Operation Shatterhand
Author: Jake Page
Year: 1996
Abstract:
The year is 1944. The Allied offensive against the Germans in Europe is coming to a head. The Nazis launch a desparate
operation in hopes of distracting the Americans. The German commander put in charge of the operation had planned an invasion
of the United States for most of his military carreer. He puts together a few select officers, and they begin Operation
Shatterhand. Their objective: To take the American southwest. Divide and conquer, that's what his mother used to say. The
Hopi and Navajo indians of the region, racial enemies, band together to defend American soil, their soil, against these
intruders.
| Advanced Mind | |
| Exploration/Quest | |
| Military/Fighting |  |
| Horror | |
| Magic | |
| Advanced Technology | |
| Time Travel/Alternate History | |
| Science | |
| Aliens/Beasties | |
| Contemporality | |
Other books in this series:
None
Spectre's Review
Not anything at all what I was expecting. I was hoping for a more radical alternate history idea, instead all I got was
something that went down into the little-known annals of history. . .forgotten history. No real elements of science fiction.
The action scenes were okay, but overall, they really weren't that great. 80% of the book was spent discussing philosophies
and rituals of the Hopi and Navajo peoples. Which is okay, if you're not expecting something science fiction like.
Jake Page has a talent for describing scenery, and I came to understand and appreciate the American southwest a little more.
The German soldiers were mildly out of character occasionally, and I couldn't tell if that was intended or not. I did like
the idea that these American indians would put up a fight against an invading Nazi hoard. Instead, I got 280 pages of
nothing, followed by 20 pages of quick, unrealistic action. The characters just weren't quite believable enough, but I can't
really put my finger on exactly why (perhaps the characters had too few personallity flaws, and were mildly inconsistent in
their actions). Anyway, the idea was great, the execution was poor.
Date posted: 2000 10 02
Spectre's Rating
Grand plans, poor performance.