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I'm reading the tenth book in Taylor Anderson's Destroyermen series, Straits of Hell. So far it's good. For those of you who don't know (and might be curious), I'll summarize the premise of the series without spoiling too much:

The series begins near the beginning of World War 2, as the American fleet is retreating from the Philippines after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The old four-stacker destroyer U.S.S. Walker, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Reddy, is under attack by Japanese ships when it suddenly without warning ends up on an alternate Earth, where humans never evolved but two other sentient species did. As Reddy's crew comes to terms with their new surroundings, they realize that they are in the middle of a war between the peaceful Lemurians, a race that resembles a cross between cats and lemurs, and the ruthless Grik, a reptilian species. Basically the series involves the exploits of Walker and her crew as they become involved in this alternate Earth's events. The story is very well-written and has a good balance of action, suspense, and narrative. I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has any interest in sci-fi, especially alternate history stories. The 11th book has recently been released in hardcover, and it appears that there are still more forthcoming. I always wait for paperbacks, though, so I am one book behind.

Just finished "Prince of Thorns" a few weeks ago, read it in a few days easy read. Had some good reviews but I wasn't all that impressed with it...felt very 1 dimensional (not sure if that's ac how I'd describe it but it was missing something that's for sure)

Still waiting for Doors of Stone to come out...but Rothfuss is still just caught up in his fame to finish/publish the final book (or is very afraid for it to end or mess up which is an equally possible reason to me)

Going to finish Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson next, then another one of his books, either 2023 or 40 signs of rain

Echoes of the last war. After Throneworld I knew I had to read whatever is coming up next.

The Battle of Britain, James Holland, 2011.

I’ve just finished this popular narrative history. My edition is on Kindle.

James Holland has written a number of WW2 history books and several adventure novels set in the same period, all of which draw on extensive research that includes other authoritative histories, official records, and interviews with participants including ones he has done himself. Therefore a fair of scholarship has gone into this book.

It doesn’t read at all drily, though. By using material from interviews, Holland illustrates the practical effects of the behind the scenes thinking and decisions of the higher level actors on people in the front line, including civilians under the burning skies.

The book starts just as the Battle of France is about to begin, and follows this campaign through to the completion of Operation Dynamo, the Dunkirk evacuation.

Holland then looks into the German political and military planning that led to the assembly of an invasion fleet in north-west France and the strategy of using the Luftwaffe to conquer the RAF before invading the UK. In this section he also looks at the UK’s defences, including the history of radar and the development of the Downing System of air defence. This section is key to understanding the eventual result, developing the theme that the Germans got their intelligence and strategy completely wrong thus leading them into a campaign far more difficult than they expected.

The third part of the book of course is the Battle of Britain itself. While most of the action concerns the air forces, Holland also pulls in the Schnelleboot and U-boat campaigns against Britain’s sea communications. As we know, the RAF not only hangs on but actually fights back with bomber raids, and gradually it is the Luftwaffe who get ground down to near uselessness, ending the campaign with only 25% of their initial strength, despite replacements along the way.

Holland makes a convincing argument that the Battle of Britain was a key turning point in WW2. It was Hitler’s first defeat, kept Britain and the Empire in the war, and did major damage to the Luftwaffe from which it never fully recovered. He also debunks the popular idea that Britain stood alone and weak, showing that Britain not only was a powerful industrial and military force in itself, but also had much help from exiled Europeans, the Dominions and from the US.

After the campaign has fizzled out in October 1940, Holland looks at the replacement of Downing and Park with Douglas and Leigh-Mallory, and concludes with a “where are they now” chapter covering all the people whose personal accounts are used in the story.

Finally there is a lengthy and useful reference section with bibliography and so on.

I enjoyed the book very much, and it has high review ratings on Amazon and from professional reviewers. If you are interested in WW2 history, this is a good modern overview of a key period, and can lead you on to further, more in-depth reading.

I've started reading Independence Day: Crucible, a prequel to the upcoming new Independence Day movie. Good read so far, tells what happened after the first movie around the world.

 ZergSmasher wrote:
I've started reading Independence Day: Crucible, a prequel to the upcoming new Independence Day movie. Good read so far, tells what happened after the first movie around the world.

Sounds like I'll have to pick that up.

Recently, I have read Larry Cooreia's Warmachine book, which was surprisingly good, although that was entirely due to the writing and not so much the setting for me.

I read Sword of Destiny and now I want to see the Netflix series.

I read under Heaven, which was really good.

Now, I am reading Genthis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.

I have the MERCS novel, which is high up the list, but there is also a Star Trek novel about Captain Maxwell that I absolutely must read. And now an Independence Day sequel prequel.

Larry Correia writes for WarmaHordes?

I'm in. I like the guy's writing, but not a fan of his political soap boxing when he does it. Should be an interesting read.

I'm reading Footfall right now. It's better than it should be, is the best way I can think to describe it. Also working through Impending Crisis and the Epic of Gilgamesh before getting back to Le Morte D'Arthur (my Fate/Stay Night fanning got to me.)

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey

> trying fantasy genre from a different POV

so far it is a drag and I doubt I will make it through

 Manchu wrote:
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey

> trying fantasy genre from a different POV

so far it is a drag and I doubt I will make it through

I've neverf been able to finish a Mercedes Lackey book. I don't know why. Just can't get into them.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Hoitash wrote:
Larry Correia writes for WarmaHordes?

I'm in. I like the guy's writing, but not a fan of his political soap boxing when he does it. Should be an interesting read.

I'm reading Footfall right now. It's better than it should be, is the best way I can think to describe it. Also working through Impending Crisis and the Epic of Gilgamesh before getting back to Le Morte D'Arthur (my Fate/Stay Night fanning got to me.)

He has two books for them, the Malcontents series. The first is basically Gaunt's Ghosts for Cygnar, but better written.

Niven and Pournelle's collaborations almost always worked. Niven's solo novels, not so much.

Been reading Robert D Kaplans book Balkan Ghost and The Enda of the world, great books that has still in my mind is valid when looking at the parts of the world the books is set in.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
I've neverf been able to finish a Mercedes Lackey book. I don't know why. Just can't get into them.

I wanted to read something in fantasy for which I am definitely not the intended audience. So far I feel like I am reading fan fiction but without the fandom.

Re-reading A Song of Ice and Fire. On book 2. Only re-reading the first 4, never read the 5th one when it came out, even though it’s sitting on the shelf. So I’ll be reading that for the first time.

Watched part of season 1 of Game of Thrones on DVD, decided I should read the books again. Show was fine, but I kept feeling that there were bits missing. So I’m hitting the books before watching more. Sets/acting/visuals are nice, but I do enjoy a good book.

Picked "The Wizard & the Glass" again (of the Dark Tower series), now I'm finally past the Coos Witch part it's flowing a lot easier

Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization by Lars Brownworth. It is pretty good as I never knew much about the Byzantine empire and am enjoying learning about it.

The Byzantines are always fun to read about. So much intrigue...

I'm reading a Child's History of England, by Charles Dickens. What I have learned so far: 19th century children must have really enjoyed reading about beheadings.

So I'm nearly finished with book 6 of the Wheel of Time, and had a mental image get seared into my head.

For those who have read the book, there's a character named Nerim, who becomes the personal servant to Mat Cauthon. For some reason, I suddenly pictured Nerim as basically Woodhouse from the show Archer

 toasteroven wrote:
The Byzantines are always fun to read about. So much intrigue...

I'm reading a Child's History of England, by Charles Dickens. What I have learned so far: 19th century children must have really enjoyed reading about beheadings.

Justinian threw away Belisarius's genius all because of Theodora being paranoid (not unreasonable) and that made me so mad for some reason.

I've begun working my way through the Artemis Fowl books for the umpteenth time

Reading through the Robotech books a bit to keep motivated on my space fighters project. Also, reading a Star Trek novel about Benjamen Maxwell.

Started reading Night by Elie Wiesel. Saying that it's heavy doesn't really do the book justice or illustrate the gravity of the subject matter. I don't think I have the words that do right now, quite honestly. But I can already tell that it's a book that deserves to be read.

What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:
What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

While I haven't read it myself, it has been highly recommended by other users on these forums... but, Iain Banks' "Culture" series may fit that bill?

Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG rulebook.

Reading book 3 of the Dresden Files, Grave Peril. Fun books, not overly complex, but enjoyable.


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 Hordini wrote:
Started reading Night by Elie Wiesel. Saying that it's heavy doesn't really do the book justice or illustrate the gravity of the subject matter. I don't think I have the words that do right now, quite honestly. But I can already tell that it's a book that deserves to be read.

Oh gak I absolutely loved that book, but damn was that heavy. We had to read it in 10th grade in English class, and I burned through it the first week because I couldn't put it down. Haunting would probably be the best way to describe that book.

Just finished With the Old Breed. Its about a marine mortar loader who served with the First Marine Division at the Hell of Pelilieu, and Okinawa. HIGHLY recommend it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VMFDW2/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o02_?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then read DDay through the German's Eyes over the weekend. Its amazing, especially in counterpoint to the above.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VX372UE/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o01_?ie=UTF8&psc=1#navbar

I am on Book 2 now and will probably finish by end of weekend.

Last week I finished:



Fantastic book about advisors working with the Iraqi army and police force. Must read for anyone interested in how 'COIN' can be applied.


Just started:



Just a couple chapters in but I like it. Gonna pass this one on to Son2 who deploys as a rifle platoon leader early next year, as the story is told through the eyes of a rifle platoon leader.

Good stuff.

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:
What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

How big and involved do you want? And how hard should the sci fi be?

For example, Niven's Known Space universe is fairly well developed, and many other authors have written stories in the setting, but it is pretty silly by today's standards. Keith Laumer's Bolo series has also found new life with another generation of writers. There were similar attempts at literary sandbox worlds throughout the 70's and 80's, but they've been completely superseded by media tie-in fiction, like Star Trek, Star Wars, Halo, 40k, etc. If you like tie-in fiction, I highly recommend the old Zahn Star Wars books or the post-Nemesis Star Trek novel continuity starting with the Destiny trilogy.

If you are looking for series of books, I would recommend the Culture series, Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth series, Jack Campbell's Dauntless series, the Dread Empire's Fall trilogy, the Conqueror's Heritage Trilogy by Zahn, etc. I have heard good things about the Pip and Flinx series, David Weber's ongoing epics, the Miles Verkosigan saga, etc. you might also check out classics like the Lensmen series, the Foundation series, and the Dune series.

Why not Dune?

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:
What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

Dune, Star Wars, Star Trek, Discworld, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Ebook: Silver Skulls: Portents
Audiobook: Call to Arms: Black Fleet series

RE above request for in- depth sci-fi universe: The Undying Mercenary Series by B.V. Larson is my favorite universe outside the Big Ones (SW, ST, 40k)