Book Note: John Barnes, Patton's Spaceship

This is book 1 of the "Timeline Wars" series.

This note contains spoilers for the book.

I don't know when, but I've clearly read this one before. Can't find a copy in the library anywhere, though. The edition I read is a three-in-one hardcover from GuildAmerica Books—a bookclub edition that isn't even the SFBC.

It's a time-travel/alternate history story, which I mostly don't like. But it starts as a fairly nice private eye story, which is good. I like the guy, and I like his friends.

I like the future weapons technology—it'd be useful. Too powerful to really believe in, though. The SHAKK sends hypersonic seeking self-guided projectiles up to 6 miles. They can recognize a tube weapon and attack the projectile in the tube. They manufacture reloads from any matter containing the right atoms in the tray. Oh, and it's not only man-portable, it's actually concealable. Doesn't melt down in use, either. Sure would be handy if I had to dispose of an armored division, though.