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Title: Alternate history made interesting
Review: Landsman, with all of his flaws, is a character who gets under your skin and quickly becomes that lovable underdog that you love to cheer on. The culture, language, uncertain future for the Sitka Jews, and setting are great characters too, bringing a richness that most stories (regardless of the format) simply don't have these days.The murder mystery felt lost at times but always pulled itself out, which made the main plot feel less important than the setting. This was the only flaw I found with this book. However, it did give the sensation that I was reading page after page of description that didn't have any real meaning. Ultimately, this does resolve itself. The murder does get solved.I understand how this novel won both the Hugo and Nebula award. All of its elements of alternate history and the fantastic push The Yiddish Policeman's Union into a place where a book about cops becomes a wonder of soft science fiction.
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