Reich TV [Format Kindle]

Reich TV is a witty alternate history novel that reads like a thriller. It explores how advances in technology could have changed the events of World War II with developments in television, broadcast journalism, and even mobile phones. The story follows George Orwell, Groucho Marx, Dylan Thomas, and a host of other A-list characters as they play their roles in the information war against the Hitler regime.

I don't give five stars easily, but Reich TV is an impressive read. I read all 120,000+ words in three sittings and it disrupted my sleep schedule for days, but I regret nothing.

The characters are outstanding. The author writes George Orwell convincingly as a foreign correspondent who investigates the Reichstag Fire, snoops about Berlin, and generally gets himself into trouble. Orwell's political views drive his actions, and he decides to do some chilling things that are too reminiscent of scenes from 1984.

I was instantly charmed by Groucho Marx and the rest of the troupe in London as they deal with politics through the BBC and politics in the BBC. The behind the scenes events in the studio and their private lives were just as fascinating as their efforts to undermine Nazi support through subversive television programming. The vivacious prose and wisecracking dialogue had me chuckling constantly. Other interesting characters end up playing a part (mostly writerly types), including Erich Maria Remarque who races the pirate broadcasters' getaway car, to the point that it made me exclaim, "Man, who isn't in this book?!"

The research and the realism are noteworthy. I'm not an expert, but I thought Pearce captures the era well and provides a good sense of the politics in both Germany and the UK. The Nazis aren't caricature villains either; they're very real individuals who are interested in furthering their own ambitions, with their own philosophies--and of course, that results in a lot of infighting amongst themselves. While part of the fun of alternate history is examining how fictional events deviate from our own and why, readers don't need to be familiar with the history to enjoy this novel. It's all addressed in a special section at the end, explaining which parts are real and which parts are fiction. But really, it's all parts awesome.

With regards to pacing, Reich TV moves like a thriller (especially with Orwell's section). While the characters are fixated on the same clues in some chapters, there are always enough character interactions, ideas about journalism and politics, and unexpected twists to keep the reader engaged. I thought the resolution felt a bit long as I was surprised that there were more pages to turn, but that delighted me more than anything.

Reich TV is one of the most enjoyable books I've read, and it's highly recommended. I recommend it to readers who are interested in the relationship between technology and journalism, this portion of world history, the A-list cast this book boasts, a thriller with lively characters, or even just a brilliant SF/F novel that's out of the ordinary. It's one of the books that I hope more people would read, so when I quote lines, people will understand what I'm referencing. If the premise of George Orwell versus the Nazis can't get you intrigued, I don't know what will.

Note: a free review copy was provided by the author.