Colonization: Second Contact cover art

Colonization: Second Contact

Colonization, Book 1

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Thousands of incredible audiobooks and podcasts to take wherever you go.
Immerse yourself in a world of storytelling with the Plus Catalogue - unlimited listening to thousands of select audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Colonization: Second Contact

By: Harry Turtledove
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

About this listen

In the extraordinary World War tetralogy, set against the backdrop of World War II, Harry Turtledove, whom Publishers Weekly has called the "Hugo-winning master of alternate SF," wove an explosive saga of world powers locked in conflict against an enemy from the stars. Now he expands his magnificent epic into the volatile 1960s, when the space race is in its infancy and humanity must face its greatest challenge: alien colonization of planet Earth.

Yet even in the shadow of this inexorable foe, the United States, the Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany are unable to relinquish their hostilities and unite against a massive new wave of extraterrestrials. For all the countries of the world, this is the greatest threat of all. This time, the terrible price of defeat will be the conquest of our world and perhaps the extinction of the human race itself.

©2009 Harry Turtledove (P)2010 Tantor Adventure First Contact Historical Fiction Military Science Fiction Fiction Soviet Union War Imperialism Imperial Japan

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Worldwar: In the Balance cover art
American Empire cover art
Return Engagement cover art
The Infinite and the Divine cover art
Ark Royal cover art
A Few Good Men cover art
Santiago cover art
Native Tongue cover art
An Enemy of the State cover art
Stormcrow cover art
Six of Crows cover art
Elantris (1 of 3) [Dramatized Adaptation] cover art
The Shadow of What Was Lost cover art
Hominids cover art
New Spring cover art
Forging Hephaestus cover art

Critic reviews

“[Turtledove] develops an exciting, often surprising, story that will not only delight his fans but will probably send newcomers back to the Worldwar saga to fill in the backstory.” ( Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)
All stars
Most relevant
First of all: the bad: Todd McLarren who narrated the World War books (which give the story before the Colonization series) is so good at it that Patrick Lawlor seems lackluster. Patrick Lawlor cant/doesnt do as many different voices and accents so at first it was sometimes (not often) difficult to follow which character is actually talking Now: the good: It was written by Harry Turtledove and that says all you need to know.

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good continuation of the story, jumping into the sixties from the forties. Some clever ideas on the side effects of ginger on ‘the race’. Lots of colloquialisms used. Some human ones used by the race, but substituted with lizard body parts etc. which I felt wearisome. ‘Coloured’ used instead of ‘black’ which was also irritating to me, maybe the author was trying to reflect the attitudes and racism of the time.


Oh and ginger is a spice not a (h)erb!
The narrator gave a good crack at the accents, but some were pretty awful. Saying that the alternate Earth history has been well thought out and its a good yarn.

The authors age and social background!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A 4 star book is nothing to be snuffed at, if I could have given it 4.5 I would have, but I felt 5 stars would be a step to far. I know this is part of what makes Turtledove a great writer but I enjoyed the progression of the old characters as well as the introduction of the new. He doesn't get stuck in tropes of how the characters from the Worldwar series have moved on with their lives. A slightly slow starter of a book considering how exited I was to see those old characters who are now 20 years older. But good things come to those who wait. It's downfall is the narrator. He actually does have a terrific voice, he can use tone, intonation and inflection go give great depth to the storytelling. But his accents for different nationalities and the aliens are not of the calibre this story deserves. He does improve as the story goes on but it's still not a patch on Todd McLaren. A criticism I have heard regarding this and the previous novels is the extended used of sexual content. It can get uncomfortable at times but I think that makes you sympathise with the character more at the end. I am more familiar with sexual content in movies and tv, sometimes some of those moments felt that they were there for the sensationalism and didn't add to the story. I feel they do add and more challenge you as a reader. Inspired writing.

Don't let the ratings fool you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Another great entry in the alternative ww2 (now alternative 60s) series. Good to see what all the character from the prior world war series are up to.

Narrator is great, especially when acting as the lizards with the coughs and clicks.

The series continues

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Just like an invention by The Race this book is not heart stoppingly fast, even paced and methodical with the odd burst of speed Mr Turtledove is so precise and accurate with his writing you find this orderly pace interesting enough as to be enjoyable. He is a genius at building up tension in the reader of his tale slowly but surely. He's equally as good at creating fictional characters personalities to be realistic enough to interact smoothly with known historical figures whom you'd believe Harry had met in person. I loved this book it follows on brilliantly from the original series that I read years ago. Patrick Lawlors narration has you picturing yourself witnessing events and believing that's how the Lizards would sound. I can't wait to download the next in the series. I will be hearing a lot more of Mr Turtledove in the near future.

Very Race Like

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews