Alternative history divides into two broad categories: those that use it as a device to tell genre stories, ‘Fatherland’ for example, and pure alternative histories which tend to be science fiction. ‘The Separation’ falls into the latter category. I prefer the former. And that’s my main gripe with the book. When I first came across it I was instantly intrigued by the hook of the Jews being deported to Madagascar instead of killed. However this is only the most minor detail in the background of the story. Nothing substantial comes out of it. Instead this is a book of parallel histories, narratives and characters. Twins and doubles are everywhere (a theme the author is obviously interested in for those who have seen / read Prestige). There are twins and doubles everywhere – and that’s not a mistake because large sections of the book are repeated with only minor alterations. I understand how Priest is making a point about the nature of reality/parallel histories and unreliable narrators but personally I found it a bit tedious. Something else that disappointed were the references to the extensive research of the book on the dust jacket. Again this maybe a case of me failing to manage my expectations but I assumed this meant research into the creation of an alternative world such as Harris’s Berlin in ‘Fatherland’. As it happens the books is full of detailed research but it’s more to do with life during the war than any victorious Nazi Germany. Take all of the above then add the fact that I didn’t warm to the twins’ characters nor did I much like Priest’s clever but rather cold writing and I was left with a novel I struggled to finish… though I did get there in the end. Sometimes you read a book that you know is good but you personally can’t get on with it. I’m sorry to say ‘Separation’ is one of those. Too clever for me, I’m afraid.