Worldwar in the balance is an alternate history novel by american writer harry turtledove it is the first novel of the worldwar tetralogy as well as the first installment in the extended worldwar series that includes the colonization trilogy and the novel homeward boundthe plot begins in late 1941 while the earth is torn apart by world war iian alien fleet arrive to conquer the planet . The balance is the story of a war drawn out across several years and numerous characters the war is wwii with the added twist of an alien invasion midway through so it is an alternate history novel review of the first and second books. World war ii seethes across the planet hostilities spread in ever widening circles of destruction nazi germany soviet russia britain france japan italy africa the fate of the world hung in the balance then the real enemy arrives out of the skies comes an invasion force the like of whic. War seethed across the planet machines soared through the air churned through the seas crawled across the surface pushing ever forward carrying death earth was engaged in titanic struggle germany russia france china japan the maps were changing day by day the hostilities spread in ever. Buy worldwar in the balance 1 reissue by turtledove harry isbn 9780345388520 from amazons book store everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders