Whatcha reading redux.

[Weetabix]

"The Skylark of Space" by E.E. "Doc" Smith

[308Mike]

Well, after my last book (and reading MHI ALPHA twice), I decided I wanted something a little different and grabbed a previously read book, SUBMARINE!



Unfortunately, Capt. Beach passed away in 2002, but he wrote a couple more books in addition to Submarine! I just might get around to reading them, when I have time.

Do any of you submariners have any other novels similar to SUBMARINE! that I might also enjoy, with the same tempo of operations, etc., etc., if so, I'd LOVE your recommendations (the last book I looked for by Jack Broughton regarding the air war over North Vietnam is apparently out of print and I'll have to dig up a copy somewhere - maybe the submariners might sell a few more books??? )!

The problem being is that paperback novels have now become SO DAMNED EXPENSIVE, it makes it hard to equate buying the dead-tree version when the digital version is available for a cheaper price.

Yet, there's something I really enjoy about grabbing a book and taking it where-ever I want, with no power cords, batteries, able to open it to any page I want almost instantly, then flip back and forth if I don't get something, and simply enjoy the non-electronic version of something (which will NEVER run out of battery juice to read it).

YMMV

[Greg]

Started The Lost Fleet series on Monday. Finished the second book about ten minutes ago. They're relatively short books, but even quicker reading than one might expect.

Interesting how he actually takes relativistic effects into account during space battles; I can't recall reading anything else that does so (the closest I can recall involves the Picard Maneuver in Star Trek: TNG.) The so-far minor romantic subplot is a bit jarring at first; it may become more important later, so who knows?

Thumbs up for a modern military science fiction book that explores the laws and morality of war.

I've read all of them. I enjoyed them, but they're juvenile. As in Heinlein's juveniles. They're simplified and toned down for younger readers, which I found a bit jarring at first until I figured it out and got used to it. They're good stories, and just dandy as civics lessons and introductions to the military virtues.

As for me, I just finished Into the Hinterlands (it's very good) and am most of the way through Dan Simmons' Flashback, which is kind of a painful read but very, very good.

[First Shirt]

Just finished reading Dead Six yesterday (in which our favorite Administrator makes an appearance), and going back through it again, trying to figure out who wrote which parts (Damn, Chris, that was a tough way to go!). Finished reading Spellbound (the EARC) last week, which The Darling Daughter bought me for my birthday.

There are some (not very many, but a few) good things about being off work to recover from surgery.

[First Shirt]

Oh and did you read the dedication and acknowledgements?

That was the reason my daughter bought it for me, she read that, and decided that I had to have this book!

[Rod]

Partners in Power by Roger Morris. Story of the Clintons by a liberal. It's actually even handed when talking about the Clintons but the background is heavily liberal. It looks like Hillary was actually to the right in her political outlook but changed to make Billy look good.

[cu74]

Do any of you submariners have any other novels similar to SUBMARINE! that I might also enjoy, with the same tempo of operations, etc., etc., if so, I'd LOVE your recommendations (the last book I looked for by Jack Broughton regarding the air war over North Vietnam is apparently out of print and I'll have to dig up a copy somewhere - maybe the submariners might sell a few more books??? )!

Can't help you, Mike. I stopped reading the (semi)-true submarine adventure stories written by Hero Skippers many years ago. If you are interested in the broader Pacific submarine war, you might look for a copy of SILENT VICTORY: The US Submarine War Against Japan, by Clay Blair, Jr.. It was published in 1975 and is probably out of print - my copy is tattered and the pages are yellowed - but Amazon's used books might be a source. UPDATE Soft Cover $23.10

Blair lists excerpts from several books by US submarine skippers - including Beach's SUBMARINE - you might look for them as well:
UNLUCKY IN JUNE: HIYO MEETS TRIGGER - Beach
WAR FISH - George Grider
WAKE OF THE WAHOO - Forest Sterling
SINK 'EM ALL - Frank Lockwood

Many of the true Hard Chargers didn't survive the war, (perhaps because they were TOO reckless) but their earlier war patrol logs are in the Submarine Library at New London and there are some that make very interesting reading. Blair apparently spent a lot of time poring over the logs. Blair chronicles the abysmal condition of the submarine fleet in December 1941, the "cautious" skippers who were relieved in favor of new blood, the failure of direction/command from ashore, (more from Durban than from Pearl) the torpedo problems and efforts to get the attention of the monolithic Naval Weapons fossils, etc.

[Netpackrat]

Do any of you submariners have any other novels similar to SUBMARINE! that I might also enjoy, with the same tempo of operations, etc., etc., if so, I'd LOVE your recommendations (the last book I looked for by Jack Broughton regarding the air war over North Vietnam is apparently out of print and I'll have to dig up a copy somewhere - maybe the submariners might sell a few more books??? )!

I read this a few years ago and enjoyed it a lot.

[308Mike]

I just got done reading this short but AMAZING book: Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. I'm not very religious even though I believe in Christ and God, but for me, this book was a real eye-opener. The stuff this little kid comes up with information about things he'd never been told about is incredible.

As one of the reviewers says: "A beautifully written glimpse into heaven that will encourage those who doubt and thrill those who believe." - Ron Hall, Coauthor Some Kind of Different as Me

You have no idea how many times I questioned God's presence at crime scenes, especially where families were involved, supposedly people who love each other and who wind up trying to KILL each other. Cops frequently got one way or the other, they usually either gravitate towards God, or go the other way 'cause they can't believe God would allow this viciousness among loving family members or people who once loved each other - so they tend to abandon God. You're likely to find a LOT of people in the big-city emergency services in the latter group. It gets that ugly. I don't know how many times I've heard, "If there IS a God, why did He allow this to happen?!?!?!?!" Particularly when more than a couple of the family members had been slaughtered like animals.

Don't forget, angels in heaven carry swords so they can keep Satan out of heaven, 'cause, as little Colton says, "Satan's not in hell yet." At least you don't have to reload a sword, and if can't be affected by an EMP burst (neither can most of our current firearms, until the Dhimmicraps get their hands on them and design the ability to be able to lock people out of their own guns), but swords along with bows/crossbows/arrows and knives aren't effected by the availability of electricity (neither is hand-reloading). When I run out of ammo, I still have my crossbow, and then my Wakazashi, before we get down to knives and brass tacks.

[Cybrludite]

Last weekend I read, Webb's "Born Fighting"

I've been wanting to pick up a copy of that - I've read bits and pieces online, what did you think of it?

Just noticed I never responded to this. It was pretty good for a popular (as opposed to academic) history book.

ETA: Most recent reading was to get caught up on Larry's stuff. MH: Alpha, Hard Magic, and Dead Six were read last week.