Tor, Apr 2004
ISBN: 0765304384
The great Derlavaian world war is nearly over with major offensives along several fronts that will ultimately determine the victor. Magical weapons of mass destruction have caused havoc on land and at sea. The allies seem poised for a final triumph, but the aftermath may prove costly as they are divided between Unkerlant and its former “friends” now that neither side needs the other.
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Regardless of the fruits of victory, humans try to cope with the aftermath whether they are amongst the victors or the losers. Pride is no longer an option for anyone as even the winning side has to deal with the turmoil like nothing ever recorded in the history of the planet. The weapons such as dragons threaten to be used again but this time with ally vs. ally. In this post word war environs, survival is all most hope for as the war winds down, and victims sustain one meal at a time unable to mourn their beloved dead ones.
The final novel of Harry Turtledove's alternative historical fantasy series is the best of a powerful six set collection. The story line starts with the countdown towards the end of Turtledove's interpretation of World War II as fighting magical and mundane is furious on several fronts. The tale then switches to a more personalized account as readers see the impact of the devastating war on a series of characters before that perceptive perspective merges into a climatic world still on the brink as the victors argue over the spoils. OUT OF THE DARKNESS is a terrific alternate history that displays the author's skills to make salient points inside an entertaining military fantasy as few, if any, authors can perform.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
