WIR: 1812 by Eric Flynt

I recently had Eric Flint recommended to me by a local librarian. (Yes, the local library staff are just that good.) I read it because a) I’m always looking for new things to read and b) alternate histories are an intriguing concept to me, and I like it when they’re well done.

Setting aside the Pro-American bias (doesn’t anyone else know that Canada won the war of 1812? Gee whiz), this was a neat little book. I don’t want to give too much away, but he really does stick to the rules he lays out in the back quite closely, and it’s fascinating to watch how events turn a little (and a lot) differently than they did in history.

Content-wise… well, this is definitely geared towards adults. His battle scenes are intense, the language is intense, and his characters are not without their flaws. I wouldn’t recommend that you send your twelve-year-old out to pick up this book and read. On the other hand, if you yourself have an appreciation for well-written period pieces about war, especially in the early 19th century, I’d recommend the book to you.