Robert Conroy

Robert Conroy (1938-2014) was an American alternate history author known for novels exploring different outcomes of major historical conflicts, particularly World War II and the American Civil War. His work primarily focused on military scenarios and carefully researched historical details to create plausible "what-if" narratives. Conroy published his first novel, "1901," in 1995, which imagined a German invasion of the United States during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. He went on to write numerous other alternate history works including "1942," "1945," and "Red Inferno: 1945," each examining potential variations of World War II outcomes. His writing style combined military strategy, political intrigue, and personal narratives of both historical and fictional characters. Several of his works received recognition from the Military Book Club, and his novel "1942" won the Boyd Award for Military Fiction. Prior to his career as a novelist, Conroy worked in the Detroit area as a business and operations research analyst, bringing his analytical background to bear on his historical scenarios. He continued writing until his death in 2014, with his final novel "1882: Custer in Chains" published posthumously.

Readers appreciate Conroy's alternative history scenarios but note issues with historical accuracy and character development. His books average 3.7-3.9 stars on Goodreads across titles. Readers praise: - Creative "what-if" military scenarios - Fast-paced action sequences - Detailed battle descriptions - Integration of historical figures Common criticisms: - One-dimensional characters - Repetitive dialogue - Historical errors and implausible plot elements - Similar writing style across different books On Amazon, multiple reviewers note factual mistakes, with one reader highlighting "basic errors about Japanese military capabilities" in 1945: A Novel. Goodreads reviews frequently mention "cardboard characters" and "stiff dialogue." Several readers point out recycled character types appearing across different novels. His World War II alternative histories receive higher ratings (4.0+) than other periods. 1901: A Novel and 1862 have the lowest average ratings at 3.5 stars, with readers citing "unrealistic diplomatic scenarios" as a key issue.

1901 - Germany attempts to invade the United States during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency in 1901.

1862 - The Civil War takes a different turn when Britain intervenes on behalf of the Confederacy.

1882: Custer in Chains - George Armstrong Custer survives Little Bighorn and becomes President of the United States.

1920: America's Great War - A delayed World War I escalates in 1920 with America facing a stronger German Empire.

1942 - Japan successfully conquers Hawaii after Pearl Harbor, leading to a different Pacific War.

1945 - Japan refuses to surrender after the atomic bombs, forcing America to launch Operation Downfall.

Castro's Bomb - Cuba develops nuclear weapons during the Cold War, altering the balance of power.

Germanica - Nazi Germany survives as a rump state after World War II ends in partial victory.

Himmler's War - Hitler dies in 1944, leaving Heinrich Himmler to lead Nazi Germany in a different endgame.

Liberty 1784: The Second War for Independence - British forces prevail in the American Revolution, leading to a second independence movement.

Red Inferno: 1945 - Soviet forces engage American troops in Europe as World War II ends.

Rising Sun - The Japanese Empire gains the upper hand in World War II's Pacific theater.

The Day After Gettysburg - Lee's army wins at Gettysburg, changing the course of the Civil War.

Harry Turtledove writes alternate history with a focus on military conflicts and detailed research of historical events. His works include series about a Confederate victory in the Civil War and an alternate World War II where aliens invade Earth during the conflict.

S.M. Stirling creates alternate timelines centered on changes in technology and warfare across different eras. His Draka series and Dies the Fire books explore worlds where military and social development take radically different paths from our timeline.

Eric Flint specializes in alternate history focusing on military and political changes, particularly in his 1632 series. His works incorporate detailed research and multiple viewpoints from both military leaders and common citizens caught in historical changes.

Peter G. Tsouras produces military alternate history based on extensive research and actual military doctrine. His work focuses on detailed tactical and strategic scenarios, particularly regarding World War II and the American Civil War.

Philip K. Dick wrote The Man in the High Castle and other works exploring alternate outcomes of World War II. His approach combines historical elements with complex political scenarios and examines how society changes under different historical outcomes.