'The United States of Atlantis' by Harry Turtledove

The United States of Atlantis is the second in Harry Turtledove's developing Atlantis series. In the series the United States' east coast is a landmass between North America and Europe known as Atlantis. This book centers around the Atlantean settlements (parallel to American colonies) revolting against British rule. It is a fine addition to the series that manages to be both a page-turner and an insightful look at early Atlantean (American) character and institutions.

Atlantis is a fascinating world that combines the real and the imaginary. Students of the real American Revolution will enjoy comparing the Atlantean Revolution to the historical one. Some of the characters and events are very similar, others surprisingly different. The book also emphasizes the difficult issues faced by the settlements/colonies including creating an effective military, governing a loosely aligned federation of independent-minded states, handling the divisive institution of slavery, concerns about other ethnic and religious divisions, and both using and controlling the stubbornly independent Atlantean/American spirit.

The novel succeeds on several levels, but also includes notable weaknesses. Character development is weak in particular in the case of the Benedict Arnold figure. The plot is overly predictable at times. The ease and speed of the Atlantean victory does not seem credible. The book also fails to develop the size and composition of the opposing forces and leaves out critical details including geographic particulars, how the French navy defeated the British, and why Britain seemed so uncommitted to the conflict.

Overall though, The United States of Atlantis is a thoroughly enjoyable hybrid of fantasy and alternate history. Turtledove is widely considered the master of alternate history. This novel, while not his very best, is a solid contribution and demonstrates his mastery of the intersection of alternate history and fantasy.