This is a series of 3 short stories that are a “what if” envisioning a future that fortunately didn’t happen. The parody played well, and I enjoyed the three stories with different degrees. Turtledove’s is the best. This will be one of those books that you wish your friend was reading so you could chuckle over parts of it.

This isn’t a novel but an anthology of three stories by different writers. Each one takes the events of an alternative US a bit farther. Mainly, Trump has died and Pence has succeeded him. The former has achieved a god-like stature for the masses. Things have become so bad that several States decide to secede. Those stories show us what happens during and immediately after secession. The scary part is how easily all of this could come true because, as we know, the country is divided into red- and blue-voting states. Even now, there are Americans who have voted for Trump. There’s an incident where Pence’s government sends the SS to kidnap the leader of one of the first States to secede. It was harrowingly prescient of what happened months later with the Governor of Michigan. In other words, these didn’t read like far-fetched tales. Sure, they’re heavy-handed and one even has a ridiculous resurrection scene in it (the second one). But this is 2020 and anything can happen!

Anyway, these are the stories you’ll find in this collection:

The Breaking of Nations by Harry Turtledove
The Purloined Republic by James Morrow
Because It Is Bitter by Cat Rambo

I don't know if this is alternate history or horror but I know it's a gripping and interesting read.
The three novella are well written and the world building is excellent.
I discovered two new to me author, requested it because I'm a fan of Turtledove, and I will surely read other books by them.
It's a book that it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

i really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were great and I really enjoyed going on this journey.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a series of 3 sequential novellas. The first, by Harry Turtledove, deals with the secession of California, Oregon, and Washington State, to form the new nation of Pacifica. It really is a near term alternative history, maybe 15 years along, after Trump and then Pence have solidified total authoritarian control over the US. A cautionary tale, really, as nothing about it seemed to be terribly far fetched, if things continue as they have been. This was my favorite of the three, not because I liked what happened, but because it was very well written and sadly plausible.

The second, by James Morrow, continues a bit farther along in time, with efforts by Pacifica to undermine the Pence administration. Somewhat fun, but it just didn't hold my attention as much as Turtledove's story. I think, perhaps, because it just seemed way too nonsensical. Things were thrown in, like the unexpected presence of the main character's daughter at one of the events, but then didn't really seem to have much point to them, nor did they have any real influence on the plot.

The third, by Cat Rambo, was again a little further along in time. There were interesting touches - the protagonist worked for Googlesoft, after Google and Microsoft merged, but overall, it didn't seem to really advance the overall plot. The story here could happen anywhere/any time, and while there were details like the difficulty in crossing the border and the hostility of the US toward Pacifica citizens, those were just background.

In short, as the three novellas proceeded in time, they also became less involved in the basic premise, and I found them less interesting as they went along. It's a fast read, and certainly enjoyable, but I have to average out the book at a 3.

Had to DNF this book. I was really intrigued to read this alternate history based on current events but I ended up finding it very hard to stay interested in the alternate world that was created.

Previous reviews do an excellent job of summarizing what this book is about. The format of the book is a strength for me, with the stories building off of one another. I found them to be sometimes funny, sometimes eye-roll inducing. Political parody is really hard, so I applaud the effort and really think this could be a funny read if it wasn’t such a tense political atmosphere right now. Maybe in another political climate it could be enjoyed

This was an ok political satire about what the future could be like for us after Trump. It hit a little too close to reality in cases of what damage he could do.

This is definitely one of his better books. I love the alternate histories. This one gives off sort of a cautionary vibe. I really enjoyed this book. I definitely recommend it.

This is both an engrossing set of stories and also terrifying. Set in the possible near future, these stories tell of the turmoil that has been caused due to the current administration. This book is very realistic and the characters and events are close enough to a possibility to cause nightmares and discomfort, but you will want to keep reading. I am a Harry Turtledove fan and he holds nothing back in his story.

Three short stories by three different authors, but all sharing the same universe, that is the charm and the problem of And The Last Trump Shall Sound. Harry Turtledove does a very nice job of laying the groundwork for the breakup of the US of A. The readers quickly realizes that this is near time future AH. the technology is recognizable and the situation is relatable. The story resolution is plausible. James Morrow then chimes in with an over the top espionage tale that takes the situation Turtledove laid out and builds on the wackiness inherent in the system. A spy impersonates an advisor of the president of the United States to try and destroy him, but the law of unintended consequences intervenes and the results are very strange. The third tale by Cat Rambo is more dystopian and rambling then the first two. This reader had a harder time getting to the story and carrying for the characters. And the ending just goes off into the sunset. So just beware that not all the tales are equal, but most are reasonably entertaining.

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title.

Meh.
A set of three novellas, each one building on the previous.
The first story, by Turtledove, imagines that the Trump era gets so bad that the Pacific Northwest secedes from the United States, and becomes it's own country. Honestly, this scenario is not so far fetched. I live in Washington. There has been talk of forming a new country, called Cascadia. For years. They even have a flag for the new country! I was wondering when someone was going to get around to writing this scenario into a book. Enter Turtledove. Honestly, it's the area where he is at his best. He's explored the topic before, with the Civil War, and with his World War series. I enjoy his imagination. So, here he's written a good, engaging story. It kept me guessing, right up to the ending. You do have to deal with his somewhat "folksy" dialogues, he never has grown past the "he said, then she said, then he said" descriptions. All in language that seems from the 40's or 50's. But it's okay, if you accept that's just him.
The other two stories build on the first. Each gets a little more "out there". I didn't really enjoy either one. I would have rather let Turtledove build on his scenario.
Mildly entertaining.

First sentence of The Breaking of Nations by Harry Turtledove: Nichole Yoshida clicked the remote's channel-up button, first once, then twice.

First sentence of The Purloined Republic by James Morrow: Let's get the snickering over with right away. Yes, I was a porn star.

First sentence of Because It Is Bitter by Cat Rambo: The electric bus was driverless, but you could see the shifting of the driver's wheel back and forth as it adjusted its course, as though someone invisible sat in the seat.

Premise/plot: And The Last Trump Shall Sound is a collection of three novellas set in the 2030s. It is satire slash dystopia. Each story is rooted in the idea that Presidents Trump and Pence have ruined The United States of America beyond all hope of redemption--the only choice remains is for individual states to secede from the USA and form their own nations.

In the first novella, California, Washington, and Oregon secede from the USA--not without threats and rants from President Pence--to form the new nation of Pacifica. (They are not the only states that will secede by the end of the collection, but they are the first three.) The point of view is that Pacifica encapsulates everything good and right and moral...according to a Leftist/Liberal point of view. And the USA encapsulates everything evil, repugnant, and disgusting. To be Southern, to be Christian, to be Conservative, to be Republican, well, you might as well not have a soul, not even be a human being. You are evil, evil, evil, evil, evil. Did you get the idea that you're EVIL. There are no nuances allowed in this satire/dystopia. You can't be a Christian and espouse Christian values and morals and ethics AND question the character and integrity of Trump/Pence. No, if you're a Christian then you are 100% team Republican all the way. Not only team Republican, but TEAM TRUMP AND TEAM PENCE. (As if Republicans aren't divided in some ways about these two). And it's not a good thing to be Christian in this one, no, it automatically makes you evil because you must breathe hate in and out all day long. Again no nuances allowed. Same thing with Southern states. To be born in the South is to automatically be a hater and all kinds of backward. I would assume there's also bias in being WHITE and or white and male and being evil. But by this point, just assume that if you're not well left of anything moderate and common sense then you are just EVIL. There are three stories in all. The first establishes the world that all three are set in. The first story is definitely the weakest--in my opinion.

In the second novella, Polly Nightingale (former porn star) goes undercover for Pacifica and impersonates Reverend Walker Lambert, an advisor to President Pence. Her mission is to speak for the Lord (not really) and convince President Pence to do crazy, outlandish, ridiculous things that even the totally evil people who remain in the USA will find repugnant. Since they are so "warped" in their thinking, Pence's words and actions must be really, really, really, really really out there. Her visions from the Lord must be convincing enough to fool Pence. The climax of this one involves a "supernatural" resurrection of a certain somebody....

In the third novella, Ernst, a worker for GoogleSoft finds himself in a bit of a mess as he leaves the relative safety of Pacifica to venture into the United States pursuing a person who stole his life's work (a research project first started by his grandmother).

My thoughts: I would not recommend this book for Christians, not because I believe--as the authors must???--that ALL Christians must by default be Trump/Pence supporters and be Team Republican until their dying breaths...and maybe even beyond. I would not recommend this book for Christians because it uses crude language, is condescending in its general tone and assumptions, and lacks the depth of being thought provoking. I'm fine completely with critiquing the system and offering political commentary. Political commentary isn't unwelcome--nor is satire, if it's good. Satire, in my opinion, should hold a kernel of truth with some mocking humor. The absolute best writers of satire are equal opportunists--they know that there is plenty worth poking on both sides: Republican and Democrat, Liberal and Conservative, Left and Right, etc. I can laugh at both sides most of the time. I'm not so team anything that I can't find humor in dark and dry places.

The best dystopias have some subtlety thrown in. They draw you into the story in some delightfully creepy ways. Think Twilight Zone, for example. The created worlds can be bizarre, super bizarre, oppressive, weird, horrifying--combinations of all the above. But there is usually some subtlety. Think The Giver...one of the best in the genres. Or think 1984 or Fahrenheit 451. Again the best of the best of the best. This book lacks any hint of subtlety. I would say it would be like applying lipstick with a paintbrush. A smaller brush would do a better job.

This book isn't great at being satire or great at being a dystopia. I will say this....the third story is the best of the three. I would actually rate the third story by itself as closer to four stars. The other two stories--I'm being generous with one and two stars respectively. If all three stories were as clever and as well written as the third story, I would give the book a higher rating.

This book can really make you think. Even as a political parody it hits too close to home for comfort. I don't care if you lean red or blue, you should read this awesome book.

I'm going to be honest and rip the Band-Aid off from the beginning of this review - I have not been this disappointed by a book I was this excited by in a long time.

I am a huge Turtledove and alternative history fan in general, and I eagerly downloaded this book and started to read. This book is not one continuous narrative, but rather three stories written to tell the future history of America, and break-up of the Union, under the presidency/dictatorship of Mike Pence from different perspectives. Turtledove writes the first story, and the other two are written by notable authors James Morrow and Cat Rambo. This is my first personal exposure to either of their work.

The stories span roughly the decade of the 2030s and trace the establishment of a new nation, Pacifica, out of the West Coast states and the Cold Civil War that effectively follows. The first story is written by Turtledove and is grounded in the deeply believable and realistic events and characters that he is known for, detailing the early period immediately after Pacifica's founding, with the new President of that fledgling nation as the primary viewpoint character. I thought this story was excellent and did a great job of presenting a frighteningly possible future. The characters behaved in ways that made sense, and events unfolded logically.

It was in the next two stories that I felt the narrative went completely off the rails. The second story, by James Morrow, set a few years after Turtledove's, details a covert operation by Pacifica to replace one of Mike Pence's closest religious advisors with a former porn star disguised in drag who will feed him increasingly absurd religious prophecies and commandments from the Almighty that must be obeyed by the devout Pence. This story quickly lost for me any semblance of believably or realism, as it devolved into absurdity involving a reenactment of the Alamo and ultimately Pence supposedly raising the dead. Pence's characterization in this second story made me laugh out loud, which was probably not the author's intention. I don't have a particularly high opinion of Mike Pence, but I don't see him acting in the way he is presented here.

The third story by Cat Rambo, set around 2040, seemed much more patently based on science fiction than either of the first two, and seemed very out of place. It involved more future technology, a convoluted plot that ultimately reminded me of The Truman Show, and seemed to borrow more from various conspiracy theories about global elites then it did from any framework of this alternate future history of America. It felt like it could have been easily transposed to other realities without specifically adding any depth to the one presented in the book. Regrettably, I just found it more boring and uninteresting than anything, and even as I write this review I have a hard time offering any specific moment in the story that I found either good, bad, or memorable.

In the end, I feel like this book would have been much better if it had simply been a novel written by Turtledove. Am I simply biased towards Turtledove's style? Maybe, but given how different the other two stories read from his, I think many readers will be taken by surprise.

Three novellas linked by a common setting. At first I thought it was shared world but after reading the stories I no longer think that. Its also much easier to enjoy the stories if they are treated as each standing alone and not inhabiting the same universe as the others.
I really liked Mr. Turtledove's story on how and why California, Oregon and Washington states claimed and kept independence from the greater U.S..
Mr. Morrow's story takes SNL casting women to play Trump administration men and runs with it. I wish I could say I liked the story but found myself skipping major bits and just reading the first 20% and the end.
Cat Rambo's story is very good but also rather depressing. In a different time I might have liked it very much.
If I had purchased this I expect I would have thought it worth the $6.99 price for Mr. Turtledove's story alone.