Alpha and Omega

I went into this book with high expectations (based off of the premise and some other reviews I read) and Turtledove lived up to them.The end Times plot line was very well-written and engaging. It made a good transition from an archeological and political story to one with genuinely supernatural (or divine, in this case) elements.The uncertainty about which prophecy was true and how far it would go was exciting, and is something I think both religious and nonreligious readers can get into, with plenty of context provided by clergymen within the story.TheIt seems like when Turtledove is writing books about the past (like World War II and the Civil War) he insists on having large numbers of sympathetic characters be as politically incorrect as possible for the purposes of accuracy (which, to be fair, isn't entirely of the mark). I got less of that problem here, in a book set in the present, if not the future. There's a lot of Judaism/Muslim/Christianity conflict, but the characters are more subtle and nuanced about it, and there are plenty of non biased characters. I especially liked Reverend Stark, the televangelist ho has his beliefs but is cautious about jumping to conclusions, the young orthodox boy Chaim, and Gabriela the reporter (althoguh it feels like elements of her personal life could have been better developed with the setting).Its interesting how in several scenes, Turtledove replays th exact same scene form the nov of every pot character. Sometimes that can drag on, but here, he made it feel fresh and insightful.Multiple other reviewers have commented on the frustrating "now-what?" feeling of the ending, and while I agree that there's still questions left at the end of the book, that pretty much always happens in a Turtledove book, and this one felt more resolved than most of his past works, regardless of whether you choose to read the ending as implying that more of the proohecized end times events are going to occur or not.I passed by getting this book when it cost $12.99 on amazon, and still feel that it wasn't worth that, but if you've read and liked multiple Harry Turtledove books and/or end times books before, then I'd say it's worth the $5.99 it costs now.

Harry Turtledove is well known for producing multi-volume series of alternate history tales. As a history student and former high school history teacher I find these interesting, if somewhat fatiguing, to read through and enjoy. I also like his single volume works like The Guns of the South and Noninterference, which have a heavier science fiction component than his alternate histories. Nothing I've read from Turtledove has been quite like Alpha and Omega, though there are some surface similarities to his single volume In The Presence Of Mine Enemies that focuses on the lives of Jewish families living in secret in a twenty-first century Third Reich. As in that earlier work, Turtledove in Alpha and Omega writes of religious people attempting to preserve and better understand their faiths under extraordinary circumstances.Set in the present day, Alpha and Omega begins with an epochal archaeological discovery beneath the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. That discovery challenges the beliefs of both fully believing and secular Jews, Muslims, and Christians throughout the world and begins a series of miraculous events that upend everything. The narrative is fascinating and carries the reader's attention despite the large number of rather two dimensional and often stereotypical characters that are unfortunate characteristics of many of Turtledove's books. The climax of the story appears to point towards reconciliation between the three Abrahamic faiths and a resolution of much bloody history, though it's difficult to be too certain since the book comes to a close shortly thereafter.I read Alpha and Omega assuming it was the first volume in yet another Turtledove series, and it may well be. But on the other hand the tale's ending where it does seems oddly fitting, and in fact rather hopeful. Time will tell.

Interesting insights into the shortsighted views of the leaders of Abrahamic religions and all of the political leaders. The biggest issue I had was the lack of inclusions of other religions. Either God was ego driven or had little compassion for others who didn’t walk his walk or talk his talk.Still, an impressive book with all things not considered.

Harry Tutledove goes a long way to resolving the conflicts between the world's Abrahamic faiths in this gem of a novel. Containing much that I personally found mind blowing, I come away from it with a sense of optimism. If you can keep an open mind, I recommend the read.

Book was in better condition than I expected. Fast shipping and delivery.

When conservative Jews find a pure red heifer and archeologists find the lost Ark under the Temple Mount, it looks like the End of Days might be coming soon. Told in various points of view and by members of the different Abrahamic religions, the newest book by Harry Turtledove is an engaging view of events in the Middle East and religion across the West.Conservative Christians, devout Jews and Muslims, and secular people must confront a new reality as events progress in this story. While some seem a bit contrived, there's enough scholarly backup from the Bible, the Talmud, and the Quoran to make it all believable. This book leaves the reader pondering the result and wondering if we might ever reach that ending in the real world.

Long awaited book