Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Tim Haslam on November 18, 2019, 01:43:19 PM
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I’ve finished reading all Simon Scarrows novels on Ancient Rome with Macro and Cato the centurions. This is the third time I’ve read them all, love ‘em.
Got me wondering is there any similar gung ho type of semi historical WWII novels around?
Nothing too serious, but keeping to the historical background enough to keep it real.
Thanks in advance.
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Cant think of any except for the likes of Guns of Navarone, Cross of Iron that kind of thing.
A search through your Amazon "recommended for you" list might turn something up.
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I used to enjoy the Leo Kessler books.
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Coward at the bridge https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/5388226/Who-is-Lieutenant-Dick-Coward-of-Coward-at-the-Bridge.html I really enjoyed it, think there's a D Day one as well.
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The master himself, Sven Hassel. Might be true, might not (Father Christmas vouches for him) but enjoyable none the less 8)
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I'd say Sven Hassel.I had to read a couple for a Wargames Illustrated commission .
Not strictly pc these day's but a reasonable read(mind you I read books like Captain Stairlight and the Eather flyer, and When world's collide. Just to get a period feel for my Pulp stuff..)
Infact they provided a little risky for release compaired to the Laurence of Arabia motorcycle figure I did.
I'm quite intrigued my self as to wether there's a decent contemporary book series .As most on topic books these days tend to deal with trials and tribulations of those caught up by conflict .
I suppose you could always just pick up the Commando comic for some inspiration. ::)
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Sven Hassel! Now there is a blast from the past.
I’m sure I read his stuff way back in the non politically correct days.
Plus, I’m going to seem dumb here, but I never knew that The Guns of Navarone was an actual book :o
Seen the film a bazillion times though!
A good list. Thanks chaps.
Off to bag some bad guys now!
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I enjoyed the Jack Tanner series of novels by James Holland
The Odin Mission: A Jack Tanner Adventure https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0552157368/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RsU0DbGJ81AKZ
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I see I've just been pre-empted, but I hate to waste time-consuming research.
The historian James Holland has - as you now know - written a series of novels about a British sergeant called Jack Tanner. The first is The Odin Mission, which is set in Norway in 1940.
SPOILER ALERT
Tanner survives the Norway débâcle to survive the Dunkirk débâcle, the Crete débâcle, and better fortunes in North Africa and Sicily. Future plans unknown, but I suspect the beaches of Normandy beckon. Tanner somehow sits out the Battle of Britain, but never fear, a young Spitfire pilot called Archie is the hero of Duty Calls: Battle of Britain. That one's published by Puffin, so is presumably aimed at younger readers.
I now have to confess that I haven't read any of them, but note that one Amazon review of a Tanner book states "Holland blends his historical knowledge and expertise with the joyful exuberance of the old Commando comics", which sounds like the kind of thing you're looking for.
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Sven, yes, but going even further back (though still available in WH Smiths)
the Commando (A5 size) comic books. I used to love them before I ever
even heard of Wargames.
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How about Bolt Action?
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Very funny, yes I play bolt action.
But at least I have a smile on my face!
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Just had a look and here's the D Day one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Beach-Dick-1/dp/0747592748/ref=sr_1_1?crid=95A3GTXPMA1S&keywords=coward+on+the+beach&qid=1574115906&sprefix=Coward%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-1
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The Dick Coward books are funny and very good. Regarding films and books, just read 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'...
thought provoking and vastly different from the film.
:)
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How about Bolt Action?
Nah, too fantasy. He said he wanted some plausible historical background ;D
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Very funny, yes I play bolt action.
But at least I have a smile on my face!
Sorry, but I couldn't resist it. I personally have nothing against BA, but then I've never played it. I also have a great deal of admiration for people who own up to enjoying it. Damn...I'm stopping there.
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Reference to Commando comics made me remember this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Stories-Vol-1-Tp-Avatar/dp/1592912389/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Garth+Ennis+War+stories&qid=1574186257&s=books&sr=1-2
which was partly inspired by them and others of their ilk. The author has also written other WWII-set series, which you will see suggested on the Amazon page. Good stuff.
BTW, you do know, I suppose, that there are ways of putting a smile on your face which don't entail losing your public credibility? (I must assume your self respect went missing some time ago.)
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It turns out Mr Ennis has been even more productive in WW2 storytelling than I thought. There are, for example, two volumes of a World of Tanks spin-off:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Tanks-Ennis/dp/1506700608/ref=pd_sbs_14_2/260-4256897-3019523?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1506700608&pd_rd_r=2a86c0b8-df16-436a-a604-d42b68e2f157&pd_rd_w=4mzo7&pd_rd_wg=sDOuZ&pf_rd_p=cc188cba-1892-42b3-956f-6c67d0ab7a00&pf_rd_r=P5P4874E7TXD38Z9ZX1N&psc=1&refRID=P5P4874E7TXD38Z9ZX1N
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I didn’t feel that I needed to attend Bolt Action Anonymous just yet, but now I’m starting to re consider?
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Tim: " ...but I never knew that The Guns of Navarone was an actual book"
Yup, Alistair Maclean, one of my favorite authors as a young 'un. There was a sequel called Force 10 from Navarone, as well - our heroes are parachuted into Yugoslavia to help the partisans. Other Maclean novels set in WWII were Where Eagles Dare, H.M.S. Ulysses, and South by Java Head.
Just ordered the first Coward book to give it a try. Fun thread!
-Michael
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James Barrington has a series of three books so far featuring a character calked Eddie Dawson. To do or die, Right and Glory and Operation XD, set at the outbreak of the war up to Dunkirk. Some great scenario ideas up to platoon level IMHO.
JB
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I used to enjoy the Leo Kessler books.
That was Charles Whiting’s pseudonym for his WWII fiction. I always thought it was an excellent marketing ploy to use a German name with that subliminal ‘SS’ in the middle of the surname.
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I recently revisited my childhood and bought the compendium of King of the Commandos books by Capt W E Johns, he of Biggles fame, off Amazon. I hadn't seen them in over 45 years. Whilst they do sometimes veer slightly towards the ridiculous they are still a good light hearted read and brought nostalgic memories flooding back..
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Oh, yes, I forgot the Garth Ennis/WOT series (Im too highbrow, obviously), they are very good - especially the Kursk set. There's also a separate series about a Sherman crew as well as a WOT Normandy set. They're all good though!
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Raymond Foxall's - Amateur Commandos. A true story so amazingly daft and brave that it feels more like a lost script for Dad's Army.
Two Army dental core soldiers who go awol to mount their own commando raid to occupied France.
The mad thing is it was successful. By sheer chance they became the diversion to a full commando raid on a radar station with out each party ever knowing the other was there.
It was made into a tv movie around 2002- 2003 called 'Two men went to War'(worth a peak if you camt find the book.)
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Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy; humour,sadness,and a vivid description of the last days on Crete (he was there). Some may say it's highbrow, it's not. A brilliant read.
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I didn’t feel that I needed to attend Bolt Action Anonymous just yet, but now I’m starting to re consider?
I'm not familiar with your specific brand of pain, but I assure you I feel it. If BAA doesn't assuage it sufficiently, I'd like you to know there are people out there with the requisite compassion, people skills, and training to make you feel like a worthwhile human being (though I won't lie: it will take a lot of persistence on both sides). Link below:
https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/