The House of Daniel by Harry Turtledove

When it comes to alternate history, Harry Turtledove is my favorite author. He has had many interesting takes on what might have been. So, as I always do, I looked forward to reading this new novel from him. I must confess, it was not what I had expected.

This alternate earth is a place of magic—vampires, zombies, werewolves, conjure men—all exist and are real dangers. The magic is understated through most of the book. There is some here and there, but it’s “normal.” It’s part of the background that the main character, Jack Spivey, takes for granted.

Jack is a center fielder for the Enid (Oklahoma) Eagles. He is also a part-time strongman for a local underworld boss, Big Stu. Hey, it’s the Depression (although the tern was never used), a guy has to eat. So he agrees to rough up the kid brother of someone Big Stu has some trouble with. The team is going to the city where the brother lives. He agrees and when he gets to the right address, he finds not a younger brother, but a younger sister. He can’t bear to beat her up, so instead advises her to run away.

Now that he’s crossed Big Stu, going home isn’t an option. So he stays in town and, by chance, gets an opportunity to play for a barnstorming baseball team, the House of Daniel (based on our world's House of David). They have long hair and beards. The core of the team is from a religious commune. They do hire outsiders, though. It’s perfect. The team will take him far away from Enid and Big Stu. He can play ball and make a little money. Even if he does need to wear a wig and fake beard til his own grows in.

Most of the rest of the book details the travels of Jack and the team. Especially the games they played. All of them. Sometimes in exhausting detail. I am not a baseball fan myself, but I can see the loving care that Turtledove put into recreating the old time games.

I was a little disappointed in the lack of action and the downright mundaneness of the magic. I was hoping for more—Turtledove’s books are usually pretty tense. This one, not so much.

I liked it okay, but found some of the coincidences a little far out. It did do a good job depicting what life was like for a baseball bum in that era, but was a little slow-paced. If you’re not a big fan of baseball, this one may not be for you.