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World War: Striking the Balance Balantine Books, 1996

As usual, Harry Turtledove delivers another of the best in science fiction stories. As World War ll goes for a somewhat different ending then the one we remember, Striking the Balance comes as the finale of this epic adventure. Here we have the final confrontation between the combined Allied and Axis forces against the invading lizard-like race bent on enslaving the earth.

With time running out for the human race, the invaders strive to crush mankind's various resistance movements before they run out of ammunitions. And before Hitler, Stalin and the Americans can launch an atomic counterattack against the starships the invaders landed in. And at the same time, the Nazi's, Americans, Communists, Japanese and Jewish factions have their own agenda against both the lizards and the rest of humanity.

There are more twists here then a Chubby Checker reunion, and more turns then a trip through San Francisco. As is normal with Turtledove, the characters leap out of the page, making you believe in them and the situations they are put in. This is a great series, and I am almost sorry it is over.

But now I can look forward to the next book from Harry Turtledove.