This volume collects a number of alternate history short stories that were originally written and published in magazines or collections between 2000 and 2007. The title is drawn from the first and last story in the collection. Each returns fans to the world of Atlantis, which Turtledove as designed as being made up of a good chunk of the North American east cost. He has designed a popular series that has taken readers up through what is equivalent to the American Civil War. The first of these two tales have John James Audubon on an ecological journey to find and capture in art what is probably one of the last honkers (large flightless birds not unlike emus) in "Audubon in Atlantis." The other is a story that proposes that a character who is not unlike Sherlock Holmes who comes to Atlantis to help solve a series of murders that is tied to a church that is not unlike the Mormons in "The Scarlet Band."

In "Uncle Alf," readers get access to a series of letters written by a German operative in Lille, France shortly after the successful win in World War I. Uncle Alf proves to be Adolf Hitler, and he is writing to his niece about his experiences in France and provides insights into some of his scary beliefs and paranoia.

In "Bedfellows," Turtledove introduces an odd modern tale in which George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden take the ultimate step in showing how their actions and decisions often helped each other out. This is off-set nicely with a tale called "News from the Front," which presents through a series of articles how World War II might have been different if the press of that time had been as critical of the Roosevelt administration as the modern press was with the administration of George W. Bush.

In another story, entitled, "The Catcher in the Rhine," readers get an opportunity to join Holden Caulfield in a trip through the Rhineland. Turtledove does a great job of capturing the voice.

Other tales bring readers back to ancient Greece and other time periods.

I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of the short story when it comes to alternate history. I love the depth of detail that is usually included in novels that are tide to the genre. This gives you an opportunity to really explore the differences between the real historical events with the new alternate reality.

Short stories in the genre tend to be really more forceful in the presentation of a satirical or critical theme. The result is something less fun because there is little-to-no character development and less of a chance to absorb the new time.

With that said, these are really strong additions.