
The Coldest War
British warlocks and German superhuman soldiers collide in this chilling novel of an alternate 20th century
Ian Tregillis(Author)
Orbit (Publisher)
Published on 7. February 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
432 pages
978-0-356-50170-3 (ISBN)
Description
'A major talent' George R. R. Martin
For decades, Britain's warlocks have been all that stands between the British Empire and the Soviet Union - a vast domain stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the shores of the English Channel. Now each wizard's death is another blow to Britain's national security.
Meanwhile, a brother and sister - the subjects of a twisted Nazi experiment to imbue ordinary people with superhuman abilities - escape from a top-secret facility deep behind the Iron Curtain. They head for England, because that's where former spy Raybould Marsh lives. And Gretel, the mad seer, has plans for him.
As Marsh is once again drawn into the world of Milkweed, he discovers that Britain's darkest acts didn't end with the war. And while he strives to protect queen and country, he is forced to confront his own willingness to accept victory at any cost.
The Coldest War is the second novel in Ian Tregillis's Milkweed Triptych series - a chilling masterpiece featuring a twentieth century much like our own, but also horrifyingly different.
Praise for the series:
'Confident and thrilling' SFX
'A white-knuckle plot, beautiful descriptions, and complex characters - an unstoppable Vickers of a novel' Cory Doctorow
'Bitter Seeds may rival Naomi Novik's Tales of Temeraire as a sustained historical fantasy' Booklist
'Tregillis delivers a dynamite first novel' SFREVU
'Exciting and intense . . . The clash of magic and science meshes perfectly with the tumultuous setting' Publishers Weekly
'Receives my highest recommendations' SFFWORLD
The Milkweed Triptych
Bitter Seeds
The Coldest War
Necessary Evil
Also by Ian Tregillis:
The Alchemy Wars
The Mechanical
The Rising
The Liberation
For decades, Britain's warlocks have been all that stands between the British Empire and the Soviet Union - a vast domain stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the shores of the English Channel. Now each wizard's death is another blow to Britain's national security.
Meanwhile, a brother and sister - the subjects of a twisted Nazi experiment to imbue ordinary people with superhuman abilities - escape from a top-secret facility deep behind the Iron Curtain. They head for England, because that's where former spy Raybould Marsh lives. And Gretel, the mad seer, has plans for him.
As Marsh is once again drawn into the world of Milkweed, he discovers that Britain's darkest acts didn't end with the war. And while he strives to protect queen and country, he is forced to confront his own willingness to accept victory at any cost.
The Coldest War is the second novel in Ian Tregillis's Milkweed Triptych series - a chilling masterpiece featuring a twentieth century much like our own, but also horrifyingly different.
Praise for the series:
'Confident and thrilling' SFX
'A white-knuckle plot, beautiful descriptions, and complex characters - an unstoppable Vickers of a novel' Cory Doctorow
'Bitter Seeds may rival Naomi Novik's Tales of Temeraire as a sustained historical fantasy' Booklist
'Tregillis delivers a dynamite first novel' SFREVU
'Exciting and intense . . . The clash of magic and science meshes perfectly with the tumultuous setting' Publishers Weekly
'Receives my highest recommendations' SFFWORLD
The Milkweed Triptych
Bitter Seeds
The Coldest War
Necessary Evil
Also by Ian Tregillis:
The Alchemy Wars
The Mechanical
The Rising
The Liberation
Reviews / Votes
I tore through this one in a day and a half. Tregillis is a major new talent in the field, and this is some of the best - and most exciting - alternate history I've read. Bravo. -- Cory Doctorow Eloquent and utterly compelling * KIRKUS REVIEWS * Will keep readers spellbound and on the edge of their seats with an intense sci-fi/alternate history thriller plot * RT Book Reviews *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 123 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
297 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-356-50170-3 (9780356501703)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Ian Tregillis
The Coldest War
British warlocks and German superhuman soldiers collide in this chilling novel of an alternate 20th century
E-Book
12/2012
Orbit
€3.99
Available for download
Person
Ian Tregillis is the son of a bearded mountebank and a discredited tarot card reader. He was born and raised in Minnesota, where his parents had landed after fleeing the wrath of a Flemish prince. (The full story, he's told, involves a Dutch tramp steamer and a stolen horse.) Nowadays he lives in New Mexico, where he consorts with writers, scientists and other unsavoury types.