Guns Books

Very informative, covered every aspect of the rifle in great detail, also addressed serial numbers of all parts, dates, changes in production including modifications

The book has a lot of good information; however, it is very difficult to understand what the author is describing when explaining the different variants of Garand parts. The pictures are not clear and are black and white. The pictures also don't correlate with the text. Figure 2 on page 3 may actually represent some text on page 2 while page 2's text has a Figure 1 with text around where one would assume the text is referring to Figure 1. The information in the book is good, but don't expect to not have to buy another supporting book.

This book is a must have for anyone who is trying to restore an M1 Garand or just building one. Each system for the rifle is covered with a breakdown of the parts with the correct drawing and revision number used. The WWII Garands are classified according to manufacturer and serial number run by month and year. Post war Garands are by manufacturer and year. The only thing I would like would be more illustrations of certain parts and the types. There is a lot of history about the Garand and its designer. If you want to make your Garand correct by manufacturer and date of build, this is the book you need.

Great book for the collector and hobbiest, full of detail about the M1 Garand and differences in production detail

This is a great book for someone who is a new proud owner of an M1 Garand, and wants to research out their rifle, explore and date their rifle part by part. It has a mixture of photos and drawings. The line drawings are fine, they help highlight the characteristics of the different parts as they changed throughout the years. This books is a complete inventory of all the parts over all the years. It includes, repair tools, slings, bayonets, ammo, rifle stock, stock markings, plus of course every single part in your rifle. It also includes history(background comments) surrounding the parts.

Bottomline it's a great reference tool.

Mosin-Nagant rifles were an acquired taste for me. I was always interested in World War I and World War II and was impressed that the Mosin-Nagant soldiered on through both major conflicts (starting with the Russo-Japanese War, actually) with some interesting detours.

One of the most fascinating of those detours is represented by Finnish variations of the Mosin-Nagant. Lapin does an excellent job with major Finnish types, also. You might want to supplement it with Doug Bowser's RIFLES OF THE WHITE DEATH: A COLLECTOR'S AND SHOOTER'S GUIDE TO FINNISH MILITARY RIFLES 1918-1944.

D.N. Bolotin's SOVIET SMALL-ARMS AND AMMUNITION is also a useful companion to Lapin's book. Lapin, however, is the starting point and the standard by which the others are measured.

I gave Lapin's book five stars because of its value as a reference. It will be especially valuable to new collectors and shooters. Supplies of Mosin Nagant rifles are plentiful and prices are almost at give away levels if you shop around a little.

Although the supplies of Finnish Mosin-Nagants has dried up, there are lots of Soviet rifles available. Some of those old Red Army 91-30s were probably at Stalingrad and other legendary battles. Get a copy of Lapin's book and start collecting.

Great book, lots of detail, great history on the rifle. Very organized.

This is the kind of detail you need if you want to track down where & when that 70 year old rifle you're holding in your hands has travelled. The details of the parts & markings is exhaustive, informative and actually really interesting to read.

As a long time collector of the Mosin Nagant rifle and also having my research on these rifles in a number of different Medias, I am pleased to say Terence has done a fine job with his works on the Mosin Nagant. I think all new collectors should have this book as a guide and even long time collectors will find the book helpful. The author covers a lot of ground in this book so it is hard to be overly detailed but too be honest a definitive work on the Mosin Nagant would run into thousands of pages. I am glad to have been able to assist the author in the past and hope to do more in the future. A+

Like the AK's of today's world, the Mosin-Nagant rifle of an earlier day was the standard military rifle of about half the world. It was adopted in 1891 by the Russians and served with them throughout World War I and World War II as their standard infantry rifle. It books a bit funny to American eyes when compared to the '98 Mauser or the 03 Springfield, but it was a well designed, reliable, reasonably accurate rifle. It did what the Red Army wanted it to do.

Mr. Lapin is an expert on the rifle. He has painstakenly gathered information about the rifle from every imaginable source and now has produced this third revised and expanded edition that provided invaluable information to collectors. He basically describes the differences in essentially all of the variations in the rifle regardless of where or when it was produced.

As such, this is the definitive book on the rifle (in English, I don't know about books in Russia. Anh collector of these rifles should have a copy to assist in identifying rifles.

I heard an interview with Mr. Feldman on the radio and this piqued my interest in reading the book. I am the owner of 2 Glocks, possess a concealed carry permit and am not an NRA member nor do I have any interest in joining the organization. I think reading the book confirmed my disdain with the lobbying organization as well as pointing out the weakness in the case made by many on the gun control side of the debate.

If I am disappointed in any way with the book it is in the fact that Mr. Feldman should have, in my opinion, offered some insight into what he thinks would be tangible ways to bridge the gap between gun control advocates and gun enthusiasts. He spends a fair amount of time criticizing both sides but does not really touch on what he thinks would be more effective ways of squelching the conflict and doing more to keep guns out of the hands of those who are more likely to use them to commit acts of violence.

For example: In my opinion, anyone who has been committed for a psychiatric evaluation or who takes prescription drugs for depression, bipolar disorder, etc. ought to be flagged by the Instacheck system and be required to pass a higher standard before being allowed to buy a firearm. It would not be an absolute barrier but a requirement to get more information. This might have prevented the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University (and others) which were carried out with legally bought weapons by disturbed young men with known psychiatric issues. I think a career gun industry advocate and lobbyist as Mr. Feldman ought to have offered his constructive opinion on issues such as this. It would have made Ricochet a more powerful work.

I found Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist a quick and interesting read. Richard Feldman provides a snapshot of a piece of history in the push and pull in the development of public policy in our pluralistic society. I gave this as a Christmas gift to my sons Lt. Scott Mayberry, USMC and Tim Mayberry so they could reflect on the excitment of life in the nation's capital.

-- Richard Mayberry, McLean Virginia

Sorta like old home week for me...

I'd quite agree you can't judge this book by its press or blog reviews. The press naturally picked up on Richard's criticism of NRA fundraising and expenditures, and the bloggers (except me, who refused to blog without reading it) reacted to that. Both made the book seem antigun, when it's very far from that. As I would have guessed, because I last saw the author at the private ceremony to dedicate the bronze of Harlon Carter: Harlon's family would not have singled him out for invitation unless he was respected by them.

The book is exceptionally clearly written, and definitely a page turner. I think I took one break from reading its 300+ pages. If anyone wants to see what it's like to be a lobbyist, this is the book for them. Just one episode: at one point NY Gov. Mario Cuomo holds a tense meeting with the author and others, and tries to break the ice by deliberately sitting on a whoopee cushion. It didn't go over very well...

This book was great. I am a Lifetime Benefactor member of the NRA and I found the insider characterizations to be most enlightening. It's critics call the NRA "extreme" but it does speak for me.

I love the examples that it made of gun grabbing politicians in 1994, reminding the arrogant elitists in Washington that they serve at the pleasure and voting consent of their contituents back home and if they try to take a man's gun away they'll get what's coming to them at the polls as a large number of gun grabbing Democrats found out the hard way.

I wasn't sure what I was going to get when I picked up "Ricochet" but it turned out to be a page turner.

Richard Feldman is a skillful writer and an engaging story teller. His prose is easily approachable, passionate, and at the same time, avoids emotional extremes and bumper sticker slogans -- it's easy to see how he has been such a successful lobbiest.

The "confessions" aren't ideological regrets, but rather the kiss-and-tell story of internecine warfare at one of America's largest and most powerful lobbying groups. Feldman presents the National Rifle Association to be not exactly the 800 lb gorilla many people had always assumed -- but rather a pack of 80 lb chimpanzees that sometimes work together towards a common goal but also spend a lot of time poking one another in the eyes.

At the book's core, divergent factions in the NRA (one spearheaded by Feldman) disagree fundamentally on the best way to bring their cause forward -- the reader can decide which (if either) seems more practical. A fascinating read, whatever your position on guns. "Ricochet" seems to tell a universal tale -- one assumes that the very same types of arguments are going on in the back rooms of Greenpeace or any other lobbying group staffed by passionate and dedicated idealists.

Excellent. This is the definitive coverage for both of these rifles. Has been a tremedous asset in evaluation of rifles on sale.

Very comprehesive work.

Having used this rifle as a cadet back in the mid-seventies, and also as a member of the shooting team at school, the book held strong memories for me. But more importantly, it helped me to identify the recent purchase of a No.4 Mark I/2. The book is easy to read, I would have preferred more photos and diagrams because those unfamiliar with the rifle, may find discriptions difficult to follow. For the collector, this book is a must, to add to the others in the series.

For anyone who owns a No.4 or No.5 Enfield this book is invaluable. Very well written with lots of easy to understand drawings and detail. This is the place to start if you are interested in the history or in working on one of these great rifles. I found more information in this one book then I did in a couple of months of online research.

A wealth of basic collecting information for the beginning collector, good descriptions of various parts and has serial number tables.

The characters really jumped out at me. The brother-sister relationship is especially well-drawn -- the agony Checker goes through about his sister being so badly hurt. I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

I absolutely loved this book. I generally read a western a month and Brothers of the Gun is the best so far. I like the pyschological edge Cotton Smith gives to his characters. They are real people, not stereotypes. I think he is one of the new breed of authors that is truly breathing fresh air into the West. I'm hoping there's another John Checker book coming. Got to find out what happens to Sonny Jones, his outlaw friend, and John's sister.

Just finished reading Brothers of the Gun and had to tell how much I enjoyed it. I read a lot of westerns and historical fiction -- and this book really grabbed me and wouldn't let go. It was moving and tense. John Checker, the hero, goes through a tremendous physical and emotional trial, one that almost does in his friends. When you see him at his sister's burned-out homestead, standing beside her, it hurts deep within you. Memorable characters that I want to read about, again and again. Plenty of action -- but just as important, twists in the plot that kept me reading far in the night. This is the first book of Cotton Smith's that I've read -- and now I'm going back to read the others. Terrific stuff.

I've enjoyed all of Cotton Smith's novels (Dark Trail to Dodge, Brothers of the Gun and Behold a Red Horse). His style is straightforward and action-packed drawing in the reader and keeping him entertained. But it's all the melancholia beneath the surface that really hits home; the ... tormented and haunted characters where the past never quite lets go, and the drive to dig out a personal destiny.

Who wouldn't like this book? Or any other well-written western, for that matter. Westerns take us back to a simpler time. A time before September 11th and its aftermath. Brothers of the Gun is a rootin' tootin' shoot 'em up that allows the reader an escape from the tragic reality of today's society.

This being the first time I've read anything by Gun Brooke, I have to admit I approached the book a little skeptically. Oh my, was I in for a surprise! This is a wonderful story, it has all the elements. Joy, pain sorrow, happiness and the intimate side of things is wonderful too. Needless to say that same night I went back online and purchased her other two romance books. "Sheridan's Fate" and "Coffee Sonata". I can't get over how
prolific Gun Brooke is. She has a fan for life in me. I promise you, you'll laugh, cry and swoon with this book.

I had a small bout of interest when I began this book, but once I got into it, I couldn't lay it down.

The characters were well-defined and the plot was good.

This is the first book I've read of Gun Brooke and I look forward to reading more.

Award winning, talented, but over thirty, Carolyn Black will go to any lengths to land the role of a lifetime: portraying Diana Maddox, a lesbian criminal investigator. One woman, Annelie Peterson, appears to be keeping her from getting the part she feels is rightfully hers. Peterson, the owner of Key Line Publishing, is also the producer of the Maddox movie, "Dying for Fame."

When sparks fly, Annelie can't help but wonder how far Carolyn is willing to go to get the part. Annelie values honesty, integrity, and loyalty, and her feelings for Carolyn are clouded by rumors that Carolyn is a ruthless, calculating opportunist. And straight. Annelie, while out to her friends, is cautious, and doesn't make a habit of falling for straight women.

Gun Brooke's debut novel, "Course of Action," brings this unlikely pair together in a somewhat unusual setting, thought to be all glamour and glitz, where ambition and greed reign.

Brooke gets to the core of her characters' emotions and vulnerabilities and points out their strengths and weaknesses in very human terms. Carolyn, the Diva, is a far cry from Carolyn, the woman. A consummate actress, Carolyn is adept at concealing her true feelings as she retreats behind her persona at a moment's notice. The commitment that drives her ambition leads the reader to perceive her tough exterior as impenetrable, and it's hard to imagine her letting intimacy in. At the same time, the reader longs for her to take the risk. Living vicariously through Carolyn is easy; her elation is apparent when she impresses her audience, and the reader can't help but feel the excitement right along with her.

Annelie is equally tough on the outside and a softie on the inside. Despite intense desire, Annelie wants to run and hide from Carolyn. With both women, especially Annelie, trying hard to protect their hearts, the development of any relationship seems out of the question. Wondering how events will affect them, and whether their love will be strong enough to overcome their differences, keeps the reader engrossed.

Gun Brooke's debut novel has met the standards that define a good romance with flying colors. Brooke is proficient at tapping into every nuance and emotion, making it easy for the reader to be enamored with the characters while getting wrapped up in the action. With romance, hot sex, characters you care about, and important areas still to be explored, "Course of Action" demands a sequel. Don't miss what I hope will be the first of many Carolyn Black and Annelie Peterson stories. "Course of Action" is a Golden Crown Literary Award 2006 finalist for Debut Author. In addition, Brooke's "Protector of the Realm," is a finalist in the Sci-fi/Fantasy/Speculative/Horror category.

I read the other reviews and expected a compelling story, but instead found a book where the character were not sufficiently developed so that you don't really care one way or the other what happens. The book follows the two main characters through a series of events that seem to have no real connection or consequence to the story. The relationship is contrived and the connection between the main characters is superficial at best.
While I didn't expect a great piece of literature, I was hoping for a compelling story. This book doesn't deliver. Save your time/money there are better ones out there...

Carolyn Black, an actress nearly past her prime according to Hollywood standards, is ruthless in going after what she wants. And, in this book, she wants the role of Maddox in a trilogy of films. No one else is as confident as she that she is right for the role, including the publisher of the books and producer of the films, Annelie Peterson. This is the story of Black's manipulations to get the role.

Brooke excellently portrays the kind of person Black is - ruthless, manipulative, etc. At the same time, she gives the reader an inside glimpse of Black that says that she's not all bad - except when she wants something. So when she falls for Peterson the reader can't be 100% sure whether it's part of her game or the real deal.

This is a well-written book dealing with a difficult personality to portray adequately. But Brooke ably has the reader rooting for Black and hoping that the powers that be give her the part.

The romance between the two women is also well written with just enough angst as to be realistic - she addresses the issues of a lesbian falling for a "straight" woman, etc.

All in all, Brooke has written a fine romance that is hard to put down once begun.

This book contains 12 long stories of ordinary Americans attacked or invaded by gun-wielding strangers, who defended themselves with guns. A thirteenth chapter contains a number of shorter stories.

Several things come out of these stories. One is that if gun restrictions had been in effect, such a trigger locks, these innocent people would be dead. Another is that police tend to blame the victim first, before investigating. But after investigation, the victims are usually freed. Sometimes this blame even takes precedence over giving the victims medical attention. Another is that mainstream newspapers only carry negative stories about guns, they don't carry all the stories in which people save their own lives with guns.

Books like this are needed to counter the one-sided picture being painted by the mainstream press. Give a copy to everyone you know who is against guns.

Gun control is only one of the threats facing America today, but it does play an important role in that threat. To learn more about the other threats, read While America Sleeps: How Islam, Immigration and Indoctrination are Destroying America from Within.

With all social books, I bought and read this with an open mind. It turned out to be an excellent book highlighting and discussing various stories of people defending themselves and their loved ones with the proper use of a handgun. These very newsworthy stories are what scare the hateful media and liberal anti-Americans. It shows that there are people out there who use guns to defend themselves. Why the anti-gun crowd don't see or understand this if beyond me and all the rest of the freedom loving folks in this great country. Really though, what I see is that they don't want the people who they want to subjugate to have the means to resist a takeover of the country. The U.S. is on a slippery slope towards a total elimination of our freedom and rights to where the elites will have complete control of the country but I digress since that is another conversation.
This book should be a learning lesson to those who are straddling the fence on the legitimacy of handgun usage. I dare anyone to ask themselves whether they would just "peacefully" not resist to being murdered, raped, robbed or whatever (like the anti-gun crowd want you to do) or would you rabidly and vehemently defend yourself. If you decide to defend yourself, wouldn't you want to have the best means to do so in your hands? Not all of us are athletically inclined to be expert martial artists and be able to physically deter most types of attacks (then again not all martial artists are invulnerable either) which leaves us with to find other means of defending ourselves. These means include a handgun. Whether you agree with owning a handgun or not, it does not give a person the right to deny that right to others.
To speak from personal experience, my mother does not like guns nor will own a gun but she will not deny ME the right to own or use one. Something to think about for you anti-American, anti-freedom, hateful people out there.

This book was hard to put down. A must read for anyone who wants to know what REALLY happens outhere in the real world. You always think it happens to someone else, until you are someone else. It sheds light on the truth. You only hear the horror stories about guns. Not how they save countless lives. Keep in mind responsible gun use must be practiced. None the less you shouldn't be discouraged from owning a firearm for self-protection. This book gives you a view of what has happened to ordinary people, just like you and me. It doesn't tell of every circumstance possible, but does shed light on what happens in the real world. It was worth the reasonible price aked.

As someone from the US I have to laugh when someone from the UK (where people have been blowing each other up en mass instead of shooting them for years) has the audacity to be condescending about the gun violence in this country. At least with a gun you have a fighting chance to defend yourself. Thankfully, we are very unlike the UK where crowded buses or department stores are routinely blown up, just to make a point, something that rarely happens in the US. Thank the founding fathers, we still have the right to defend ourselves with honest weapons. The world is full of crazies, whether guns are outlawed in that particular spot on the globe or not. All those cameras on every street corner in Great Britain haven't kept their populace safe, any more than our police force can keep all of us safe. Guns Save Lives demonstrates exactly how informed and even slightly trained citizens can make a difference in the random violence that can intrude on their otherwise peaceful lives. If someone is in doubt that it could happen to them, let them take a walk through these pages. It does happen. Check out the site of this book's publisher Loompanics for a real eye opener. Or call 8003802230

Author Robert A. WATERS points out that every year thousands of US citizens defend their life, their families and their property against violent criminals with firearms (which of course does not necessarily include the discharge of the weapon, let alone shoot to kill). In this compilation the reader is introduced to about a dozen true stories where people used their guns for personal defense. It has to be pointed out that all of these people were ordinary law-abiding citizens - housewives, shop owners, teachers, elderly men and women. None of these persons was a gun fetishist, militant survivalist or psycho. They were people like you and me.
Firstly it has to be mentioned that GUNS SAVE LIVES is not recommended for the squeamish. The harrowing graphic description of violent crimes is often quite shocking.
I have to admit that as true crime buff I read the book mainly for entertainment purposes. However there are undoubtedly some lessons to be learnt about guns, self-protection and crime from this book:

* It really shocked me how brutal and vicious the criminals were. Most of the attacks were completely unprovoked. A teenage boy who all of a sudden killed his mother with a baseball bat and a kitchen knife, before embarking on a killing spree in his highschool, shooting dead two pupils and seriously wounding seven others (until the vice principal stopped him with his .45 calibre handgun). A psycho who stabbed a gun shop owner repeatedly in his chest and abdomen with a samurai sword. The shop owner managed to shoot him with his concealed carry weapon.
A drug addict so desparate in need of some dollars for a fix that he almost choked and severely injured a 91 year old man with a hunting knife. Thankfully the old man was able to use his gun to save his life. A trio of young criminals, who robbed three drugstores on one day in order to get money for the lawyer of one of the trio, who awaited a trial for drug charges, shooting dead a female shop assistant and severely wounding another one. This woman would be dead, hadn't she shot back with a .38 calibre revolver. A psycho who unprovokedly stabbed a mother of three in her house. The woman lost one of her eyes and one of her sons was injured, but she was finally able to use her handgun against the intruder.
These criminals showed little respect for the lives of their victims. Almost all of them had a long history of arrests and convictions.

* Not surprisingly, almost all stories took place in the Southern states of the USA, where more liveral gun laws enable citizens to use a firearm for self-defense and thus, as is convincingly shown, increase their chance to survive an attack from a violent criminal.

* Also not surprisingly many criminals benefitted from an overly lenient justice system. One of the cases that struck me most was the accomplice of a robber, who plea-bargained and was sentenced to only 50 hours of community service (!).

* All of the people in the stories who defended themselves with a gun knew how to use it: two were gunshop owners, one was a seasoned hunter, one was a former soldier, others attended instruction courses, were shown the proper use of a gun by their husbands, or went to the shooting range on a regular basis.

* All of the victims (with one exeption) had their guns ready (on the nightstand, under the pillow or the bed, in their car) and did not use gun locks or stored their firearms in safes.

* Some of the victims were better armed than their assaulters.

* It appears that sometimes one gun is not enough as the case of a gun shop owner shows, who was overpowered by two attackers. They tried to shoot him with his own handgun, however the man was able to use a backup gun against his assailants.

I agree with most of what the author wrote, however I am aware that GUNS SAVE LIVES is not flawless. I don't buy it that no one ever ran into legal troubles when using a firearm for selfdefense. I feel that the author did not elaborate on the risks of armed selfdefense. Is it really out of the question that somebody who defends himself with a gun isn't mistaken for the criminal by intervening police? Or that an attempted trial of armed self-defense prompts a criminal to respond violently and thus results in an escalating situation? In my view the book is often a bit simplistic.
I also think that some of the quoted dialogue is more fitting for a B-movie than appropriate for a serious book on guns and self-defense, like e.g. "That dope fiend took one bullet but he didn't take a penny of my money." (p.55)

tHIS STORY IS A VERY GOOD READ. i FOUND IT TO BE INTERTAINING AND FUN. yES AS ONE READER MENTIONED THE AUTHOR DID ALWAYS SPELL OUT THE ENTIRE NAME EVERY TIME A CHACTER WAS MENTIONED AND YES IT SEEMED AS IF THE AUTHOR MR. SMITH WAS JUST TRYING TO FULLFILL HIS OBLIGATION FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF WORDS, BUT THE STORY IS GOOD. aFTER ALL DON'T WE READ FICTION FOR FUN, i DO.

Great Book, Just like the last three. Excitement and drama. Please don't stop. What happens to the Steel Brothers and Danielle? Mr. Compton could not help but to be smiling down on how you are carrying on his stories and his tradition. Congratulations on another great book.

If you like westerns that capture the spirit of the bold and daring men and women who tackled the Wild West, you will love Rider of Judgement. Ralph Compton is in the ranks with Louis L'amour, Zane Grey , and even some of the newer authors such as William Johnstone. Riders of Judgement will keep you on your toes until the very end. This last book of a trilogy is the perfect ending to a two year trail of vengenance filled with showdowns, romance, and the true spirit of the Wild West.

I found I was not interested in this book. In fact I never finised it. The main problem I had was with the authors use of using each characters full name each time a name was used. No one was ever mentioned by a frist name or just a last name. It was always Danny Duggin` did this, Danny Duggin` did that. Marshal C. F. McCord didthis Marshal C.F.McCord did that. After a while I lost interest in the story line because I was looking to see if the author would change this format. After 80 pages it was time to find another book.

Once I started reading Riders of Judgment I couldn't put it down. I found myself reading into the wee hours of morning. Ralph Cotton puts the main characters in situations that are so suspenseful, you remain glued to the book. I didn't want to fall asleep without knowing what happened to Danny Duggin, Tim, Jed, and Marshal McCord.

I know Ralph Compton would be very proud of the work Ralph Cotton has done on his behalf. Thanks Ralph Cotton for carrying on the great work of Mr. Compton.

Hard to get through. Made it about half way through and that awas it. Very creative especially the beginning but loses its appeal toward the middle

Not many people could write this book, but Lee Boyland's background and in-depth knowledge of nuclear physics enables him to lay it out in terms that are as easy to understand as they are frightening. In addition to spelling out how a nuclear attack could be done from a technical standpoint, the author takes us into the minds of Muslim extremists who are intent on destroying modern civilization and taking humanity back to the seventh century.

A believable plot, fascinating characters, and suspenseful writing combine to make THE RINGS OF ALLAH a must read for everyone, but especially for those who believe a terrorist nuclear threat in America is overblown. Such an attack won't be easy to pull off, but the author clearly shows that it can be done, and that we need to be ever vigilant. To paraphrase Secretary of State Rice, "The terrorists can make many mistakes. We just have to make one." Highly recommended.

Maurice Medland
Author of CHINA STAR

After hearing weapons expert and author Lee Boyland on talk-radio, I was so impressed by his knowledge of current events, Islam, and nuclear weapons, that I ordered a copy of his first book. I just finished it and am spellbound by the author's unique ending - an obvious setup for a sequel.

Beginning in 1990 Russia, the story is divided into three parts. Part I is Ivan's story, an old, destitute Soviet nuclear weapons engineer with a secret. Through Ivan the reader meets opportunistic KGB Colonel Alexi Valek, who introduces us to Mohammed al Midhar, bin Laden's fiendishly determined lieutenant. Valek discovers Ivan's secret and the adventure begins.

In Part II, American nuclear-physicist-turned-terrorist Ralph Eid becomes Mohammed's brilliant protégé and takes center stage. As the chilling plot unfolds, the author shows how easily an intelligent, patient group of terrorists can plant five atomic bombs--hidden in plain sight--in our cities.

Part III jumps the story to 2004, when Hilda Rodman defeats George Bush in her bid for the presidency and immediately pulls America's troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. While chaos erupts in the middle east, Mohammed presents his in-place plan to destroy five American cities to the Shura. In return for his part in destroying the Great Satan he will be named caliph, leader of the new Islamic Empire.

Running afoul of America's military in the wake of her fateful decision to recall the troops, Rodman offers a token appeasement by appointing retired Air Force Major General George Alexander to be Secretary of Homeland Security. Hours before the timers, set by Mohammed and Eid, detonate the nuclear weapons, Alexander leaves Washington on a family emergency. Warned of a pending attack, Alexander tries unsuccessfully to reach Rodman, while she's giving her "Everything is Wonderful" speech to a join session of Congress. In the end Rodman's arrogance and ambition are her undoing. The bombs detonate, America is left leaderless, and our government and capitol city has been reduced to radioactive ash.

Stunned by the not-so-perfect, unhappy ending to the novel, the reader struggles to comprehend the real possibility of such events actually occurring. Suddenly we're aware that in a real the world, life as we knew would be gone in the blink of an eye. If not fiction the story we'd just read would be history and our best hope would lie with the sole survivor in the line of succession to the presidency, George Alexander, a man we know little about. Forced to assume the presidency, Alexander will face a daunting task.

By co-mingling history, fact, and great story telling the author has given terrorists full sway to render a crippling blow to our country. Still reeling from the cliff hanger ending the reader becomes irresistibly caught up in the fictional troubles facing a shattered nation. The author has given us only a glimpse of Alexander. Is he the man right man for the job? Can he inspire Americans to follow him to victory over the forces of evil? Only time and Boyland's sequel, "Behold an Ashen Horse" will tell. From what we do know it appears Alexander is a no-nonsense man with no trace of political correctness. Qualities, which may or may not be tantamount to his future success as a world leader.

Anchored in historical events, the novel's plot is replete with facts about U.S and Soviet nuclear weapons programs, the Soviet-Afghanistan war, Iraq, and of course al-Qaeda. Fast paced and believable, Boyland's tale will most certainly make any sane person reevaluate America's sense of security. One military friend, who's read the book, tells me the technology described in the story is accurate. Other friends have told me that "The Rings of Allah" is the equal to Tom Clancy's "Sum of all Fears." Not being an avid Clancy reader, I'll have to accept their word for that, but, all things considered, I can make this observation. After reading this novel its clear to me that readers who love cliff-hanging, edge-of-the-seat action can be certain of one thing. Boyland has staked his claim on being America's newest star in the galaxy of techno-thriller authors. If his next novel is as good as his first, we're in for another phenomenal read.

Author Lee Boyland puts his extensive special weapons background to use in spinning this completely believable tale of al-Qaeda's next step after 9-11. Leftover Soviet technology from the beginning of the Cold War falls into al-Qaeda's hands, and they establish an intricate network in order to place five atomic devices in five US cities. The US gets word of the attack, but will it be in time?
Boyland does a great job of mixing good character development with great technical background in order to create this story. Technical readers will appreciate his attention to detail as he relates and educates the reader on the workings of gun-type atomic weapons. Literature advocates will respect how he uses significant events to develop his main characters. Many new writers fall into the trap of trying to tell too much of the story, but Boyland avoids this by jumping sometimes a year ahead in the story in order to keep things moving.
A great action story that is just a bit too possible, this is definitely worth it for action and techo fans alike.

In "Rings of Allah," Mr. Boyland blends real weapons knowledge with sharply drawn characters through a compelling story that shows true Islamic objectives for destroying our country. It is clear, after reading this, that we are in the fight of our history. Those in the U.S.A. who do not believe that there is an in-house massive propaganda campaign being waged by Islamic extremists need to read this book. Thank you, Lee for adding your voice to their frightening agenda. Holly Fox Vellekoop, Author, "STONE HAVEN: Murder Along the River.

In reading the book with an open mind, it becomes quite apparent that history and culture goes hand in hand when dealing with the issue of gun control. What may work in other countries probably would not work in the United States and visa-versa due to those two issues. Clearly the United States is a country where Americans have a love affair with their car and firearms and Americans will refuse to part with either of the two. Kopels solution to gun related crimes makes sense, since guns aren't going away because of its proliferation, then issue concealed carry licenses to Americans since the Second Amendment is clear that Americans have the right to keep and bear arms.

I started Mr Kopel's book with high hopes that I had finally found an objective work on this controversial topic. My hopes were dashed within a couple of chapters but I plugged on until the end anyway. The book attempts to convince and appear scholarly by the sheer quantity of information conveyed, but much of it is totally irrelevant to the real issues.(eg I do not believe that public opinion towards gun control in the UK is in any way influenced by King Henry VIII's statutes related to crossbow usage in the 16th century). In other cases, the information conveyed is misleading or just plain wrong. Mr Kopel's overriding thesis seems to be that the imposition of gun control in other countries can be directly correlated with erosion of civil liberties and loss of personal freedoms. For those of us who have lived in at least one of those other countries, this just doesn't wash. The conclusions of the author appear to be that America is so different from other countries that none of their measures to reduce gun related violence can work here. It is very apparent that Mr Kopel started this book with his mind already made up on this issue. What a pity he wasted the opportunity to deliver a truly open-minded opinion on the subject.

This is an absolutely excellent resource for anyone interested in the gun-control debate. Mr. Kopel's thesis is that effective gun-control and culture are very tightly linked. Mr. Kopel describes the gun control policies of several countries, puts each in a historical perspective, and discusses why and how well those controls work in their respective countries. He goes on to describe what form of gun-control would be best suited for the United States.

Mr. Kopel's book is superbly researched, very readable, and includes copious references. This is by far the most informative book I've found on the gun-control debate. I recommend it highly.

Kopel histories of the governments in Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Japan, Switzerland and the US. Concurrent with the history/culture review he mirrors the weapons control laws that evolved and their consequences. By looking more in depth at the context within which each of these countries enacted their controls, Kopel looks for "lessons learned." His work is mostly objective, incredibly well-documented, and reaches some pretty common sense conclusions. An excellent resource for learning about the nature of government, laws, and gun control specifically.

I picked up this book to provide some insight on gun control issues and history, and was very pleased to learn more than expected. The laws and history were very well documented, and the book was sequenced in a manner that allowed the reader to absorb information without being overwhelmed. Cultural and legal discussions abound, and were a very important supplement to the core of the discussion.