Joe Steele

By: Harry Turtledove

Narrated by: Richard Poe

President Herbert Hoover has failed America. The Great Depression that rose from the ashes of the 1929 stock market crash still casts its dark shadow over the country. Despairing and desperate, the American people hope one of the potential Democratic candidates - New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and California congressman Joe Steele - can get the nation on the road to recovery. But fate snatches away one hope when a mansion fire claims the life of Roosevelt, leaving the Democratic party little choice but to nominate Steele, son of a Russian immigrant laborer who identifies more with the common man than with Washington, DC's wealthy power brokers.

Achieving a landslide victory, President Joe Steele wastes no time pushing through Congress reforms that put citizens back to work. Anyone who gets in his way is getting in the way of America, and that includes the highest in the land. Joe Steele's critics may believe the government is gaining too much control, but they tend to find themselves in work camps if they make too much noise about it. And most people welcome strong leadership, full employment, and an absence of complaining from the newspapers - especially as Hitler and Trotsky begin the kind of posturing that seems sure to drag America into war.

©2015 Harry Turtledove (P)2015 Recorded Books

Short and Sweet

This is pretty much the perfect book to introduce someone to Harry's style of alternate history. Its got all the Turtledove hallmarks, interesting characterization, well researched world building, an interesting scenario, complete with all the Turtledoveisms you'd expect in a book by him. But, unlike pretty much everything else by him on audible (with the exception of Guns of the South) this finishes its story in a single volume. For someone looking to dip their toe into alternate history, and not to get swept up in an 11 book series, this is a good place to start.

Not Turtledoves best

Story seemed a little weak. Pacing was very hurried, too much to cover in 1 book but too little for a series.

Harry Turtledove does it again

Once again I felt the eerie feeling of this could easily happen in our version of America.

Good, but not his best

What did you love best about Joe Steele?

The story is both wide and deep. It encompasses what happens to the whole country by focusing on two brothers. Because of that, the narrative holds together well.

Any additional comments?

Joe Steele is based on the assumption that people as a whole would meekly roll over for a totalitarian government. That premise is the basis for the entire story. To not allow for any reaction other than the two brothers' seems a hole in the story that should have been filled.

Excellent

As always another great story. If you like other books from this author you won't be disappointed.