War Books

After seeing "Radiant Dawn" keep popping up as an Amazon recommendation and reading all the 5-star reviews, I decided to take a chance and buy a copy. Glad that I did.

The thing about most authors in the "action" genres is that they do most of their research by watching bad movies and reading mediocre novels. Not the case here. It was refreshing to see credible scenes and authentic dialogue with a cast of characters that include special forces soldiers and federal agents -- most authors have absolutely no idea how these people act and talk, or the bureaucratic nonsense they need to put up with throughout the course of an average day. Goodfellow nailed it.

A lot of reviewers claimed that this book was part of the Chtulhu mythos -- but maybe that becomes clearer in the sequel? RADIANT involves a type of radiation that mutates people into something that remains humanoid and can pass as human, but is virtually unkillable. And they want you to join them in the "evolution" of the human race.

A very well written book and a thoroughly enjoyable story. I'll likely be ordering the sequel in the near future.

Radiant Dawn is an excellent Lovecraftian tale in modern-day America (though you'll only get hints of this until the sequel). Goodfellow's prose is sometimes startlingly good at description, and the tale itself is extremely creative. You DO NOT need to be a Lovecraft fan to enjoy these works- action, horror, military intrigue, mystery, all of these play into the plot. High recommended.

From start to finish Cody Goodfellow has produced a masterpiece, combining action, intrigue, sci-fi (or fact?) and horror in a scintillating combination.
Man no longer needs to evolve as we invent everything that we would have needed to evolve to achieve. But at a cellular level our bodies are still trying to evolve and at Radiant Dawn this is happening - leading to inevitable conflict between humans and those who are becoming more than human. Sinister government projects, seedy underworld characters, CIA, FBI and special forces interact to make this book a delight and with three perfectly realised and believable (but far from the normal hero type) lead characters the switch of focus from chapter to chapter prevents boredom ever setting in. The plot twists like a snake in the sands of Death Valley where much of the book is set, and the explosive ending sets up perfectly for the sequel, Ravenous Dusk, which I'm off to read NOW! I've read hundreds of sci-fi and horror novels: this is absolutely in my top 10 ever! Miss it at your own loss!

Radiant Dawn by Cody Goodfellow

Last year when SAW hit theaters across America there was massive overhype that in my humble opinion hurt the movie. Let's face it, SAW was a low budget horror movie, who expected good acting? A lot of horror fans were let down because the hype surrounding the movie was so great that even though it was a pretty damn good horror film most were disappointed. While John Skipp(Bestselling co-author of The Scream) meant well devoting two pages of cemetery dance to Cody Goodfellow as being as cool as the invention of the wheel, sliced bread and fire, I was nervous when I opened up to the first page of Radiant Dawn which is Goodfellow's 1st novel.
I was nervous because I wanted to the local guy(he is here San Diego) to live up to the incredible hype. I won't say the hype is a disservice because it was the reason I spent months trying to track it down before breaking down and getting it on amazon (I believe in bookstores damnit!). The important thing is do Cody a favor and try to clear your mind of the hype before you open the book.
The reality is it is the most powerful 1st novels your likely to ever read. Damn it I am adding the hype. Crackling and inventive prose that slips in descriptions that are laugh out loud funny at times, Cringe inducing at other times, descriptions where you will shake your head at his genius. Plotting that is so good it's your going back to check facts, paranoia, gore and lets not forget radiation induced cancer mutated monsters.
I found myself marveling at the originality of the story which involves cults of scientists and militias fighting an underground war which involves a mutant apocalypse and the hints and connection to the Lovecraft Mythos (to be explored fully in the sequel Ravenous Dusk). The fact is I can't do the plot justice.
So Cody Goodfellow is all that and a bag chips. It's true, is radiant dawn perfect? No but again I think the hype made me hypercritical at times, I couldn't help it. There were a few experiments like a battle told all in radio dialogue between soldiers that didn't work for me. Perhaps the greatest weakness in the novel is it is a set-up. Half way through I pretty sure that radiant dawn was a tease for the monsters onslaught of it's sequel. The bulk of the word count is given to the conspiracy and not the horror.
According to reviews of Ravenous Dusk that feeling was correct that the sequel is more than a pay-off.
The bottom-line is this... get both books! You'll be happy you did. Just try to clear your mind of the hype and remember it was written by a 1st time novelist. Wow. Now pardon me cause I just bought Ravenous Dusk yesterday at Dark delicacies and I have some reading to do.

Cody Goodfellow is one of those rare powerhouse writers that bursts onto the scene with talent and a real story to tell... and then for some reason is completely ignored. Nobody I know has read this book, and I found it to be an excellent, compelling read. Conspiracy theories, mutants and a little bit of Lovecraft thrown in for good measure. I would definitely recommend it.

I'm Jeff Wittmann, one of 5 sons of Wendell Wittmann, the bombadier of Harold "Robbie" Robinson's B-24 bomber crew. I've had this book for years, but only recently sat down and read it cover to cover. Robbie actually personally gave it to my mother after my dad was killed in a car crash. How's that for irony? Surviving 30 missions over Nazi Germany only to be killed by an idiot who can't drive. But I digress... My father never talked much about his time in the war other than vague references. I would always take that to mean that it was no big deal. In my mind, he would fly over to Germany every few days, drop a few bombs, be back in England in time for afternoon tea and crumpets. After reading this book with its extremely intense decriptions of the harrowing experiences of the 445th Bomb Group in the skies over France and Germany, I realize it's nothing short of a miracle that I'm even walking the earth today.

This almost daily and highly detailed account of the crew of the B-24 named Bullet Serenade kept me up past midnight several nights. It's a WWII story but it's also very much a love story of a young man and his new bride separated by a terrible and bloddy war. Robbie's undying love and devotion to her are an inspiration as it keeps him going through his 30 missions. My parents were in an identical situation during that time so Robbie's story is very much that of my father's.

The tales told of others in the 445th are very entertaining as well. Jimmy Stewart (yes that Jimmy Stewart) the squadron was a great guy who was not content to send his guys out on missions while he stayed behind safe at the base. Jimmy went along on some of the most dangerous runs leading his men into battle, much to the chagrin of Air Force Brass. What a loss that would have been if he were shot down and worse captured and used by the Nazi propaganda machine. And there's Dabbs the tail gunner, who's sexual exploits through WWII England warrant a book all by themselves. Dad never mentioned Dabbs.....

After a diligent search in many directions, I finally found this out-of -print book at Amazon and at a reasonably price too.

As a member of the 'X' generation, I never really understood the significance of the sacrifices and experiences that our grandparents endured during World War II. After reading John Robinson's first-hand account of his own experience flying in the army air corps, I have a new respect and appreciation for the Greatest Generation. Having myself served as an airman for three years in the Navy, I could relate to some of Mr. Robinson's unique experiences as an enlisted man in the armed services such as bad food, separation from loved ones and the close bonds developed between crewmates.

This book captures the true meaning of the experience of war that Hollywood has been so far unable to do. An excellent recollection of one man's struggle to stay alive so that he may be united with his "reason to live", this book sends the reader through the entire gamut of human emotions. Thank you, Mr. Robinson for enligtening me to the true meaning of the sacrifices men have made in the name of freedom.

This is a book that shows the sacrifices that were made by the WWII generation to protect the freedoms we share as Americans today. Mr. Robinson gives a unique perspective to the bombing raids over Europe and the great lose of American life. There are numerous books on the market discussing the decision making from the pilot or wing commander's point of view. This perspective comes from an enlisted man, a true "citizen soldier" that was asked by his friends and neighbors to defend the American way of life.

Many times throughout this book, I felt that I was in the plane beside Mr. Robinson and the other crew members as they flew dangerous mission over France and Germany. The vivid recollections and attention to detail makes this a great read for those that enjoy and thrive on WWII history. The writing style and explanation makes this a great read for those all from the WWII historians to the average reader. The personal story of a newly married young man that has to leave his wife and fight in one of the most dangerous spots in WWII will make you want to cry, laugh, leave you on the edge or your seat and never want to put the book down.

This book also offers a special bonus. It gives you a glimpse of the war time service of actor Jimmy Stewart. Stewart had such a private attitude about his war time service that not much was written (or known) about this time in his life. Mr. Robinson shares many Stewart stories that could only be told properly by someone there. This is a book that will hold a special place on my bookshelf.

History sometimes presents us with a calloused, birdseye view of war that never quite seems to hit home with what the actual experience is like. Often neglected is the story of those brave young airmen, sailors, and soldiers that must endure the daily anxiety and consequences of warfare. To learn, feel,and experience the true horrors of war we often must turn to those who write first person accounts of their experiences. John Robinson's book is a classic in the sense that he begins his story when he leaves his young wife and continues his story through gunnery school and his 25 missions with the fledging 445th bomb group. This is not a book about tactics, battles, or leaders, but vividly tells of a young man who performed his duty against overwhelming odds with nothing more than a sense of duty and an understandable love for his beautiful wife who he was committed to returning home to. It's a wonderful, fulfilling story because it not only tells us of John Robinson, but also of every airman who served in the Eighth Air Force. Robinson effectivley provides us with an accurate and honest first hand account of what it was like to serve as a gunner in a B-24. We can feel the tension between missions and his sense of grief as crews are lost. He also gives the reader an understanding of the living condition at Tibenham, England and the special relationship our airmen shared with the English. As someone who had a relative serve with the 445th and was killed in action on the Gotha mission, this book had special significance. Despite this, Robinson's book is very special and should be read by everyone who shares a feeling of pride with those who bravely served in the armed forces.

When I came across River of Souls, I thought, sure, another shoot 'em up instead of car crashes. Blum proved me wrong. His characters came alive in my mind and I began to care about each one. Of course, that Black Demon character felt more like a rattle snake slithering through the open door making me want to pick up my feet. The shifting scenes reminded me of what I knew of the gold fields but gave me so much more of the drama. If only the history text books could be so intense, I wouldn't be learning afresh now at my age. A robust romp through the Southwest that kept me turning the pages.

As readers, we expect many things from a good piece of historical fiction. "River of Souls" by Ivon Blum delivers on most of those expectations.

The subtitle, "A Novel of the American Myth", refers us to that subgenre that deals with the same 19th century West that Horace Greeley had in mind. The novel tells the story of a number of men (and one woman) seeking their fortune and/or deliverance in a rumored or dreamt new environment further west from wherever they began. Blum's selection of his main characters runs just slightly askew of the predictable: a Spanish-American cowboy, two mountain men (one American, the other French-Canadian), an escaped slave, and a coming-of-age girl cast out by her father. All of course have 24-karat hearts.

The author provides just enough nuance to keep these characters from becoming stereotypical. Less successfully drawn are subsidiary characters such as the manipulative banker and the evil sheriff. And don't look here (after a half-hearted attempt in the early chapters) for a sophisticated depiction of American Indians. But in this type of novel we expect history to play the major supporting roles, and in this respect Blum doesn't disappoint. The California Gold Rush, the progression of the Santa Fe Trail, and the nature of the New Mexico territory are prominently cast.

Blum doesn't necessarily deliver historical accuracy. What he does provide is its cousin -- a sense of believability. He has created a fictional universe that seems internally consistent and artfully rendered. It doesn't completely coincide with the myths of the West on which many of us were raised; instead and more importantly, he gives us a world which seems slightly more complicated and therefore considerably more convincing.

But he doesn't do this effortlessly. In his determination to create a novel voice of his own and unique dialects for his characters, the sweat sometimes shows through. Yet, instead of being annoyed, I found myself appreciative of the attempt.

As for the plot itself, it struck me as well-paced and adequately complex. Covering the years 1846 to 1853 and locales from Santa Fe to San Francisco, the chapters are short and forceful, advancing the story-line in mostly unexpected ways. Blum does not always seem in full control of his chronology, but he always manages to steer things back on course before losing the reader. A few story lines are left dangling and the book could use a map or two. But these are minor quibbles, and I'm confident most readers will finish "River of Souls" with satisfaction.

River of Souls transports the reader into the real southwest and uses this as a backdrop for exploring coming of age issues in a turbulent time. None of the western stereotypes exist, so when the reader connects with tangential facts and events, it seems all the more real and satisfying. The historical reality combined with the interpersonal intensity of the characters make this a surprisingly enjoyable read.

Ivon Blum did extensive research for this book, which shows, even while it's an entertaining read. The reason I titled my review as I did is that this book is about love. There's a lot of family love before we get into a romantic interest for Pedro (Pete) Cortez. When we do meet up with Becky, she has been brutalized and is almost dead. Once she regains consciousness, under Pete's care, she's a real little spitfire. Adventure abounds, with Black Hess being the most evil of all characters. Pete searches for and finds gold. A good read and a painless history lesson, take it from a woman and a retired librarian.

This is a man's type of story about very real men living raw outdoor life without apology. The author's vivid desciptions including all five senses made me miss the outdoors and tell us that the author has spent time there and understands the environment as well as the times.

Best historical fiction novel to come along since Eugenia Price and her triologies on the antelbellum South. A historical feast of facts, written with incredible sensitivity and depth, and a story line that is a page turner set in none other than beautiful Savannah and its river reach plantations. Wonderful ! Charles Elliott

This was a compelling historical fiction. The story was captivating and brought the time period to life. I was impressed by the amount of historical detail and by the author's ability to create such engaging characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Savannah or wants to learn about its history.

Savannah Grey by Jim Jordan is a wonderful read. The author has created an exciting storyline with powerful characters all tightly woven into the history of pre-Civil War Savannah, Ga.

The reader becomes emotionally involved with the characters and feels the joy and sorrow of their daily lives while also learning about the life and politics of the time.

Savannah Grey takes you back to one of the most tumultuous times in our country's history and gives you a real glimpse of what life was like during that time.

After reading this book, I felt that I was living in the mid-1800's in Savannah. I walked the streets and around the beautiful squares with the characters in Savannah Grey. Mr. Jordan describes a difficult time in the history of Savannah and leaves the reader guessing as to what the future will bring. His depiction of his characters is realistic--the reader cares about their fate!

Savannah Grey immediately engages the reader's interest and imagination. Because of comprehensive character development, one can rarely separate the fictional from the non-fictional characters in this superlative historical novel. Fortunately, an appendix lists the historic characters by last name, first name, and brief description; however, the excitement is finishing the novel PRIOR TO checking this list!

A particular strength of this novel is the empathetic, balanced perspective--despite the novel's having "Savannah" in the title--between Southern and Northern views. In addition, Jim Jordan's inclusion of architectural details is educational and fascinating. My next visit to Savannah will be with notes gleaned from the book to view with new insight the historic homes and architectural styles as described in Savannah Grey.

A five-star first effort, leaving the reader with eager anticipation and impatience for Jim Jordan's next novel!

First, the author was in my dad's squadron when he was killed in action. But his thoughts about the war while he was a bomber pilot sounded a lot like some of the times that are being saidnow about the current conflicts around the world.

Bert's narrative of the different missions he flew showed the fear or devil may care attitude of other people who also flew bombers during WWII.

Overall.. after 64 years the insite is remarkable.

This is not close to the first review of this book. Read the other listings for much more detail.

I gave the book 5 stars, but it isn't at that level as a piece of literature. However, it is well beyond that level as an artifact of history. As I write this in late 2003, the Denver Post has almost daily obituaries for the WWII generation. Soon they will all be gone. In another 30 years the Vietnam vets, in another 50 the Gulf kids. Each will leave some worthwhile fragments of their experience, this is one of the better ones I've found from the WWII group.

As a Denver kid that had problems with Denver Pub Schools, sat on the bench for high school football, went off to war in Vietnam, flew in the Navy, I found Stiles' book to be a godsend, to understand MY life, and my relationship with my father's generation. Read it because it is a ROUGH manuscript, obviously not well edited, and it is honest, and for any number of reasons, it seems that honesty comes at a premium and probably always has.

The current President, who had the opportunity to really be a combat pilot and did everything he could to avoid it, now poses on flight decks. The current Governor of Colorado, who never did a day in the military, passed out pictures of himself in a flight-suit climbing down from a aircraft wing to associate himself with a strong defense. What a miserable collection of mutts compared to their father's generation.

The remarkable thing about these kids wasn't that they were courageous heroes, but because they weren't and they still got the job done. One bloody, gut-wrenching day at a time. Spin that.

Not much I can add to what others have written about the Big Bird. I first read the book while in college in the late 1960s. Some years later I lent the paperback to a friend and it went up in smoke during a fire. I was stunned and mad because I liked to go back on occasion and read a chapter or two when I felt I needed to read something from Bert. Now, to make a short story long, after years of trying to find another copy, the internet came along and I started to find out about Bert. I began pulling things up and contacting various folks. I came across one fellow and damned if they weren't having a get-together honoring Bert at Colorado College. I was there. It lasted two days and no more than a handful of old folks were in attendence (at the time I was in my mid 50s and I was the second yougest person there). As I was leaving at the end of the remberance a fellow took hold of my arm and asked if I would like to have a stack of books. They were compiled by friends of Bert's some time long after he had died! Of course I accepted them! There were writings ranging back to his high school days in Denver. Some of the stuff is pretty good, some not so good. But, the short stories (sorry, there is no lost novel) I found had a appeal for the time and demonstrated Bert's growth as a writer.

Yes, I too think Bert was on the brink of becoming a well known writer. He did, by the way, write for a magazine in New York. I have the books and I still return to then when I need a good laugh (Bert was quite a wit) or just want to step back into the late 30s or early 40s. There must be 5-6 of these books (private publisher, sorry). The fellow who organized the 'event' is no longer with us as, I would guess, many of the others aren't. My God, most were in their very late 70s or early-mid 80s. Alas the group is leaving us at an astounding rate.

Okay, I'm done now. The book gets 5 stars and I have been able to give you a very brief look at Bert and some of his pals - though not many. Yes, there are other "books" by Bert and you might just get lucky and find some of them.

I first read this book in 1960 and discovered that Bert Stiles was my uncle-Robert Langford's roommate in "Copilot House". I sent my copy to my uncle who subsequently got a copy (long out of print) from the publisher. He said the story was pretty much like things were. He said Bert Stiles always said he was writing a book but then everybody was writing a book. I have my uncle's copy filled with photos of the "Big Bird" full of holes afer Leipzig. The aircraft never flew again. It was repaired and blew up with the sqadron commander and chaplain aboard on it's test flight.

When Bert Stiles wrote this book, the war was still raging across the world. It was 1944, he had just completed a horrific tour of duty as a B17 co-pilot, and the memories were fresh in his mind. Even though Bert seemed to be a somewhat sensitive man, some of his words have a callous feel to them. He talks about the officers and enlisted men forming a baseball team, and "..after the Schweinfurt raid, we had to replace the whole infield"-Simply put, so many men had been killed on that mission, no one was left to play on the team. Bert was an intelligent man, a good writer, but he lacked the experience to know when to back out of the war. Passive, intelligent, creative people do not make good fighter pilots. Bert was killed in action shortly after writing his memoirs.

Shadowstorm is the second book of the Twilight War trilogy. Usually second books are a bit boring or tiresome at times, because they are bridges to the last book and server only to create a climax for the finale of the story.
This is not what goes on in Shadowstorm. Paul Kemp has a good plot and is a wonderful narrator. I've read all his previous books and I think that in each book he becomes better setting higher standards.
Apart from the good plot, Kemp's power is his characters. While in previous books I felt characters a bit cliched at times, the man seems to have spent a lot of time in character building.
The reader gets to know well characters that are almost unimportant and are introduced only to die a couple of pages later. It is a great success that all these people are believable and the reader has the feeling that he knows them.
It's also a great success that in one book the author manages to fit in many different sub-plots and to have many "protagonists" that good or evil are interesting.
A nice plot and story, very good writing, interesting characters. What else does a reader want from a fantasy novel?

Paul Again has created another Novel which is hard to put down. This second Novel is full of fast-paced adventure! Paul S Kemp is one of the BEST Forgotten Realms Authors out there!

I recently started reading Forgotten Realms books again, after taking a break for several years and I must say that thanks to Paul Kemp, I am hooked again. The two trilogies featuring Erevis Cale and friends are some of the best FR material I've ever read. I'm also very impressed with the way Paul interacts with his fans via his blog. You can almost see the creative process at work. I've already pre-ordered Shadowrealm: The Twilight War Book III.

Another great Forbidden Realms trilogy.

Hard to believe that all this can occur though without the attention of Mystra's Chosen One's. I would have thought Elminster would have been all over these Shadovar like a rash.

And at the same time the Spider Queen Lady Penitent trilogy is happening simultaneously.

Can't wait for the final installment!

Shadowstorm reveals why Paul S. Kemp's name is synonymous with the Forgotten Realms. His characters have motivations that any reader can relate to and have shown that shared world fiction is just as poignant and valuable as the latest New York Times Bestseller. His exploration of the anti-hero is something our culture is deeply fascinated with, and Kemp does it well. Erevis Cale is the dark knight of our dreams, powerful and mysterious. Each character's suffering humanizes the sword and sorcery of the setting, and makes the Forgotten Realms a very real place. I highly recommend you read Shadowbred and Shadowstorm, as well as the final book in the series, Shadowrealm.

Fred L. Ray has added a new understanding of the important role of a little-known group of Confederate units that helped make the Army of Northern Virginia the most renowned fighting force of the war. Ray's excellent writing style takes the reader on a fascinating journey, from the development of these sharpshooter units through their important contributions during the war. Ray also does a great job of personalizing the stories of the men who served in these specialized units. This is a very informative and important addition to the library of anyone interested in the Army of Northern Virginia.

I am not an expert on the Civil War, and since I have never studied battles and troop movements, I was unaware of the existence and importance of the Civil War sharpshooter units. It was an eye opener when I read Shock Troops of the Confederacy by Fred L. Ray. This book is a virtual encyclopedia of facts on the formation and activities of the Army of Northern Virginia's sharpshooter battalions.

Public education on the Civil War, at least when I received it, is usually only an overview of the reasons for the war, mentioning the victors of few major battles and something about the commanding officers. So whenever I thought of the war it was in broad terms. Mr. Ray's book brings the war and battles to life and informs us of the highly organized units and tactics that evolved with the formation of the sharpshooter units. I learned how essential these units were in the management of troop movements and protection of those troops.

I have always felt the ideal way to learn about life in another era is to read the words of those who actually lived during that time. Mr. Ray's book delivers on that account with the inclusion of numerous dramatic first-hand accounts and narratives from those on the front lines, the sharpshooter units and the officers. They give the reader a sense of being there. I found the communication and interaction between shooters of opposing armies quite interesting.

The meticulous research and documentation that went into Shock Troops is evident in the detailed notes for each chapter and in the comprehensive bibliography. Mr. Ray must have spent countless hours in libraries and archives digging out unknown and forgotten materials that would make this book such a great read.

In addition, many excellent battle maps are included, making it easy to follow the described troop movements, and as a bonus the book includes a chapter describing the weaponry and types of bullets used in this conflict.

Shock Troops of the Confederacy is a must have for anyone interested in the Civil War, whether a novice or expert historian.

Richard Russell, compiler of Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family and My Dear Father and Mother: The Personal Letters of Livingston N. Clinard

CAN'T WAIT to use the information from the book to actually trace JEB's steps.

Fred Ray was kind enough to send along a review copy of his excellent book Shock Troops of the Confederacy: The Sharpshooter Battalions of the Army of Northern Virginia. Fred is the descendant of one of those sharpshooters, which is what got him interested in the subject.

To be candid, before Fred's book was published, I was not aware that such special duty battalions even existed in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, other than references to Eugene Blackford's sharpshooters in the first day's fighting at Gettysburg. The book has changed that misperception of mine.

Fred Ray has written an exceptional book. It's a comprehensive tour de force of its subject, and one that should probably stand as the definitive word on its subject for a very long time. It's an extremely valuable and useful addition to the existing body of knowledge about the Civil War that was probably long overdue. The book is thoroughly researched and well-written. From my perspective one of the book's best features is the abundance of detailed, useful, and quality maps. Those maps address actions that have not been previously mapped. Fred drew the maps himself, and he did an excellent job it.

Of most value to the book for is its emphasis on the critical role played by the Confederate sharpshooters on many battlefields of the Eastern Theatre of the Civil War. Of particular value to me was the focus on the role played by the Confederate sharpshooters during the fighting for the Jug Bridge during the July 9, 1864 Battle of Monocacy. Before reading Fred's work on the subject, I had never seen any discussion of the role played by the sharpshooters in the fighting for the stone bridge on the National Road. Fred's analysis is detailed and comprehensive, and helps us to fill a big hole in our study of Jubal Early's raid on Washington.

I can't say enough good things about Fred Ray's book and can highly recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the subject. I guarantee you that you will learn something new. I certainly did.

In this thought provoking book, the author starts out with a brief history of light troops followed by the history of the skirmishers of the Army of North Virginia. Although the Union side began the war with more and better light troops, they allowed them atrophy while the Confederates who faced them, learned from them. Innovation in the ANV tended to originate in Ewell's old division, commanded by Rodes. When the war began, the standard system was for each regiment to have one or two light companies sent forward as skirmishers. This had flaws. It was difficult to coordinate between all the companies, with Rodes' bad experience at South Mountain clearly showing the potential result. Soon, he formed for his brigade a special sharpshooter battalion to cover the front, and by the beginning of 1864 this was standard in every brigade in Lee's army. Because Lee's army was decentralized, innovation of this sort was encouraged and could spread. To enter a sharpshooter battalion, high standards of bravery and marksmanship had to be met so that the units did not become a collection of misfits. The men fought as light infantry, not as snipers in the modern sense, and used the best weapons available, including captured repeating rifles. The psychological effect on enemy infantry could be great, knowing that someone who was aimed at would likely be hit. The author's battle descriptions are quite useful. He shows how at Gettysburg Iverson's sharpshooter battalion got diverted into the low ground to face the Union XI Corps, which was threatening the division's flank, but with Iverson's brigade not protected properly, disaster resulted. At North Anna Confederate sharpshooters successfully screened the entrenchments, hiding them from view and allowing the Union army to unknowingly enter a trap. Most of the book covers the Overland Campaign and the '64 Valley and Petersburg campaigns, by which time new assault tactics were being developed to capture enemy pickets or assault earthworks. This, the author argues, shows a link to later infantry tactics developed by the German stormtroopers in World War I.. Unlike many other Civil War historians, the author is broad minded in looking at the broader tactical context - looking to events abroad both before and after the Civil War. The Franco-Prussian War, however, is given little attention. The author's interpretation of the use of Prussian columns differs with Nosworthy's, who believes that skirmishers were the main effort, with the company columns merely supporting them. So the author may over-emphasize the Boer War as a result. This is a minor flaw only; the book gives a good discussion of weapons and their accuracy and flaws as well as a good treatment of range estimation training. The book fills a void and should be a treasured volume to anyone interested in Civil War tactics.

This is the book for you! Pratt's writing draws you in and on even while he provides you with the difficult to read details of battle movements. He also captures the many personalities of the Civil War in a vibrant way including much humor along the way.

I can certainly understand why this is a long standing classic of Civil War history.

Where I thought the book was really outstanding was in the occasional observations about the big picture that the author threw in occasionally. For example, this is the first book where I have read that the North's oft cited advantage in men and machines at the start of the war was not as great as most claim. Also interesting was the observation that it was the battle at Chickamauga that was more important than Gettysburg. Agree or disagree, I really liked these observations when they happened.

What disappointed me was that the battles were dealt with in such a cursory way that they were hard to follow. Probably a necessity when dealing with the entire war in 480 pages. But Gettysburg, for example, took only about 15 pages. It was hard to get a sense of the drama and the personalities involved. Little was mentioned of Stuart's disappearance and late arrival to the battle or of Chamberlains desperate defense and repulse. Also, there were few dates given in the book. If you are already knowledgeable about the Civil War, this may not matter, but if not, it could be a problem... especially since the author sometimes follows one campaign to it's conclusion then backtracks in time to pick up the thread of another campaign.

This book's value, to me, came in those moments where the author put aside simply recounting events and offered up some insights into the bigger picture. I'd recommend this book most to people who know a bit about the war already but want to get some new insights.

This is a very readable, engaging, and concise look at the U.S. Civil war by Fletcher Pratt (1897-1956). This book first arrived in 1935, but don't worry about its antiquity. This is an excellent account of that tragic conflict, and you should enjoy it whether you are a Civil War buff or one with only a casual interest. Pratt concentrates heavily on the major battles and events, and tells the story of this bloody conflict in concise and readable detail. As one who has read superb in-depth accounts of specific campaigns or occurences by James McPherson and Bruce Catton, I'd recommend these two excellent authors for indepth reading. For a solid, concise, general history, Pratt has the ticket.

What can I say about this book? Well, how about in a lifetime of reading many books on the Civil War, both good and great, this one stands head and shoulders above them all. While more ink than the blood that was spilled has been used by many others to explain this terrible war, Pratt managed to capture the essence of the conflict in a short, brilliant book.
Pratt was a military historian of the first rank, but was also known for clever and exciting high fantasy stories. Perhaps it was this versatility that honed his storytelling ability to the sharp edge that we see here. While not missing a single important detail of politics, causes, battles, and personalities, he weaves an engrossing tale from start to finish, and creates a solidly researched history that is also a page-turner. This book is a joy to the student of the Civil War, but also appeals to those with no particular interest in that conflict, solely on the merit of Pratt's tight storytelling.
This book was written in 1935, and much new material on the Civil War has surfaced since then. Others, such as Shelby Foote, Bruce Catton and James McPherson have written much longer and more comprehensive works on the war that are excellent in their own right. Yet this little book still shines out as a gem among them. With its solid scholarship, sharp storytelling, and precise choice of details, it is the first rate Cliff Notes to the Civil War.

Theo Logos

I first read this book when I was about nine years old, having fished it out of my parents' bookcase to while away some idle hours. Eventually, I wore out its fragile binding and was left with a heap of pages until one day, on a visit to Washington DC, I was delighted to find a fresh copy in a second-hand bookstore. To this day, if I crave entertainment and inspiration, I take this book down from the shelf and open it at random. Whatever chapter - paragraph! - I choose is bound to shine.

Just how accurate or balanced Pratt's account of the Civil War is, I do not know. I have not read any other books about it. But he has made Grant, Lee, Lincoln, Stanton, Davis, McLellan, Hooker, Sherman, Sheridan, Bragg, Jackson, Stuart and dozens of others come alive for me.

Aged nine, I did not understand all the long words by any means. (What on earth was the "Dithyramb of Shiva", and what was an "Experiment in Tauromachy"?) But I loved them, and almost always figured out the meaning by the context.

In a way, Pratt made it possible for me to study history at university many years later. He inoculated me against the idea that history has to be boring, because I had such a stunning counter-example at the back of my mind. There are very few books of fiction that I have read that come anywhere near being so entertaining.

Anyone who hasn't read this book really ought to, if they have the slightest interest in military matters and delight in fine writing. Just one tip: if you can get hold of a hardback, it will last longer. The paperback gets fragile after a few readings, and the pages are apt to fall out unless you hold it very carefully.

... The world is diminished by the experience." William Shawcross concludes his excellent book with the previous succinct summation of his 400 plus page indictment of the policies and actions of Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon in regards to Cambodia. Of particular interest is the 50 or so pages of additions at the end, regarding Kissinger's reaction to the book - there is no real rebuttal, or listing of factual errors, it is all classic Kissinger dissembling. Sadly, the book remains achingly relevant today: one of the prime reasons stated for the invasion was to "save the lives of American troops," the same rationale President Obama just used in refusing to release photos of prisoner abuse at Gitmo.

In January, 1994 I walked through S-21, the Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh. Aside from the caretakers, I was the only one there. The exhibits are mainly the haunting pictures of the torture victims. The nightmare of the Cambodian auto-genocide, in which a third of the population died within four years, was finally ended by the Vietnamese invasion in 1979. The agonizing question is why, in two countries with similar experiences in fighting a long war under the bombs, did this happen in Cambodia and not Vietnam. Shawcross gives some of the most likely reasons we'll ever have: "That summer's war provides a lasting image of peasant boys and girls, clad in black, moving slowly through the mud, half-crazed with terror, as fighter bombers tore down at them by day, and night after night whole seas of 750-pound bombs smashed all around (p 298). Even more telling, Shawcross latter says: "All wars are designed to arouse anger, and almost all soldiers are taught to hate and to dehumanize their enemy. Veterans of the combat zone are often possessed of a mad rage to destroy, and to avenge their fallen comrades. It does not always happen, however, that victorious armies have endured such punishment as was inflicted upon the Khmer Rouge. Nor does it always happen that such an immature and tiny force comes to power after its country's social order has been obliterated... then giving power to a little group of zealots sustained by Manichean fear." I remember some who thought of Cambodia, pre-war, as an idyllic paradise, with the priorities in the right place. The author wisely quoted a more cautionary note by quoting a French archaeologist, Bernard-Philippe Groslier: "beneath a carefree surface there slumber savage forces and disconcerting cruelties which may blaze up in outbreaks of passionate brutality."

A much younger and more morally astute Christopher Hitchens wrote an excellent book entitled "The Trial of Henry Kissinger." But it is Shawcross who has compiled the most damning evidence. Kissinger cynically used journalists (who were often all too accommodating) while behind their backs was contemptuous of them. Cambodia was just one of the many pawns on his chessboard. Shawcross reminds the reader of Kissinger's rationale behind his belief that he had the right to overthrown the democratically elected government of Chile: "I don't see why a country should be allowed to go Communist through the irresponsibility of its own people." (p 304). One of the disappoint revelations that Shawcross makes is that Theodore White, whose "Making of the President" books I have always admired considered the invasion of Cambodia to be one of the two major achievements of Nixon's rule. (p 171).

In the "Plus ca change..." category, on how history continues to repeat, consider that the author documents how it was John McCain's father, the Admiral who was Commander in Chief of Pacific forces would give energetic lectures about the "threats" to the United States that members of the press dubbed him the "Big Red Arrow Man." (p 136). General Abrams hyped, like Rumsfeld would a generation latter, that the Vietnamese communists had a headquarters that was a "reinforced concrete bunker, 29 feet underground, that housed about 5,000 officials and technicians. And recently Condi Rice defended George Bush with exactly the same rationale that Nixon told David Frost in an interview: "Well, when the President does it; that means that it is not illegal." (p 159). The "divine right" of Kings lives on!

Overall, Shawcross has written the sine qua non of books on the Cambodia tragedy. It is hard to be `judicious and balanced" when confronted with these events, but the author does provide the essential, measured account. A vital read, for then, and now.

I was living in Cambodia when I came across this book, following the recommendation of one of my English friends. I bought the book, opened it... and could no longer put it down! This book came as a complete eye-opener to me, on both how America had conducted its war across Indochina, but also on how Cambodia's history had/has been so intimately intermixed with Sihanouk's.

If you are into learning the backside of what we could all dub "official history", then this book's for you. You will no longer look at Kissinger, Nixon or Westmoreland with the same candid, obedient and servile eyes after reading it. Packed with previously unheard-of accounts, reports, testimonies, following a clean, highly intelligent argumentation methodology, Sideshow acts as a real bulldozer on the reader, repeatedly confronting him/her with loads of devastating illustrations of unsound decisions, hidden political actions, secret wars of influences etc. It is certainly one of the punchiest, journalism-based historical account I have ever read, whatever the subject.

It shed a completely new and intense light onto the poor -though touching- little country I was living in then, and forever changed the way I looked at politics, diplomacy and intelligence.

Shawcross gets into the minds of Kissinger and Nixon so well. His is a book to be read over and over again to see the working of the U.S. Government and how it can destroy a country. He talks about the 25 pound shark at the bottom of a swimming pool full of children -- and we understand how the USA's leaders destroyed a country. It is a lesson to be learned over and over again as we go about destroying other countries. This is one great read - worthy of the time it takes to understand it. A victory for the author over Mr. Kissinger.

This book has managed to live on, which is perhaps unfortunate - historically speaking, it's far more relevant to contemporary geopolitics than it should be.

In any case, SIDESHOW has managed to stand as one of the better books on Cambodia, and America's involvement in Cambodia (Elizabeth Becker's WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER is a must-read as well). One could debate Shawcross' perspectives, but his research is meticulous and has withstood many attacks, and his depiction of the machiavellian darkness that can creep into foreign policy is chilling and ruthless, and - for better of worse - makes for hypnotic reading, all the more frightening as it's drawn straight from history, research, the Freedom of Information act.

Now more than ever, this is essential reading.

-David Alston

On Junior Day, 2006, I would recommend SIDESHOW by William Shawcross. It contains information about the twentieth century that could be applied to situations that America faces in the world in 2006. The global superpower naturally thinks that everything will be resolved by the application of hyperpower, as Japan suffered a humiliating defeat at the end of World War II when it discovered that the United States was not just fighting a war against Japan, it would nuke their cities to bring about whatever result it wanted. When American troops openly invaded parts of Cambodia, Congress responded by imposing limits which were still in place on April 30, 1973:

"The justification for bombing Cambodia had been to protect Americans in Vietnam. Since October 1970 the Congress had included in every military appropriation bill a proviso expressly forbidding bombing in Cambodia except for that purpose. By the end of March 1973 there were no American troops left in Indochina. Still the bombing of Cambodia increased. The administration now based its case on Article 20 of the Paris Agreement. Rogers now claimed that American withdrawal from Vietnam did not affect the situation in Cambodia, and that Article 20 legalized the bombing `until such time as a ceasefire could be brought into effect.' " (p. 277).

One of the strange things about the invasion of Cambodia was that Nixon made an announcement on April 30, 1970 which attempted to keep all previous secret activities secret:

Ignoring Menu, Nixon began with the lie that the United States had "scrupulously respected" Cambodia's neutrality for the last five years and had not "moved against" the sanctuaries. This falsehood was repeated by Kissinger in his background briefings to the press. That same evening he told reporters that the Communists had been using Cambodia for five years but, "As long as Sihanouk was in power in Cambodia we had to weigh the benefits in long-range historical terms of Cambodian neutrality as against any temporary military advantages and we made no efforts during the first fifteen months of this administration to move against the sanctuary." The next day he said of Sihanouk's rule, "We had no incentive to change it. We made no effort to change it. We were surprised by the development. One reason why we showed such great restraint against the base areas was in order not to change this situation." (p. 146).
In his announcement of the invasion, Nixon stated that his action was taken "not for the purpose of expanding the war into Cambodia, but for the purpose of ending the war in Vietnam"; he would give aid to Cambodia, but only to enable it "to defend its neutrality and not for the purpose of making it an active belligerent on one side or the other." (p. 146).

Currently Iran has a militia of five million, and if Iran were to officially enter a war in Iraq as a result of bombings by Israel, as urged by Vice President Cheney, to remove Iran's nuclear capabilities, even if a bomb based on plans provided by the CIA wouldn't work, Iran has other ways it could strike back. Being subatomic is very much like Cambodia was in 1970, but we shall soon see what issues are about to be submitted to the UN security council, and if it helps or hurts. A blockade created by Iran so American supplies might have more trouble reaching Kuwait and Iraq; oil exports from the region could end; American dollars could fall; the interest on bonds could rise so high that the U.S. government couldn't balance a budget; and some of the world's banks might then be alarmed.

SIDESHOW by William Shawcross is the only book I have in which I can look up Lon Nil in the index. Lon Nil might well be Cambodia's forgotten man. His brother, Lon Nol, declared himself Chief of State as well as Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces when he dissolved the Assembly in October 1971 and assumed emergency rule. (p. 229). In December 1971, an American psychiatrist in the U.S. Army found "his close associates indicate his mental faculties have deteriorated markedly as a result of his February 1971 stroke" (p. 208). On April 1, 1975, at the urging of his brother Lon Non, Lon Nol took half a million dollars and moved to Hawaii. (pp. 357-358). But for me, the best picture of events in Cambodia is the final page of Chapter 8, The Coup, in March 1970, when Lon Nol overthrew Sihanouk, using the hostility of the urban elite and military officers to Sihanouk to justify a power grab by a former Minister of Defense who "had been the principal scourge of the Vietnamese Communists while privately profiting from the thriving covert business that they brought through Sihanoukville." (p. 113). Sihanouk responded by forming a government recognized by Peking on May 5, 1970, shortly after the American invasion announced by Nixon. Sihanouk had flown from Moscow to China on March 18, 1970, but Lon Nil was still in Cambodia:

Rioting broke out in several provinces; opposition was strongest in the market town of Kompong Cham, Cambodia's second city, fifty miles northeast of Phnom Penh. After Sihanouk's radio broadcast, the town filled with peasants, fishermen and rice farmers from the neighborhood. The townspeople refused the government's orders to remove the Prince's portrait, and they burned down the house of the new governor whom Lon Nol had appointed. Demonstrators gathered in buses and trucks to march on Phnom Penh. They were halted by an army roadblock, and after that . . . About ninety people were killed or wounded. (pp. 126-127).

The most vivid display of anger against Lon Nol occurred, again in Kompong Cham, when peasants seized his brother Lon Nil, killed him and tore his liver from his stomach. The trophy was taken into a Chinese restaurant, where the owner was ordered to cook and slice it. Morsels were handed to everyone in the streets around. (p. 127).

What does it mean to be at war, to be a man, to be an average Joe, to be a hero, to see war's horror, to see its tragedy, to learn to do what must be done to survive? One of the best, if not the best novel to come out of the World War II experience, Irwin Shaw's, The Young Lions tells the intertwined war stories of three compelling characters, one, Michael Whitacre, a Broadway showman and partying type who comes into the war late, and takes a position as journalist assistant, driving behind and eventually up to the active front lines, alternatively wishing for safety and wondering what it is like to fight, wanting to see some military action, and finally seeing more than enough; a second man, Noah Ackerman, also an American, a Jew who is discriminated against even in attempting to bury his father, a man whose only friend is killed in the Solomon Islands, a man who, although her Waspish father initially disapproves, marries a young woman and fathers a child, only to be subsequently drafted and suffer abuse throughout basic training before learning bravery and military smarts while fighting in Europe; and a third man, Christian Diestl, an Austrian ski instructor before the war, who enters the military with high hopes for Nazi Germany, only to have his illusions shattered in the process of surviving battles in Africa, Italy, France and Germany, growing smart enough to survive and fight but losing all claim to humanity in the process.

The book is a bit long for the contemporary reader, nevertheless, after the opening chapters it moves with relentless speed towards the inevitable meeting up of the three soldiers in its final pages. Shaw uses the circumstances of his characters to comment on contemporary social conditions. Some might be put off by these observations, but I found them appropriately interesting.

For many people, especially Americans, there is an unrealistic, idealistic, almost worshipful view of who soldiers are and how they behave in a military environment. Some of the very realistic incidents in this book might dispel such naïveté.

Who should read this book? If you're looking for a good World War II story, well told, or if you are interested in what it is like to be at war in the military, this is the book for you.

It almost seems presumptuous to review a book that is over 50 years old. However, though Irwin Shaw's writing may seem rather moody and shadowed for readers educated in an Internet Age, "The Young Lions" is rightfully considered a classic of 20th Century literature -- and in my view, for good reason. It speaks to the realities of the emotions, motivations and unconsidered acts of common men and women living out their lives - and dying - in the terror and alternating boredom of war. It is considered widely by critics to be the "benchmark" against which all other novels of World War II are compared. At least for me, that designation is justified.

Perhaps unlike any other novel of World War II, this book paints an interior portrait of imperfect human beings caught up in the horrible fantasies that begin and end our wars. The novel shows the reader the raw stuff of their disillusionment with the noble lies that we tell ourselves when we begin such conflicts -- and sometimes after they are done. It does not romanticize war, patriotism, heroics or those who fight on any side. This is a novel that may change your perceptions of conflict and of humanity. Even if you are young enough to be impatient with nuance or bored with waiting for answers from your author, this is a book that will "get to you" if you dare to stick with it to the end. And it may change you as a human being.

Highly recommended.

This is truly one of the great novels dealing with World War Two. Throughout, the novel switches perspectives from that of a German lieutnant to an American private. The story begins shortly before the outbreak of war, and continues until the war's ending.

Irwin Shaw seems to capture the flavor of both the American and German armies, and what the attitudes and perspectives of their soldiers might have been like. One thing that Shaw cannot be criticized for is soft-peddling the crimes of the German Army. One of the things the reader will see is the slow descent of the German protagonist from an essentially good man to a thorough skunk. Personally, I thought Shaw might have overdone it a little bit (just my opinion). To clarify: I thought it might have been more effective to show the German soldier as a basically good man caught up in an organization committing wrongful deeds. Instead, Shaw chose to have the character himself become evil. Well, that's the author's choice to make, and Shaw certainly tells a compelling story.

This is an engaging story that has a strong authentic feel to it. I found it to be a rich reading experience and this is one of the truly great stories of World War II.

Characters are often interchangeable in war novels. This is true even in the works of some of the best novelists of the WWII era; including Mailer (Naked and the Dead), Wouk (The Cain Mutiny) and even James Jones (The Thin Red Line). Shaw is able to portray soldiers as true individuals fighting to remain individuals in the framework of the military and a world war. While this novel covers much in the way of history and geography, it is really the story of three very-real and independent men who live in a world that does not value independence.

I have never been presented with a better view of World War II. Usually, I get the point of view of a U.S. soldier in France, pushing against the Panzers. Never have I had the opportunity to see the war through Nazi eyes, or even Jewish eyes. Seeing that our enemy was just a kid, concerned with nothing more than his own well-being. Seeing the German Army as a unit just as dysfunctional as the U.S. army is usually portrayed was absolutely beneficial, as was the presentation of Christian's hesitation in turning a Jew in, but does anyway, just out of duty. The perspectives is the first of two standout characteristics of The Young Lions. The second is the way Shaw manipulates the characters to manifest them into believable, tangible people, to which everyone can relate. Even the Nazi, usually hated by Americans, is portrayed realistically and humanly, instead of in the more typical animalistic, murderous way.