Military Fiction - Page 4

x SF med · 06-26-2006, 13:22

Dain Bramage? Huh? Where? Duz thet meen I kin jump outta airplanes fer a livin, en run aroun the wuds wit evrythin I own strapped tuh me,wit de bad guys on my butt? N carry a shootin ahrn?

Actually I think it was the mixture of Vonnegut and Punk rock that did me in, Oh well, I've gotten better, slightly.

mugwump · 06-26-2006, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by eva05

Armor by John Steakley
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Forever Peace by Joe Haldeman
The first 4 collections of the Bolo shot stories (various authors)
Downbelow Station by CJ Cherryh (though this is space opera)
Voice of the Whirlwind by Walter Jon Williams
Altered Carbon, Broken Angels and Woken Furies by Richard K Morgan

j

Man, I've read a lot of science fiction! These are all excellent. Richard K Morgan is one of the new lights.

Voice of the Whirlwind - we should do a cyberpunk list next.

Gypsy · 07-01-2006, 18:33

L, saw this segment on Fox tonight. It's not Military fiction...but seems to be getting rave reviews from some Military folks. I think I'll be picking up a few to send out. The link for Amazon follows the article.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060628/dawfns1.html?.v=3

Dear Soldier: The War on Terror as Seen by America's Children
Wednesday June 28, 5:20 am ET

DALLAS, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- As the war on terror continues and we approach the Fourth of July holiday, leave it to children to provide comfort, hope and a delightful dose of humor.

Recently released "Dear Soldier: Heartfelt Letters From America's Children" (Integrity House), is a compilation of children's letters to deployed soldiers, created and compiled by mother/daughter team, Barbara Warfield Baldwin, Amber Baldwin D'Amico and Dr. Heather Baldwin Duff.

All three are celebrating the recent return of their son and brother from Afghanistan.

"This book is unique because it provides an experience of war through our children's eyes," said Baldwin. "Books have been published featuring soldiers' letters, but not children's, and the letters these kids have written are priceless."

Baldwin and her daughters were inspired to create the book after reading some of the children's letters to be included in care packages they were helping to create for troops.

"Because the children's letters were so compelling," said Baldwin, "we would read them aloud as the packages were being assembled. Their innocent wisdom and humor never failed to brighten and enrich our days.

"We soon started receiving feedback from soldiers telling us how much they appreciated the letters and our own son and brother, who was stationed in Afghanistan, said letters like these meant the world to him while he was deployed."

Letters include comments from children such as:

"Dear Soider, I wish I could be over there with you, because I want to be a solider when I grow up. I have a cousin named John over there with you, if you see him tell him hi."

"You are braver than I'll ever be ... May all your dreams come true. I am proud of all the improvements you have made over there. I hope you never give up on your plans ... God bless you."

A portion of the proceeds from each book will be donated to the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, whose mission is to serve the soldiers, and the families, of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans who have been severely wounded and disabled.

For more information and a complete press kit on the book and its authors, visit http://www.mydearsoldier.com . To learn more about the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, visit http://www.saluteheroes.org .

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159...e=as1&n=283155

Radar Rider · 07-01-2006, 19:06

One of the best "fiction" books about military life that I have read is called The Short-Timers. It was written by Gustav Hasford, and runs about 140 pages.

It also happens to be the book on which the movie "Full Metal Jacket" was based.

In the book, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman does not die in training; he leads the men into Viet Nam.

Trip_Wire (RIP) · 07-01-2006, 19:23

I just finished reading this book! I thought it was great! I enjoyed it! It was written by MSG Raymond F. Flaherty 7th & 1st SFG(A), 9th Airborne Ranger Co. He also served in the herd (173rd) in Vietnam.

I recommend it!

CPTAUSRET · 07-01-2006, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_sf_med

Actually I think it was the mixture of Vonnegut and Punk rock that did me in, Oh well, I've gotten better, slightly.

Punk Rock; ever hear of the "DESCENDENTS"?

You mentioned Kurt V., his review of my wife's latest book is below.

Terry

edited for spelling error.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. How does one define extraordinary creativity? Is creative genius a product of nature or nurture? And can those of us who are less creative enhance the creative capacity in ourselves and others? Andreasen (The Broken Brain), editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Psychiatric Association, brings neuroscience to bear in providing insight and expert analysis of the connections between extraordinary creativity, mental illness, intelligence and the social environment. The complex subject matter is punctuated with intriguing research, such as Andreasen's Iowa Writer's Workshop study examining the relationship between creativity and psychopathology; a study of London taxi drivers showing that their need for extensive memory of the city leads to a larger hippocampus; and a study of members of symphony orchestras that found increased gray matter in Broca's area. These studies lead Andreasen to conclude that "extraordinary creativity" is the result of neural processes that "differ qualitatively as well as quantitatively" from those of other people. The author's passion and admiration for creative genius and the arts—not surprising given her Ph.D. in Renaissance English literature—is evidenced in her exploration of such great minds as Mozart, da Vinci, Michelangelo and Tchaikovsky. And quotations from introspective accounts by mathematician Henri Poincaré, chemist Friedrich Kekulé, Stephen Spender and Neil Simon vividly describe mental activities that are anything but ordinary. Andreasen leaves us with hope that the potential exists to enhance the creative capacity in our children and in ourselves. Photos and illus. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
Kurt Vonnegut :
"Our leading authority on creativity reveals herself with this splendid book as one of the most valuably creative persons of our time."--
Kurt Vonnegut

David Morrell :
"I've been a novelist for 37 years and suddenly I understand myself better. Nancy Andreasen's The Creating Brain is a fascinating journey in to the nature and secrets of the creative brain. The sections on Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci are amazing, and the concluding exercises could be life changing."--David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Brotherhood of the Rose and Creepers

Howard Gardner :
"Drawing on her expertise as a scientist, physician, and scholar of literature, Nancy Andreasen gives a clear, readable, synoptic account of current knowledge in human creativity."--Howard Gardner, Hobbs Professor of Education and Cognition, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Publishers Weekly :
"An expert analysis of the connections between extraordinary creativity, mental illness, intelligence and the social environment. The complex subject matter is punctuated with intriguing research. . . . Andreasen leaves us with hope that the potential exists to enhance the creative capacity in our children and in ourselves."--Publishers Weekly

Sweetbriar · 07-01-2006, 20:10

Thanks for all the good suggestions, gentlemen. I was an insatiable sci-fi reader as a child and teen and a number of your favourite authors were also mine. Seeing these lists as an adult and in this context makes me think it might be time to go back and re-read a few.

x_sf_med, do let us know if the sequel to Canticle is worthy. "Finished by a collaborator" makes me nervous, but curious.

stone · 07-01-2006, 22:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar Rider

One of the best "fiction" books about military life that I have read is called The Short-Timers. It was written by Gustav Hasford, and runs about 140 pages.

Nice call on The Short-Timers. Hasford was one sh*thot writer-- it's a real shame that all of his books are out of print. Fortunately there's a link where you can still read his stuff:

http://www.gustavhasford.com/ST2.htm

inbredyokel · 07-02-2006, 08:35

...In a sort of related tangent: there was a fiction fantasy book on SF called DESERT FIRE by Niall Arden, it was pulled from the shelves all over the UK.

"A covert unit of British SAS, US Delta Force, CIA and British intelligence operatives was formed during the build up to the Second Gulf War to carry out top-secret operations in Northern Iraq. Officially they didn`t exist. To ensure the stability of Northern Iraq, these men were sent to recruit the Kurdish Peshmerga guerrillas to join the invasion.

This ultra-clandestine mission was headed up by Niall Arden, an SAS veteran and black operations specialist. DESERT FIRE is the extraordinary story of one mission and how his unit was compromised three times – and how each time they managed to escape from an enemy hell-bent on hunting them down. Cornered and desperate, the men of the unit resorted to superhuman efforts to survive as they were thrown into a bloody, mind-numbing close-quarter combat. But even as they fought for their lives, they began to realise they had been sent on a mission that was not all it seemed..."

Turns out this scrote's military experience was a 10-month period as a probationary 2nd Lt in the Essex Army Cadet Force in 1990, which if you don't know is a youth club along the lines of the boy scouts.
I only mention it as its military fiction...and for the completely shameless purposes of blatant self-promotion and inflating my ego.
I got involved with doing some checks after doubts began to appear on this lad's background...of course after they'd paid, printed and released the book.
If only they's asked someone about this clown in the first place.

smp52 · 07-03-2006, 12:23

Ditto on Starship Troopers, Dune, and Lord of the Rings.

Alistair MacLean's Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare (more popular as films with Gregory Peck and Clint Eastwood respectively) were fun books to read.

I was a fan of the movies before I read the books. It's been awhile since I read them (in my teens), but I remember enjoying them.

BoyScout · 07-03-2006, 16:15

I'd stay away from the Wheel of Time series if you just want one or two books. I justed wanted to read the first one and wound up with the whole series.

The first one is a hard read and one tends to use the glossery in the back alot. (TOR split the first two books in half to make the easier to read.) Zane Gray and Louis Lamour books are some of the best Westerns I've read. Toss me in with the Clancy and Griffin lots for the military books.

EX-Gold Falcon · 07-04-2006, 14:20

I have really enjoyed reading all of Brian Haigs novels. Secret Sanction, Motral Allies, The Kingmaker, Private Sector and The Presidents Assassin.

Not heavy on combat scenes nevertheless the concept of a former SF operator with a sardonic sense of humor (instead of a fighter pilot!) turned hotshot JAG lawyer, makes for a great read.

I'm looking forward to his latest out this year titled Man in the Middle.

Travis

Ken Brock · 07-22-2010, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peregrino

Anything by John Ringo, David Weber, and David Drake. They are the current crop of heavy hitters writing "Military SF" with good attention to detail and decent character/plot development. I know Ringo personally and will vouch for the effort he puts into making it believable, even when he's being "tongue in cheek". All SF requires some suspension of disbelief but these guys are at least plausible. None of them have any love lost for politicians either. FWIW - Peregrino

I have to say that Ringo is my favorite author and I have all of his books

he has a great sense of humor in his books