Half a Crown (novel)

Half a Crown
	Hardcover edition
Author	Jo Walton
Language	English
Series	Small Change
Genre	Alternate history novel
Publisher	Tor Books
Publication date	September 30, 2008
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Hardcover)
Pages	320
ISBN	978-0-7653-1621-9
OCLC	213301014
Dewey Decimal	823/.914 22
LC Class	PR6073.A448 H34 2008
Preceded by	Ha'penny

Half a Crown is a alternate history novel written by Jo Walton published by Tor Books. It was first published on September 30, 2008. The first "Small Change" novel, Farthing, was released in August 2006. The second novel in the trilogy, Ha'penny, was released in October 2007.

Plot summary

The book is a thriller set inside an alternate history in which the United Kingdom made peace with Adolf Hitler, and the United States did not become involved in World War II. The British government has become fascist and authoritarian. Peter Carmichael, formerly a police inspector at Scotland Yard, is now head of the secret police, called "The Watch". He must deal with political intrigue by those jealous of his position and must safeguard his teenage ward while he keeps secret his illicit activities helping Jews and dissidents who wish to flee the country.

Reception

Publishers Weekly was mixed in its review by commenting, "Walton's understated prose and deft characterizations elevate this above similar works such as Fatherland and SS-GB. Some readers, though, may feel let down by an optimistic ending that jars with the series' overall downbeat tone".^[1]

Awards and nominations

Half a Crown was a finalist for the 2009 Prometheus Award.^[2]

Publication history

2008, USA, Tor Books ISBN 978-0-7653-1621-9 Pub date 30 September 2008, Hardback

Notes

^ "Half a Crown". Publishers Weekly. 255 (31): 43. 4 August 2008. ISSN 0000-0019.
^ "Prometheus Finalists". Science Fiction Awards Watch. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2010.

External links

Tor-Forge Books official website
Berry, Michael (19 October 2008). "Evildoers and friendly ghosts". San Francisco Chronicle. p. M7. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
"Government by fear". Montreal Gazette. 28 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
Half a Crown title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database

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