What are you currently reading ?

[Westmarcher]

Recently finished Afghanistan, The Killing Zone by Lt Col Richard Dorney, about the Grenadier Guards in Helmand in 2007. Didn't enjoy it as much as the one prior to that, Main Battle Tank by Niall Edworthy (about the SCOTS DG in the 2nd Iraq War in Basra) but like MBT, tells you a lot more of the action than the media reporting of the time. Have now gone for a change of pace and era with The Last Highlander by Sarah Fraser - a biography of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat (1670 - 1747) erstwhile spy, clan chief, traitor, polyglot, deserter and philosopher. Only read a couple of chapters but looking good so far.

[Techno]

Gone back to listening to the 'Uhtred, Warrior/Saxon' series by Bernard Cornwell.
Finished 'The Last Kingdom'....Will start 'The Pale Horseman', tomorrow.

Cheers - Phil

[kipt]

Finished something different than my usual military fare. "Paris et ses palais". Which is, as the title states, about the palaces in Paris. Sumptuous photographs and interesting text. Printed in 2012.

[Subedai]

Regressing a bit here. Just about to begin re-reading the Jon Carter of Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs on the kindly thing. Had them all on paper during the 70's but I thought I'd give them another go.

[Hertsblue]

Halfway through Isaac Asimov's The Gods Themselves, one of the classics of Sci Fi from one of the old masters.

[Subedai]

Halfway through Isaac Asimov's The Gods Themselves, one of the classics of Sci Fi from one of the old masters.

You can't beat a good bit of Asimov...or Heinlein for that matter. His Stranger in a Strange Land and I Will Fear No Evil are a couple of my all time classics.

[Womble67]

Just started Before Stalingrad by Glantz

Take care

Andy

[Bloodaxe]

Ive been reading a lot on the Anglo-Zulu War.  Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana are probably the best known battles. 1879

Movies- Zulu (Rorkes Drift) and Zulu Dawn (Isandlwana)

BlackPowder Zulu rules by Warlord Games.


Any books by Ian Knight are good.

Isandlwana 1879 Ian Knight
Rorke's Drift Ian Knight & Ian Castle
Zulu War Osprey Campaign 14
Rorke's Drift Osprey Campaign 41
The Zulu War Osprey- Men at Arms series
British Fortifications in Zululand Osprey Fortress 35
British Infantryman VS Zulu Warrior Ian Knight
Washing the Spears Donald Morris
Like Lions They Fought Robert Edgerton
Brave Men's Blood Ian Knight
The Zulu War pictorial history Michael Barthorp
Great Zulu Battles 1838-1906 Ian Knight

Rorke's Drift had 140 British fight off 3,000-4,000 Zulus. 11 Victorian Crosses & 4 Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded.

Islandlwana was the only real Zulu victory. But it was quite a pyrrhic victory. The British colum was destroyed, nearly 1300 men. (but many were Natal troops and Auxillary), the Zulus themselves lost 1,000 dead and 2,000 badly wounded. They lost the war with the first battle, even if they considered it a victory.  The British didnt make such a large error again, they fought behind fortifications.  The Zulu sustained crippling casualties at the battles of Kambula & Ulundi. The British were seriously outnumbered, but their greater firepower prevailed. 

Great stuff.

I see a British & Zulu army in my immediate future. Probably Baccus 6mm to have huge units.

[bigjackmac]

Undefeated, America's Fight in Bataan and Corregidor (Dec '41 - Apr '42)

V/R,
Jack

[Shecky]

Currently reading, "Franklin Barbecue: a meat-smoking manifesto". It's the story behind the award winning bbq joint in Austin.

[FierceKitty]

re: Zulu

Michael Caine had a brief spell of being remarkably good-looking, didn't he?

[shireman]

James Kennaway's "Tunes of Glory" (the novel of the Alec Guinness/John Mills film). Not a book to read while matching the characters dram for dram but a fine piece of writing.

[Bloodaxe]

re: Zulu

Michael Caine had a brief spell of being remarkably good-looking, didn't he?

I think the last time I saw him was in Batman as Alfred.

[FierceKitty]

That's a great deal later.

[kipt]

Finished "Naval Weapons of World War One" by Norman Friedman.  Super detailed and covers every major gun, torpedo, mines and ASW of the warring parties, as well as some neutrals.

[Maenoferren]

Beyond the Reach of Empire: Wolseley's Failed Campaign to Save Gordon and Khartoum by Colonel Mike Snook.. I got it on an inter library loan and have 8 days to read it...

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Read - FASTER 

IanS

[Last Hussar]

"The Woman who died a lot"

[Techno]

Just listened to...
'King Solomon's Mines'.

Cheers - Phil.

[Hertsblue]

"The Woman who died a lot"

Jasper Fforde - absolutely brilliant. Fantasy in a literary world with a wicked twist.