Book Log 2007 #61: Opening Atlantis by Harry Turtledove

The turning point in this alternative history takes place much earlier than in most books of the genre, as at some point in the indeterminate geologic past, a chunk of what we know as the US comes loose and becomes an island several hundred miles southeast of its real-life position. This island is discovered by fishermen, and is eventually settled by the Spaniards, French, and English, who seem most responsible for the island becoming known as Atlantis.

The book starts in the 15th century, with the three stories presented taking place following multi-generational gaps in one family (it's a bit like Steven Saylor's Roma in that respect). Each story focuses on an Atlantis-centered conflict, including tyranny from an outcast English noble, piracy, and the spillover of a European war (the Atlantean outpost of the French and Indian Wars, I think).

This is the first book of a trilogy, and I'm hoping the other two books will venture a little deeper into internal Atlantean politics and life, as in the first book it's not really discussed too deeply. I'm also hoping to get more interplay with Atlantis and neighboring Terranova (our North America), which in the first book is limited to learning of its existence and the mention of native Terranovans brought to Atlantis as slaves. Finally, there is regular mention of how different Atlantean flora and fauna are to both Europe and Terranova, so I'm hoping that one of the stories in the second book has some sort of Darwinian influence.

All that being said, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one.