Jaws of Darkness - World at War 5 - Harry Turtledove Book Review

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Review Summary

Tor, Apr 2003, 27.95, 624 pp.
ISBN: 0765304171

The Second World War continues to rage on and over Derlavai. The continent is methodically being razed by the exchange of magical beams of fire, the battle between giant armored beasts, and dragons shooting fire. At first the powerful military of Algarve blitzkrieg to victory through the conversion of the life force of victims, especially the Kauanians.

However, recently the tide seems to be turning as the military of Lagoas and Kuusamo have brought the war to the Algarvian homeland. A sorceress-driven ship of ice has transported their deadly dragons to rain firebombs at the heartland of the enemy. Though the Algarvian might has been dented for the first time in this long war, either side could win the fight especially if one side obtains more powerful magic to use in the fray. In this world gone mad, the little people such as Ealstan and his beloved wife Vanai, a Kaunian, want to simply raise their child in a safe environment, but genocide rules the planet.

The big events of WW II are cleverly changed into a fantasy realm yet here is no question what they equate to in the real world. That and great characters simply trying to survive on a stage of mass destruction are what makes Mr. Turtledove the master of historical fantasy. JAWS OF DARKNESS uses sorcery to paint the true horrors of World War II on everyday people.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Jaws of Darkness - World at War 5

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
War or Invasion Yes
Major kinds of combat: - magical battles

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 40's-50's
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books to Jaws of Darkness - World at War 5
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Ultima: The Technocrat War - Masquerade 2 by Austen Andrews
Shards of a Broken Crown - Serpentwar Saga 4 by Raymond E. Feist
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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