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Jeebo

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5. Harry Turtledove's "Guns of the South"

Fri Jun 12, 2020, 06:42 PM

Jun 2020

Turtledove is known for alternate-history science fiction novels, and "Guns of the South" is one of the best ones I've ever read. I've only read it once, though, and that was quite a while ago. It was a time-travel tale about some racist South African apartheid guys who wanted the South to win the Civil War, so they manage to steal some time on a time machine and travel back to early 1864 and start passing out AK-47s to Robert E. Lee's troops. That enables Lee's Army of Northern Virginia to invade the north and march on Washington and win the war.

And then, after the war, Confederate President Robert E. Lee emancipates the slaves. As I said, it's been a while since I read that novel, but as I recall, freeing the slaves is one of the first things President Lee does.

Is Harry Turtledove a right-winger? I have no idea what his political leanings are. But this post made me think about that novel, and I just wanted to share this with y'all.

-- Ron

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Latest RW lunatic.... Lee was anti-slavery, just wanted to represent Virginia [View all] Takket Jun 2020 OP

Lee owned slaves. marie999 Jun 2020 #1

Lee didnt own the Custis slaves gladium et scutum Jun 2020 #12

Then why did he go to court marie999 Jun 2020 #13

When Custid died gladium et scutum Jun 2020 #19

Okay, marie999 Jun 2020 #21

Pretty much the case. gladium et scutum Jun 2020 #22

Bullshit angstlessk Jun 2020 #2

People should post that she's right, Lee loved black people, LuvNewcastle Jun 2020 #3

Well, that's actually off of Twitter. GoCubsGo Jun 2020 #23

There's nothing "latest" about that argument JHB Jun 2020 #4

Harry Turtledove's "Guns of the South" Jeebo Jun 2020 #5

Why don't you ask him yourself. He's on twitter and hates right wing trolls. madinmaryland Jun 2020 #7

Let would never have freed slaves. He refused to free his own slaves. yardwork Jun 2020 #26

He 'wanted to represent Virginia', well sure that's appalachiablue Jun 2020 #6

I've always heard Light Horse Lee died of a lightning strike. You ever hear this? GulfCoast66 Jun 2020 #10

No I haven't heard that but he supposedly was appalachiablue Jun 2020 #14

Interesting. Ironically, I am a Custis descendant. At least the book I have shows it. GulfCoast66 Jun 2020 #15

A docent I worked with, a fmr NE college prof appalachiablue Jun 2020 #18

Virginia Had a Good Team in 1860-Had a Real Chance at the National Championship Stallion Jun 2020 #8

A good team in the Eastern Conference gladium et scutum Jun 2020 #20

There's a sprawling memorial in DC to Lee's achievements struggle4progress Jun 2020 #9

And the first page of VA's confederate constitution Captain Zero Jun 2020 #11

And the Confederate Constitution explicitly prohibited states from banning slavery. NYC Liberal Jun 2020 #16

I think BGBD Jun 2020 #17

So, he was against slavery, but he wanted to fight for a place that was GoCubsGo Jun 2020 #24

This lie isn't new. It was made up more than 100 years ago. yardwork Jun 2020 #25