Worlds That Weren't

I bought this for the S. M. Stirling story, which is worth three stars: an inessential but readable prequel to [b:The Peshawar Lancers 179021 The Peshawar Lancers S.M. Stirling https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309201529l/179021.SY75.jpg 172953]. The others, about two stars each.I was quite impressed by Mary Gentle's writing and characterization, but the story is too gory and unpleasant for my liking. Gentle by name but not by nature, apparently.

Instead of the typical alternate history of a different victor in a war, or a prevention of an assassination, these stories highlighted gradual and subtle changes in history. I especially liked the stories “Shikari in Galveston” featuring an alternate America still within the British Empire and “German Freddy Rides Again” featuring Nietzche at the OK Corral. Finally, I liked the afterwords to each story which explained how history really happened.