How Few Remain

How Few Remain is the first book in Harry Turtledove's Southern Victory series, set in an alternate history where the Confederate States won the Civil War. The story takes place in 1881-1882, twenty years after a pivotal change in the timeline where Confederate forces maintained control of crucial military orders and achieved independence through victory at the Battle of Camp Hill. In this transformed America, the United States and Confederate States exist as separate nations with mounting tensions. The narrative follows several historical figures including Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Theodore Roosevelt as they navigate the complex political and social landscape of a divided continent. The plot centers on a second major conflict between the two American nations as they compete for influence and territory in the West. Multiple viewpoints from both sides of the Mason-Dixon line present the complexities of this reimagined North American struggle. The novel explores themes of nationalism, political identity, and the lasting impact of historical turning points on the development of nations and societies. Through its alternate history lens, it raises questions about the fragile nature of national unity and the long-term consequences of civil conflict.

Readers note the detailed historical research and plausible alternate history scenario. The incorporation of real historical figures like Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Custer receives frequent mentions in reviews as feeling authentic and well-developed. Liked: - Military tactics and battle descriptions - Political maneuvering between nations - Character portrayals of historical figures - Amount of historical detail Disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Too much focus on military details for some - Multiple storylines can be hard to follow - Some found Lincoln's portrayal too negative Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (5,600+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (380+ ratings) Common reader comments: "The historical figures feel like real people, not caricatures" "Military sections dragged on too long" "Best alternate Civil War book I've read" "Takes time to get into but worth it" "Sometimes gets bogged down in minutiae"

1862 by Robert Conroy A military alternate history novel exploring what might have happened if Britain joined the Civil War on the Confederate side.

The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove Time travelers supply the Confederacy with AK-47s, changing the outcome of the American Civil War.

If the South Had Won the Civil War by MacKinlay Kantor A journalistic-style narrative describes the aftermath of a Confederate victory at Gettysburg and its impact on North American geopolitics.

Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters In a present-day America where the Civil War never happened, a bounty hunter tracks escaped slaves while confronting his own role in the system.

The Difference Engine by William Gibson Charles Babbage's analytical engine succeeds in Victorian Britain, creating an alternate 1855 where steam-powered computers transform society and politics.

🔸 The pivotal change that leads to Confederate victory in the novel is the recovery of Special Order 191 during the Civil War - in real history, Union troops found these lost battle plans, but in Turtledove's timeline, they remained in Confederate hands. 🔸 Harry Turtledove has a Ph.D. in Byzantine history from UCLA, and this academic background informs his meticulous approach to historical detail in his alternate history works. 🔸 Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) appears as a character in his real-life role as a newspaper editor, a career he pursued before becoming a famous author, adding historical authenticity to the novel. 🔸 The book's 1881 setting coincides with the actual assassination of President James Garfield, which Turtledove incorporates into his alternate timeline but with significantly different circumstances and consequences. 🔸 The Southern Victory series, which this book launched, eventually spans 11 novels covering an alternate history from 1862 to 1945, making it one of the most extensive alternate history series ever written.