Kim (Five Stars)

I've admired Kipling's poetry but have never read any of his stories... until now. I was fortunate to have a copy of Kim fall into my hands, a 1962 Heritage Press Edition complete with slipcase. In pristine condition, I had to find a bookmark out of fear I would ruin the book with dog-earing.

 And what a book. Kim is the orphaned son of British parents, making his way in the world during the time of the Empire. Living by his wits he can pass for Hindu or Muslim as needs be, and knows all the beggar tricks of surviving on the streets. When he comes across a Tibetan Lama who is on a spiritual quest he decides to travel with him, showing him the wonders of the train and dealing with the many people on the Trunk Road. Kipling paints a picture of the peoples and cultures of India that is fascinating. In this particular edition the illustrations are wonderful and really do complement the story. This is a great book, if you can find it.

Cinebox vs Scopitone (Four Stars)

I loved Scopitones the first time I ever saw them, back on the Higgins Boys and Gruber on the Comedy Channel. These cheaply-made musical programs made for a stand-up machine (normally found in a bar) gave you a chance to see your favorite performers singing their greatest hits. Well, if your favorite performer was a "B" act. And if they happened to do a Scopitone film of the song you wanted to hear AND see.

Later I discovered that Scopitone wasn't simply a French export to the United States but that there were British Scopitones as well, and Italian ones done in Cinebox. I could find little information on Cinebox but later I did manage to get VHS tapes and DVDs of non-US films. I came to appreciate Tiny Yong, Joi Lansing, Eden Kane, Johnny B. Great and the Kessler Sisters. But still I didn't feel like I knew the whole story.

NOW I have the full story. This book lays out the relationship between the Scopitone and Cinebox systems. It also provides some insight, for instance the fact that the technology used by both systems was developed and used during WWII to train pilots in navigation. That the Mafia unsuccessfully tried to import Cinebox into the U.S. How Debbie Reynolds was involved in finding talent for U.S. Scopitones. And finally, the problems that led to the end of Cinebox and Scopitone. And that some of the machines ended up being rebuilt as peep shows.

And if that wasn't enough, the book has a list of all the known Scopitone/Cinebox films! Many of these are available on YouTube, IF you know what you're looking for.

On the downside: There are some typos in the English text, including the listing of Tiny Yong as "Tiny Young." Also, the listing of films is by country (ies) and year group,  so if you are looking for a specific song but aren't sure if it was produced by Cinebox or Scopitone or when it was done it can be a little frustrating. Still, the book is lavishly illustrated with both color and BW photographs and advertising graphics. There is a lot of emphasis on Italian Cinebox films but that is understandable and Scopitone is still well-represented. Definitely something for the fan of the films!

Biafra Genocide (Four Stars)

If taken as a synopsis of the Biafra War this book is not bad. It includes a chronology of events related to the war, some discussion of the personalities involved and the conduct of the war. It includes many excellent photos and some maps which makes the action understandable. Mr. Venter, who was there at the time and who has written many excellent books on Africa, has done a good job of making the tragedy of Biafra more understandable to the average reader. The book covers the use of mercenaries by both sides, the food airlift operation into Biafra (and, in passing, the arms being flown in as well) and military operations. Certainly a good introduction to the topic.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

The Poison Belt (three stars)

While I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes I found Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's sci-fi novel The Poison Belt to be a bit wanting. In it, a Professor Challenger discovers that all life on Earth will be destroyed by, as near as I can understand it, a pocket of gas in the ether. He has several friends come to his home with oxygen tanks so they can essentially watch the world end together. The Heritage Press edition includes some interesting illustrations but they really don't add much to the story in my opinion. Still, the book is relatively short and not bad for the period it was written.

The Secret World (Four Stars)

Originally written in the 1950s, this book is nonetheless a great look at the KGB as it was organized back then and how communist secret police organizations work in general. Not only does it provide a step-by-step example of how cases against Soviet citizens were built but it also has hard-to-find information on how the Kremlin Guard, the personal security arm of the KGB, worked to both protect the leadership and keep the Center (Moscow) secure. Deriabin's personal story of how he wound up going from conscript to politruk to KGB officer is instructive and eye-opening. His escape from the Soviet Zone in Vienna and subsequent death warrant are almost an anticlimax.

This is the book you want if you are looking to write a spy novel set in the 1950s!

Brittany 1944 (Five Stars)

Following the Normandy breakout the U.S. Army was sent racing towards Brittany to seize the German-held ports of Lorent, Saint Nazaire and Brest. This would simultaniously deprive the Kreigsmarine of U-boat bases and provide the Allies with badly-needed supply bases. This book looks at the effort to take on the German Army and Navy, the help provided by the French Resistance in the province and the backwater that the area became following Patton's all-out armored race to the Rhine. Often books about the Normandy Campaign and the Cobra breakout give scant mention of the fight in Brittany... a fight which because of changing priorities allowed the Nazis to maintain a grip on the Channel Islands and several of the ports right up until Germany's surrender in May 1945.


As always, a well-written book well-illustrated with maps, original artwork and photographs. A good addition to anyone's WWII library.

May Day in Magadan (Four Stars)

Ivan Duvakin is a victim of circumstance. Previously caught up in a scandal while working security in Moscow he now finds himself Magadan, a former center for the regional slave labor camps of the Gulag. Duvakin has been given a cushy job in Agitprop in the isolated town, which is literally in the middle of nowhere. And yet, because of a chance encounter at the airport he finds himself in the middle of a new plot that threatens to spin out of control and consume everything around it... including him.


Olcott's writing doesn't sugar-coat life under communism and the picture he paints of Magadan in the early 1980s, and the operations of the Militia and the KGB, certainly rings true. In a society where the signed "confession" replaces trials, can anyone expect justice?

F-15C vs MiG-23/25 (Four Stars)

This book in the Osprey Duel series looks at the MiG-23 and MiG-25 in combat against the F-15C during Operation Desert Storm. For a small volume it does an excellent job in discussing the development of all three aircraft and their subsequent fielding by the U.S. Air Force (F-15C) and the Iraqi Air Force MiG-23/25).

At first I thought it was odd to lump the MiGs together as each is a completely different aircraft design, each bearing unique characteristics. I was unaware that there were interceptor tactics which relied upon both aircraft working in tandem in order to defeat (under ideal conditions) the F-15. The writing does a good job of making the reader almost feel as if he's in the cockpit with the pilot and the photos and artwork definitely make it feel real. I was hoping, however, that there might at least be a mention of the MiG-25 recon, or spoofing, flights during Operation Desert Shield since this practice also showed the mettle of the Iraqi pilots who flew the Foxbats. Definitely learned a lot, though.

The Victorian Internet (Five Stars)

The invention of the telegraph, its development and its use in the 19th century as a communication device is discussed in this excellent volume. Real stories of telegraphy, some of them quite surprising, provide background to the story of this technology, a real leap forward in its time. Well-organized with good writing this is an excellent book. Whether you are fascinated by telegraphy or have never really thought about it before, this book will keep you entertained. Recently had to reread a second time!

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

The Turk: The Life and Times and the Famous Eighteenth-Century Chess-Playing Machine (Five Stars)

In the 18th Century, during a time when automatons were toys to amuse the rich and entertain the public, a mechanical chess player called the Turk was crafted in Austria and became the wonder of its time. Standage unwraps the history and myth of the machine over its 80 years of existence, during which it intrigued Benjamin Franklin, Charles Babbage and Edgar Allen Poe, all of whom the machine had some influence over. Despite much speculation it wasn't until much later in the machine's existence that all its secrets were discovered.

Very well-written, with illustrations. Definitely an excellent book to read even if you're not really interested in automatons.

Ever Your Own, Johnnie: Britain 1938-42 (three stars)

This book looks at the wartime service of John Kemp through the letters he wrote to his girlfriend and later wife. The book is very touching at times as John Kemp write about his service as a gunner in the Territorial Army prior to the outbreak of war, his promotion to sergeant, then later Battery Sergeant Major and then (briefly) Regimental Sergeant Major. The book gives some insight to Britain's desperate situation at the beginning of the war, deploying some batteries with obsolete (or at least inappropriate in the role) Vickers automatic antiaircraft weapons. Later these were replaced by 3.7 Inch Guns. Kemp's role as a non-commissioned officer (and warrant officer) in the battery makes for interesting reading.


I liked this book and I think it has valuable information about the state of air defense in Britain from the beginning of the War to the invasion of Italy in 1943. However, I think the information at the back of the book on the 3.7 Inch Gun, the organization of the Royal Artillery AA batteries, and the travels of Sergeant-Major Kemp would have been better if they were mixed in the narrative, between letters. Or, if they were mostly presented up-front.


Illustrated with personal photos. The book could have used a map as well.

Crashback (Five Stars)

Anyone familiar with the People’s Liberation Army (and its small adjuncts, the PLAF and PLAN) during the 1980s found it hard to take seriously: most of its aircraft and ships belonged in museums. It intended to rely on human-wave attacks in the event of a full-scale war. If it wasn’t equipped with nuclear weapons, it would hardly be of concern at all.

That is not the PLA or the Chinese Navy now.

China has the advantage that Germany initially had during WWII: unburdened by “legacy” warships which were out of date and consumed resources more efficiently spent elsewhere, Germany concentrated instead on warships which would prove to be of more use to her, such as heavy cruisers capable of outrunning enemy task forces sent after them and U-boats of entirely new design. China was unburdened by a legacy fleet when it began building its first real blue water navy. It has built modern warships armed with a variety of anti-ship missiles. The U.S. Navy, on the other hand, has not developed a new anti-ship missile in decades and has, in fact, removed the missile magazines on some older ships, relying on “multipurpose guns” to take on other ships and other missions.

China has been on a collision course with the United States for some time. Claiming its Exclusive Economic Zone as territorial waters, China is bullying Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan into abiding by this “interpretation” of international law. China is also showing more and more of a willingness to take on the United States itself… where will this end?
Reads like a novel while it opens your eyes. Well-illustrated with maps and photographs.

American Coastal Defenses, 1885-1950 (Five Stars)

This volume in the Osprey Fortress series looks at the Coast Artillery installations built throughout the United States and its territories to protect American soil from naval (and later, air) attack. The United States has always believed in defending its shores (the wars with the British made great use of the Royal Navy and taught some singular lessons to Americans) but this book focuses on the equipment, training, organization, fortifications and personnel of the Endicott-Taft System, the modern coast artillery created during the first half of the 20^th century. Army planners spread out the modern forts, with long-range, disappearing guns, very heavy mortars, remote-controlled mines and optical aiming equipment to key harbors along the coasts, predicting that a determined enemy from across the oceans would need to seize one or more in order to sustain an army on American soil. The possibility of airborne invasion or nuclear attack doomed the fortresses into obscurity.

Well-illustrated with photographs, artwork and maps.

GAZ-66 Variants (Four Stars)

If you've ever wanted to drive a GAZ-66 or shoot a ZU-23-2 then this is certainly a good place to start. I was particularly interested in the antiaircraft gun, which is photographed in good detail while particular controls are pointed out. If you are a modeler (and that's what this book is designed for) then you can hardly go wrong with the amount of information available here. I think I personally would have liked more details on the operation of the gun, but that's my own interest.

Technicals (Five Stars)

The last few decades have seen the rise of both the high-tech and the cheap-rent when it comes to weapon systems. On the low end are the "technicals," mobile support weapons created by putting automatic weapons on the back of relatively cheap, nimble pickups and other vehicles, allowing insurgents and militia to support their troops during assaults and provide covering fire. Lacking armor, these vehicles rely a lot on mobility to prevent being plastered. And it's not the occasional antiaircraft machinegun that is pressed into service either: recoilless rifles, grenade launchers, even air-to-air rocket pods all serve to provide backup from Nissans and landrovers.
A well-done book on an obscure topic but relevent to many who have served in the Middle Eastern wars. Excellent illustrations and commentary and great original artwork.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

Panic on the Pacific (Four Stars)

Following the attack at Pearl Harbor the Japanese followed up with a land-and-sea campaign which netted them Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, chunks of China and several American islands. Is it any wonder that Americans living on the West Coast believed that they might be next?




Bill Yenne examines the state of defense in the 4th Army area, which included Washington, Oregon and California, both before and after the attack in Hawaii. America remained woefully unprepared despite the fact that much of the United States' aircraft production happened to be on the West Coast. Only four U.S. Army divisions were located in the far west to prevent an invasion, yet these units were badly positioned to prevent a serious incursion against the Pacific states. There were almost no Navy warships (they had mostly gone to Pearl Harbor) and there were not enough aircraft to provide fighter cover or to attack an enemy task force at sea.




Meanwhile, General DeWitt (4th Army commander) and the governors of the Pacific states made the decision to relocate and intern Japanese living in the West, including citizens. Without FDR's acquiesence such a dishonorable measure could not have been carried out and this did little or nothing to protect the West Coast.




Well-written, with maps and black-and-white photos, this book tells a little-known story of American weakness early in WWII. It also includes a a bit of speculative history about what MIGHT have happened if Japan had decided to deny the United States the industries located on the West Coast and actually invade America. Overall, a good read!

Lincoln's Bodyguard (Five Stars)

If Lincoln had survived the Civil War things would have been different. But would they have been better?




T.J. Turner's alternate history features Joseph Foster, an Indian halfbreed who was assigned to be President Abraham Lincoln's personal bodyguard. When John Wilkes Booth attempts to murder the President in Ford's Theater he is himself killed by Foster's Bowie knife. But instead of the war ending Booth becomes a martyr to the Confederacy and the rebels do not return to their old lives but instead begin an insurgency which keeps the country from moving forward. Years later, southern raiders are attacking isolated Union units and holding trains up for ransom while the North takes the most heinous measures in retaliation. And Lincoln is caught in the middle of it all, unable to end the conflict.




Turner's book is riveting and suspenseful. The characters are well-developed and Bodyguard is a real page-turner!

Moonshine (three stars)

I got this book to provide some good background on moonshining in southern Ohio and possibly some info on my family, which was involved in the illicit production of liquor back in the 1920s-1940s. I didn't find any family history but much of the information is useful for understanding the role moonshine played in southern Ohio. Most of it focuses on the author's family. Some black-and-white photos included.

Baptism Under Fire (Four Stars)

Colonel Mandeep Singh looks at the 1965 war between India and Pakistan and the role antiaircraft played in it. During this short conflict both sides possessed a mix of obsolete aircraft (Indian Mysteres and Pakistani Sabres) and technologically-advanced fighters (Pakistani Starfighters and Indian MiG-21s). However, both sides relied upon 40mm guns to provide the bulk of their antiaircraft artillery. Neither side could adequately defend their manuever forces with the types of guns available but as the war progressed the guns were found to be effective at point defense when deployed intelligently. Colonel Singh conveys the courage of both sides in the air raids and dog fights of this short conflict, reminding us of the human element of this fight.


If there is a weakness in this book it is the editing of the text. VIJ Books certainly let Col. Singh down. Some sentences are repeated, there are mispellings and in some sections the idioms are used incorrectly. With that said, I never had a problem understanding what the author was trying to convey. I do wish there had been more maps as I am not familiar with the border area between India and Pakistan.


This study of the war is an excellent addition to my air defense library. Illustrated with black-and-white artwork and photographs.

The Army at War (The Vietnam Experience) (Four Stars)

This volume of the series looked at the War from the aspect of the "Patches," the big units of the U.S. Army which fought in the war (with just a couple of notable exceptions). These units include the 25th Infantry ("Tropic Lightning"), the 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") and the ill-fated Americal Division (24th Infantry Division). The book provides thumbnails of how the divisions were employed, what the state of their training and manning was upon arrival in Vietnam, what operations they participated in and where they operated. Each division is discussed in context and a graphic provides the period of service, the names of commanders and which brigades, regiments, battalions and independent companies/detachments came under their colors. The book also includes a section of original artwork showing the various uniforms worn by the Army during the conflict. If the Army in Vietnam is what interests you, then this book is for you!

Let's Declare Ourselves Winners (Five Stars)

I am a great admirer of Mauldin's work, from his early cartoons for the Army during WWII to his social commentary in the 1960s. While I didn't always agree with his politics I could still admire his angle in editorial cartoons. He always came up with something thoughtful without having to go for cheap shots or even the occasional graphic lie. There are a lot of so-called cartoonists today who could learn from this today.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

Hammer and Tickle (Four Stars)

Hammer and Tickle looks at the Soviet era and the way humor was shared in the totalitarian regimes which sprung up under communism. Ben Lewis looks at jokes under communism, what was considered funny, what the punishment was for making fun of communism and how the State viewed humor. Lewis traveled throughout Eastern Europe and former Soviet republics, reaching out to communist officials, secret policemen, convicted joke-tellers, etc. to get a unique perspective of the humor of the times. Has some illustrations.

Jefferson Davis in Blue (Four Stars)

Jefferson C. Davis had a unique history when the Civil War broke out: he was a sergeant who served during the Mexican-American War, who then got a direct commission into the U.S. Army when a promised slot at West Point failed to appear. He found himself at Fort Sumter when the first shots of the Civil War were fired and was soon embroiled in the confused fighting in the border state of Missouri. He next found himself in Kentucky during the 1862 Confederate invasion and the event which would follow him for the rest of his life took place in Louisville: the murder of General William Nelson following a heated argument as to the best means to defend the city.




The author does an excellent job of examining the whole incident with Nelson and explaining why no charges were ever made against General Davis. He also does a great job of discussing Davis's rise from brigade commander to corps commander, serving in the Atlanta campaign, the March to the Sea and the Carolina Campaign. His postwar career in Alaska and the Modoc War are also dealt with. A lot of information but well worth the read.

Bazooka vs Panzer (Four Stars)

Steven Zaloga does an awesome job of discussing the use of WWII bazookas against German tanks during the Battle of the Bulge, in particular using the engagement at the Krinkelt-Rocherath and the Lausdell crossroads as a way of illustrating both the use of the anti-armor weapons and the ability of the panzers even after they were hit. Full of useful information, Bazooka vs Panzer has info on both tyhe development of the Bazooka by the U.S. Army and the anti-tank measures developed by the Germans (although mostly in response to anti-tank rifles). A good book, it includes first-hand accounts of the fighting at the crossroads, original artwork, period photos, and maps. Another great Osprey book.

Soviets (Five Stars)

Danzig Baldaev's illustrations are awesome and he pulls no punches when it comes to life in the Soviet Union: Russian chauvinism, rampant alcoholism, fossilized bureacrats, worker inefficiency, mass shortages, perestroika, and the fate of the Soviet Afghan vets. The drawings can be ugly at times (especially when depicting many of the communist leaders as "zionists") but that is an unfortunate effect of totalitarianism: when the state lies about so many things EVERYTHING it says is suspect. The photos are a nice counterpoint to the illustrations, showing the Soviet's self-image.

Black Tudors (Four Stars)

Ms. Kauffmann has done an excellent job of bringing to light an excellent, if obscure, story of Africans who worked, lived and loved in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Sir Francis Drake, and King James. Kauffmann has researched enough to discuss the lives of craftwomen, sailors, servants and other Africans who lived in various parts of England at that time, and discussed other Africans who existed in various English records but for whom we have no other knowledge. The author humanizes these people, and encourages us to sympathize with them, to understand their heartaches and their triumphs. An excellent read, made that much better by Miranda Kaufmann's excellent writing and the color images depicting Africans in the 14th and 15th centuries. Extremely interesting to anyone who enjoys Shakespeare and this period in history.

King's African Rifles Soldier versus Schutztruppe Soldier (Five Stars)

A forgotten tale of World War One is the sheer scale of warfare on the African continent. Allied colonial forces (mostly British) took on the Schutztruppe of the German Empire, a force raised among the tribesmen of East Africa. In turn, the British Empire expanded the King's African Rifles. The war that kept men on the march through what is now Kenya, Tanzania, Moxambique and Malawi for four years is a testament to the guts and courage of the Africans who served in the colonies on both sides. Well-illustrated with contemporary photos, maps and original artwork.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

Illustrated Military History of Hungary (Four Stars)

An interesting book, lavishly illustrated throughout. This book looks at the role of the Hungarian military, from an armed band to a People's Army and beyond. It's a fascinating story that takes in Hungary's role as a bulwark against the Turks, its relationship with Austria, its membership in the Warsaw Pact and, later on, its membership in NATO. I've been fascinated with the Hungarians ever since serving with them in the Sinai while they provided the military police to the Multinational Force and Observers. My only critiscism is that the book misuses or garbles many English idioms.

Working Class Mystic: A Spirtual Biography of George Harrison (Four Stars)

This was a great book about George Harrison, the Beatle who sought more than the empty life of a pop star or the philanthropic projects many people would have established if they had the resources Harrison had access to. George Harrison wanted to understand the meaning of life and he sought it out in Hinduism and the mysticisim of the East. Tillery is able to make the reader understand the path that Harrison chose.

Friar Park: A Pictorial History (Five Stars)

Awesome book! This uses period photographs and artwork to show the reader some of the great features of the park and its buildings. If you are interested in George Harrison or even just got a kick out of some of his photos and videos shot on the grounds you should get this book.

Trump: the Complete Collection (Five Stars)

This book provodes a history of Harvey Kurtzman's first attempt to publish his own humor magazine. Originally called X, Trump employed artists from Mad Magazine, giving them an opportunity to do work that was far more impressive in the fill-color format and high-grade reproductions used in the new magazine. Unfortunately for Kurtzman the cost of Trump was too high, even with Playboy magazine footing the bill. Too far ahead of its time, Trump only published two issues. The book includes the two full issues which went to press, as well as artwork from pieces planned out for #3.

A Strange Engine of War: The "Winans" Steam Gun and the Civil War in Maryland (Four Stars)

I would have bet money that you couldn't get an entire book out of the invention known as the Winans Steam Gun but John W. Lamb proved me wrong. Mentioned in several Civil War books as an oddity, the steam gun never saw combat with either side. The machine held much promise for its ability to sling 2-ounce projectiles (about the weight of a minie ball used in rifle muskets) at the rate of a modern machine gun. With that being said, the machine had drawbacks... for instance, its unmistakable appearance on a potential battlefield and some difficulty in changing azimuth and elevation settings.




Much of the book is taken up with the people who actually invented, built and demonstrated it and the odyssey of the prototype, from the mysterious goings-on in Baltimore to an attempted clandestine trip to deliver it to Harper's Ferry (within striking distance of the Rebels) to its delivery by the Union Army to Fort Monroe. Nothing seems straightforward in this story but Lamb does his best to straighten it all out. Includes contemporary images of the machine as well as places and persons involved with it.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary VOL I (three stars)

Interesting book. Jones worked in the War Department and had access or interaction at least with many of the military and civilian players of the Confederate government. Written as a transcription of Jones's diary entries, it gives the reader a better feel as to how disconnected the central government of the CSA was from the distant fronts and even from Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Rumors and poor intelligence abound in this book and Jones's opinion of events such as the Emancipation Proclamation and the detrimental effect it would have on the North and the positive effect it would have on the South were way off. You also get the impression that the man wasn't a fan of people of Jewish faith either. Nevertheless, a good primary source in many things.

How NOT To Write a Novel (Five Stars)

Hilarious look at novel-writing that covers everything from authors who transplant 21st century attitudes to historical novels (who knew the Vikings could also be feminists?) to evil characters who are evil, not because of what they do but because of who they are ("Burt was an evil used car salesman... but I repeat myself") to characters who know each other 30 seconds and start telling each other wildly inappropriate information ("Well, you know I would drink but I'm a total teetotaler because of my father's alcoholism." "That's nothing. My mother gave atom bomb secrets to the Soviet Union and was executed for it.") this book is a fun read even if you DON'T plan to write that novel!

Desert Uniforms, Patches, and Insignia (four stars)

This is an interesting book, studying as it does what used to be a novelty: U.S. desert uniforms. All that changed during Desert Storm, although a specialized desert uniform design has been around since the early 1970s. Mr. Born discusses the development of desert uniforms for U.S. military use and has lavishly illustrated his book with many examples, based on the camo pattern and the service in which it was used. He even has photos of the variety of name tapes and patches which were used with the uniforms.








I found it of particular interest because of my own experiences. When Desert Shield began my unit was sent to a nearby warehouse where it turned out there were tons of DCUs in storage (we were part of the Rapid Deployment Force). Most of us didn't even know the Army HAD desert uniforms (I had only seen an illustration of paratroopers wearing them on peacekeeping duties in the Sinai). Now that we had the uniforms, we realized that we didn't have desert-style patches to sew on to them, nor could anyone tell us where to get any. So, we wound up sewing the green BDU patches onto the DCUs, since they were all we had.

In the Company of Wacs (Four Stars)

This book discusses Miss Elna Grahn's experiences as a WAC officer during WWII, when she helped organize a "mixed battery" of antiaircraft artillery, one in which women manned the instruments (range finder, predictor, etc.) and men loaded and fired the 90mm guns. At the time WACs were recruited for administrative and service duties that would allow men to be freed up for combat duty... the possible use of women in a "combat" role (even if that combat was protecting the United States against Axis air attack) would have been controversial in the extreme, which is why the experiment was kept secret... until the late 1960s. It turned out that the WACs were actually better at the targeting duties they were assigned. The book goes through some of the teething problems of the experiment, partially due to the new nature of the Women's Army Corps and the secrecy surrounding the project, as well as some interesting personal observations Grahn had during the experiment. An excellent book on this topic... women would not man antiaircraft weapons for the Army again until the late 1970s. Well illustrated with photos and artwork.

Women For Victory: Volume 2, The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) (Five Stars)

You will not find a better reference on WAAC uniforms than this. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs of Ms. Goebel modeling the uniforms, black and white contemporary photos of WAACs in uniform and a variety of WAAC-related items, it also includes excerpts from Army regulations governing the wear of the uniform and detailed information on various issues. Great for the historian or the reenactor!

Watching Men Burn: A Soldier's Story (Five Stars)

This book is Tony McNally's story... a British Army gunner in a Rapier battery, he witnessed war first-hand when his unit was sent to fight in the Falklands following the Argentine invasion of that British outpost in the South Atlantic. The Rapier surface-to-air missile system proved to be prone to failure, at least partially due to the rough handling it got on the way to the Falklands. Despite some spectacular failures of the system in "Bomb Alley" against a variety of Argentine aircraft it was later sent to support a landing further around the island... and McNally was forced to watch helplessly as the weapon refused to engage an Argentine attack aircraft which managed to bomb the transport Sir Galahad, killing dozens of British soldiers. McNally's painful journey after that event, which took him in and out of the Army and from job to job, shows the pain and anguish of victims of PTSD; his writing is colorful, ugly, even vulgar at times but honest about his experiences. Well-illustrated with photographs.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

John Wilkes Booth and the Women Who Loved Him (Five Stars)

Much has been written about John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln. However, this is only one I know of that looks, not just at the man, but at how he related to women. Booth, an actor, was the closest thing they had in the Civil War era to a movie star and like movie stars he had a number of relationships... some based on sex, some based on real sentiment, and one perhaps based on cold-blooded political need. Abel looks at Booth's women and their role in his life up to the assassination... then looks at their lives AFTER Booth. It is interesting too to look at how Booth's sex life might have had an effect on his acting skills and maybe even his plan to kill Vice-President Andrew Johnson. Well-illustrated with photos.

Shakespeare by Michael Wood (Five Stars)

As an illustrated biography of William Shakespeare this is an immensely enjoyable book. Michael Wood looks at Shakespeare's life as a playwright, a businessman, a poet, a family man and a courtier. One aspect I had never come across was a look at Shakespeare's religious beliefs and the context in which they took place.




During the 1500s England saw much in the way of religious strife due to the conflicting, and at time exclusionary, beliefs of Protestant and Catholic rulers. From childhood Shakepeare would have seen how this affected the life of his own parents, who were almost certainly practicing Catholics. This certainly had an effect on his work, determining which subjects he would pursue for his plays.




The book has some great contemporary illustrations as well as maps of some of the London neighborhoods Shakespeare lived and worked in. Definitely a good place to start if you really want to get to know the Bard.

GDR-Guide (Five Stars)

This is an excellent introduction to daily life in the German Democratic Republic. Meant as a guidebook to the DDR Museum in Berlin, it is an excellent book that provides information illustrated with photos, statistics, etc. about the Communist East. For a small volume it provides insight into how people lived, cut off from the rest of Germany.

Not Out of Africa (Four Stars)

In this book we look at Afrocentrism and how the left promoted a radical view of ancient history... radical in that it proposes that Egypt, and not the Greeks were the forebearers of Western Civilization.




Although written in the 1990s Ms. Lefkowitz's book examines some of the ills of modern academia, mainly historical revisionism and cultural appropriation. She does an excellent job of skewering the arguments that the Egyptians originated many of the philosophical and religious ideas attributed to the Greeks, pointing out problems of timelines and the weak arguments that so-and-so COULD have been Egyptian, etc. She also sinks the idea of "cultural appropriation" by asking a simple question: how can a culture be "stolen?" A culture can no more be stolen than an idea can.




The scariest part of this book was how no professors of ancient history publicly challenged afrocentric speakers on their so-called facts. We are seeing much the same kind of "pass" being given to Islamofascists who are being invited to speak at college campuses about civil rights.




The Egyptians have a great number of accomplishments they can claim as their own... there is no reason why the heritage of Plato et al has to be given to them as well.

Fighter Over Finland (Five Stars)

Excellent story of Luukanen, a pilot in the tiny Finnish Air Force who found himself outnumbered and supposedly outmatched, flying against the Soviets and the staggering numbers of aircraft they had at their disposal. During the Winter War the Finns fought on their own, with vague promises and moral support from the free world. Their aircraft were largely British and Dutch models, some of which were slower even than the Red bombers they tried to intercept!. However, Finland made the best use of the small number of planes they had at their disposal and when Round 2 (the Continuation War) came around the pilots of Finland managed to hold their own, flying aircraft provided by their "ally" Germany as well as Brewster Buffalos provided by the U.S.!








An amazing story, well-illustrated with maps, photographs and even descriptions of the aircraft involved, many of which saw very little combat outside of Finland.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

Zeppelin vs British Home Defence (Five Stars)

This impressive little book looks at the use of Zeppelins by Germany to bomb England into submission during the Great War and the lone fighters sent up to challenge them. I'll admit that when I purchased this book I hoped that it would also include the role of antiaircraft artillery and searchlights (as small as those roles were at the time). Nevertheless, this book is an impressive study of the fight between the primitive airships and the heavier-than-air craft sent up to intercept them. While on the face of it zeppelins suffered from a distinct disadvantage due to the use of hydrogen to generate lift the biplane sent after them were difficult enough to operate in daylight and dangerous in the dark. The planes also had to find the weapon that could bring down the giants without taking the attackers with it.




A good visual reference for dealing with the topic or a good starting point for learning about the Zeppelin War... in any case a great read!

The Alamo and the War of Texan Independence (Five Stars)

This Osprey book looks at the Mexican and Texan armies which fought until the capture of Santa Anna. While the Mexican army organized under Santa Anna's dictatorship appeared to be well-equipped and well-organized, in practice the troops were ill-served, thanks to corruption and poor management. On the other hand, the Texan army was not simply a rabble... the Texans were already working hard to equip a standing army and they had help from U.S. volunteers, including deserters from the U.S. Army. Some volunteer companies arrived in Texas in uniforms which were at least comparable to those the Mexicans were supposed to have, while others were dressed in more practical outfits. Still, Santa Ana's army had a wealth of experience and the Texans had little. It was truly a "David and Goliath" war.




The artwork and interpretation are first-rate. This book provides an excellent insight into a war that is little known to the public, with exception of the Alamo, a hard-fought and doomed battle that inspired TWO nations.

Russian Roulette (Four Stars)

This awesome book looks at the fallout from the Russian Revolution and the British secret agents sent in to stop world revolution. The efforts to stop the Bolsheviks included a raid against the Baltic Fleet, operations in Soviet Turkestan to stop Islamic Holy War propaganda, intelligence asessments in Petrograd and Moscow and even a coup aimed at toppling Lenin and replacing him with a candidate of Sidney Reilly's liking. An awesome book, it reads like fiction and is well illustrated with photographs.

If there is a flaw it is in the supposition that Britain's Secret Service had a hand in assassinating Rasputin. While the autopsy of the Mad Monk is at varience with what the conspirators reported there is only one agent's account that seems to put an agent in the building when it was happening. Also, Churchill's use of incapacitating gas near Archangel is played up more than it needs to be. Still, a great book!

A Frozen Hell (Four Stars)

Excellent study of the Winter War, which saw the USSR hurl entire divisions against tiny Finland's regiments and battalions. In a war that should have been a pushover for Stalin the Finns managed to do surprisingly well. An inspiration for many of the democracies still untouched by the new world war, it nevertheless saw Finland fighting a desperate war with no concrete help from outside. The hard fighting done by these free men still resonates today. A little redundant in places, but the book is well-illustrated with maps and photographs.

Spy Camera- The Minox Story (four stars)

Great book! I didn't realize that I got an older edition, but that's OK... I'm more interested in the "classic" minoxes, like the Minox-B. This book talks about the original vision of the Minox camera by Zapp, the rather confusing situation relating to the manufacture and sale of the Minox due to WWII and the occupation of Latvia by the Soviets, then the Germans, then the Soviets again. The manufacturing passed over to Germany (primarily) after the war and there were some changes to the board, so the speak. All very confusing but Moses addresses this. The book talks about the differences between individual camera models, the special lens that makes the Minox practical and several manufacturing facts. There is a chapter that very briefly discusses the use of the Minox in espionage (which is probably what it's best known for) and a lot of good information on special accessories. The book doesn't really look much at the Minox in popular culture (which I think is a mistake... you could almost do a whole book on that topic alone!) and it doesn't include information on how to operate the original Minox, but it does include serial numbers for identifying when your Minox C was made and other practical info so it balances out. Lavishly illustrated with photos.

Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History (Five Stars)

The pogrom that took place in Kishinev in what was in 1903 the Russian province of Besserabia was not the first nor the last nor even the worst of the pogroms which periodically rocked the Jewish population living in the Pale of Settlement but it was one which, for the first time, touched the imagination of people around the world to the plight of Jews living in the shadow of the Russian eagle, assuring the entry of the word "pogrom" into the English language. Zipperstein gives the reader an account of the attacks launched against the Jewish population of Kishinev, the acts of rape, murder and physical assault, the arbitrariness of the violence by the local Moldovan population and the seeming inability or unwillingness of the local police and military to get involved. Zipperstein also looks at the way the incident was captured by journalists and how it has effected the way we look at pre-revolutionary Russia to this day. Includes black and white photos and helpful maps.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion (Five Stars)

The Fires of Jubilee details the origins, execution, and outcome of Nat Turner's ill-fated three-day slave revolt. Stephen Oates writing, a bit florid in places, certainly conveys both the abject misery and injustice of slavery as practiced in rural Virginia in the first quarter of the 19th century as well as the horrors suffered by whites and blacks alike during his followers' murderous spree in Southampton County and the inevitable military action to suppress the rebellion... not to mention acts of vigilantes throughout Virginia and North Carolina against blacks thought to be involved in the Turner conspiracy. Oates is very good at balancing the reliability of Confessions of Nat Turner against what other historians have said about them. I found this an interesting book in light of local history (currently residing in Suffolk). If you're only going to read one book on this topic this is the one to get. Illustrated with maps.