The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Dirty Bob on May 19, 2020, 07:36:43 PM
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Regular brick-and-mortar bookstores are closed in many locales, so I'm suggesting some titles that are available electronically. Gun content in this list is always welcome, especially for those readers in places where ranges are still closed.
1. A classic: Shots Fired in Anger (https://archive.org/details/ShotsFiredInAnger/page/n8/mode/2up) / Lt. Col. John B. George
George's experiences on Guadalcanal in WWII as a junior officer. He was a competitive shooter, who wrote to his family to send him a scope to put on a 1903 Springfield, and he spent part of his time sniping. The last part of the book has evaluations of Japanese and US weapons used in the campaign. Highly recommended. Free on archive.org
2. A new book: Dogsoldiers (https://amzn.to/2LGTpZs) / James Tarr
The book follows a squad of guerrillas fighting in the ruins of Detroit in a "Red vs. Blue" civil war. Tarr is a gun guy, and it shows throughout. It's a very gritty story, that stays focused on the fight in Detroit, which is now a "backwater" of the war, far from the front lines. Lots of interesting details, from new infantry arms in the hands of the "Blue" government conscripts to how technology is affecting the urban battlefield. A real page-turner, and one I plan to read again. On Amazon Kindle and in paperback.
3. A Western: Brings the Lightning (https://amzn.to/2zOYjB8) / Peter Grant.
A lot of us grew up with Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey, but this is a different take on the West. After the Civil War, a former Confederate decides to head west and becomes a gun dealer to earn his living, buying "junk" guns and fixing them up to sell out on the frontier, where the prices are higher. This is the first book in a series. I've only read this one, but I loved the book and look forward to the others. Mr. Grant comes from Africa and is a former soldier and a former prison pastor. His blog -- Bayou Renaissance Man (https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/) -- is also worth a read. His books are available on Amazon, in Kindle and dead tree formats.
4. Bonus: Another title by Tarr: Bestiarii (https://amzn.to/3cT5ya0), is set in a near future in which Mexico was the site of something like a Jurassic Park: a site that was destroyed as a civil war flared up in the country. Years later, the war goes on, and a wealthy man and his son head down to Mexico for the hunting trip of a lifetime. Things don't go according to plan. I really enjoyed this book! Available as an Amazon Kindle book, or in physical form from Amazon or at barnesandnoble.com.
By the way, if you don't want to buy anything, try archive.org and gutenberg.org (as well as gutenberg.net.au/) for thousands of free digital books.
So, what can ya'll recommend for our summer reading, whether it's at the beach or in a backyard hammock?
Thanks,
Dirty Bob
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I've got nothing to add right now, but you set my brain a spinnin'.
I will be following this, and you guys will build my stack higher than I have time for.
POST ON!!!
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I read "Shots Fired in Anger, I found it on Amazon, It was either free or very inexpensive on Kindle.
His comments on Japanese small arms seem to be mostly wrong, but it's a real good account of the Army on Guadalcanal.
A couple things about Internet Archive, Gutenburg, and Kindle.
You may need to download an app for non kindle books, I use book Bazaar with no problem.
They don't work with Kindle, and if you download the Kindle patch you can only download from Amazon. You can't download Kindle format to a non kindle except from Amazon, the other formats are OK.
I was fortunate enough that a friend dropped off 2 big boxes of books recently, many old childhood friends, The Ragged Rugged Warriors by Martin Caiden, First and the Last by Adolf Galland,
The one I'm currently reading, The Man Without a Face is a hostile description of Putin's rise to power.
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I like EJ's books. He has 4 or 5 out. Here are the first two below:
Oath Keeper
https://www.amazon.com/Oath-Keeper-Daryl-Simmons-ebook/dp/B01N6EQK30/ref=pd_sim_351_1/144-1937453-7725768?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01N6EQK30&pd_rd_r=14c5d1fa-e0fe-47bb-86f2-c3e985ccf49b&pd_rd_w=zBdwz&pd_rd_wg=5qTSF&pf_rd_p=6f740e39-0c25-4380-8008-7a4156dab959&pf_rd_r=NPY35NG7FN7D0MQW29PQ&psc=1&refRID=NPY35NG7FN7D0MQW29PQ (https://www.amazon.com/Oath-Keeper-Daryl-Simmons-ebook/dp/B01N6EQK30/ref=pd_sim_351_1/144-1937453-7725768?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01N6EQK30&pd_rd_r=14c5d1fa-e0fe-47bb-86f2-c3e985ccf49b&pd_rd_w=zBdwz&pd_rd_wg=5qTSF&pf_rd_p=6f740e39-0c25-4380-8008-7a4156dab959&pf_rd_r=NPY35NG7FN7D0MQW29PQ&psc=1&refRID=NPY35NG7FN7D0MQW29PQ)
Land of the Free
https://www.amazon.com/Land-Free-Daryl-Simmons-ebook/dp/B01N9G5R9U/ref=pd_sim_351_1/144-1937453-7725768?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01N9G5R9U&pd_rd_r=e9f14112-af65-4fb5-82b6-292767a516ae&pd_rd_w=1hmb7&pd_rd_wg=nB8YX&pf_rd_p=6f740e39-0c25-4380-8008-7a4156dab959&pf_rd_r=BQYAEFKS62RZ6QB2P6Q5&psc=1&refRID=BQYAEFKS62RZ6QB2P6Q5 (https://www.amazon.com/Land-Free-Daryl-Simmons-ebook/dp/B01N9G5R9U/ref=pd_sim_351_1/144-1937453-7725768?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01N9G5R9U&pd_rd_r=e9f14112-af65-4fb5-82b6-292767a516ae&pd_rd_w=1hmb7&pd_rd_wg=nB8YX&pf_rd_p=6f740e39-0c25-4380-8008-7a4156dab959&pf_rd_r=BQYAEFKS62RZ6QB2P6Q5&psc=1&refRID=BQYAEFKS62RZ6QB2P6Q5)
They are very accurate on the methods of investigation used today. Something that is good to know.
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If you like semi fiction, Check out the Survivalist series by Jerry Ahern, He works the names and products of real people into his stories.
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/survivalist/
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OK, I got the winner.
Fire Arms Curiosa, by Lewis Winant (https://amzn.to/2LSZz9g) . ;D
It's more a reference book of pre 1965 weird actions, I was looking for those pinfire ring pistols. ;D
He doesn't mention them so while they are cool they are unlikely to be very old. ;D
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I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Our public library uses apps to allow you to borrow books online - FREE. One app is called "LIBBY". The other is "AXIS360". Just log in with your library card number and borrow what they have. I've been reading the Tom Clancy/Vince Flynn/Brad Thor genre books. Lots of good authors with their "Ex Seal/Unit/Recon" heroes. Beats watching the propaganda on TV. Seeing the "C" word (corona) trips my "change the channel" switch. Same with the "I" word (impeach) or the "F" word (Flynn). Lately the word Fauci has become irritating. Anyhow I do enjoy reading and since it's free I just keep downloading books and keep sane.
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I think we are seeing the end of "mass market" dead tree books reference material will still be printed, but news papers, magazines, and probably popular fiction will go digital completely.
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I think we are seeing the end of "mass market" dead tree books reference material will still be printed, but news papers, magazines, and probably popular fiction will go digital completely.
Gee I hope not......
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Gee I hope not......
That was my first reaction, but carrying 500 books in my pocket and adjustable print size are big pluses.
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Honestly, it is expensive and not as handy (reworded, because I can't for the life of me spell konveenuent), but I want to die with a reading area stocked with good old paperback and hardcover books that are well worn from reading. Picture a million dollar library fit for William Randolph Hearst's San Simeon in a $25,000, shack.
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That's just it Mike, It can be in the homeless guys jacket pocket .
I know, I wear one of those camouflage jackets ;D
Actually I wear them because they cover my pistol and have pockets for phone, tablet , charger ,wallet etc, all of which make me appear lumpy and better hide my pistol. ;D
Here's another thing about digital content.
Col George Chinn USMC wrote a 5 volume book on every known machinegun before 1965.
Amazon has individual volumes a $300+
I found them online free download.
There are others like that I've got.
On top of that it's instant, you finish volume 2 you don't have to wait for the next one to come by mail.
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Wow, some great suggestions!
I, too, love physical volumes. I worked many years as a librarian, and many of my favorites were found by browsing shelves and discovering treasures.
That said, electronic books give me a way to expand my library without pushing us out of the house. I converted our "formal living room" into a comfortable library, with a wall of books, but we finally ran out of space.
I mentioned Gutenberg, Gutenberg Australia, and archive.org, but another free source of reading material is Baen books (https://www.baen.com/) (www.baen.com/). All of their content is DRM-free (Digital Rights Management), which means that once you own it, you are free to do whatever you want with it. They offer a variety of formats for download, as well. I like books on laptops and iPads, so I can read during lunch breaks at work.
They have free stuff! At their Free Library (https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/2012) section, download anything you want. Gun content wise, they have for free several books, including a favorite of mine: Monster Hunter International (https://www.baen.com/monster-hunter-international.html), by Larry Correia, which starts with a gun-toting accountant being attacked by a supernatural creature. As a bonus, there's a "Monster Hunter Ballad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86bn8mV-ad8)" on YouTube that you might find amusing.
Another fun book is Freehold (https://www.baen.com/freehold.html), by Michael Z. Williamson, a guy who makes knives, swords, and AK-47s (actually AKMs, if it matters) for fun. Also lots of fun is John Ringo's Gust Front (https://www.baen.com/gust-front.html), the first book of his extensive series about the invasion of earth by the horrific Posleen. Another book in the series -- A Hymn Before Battle (https://www.baen.com/a-hymn-before-battle.html) -- is also free to download. David Drake has several free titles, including a science fiction work about mercenaries protecting a colony -- Redliners (https://www.baen.com/redliners.html) -- that I really enjoyed.
Everything is linked for your convenience. I hope you enjoy them!
All my best,
Dirty Bob
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Regarding Jerry Ahern...
Thank you, @Majer, for bringing up the "other" Jerry (the one who isn't Jerry Miculek, but who wrote a lot of books) in the gun culture. I read most of the books in the series: The Survivalist. I found it amazing that the protagonist manages to find his brand of -- and specific load! -- of .45 ACP ammo in a semi truck at the side of the road in the second book, IIRC.
They're fun books, though. I got to meet Jerry Ahern at Dragon Con, in 1991 or 1992, and he was a heckuva nice guy and very patient with everyone. His non-fiction books on concealed carry and self-defense are worth reading. He had a different take on things than many other gun writers, and had some really good ideas.
One interesting title was his last book: Written in Time, about an author and his family who are transported back to the late 19th century. There's a lot of Jerry and his family in that book. It was a fun read, and I liked his take on time travel.
Thanks, Majer! I'll have to go take a look at some of my Jerry Ahern books, now!
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Thank God for Kiley Mutney.
The wonderful young lady who gave me 2 huge boxes of books.
There were several that I had not seen anywhere since I read them as a Kid.
The Ragged Rugged Warriors, by Martin Caiden
Helmet for My Pillow, by Robert Leckie being 2 of them.
I'm just starting a new to me one called Wolves in the City, by Paul Henissart, It's about the end of the French Algerian war in 1961/62.
I've read Redliners, and Liked the Gust Front series.
Anything by John Ringo, or David Drake is good, particularly the Hammer's Slammers series.
The Sanctuary series by Robert Crane is OK.
David Weber actually does pretty good with his Honor Harrington series.
The Marius' Mules series by SJA Turney is a good look at the story of Caesar .
Another I've found is the Crimson World series by Jay Allen.
That's all fiction, for fact I've got Wild life in Central Africa by Denis D Lyell,
A Splendid Savage by Steve Kemper is a Biography of Fredrick Burnham , It's basically a retelling of Burnhams own book, " Scouting on 2 Continents" but includes detail Burnham left out. On the minus side Kemper is a modern liberal judgemental asshole.
Anything by Peter Capstick, FC Selous, or J.M Patterson, or Jim Corbett.
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Col George Chinn USMC wrote a 5 volume book on every known machinegun before 1965.
Amazon has individual volumes a $300+
I found them online free download.
Would you still happen to have the link??? I would love to look at that!
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Found them:
https://archive.org/search.php?query=George%20Chinn
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Another author to suggest: Matthew Bracken!
His website is: http://enemiesforeignanddomestic.com/
He's an outspoken former SEAL, a heckuva nice guy, and an author of dystopian, gun-heavy books!
He wrote the Enemies Foreign and Domestic trilogy, which starts with a false-flag mass shooting for political gain and leads to a corrupt dystopia. This was written long before Senator Hope'n'Change ran for President and then after being elected decided that crimes for political gain (Operation Fast & Furious) were a great idea.
I love the trilogy, but my two favorite Bracken books are Castigo Cay (pronounced "key") and The Red Cliffs of Zerhoun. These books take place in the dystopian future that is created by the decline that starts near the end of Matt's first book. The protagonist of both books is a boat owner who bears some resemblance to Mal Reynolds of the series Firefly and the movie Serenity. Like any boat captain and entrepreneur suffering under a gangster government, he's sometimes just a few steps ahead of the law. With technology and infrastructure crumbling, he and others have to improvise and overcome challenges. I've gotten good ideas from both books that I'm incorporating into my preps, and I had a great time reading both.
In addition to a large number of free articles and essays, all of Matt's books are featured in long excerpts on his website, so go see if he's your kind of writer. If so, get a signed copy straight from Matt, or go through Amazon.
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+1 on Matt's books. He also from time to time puts them up for free to download. I keep looking for his nt release as he is a very engaging writer.
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I'm almost done with "Marine" The Life of Chesty Puller.
Not sure what I'm reading next I had started the Game of Thrones series but just couldn't stick with it.
I may go back to that, or possibly Gulag Archipelago again.
I bought a couple other Kindles a while back and don't even remember what they were.
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I’m almost done with Richard Ben Sapir’s The Far Arena, about a Roman gladiator found frozen in ice. Good book!
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Admiral Flucky's thunder bellow. Its his story about being the captin of the most successful us sub( uss barb) in ww2 and tactical theory. Just some of the highlights. A sub that sunk a train in the only ground attack on the Japanese mainland.
Harder to find for sale, but most librarys have it. Well worth the time to find it
Short video about it