What book(s) are you reading currently? - Page 207

**rosestone** · May 18th, 2017, 09:35 AM

The Crimean War, by Hugh Small.

**Clouddancer** · May 20th, 2017, 09:36 AM

Just finished re-reading "Scoop" by Evelyn Waugh a comic novel & brilliant satire on Fleet Street and all its machinations to satisfy the prurience of its readership.

Am about to start "Cathedral" by Nelson DeMille the plot involves a splinter group of the IRA calling themselves The Fenians who capture St Patrick´s Cathedral in New York on St Patrick´s day. A little bit of escapism! before next up:-

The Surrender of Singapore by Stephen Winn.
Until the late 1930s, Singapore was noted as a popular stop-off point for wealthy European travellers on their way to countries such as Australia and New Zealand. All of that changed with the outbreak of the Second World War.
Despite Major-General William Dobbie, the General Officer Commanding Malaya between 8 November 1935 and August 1939, warning that Singapore could be conquered by the Japanese, his concerns went unheeded. As far as the British authorities were concerned, Singapore was an impregnable fortress.
There were many reasons which led to the fall of Singapore. The apparent arrogance of some senior British military personnel and politicians; a misconception that Japanese soldiers were inferior to their American and Commonwealth counterparts; a belief that Japan would not militarily engage both America and Britain at the same time; and that as far as the Allies were concerned, victory in Europe was a priority over defeating the Japanese throughout Asia.

**Baresfan** · May 20th, 2017, 04:39 PM

I just finished "Golden Prey" by John Sanford - a real page turner. https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Prey-J.../dp/0399184570

Before that was "Real Tigers" by Mick Herron from the Slough House series of MI-5 castoffs. https://www.amazon.com/Real-Tigers-S.../dp/1616956127

Just starting "Black Noon" about the fatal crash at the Indianapolis 500 that stopped the race. https://www.amazon.com/Black-Noon-Ye.../dp/1250075122

**73north** · May 21st, 2017, 12:07 PM

In the 1980's the children's Sci Fi comic 2000AD created a strip called 'Rogue Trooper'. Set on the war torn planet of Nu-Earth a genetically engineered super soldier fights in a war between the 'Southers' (Americans) and Norts (First written during the cold war, when the Soviet Union was perceived as the main threat to world peace and the second world war was in living memory, the Norts were generally a combination of the worst of Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia - with liberal German and Soviet references in their culture and military organisations).

Thirty years on, 2000AD has grown up with it's readers and now writes adult science fiction in these established universes.

Superb View of Nordland and Atalia Jaegeir's experiences - this is really recommended , great art-work and nice story telling - another bonus is that this brings you bang-up to date with the Story so far
The eponymous protagonist of the 2000 AD strip Jaegir is Kapiten-Inspector Atalia Jaegir, a veteran of the war between the Norts and the Southers on Nu Earth. Her father, Marshal-Minister Josef Jaegir, was one of Nordland's most respected military leaders. Her mother, however, was a Souther who was executed by the Nords. They put her in a gas chamber and filled it with Zyclops-D (reminiscent of Zyklon B, used by the Nazis in the Holocaust), a virus that ate her alive from the inside.

Now an officer of the Nordland State Security Police, working for the Office of Public Truth, Jaegir is tasked with hunting down war criminals who have so far escaped justice. When they evade the legal system, she discreetly kills them. Other threats, however, are harder to eliminate, such as genetic flaws in Nort soldiers that turn them into monsters, or a poison that has much the same effect. Aided by her loyal team — Klaur, Reesa and Heize — Jaegir must face all the terrors lurking in Nordland's shadows while trying to balance her duty with her conscience.

I was lucky last year to get this copy I scanned autographed by Gordon Rennie in Edinburgh Comic Con , then this year in February ,
from Simon Coleby in person , I also bought 2 pages of original artwork that was used in the comic ( 1 is now framed and on my wall )

I would highly recommend this if you fancy something different to
Marvel or DC Comics - especially if you are American

**73north** · May 21st, 2017, 12:19 PM

The Unsung Minesweeping Heroes of the Royal Navy in WW2 !
This is a very readable book on the Royal navy's Minesweepers -
"Out Sweeps" by Paul Lund and Harry Ludlam.
This is the best book on this subject and it is written as narrative formed of recollections of minesweeper officers and men.
These un-sung men had genuine guts and bravery to do this job , day in , day out - my admiration grew hugely after reading this book !

Sweeping for contact mines was by the Orepesa or Double O sweep. This comprises a serrated wire cable, where one strand was twisted in the opposite direction to the others to give a rough, cutting surface. At the tail was an Otter, a metal device to make the sweep wire run out at an angle horizontally. This was suspended from a paravane float by a pendant to ensure the otter ran at a fixed depth. At the end nearest the ship was a kite, that worked like child's toy but the other way, it went down rather than up. This depressed the leading end of the sweep so it all ran at a constant depth.
Usually a formation of sweepers would work in echelon, each just inside the paravane of the one in front and in theory protected by its sweep. Thus the lead ship was the most vulnerable.

**73north** · May 21st, 2017, 12:27 PM

Trawlers Go to War
A history of the Royal Naval Patrol Service which operated hundreds of trawlers, both requisitioned and purpose built, as anti submarine escorts and minesweepers in World War Two.

This is a rare book , that you ' can't put down ' , it also details the fact that the peace-time Merchant Trawlers that were requisitioned for service in September 1939 - filled a vital role , and had to sail in all weathers with very poor defence against submarine U-Boats and enemy aircraft .
This was due to pre-war neglect and parsimony of the British Governments from 1931-1939 , and the appeasement policies by Neville Chamberlain - This meant that there was a total lack of suitable escorts for Convoys -
these small ships had to fill the gap or we would have been starved into defeat !
Coastal Command, the RAF's maritime wing, had only short range aircraft, mainly for reconnaissance and the introduction by the Germans of magnetic mines found the Royal Navy only equipped to sweep moored contact mines , therefore Trawlers had to be used to try to destroy this menace . Mr Lund and Ludlam write with genuine admiration of these unsung heroes !
Highly recommended!

**ultimatewarlord** · May 21st, 2017, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baresfan

I just finished "Golden Prey" by John Sanford - a real page turner. https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Prey-J.../dp/0399184570

Before that was "Real Tigers" by Mick Herron from the Slough House series of MI-5 castoffs. https://www.amazon.com/Real-Tigers-S.../dp/1616956127

Just starting "Black Noon" about the fatal crash at the Indianapolis 500 that stopped the race. https://www.amazon.com/Black-Noon-Ye.../dp/1250075122

I like the fact that someone is reading an actual novel and love the fact that you read John Sandford, whose Davenport stories are my favourite reading. Sure, I'll highlight the fact that I'm reading The Church of Fear by John Sweeney when I start it, in the hope of coming across as having an inquiring mind. But I'm mainly going through the likes of Stuart MacBride, Brian Freeman, Craig Russell and the newly discovered David Ellis before I pick up the last eight or so Stephen White books I haven't yet read.

**maildude** · May 21st, 2017, 01:16 PM

The great Apache chief Cochise...his history and it's impact on the Indian Wars and Westward Expansion.

**KissArmy** · May 24th, 2017, 12:17 PM

Twisted Justice: The Sinkhole Murders. A "true crime" novel based on crimes that happened in my area of the country. In this book, two young cub reporters discover the link between an aborted drug smuggling and four murder victims, shot execution-style, whose bodies were pulled out a sinkhole miles away and months later. The reporters then discover that justice is being "twisted" in the case by corrupt prosecutors, sleazy lawyers, and lying government agencies. The reporters try to prevent most of the criminals evading justice and try to prevent one low-level defendant being convicted for the murders he didn't commit.

This book could have been better had it stuck to the facts more and just told the true story. To include all the names found in the public record on this case. Instead, the author spends way too much time on the two reporters talking between themselves. The ease of access that these two young cubs have to sources and records also seems unlikely.

**73north** · May 26th, 2017, 10:47 AM

Night Of The U-Boats
This is simply a superb story of the men who sailed in Convoy SC7 - and suffered in the first major night assault by a surfaced 'wolf-pack' of U-boats during the Second World War - and it gives the full background details of the ships that sailed in the convoy , and of its 3 escorts ,which were 2 sloops , HMS Scarborough and Fowey and a single Flower Class Corvette , HMS Bluebell -
During the ensuing battle, the escort was completely overwhelmed and 20 of the 35 cargo vessels were sunk and 2 more damaged, with 141 lives lost. The disastrous outcome of the convoy demonstrated the German submarines' potential of being able to work more efficiently using wolf-pack tactics and the inadequacy of British anti-submarine tactics at the time .

This paperback is very Highly recommended !

May 20th, 2017, 09:36 AM	#2062
Clouddancer Vintage Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Spain - Costa Blanca Posts: 811 Thanks: 10,238 Thanked 11,624 Times in 809 Posts	Just finished re-reading "Scoop" by Evelyn Waugh a comic novel & brilliant satire on Fleet Street and all its machinations to satisfy the prurience of its readership. Am about to start "Cathedral" by Nelson DeMille the plot involves a splinter group of the IRA calling themselves The Fenians who capture St Patrick´s Cathedral in New York on St Patrick´s day. A little bit of escapism! before next up:- The Surrender of Singapore by Stephen Winn. Until the late 1930s, Singapore was noted as a popular stop-off point for wealthy European travellers on their way to countries such as Australia and New Zealand. All of that changed with the outbreak of the Second World War. Despite Major-General William Dobbie, the General Officer Commanding Malaya between 8 November 1935 and August 1939, warning that Singapore could be conquered by the Japanese, his concerns went unheeded. As far as the British authorities were concerned, Singapore was an impregnable fortress. There were many reasons which led to the fall of Singapore. The apparent arrogance of some senior British military personnel and politicians; a misconception that Japanese soldiers were inferior to their American and Commonwealth counterparts; a belief that Japan would not militarily engage both America and Britain at the same time; and that as far as the Allies were concerned, victory in Europe was a priority over defeating the Japanese throughout Asia. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.

May 21st, 2017, 12:07 PM	#2064
73north Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 16,324 Thanked 39,351 Times in 1,847 Posts	Jaegir In the 1980's the children's Sci Fi comic 2000AD created a strip called 'Rogue Trooper'. Set on the war torn planet of Nu-Earth a genetically engineered super soldier fights in a war between the 'Southers' (Americans) and Norts (First written during the cold war, when the Soviet Union was perceived as the main threat to world peace and the second world war was in living memory, the Norts were generally a combination of the worst of Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia - with liberal German and Soviet references in their culture and military organisations). Thirty years on, 2000AD has grown up with it's readers and now writes adult science fiction in these established universes. Superb View of Nordland and Atalia Jaegeir's experiences - this is really recommended , great art-work and nice story telling - another bonus is that this brings you bang-up to date with the Story so far The eponymous protagonist of the 2000 AD strip Jaegir is Kapiten-Inspector Atalia Jaegir, a veteran of the war between the Norts and the Southers on Nu Earth. Her father, Marshal-Minister Josef Jaegir, was one of Nordland's most respected military leaders. Her mother, however, was a Souther who was executed by the Nords. They put her in a gas chamber and filled it with Zyclops-D (reminiscent of Zyklon B, used by the Nazis in the Holocaust), a virus that ate her alive from the inside. Now an officer of the Nordland State Security Police, working for the Office of Public Truth, Jaegir is tasked with hunting down war criminals who have so far escaped justice. When they evade the legal system, she discreetly kills them. Other threats, however, are harder to eliminate, such as genetic flaws in Nort soldiers that turn them into monsters, or a poison that has much the same effect. Aided by her loyal team — Klaur, Reesa and Heize — Jaegir must face all the terrors lurking in Nordland's shadows while trying to balance her duty with her conscience. I was lucky last year to get this copy I scanned autographed by Gordon Rennie in Edinburgh Comic Con , then this year in February , from Simon Coleby in person , I also bought 2 pages of original artwork that was used in the comic ( 1 is now framed and on my wall ) I would highly recommend this if you fancy something different to Marvel or DC Comics - especially if you are American

May 21st, 2017, 12:19 PM	#2065
73north Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 16,324 Thanked 39,351 Times in 1,847 Posts	The Unsung Minesweeping Heroes of the Royal Navy in WW2 ! The Unsung Minesweeping Heroes of the Royal Navy in WW2 ! This is a very readable book on the Royal navy's Minesweepers - "Out Sweeps" by Paul Lund and Harry Ludlam. This is the best book on this subject and it is written as narrative formed of recollections of minesweeper officers and men. These un-sung men had genuine guts and bravery to do this job , day in , day out - my admiration grew hugely after reading this book ! Sweeping for contact mines was by the Orepesa or Double O sweep. This comprises a serrated wire cable, where one strand was twisted in the opposite direction to the others to give a rough, cutting surface. At the tail was an Otter, a metal device to make the sweep wire run out at an angle horizontally. This was suspended from a paravane float by a pendant to ensure the otter ran at a fixed depth. At the end nearest the ship was a kite, that worked like child's toy but the other way, it went down rather than up. This depressed the leading end of the sweep so it all ran at a constant depth. Usually a formation of sweepers would work in echelon, each just inside the paravane of the one in front and in theory protected by its sweep. Thus the lead ship was the most vulnerable.

May 21st, 2017, 12:27 PM	#2066
73north Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 16,324 Thanked 39,351 Times in 1,847 Posts	Trawlers Go to War Trawlers Go to War A history of the Royal Naval Patrol Service which operated hundreds of trawlers, both requisitioned and purpose built, as anti submarine escorts and minesweepers in World War Two. This is a rare book , that you ' can't put down ' , it also details the fact that the peace-time Merchant Trawlers that were requisitioned for service in September 1939 - filled a vital role , and had to sail in all weathers with very poor defence against submarine U-Boats and enemy aircraft . This was due to pre-war neglect and parsimony of the British Governments from 1931-1939 , and the appeasement policies by Neville Chamberlain - This meant that there was a total lack of suitable escorts for Convoys - these small ships had to fill the gap or we would have been starved into defeat ! Coastal Command, the RAF's maritime wing, had only short range aircraft, mainly for reconnaissance and the introduction by the Germans of magnetic mines found the Royal Navy only equipped to sweep moored contact mines , therefore Trawlers had to be used to try to destroy this menace . Mr Lund and Ludlam write with genuine admiration of these unsung heroes ! Highly recommended!

May 21st, 2017, 01:16 PM	#2068
maildude Vintage Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In postal purgatory Posts: 760 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 14,112 Times in 748 Posts	The great Apache chief Cochise...his history and it's impact on the Indian Wars and Westward Expansion. __________________ LET FREEDOM WAIT

May 18th, 2017, 09:35 AM	#2061
rosestone Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 2,256 Thanks: 79,772 Thanked 37,954 Times in 2,261 Posts	The Crimean War, by Hugh Small.

May 20th, 2017, 04:39 PM	#2063
Baresfan Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,060 Thanks: 2,313 Thanked 14,183 Times in 1,013 Posts	I just finished "Golden Prey" by John Sanford - a real page turner. https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Prey-J.../dp/0399184570 Before that was "Real Tigers" by Mick Herron from the Slough House series of MI-5 castoffs. https://www.amazon.com/Real-Tigers-S.../dp/1616956127 Just starting "Black Noon" about the fatal crash at the Indianapolis 500 that stopped the race. https://www.amazon.com/Black-Noon-Ye.../dp/1250075122

May 24th, 2017, 12:17 PM	#2069
KissArmy Vintage Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,125 Thanks: 21,124 Thanked 12,372 Times in 1,106 Posts	Twisted Justice: The Sinkhole Murders. A "true crime" novel based on crimes that happened in my area of the country. In this book, two young cub reporters discover the link between an aborted drug smuggling and four murder victims, shot execution-style, whose bodies were pulled out a sinkhole miles away and months later. The reporters then discover that justice is being "twisted" in the case by corrupt prosecutors, sleazy lawyers, and lying government agencies. The reporters try to prevent most of the criminals evading justice and try to prevent one low-level defendant being convicted for the murders he didn't commit. This book could have been better had it stuck to the facts more and just told the true story. To include all the names found in the public record on this case. Instead, the author spends way too much time on the two reporters talking between themselves. The ease of access that these two young cubs have to sources and records also seems unlikely.

May 26th, 2017, 10:47 AM	#2070
73north Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 16,324 Thanked 39,351 Times in 1,847 Posts	Night Of The U-Boats Night Of The U-Boats This is simply a superb story of the men who sailed in Convoy SC7 - and suffered in the first major night assault by a surfaced 'wolf-pack' of U-boats during the Second World War - and it gives the full background details of the ships that sailed in the convoy , and of its 3 escorts ,which were 2 sloops , HMS Scarborough and Fowey and a single Flower Class Corvette , HMS Bluebell - During the ensuing battle, the escort was completely overwhelmed and 20 of the 35 cargo vessels were sunk and 2 more damaged, with 141 lives lost. The disastrous outcome of the convoy demonstrated the German submarines' potential of being able to work more efficiently using wolf-pack tactics and the inadequacy of British anti-submarine tactics at the time . This paperback is very Highly recommended !