We Could Do Worse

A Millennial Collection of Alternate Histories

By: Martin Greenberg - editor, Howard Waldrop, Gregory Benford, Brian Thomsen, Larry Niven, Mike Resnick, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Harry Turtledove, Robert Silverberg, Allen Steele

Narrated by: Richard McGonagle, Gordon Thompson, Stefan Rudnicki, William Windom, Richard Gilliland, Jo Marie Payton, Yancy Butler, David Ackroyd

Fascinating “What If?” stories from Hugo and Nebula award-winning masters of alternate history!

What would the world be like if Teddy Roosevelt had fought in World War I? If the space race started during World War II? If Joseph McCarthy had been elected President? These and other questions are answered in this collection of alternate histories. As these stories suggest, the world as we know it might have turned out different than it is today, if only one minor—or major—change had occurred in history. Included in this collection are:

“A Massachusetts Yankee in King Arthur's Court” by Harry Turtledove
“Ike at the Mike” by Howard Waldrop
“Looking for the Fountain” by Robert Silverberg
“The Return of William Proxmire” by Larry Niven
“The Arrival of Truth” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
“Goddard's People” by Allen Steele
“Over There” by Mike Resnick
“Bloodstained Ground” by Brian Thomsen
“We Could Do Worse” by Gregory Benford

©1999 Martin Greenberg (P)1999 Phoenix Books, Inc.

Take The Good with the Bad

There are some really nice stories in this anthology, with the highlight being "The Return of William Proxmire" by Larry Niven. "Looking for the Fountain" by Robert Silverberg is also one that stood out for me.

However, I found a several of these stories rather pedestrian and flat. Perhaps it was the production--to me it always seemed like the narration was very flat and almost toneless. It sure seems like a good re-engineering would make it easier to listen to this set.

So you take the good with the bad and come out even? At least I did.

Agree, Mediocre Selections

I was disappointed with this collection of alternate histories. When I saw that Harry Turtledove was involved, I had high expectations. Every one of the stories in this anthology was a clinker.

This Review Needs a Title...So, I gave it one

As the teaser says, it's an alternate history book. However, in several cases, it does not live up to it's hype....e.g. "What if McCarthy got elected POTUS?". The answer is not "what if" but "how"? My favorite is "Mass. Yankee in King Arthur's Court." In this story, President JFK goes to Camelot and gets laid by Guinevere. Teddy R's story is no less exciting, but portrays him as anachronistic. Niven only authored a single story in this anthology. Fun read, you'll like it.

What a rip off!

This was such a rip off. the sound quality sucked, and there were not enough stories to make it worthwhile. Audible has been diaappointing me a lot lately, I thonk it's time to cancel my subscription.

We could do better

I love Alternate History stories and I’m a big fan of Larry Niven and Harry Turtledove!

Sadly this misses the mark. The stories left me not caring weather or not they could have happened. With the exception of the last story, it wouldn’t make any difference in my life if they happened or not.

If you get this and decide not to finish listening, skip to the last story it is by far the best.