Found more books

This time around, it's a bunch of Osprey Men At Arms series books for Napoleonic Wars. Sixteen of them to be precise. So that's pretty great.

This is one of them.

I also found a couple of wooden bookcase editions of boardgames. Stratego and Clue. And that's pretty nice too. But I still haven't located my copy of Arkham Horror or the supplements that went with it. And I have noticed some odd gaps in my minis collection. For example, I have one Matilda II, where I should have three. And one of my Valentine IIs is missing. And four (!) of my Honeys, as well as both of the M3 Stuarts I painted for my USMC force. I am hoping I forgot them at a friend's house a while back... because if not, it means I left them at a game store over a year ago. They're gone if that's the case.

Happy Christmas... well, Boxing Day.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!

   And now, to the loot! My younger son, who is a mini me, has begun DMing his own friends in D&D 5E, so I bought him a  ton of the prepaint minis and some dungeon tiles from Paizo. He also got some Starfinder stuff to help with that, including the hard to find Incident at Absalom Station adventure... but that's his toys, not mine.

 Merry OGRE-mas!

  I received several boxed sets for OGRE, as well as four singles of the Combine "Minotaur" Howitzer, and a Cigar Box Battle Mat marked in large hexes... That's three more OGREs and sundry smaller vehicles to help pad out the forces.

Leather Bound Limited Edition Hardback of two MHI books

   I lost a lot of my books in the flooding of Harvey here in Houston. So my family is working on replacing them for me! Good family. I got several Larry Correia books, which are a lot of fun, and some David Eddings novels (the Belgariad, original editions in paperback, just like the ones I had before). My mom also pledged a custom "Book of the Month" for me - I just send her a title once a month and she orders it for me! Yay!

   I also got an expansion for SmashUp, which brings me very close to having all of the factions for that wacky game.

The Red Sphinx

   Reading The Red Sphinx, by Alexandre Dumas. Yes, the fellow who penned such classics of adventure as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. It's a new book, sort of, in that while most of it was written by Dumas in the 19th century, he never finished it. He didn't finish it because he had already written the ending in a short story called The Dove. The Red Sphinx is the tale that ties together The Three Musketeers and The Dove, a tale about Comte du Moret and Cardinal Richelieu. Naturally, I am reading a translation from the original French, since I don't really parle francais. Except for food, but I digress.

   I'm about 200 pages in, and I am getting bored. I'm shocked by that, because I truly loved Dumas's other works, and read them in unabridged form. But this one seems to be dragging terribly so far. To many sidebar explanations of the situation in Europe at the time, and explanations of how everyone is related to everyone else, and reflective reminders of things that have happened before written in the first person in the author's voice as narrator. I don't recall that being a major part of the other stories, but it has been a good while since I read the previous works.

   Honestly, I am about ready to ditch it and open one of the books I bought myself after Christmas, part of the Eric Flint 163x series.

What I am Reading

Panzer Battles

by Maj. Gen. F.W. von Mellenthin

   This is a nice find at the local used book store. Panzer Battles is the wartime memoirs of Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Mellenthin. He served on the General Staff of the German Heer (Army) in World War II. Along the way, he saw the invasions of Poland and France in 1939 and 1940. He also served on Rommel's staff in the DAK (Afrika Korps). That is as far as I have read so far, but the book is giving a fascinating study of armoured warfare and staff work in the Second World War.

   I highly recommend it if you are interested in tanks, military history, or World War II.

A-Z Reading Survey

I saw this on another fabulous blog, and thought: what fun!

"This is one of those questionnaires that's going around,  It originates here - not a site I frequent, I promise.  It's aimed at fan girls, but there's some  nice questions, so here goes." - The Depressive Diplomat

Author you've read the most books from:

   It would have to be either Harry Turtledove or S.M. Stirling. Patrick O'Brien, Jerry Pournelle, Eric Flint, Robert Heinlein, Andre Norton, David Weber and David Drake all get an honorable mention here.

Best sequel ever:

   From Russia With Love. Oh, you meant in a book! The problem is that it depends on your definition of a sequel. In a set of books which was originally intended to be a trilogy - The Lord of the Rings, for example - I don't consider the following books to be a sequel, because it is all part of a cohesive story. With that in mind I would have to say that my favorite is probably... In the Court of the Crimson Kings, by S.M. Stirling.

Currently reading:

• Living with the Dead in the Middle Ages, Patrick J. Geary
• Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft, Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum
• Inside Hitler's Greece: The Experience of Occupation 1941-44, Mark Mazower

Drink of choice whilst reading:

   Darjeeling, white, two sugars.

E-reader or physical book?:

    Physical. I have a Kindle, and it's nice for travel and light reading, but I adore and collect physical books.

Fictional character you would probably have dated in high school:

   Which do you mean: one that I would have wanted to date or one that I actually would have dated? I'll just say Hermione Granger. We know what she was like as a teen, and she was cute but very bookish. I'd ahve stood a chance, and I'd have liked her. 

Glad you gave this book a chance:

    Airborne, Kenneth Oppel.

Hidden book gem?

    London to Ladysmith via Praetoria, Sir Winston Churchill. A great first hand account of the Second Anglo-Boer War by a future Prime Minister. Yes, he's that Winston Churchill.

Important moment in your book life:

   A tossup question: either learning to read at 2, or reading Dune in 3rd grade.

Just finished:

    Carnifex, by Tom Kratman

Kind of book you won't read:

   Twilight, or any of that sort of vampire-romance twaddle. Vampires are fiendish parasites that prey on the blood of humanity.

  

Longest book you've read:

   I don't know, as I have read multiple thousand plus page books. The only one I remember off the top of my head page count-wise is the trade paperback edition of Battlefield Earth, because it also happens to be the same year that William of Normandy won the Battle of Hastings and took the throne of England (1066, of course).

Major book hangover because of:

  I'm not entirely certain what a 'book hangover' is. The only negative effect I have ever experienced from reading a book is being very tired the following morning if I stayed up too late reading.

Number of bookcases you own:

   Eleven, of various sizes. All are stuffed with books, both fiction and nonfiction, games, pictures, binders...

One book you've read multiple times:

   I've probably read Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers the most number of times. I re-read lots of books, though.

Preferred place to read:

   Depends on what I am reading. 

• Reading monographs for school? The corner booth in the McDonald's on 646 at I-45 in League City, Texas. Few interruptions/distractions, free coffee refills, and a clean restroom.
• Reading for fun? 1) The bath. Just shy of scalding hot. 2) My adjustable bed.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” 

Reading regret:

   Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe. Assigned in tenth grade, I still remember this as the most boring book I ever read.

Series you started and need to finish:

   The Song of Ice and Fire. Mostly waiting on George to write them. Hurry, George, hurry!

Three of your all-time favorite books:

• Starship Troopers, Robert Heinlein
• HMS Surprise, Patrick O'Brien
• The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

Unapologetic fanboy for:

   H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos.

Very Excited for this release:

   Whatever the next Song of Ice and Fire book will be.

Worst bookish habit:

   Dog-earing paperbacks.

X Marks the spot - start at the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book:

1. Sir John Fisher's Naval Revolution, Nicholas Lambert
2. Austerlitz, 1805: The Battle of Three Emperors, David Chandler (Osprey Campaign 2)
3. The Great War: American Front, Harry Turtledove
4. The Reverse of the Medal, Patrick O'Brien
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
6. Webelos Handbook, BSA
7. The Sword of the Spirits, John Christopher
8. The Serpent's Shadow, Rick Riordan
9. General Chemistry, Whitten, Gailey and Davis
10. Oath of Gold, Elizabeth Moon
11. Echoes of Honor, David Weber

Your latest book purchase:

   Medieval Technology and Social Change, Lynn White, Jr.

Zzzz Snatcher - the last book that kept you up waaaay too late):

   Carnifex, Tom Kratman

Top Ten Mercenary Companies

   I had so much fun with the previous top ten lists, that I decided that I wanted to do another. It may become a semi-regular feature on the blog, as I get around to it. This time, I am highlighting my favorite mercenary companies of film, book, game and history!

10. The Flying Tigers

   The Flying Tigers flew one of my favorite WWII-era aircraft, the P-40. Officially known as the American Volunteer Group, these pilots flew against the Japanese for Nationalist China. Famous for their insignia, the shark's mouth painted on the aircraft's intake, and developing skills and tactics which would prove valuable when the Japanese and Americans officially went to war. They also have a great movie.

9. Eridani Light Horse

   The Eridani Light Horse is a combined arms force from the BattleTech Universe. It is one of the largest and oldest mercenary companies in that setting. Plus, I have always liked their logo.

8. The Swiss Guard

   Believe it or not, the Swiss are famous for more than pocket knives, banks, and cuckoo clocks. In the early pike and shot era, say from the mid-1400s through the early 1600s, the Swiss were your prime source for stone cold killers for hire. Their reputation was so good that they were often hired as royal bodyguards, and in 1506 the Pope hired some Swiss to protect the Papal States and his own person. They are still working for him. And while their ceremonial uniforms (see above) may look silly, the guys you don't see are highly trained soldiers armed with modern small arms and a devout sense of duty to protect the Holy Father. Also, those halberds are good, honest steel. Think twice before you mock.

7. The Magnificent Seven

   I see what you did there... This is my favorite Western of all time, bar none. And the casting? Genius! Who would have made a Hungarian an Cajun, a gay German the Mexican heartthrob, and a New York Jew as a Mexican bandit leader? And it still works. Plus, Steve McQueen stealing scenes left and right. "We deal in lead, friend."

6. The Seven Samurai

  Rated higher, even though the Magnificent Seven is my favorite Western movie - another Top Ten in the making, I am sure. But this film is legend.

5. The Dogs of War

   Okay, so in the 1980 movie version of Frederick Forsythe's novel, Christopher Walken and his group of 'cursed mercenaries' ("Vive l'mort, vive l'guerre, vive l'sacre mercenaire.") don't really have a name for themselves. So what? The XM-18 alone is worth the price of admission. Plus, I have it on unreliable rumor that Zangaro was the basis of Bongolesia.

4. The Wild Geese

   Burton, Moore, Harris, and Kruger are... THE WILD GEESE. So much awesome, it is hard to contain. African hellhole nations have a disease, and these guys are the cure! I need to get AK47 Republic just so I can play out these games in Bongolesia.

3. The Black Company

   As much as I enjoy a good mercenary movie, my top three are all from books. The Black Company is a series of novels written by Glen Cook. The first trilogy is, as usual, the best. It's fantasy genre, but for the most part, magic is the province of the bad guys. Of course, the Black Company currently works for the Bad Guys. But there are Worse Guys out there, too.

2. Hammer's Slammers

   This is what made David Drake a science fiction legend (and he has just gone on from there, still writing great stuff). At least two minis games have come from this series of books and short stories. I like the tanks, the combat cars, and the power guns. Energy weapons with ammo - a great concept. Alois Hammer runs one of the nastiest, toughest, most kickass mercenary companies in the galaxy. Do not cross him, and if your enemies hire him, you had better hope you can hire...

1. Falkenberg's Legion

   My all time favorite, from Jerry Pournelle, with some help from S.M. Stirling (another favorite author). Set in the Future History Universe. John Christian Falkenberg is the epitome of the mercenary captain. And all of this while actually trying to preserve as much of humanity as possible, given the oncoming downfall of the CoDominium. These men and women are the best mercenaries ever.

Honorable Mentions:

• Robert Clive -  better known as "Clive of India." Quite probably the man most responsible for the establishment of the British Raj in India.
• Landsknechte - If only for their outrageous clothes (hesitate to call it a uniform, since it wasn't uniform) and their famous swords, the Katzbalger and the Zweihander. Even though they were more likely to carry pikes.
• Frederick Russel Burnham - An American who fought for the British in Africa in the First and Second Matabele Wars, plus the Second Boer War.
• G4S - The second largest private employer in the world, behind WalMart. Let that sink in. They operate in 120 countries, with over 600,000 employees. Most are not traditional mercenaries, they're security guards. But in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, etc., a security guard is most likely a former special warfare operator - SEAL, Delta, Force Recon, SAS, you name it.

The Reason I am So Dull These Days

   This is the really wonderful and greatly exciting book that I am in the process of reviewing for grad school. I have fallen asleep three times trying to work through it. And it is not all that long! The most interesting part is the cover photo. All I can say is that my review will concentrate on how the author shows the ineptitude of the German efforts to raise rebellions in India and across the Middle East against the British. Seems the most effective rebellion they influenced also got the Italians to enter the war... on the Allied side!

Steampunk Book Reviews

Leviathan, by Scott Westerfield

The first book I am going to review for you today is called Leviathan. It is essentially a weird science alternate history novel. The setting is Europe, in 1914. Archduke Ferdinand and his wife have been poisoned in Sarajevo after two failed assassination attempts earlier in the day. Their only son, Aleksander, escapes into the night with two of his father's most rusted retainers in a battered old Stormwalker-class combat walker. Yep, diesel powered armored walking vehicles. I don't want to give any more of the plot or characters away.

You have the start of World War I, the clash between two technologies: Clankers, like Germany, Austro-Hungary, and the Ottomans, versus Darwinites, like France, Russia, and Great Britain. The Clankers rely on advanced machinery. Darwinists have created genetically engineered creatures to fulfill their needs. And they rush to war.

I really liked this book. If you like VSF or steampunk, I think you will, too. Although technically I guess it is dieselpunk.

See the trailer for the book here: Leviathan trailer

Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest

If you like air pirates, zeppelins, poisonous gas, mothers, sons, mad scientists, Indian princesses, and zombies, you'll like Boneshaker. If you don't, there is something so fundamentally wrong with you that I can't imagine why you read this blog in the first place.

Another alternate history/weird science kind of tale, the plot is basically pigheaded teen boy gets into dangerous situation and loving mother tries to save him. Add in all the yummy stuff I mentioned before. Especially the rotters. Love them.

Publisher's Weekly says:

"In an alternate 1880s America, mad inventor Leviticus Blue is blamed for
destroying Civil War–era Seattle. When Zeke Wilkes, Blue's son, goes into the
walled wreck of a city to clear his father's name, Zeke's mother, Briar Wilkes,
follows him in an airship, determined to rescue her son from the toxic gas that
turns people into zombies (called rotters and described in gut-churning detail).
When Briar learns that Seattle still has a mad inventor, Dr. Minnericht, who
eerily resembles her dead husband, a simple rescue quickly turns into a
thrilling race to save Zeke from the man who may be his father. Intelligent,
exceptionally well written and showcasing a phenomenal strong female protagonist
who embodies the complexities inherent in motherhood, this yarn is a must-read
for the discerning steampunk fan."

I say:

"It's a Sci-Fi Essentials book, and a Steampunk aficionado (sp?)
Staple. Read it. Now."

Other than Mars and Venus...

...what VSF planets would you conjure up?

My friend Eli and I have been discussing this topic privately by email, but its such an interesting idea that I thought it deserved a mention here.

Some of the ideas so far - note that all need a good deal of PSB* to justify:

Jupiter or Saturn

Living in floating bubbles in the atmosphere, mining the rings, processing gasses out of the atmosphere, etc. Floating cities, flying vehicles. Make the Great Red Spot a creature rather than a storm... scary stuff if it notices Jupiter's newest inhabitants.

Moons

Ganymede, for instance. Heat from the gas giant makes the planet terrestrial.

Mercury

Inhabitable, but only barely, possibly along the twilight line. A place of extreme vulcanism, its mineral wealth is undeniable. Perhaps used as a prison planet? Think Mustafar from Star Wars Episode III or that prison planet on Chronicles of Riddick - can't recall the planetary name. Inferno, perhaps?

Stargate-style travel to extra-solar planets. One way stargates even more fun, as the pioneers would be forced to first build a return gate before they could come home. Good roleplay potential there, at any rate...

Hollow Earth, either Pellucidar style (dig your own tunnel through Earth's crust to get there) or via tunnel at the North Pole to Skartaris (courtesy of DC's The Warlord comic book, which is supposed to be back in publication!).

Lots of possibilities out there... share some of your ideas!

*PSB: Pseudo-scientific bulls**t.

HYDRIUM!

Hydrium Discovered in Ghola District!

Hydrium, that marvelous Martian miasma, is of course what provides so many large creatures on Mars with the lift necessary for flight. It is naturally occuring in many animal species, and in at least one plant species, the hydrium tree, more commonly known as 'liftwood.' The fact that hydrium has a greater lifting potential than hydrogen while remaining totally non-flammable makes it an extremely valuable commodity.

"Coupled with the slightly reduced gravitational effects on the Red Planet," states Professor Percival Botham, "naturally occurring plant-based hydrium makes very large objects capable of flight without the use of cumbersome gas bags. With gas bags, the scale of such aerial behemoths becomes astonishing."

Until recently, it was thought by Earthly scientists that hydrium was a natural digestive byproduct unique to Martian biology. However, the eminent Texican geologist, Howard Burroughs, has discovered a natural 'well' of pure hydrium gas in a secret location in the remote agricultural Ghola District of the Martian Crown Colony. Mr. Burroughs was searching for petroleum deposits when he noticed the distinctive mango-like scent of hydrium in the air.

The ramifications of this discovery may upset the delicate balance of power between the European states on Mars and their allies, thanks to the frontier location of the sleepy Ghola District. Naturally, Her Majesty's Government lays claim to the strategically important mineral, as is only right, providing Mr. Burroughs with a handsome percentage of the profit to be obtained from hydrium development without burdening the man of science with the tawdry financial details.

"Ghost" Archers Developing

This journal hopes to be able to produce an 8-part photostatic essay on the creation of a Martian "ghost" archer in the near future. Please be so kind as to keep an eye out for these mysterious red devils of the deserts. While no one knows their plans at this time, such furtive, secretive activity can not possibly indicate trustworthiness. The author suspects the hand of the perfidious Hun behind these strange natives.

The Prince in Flight

As promised, good readers, here is a rather poor photostatic image of the Prince Gopotty astride his mighty flying mount. The photographer was severely mauled by the golden whorled deathray immediately following the capture of this image; donations to his widow may be sent care of this journal, made out to cash.

[Editor's Note: Hydrium is a wonder gas introduced by James Oppel in his novel Airborn. I highly recommend it for younger readers and as a light read. Not exactly Victorian, but it has zeppelins and air pirates, so how bad could it be?]

Writing has Commenced...

I just finished today the first chapter in my VSF book. Champagne for all!

It is virtually the only work I have done in Victorian Science Fiction for the past week. Its only a 38 page (paperback pages; 19 letter) short story about the first adventurers to (briefly) enter the luminiferous aether in my timeline. British, naturally, as I am such an Anglophile, and Britain was the pre-eminent industrial power at the time of the launch in 1861.

It's good, I think, for a first go. I already have the idea for the second, longer story to be put in the book, which I envision as a compilation of short stories rather than a single tale. Of course, with a bit of work, it could all be tied together into one novel, I suppose.

I'll consider posting the story online here, for constructive critique, if there's a desire to read it. Ultimately, I hope to publish the collection, or at least parts of it, professionally. I'm always critical of my own writing though, so I am never sure if its worth submitting. Let me know if you think I should post it.

Two projects done! (well, almost)

Greetings friends.

This journal is becoming something of a bore for many of you, I fear. But, in the hopes that some of you enjoy the "What I am Working On" nature of the journal, I shall continue. Perhaps in the near-ish future I will also add some more to the Publications area. I know that a few things have been modified since last I posted documents to that section. Maybe this weekend.

The Texicans are finished but for their protective clear coat. Twelve stout Republic of Texas lads, ready to march onto the table. I'll post photostats soon.

The first of the Venusians is ready as well. These fellows fight in both scales that I game in. They make HUGE Venusian lizardmen for the 15/18mm VSF and sort of small ones (if a bit heavily built) for the 25/28mm VSF. For these troops I used Games Workshop Skinks that I purchased already painted some months ago from a telephonic auction site that is quite the rage these days. A few touchups, some base work (very little) and there you have it: ten Venusian Lizardmen of the more primitive sort.

One tent for the Martian nomads has been prepared quite satisfactorily, and a second is in the works. Still waiting to get started on that second Johnny gun. Where does all the time go?

I have looked as well on a new telephonic auction site, http://www.wargamesmarket.com/. Please take a moment to check them out, as they are quite specific in supporting this daft hobby of ours. I've bid on a few things, though, so please don't take them from me! It would be terribly rude, don't you know? Not - perhaps - sabers at dawn, but certainly Something That Simply Isn't Done.

Also, I have been re-reading the novels of Mister H. G. Wells recently. My eldest son has a long-term assignment through the school to read several of an author's books and do a variety of reports and projects of sorts over the various novels. Greyson (the eldest lad, that is) chose Mr. Wells as his author. Other than that poppycock about tentacled Martians (Good Lord! Everyone knows Martians are red skinned humanoids! What nonsense and stuff!), I have quite thoroughly enjoyed the tales of Prendick, Moreau, Griffen and the rest.

Good rest to you all.

P.S. Jim, please wish Susan a 'Happy Birthday' for all of us if you read this tomorrow. I know Chan plans to call her tomorrow, but Dane is off to the dentist for a few extractions and fillings. She might get too wrapped up in that and forget to call.