Turtledove (P)2016 Tantor Adventure Military Science Fiction Space Opera Space Fiction Civil War War

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Critic reviews

"An exceptionally riveting and innovative narrative that successfully straddles the gulf between fact and fantasy." ( Booklist)
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amazing genre.
been searching for a book like this for a long time. narrator switched characters with ease.

narrator was brilliant

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Once I’d gotten over the time travelling element I found this an interesting & enjoyable story. Narration was excellent

Enjoyed it

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a really great look at how The South could have flourished with a Sci-Fi twist

Great listen

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great book. well written and well narrated. leaves you wanting a sequel or more. I highly recommend

outstanding

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A very interesting concept, with racists from the future returning to the South during the US Civil War. The problem is that most of the audible books is political fantasy rather than sci-fi. So long hours of listening to political arguments, some of which are very interesting to see a more in-depth view of the civil war but I believe the author missed a great opportunity for a classical sci-fi.

More historical than fantasy

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The title and cover of this book tells you exactly 'what-if' scenario you're getting. Harry Turtledove clearly put a lot of research into this book. The level of detail is high and informs the greater narrative the story follows. Some of the characters we follow are historical heavy-hitters and it's fascinating to follow this speculation on how they might have reacted to the balance of the American Civil War falling in favour decisively for the Confederacy.

I've heard better narrators; I've heard worse. This one interprets - what I suspect are - commas in the text too heavily, so that some sentences are read in a peculiarly stop-start style. Also the narrator's sole voicing for the characters in the book strays dangerously close to Elmer Fudd.

Still, a competent reading of a very interesting idea. Worth a punt.

Guns of the South

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Characterisation, story and tempo all superb. A page turner from beginning to end without a single doubt filler filler filler

Gripping in all aspects

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Read this book some years ago and loved it. Have only just finished the audio, just superb. The narration was flawless, the polished Southern accents a joy to listen to. Full marks to Harry Turtledove and Paul Costanzo. I would love to listen to Lee At The Alamo, please, please!

American civil war but not as we know it Jim

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The storyline is very imaginative and the characters seem real. Absolutely loved the narrative. Shame there is no sequel. The South African accents of the narrator are however less than stellar.

1 of my 2 favourites of all time

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Time travel and the Confederate Army sounds too far-fetched to believe, but it is written in a completely believable manner, very enjoyable book with a great plot and realistic ending.

Harry Turtledove at his best

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