TSF Book Club
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Me 3 but it was a lot longer than 20 yrs ago.<br><br>I'm currently enjoying the Red Gambit series by Colin Gee.<br><br>It's a very plot driven alternate history based around the USSR launching a sneak attack into Germany in the summer of 1945, having allied themselves with the Japanese.<br><br>The self published e-books (I'm up to the 3rd) are clearly labours of love by a military history anorak (actually a retired Pommy fireman). The detail in terms of maps, tactics, capabilities of weapons etc is impressive as are the extensive bibliographies attached to each book. There are also companion biographies available as separate titles.<br><br>Its written as a history of World War 3 from some time in the future and features large cast of historical and invented characters from both sides. There is a wealth of material on divisional structure logistics and all the other components of war including the politics but because it is a real page turner this doesn't get tedious or distracting.<br><br>Its not particularly well written but it is a rollicking good read. Characters are all pretty much the same - brave honest men called upon to do an awful job yadayada but that's OK because not many characters reappear. Typically he sets out the strategy of a battle through the device of the Field Marshalls or politicians briefing people and them narrows it down to some (usually expendable - think of the guy in a red shirt on a Star Trek away mission) combatants on the front line. You do build up a very good impression of the arbitrary nature of modern warfare.<br><br>You sort of figure the good guys will prevail (we do after all still have the bomb up our sleeve) but it does suck you in. Boys Own stuff coupled with the detail of a top fantasist
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="410765" data-time="1389924337">
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<p>I remember being keen on those Hassell books when I was a teenager as well. Must have another look.</p>
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<p>I will have to search them out. I've read a bunch of <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Hans Hellmut Kirst's novels about the WWII and enjoyed them ... probably not as brutal from the sounds of things. The Fox of Maulen is probably the best one to start with.</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Dogmeat: I quite like alternate history books ... the best I've read is Guns of the South ... which probably wouldn't be considered alternate history like the rest of Turtledove's books as it includes time travel and dastardly South Africans. WS19125986329819 - holster your weapon, I didn't write the book. </span></span></span></p> -
<p>I used to enjoy Hassel books, there was another one called the Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer which was quite good to. Like the Hassel books theres a bit of controversy over whether or not the story is true or if it actually happened to the author.</p>
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<p>The Meadow by Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott Clark</p>
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<p>The story of kidnappings of trekkers in Kashmir in the mid 90s, they were used to make as much political capital as possible by the Kashmiris , Pakistanis and Indians as they possibly could . The group who kidnapped them had ties to Al Quada and were trying to bargain their release for the release of someone who went on to mastermind terrorist activities in a few countries. Neither the Indians or Pakastanis come out well, the Kashmiris don't either but you can sympathize at least with them considering what they have been through. If you've read Fire by Sebastian Junger you'll have an outline of the story already.</p>
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<p>Fantasyland by Sam Walker</p>
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<p>This was very very funny, the story of a sportswriter who spent over $40000 trying to win the worlds hardest fantasy baseball league-that also has no prize money. </p>
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<p>the legend of Beau Baxter by Ivan Dunn</p>
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<p>The tale of the first american indian to play for the abs who was on the 1925 tour who shagged , boxed and occasionally played rugby while he toured and yet was written out of the record books. Well worth a read if you get a chance, very funny.</p> -
Just finished 11:22:63 by Stephan King, it's very long but probably I'd put it up with Christine, salems lot and it as my favourites of his although there's a shitload of his I've never read . Usually I get pissed off with them because he has awesome ideas and really crappy endings to his books, this one doesn't though.
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<p>The Forgotten Soldier was a fantastic book . So well written it made you believe it was real without actually knowing either way .</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cactus Jack" data-cid="414441" data-time="1392245578"><p>
The Forgotten Soldier was a fantastic book . So well written it made you believe it was real without actually knowing either way .</p></blockquote>
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There were a couple of things that stuck with me for a long time afterwards, his mate getting his jaw blown off and the fact they kept fighting so hard for a cause that was so obviously lost- the cheaper uniforms , progressively crappier supplies etc as the allies beat them back. Must find another copy if it , it's been years since I read it. -
<p>Sorry mate , that was me . I am reading the Caesar books again at the moment . I will have to finish soon though as I have just bought his latest about The War Of The Roses</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Paekakboyz" data-cid="403346" data-time="1384739359">
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<p>Did you catch the <strong>Commonwealth Saga</strong> (2 books) before the Void series? The two Saga books are primo (better than the void ones imo). The Night's Dawn series is bad-ass. </p>
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<p>finished this the other night. it was awesome! really wish i had read it before the "void" books. </p>
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<p>I am currently reading Sir Alex Ferguson's latest autobiography. unless you are a raving Man U fanboi, avoid. It's pretty shit. He's a bitter old fluffybunny. Book is hard to read. Lots of short sentences. Heaps of names. Sounds like he's drunk. And just talking. Apparently Sir Alex was always right. Everyone else was wrong. And they all apologised to him. he liked that. If a player stayed at Man U, he was awesome. If he left, he had a character flaw. Then he had lunch with John McVaney. Top man John. Likes wine. </p>
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<p>Book should have been called "Sir Alex: I did everything right. And yous are all idiots"</p> -
<p>I'm reading Glen Cook's 'Instrumentalities of the Night' series. Just about finished the second book. Pretty bad-ass imo with some great dialogue. Complex in terms of the political and religious environment and number of characters but really enjoyable. Quite a cool twist at the end of book one that was a real surprise. Worth a go if you like his Black Company work.</p>
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Over the last week or so have read Stephen Lawhead's "King Raven" trilogy - the Welsh take on Robin Hood. I'm a big fan of this sort of historical fiction, and this one was pretty good without being great. There is always something in these books that I find historically interesting, even little facts about the interaction between church and state.<br /><br />And now I want to go buy a longbow, too
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<p>I'm reading the trashy super action Matthew Reilly Six Sacred Stones; written like a screenplay (as are most of his books) for a Bruce Willis (well in his prime) movie.</p>
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<p>I must get back the Iggulden Caesar books (haven't gripped me quite as much as the Mongol ones) think I am only up to book 3...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1400763985" data-cid="430086" data-author="NTA"><p>Over the last week or so have read Stephen Lawhead's "King Raven" trilogy - the Welsh take on Robin Hood. I'm a big fan of this sort of historical fiction, and this one was pretty good without being great. There is always something in these books that I find historically interesting, even little facts about the interaction between church and state.<br><br>And now I want to go buy a longbow, too</p></blockquote><br>Fuck Longbows are cool, I also wanted one after reading a few Bernard Cornwell books.<br><br>Although since then I have read Conn Igguldens books about Genghis Kahn and the Mongols. The Mongols bows as much range than the English longbow and they were able to hit ridiculously small targets whilst riding full speed on Horseback.<br><br>So Awesome
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Kirwan" data-cid="430471" data-time="1400919775">
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<p>Just read one called The Martian. Any book that starts with "Well, I'm pretty much fucked" is OK by me.<br><br>
The story of an astronaut stranded on Mars with no enough supplies to survive. Funny and ingenious, and a good quick read.</p>
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<p>Agreed Kirwan - for a self published first novel by Andy Weir, this was pretty damn good. I hope the inevitable movie based off it turns out OK</p> -
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' data-author="SammyC" data-cid="430134" data-time="1400804133"><p>Fuck Longbows are cool, I also wanted one after reading a few Bernard Cornwell books.<br />
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Although since then I have read Conn Igguldens books about Genghis Kahn and the Mongols. The Mongols bows as much range than the English longbow and they were able to hit ridiculously small targets whilst riding full speed on Horseback.<br />
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So Awesome</p></blockquote>
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Yeah the Asians had recurve bows before the Europeans, so they could generate more power. The fact that the Mongols didn't have as much wood available meant they came up with some pretty clever shit too