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Making History

Author: Stephen Fry
Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

40 reviews
Sales Rank: 3366

Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 4.9 x 1.6

ISBN: 0099457067
EAN: 9780099457060
ASIN: 0099457067

Publication Date: August 5, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new book dispatched from stock in the UK

Also Available In:

•	Hardcover - Making History
•	Paperback - Making History < >
•	Paperback - Making History (Airport Ed)
•	Audio Cassette - Making History
•	Paperback - Making History
•	Hardcover - Making History
•	Paperback - Making History

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Customer Reviews: Read 35 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommended April 14, 2008
A thoroughly thought provoking read. Every aspect was a joy; from his endless fountain of wit to his dark ideas of what life could have been.

Making History changed my life, by far the best book I've ever read.

5 out of 5 stars

Sheer Genius April 9, 2008
A very, very funny book from a very, very funny man. I challenge you to read this bbok without hearing Fry's voice in your head throughout. Buy it and enjoy.

4 out of 5 stars

Making History February 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Stephen Fry's 3rd novel finds him entering science fiction territory, as a university student and a physcicist team up to erase Adolf Hitler from history, only to find that the new world they have created may not be an improvement after all. The alternate world storyline is one of the staples of SF, and the idea of a world without Hitler is certainly a well-worn one, but Fry still manages to throw in a couple of good plot twists along the way, while familiar authorial tropes - humour, academia, homosexuality - are prevalent. THe novel is not without it's flaws - the concept is old-hat, the prose occasionally overblown, and the random jumps to screenplay form seem less to do with stylistic choices than Fry trying to wade through expositionary sections at top speed - but what makes this so enjoyable is the vivid characterisation and fluid writing style. Reminiscent of Douglas Adams, 'Making History' is entertaining and hugely readable.

5 out of 5 stars

Smart, light-weight and highly enjoyable. February 24, 2008
Having never read any of Stephen Fry's novels before I have to say I was surprised by how accomplished a writer he really is. The novel is pretty long at well over five hundred pages, but manages to remain extremely quick and light-weight reading throughout, with Fry's trademark sparkling wit lending the whole thing an admittedly slightly self-indulgent but nonetheless very intelligent tone.
The story is an extremely well thought through peice of sci-fi working around the old question of whether or not it would be justifiable to kill Hitler before he had a chance to commit his attroticies. There's a good understanding of history present here though and Fry avoids over simplifying his portayal of the people and the time, in fact lending the whole thing a great deal more complexity then most writers would have. The principle character is very relatable, he's sympathetic for all the same reasons as a Douglas Adams character but is very much Fry's creation and a protagonist who the reader can't help but like.
The story has enough thematic intricacies and philosophical questions to keep hardcore sci-fi fans satisfied but remains highly accessible throughout and as such never excludes the reader regardless of their personal taste and preferences.
This is an inventive little sci-fi adventure that should keep both newcomers and stalwart fans of the genre entertained for all of it's pretty considerable length. Definitely one to check out if you get the chance.

4 out of 5 stars

enjoyable read January 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I found this an enjoyable and engrossing read, but to be honest I could see the way the plot was going a mile off. I nearly through it out the window when reading his description of a laboratory, he clearly doesn't have a clue there. Has made me want to try his other books.