I'm intrigued by end times prophecies and fascinated by archeological experiences especially when they collide in an epic story of fact finding out eye opening events.

I am not sure how much I can say without giving away spoilers. Our main protagonist, or one of them, is Eric Katz, an American archeologist and secular Jew who is on a dig in Jerusalem just in time for the End of Days, The signs presaging the rising of the Third Temple and the coming of the Messiah begin with a perfect red cow in the US. When a dirty bomb is detonated outside a Tel Aviv bus station by suicide bombers the Israelis see that as a reason to excavate the tunnels under the Temple Mount where they make a find that will change everything and everyone worldwide.

We have a manageable cast of characters this time, possibly because this is most definitely a standalone novel. Eric Katz, his Israeli colleague and girlfriend Orzy give us a close up view of the action. Gabrella, an American TV reporter, and Reverend X give us an observer’s view and are used to give the relevant information on the three Abrahamic religions in a natural way. And then we have Chaim a young boy struggling to make sense of the incomprehensible as our inside POV.

I am not sure what to think of this book. I read it in one sitting so it held my interest and it makes some very pertinent points about today’s conflicts that, along with the ending, are likely to anger as many people as it validates. Turtledove deftly handles the viewpoints of all three religions without descending into stereotypes. But this is not the typical Turtledove alternate history and it may not appeal to all his fans but I recommend it. The story itself is entertaining, the characters are engaging and it will give you a lot to think over once you finish

Prolific author of fiction Harry Turtledove, once dubbed the "Master of Alternate History," takes a peek into biblical prophecy to write Alpha and Omega. Set in a very near future, the story centers around the discovery of the long lost Ark of the Covenant, the fulfillment of the prophecy of the red cow, and a messiah figure to bring on the end times.

For most of the book, it reads like much biblical apocalyptic fiction (e.g., the Left Behind series). Turtledove is Jewish; I don't know how devout. In Alpha and Omega, he lands on a sort of universalism that leaves the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian characters a bit befuddled.

I enjoyed the fact that Hogan treats scripture and religion respectfully, even if a bit distantly. As a Christian believer, I found myself cheering on the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. The first half is a fun read, seeing the responses especially of the Jewish characters as they saw prophecy being fulfilled. But by the end the fantasy yarn-spinning got a little out of hand in my opinion and I ended up disappointed.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest review.

If given unequivocal proof that god exists, what would happen to the world's religions?

That is the question that Turtledove asks in his newest alternate world science fiction novel called Alpha and Omega. Turtledove is famous for asking the big "What if's" in alternative history. Previous stories include a second civil war (How Few Remain), third world war (American Empire series), supervolcano (Eruption) plus many more. Turtledove is a highly prolific author.

Alpha and Omega sees ancient prophecy realized in Jerusalem. All prophetic triggers for the end of days. This proves that without a doubt that God is real. But the question becomes "whose god?" What should the followers of Christianity, Judaism or Islam expect from the realized prophecies?

This was a difficult read for me. The subject matter is interesting, alternative history can be engrossing especially when you are somewhat familiar with the subject matter. This might have been my issue with this book and why it did not resonate with me. I am not overly familiar with Judaic and Islamic traditions and history. I think had I been more familiar this would have been a more engrossing read. As it stood though, I found it very dry and difficult to get into. I attempted to finish this but I ended up DNF at 80%. I could not get into the story. I just did not care about the characters enough to be interested in their plight.

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The book turned out to be different than I expected. While I was very interested in the premise, I couldn’t get into the story and ultimately didn’t finish. I’m amazed at Turtledove’s ability to craft alternate histories, but I just couldn’t stick with the story and the characters in this one.

Harry Turtledove brings on the Apocalypse in Alpha and Omega. A red heifer is brought to Israel, The Ark of the Covenant is found and events line up for The End of Days. But whose End of Days will it be? Jewish? Christian? Muslim? There is a nice twist to the story that keeps the reader guessing which way things will end up.

"Alpha and Omega" eBook was published in 2019 and was written by Harry Turtledove (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Turtledove). Mr. Turtledove has published more than 60 novels. 

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set at an archeological site in Israel.

The main character is Los Angeles archeologist Eric Katz. After a dirty bomb is detonated in Tel Aviv, a series of events lead towards the End of Days. Many disbelieve, but one event after another fulfills the prophecy in the Old Testament. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the 13 hours I spent reading this 469-page alternative history. I have read many of Turtledove's novels and I have enjoyed them all. This one is a little different in that it is proposing an alternative future. The way the novel ended, there could be a sequel. I think that the cover art is well chosen for this novel. I give this novel a 4.2 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

An interesting scenario and read from acclaimed alternative history author Harry Turtledove. In this work of fiction, Turtledove presents a future-religious scenario where messiahs from Islam, Judaism, and Christianity come back. This starts up around attempts at armed conflict between Israel and Iran but a divine hand intervenes. Its cover some of the controversial policies of both nations involved as well as the US to a degree. However, there is a great deal left out. I suspect some readers will come away disagreeing with the author with different views of the political or religious spectrum.

What would happen if the God of the Old Testament, the God worshipped by Jews, Christians and Muslims, turned out to be provably real and the ancient prophecy of the End Times comes true?

Since this is a Harry Turtledove book, you'll find out through multiple viewpoints of lots of different people from all walks of life in different parts of the world whose stories will swirl around until they finally meet up at the end, more or less. And you'll get lots of intriguing concepts and theological ideas to think about afterward.

After a suicide bomber takes out a Tel Aviv bus station, Israelis dig under the ancient Islamic shrine The Dome of the Rock to relocate it for space to build a Third Temple, and find the Ark of the Convenant. Which is floating off the ground.

Then things get interesting.

Turtledove is great at creating different characters with different opinions and motivations and throwing them all at a weird situation, and that style fits eschatological fiction nicely. How would a secular archeologist react to finding the Ark? What happens when the Jews find their Messiah and the Muslims their Mahdi? How would this affect everyone else?

As with his other books, at times I felt almost tired trying to keep up with everyone. But his writing always entertains, he never shies away from the tough questions (even if he doesn't always answer them) and "Alpha and Omega" will definitely get you thinking, whatever your religious faith is or isn't.

Alpha and Omega
by Harry Turtledove

Harry Turtledove is an amazing alternative history writer, I was surprised by this book in many ways. He jumps right in to the biggest quagmire of the modern age. The conflict between religious beliefs is the predominate struggle in the middle east. Mr. Turtledove looks at the differences between the predictions of the end of times. Each religion has a different prospect on this conflict. All stating they are the right and true path, and they know not only how things will end but how people whom don't believe will be treated.  He comes first from the Judaism belief of the end of times, the return of the arc of the covenant.  The birth of a perfect Red calf, and the blessings that allow them to rebuild the Temple of Solomon, the third temple. He looks at Christianity the return of Christ and the guiding of the blessed to heaven. Finally Islam, and the return of the Mahdi and the persecution of the unbelievers. I am interested by the way he handles this conflict in the end, i have never seen such a pragmatic look at the stories of the end of times.

Harry Turtledove has written a lot of books. Really, a lot. Alternate history, pure science fiction, whimsical fantasy, humor, historical fiction, and more. I haven’t come across a single one that wasn’t a fast, smooth read with plenty of action and a ton of nifty ideas. Every once in a while, though, he so completely nails a story, concept and prose and thematic resonances, that it stays with me and I find myself blabbing about it like a fangirl to all my friends. The Guns of the South (time-traveling racists arm the Confederacy with automatic weapons) was one such. Also Ruled Brittanica (the Spanish Armada prevails and William Shakespeare writes insurrectionist plays) and In the Presence of Mind Enemies (Jews survive in the shadow of victorious Nazi Germany). Now I can add Alpha and Omega to that list.

The elevator pitch for this book might run, “Indiana Jones in 21st Century Israel, complete with American evangelicals, ultra Orthodox Jewish settlers, Muslim terrorists, and journalists on the lookout for a good story, with an occasional miracle.” But it’s much more. It begins in a perfectly ordinary thriller-ish way with a dirty bomb detonated in Tel Aviv and team of Israeli archaeologists (Jewish and Arab, with a nonobservant Jewish American and a dewy-eyed Christian student thrown in for good measure) excavate under the Temple Mount and find (of course, Indiana Jones style) the Ark of the Covenant . . . floating inches above the floor. And the skeptical journalist who unwisely lays hands on it is summarily carbonized.

What to make of this miracle?

Everyone with an ax to grind about the fate of the Middle East has an opinion, and Turtledove minces no words in depicting the sincerity, fervor, and insanity of the different viewpoints. Muslims, Jews, and Christians are all convinced the End Times are nigh and that their version of who wins and who loses is the correct one. The only thing they can agree on is that the Ark floats “because God wants it to.”

It would be all too easy for a story such as this to devolve into proselytizing, taking sides, playing religious favorites, or turning the various proponents into caricatures. Turtledove avoids all these pitfalls, forging ahead at pager-turner speed while subtly weaving in threads that reflect not only our human prejudices but also our shared human experiences. To say that the ending transcends the current political polemic is an understatement.

Go out and buy this book, and then use it as the context for discussing the difficult issues of today with people you don’t agree with . . . yet.

The usual disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book, but no one bribed me to praise it. Although chocolates and fine imported tea are always welcome.

Alpha and Omega is the most thought-provoking thriller I’ve read this year.

A dirty bomb carried by a suicide bomber destroys the Tel Aviv bus station in Israel. An American talk show personality is on site and gets the aftermath on tape. Israelis are understandably upset. They decide to flout the long standing agreement with the Muslims by beginning an archeological dig under the Temple Mount. What they find will stun the world. What happens later will affirm God’s power over mankind. But which religion is the “correct” one?

Alpha and Omega is an awesome book. It ties Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious theory together with Middle Eastern politics and history. Readers are guaranteed to learn something new by reading this book. However, it can also be read strictly as a thriller. Will the Muslims or Jewish people win the battle over the Temple Mount? There are two love stories here too.

I can’t recommend Alpha and Omega highly enough. I loved it! Even if you are staunchly religious, this book will treat your views with respect. I liked it much better than the Left Behind series. 5 stars!

Thanks to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

While Harry Turtledove is best known for his alternate history series, this latest novel from him is a stand-alone, and of a somewhat different genre category. It is speculative fiction without being identifiably science fiction, fantasy, or alternate history. You see, the proposition is, what if all the ancient prophesies of the Abrahamic family of religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) turned out to be observably true, in the light of modern media and technology? Impossibilities, logical contradictions, and indeed rational judgement need to be tossed aside as real events following the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant can only be explained simply as the will of God. How then would a cast of modern characters, with contemporary perspectives, motivations, and politics respond?

I was disappointed with the novel as answer to that proposition. The characters are not more than stereotypes of their religion or social role – The Orthodox Jews, the Fundamentalist Christians, the Islamic Terrorists, the secular archaeologists, the television hacks, the power-mongering politicians – and their thoughts and actions are explained repeatedly in those terms. All this proof that Turtledove knows the vocabulary of various hyper-religious traditions leads to a very slow exposition of the extra-ordinary events that are the conceptual meat of the novel. It felt to me like a short story concept padded out to novel length. I don’t really know Harry Turtledove’s personal religious views, but I suspect some of them are coming through here, as in the world would be a better place if we would set aside creeds and theology and just accept the one real God behind them all. In his fictional universe, that is certainly true. In the real universe, well I think it’s not so simple.

I read the novel “Alpha and Omega” in kindle ebook, which I received from Del Rey (Random House) through netgalley, in exchange for publishing an honest review. I finished my read on the publication date of 2 July 2019. I have previously read many of Harry Turtledove’s alternate histories – particularly the “The Great War/American Empire/Settling Accounts” sequence concerning an alternate US history starting from the Civil War onwards, and “The Hot War” in which the Korean War goes nuclear – which I liked, and “The Worldwar Saga” concerning an alternate World War II in which aliens invade Earth after the onset of the human war – which I did not like, and a few of his standalone novels as well.

Description

New York Times bestselling author Harry Turtledove reveals a new side of his potent imagination in a gripping speculative novel about the End of Days—and a discovery in the Middle East that turns the world upside down.What would happen if the ancient prophecy of the End of Days came true? It is certainly the last thing Eric Katz, a secular archaeologist from Los Angeles, expects during what should be a routine dig in Jerusalem. But perhaps higher forces have something else in mind when a sign presaging the rising of the Third Temple is located in America, a dirty bomb is detonated in downtown Tel Aviv, and events conspire to place a team of archaeologists in the tunnels deep under the Temple Mount. It is there that Eric is witness to a discovery of such monumental proportions that nothing will ever be the same again.Harry Turtledove is the master at portraying ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events, and what is more extraordinary than the incontrovertible proof that there truly is a higher force controlling human destiny? But as to what that force desires . . . well, that is the question.

My Review

This is the first book I have read by Harry Tutledove and it definitely had me thinking. Written as a suspense thriller it was quite enjoyable. The characters were very well written. In addition, the scenery was believable.

Tutledove known for his alternate history stories did a very good job. I highly recommend you reading this book with an open mind.

This book was provided free in exchange for my honest opinion.

I GIVE IT A 4 STAR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did,the plot was interesting but very slow starting and I found the characters boring

What if God proved to be real? Beyond all doubt?

Harry Turtledove, the master of alternate history, creates an alternate present-day scenario in Alpha and Omega in which various people react to an incontrovertible series of demonstrations that God exists. Set almost entirely in Israel, he gives us the points of view of people on all points on the compass of faith -- secular archeologists, fundamentalist leaders of all three major western religions, disinterested television personalities out for the best possible story, a young Israeli boy and his uncle, and a cast of additional characters.

I don't have a firm grasp of the body of work that exists in fiction that deals with proof of God. I read Calculating God by Robert Sawyer, and I guess you can count The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta (which I read before watching the TV show). There's the current TV show God Friended Me, though it's not yet clear whether that's really God. Indeed, my only published work of fiction (albeit from forty years ago) was a short short story speculating a specific form that God could take. As a high concept, I found it quite interesting to read Turtledove's take on what proof of God could look like in this day and age.

That said, I have a number of issues with his presentation. The most obvious is the length of the book, padded with what I find to be an inordinate amount of repetition in the characters' reactions to each succeeding event -- there are maybe six or seven discreet events, which makes it about one every 75 pages, and each time, we get pretty much the same set of responses, with the needle moving just a little more. It's all too much. By at least half -- and we're talking nearly 500 pages here.

Now place that alongside glaring omissions that could've filled that space instead of repetitive musings. Like the reaction of societies around the world, mostly in Asia and Africa, that now number upwards of three billion people who have no history of ever even conceiving of a God like the one that is the singular focus of this book, the God of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Not. One. Single. Word. The perspective here is as white and Euro-centric as you can get (defining white Euro-centrism as having its roots in the ancient civilizations of the Near East).

And what about alternative reactions within the world of western religion itself, like, uh, panic, or celebration, or mass demonstration, or anything other than continuing to make the buses and trains run on time, a highly unlikely response to God suddenly appearing and doing the things he does in Alpha and Omega. There doesn't even seem to have been much of a mass reaction around the world to a disaster early in the book -- think about 9/11, how can master speculator Harry Turtledove not imagine how a real-life event of that type would be greeted?

Several times during Alpha and Omega, as it begins to dawn on people that God may actually be manifesting himself (yes, HIM-self), the question is asked: Why now? Where was he when millions were slain during the Holocaust? You could easily ask that question about slavery, the black death, the vast senseless slaughter of World War I, and countless other atrocities committed by humans over the centuries and millennia (although those are not asked in this book, only the Holocaust). Turtledove never attempts to answer that question -- which would be fine, except that he's the one who brought it up in the first place.

I hesitate to ascribe the apparent point of view of this book to the author. I have no way of knowing what Turtledove himself believes. But the scenario he presents is highly specific, leaving no room for interpretation (especially by those other three billion people out there). So specific that in the end he doesn't answer the question about proof of God in general, not in any way. To me, that means that he has failed in what I believe to be his reason for writing this book -- or at least, what I was looking for in this book, once I realized as I was reading what it was about.

I didn't know ahead of time what I was getting, other than the name of an author I have previously read and liked. I got an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for the chance to do so, and I have to qualify my honest opinion with a note that your mileage may vary -- that will likely depend on what you believe as you enter into this endeavor, just as mine is surely influenced by my journey from an Orthodox Jewish upbringing to a life of secular humanism and atheism.

I greatly enjoyed We Install and Other Stories when it came out a few years ago, and so when Turtledove’s name came up again, I pounced on the chance to read and review Alpha and Omega. Thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine. This book will be available to the public Tuesday, July 2, 2019.

The Dome of the Rock, an ancient Islamic shrine, is about to be relocated so that the Jewish Third Temple may rise in its place. As the story commences, a rare, completely red heifer has been identified and will be used as a sacrifice for the occasion. Chaim, a youngster who has raised Rosie and regards her as a pet, is not entirely on board, but he is just one kid, and he has no authority at all.

Until he does.

Turtledove is a master writer of alternative history, which I confess isn’t my usual wheelhouse, but I do love me some old school science fiction now and then, and this book is that, too. A three-way conflict develops between the Orthodox Jews of Israel; the Muslim Grand Mufti—and the Islamic nations with which he is aligned—and the evangelical Christians of the American South, led by the Reverend Stark. Archaeologist Eric Katz, a secular Jew with no religious axe to grind, provides the reader with an objective, every-man perspective, accompanied by his girlfriend, Orly.

If I could change one thing about this story, I’d like to see a female character developed well outside of the traditional pigeonholes; journalist Gabriella almost gets there but doesn’t. However, this is an issue that’s endemic to the genre.

All told, the miracles that unfold within this witty tale are delightfully provocative; this is a story that will rocket to the top of the banned book list, and you’ll want to know why. I recommend it to fans of the genre.

Imagine what would happen if the end days were really here. Which religion would be considered "the right one"? How would people react? What happens to those who are not part of the chosen religion (assuming any religion is "chosen")?

These are questions asked in Alpha and Omega. I see reviews of this book saying it starts too slowly but I disagree. I do not know very much about politics in the Middle East. At least for me, the first few chapters helped me to understand some of what was going on politically in that area.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes end of times stories. I found this book to be very interesting and I think others would too.

I really liked the message of the book but it was a hard read. I felt like I did not have enough knowledge of current Middle Eastern relations to fill understand the action..

3 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews

Summary:
In the heart of the Holy Land, ancient prophecies begin to come true. But whose prophecies, exactly, and to whose benefit?

Review:
I enjoy Harry Turtledove’s writing, though I’m not really a fan of the alternate history niche that he’s claimed as his particular specialty. Here, he’s strayed from the SFF field into what’s more of a religion-heavy pop thriller with supernatural overtones. It’s a quick, smooth read with strong characters, but it didn’t win me over.

The book is largely set in Jerusalem, and Turtledove does what I imagine he thinks is a painstaking job of presenting all viewpoints fairly. Unfortunately, he doesn’t really pull it off, and the Palestinians get short shrift, coming off as only slightly rounded villains. Most writers do worse, so I suppose we should be thankful that he tried at least, but that’s faint praise. Gender issues don’t always fare better, and while it’s possible to attribute some of these to character viewpoint, the story would have been fine without them. There’s also a tendency to believe that anyone who’s served in the military (especially the Israeli military) is and always will be a noble killing machine. In short, while I don’t know anything at all about Turtledove’s politics, the book fits comfortably in moderate right of center perspective. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but because of nature of the book, the thin presentation of the Palestinian case undermines the entire thing.

The supernatural elements come up mostly toward the end. Most of the book is taken up with an examination of the characters and the political and theological questions they face. To Turtledove’s credit, he faces the political questions head on (if not with perfect balance). That makes it all the more disappointing that he avoids all the theological questions he so carefully tees up. That the end of the book is a cop-out is putting it mildly. He brings us and his characters along with the promise of revelations to come, and then … vanishes into the air. And even then, only the three main Abrahamic religions are addressed. Atheists, Hindus, etc. aren’t involved.

It’s a disappointing book. Turtledove introduces interesting, engaging characters, but then does little with them. While he tries for balance, he doesn’t succeed. Where he raises interesting theological questions, he avoids them in the end. If you’re already to the right on Middle East issues, this book will confirm your views, and you might enjoy it. I can’t really recommend it to anyone else.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.