I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Watch on the Rhine
by
John Ringo
military science fiction in a paperback edition that was published by Baen Books on February 27, 2007 and has 496 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon, Audibles.
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Sister Time, Honor of the Clan, Eye of the Storm, The Tuloriad, Live Free or Die, The Hot Gate, Citadel
First in the Posleen War Sidestories and seventh in the Legacy of the Aldenata military science fiction series.
My Take
This is way out of place chronologically in this series. In Watch on the Rhine, Europe is about to be invaded by the Posleen, is invaded, and its survivors retreat.
The Afterword states that Ringo had intended this as a short story and that intention comes out in the lack of details on the tools of war (I would have liked more info on the Tiger and how it compares to the Americans’ Sheva) nor is there much in the way of battle strategy or the political issues with which the Kanzler must cope.
It was interesting how Ringo and Kratman brought in the SS troopers and used this to give us a history of German-Euro-Jewish interactions. Hans’ flashbacks provided a sympathetic perspective on the average WWII German soldier’s feelings. Although I did have my worries about Mühlenkampf.
The best part was the Epilogue…man, I would love to read this as a full book-length story…I want revenge!! Although, I am confused about the mention of a “suede blanket, blond and still bright after many centuries” since Mühlenkampf and Dieter Schultz with his dirt-filled helmet are present for this invasion. Are they the same two men from the invasion…and still alive after centuries??
