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 What if Hitler really was the devil -- literally? Sep 04, 2008
Plenty of people have described Adolf Hitler as a devil or demon, but what if he was in fact the Devil Incarnate, come to Earth to kill as many humans as possible and - with a little impish luck - draw God's precious angels into the deadly fighting? That's the question T.L. Rice asks in this fast-paced, gripping work of historical fiction. As an alternate history, it deviates in some regards from the facts (for example, in the novel Geli Raubal's death takes place after Hitler has become Chancellor), but the author still does a good job of anchoring his fictional timeline with the rise and fall of the Third Reich - and beyond. While the evil side of the story works well, I must admit I could never completely buy into nature of the network of heroes who take it upon themselves to stop Hitler.
In the novel, the young Adolf Hitler is not necessarily an evil person; in fact, he is so proud of his personification of the common man that he repeatedly turns down promotions during the Great War. Then comes the fateful day when a mustard gas attack leaves him vulnerable to the demon Nagol's outright possession of his body. Adolf is gone (although we do have a quick and surreal impression of him wailing against the evil that the demon plans to do in his name), and Hitler takes center stage as the future leader who will engulf the entire world in war and oversee the deaths of millions of innocent people. He is aided in his diabolical quest by a Nazi elite made up of fellow demons in disguise (Goering, Himmler, Dr. Mengele, etc.).
The counterbalance to Hitler's evil comes in the form of a circle of college friends, all of whom are gifted with some sort of extrasensory perception, such as remote viewing, astral travel, and the ability to see the future. It is one young lady's ability to see and even experience the dreams of others that truly brings them together, for it is at that time that they realize they have all been seeing the same "boogeyman" in their dreams. Hitler has already become Chancellor before they become convinced that he is the evil man they have been watching out for - but by that point, they feel powerless to stop him. Enter a most extraordinary stranger named Sebastian (who brings with him one heck of a back story); he quickly becomes the group's guide and mentor over the course of the next few years.
While we're waiting for the big showdown between good and evil, we are treated to some fascinating alternate reality scenarios of the burning of the Reichstag, Dr. Mengele's experiments, the Night of the Long Knives, and other aspects of Nazi history. As far as that ultimate showdown is concerned, though, I have to admit I found it somewhat unsatisfying; everything seemed to happen just a little too quickly and easily. As such, I'm glad the novel did not end there. Some readers take the author to task for his epilogue, but I think it rounds out the entire story quite well and gives what otherwise might be an ephemeral piece of fiction a more somber sense of gravity.
There is a lot to like in these pages. It's not every day that you get to listen in on theological discussions among the most prominent of fallen angels, and there's no use denying the fact that Hitler is always fascinating, as either an historical figure or a fictional character. I do think the "good guys" part of the story is problematic, but the Hitler sections make for fascinating reading.
 Explosive Dec 05, 2007
I would begin my review with the fact that this is not the type of novel I would normally select to read ,however I thoroughly enjoyed "Demon Reich ". I am not a history buff yet I am convinced this author did in fact do his research and presented a fictional twist on historically tragic events. The characters in this novel are very interesting and I look forward to some of them pursuing other adventures. I would like to see Sebastian in another attempt at redemption, or maybe even see him spearhead the capture Osama bin Laden. In a literary time when so many novels are so similar to each other, or a well liked author writes novel after novel of predictable story lines and endings I applaud T.L. Rice for a truly unique creation. I look forward to the next novel by this author. Kudos to you Mr. T.L. Rice .
Demon Reich Oct 22, 2007
The novel begins with a soccer game between opposing sides during World War I and I begin as a reader wondering how I feel about "alternative histories"-- weaving fictional people and stories with actual history. More than a small problem when a central character of this book is Adolph Hitler. And presenting the extraordinary in ordinary language doesn't so much make it accessible as trivialize it and make it seem less credible. Especially from an author dedicated to plot who doesn't give his characters great depth. However the story is intriguing. He's taken Bush's "Axis of Evil" and put Satan at the head of terrorism past and present.
What adds to the plot's originality is a band of friends who have paranormal powers (able to view others dreams, see into the future, be able to analyze people from their possessions) intent on stopping Hitler. Throw in some explicit lesbian sex, a wonderful discussion between Hitler and Gobbles about the "Book of Job" and, finally, a Scottish Druid from the time of Christ and I think it's safe to say the reader has definitely entered the Imaginative-Fiction Reich.
The cover is terrific and some of the scenes come to life with surprising power, such as one in which a prostitute is transported back to the crucifixion before she kills herself. Sometimes "Fantastic Four," sometimes soft porno, sometimes high school history lesson, I think T. L. Rice might have had better (or at least more consistent) results had he stuck to just one of these directions. I realize this is meant as general entertainment but I was just not swayed emotionally as I should have been by the subject matter.
And I'm just not sure we want to give these monsters--Hitler, Oswald, Bin Laden--such an easy out: the devil possessed them and made them act this way. More horrifying to hold them responsible as humans for their actions. Watch films of the death camps again. History is not easy to take straight. The problem is, in fiction heroes can rise to the challenge of conquering evil. In a real world bereft of heroes, we all must.
 The ending was predictable and used a plot device that I dislike Oct 04, 2007
As I pondered what I would write in my review of this book, I found myself developing two separate thought tracks, one positive and the other negative. The basic premise of the plot is that up to the time of his involvement as a soldier in World War I, Adolph Hitler was a rather pleasant man. However, during a gas attack, he was taken over by a demon and that changed the course of history. Furthermore, most of the other high officials of the German Nazi party such as Goring, Mengele and Goebbels were also human bodies taken over by demons. Those demons were subservient to the Hitler demon. That plot device was one that kept my interest, as demonic possession is as good an explanation of their behavior as anything else.
A small group of teenage youths have discovered that they all possess psychic powers, albeit different types. One can see into the future, another can astral travel and all are telepathic. They are in Germany and are becoming concerned with the changes as the Nazi party is growing in power. As they are talking among themselves a man named Sebastian joins them and he turns out to be on the side of God, who manifests himself as a voice from Ian. Sebastian is immortal and Ian was a Christian that Sebastian met when he was a Druid priest.
All of the above was acceptable, due to the quality of writing. However, the ending was very deflating and I readily admit that much of my distaste is personal. I consider the plot device of anything involving the assassination of President Kennedy to be very frustrating. With thousands of negative events taking place in the world every year, it seems that evil always manages to make Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963 a focal point in its activity.
The quality of the writing is quite good; however it is not enough to overcome the use of a plot device that is just too worn out to be interesting. It was also very predictable, as I knew pages ahead of time where the story was leading. I also found it easy to predict the final location of one of the demons well before that location was mentioned.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Excellent story Apr 03, 2007
Demon Reich was well written using history, religion and a good imagination.
If you like history and religion and a little sci-fi stuff this is worth the read.
I am waiting on the next one to see where Sebastian is lead in the fight.
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