Sherman Books

I read Mr. Livingston's work hoping to find references to primary source material I had not found myself in researching the Western Theater of the Civil War as well as learn something about the battle at Griswoldville, Georgia. Credit goes to Livingston for laying out, in a way I have yet to read, an account of the days leading up to the battle as well as the hours of action on the field itself.

Where this book suffers horribly, though, is in writing, editing and, what I suppose to be, an attempt to add the human element to the story. Kudos to authors who can interweave participants' emotions and indivdual actions in the broader context of the story when the research documentation supports such additions. "Fields of Gray", however, left me with the impression that the author "novelized" to some extent the facts of his research in order to add a bit of dramatic flair and desperation to the narrative scene. If my supposition is wrong, well then, I stand corrected.

My second point regards overall understanding of the combatants engaged in and around the Right Wing of the Union Army on the March to the Sea. I applaud Mr. Livingston's inclusion of Private Jesse Dozer's diary excerpts as primary source material to augment his research. It is a readily available resource which is rarely utilized. I am at a loss, though, to figure out why no mention was made of the fact that Dozer's regiment, the 26th Illinois Infantry, was a part of the very Federal brigade that fought the Battle of Griswoldville. I concede that the 26th Illinois was not present for the battle. They had been assigned to guard the division wagon train a day or two prior to the battle. However, they were definitely assigned to Walcutt's (the Federal brigade commander at Griswoldville) Brigade at this time in the campaign. Livingston makes no mention of that fact as he quotes Dozer and explains what the specific Federal forces destined to fight at Griswoldville (of which Dozer was a part) were doing prior to the battle. Seems to this amateur historian that that might have been a salient and very relevant bit of information to include.

I realize this last paragraph beats a dead horse. It's point is merely to indicate that, despite the academic importance of Livingston's study, an ommission or oversight as simple as the Dozer connection to the story leads me to suspect the thoroughness and research abilty of the author.

Mr. Livingston's research is excellent, but the writing and somewhat sloppy copy editing detract from what could have been--should have been--a moving and important story about one of the great tragedies of the Civil War. I recommend for any serious Civil War enthusiast who can add his own experience to complete the greater canvas, but the casual reader might be confused as to the movement of the action and the place of the various characters.

David Foster History Editor Augusta Magazine

Augusta, GA

Hydrology is an aspect central to Arab - Israely conflict. This is one thing commonly ignored by Peace and Conflict scholars. The author suggests a valuable reminder of the water determinant in the political equation of the lengthy Middle East conflict. The book is highky actual in these days due to Israel goverment's effort to achieve peace deals with it's neighbours.

The first five chapters give a short and focused reminder of the current situation of water resources in Israel and around. Something one can find in other books, but this book does it in a concise and clear manner.

Chapters six to ten are a simple propaganda pamphlet, very disappointing. It is not a political debate or analysis, simply a political discourse. The author presents his views and summarily (the word is weak) dismisses anyone who disagrees.

His thesis: Israel needs water, notably from the Golan. And Arab countries cannot be trusted, so Israel has to keep the Golan. The author does not propose any other political/technical solution.

Several solutions (from other sources) are considered and all rejected with the same fallacious argument: without stability, there is no long-term insurance that a water agreement will be respected. And Arab countries are unstable because undemocratic. So let them first become democratic and recognize Israel, and then we will see.

This is very revealing of Israel negotiating stance at present: what is mine is mine, period. What is yours is negotiable.
Well if the other side is equally flexible, peace in the Middle-East will wait a while...


Several sections describe how Palestinians pollute Israeli waters and are bordering outright racism against Arabs (filthy people). Not a word about the appalling situation of water resources in the concentration camp that the Gaza strip is turning into.
Not a word about the sharing of water between Israeli colons and Palestinian farmers in the occupied territories.

Similarly the titles of chapters 8 and 9 are revealing: Separating the facts from fabrication/fantasy can be read as: facts= what Israel says, fabrication/fantasy = what Arabs say.

Definitely a one-sided account. So four stars for the first five chapter, minus three for the rest.

Hopefully I will find other Israeli authors with more balanced views and a better understanding of what negotiations and trade-offs are about.


Interesting to read the back cover comment: "unapologetically harsh conclusions" (this from a former head of Mossad!).


Addendum: a far superior and balanced read is "Water in the Middle-East: a geography of Peace" by Aaron Wolf et al

If you need an illustrated history of the Sherman Tank, and have absolutely no other resources at hand, this book is possibly better than nothing. However, it is full of generalizations and some outright errors, and the whole thing seems to have been thrown together rather quickly. A far better choice would be any of Steven J. Zaloga's books published by Osprey and Concord or either Squadron-Signal publication ("Sherman in Action" or "Sherman Walkaround"). Best of all is Richard Hunnicutt's enormous work "Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank" (though many would balk at the price, it is by far the best work available, with thousands of photos and multiview 1:48th scale drawings by D.P. Dyer of every Sherman subtype).

This book tells the story of the American made Sherman Tank. It begins with the early influences that lead up to the development and manufacture of the tank. Subsequent chapters cover the Sherman in action, variants of the tank such as self propelled artillery and a fairly complete history up to its post war use by Isreal. The photos and graphics are good. The author has done a good job of covering the subject without getting bogged down in the myriad of details of this vast subject. For most military enthusiasts this book should enough detail to provide a complete understanding of the tank.

I'd recommend this book for a reader looking for a solid, well balanced history of the Sherman Tank.

If you believe that the American soldier committed unspeakable atrocities in Vietnam this is the book for you. His Civil War history is so off it is not even funny. He gets basic stuff wrong like the order battles took place in. If you are interested in Sherman or Civil War history read James McPherson or Lee Kennett. If you are an ex-hippie that wants to feel good about your wasted youth this is the book for you!

Reston (son of long time NYT reporter, columnist, editorial board member James, "Scottie" Reston) compares the tactics used by the much maligned General Sherman in his infamous "March to the Sea" at the close of the American Civil War, with the tactics used by Westmoreland in Vietnam.

Reston's bottom line is that the horrors allegedly committed by Sherman are exaggerated, but he clearly redefined modern warfare, by making it a legitimate tactic to terrorize civilians in order to undermine the enemies "will to resist." This tactic found its ultimate expression in Hiroshima, but was strongly echoed in Vietnam.

One of the great ironies Reston focuses on is that the south generally decries Sherman, but extols Westmoreland.

The book is now obviously dated--it would be very interesting for Reston to do a "post 9/11" edition. But the lessons Reston draws from Vietnam and Sherman's march are well worth applying to our current occupation of Iraq.

Sherman is so ideocentric and intellectually spineless that it I can't get over the fact that this wasn't written over a hundred years ago.

A new evangelical voice is emerging that is describing social transformation through a culture-and-development paradigm that emphasizes primarily (although not exclusively) a personal dimension.
Through her research in Guatemala, Dr. Amy Sherman has demonstrated that transformation is an inside-out, bottom-up phenomenon. Sherman argues that the societal transformation in Guatemala has proceeded from the large number of conversions from Christo-paganism to orthodox Christianity. An orthodox Christian worldview, Sherman explains, has been a catalyst for social transformation because it recognizes the value of the individual to make choices (toward sobriety, marital fidelity, and thrift) and reap the socioeconomic benefits.
In this unique country where evangelicals are an estimated 25% of the population, the actions of a significant amount of people making personal life changes has been felt at a societal level. Even secular critics note that evangelicalism, with its strong orientation toward the individual, has been positively correlated with to economic improvement, rising levels of education, and democracy. Highly recommended.

I read frantically through a number of books in anticipation of reading this one, only to be majorly disappointed. It truly is one of the worst entries in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and I'm hoping it's the last the authors collaborate on. Although their military knowledge is clear, it shows through in trite ways and generally detracts from rather than adds to the narrative.

The characters are recognizable in name only. The dialogue is so inappropriate for the characters it's almost laughable. Soldiers in the field say "bro" and Anakin becomes almost as whiny as his son. It's unreal how much the speech missed the mark.

The action never really picks up to a level worth reading, and although the scale of the battles are epic, you never get the feeling that more than a handful of people are fighting.

It's amazing how so many words can say so little, and at the same time detract so much from what should have been an excellent concept.

Beware of reading this book, as it may spoil your affection for the series for a while.

I couldn't finish this book. I've read other Star Wars novels that I wasn't particularly fond of, but this one I found to be particularly egregious. It was a whole lot of boring military strategy and bad characterizations. When Anakin started thinking that his shiny new mechanical arm was so nice that perhaps he should have his other arm replaced I stopped reading. I understand its my own personal taste, but I would prefer my Star Wars fiction to not read like a dramatization of historical battles. If I wanted that, I'd re-read Dune.

This book has no redeeming qualities about it, whatsoever. Character development was horrible, and not believable. Don't waste your time on this book, it is the worst SW novel I've ever read (I've read close to 30)

The Black Fleet Crisis was bad. The Cestus Deception was not outstanding. I found Triple Zero lacking (especially compared to the exceptional Hard Contact). The Jedi Quest series took almost the entire series to make the journey worthwhile. But all these books pale in comparison to what I would call the worst Star Wars book (I have read almost all of them except for the newest ones).
First off, Nejaa Halcyon was the biggest reason I started reading this book. I read of him in I, Jedi and longed to know more. I should have made up my own story since the authors don't really do much with him. He could have been any Jedi; there was nothing that made him exceptional.
Next, the authors have a weird view of what people want. They seem to think that we, the audience, would love to read pages of insignificant, brainless, unimportant characters with terrible names, strategy, and the like and not detail important things like Anakin and Nejaa's marriages (the whole interchange, which could have lasted half a chapter with Michael Stackpole as the author, takes up half a page), lightsaber battles, and real character development.
Other pet peeves:
1. I was unimpressed with the juvenile writing style.
2. I could care less for the whole mercenary angle and the Rodian mercenary (both of whom did not stay consistent throughout the story). They felt like blank characters with not much depth.
3. Odi and Erk, Erk and Odi, them getting married...gag me! Please! I groaned when I read "And now by the powers vested in me..." at the end! How could anyone end a Star Wars novel in such a hokey marriage. I would have omitted their entire story from this novel and given that time to Anakin and Nejaa.
4. Asajj Ventress on the cover and not in the book (to my knowledge).
5. Super motherly woman who is about to die. And she reminds Anakin of Shmi. Do I sense a billboard or something?
6. Ponith, the scary banker with purple teeth from all that tea he drinks. And we are supposed to fear him why?
7. I never really believe the whole mission was important. If this station was so important to interstellar communications, how did this happen in the first place?
Just so I don't sound too negative, the end picked up a bit. The action was a bit better. Also, some inclusion of clone troopers (but nothing compared to Hard Contact).
7.99 is about 7.98 too much for this book. Buy used or borrow. In fact, don't bother. Just skip. Watch the Clone Wars animated shorts for Anakin's real trial. And spend the 7.99 on Hard Contact for a much better Clone Wars novel.

The battles were very cool but everything else could have been better. I was dying to see Anakin's Jedi Trial. To see what exactly a real Jedi trial is. But we don't get to see it even thought its all Anakin talks about. Obi Wan is sent on a mission without Anakin so Anakin gets a new master temporarily in Jedi Halcyon. I was very interested in seeing how this played out. Anakin having a master who wasn't Obi Wan and one who was a lot like him. Considered a maverick or wild card of the Jedi. They have a lot in common including having a love one even though its against of the Jedi Order. They would have made for an interesting team and yet they weren't. They were more boring then I ever could have thought.

The United States vilification of President Alexander Lukashenko and Belarus has nothing to do with "democracy" and "human rights." Lukashenko's refusal to surrender Belarus to U.S./E.U. capitalist domination via privatization and criticism of U.S. policies have infuriated Washington. Even more irksome to the White House, IMF, and World Bank is that Lukashenko's economic model is actually working!!!

For accurate and objective information on President Lukashenko and pre and post Soviet Belarus I highly recommend Stewart Parker's new book, "The Last Soviet Republic - Alexander Lukashenko's Belarus." The reader will receive a huge amount of well researched, objective material that contradicts and debunks the stereotypical drivel and propaganda written by Washington's hacks.

Belarus is next. Most likely not a direct military intervention, but rather a western-capitalist propaganda campaign designed to destabilize and "reform" the country. The Belarus politico-economic system, one of the last of its kind on earth, is structured essentially along the lines of the old Soviet system, and the western powers are dead set on sending it into the dustbin of history. Recently Belarus' Lukashenko government, after receiving criticism from the IMF and World Bank for its slow pace of privatization, actually had the audacity to request that the IMF and World Bank first calculate the social costs of any "structural adjustment programs". (Alexander Lukashenko is the current president of Belarus who the capitalist powers are now starting to demonize as an irrational dictator. Moreover he has been an outspoken statesman against the United States war on Iraq, dubbing it the most cynical war of aggression since World War II.)

Suffice it to say, many Belarusians are refusing to buy the privatization snake-oil, however, and this is the crucial point, a yuppie segment of the country - connected to western elites based primarily in Poland - is intent on joining the exploitation game in which the next step is toppling Lukashenko, a feat that will no doubt happen amidst cheers from CNN. They claim they are advancing democracy when in reality they would support the most autocratic regime if it happened to open up the country to multinational corporate penetration.

For guidance all one has to do is look to Russia and the other former Soviet states where unfettered capitalism is an unmitigated disaster: poverty rates, drug cartels, organized crime rackets, shoddy healthcare, rampant unemployment, human trafficking, corruption and cronyism, petty street crime; all these social indicators have skyrocketed, while a few bandits and shrewd manipulators have become richer than their wildest dreams.

Unfortunately most well educated liberals in the west will go right along with the drumbeat against Belarus socialist society and Lukashenko. Obviously romanticizing Lukashenko is unwarranted, however his administration is generally committed to egalitarian principles and keeping much of the Belarus economy and governing apparatus away from the world's ruling class; which is why he deserves support during this important period in global history.

Most teachers should know how to present this material without any help. Unfortunately, the help that is provided in this manual really is no help. One almost wonders if the author truly has any educational background or experience.

I ordered this unit plan hoping it would give me some useful ideas for teaching this book. However, there are many noticeable errors. In addition, it does not quite cover the book to a satisfactory level. I had my ninth graders read the book, but the questions and activities in the unit plan were below the level of my students. However, there are some good suggestions that can be altered to fit your class, and it is nice to have tests pre-done. Although with the number of errors, I've had to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb and retype segments.

On page two the author states that the abacus was invented in China up to 5,000 years ago. That shows that the author is no authority in this area. The abacus originated in ancient Babylon about 5,000 years ago. The abacus did not get to China until about 800 years ago. In fact, it was the Europeans that taught the Chinese how to use an abacus. I stoped reading at page two.

Aimed at a primary school reader, Sherman offers a quick history of computing, with emphasis on the personal computer. Since the latter is likely what the reader is best acquainted with. For the reader, Sherman tries to convey how vastly and rapidly computers have improved. Something that the reader is probably too young to appreciate. After all, it's not clear that some readers know or fully appreciate that a current personal computer is equivalent to an entire large room of hardware from the 50s or 60s.

The text is rather short. Perhaps because of the intended age range of the reader? But maybe the text could have been lengthened. If only to talk more about recent popular usages on the PC.

Interesting collection of writers, some famous and some unknowns, but all in all not a real page turner. Some stories I couldn't even finish I got so bored. Some were so good I got goose pimples. Go figure.

Ohhhhh.....Where to begin? I'll start with co-editor Terri Windling. Her opening essay on the year in Fantasy was almost enough to make me hurl down the book in irritation. If she said "Magic Realism" one more time....I lost track at 37. Unbearable. Just unbearable. I have a pretty steadfast rule that, no matter how bad a book may be, I read EVERY SINGLE WORD. Every word. No matter what. I had to skim through Windling's essay, because it was either skim or put my fist through the wall. "Magic Realism. Magic Realism. Magic Realism." Ugh.

Ellen Datlow's essay is slightly more interesting, and the sections on Media and Comic Books were very well done. Now, on to the stories themselves.

I've read a few of the previous Year's Best volumes, and it always bothered me how the book slants towards Fantasy over Horror (Terri Winling is the Fantasy Editor, Ellen Datlow the Horror Editor), but this edition is WAY over the top. Out of 35 stories, Windling's name is on over twenty. Her tastes run towards oblique, overwritten, pretentious tripe, and strange poetry. One of her selections, Gerald Vizenor's Oshkiwiinag: Heartlines on the Trickster Express put me beyond the newfound sacrilige of skimming. I actually had to skip the remainder of the story after five endless, pointless pages. I have never read such strange shizznit in my whole life. I literally had NO idea what he was writing about. Ugh. Another Windling pick (Among The Handlers, by Michael Bishop) is endlessly long, written in an awful hillbilly dialect, and is neither Fantasy or Horror, but IS god-awful. I'll avoid Vizenor and Bishop like the plague, thanks to these stories. We also get other Windling-picked classics like Birthdream, (A poem about childbirth, not Horror or Fantasy, but also awful. If I wanted bad poems, I'd get a poetry book.) Caribe Magico, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (A travelogue. For God's sake, a travelogue! Not Horror, not Fantasy...but as Windling says...MAGIC REALISM! Code for "Pretentious story that makes no sense."), and Beckoning Nightframe by Terry Dowling, about a woman who is scared of her neighbor's open window. FOR 16 PAGES! UGH. Her only decent choice is Little Beauty's Wedding, by Chang Hwang. It's an unforgettable story.

Ellen Datlow fares better in her choices. The Secret Shih Tan (By Graham Masterson), Never Seen By Waking Eyes (By Stephen Dedman), and the grotesque Three Bears pastiche "Ursus Triad, Later" (By Kathe Koja & Barry N. Malzberg) are all incredible, and I'm glad to have discovered writers I wasn't familiar with, but the overall feeling I had when reading the book was one of irritation with the all-encompassing pretentiousness of the package. I'd say the stinky outweighed the good by 90%. I'm VERY sorry that I've already purchased the next four volumes....But at least I've learned to skim & skip!