Good Books, Good Authors

[Nanook]

Heinlein is excellent, as is Drake. Jerry Pournelle writes some good military SF.

S.M. Stirling has two fantastic series; the Draka books, where Tories and Confederates move to South Africa and pretty much dominate the world except for the USA. Much better than I make it sound. The other is the Island in the Sea of Time series; where Nantucket is moved back in time to like 1200 B.C. Again, much better than I make it sound.

There's a series by William Fortschen called "The Lost Regiment" that I like quite a bit. About 8 books.

For you Marines and former Marines, there's a series about space-going Marines called StarFist written by D. Cragg and D. Sherman. Interesting, enough so that I'm awaiting the next book. There are six that I know about so far.

I'm a big SF fan, especially the military oriented stuff and alternate histories. As someone mentioned, Turtledove writes excellent alternate history.

Sorry to run on, I'm a genuine bookworm!

 

[AndABeer]

I am a fan of Turtledove as well, though more of his short stories than his novels. The current series starting with "How Few Remain" is very interesting. South wins civil war, wins second war against US, allies itself with England and France against US and Germany in WW1, looses, and is now poised to turn into a fascist nation and fight the US (a socialist nation). Interesting stuff.

 

[garrettwc]

by tlhelmer
Anything from Stephen Hunter and Richard Marcinko

Just knocked out Marcinko's latest book "Violence of Action" this morning. Good read. There have been some changes since the last book that make the series seem new again.

I recommend it for Marcinko fans.

 

[hipower22]

TRACKERS By Peter Haran.

This is a book about tracker dogs in Vietnam with the Australian Army written by a dog handler. It certainly gives a different perspective on army life in SE Asia.

A quote from the book:

My head slammed back against the seat, and the wind-blast through the open port made my eyes gush. It was clear what the smart bastard of an air jockey was trying to do. It was what chopper pilots called 'evade tacticts'. Take the stick firmly in both hands and churn it left-right, left-right. Do it with plenty of grunt. At the same time do a lawn mower job on the local vegetation by keeping it just above tree-top level.

Ceaser was sitting with his arse on my feet, his two front legs splayed, and his nose pushed up against the perspex bubble, his tongue extended. There was a deliriously euphoric look in his eyes at the trees flashing just yards beneath him. He was ready to orgasm. I was ready to projectile vomit.

'Pays to evade,' the pilot shouted across at me. 'Stops us getting a rocket down the throat,' he grinned, then jabbed finger at the dog; 'Loves this s..t, don't he?'

All the dogs were named after Roman emperors and none returned to Australia at wars end. Because of Australian quarantine laws, the Australian Army had a nasty habit of leaving their livestock overseas when hostilities ceased.

 

[STW]

Anything by Barbara Tuchmann

- The Proud Tower (20 years leading up to WWI)
- The Guns of August (WWI August 1914)
- A Distant Mirror (comparison of 14th and 20th centuries)
- The First Salute (Story of the 1st recognition of the US flag by another country)
- Stillwell and the American Experience in China (biography of Gen. Joseph Stillwell)
- March of Folly: from Troy to Vietnam (goofs that led to wars)

 

[db4]

Page 3, lots of sci-fi fans, and no mention of L. Neil Smith. I am shocked, SHOCKED!

The Probability Broach, an alternate timeline where the Whiskey Rebellion was successful, and our protagonist's S&W M58 is quaint, but effective.

The Nagasaki Vector, same place via different route.

Pallas

Henry Martyn

Bretta Martyn

The American Zone

http://www.lneilsmith.com/

If you don't long to live in his worlds...mash all your guns and vote Democrat. And a pox be upon thee.

 

[Ala Dan]

Another couple of books come to mind:

Chained Eagle by Everett Alvarez, Jr.

and

Hamburger Hill


both true experiences from the Viet-Nam War!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. LIfe Member

 

[Nanook]

db4, you are correct, and I'm embarassed to admit that I forgot L. Neil Smith. Pallas is especially good.