Latest book received

[Plynkes]

Just got this:

Very snazzy compared with the old Chris Peers rules I have, with their ring-bound and single-page printing amateur stylings. In glossy colour on every single page, with lots of eye-candy too. Looks like they're trying to compete with Warhammer Historical here.

Quite a thin book, though. Haven't had a good read yet (it only just got here), but it appears to be built around the core rules of the old "At Close Quarters" set, which was a game I enjoyed, even though I only played it a few times.

I look forward to trying it out some time soon.

[Doomhippie]

You know I always wonder why are there thousands of rules for Infantry combat around but I've never heard of a set of rules that puts tanks in the middle of their attention. For me tanks are THE waepon of WW II (yeah, I'm German - so what?). Oh, wrong threat, I'm afraid. Sorry for that.

[Will Bailie]

Lately, I have been enjoying reading Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin series.  I started by accident when I picked up a copy of The Turkish Gambit in the English language bookstore in Lima (of all places!).  The Turkish Gambit in particular will be of interest to LAF members, as it is a spy story that takes place in 1877 in the middle of the Russo-Turkish War (especially as the action starts with heroic Russian cavalry rescuing our heroes from dastardly bashi-bazouks!).

Other books in the series have an almost VS quality to them as Randorin is riding the edge of new technologies.  All loads o' fun.

I've read on the interweb thingie that Fandorin even has a series of movies, and that they break all sorts of box office records in Russia.  Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much chance of seeing any of them here! 



I've also been dabbling a bit with el Capitan Alatriste, but again not much chance of seeing his movie here either!

[argsilverson]

Lately, I have been enjoying reading Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin series.  I started by accident when I picked up a copy of The Turkish Gambit in the English language bookstore in Lima (of all places!).  The Turkish Gambit in particular will be of interest to LAF members, as it is a spy story that takes place in 1877 in the middle of the Russo-Turkish War (especially as the action starts with heroic Russian cavalry rescuing our heroes from dastardly bashi-bazouks!).

Other books in the series have an almost VS quality to them as Randorin is riding the edge of new technologies.  All loads o' fun.

I've read on the interweb thingie that Fandorin even has a series of movies, and that they break all sorts of box office records in Russia.  Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much chance of seeing any of them here! 

Yes it is a nice book and an interesting series of novels. Alas, I cannot find the rest of the set in Greek!

[Hammers]

I've also been dabbling a bit with el Capitan Alatriste, but again not much chance of seeing his movie here either!

There is a Alatriste movie release with english subtitles in Sweden. Do a back search in this thread and I think you'll find it.


Edit: those books seem interesting. The Prohaska series left a big gaping hole after themselves in my to-read shelf and I am at a lost what to fill it with.  The [wiki]Sven Hedin[/wiki] biography I am currently reading is pretty good stuff but not really the same thing.

[Will Bailie]

I found a trailer for the Turkish Gambit.  I don't understand Russian, but even so it looks pretty good!



So far, the Fandorin novels are pretty good - there are always lots of twists and turns in the plot, travel both within and without the Russian Empire, and leading edge (almost VSF) technology.

Plus, Akunin is still writing them, and has promised to complete 16, much more satisfying than just the four Prohaska novels (I very much enjoyed those ones as well, though)!

[Mancha]

Edit: those books seem interesting. The Prohaska series left a big gaping hole after themselves in my to-read shelf and I am at a lost what to fill it with. 

Having enjoyed Prohaska quite a bit myself, this book is now piquing my curiosity:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0977997707/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance



The only reason I haven't yet ordered it is it's going for list price at Amazon -- LIST PRICE?!

[Mancha]

Lately, I have been enjoying reading Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin series.  I started by accident when I picked up a copy of The Turkish Gambit in the English language bookstore in Lima (of all places!).

Thanks for this recommendation.  Based on it, I went searching at Amazon.com and discovered that, in fact, I've already started this series when I picked up "Murder on the Leviathon" from the cheapo stacks at Barnes & Noble about a year ago.  So I grabbed two more books used for only $11, which included S&H!  Amazon, with their new used listings, is an amazing thing!

[Hammers]

Edit: those books seem interesting. The Prohaska series left a big gaping hole after themselves in my to-read shelf and I am at a lost what to fill it with. 

Having enjoyed Prohaska quite a bit myself, this book is now piquing my curiosity:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0977997707/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance



The only reason I haven't yet ordered it is it's going for list price at Amazon -- LIST PRICE?!

Interesting... Let me know what you think of it.

[archangel1]

Well, it's sort of a book! Just started reading 'Camps and Trails in China' by Roy Chapman Andrews.  It's a free download from the Gutenberg Press.  No pictures, unfortunately.  Take care if you decide to print it, though.  It's over 160 pages, even with deleting the index and licence!

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/12296

[answer_is_42]

I've recently finished reading "The Tale of the Next Great War, 1871-1914".

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tale-Great-1871-1914-Still-Come/dp/0815603584/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223462166&sr=8-2

It's a collection of 16 'future war' stories, written during and just after the victorian era. "The battle of Dorking" is the first story, with others such as "The stricken nation" (British invasion of America) and "The taking of Dover" (French Invasion of the UK). Steam tanks, airships and submarines all feature, with many period drawings etc. If you're into Victorian Science Fiction, I advice you get a copy of this!

[Malamute]

I've recently finished reading "The Tale of the Next Great War, 1871-1914".

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tale-Great-1871-1914-Still-Come/dp/0815603584/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223462166&sr=8-2

It's a collection of 16 'future war' stories, written during and just after the victorian era. "The battle of Dorking" is the first story, with others such as "The stricken nation" (British invasion of America) and "The taking of Dover" (French Invasion of the UK). Steam tanks, airships and submarines all feature, with many period drawings etc. If you're into Victorian Science Fiction, I advice you get a copy of this!

Blimey, thanks for the heads up on this.

[Plynkes]

A gift from my sister-in-law and my niece (Sickers' mum and his sister Rose), brought back from a trip to Fishguard:



All about the most successful (if not the most famous) pirate of the so-called Golden Age, The Great Pirate Roberts. Known forever to schoolboys such as me who devoured books about pirates and dinosaurs as Black Bart, but apparently never called that during his lifetime. Oh well.

Great read. Only started reading it this afternoon, and have already nearly finished it. A Welshman from the Fishguard area himself, it turns out.

They also gave me MUTINY ON THE GLOBE: The Fatal Voyage of Samuel Comstock, all about a brutal and horrific mutiny on board a Nantucket whaler in the South Seas in the 1820s. Looks very interesting, but I haven't started that one yet.

Thanks Marg and Rosie! Good choices.

[PeteMurray]

Well, I will sail in here and rake Poly from hawse to stern-post. I have got the entire damned Patrick O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin series boxed set. It was a belated birthday present, of sorts. I am right at the start of Volume IV, having read everything up to The Ionian Mission. Now I will finish the series in order.

This is a decadant, luxurant thing, like receiving a humidor of fresh cigars and a bottle of fine Scotch at the same time. I gloat over my triumph.

[Bako]

Found this in the second-hand book store the other day. It's been too long since I've read this wonderful book. I'd suggest this to anyone wanting some more older science fiction. It's also got a decent look into the meeting of different cultures, as well.