Stalin's Hammer cover art

Stalin's Hammer

The Axis of Time Series

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Stalin's Hammer

By: John Birmingham
Narrated by: Jay Snyder
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About this listen

Ten years have passed since Admiral Kolhammer's 21st-century battlefleet was dragged into a wormhole and thrown across oceans of time, emerging with disastrous consequences and shattering the history of the Second World War.

Hitler and the Nazis have fallen, but Stalin rules half of Europe and Asia. The great Soviet engines of state power turn and burn to 'set history right'. Not just of the war, but of all future time.

In Rome with his lover, Julia Duffy, an older, mellower Prince Harry is drawn into Stalin's plans when a simple game of spies goes horribly wrong. Underneath the eternal city, former Spetsnaz officer Pavel Ivanov fights a running battle with the NKVD's executioner in chief as Stalin's minions fight to preserve the secret of a weapon that could destroy the West with one fearsome blow.

Moving from Rome to Paris to Cairo, Harry and the uptimers must fight a shadow war against the communist superstate and the suspicion and prejudices of their forebears. They can save the world, but the world does not want saving by the likes of them.

"A weapons-grade military techno-thriller.... It's like a Clive Cussler novel fell into a transporter beam with a Stephen Ambrose history, and they came out all fused together." (Time magazine, on the original Axis of Time series)

©2016 John Birmingham (P)2017 Audible, Inc.
Science Fiction Fiction War Stalin Military Middle East Rome

Critic Reviews

"Birmingham sets new standards in alternate history, time travel, and sheer dancing-on-the-edge-of-the lava gonzo inventiveness. Solid and wild at the same time." (S. M. Stirling, author of Dies the Fire)
All stars
Most relevant
Tied up the axis of time trilogy and nice twist at the end. Plays out the Cold War nicely

Little Twist at the end

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too many Democrat names not shure why there was no need for that as Mrs Clinton was not ever a President

good story obviously a Democrat but we can't all be clever. thought the ending was a bit weak considering how good the book was.

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loved all the books, this one included
the ending was a little weak. Needed strong fleshed out finish and we received a rather lean one. . Still I do recommend the whole series.

Good read

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Love John Birmingham's work. This was the 3 pack of Rome, Cairo and Paris so it blended well together. I did have to lough out loud as some points though - not because of the story but because of what Prince Harry says in parts in light of his real world situation, marriage with an American, and breaking from the Royal family - quite prophetic in hindsight!!! I've read the short for his next story and hope it comes out soon.

Really engaging story as usual

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Where does Stalin's Hammer rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right up there, I feel I have a vested interest in the series

What was one of the most memorable moments of Stalin's Hammer?

The beginning of some chapters are prefaced with the initial interactions of characters close to the time of Transition. A good touch, giving added depth and reasoning behind a characters actions and decisions.

What about Jay Snyder’s performance did you like?

Fitted the story and characters very well. An excellent selection of actor.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Gracie's reveal.

Any additional comments?

Well composed follow on to the original Axis of Time WW2.1 stories.

Another cracking effort by Birmingham

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What made the experience of listening to Stalin's Hammer the most enjoyable?

Another great book from John Birmingham - only issue was some of the British accents but that's being a bit harsh on the narrator who is excellent. Can't wait for the next in the series!

Loved it

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Glad to read another entry in the axis of time series. really enjoyed it and hope John writes more in this world. The narrator does a great Prince Harry too!

Please write more of this series

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Lots of close quarter combat, lovingly described heads exploding, spines snapping and bowels letting go. I don't remember if the earlier books in the series were less monotonous or if it was just easier to skim in print than in audiobook. And the Prince Harry fanfic thing reaches alarming proportions.

Also ends on a cliffhanger just as the larger scale plot gets interesting.

Royally repetitive gore

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