World at War #1: Into the Darkness by Harry Turtledove

When the Duke of Bari dies unexpectedly, the kingdom of Algarve seizes the opportunity to reclaim territory lost in an earlier war. What begins as a regional conflict rapidly escalates into a continent-spanning struggle that engulfs nearly every major power in Derlavai. In this world, magic serves the role of modern technology: dragons bombard cities, soldiers travel via magical ley lines, and sea leviathans wage war across the oceans. As nations mobilize and civilization descends into chaos, soldiers, rulers, scholars, and common citizens alike are swept into a devastating global conflict.

EugeneBookStore Summary
The opening novel of Harry Turtledove’s acclaimed World at War series reimagines World War II as an epic fantasy. Combining the scope of a military history with dragons, sorcery, and magical technology, Turtledove creates a richly detailed world where strategy, politics, and personal survival collide. Fans of both epic fantasy and alternate history will find a unique and ambitious series starter.

Collector Notes
Into the Darkness is the first volume in Turtledove’s six-book World at War saga and serves as the foundation for one of the most ambitious military fantasy series ever written. The novel is notable for translating many of the political and military dynamics of World War II into a fully developed fantasy setting. As the entry point to the series, it is often the most sought-after volume by readers looking to assemble a complete set.