Return Engagement

Settling Accounts, Book 1

By: Harry Turtledove

Narrated by: Paul Costanzo

In 1914, they called it The Great War, and few could imagine anything worse. For nearly three decades, a peace forged in blood and fatigue has held sway in North America. Now, Japan dominates the Pacific, the Russian Tsar rules Alaska, and England, under Winston Churchill, chafes for a return to its former glory. But behind the façade of world order, America is a bomb waiting to go off. Jake Featherston, the megalomaniacal leader of the Confederate States of America, is just the man to light the fuse.

In the White House in Philadelphia, Socialist President Al Smith is a living symbol of hope for a nation that has been through the fires of war and the flood tides of depression. In the South, Featherston and his ruling Freedom Party have put down a Negro rebellion with a bloody fist and have interned them in concentration camps. Now, they are determined to crush their Northern neighbor at any cost.

©2004 Harry Turtledove (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Turtledove produces yet another absorbing installment of his character-centered alternate-history saga." ( Booklist)

good series

if you like alternate history, but the book is kind of long, and even though this is the first book in this series you need to listen to turtledove's other series called "Southern Victory" to understand what's going on

Robert's Review

This is a great series. It's a great twist to the history of the U.S. vs. CSA. You will love this series.

Somewhat dissapointing

I've been really looking forward to settling accounts but now that I'm here Its a little underwhelming. So many books in this series and the flaws of all of them are catching up with me. I dislike a lot about how Turtledove is finishing this series. Still entertaining but too silly to really take seriously at this point.

I Miss George Guidall

A passable reading, but too many mispronounced words for me to ignore. Plus, this reader changes the accent of his narrating voice depending on where a scene is set, which might get him elected, but is distracting once you notice it.

Character Voices

I think Paul Costanzo is a good storyteller but after all the prior, Guidall-read books I get lost. Hard to tell the characters apart.