Harry Turtledove
Book 4 of Crosstime Traffic
ISBN
Alternative History Fiction General Ohio Science Fiction Time Travel Virginia
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
Published: Jun 26, 2007
In Turtledove's fast-paced fourth Crosstime Traffic novel (after 2005's_ In High Places_), two teenage protagonists from different versions of the United States meet in Elizabeth, Va., a backwater town in a balkanized North America. Beckie Royer, an inadvertent gunrunner from Los Angeles, accompanies her grandmother and uncle in a car loaded with assault rifles meant for African-American rebels in Virginia. The state, known as a country in this alternate history, is on the brink of a race-related civil war—and a war with Ohio. Into the chaos comes Justin Monroe, a Crosstime Traffic traveler on a trade mission with his mother. Becky and Justin solidify their friendship as the mayhem escalates to biological warfare, and they and their families face ethical and space-time dilemmas. Via sympathetic characters, Turtledove delivers lessons on racism and diplomacy for a young adult audience. (Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The fourth Crosstime Traffic story unfolds in a time line in which the former colonies couldn't agree on a government to replace that of the Articles of Confederation and eventually became independent, squabbling states. Becky from California, the most prosperous country in North America, is visiting family in little Elisabeth, Virginia. Justin's family is in crosstime trade, on assignment from its home time line to Virginia. While the family is there, war breaks out with Ohio, which deploys a tailored virus and encourages guerrilla warfare by Virginia's subjugated black population. Virginia imposes quarantine, trapping Justin and Becky in Elisabeth. Until an effective treatment is developed, not even Crosstime Traffic can help, for it doesn't want the virus spreading to other time lines. Justin and Becky had read about historic wars, but neither ever expected a front-row seat at one. Both stand a good chance of never making it home again. The best so far in this Turtledove series, with characters that you care about and action that, while grim, is plausible and engaging. Frieda MurrayCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Description:
From Publishers Weekly
In Turtledove's fast-paced fourth Crosstime Traffic novel (after 2005's_ In High Places_), two teenage protagonists from different versions of the United States meet in Elizabeth, Va., a backwater town in a balkanized North America. Beckie Royer, an inadvertent gunrunner from Los Angeles, accompanies her grandmother and uncle in a car loaded with assault rifles meant for African-American rebels in Virginia. The state, known as a country in this alternate history, is on the brink of a race-related civil war—and a war with Ohio. Into the chaos comes Justin Monroe, a Crosstime Traffic traveler on a trade mission with his mother. Becky and Justin solidify their friendship as the mayhem escalates to biological warfare, and they and their families face ethical and space-time dilemmas. Via sympathetic characters, Turtledove delivers lessons on racism and diplomacy for a young adult audience. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From
The fourth Crosstime Traffic story unfolds in a time line in which the former colonies couldn't agree on a government to replace that of the Articles of Confederation and eventually became independent, squabbling states. Becky from California, the most prosperous country in North America, is visiting family in little Elisabeth, Virginia. Justin's family is in crosstime trade, on assignment from its home time line to Virginia. While the family is there, war breaks out with Ohio, which deploys a tailored virus and encourages guerrilla warfare by Virginia's subjugated black population. Virginia imposes quarantine, trapping Justin and Becky in Elisabeth. Until an effective treatment is developed, not even Crosstime Traffic can help, for it doesn't want the virus spreading to other time lines. Justin and Becky had read about historic wars, but neither ever expected a front-row seat at one. Both stand a good chance of never making it home again. The best so far in this Turtledove series, with characters that you care about and action that, while grim, is plausible and engaging. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved