From Publishers Weekly
The second half of WWII takes a decidedly different path in this speculative historical novel, which picks up the action in 1944 with Nazi Germany on the verge of defeat. The first historical twist is the assassination of Hitler by a group of his own generals, but when G?ring is also killed and the generals' attempt to assume power fails, Himmler takes the reins and quickly negotiates a peace treaty with the Russians. The second twist is the miraculous recovery of Rommel, who survives a near-fatal wound in North Africa and returns to the European theater to set the Allies back on their heels. With the war reduced to a single front, the Nazis have time to rebuild their shattered air force, giving Rommel the advantage he needs to press forward and capture critical Allied oil reserves. As the Desert Fox races to initiate a second blitzkrieg, American forces move to head him off before he can get to Antwerp, setting up a climactic final battle. The first-time authors have drawn on their background in war games to bring the tactical details to life (Niles designed the video game for Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising), but as a novel this book has several notable problems. Characters are introduced in rapid succession, with points of view ranging from foot soldiers to fighter pilots to generals, but many of the perspectives seem only marginally necessary. Moreover, the fast-paced action slows considerably once Himmler takes over and Rommel recovers, and for all the political machinations, the outcome of the war remains somewhat conservatively imagined. These issues aside, Niles and Dobson have crafted a vividly realistic study of a memorable time. Agent, Elizabeth Pomada. (June) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Review
"The book is a triumph!"--Walter Boyne, bestselling coauthor of The Wild Blue



Review
"The book is a triumph!"--Walter Boyne, bestselling coauthor of The Wild Blue



Book Description
The Führer is dead ... but the war still goes on!

Backed by a cadre of SS officers, Himmler seizes control of the Reich and instigates a plan to change the course of the war.

First, an armistice with Russia.

Second, the mass production of jet fighters.

And third, the appointment of legendary "Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel to the European theater, leading to a very different Battle of the Bulge where he must confront "Blood n Guts" George Patton in a campaign that will determine the fate of Europe . . . and possibly the entire free world.



About the Author
Douglas Niles is a bestselling author of fantasy novels for TSR and an award-winning game designer whose credits include Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising board games. He lives in Wisconsin.

Michael Dobson is also an award-winning game designer. He served as a member of the team that built the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. He lives in Maryland.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Führer is dead ... but the war still goes on!

Backed by a cadre of SS officers, Himmler seizes control of the Reich and instigates a plan to change the course of the war.

First, an armistice with Russia.

Second, the mass production of jet fighters.

And third, the appointment of legendary "Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel to the European theater, leading to a very different Battle of the Bulge where he must confront "Blood n Guts" George Patton in a campaign that will determine the fate of Europe . . . and possibly the entire free world.

FROM THE CRITICS

Kirkus Reviews

Alternate-history yarn from fantasist Niles (War of Three Waters, 1997, etc.) and collaborator/war-gamer Dobson. The authors' big what-if: What if the 1944 bomb plot to assassinate Hitler had succeeded? Well, in this scenario Colonel Count von Stauffenberg's bomb kills Hitler, but the conspiracy behind the bomb, frail at best, makes crucial mistakes and fails to seize power. Instead, as General Rommel lies barely alive in a French hospital after an allied strafing raid, the wily and brutal Heinrich Himmler seizes power, swiftly demolishes the opposition, then conducts secret negotiations with the Soviet Union for a separate peace. The Desert Fox, however, survives his wounds; Himmler, recognizing his capabilities if not his suspect loyalty, places him in charge of defending Germany against the Allied advances conducted by tank commander George Patton and his enthusiastic young colonel, James Pulaski. Meanwhile, skilled intelligence officer Colonel Günter von Reinhardt becomes the real force behind the German negotiations in Moscow. He agrees to cede Greece, Romania, and Norway to the USSR, give them access to V1 technology, and withdraw from central Europe. Rommel abandons southern France, and prepares new defenses in the French mountains and along the Rhine. With the debilitating Eastern Front now neutralized, can Germany and Rommel muster sufficient strength in the west to defeat the Allied advance? Can the Soviets be trusted? Intriguing and well handled, with broad appeal for military what-if fans, WWII buffs, armchair war-gamers, and the like.