Award-winning author Rick Wilber’s fictional versions of famous baseball player and World War II spy Moe Berg have been entertaining readers of Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine for years. In this collection of alternate-history stories, Wilber’s fictional Moe Berg puts down his ball and bat and goes to work for a mysterious superspy woman as they work to save America from a German atom bomb.
In worlds where the Japanese have invaded California, Erwin Rommel’s panzers are sweeping through the Texas Republic and the Hindenburg zeppelin carries a terrible weapon, it falls to Moe and the mystery woman to stop the fascists and their superbombs. All four of these stories were first published in Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine. “Something Real” won the 2012 Sidewise Award for Best Alternate History – Short Form.
Purchase:
Previous in series:
Wilber is a master of historical fantasy set in this era, giving readers a clear look at the past half century through his eyes.
Locus Online
“Something Real” was a great story and one that I will put on my Hugo short list for next year.
SFRevu
As fascinating from a historical perspective as from a fictional perspective.
FantasyLiterature.com
A clever and well-crafted story that will delight alternate-history fans, (“Something Real”) …. keeps the reader guessing as to which future will “come to pass.” Strongly recommended.
Tangent
Alternate history fans and WWII buffs are going to love this one for the details, baseball fans for Moe Berg, and for everyone, there’s a can’t-miss Very Neat Idea at the end. Recommended.
Locus Magazine
In ”At Palomar,” … Moe Berg, baseball player, is given a job to do that is supposed to make things go a better in yet another alternate World War II reality… More interesting characters and a great character in Moe. Another enjoyable story!
SFRevu
This alternate history SF novella has the Axis invading the United States in 1940. Japan has captured and is holding San Diego and the Germans are sweeping north through the now independent Texas… This was a gripping story as it interlaced an eclectic mixture of historical figures with alternative facts. Well worth the read.
Tangent Online
I enjoyed (“The Secret City”) … immensely and it is a great end to the story. But I wouldn't mind seeing another series with Berg and his lady friend sometime in the future.
SFRevu
“In Dublin, Fair City,” by Rick Wilber – In an alternate World War II, Ireland is one of the few remaining European territories not Nazi-occupied. Baseball player turned spy, Moe Berg, travels under cover to Dublin to arrange for the escape of a critical physics researcher to America. Besides being a satisfying episode itself, this novelette has set my curiosity onto the entire series, of which this story is a part. *****
tomaslav, Goodreads