[Randallw]

"Guns of the South" is one of my favourite books, and perhaps my favourite Turtledove book. Its sicence fiction with a quirky idea (give assault rifles to the confederacy) but it develops the idea beyond simply having the confederacy massacre the north. It explores the effects on the world, the confederacy aren't a bunch of slave owners persecuting blacks (well they did, but they aren't like the AWB romatically thought they were) and Robert E Lee does a lot of thinking. If you are just starting "How few remain" you may find it a bit hard when you progress to the Trilogy after that, then the Trilogy after that, etc. I like Turtledove but when he extends the plot he really extends the plot. I like GotS because its a good idea in 1 book, unlike "World of Darkness" which takes a slightly intriguing idea (WW2 as Fantasy) and takes it through all 6 years (and 6 books). I quit in boredom after the 3rd book (I think).