With his epic novels of alternate history, Harry Turtledove shares a sensational vision of what may have been-and what might still be-if one moment in history were changed. In the Worldwar and Colonization series, an ancient, highly advanced alien types discovered itself locked within a bitter have a problem with a faraway, rebellious planet: Earth. For all those defending the Earth, this all-out war for survival supercharged human technology, made friends of foes, and switched allies into bitter foes.

For about Homeward Bound the aliens referred to as the Race, the discord has yielded dire outcomes. Mankind is rolling out nuclear technology years before timetable, forcing the invaders to accept an uneasy truce with countries that contain the technology to defend themselves. But it is the Us citizens, using their primitive inventiveness, who discover a method to launch themselves through distant space-and reach the Race’s home planet itself.

Now-in the twenty-first century-a few daring men and women begin a journey zero human has made before. Warriors, diplomats, traitors, and exiles-the humans who arrive in the place known as Home end up genuine strangers on the strange world with the center of the flash stage with terrifying potential. For his or her arrival over the alien house world may drive the enemy to help make the best decision-to annihilate a whole planet, rather than allow the human being contagion to pass on. It may be that nothing at all can deter them from this course.

Using its extraordinary cast of characters-human, nonhuman, plus some in between-Homeward Bound is a fascinating contemplation of cultures, armies, and people in collision. From the person whom USA Today provides called ‘the leading writer of alternate history,’ this is a book of vision, experience, and constant, astounding surprise.