What are you currently reading

[spanishspy]

Sept 17, 2016 19:00:38 GMT eurowatch said:

Sept 17, 2016 18:03:56 GMT spanishspy said:

Still working through it. It's a bit dry but interesting, but it is from the 70s so take it with a grain of salt. 

It's The American Way of War by Russell F. Weigley. 

American military strategy can't be summed up as "blow up everything"?

It's far more nuanced than that. In the War of 1812 the US didn't really have a strategy, something that evolved to coastal defense over the 19th century. 

[lordroel]

Reading the short novel called Sometime Never: A Fable for Supermen by Roald Dahl.

Synopsis from wiki

In 1943, RAF pilot Peternip discovers a Gremlin or miniature being drilling holes on the wing of his aircraft, so he sets off with his squadron to unearth the story behind them. Many years ago gremlins were the rulers of the world, but they were forced underground by the spread of humanity and have spent the time since then planning their revenge. They briefly emerge during the Battle of Britain, but the experience makes them decide that humankind would destroy themselves without their intervention. The gremlins wait until the time is right - after World War III and World War IV decimate the earth, they emerge and take over the world. The story ends with the gremlins, unable to exist in a world without humans, disappearing too; finally, only the worm remains.

[pericles]

Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus by Rick Perlstein

[spanishspy]

Been intermittently reading the Oxford History of Britain but not as much recently due to academic things.

[lordroel]

Feb 2, 2017 17:41:40 GMT spanishspy said:

Been intermittently reading the Oxford History of Britain but not as much recently due to academic things.

That sounds smart. 

[spanishspy]

Feb 2, 2017 18:06:17 GMT lordroel said:

Feb 2, 2017 17:41:40 GMT spanishspy said:

Been intermittently reading the Oxford History of Britain but not as much recently due to academic things.

That sounds smart. 

Been doing so for Quizbowl - have a tournament this Saturday. 

[lordroel]

Have bought and currently ready Napoleon in America by Shannon Selin a Alternate history novel in which Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from St. Helena and ends up in the United States in 1821.

[stevep]

Must admit my reading is more mundane. Just finishing a 35 day stay at mum's - going back home for 10 days tomorrow. Noticed that the 7 books I've read have all been fantasy. Normally a bit broader than that with some SF and the occasional factual book. Got another one out yesterday to read when I travel back in 10 days but doesn't look very interesting. Hence might well read an autobiography of Eric 'Winkle' Brown I picked up cheap. Didn't realise his 1st operational flying for the FAA was on HMS Audacity, the 1st escort carrier!

Of those 7 books, while two finished off one trilogy three others were all the 1st in a new series! Actually 4 as the one I found most interesting, 'The Just City' by Jo Walton, having justed checked Wiki is the 1st of a trilogy as well. Good in that there were some interesting characters I would like to see more of, including one god. However bad in that as a devout miser I normally only get books from the library so another 4 series I need to keep an eye out for.

If anyone's interested the other ones I liked were:
a) Twelve kings in Sharakhai, by Bradley P Beaulieu. Standard fantasy background in some ways but set in a desert city and with some very interesting character development. A young woman plots the destruction of the twelve kings who rule the city, who amongst other things killed her mother, despite finding out one is her father. Checking Amazon there is already at least 3 books of this series. Since one king is dead by the end of the 1st book that could be fairly lengthy.

b) The Black Prism, by Brent Weeks, which by Amazon's details will have the 4th episode out next month this will also have some legs. A fantasy setting where magic is orientated around 7 colours and some magic users control more than one. Every generation there is a Prism, a magic user who can control all 7. 15 years back two such characters occurred, two brothers and the result was a bloody civil war. Now the winner is still seeking to repair the damage but holds at least one secret that could bring everything crashing down and new enemies are emerging.

c) The thousand names, by Django Wexler. Fantasy set in a world with gunpowder armies. The author said the inspiration came party from reading a book on Napoleon's campaigns. Some things have been resolved and a number of characters developed but at least one more book to come and hints of many hidden factors, including some related to a 'demon king' who was powerful but defeated a millenium before. Decent battle scences, although possibly a bit too dependent on the old saw of reinforcements arriving at the last minute.

[lordroel]

Reading The Moscow Option: An Alternative Second World War Hardcover by David Downing.

This provocative alternate history looks at World War II from a new angle - what might have happened had the Germans taken Moscow in 1941. Based on authentic history and real possibilities, this book plays out the dramatic consequences of opportunities taken and examines the grotesque possibilities of a Third Reich triumphant. On September 30th, 1941, the Germans fight their way into the ruins of Moscow, and the Soviet Union collapses. Although Russian resistance continues, German ambition multiplies after this signal victory and offensives are launched in Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Hitler's armies, assured of success, make their leader's dreams reality, and Allied hopes of victory seem to be hopelessly doomed. David Downing's writing is fluid and eminently believable, as he blends actual events with the intriguing possibilities of alternate history.

[eurowatch]

Jan 20, 2018 20:20:57 GMT lordroel said:

Reading The Moscow Option: An Alternative Second World War Hardcover by David Downing.

This provocative alternate history looks at World War II from a new angle - what might have happened had the Germans taken Moscow in 1941. Based on authentic history and real possibilities, this book plays out the dramatic consequences of opportunities taken and examines the grotesque possibilities of a Third Reich triumphant. On September 30th, 1941, the Germans fight their way into the ruins of Moscow, and the Soviet Union collapses. Although Russian resistance continues, German ambition multiplies after this signal victory and offensives are launched in Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Hitler's armies, assured of success, make their leader's dreams reality, and Allied hopes of victory seem to be hopelessly doomed. David Downing's writing is fluid and eminently believable, as he blends actual events with the intriguing possibilities of alternate history.

I don't believe that even if Army Group Center had managed to take Moscow in September it would have changed the course of the war much. The Germans were still outnumbered, ill-equipped and winter was still going to set in. Attacking Moscow instead of Kiev would also have left the Southwestern Front intact to attack later on if Army Group South doesn't take care of them.

[spanishspy]

Currently working through Our First Revolution: the Remarkable British Upheaval that Inspired America's Founding Fathers, about the Glorious Revolution. It's written for Americans, but it's still interesting and seems accurate for all I can tell. He has a patriotic bias, but it's nothing that gets in the way.

[lordroel]

Jan 21, 2018 5:15:18 GMT spanishspy said:

Currently working through Our First Revolution: the Remarkable British Upheaval that Inspired America's Founding Fathers, about the Glorious Revolution. It's written for Americans, but it's still interesting and seems accurate for all I can tell. He has a patriotic bias, but it's nothing that gets in the way.

Written for Americans, would it be different written then for British readers.

[spanishspy]

Jan 21, 2018 8:40:47 GMT lordroel said:

Jan 21, 2018 5:15:18 GMT spanishspy said:

Currently working through Our First Revolution: the Remarkable British Upheaval that Inspired America's Founding Fathers, about the Glorious Revolution. It's written for Americans, but it's still interesting and seems accurate for all I can tell. He has a patriotic bias, but it's nothing that gets in the way.

Written for Americans, would it be different written then for British readers.

A lot of it goes into how that revolution inspired ours. 

[lordroel]

Jan 21, 2018 8:55:26 GMT spanishspy said:

Jan 21, 2018 8:40:47 GMT lordroel said:

Written for Americans, would it be different written then for British readers.

A lot of it goes into how that revolution inspired ours. 

Next book i have on my list to read is Napoleon in America by Shannon Selin.

What if Napoleon Bonaparte had escaped from St. Helena and wound up in the United States?

The year is 1821. Former French Emperor Napoleon has been imprisoned on a dark wart in the Atlantic since his defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Rescued in a state of near-death by Gulf pirate Jean Laffite, Napoleon lands in New Orleans, where he struggles to regain his health aided by voodoo priestess Marie Laveau. Opponents of the Bourbon regime expect him to reconquer France. French Canadians beg him to seize Canada from Britain. American adventurers urge him to steal Texas from Mexico. His brother Joseph pleads with him to settle peacefully in New Jersey. As Napoleon restlessly explores his new land, he frets about his legacy. He fears for the future of his ten-year-old son, trapped in the velvet fetters of the Austrian court. While the British, French and American governments follow his activities with growing alarm, remnants of the Grande Armée flock to him with growing anticipation. Are Napoleon's intentions as peaceful as he says they are? If not, does he still have the qualities necessary to lead a winning campaign?

[stevep]

Jan 20, 2018 23:23:59 GMT eurowatch said:

Jan 20, 2018 20:20:57 GMT lordroel said:

Reading The Moscow Option: An Alternative Second World War Hardcover by David Downing.

This provocative alternate history looks at World War II from a new angle - what might have happened had the Germans taken Moscow in 1941. Based on authentic history and real possibilities, this book plays out the dramatic consequences of opportunities taken and examines the grotesque possibilities of a Third Reich triumphant. On September 30th, 1941, the Germans fight their way into the ruins of Moscow, and the Soviet Union collapses. Although Russian resistance continues, German ambition multiplies after this signal victory and offensives are launched in Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Hitler's armies, assured of success, make their leader's dreams reality, and Allied hopes of victory seem to be hopelessly doomed. David Downing's writing is fluid and eminently believable, as he blends actual events with the intriguing possibilities of alternate history.

I don't believe that even if Army Group Center had managed to take Moscow in September it would have changed the course of the war much. The Germans were still outnumbered, ill-equipped and winter was still going to set in. Attacking Moscow instead of Kiev would also have left the Southwestern Front intact to attack later on if Army Group South doesn't take care of them.

  I think I read this books a few years back and was less than convinced.  If they somehow did take Moscow in September it would cause the Soviets serious problems because of both the loss of morale and production and Moscow's vital importance as the centre of Soviet communications.  It would probably mean the fairly rapid fall of Leningrad for instance.

  However as you say the Germans are still massively overstretched and given the nature of the Nazi regime the Russians will realise they have no choice but to continue fighting.  Plus there is the problem of the still existing SW Front which if it attacks when Winter strikes could do a lot of damage.

  More to the point given its size and political importance a quicker drive on Moscow is likely to end up as an earlier and much larger Stalingrad.  The Russians don't have the same level of skill and experience in the officer corp so their losses are likely to be even higher but your likely to see most of AGC fed into the mincer and bled white by the time winter comes.  At which point you could see it pretty much totally destroyed.  There would still be heavy fighting in 42 and onwards as Russian losses are likely to be huge and they won't have the same experience as in 43 onwards yet but any vision of a German victory in the east - outside lunatics like Hitler - would have totally disappeared.