History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour

Average customer rating:

An extraordinary well done history
Learned A Lot That Is New
Great book, but...
Gene's review of Tin Can Sailors
The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
James D. Hornfischer
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553381482
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Book Description

“This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can.”

With these words, Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland addressed the crew of the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts on the morning of October 25, 1944, off the Philippine Island of Samar. On the horizon loomed the mightiest ships of the Japanese navy, a massive fleet that represented the last hope of a staggering empire. All that stood between it and Douglas MacArthur’s vulnerable invasion force were the Roberts and the other small ships of a tiny American flotilla poised to charge into history.

In the tradition of the #1 New York Times bestseller Flags of Our Fathers, James D. Hornfischer paints an unprecedented portrait of the Battle of Samar, a naval engagement unlike any other in U.S. history—and captures with unforgettable intensity the men, the strategies, and the sacrifices that turned certain defeat into a legendary victory.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

An extraordinary well done history.......2007-09-27

It is often said that teaching and learning in high school is a mile wide and an inch deep. All I ever heard and read in high school about WWII and the naval battles against the Japanese Navy in the Pacific is that the United States won the war! This book capably presents the truth that it was never quite a certainty as the battles unfolded. It is a wonderful thing to have a talented writer and researcher as Hornfischer dedicate his extraordinary talent in presenting this excellent well written definitive history of the US and Japanese naval battles near the Phillipines in October of 1944. This book is very highly recommended as an excellent and thought provoking history as well as a true testimonial to the bravery of U.S Navy personnel in battle.

Learned A Lot That Is New.......2007-09-16

I'm about two-thirds of the way through the book. Even at this point, I've learned a lot that I hadn't really appreciated before.

First of all, sometime back I read a book about the naval battle of Guadalcanal. In that battle, it seems as if all the Japanese had to do to sink one of our ships was to get just one hit on it. By the time of the Battle Off Samar, American ship building must have radically improved. Even the American ships that went down were hit literally dozens of times before finally succumbing to the inevitable. And lots of other American ships were hit but kept fighting and were still fighting at the end of the war.

Another realization was the awful damage 16-inch naval guns do to the human body when they hit a ship and explode. The mental picture I used to have of WW II naval warfare was antiseptic. Yes, guys died -- but I saw it as ever so much cleaner than the awfulness of land warfare. The author of the book has descriptions of what the results were. Naval guns were far bigger than anything in land warfare. The biggest shell for field artillery was about the size of a football. In the Navy, the plentiful six- and eight-inch guns had shells as big as a five footballs. And the 16" (or 18" for two of the Japanese Navy's "super" battleships") were as big as a garbage can and weighed as much as a Volkswagen. When they exploded, huge chunks of the sides of ships would be opened up like a tuna can even though it was inch-thick steel. The effect on the human body was even more devastating. Guys were literally ripped apart and sometimes whole compartments of guys were ripped apart so badly that one guy couldn't be identified from another. It was, literally, like an explosion in a meat locker. Never again will I think that naval warfare was antiseptic. (This is also something of a warning that if you read the book you're going to get all those descriptions too. If you don't think you can stomach it, then you'll either have to skip over those sections or skip the book.)

The book also follows the survivors of the ships that went down as they bobbed in the water waiting for rescue. Their time in the water was made more troubling by the fact that they were constantly being circled by sharks. It was their "good fortune" to be covered with bunker oil from the sunken ships that apparently acted both as a shark repellent and a sun block. But, unlike every other book I've read or movie I've seen, the whole story of a naval battle isn't over when the shooting stops. And, it isn't easy to spot guys in the water with a whole ocean to look at. It was also interesting how, despite the desperate situation they were all in, they all worked to help the wounded among them first. (Unlike the movie warriors who are all fight, the tenderness displayed to the worse off among them is remarkable.)

This is a great book for anyone wanting to know what World War II naval warfare was really like.

Also, there are a lot of maps that help to follow ship movements.

Great book, but..........2007-09-14

I enjoyed the book and the heroism of the sailors and airmen who fought the battle has seldom been equaled. However, the whole reason they were in this terrible position to begin with was poor decision making and poor communication from the higher levels, esp Halsey. I found that after a while that fact made the book a bit depressing for me. It seems obvious that such a powerful Japanese fleet should have been given more respect (watched closely, etc.) since Halsey knew it was in the area.

Gene's review of Tin Can Sailors.......2007-09-13

A very good narrative with human interest about an important naval engagement of the WWII. How the US Navy reacted to an almost impossible situation that seemed hopeless. Read his other book about the sailors of the USS Houston who sank and survived to help build the highway in the jungle which included the Bridge over the River Quai. He is a very good author!

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.......2007-09-13

Having served on 3 destroyers (Tin Cans) 1952-1965, two of the Fletchers, this book brought back many memories, both good and bad, of those years of service and sailing on those ships. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it difficlut to put down. There are so many heroic stories to be told that have not been revealed, and so many more that will never be told, but I thank this author for telling this one.
Kenneth E. Irons

Tenacious: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures)

Average customer rating:

Another Great Kydd Novel
Action in the Med
Kydd improves as Stockwyn does.
Another Stockwin home run.
Tenacious

Tenacious: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures)
Julian Stockwin
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1590131193

Book Description

This book finds Thomas Kydd aboard Tenacious, part of a small squadron commanded by Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson. Its mission is to scour the Mediterranean and locate Napoleon and his army. Kydd's newly fired ambition leads him to volunteer for shore service in the capture of Minorca. Later, he faces the great ships-of-the-line at the Battle of the Nile as the British take on the French in a no-holds-barred struggle for supremacy in southern waters. But there is one more test to come: the Siege of Acre, where Kydd and a handful of British seamen under the command of Sir Sidney Smith face an army of thirteen thousand!

Customer Reviews:

Another Great Kydd Novel.......2007-05-30

"Tenacious" is the sixth, and best so far, book in Julian Stockwin's "Kydd" series. These books are set in the Napoleonic-era Royal Navy and follow in the same vein as C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books.

In "Tenacious," Lieutenant Kydd is posted aboard the 64-gun Tenacious. Kydd sees action at the Battle of the Nile (where he meets Horatio Nelson and is inspired in his career by that great leader), the retaking of Minorca, and the Siege of Acre. Kydd, who began his career as a pressed seaman, is now a confident leader and officer in the Royal Navy - and more importantly, an inspired fighter.

Although this genre was obviously inspired by C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian, the Kydd novels remind me more of Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" series of books. Richard Sharpe started as a private in the British Army and ended up an officer, just as Kydd started as a pressed seaman and eventually walked the quarterdeck as an officer. But more than that, Kydd's adventures, and Stockwin's use of some dramatic license to involve Kydd in almost every major military engagement of the time (whether at land or at sea), are more in the style of the Sharpe books than the older Hornblower or Aubrey-Maturin books.

Stockwin can tell great sea tales about Thomas Kydd, and this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys military historical fiction or the Napoleonic era.

Action in the Med.......2007-02-13

The year is 1798. HMS Tenacious has been sent from Halifax to join St. Vincent's fleet off Cadiz. They are detached to sail with Admiral Nelson into the Med and find the French fleet. They serve at the Battle of the Nile (Aboukir Bay), then at the retaking of Minorca, the evacuation of Naples, and finally at the defense of Acre against Napoleon's Army (see "Savage Siege" by Adam Hardy).

The novel has good descriptions of blazing action, interspersed with social events on shore which I found a little tedious. One hoped that Kydd would become involved with a woman or two, but that does not seem to happen (unlike Lieutenant Fox of the Adam Hardy series, who at one point found himself with a Turkish harem). I think perhaps the author tried to cover too many actions in the same novel. While descriptions of naval action are well written and interesting, it might have been spiced up with a little more detail. He does not mention, for example, the women aboard English ships at the Nile (see "John Nicol Mariner" for a first hand account) some of whom carried powder to the guns. He does not seem to go into the relationship betweem Nelson and Lady Hamilton, or incidents like Nelson hanging an officer from Naples, said to have been done at the instigation of Lady Hamilton (see James Fennimore Cooper's "Wing-and-wing").

I might add that the poem, "The boy stood on the burning deck...," was about the burning of the French flagship at the Battle of the Nile. It might also be noted that the French still had active ships after the battle, and the English 4th rate Leander was captured by the French ship Genereux 3 days after the battle while in route to Gibraltar carrying news of the battle.

Kydd improves as Stockwyn does........2007-01-14

The earlier Kydd sagas took a bit of fortitude to get through. Clearly, Stockwyn was so invested on seamanship, he did not seem as committed to spinng a page turning yarn. However, as time has gone on, Stockwyn and his hero, Kydd have improved. In this most recent novel, Stockwyn takes us into the presence of Lord Horatio Nelson, through the eyes of Thomas Kydd. It is a fascinating and compelling experience. The story is well told and of course endowed with the qualities of seamanship and historical perspective, which have made Julian Stockwyn a real master of this genre.

One feels the surge of rising along with Kydd, through the clumsy early novels, much like Kydd's clumsy growth before the mast. Now that he has become an officer, there is a greater sophistication to the plots and storylines, which truly make the reader feel the saga as a matter of personal experience.

Bravo Julian Stockwyn for germinating, tending and growing the fascinating, engaging Thomas Kydd!

Another Stockwin home run. .......2007-01-10

Stockwin hits another into the stands with his latest in the saga of Thomas Kydd's Royal Navy career at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Plausible, very readable and addictive. Keep them coming Mr. Stockwin.

Tenacious.......2006-11-12

Outstanding. Stockwin's discription of the Battle of the Nile is first rate. I always wondered why The British captains took a chance by sailing between the anchored French Line of Battle and the shore. Surely the risk of grounding was extremely high. Stockwin explains that the British took note of the way the French were moored, which allowed for their ships to swing at their moorings. Thus giving away the depth of water between ship and shore. Wonderfully discriptive of the recapture of The Island Of Minorca. The mysterious Renzi is revealed to be a much more complex character, and Kydd's standing continues to rise, as does Stockwin. To paraphase Nelson,
"No writer can do very wrong if he places his pen alongside a great yarn"

Honor, Courage, Commitment: Navy Boot Camp

Average customer rating:

A worthwhile read for those going in the Navy & their families.
Honor, Courage, and Commitment
Disappointed
I was in this bootcamp division!!
Hoor, Courage, Commitment: Navy Boot Camp

Honor, Courage, Commitment: Navy Boot Camp
J. F. Leahy
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1557505365

Book Description

Through words and pictures, J. F. Leahy chronicles the transition of eighty-one men and women from civilians to sailors at the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. Revealing a side of today's youth that many will find surprising, his examination of the unique American institution--popularly known as boot camp--offers a look into the hearts and minds of a group of young people who are a cross section of the nation. The work sheds light on the controversy over gender integration and helps bridge the gap between the military services and the society they serve.

During the fall of 2000, the author was granted unlimited and unprecedented access to the recruits from the time they arrived at Chicago's airport until their graduation. Observing their training evolutions first hand, he interviewed them at every opportunity and surveyed them through a series of his own specially designed reaction papers. He watched them as they struggled through obstacle courses and learned how to fight shipboard fires. He listened as they shared their feelings, and he cheered them on as they faced the challenges of "Battle Stations" and tested their physical, mental, and moral preparations before entering the fleet. Leahy also shared their pride at the final parade and graduation ceremonies. Both eye-opening and inspiring, his guide will be valuable to future recruits and those who influence them, as well as those who have been there and want a reminder of that special time in their lives.

Customer Reviews:

A worthwhile read for those going in the Navy & their families........2007-10-20

My son is joining the Navy. I was very interested to know what the boot camp experience might be like for him. I think this book has given me a good idea of what he'll be facing. In some ways the information was a relief and in some ways a warning. I am glad I read it.

Honor, Courage, and Commitment.......2007-09-21

I recommend this book for any parent who wants to experience their Navy Recruit's experience in the Training Recruit Command Program at Great Lakes (Boot Camp. It made me feel closer to my son and made the "Pass In Review" graduation ceremony more meaningful, having read the book.

Disappointed.......2007-08-24

Enjoyed reading the book, howver it is quite obvious special attention was awarded to the recruits while Leahy was there observing Great Lakes to write this book. I just had a son graduate on August 10, 2007 and trust me things are quite different than the book portrays.

I was in this bootcamp division!!.......2007-06-28

This was my division that the book was written about. DIVISION 005. At the time I wasnt married and my name was Michelle Gray. There is a pic or 2 of me in the book. I went through bookcamp from OCT 2000-Dec 2000. Mr Leahy was there with us every day from sun up to sun down. I only recently got the book to read and it brang back sooo many memories. I think this book is great for anyone wondering how bootcamp will be. Even though things have changed alot through the yrs most of bootcamp is the same. Bootcamp has gotten easier and you get more sleep at night now!!!! If anyone needs any info or wants to know anything about bootcamp you can email me with any questions. I am still in the Navy and stationed in Japan right now. I have been in for almost 7 year and have never been on a ship out to sea. Guess you can say Im pretty luck! [...]

Hoor, Courage, Commitment: Navy Boot Camp.......2007-06-11

Wonderful account of what to expect for my son who will leave for Great Lakes in 2 weeks. Received book on Friday and did not put it down until I finished it today. The other members of the family will be reading this also. From what friends who have been in the Navy have related, this is a very accurate picture of life as a recruit.

Quarterdeck: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures)

Average customer rating:

Must Have Missed Something...
The Kydd Novels Keep Getting Better
Good book in series
A very highly recommended novel for general readers partial to action/adventure on the high seas
A different form of Royal Navy adventure

Quarterdeck: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures)
Julian Stockwin
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1590131150

Book Description

In the fifth adventure of Thomas Kydd's, he was promoted to acting lieutenant after the bloody Battle of Camperdown in October 1797. Now, he must face an examination to confirm his rank-or face a shameful return before the mast. The questions are hard, the commissioners hardened sailors, and Kydd is anxious.

Customer Reviews:

Must Have Missed Something..........2006-10-11

I ordered this title after finishing Mutiny, the previous book of the series. I consider that title one the better Stockwin novels in the way it integrated the hero, Thomas Kydd, into the momentous events of the Royal Navy's history. Unfortunately, I find that quality missing in Quarterdeck. The novel begins well enough but Thomas Kydd's concerns about being a 'gentleman' seems to me a thin thread on which to hang a narrative. I don't believe the theme was treated with enough depth to sustain the novel. I've been reading through Vanity Fair at the same time which deals much better with the vagaries of the English class system.
Later episodes of the story don't help the book either. The commando style derring-do of the French privateer's sabotage borders on the incredulous. Stockwin does his research, so I might be wrong there. The episode aboard the USS Constellation following the privateer incident is just as bothersome. Thomas Truxtun was known to be obsessed with his stature and idea of him treating with a British junior lieutenant is a bit far-fetched. Benjamin Stoddert, the US Secretary of the Navy, did exchange some signalling information with the British Admiral Vandeput in July, 1798 and a novelist is free to imagine the circumstances of the exchange, but I had hoped for a little more creative imagination.
I was happy when this series started; it's about time that someone wrote about the common sailors in the Age of Sail instead of the silk-stocking officer corps. After all, they were the ones who did most of the fighting and most of the dying, but this series seems to suffer from hasty composition and plotting. Still, it was engaging enough;I did manage to finish the novel instead of hurling it across the room. I can't say that about some others I've tried to read. After Mutiny, I had greater expectations and was disappointed. I don't know if I want to read further.

The Kydd Novels Keep Getting Better.......2006-05-25

"Quarterdeck" is the fifth book in Julian Stockwin's "Kydd" series. These books are set in the Napoleonic-era Royal Navy and follow in the same vein as C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books.

In the first book, Kydd was initially a pressed seaman, but Kydd has now earned a king's commission and can walk the quarterdeck as a lieutenant. In "Quarterdeck" he serves on a ship-of-the-line sent to the North American station. Although he is filled with the self-doubt of as he tries to live in the world of officers and gentlemen, Kydd enjoys some interesting and original adventures and has a very successful start to his career as an officer in the King's Navy.

Although it has taken a few books, I'm finally truly enjoying Julian Stockwin's books. "Mutiny" was a very good book, and "Quarterdeck" is by far the best of the five "Kydd" novels. Kydd is growing as a character and Stockwin's writing style is developing. Anyone who has enjoyed Horatio Hornblower or Patrick O'Brian will enjoy these books.

Good book in series.......2006-04-22

The fifth book in the Kydd series (see my reviews of _Kydd_, _Artemis_, Seaflower_, and Mutiny_)sees our protagonist promoted to lieutenant and shipped off to North America. It's obvious that Kydd does not fit in with the other officers in the Royal Navy with whom he must serve. He simply comes from a different social class. This is the central theme of the book. The episodes are not as exciting as in the previous books, but this book is pivotal to the growth of Kydd as an officer in the Royal Navy. He is loaned to an American ship as an observer/advisor, where he experiences first hand how people can rise in society based on their merits. When he is offered a position in the American navy, Kydd seriously considers it. This seems like a dream come true. What will he do? Does he stay loyal to king and country, or does he do what millions have done-go with the future and opportunity? This book is interesting in that the conflict he feels is what every potential emigrant must face. One can only imagine one's own ancestors wrestling with the same conflict.

A very highly recommended novel for general readers partial to action/adventure on the high seas.......2006-03-10

Quarterdeck, an intriguing novel by Julian Stockwin, is the fifth book in the "Kydd Sea Adventure" series. Readers will continue to follow Thomas Kydd through his newest adventure as he steps foot onto the 64-gun battleship, the Tenacious. Characterized by hazardous battles and enigmatic heroism, Quarterdeck is a very highly recommended novel for general readers partial to action/adventure on the high seas, as well as a "must" for those already following the Kydd Sea Adventure Series.

A different form of Royal Navy adventure.......2006-02-16

Thomas Kydd has survived the Battle of Camperdown, arriving back home as an acting lieutenant. In wartime, men could advance by their abilities. The novel opens with Kydd being examined for a commission. He does have a champion on the examining board. Having obtained his step up to lieutenant, he is taken in hand by his friend Renzi for training to be a gentlemen. In that regard, his sister Cecilia, now a companion of Lady Stanhope, takes a hand. But when Thomas reports back aboard ship, he finds that the captain is an upperclass prig who does not want tarpaulin lieutenants on "his ship." (That upperclass attitude is reflected in the novels of Frederick Marryat, written in the early 19th century, and did exist in the Royal Navy). The captain attempts to have him removed without success (one can wonder what is left unsaid; was the captain told, perhaps, that Thomas was a friend of Lord Stanhope and known to Admiral Onslow?). In any case, Thomas stays on board, for better or for worse.

Action proceeds, and Thomas finds he can no longer be "one of the guys" before the mast and, at the same time, he does not fit in well with the "gentlemen" officers, having no small talk about foxhunting, society, etc. Thomas makes a few gaffes, getting some unwanted attention from the Admiral, but also distinguishes himself in some detached duties.

He finds himself seconded as a naval observer to the fledgling United States Navy, and making some acquaintances that may show up in the future. Returning to the squadron in Halifax, he obtains some detached duty doing a hydrographic survey, and makes a chance acquaintance with a mysterious, very beautiful young woman whom he invites as his companion to a state function in Halifax which he must attend. That leads to some unexpected results and a sudden rise in social status.

We will have to wait for the sequels to see what further adventures the author has in mind for Thomas.

The novel is generally well researched. My main complaint is that the author seems to have Thomas zipping about at a time when transportation was notoriously slow. Perhaps a few too many adventures in too short a time. The late Patrick O'Brien seemed to have that problem in his novels, but perhaps we can give the author a little literary license. Richard Woodman is generally the best in defining the passage of time in his Drinkwater novels. The present novel might have been aided by the inclusion of a couple or three maps of the areas of action.

Mutiny: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures)

Average customer rating:

Mutiny is a tough subject
Great book
Great Issues Raised by Historical Drama
The Kydd series is getting better with each book
Exciting book!

Mutiny: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures)
Julian Stockwin
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1590131142

Book Description

One of history's most notorious naval insurrections is re-created, as Kydd crosses the Mediterranean to a rendezvous with danger and returns to England—only to find himself caught up in the Nore Mutiny. Kydd is a loyal servant of the King, and he is expected to side with Naval authority against his friends, but how can he? Faced with an impossible decision of duty and conscience, he must find a way to save himself and his fellow sailors.

Customer Reviews:

Mutiny is a tough subject.......2007-08-27

The worst thing you can do is to read the Aubry/Maturin series of Patrick O'Brian and then go to the Julian Stockwin series on Kydd. If you haven't read O'Brian yet, save it until you've gone through Kydd. Unfortunately the O'Brian death has brought his series to the end after twenty generally five star volumes while Stockwin in working on his eighth. O'Brian's literary skills make Stockwin seem almost amateurish. Both do well with the language and customs of the period plus give a good insight into life during that period. But O'Brian's characters are richer, more complex and more interesting. Both recount several historical events dealing with the Napoleonic Wars and add flavor to the study of that period. But, generally, read Kydd first and then dive into volume one of O'Brian's. Should you skip Kydd completely? Stockwin has taken the different tack of starting Kydd as a civilian pressed into naval service and working up from the bottom of the naval hierarchy. We see O'Brian's Aubrey as just attaining the rank of Master and Commander in his first volume. So the starting lines are markedly different. I also think that Stockwin will be better received by the younger reader (teen and upward) as the plots, dialog are much less subtle and easier reading. O'Brian likes to throw curve balls in American vernacular or spinners if were to follow his frequent references to cricket.

Great book.......2007-07-18

Had never read any books by this author before and I was pleasantly surprised. A great read. Thanks for sending it so quickly!

Great Issues Raised by Historical Drama.......2007-04-04

The Kydd series is terrific, and I hope it goes on forever, but Mutiny struck me as particularly worthwhile. The Nore mutiny of 1797 is a completely unfamiliar subject, to American readers at least, and I've never before seen it treated in nautical fiction. It's a brave historical subject that quite possibly pushes conflicting emotional buttons to this day. It raises a host of moral issues that bedevil us all still: duty, loyalty, patriotism, and the means of dealing with outrageous and unbearable oppression. And it manages to be grippingly entertaining in the process!

Perhaps the fact that I almost concurrently read the memoirs of US Revolutionary soldier Joseph Plumb Martin (published as Private Yankee Doodle) heightened my fascination. If any of my compatriots think we jettisoned the British aristocratic mind-set that produced the Nore mutiny ... that'll disabuse them! The arrogance of power didn't hide behind a façade of P.C. democracy in the 18th Century. Perhaps looking at it in its ghastly nakedness can help us to contain it in our own time.

The Kydd series is getting better with each book.......2006-05-25

"Mutiny" is the fourth book in Julian Stockwin's "Kydd" series. These books are set in the Napoleonic-era Royal Navy and follow in the same vein as C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books.

In the first book, Kydd was initially a pressed seaman, but by "Mutiny" he has worked himself up to a master's mate. After a couple of adventures in the Mediterranean, Kydd ends up embroiled in the Nore mutiny. Stockwin's well-researched account of the mutiny is very well-done.

Although it has taken a few books, I'm finally truly enjoying Julian Stockwin's books. "Mutiny" is the best, most entertaining of the series so far. Kydd is growing as a character and Stockwin's writing style is developing. Anyone who has enjoyed Horatio Hornblower or Patrick O'Brian will enjoy these books.

Exciting book!.......2006-04-15

Book four in the Kydd series is fantastic! (see my reviews of _Kydd_ , _Artemis_ and _Seaflower_) Kydd helps an Italian nobleman escape Italy before the arrival of the French. Later, Kydd becomes embroiled in the fleet mutiny at the Nore where he must decide whether his loyalty to the navy or his mates is stronger (no spoilers here!). His decision is not as obvious as it might seem. How he gets extricated from the mutiny reads like a thriller! Lots of good intrigue. The book ends with Kydd taking charge of a gundeck at the battle of Camperdown. The description of the battle is fantastic. Stockwin puts the reader right in the thick of the action. The imagery is amazing:

p. 316 Renzi saw a midshipman, then the signal lieutenant drop in their tracks, and over at a disabled nine-pounder a corpse exuded blood that made tracks on the deck as the ship rolled and heaved.

Also, Stockwin's writing style is a real joy to read:

p. 318 Her guns opened again with a thunderous broadside, which was answered with equal venom by their opponent-but having practiced over long weeks at sea the English guns spoke faster and truer.

Not only has this series grown on me, but I have come to appreciate Mr. Stockwin's writing. His knowledge of ships and sea, languages, dialects, history and other things is impressive. A tremendous amount of research has gone into these books. The series was slow for me at first, but it has become interesting and exciting. Taken as a whole, it's a great story. At first, Mr. Stockwin set the table; now I'm feasting. I look forward to the next book.

Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game and Resource Book

Average customer rating:

Good for its time
Great if you like the Anime
This book is a must have for anime/rpg lovers
If you like Sailor Moon,you'll love this book!
Woohoo! Role Playing!

Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game and Resource Book
Mark C. MacKinnon
Manufacturer: Guardians of Order
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0968243118

Book Description

Welcome to the ultimate English-language guide for one of the most popular Japanese anime shows of all times! Sailor Moon is a hit with boys and girls of all ages, and is watched on Cartoon Network`s popular `Toonami` programming block every day by over one million viewers. This book offers a comprehensive Sailor Moon resource and reference section, including episode summaries, character bios, and series analysis in a clear and easy to read format. Add a spectacular full-colour character gallery, and information about Sailor Moon that is unavailable anywhere else and the result is a guaranteed hot seller! The role-playing game section includes easy-to-understand rules that helps fans of the show relive its greatest moments as the stars of their own TV series.

Customer Reviews:

Good for its time.......2006-01-31

This was a very good self-contained RPG for playing in the Sailor Moon universe when it came out. Its compatability to the version on BESM out at the time was also fairly decent. With the advent of Tri-Stat dX and BESM d20, this product begins to show signs of its age.
In addition to the RPG aspect, there is a lot of good art from the series. My only other complaint about it was guessing the eventual American names of the Outer Senshi based on the names given by the doll-making companies. While I would definitely rework it for Tri-Stat dX (d10) or BESM d20, it is still a worthwhile item for a Sailor Moon fan.

Great if you like the Anime.......2001-10-29

The book was in great deteailed,and helped with the plot lines for fans.If you are a fan of the Anime,this book is a most get.If you are mkainly a manga buff it isn't as important.

This book is a must have for anime/rpg lovers.......2001-10-19

My first experience with this book was my freshman year in college. Me and my friends go together and played a campaign in which there were no sailor scouts but just knights. We then of course got big eyes small mouth and expanded the possibilities of the gaming sphere. If you want to play an RPG that doesn't have mind boggling statistics then this is it, because everything is based of a roll of 2-12 on two 6 sided dice. Really easy system good for beginners and experts alike. Try it.

If you like Sailor Moon,you'll love this book!.......2001-09-18

Buy this!It's such a cool book.Now you can roleplay your favorite Scout and use your own wits to beat the Negaverse.This book features an easy-to-learn roleplaying game,a comprehensive Sailor Moon resource and reference section,a colour character gallery,and hundreds of Sailor Moon images.A summary of every episode in first two seasons is also included.

Woohoo! Role Playing!.......2001-03-16

If you like Role Playing and if you like Sailor Moon, you'll absolutely LOVE this book! Guardians of Order has come out with the absolutely simplest RP system possible. They call it the the Tri-Stat System. All you have are three stats and a couple of 6 sided dice. Roll up your character and assign some numbers and attributes... Now, you're ready to play! Based on the popular Anime series, Sailor Moon, this RPG is a sure hit. I've both played and run campaigns with this book and I've enjoyed being on both sides of the coin. Sailor Moon is a wonderful universe Role Play in and Guardians of Order couldn't possibly have made it any easier! Plus, with all the added resource material about the shows, OVAs, characters, and villians, this book is a must have for any serious SM fan!

Average customer rating:

Rendezvous With Destiny: A Sailor's War
Theodore C. Mason
Manufacturer: Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Battleship Sailor (Bluejacket Books)

ASIN: 1557505802

Descent into Darkness: Pearl Harbor, 1941: A Navy Diver's Memoir

Average customer rating:

Excellent snapshot of Diving History
descent into darkness
DESCENT INTO DARKNESS
History written by a eyewitness
A Great Preservation of History

Descent into Darkness: Pearl Harbor, 1941: A Navy Diver's Memoir
Edward Raymer
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0891415890
Release Date: 1996-06-01

Book Description

A tribute to the audacious Navy divers who performed the almost super-human deeds that served to shorten the war.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent snapshot of Diving History.......2007-04-14

Commander Raymer did a fantastic job setting the mood of this story in the first chapter as he described his first dive into the sunken Arizona (it was the first ever dive on the ship), months after it had sunk. His descriptions are so vivid, I often pictured (what he experienced) as if I were there.

Other reviewers mention Raymer's escapades into early WWII Honolulu and his encounters with the the locals, but this story really focuses on what the divers did, hazards they overcame, and innovations they devised as they fought to return the heavily damaged warships back to the fleet.

descent into darkness.......2006-10-20

what a great book! i couldn't put it down. commander raymer and the men working with him were brave heroes.this book gives a glimpse of life in hawaii in the early forties as well as the navy's diving program in its infancy.not to mention the unique problems of salvaging the ships that were damaged in the pearl harbor attack.i highly recommend this book.

DESCENT INTO DARKNESS.......2005-08-29

Most books on WWII center around specific battles. However, Commander Raymer gives the reader a somewhat different perspective of WWII. Although, Raymer discribes several important engagements and the sinking of his own ship by Imperial Japanese naval forces, he also concentrates on the overwhelming and depressing daily tasks of the Navy salvage diver stationed at Pearl harbor shortly after the infamous attack. His objectives; recover bodies, raise or salvage the flagship U.S.S. Arizona, and other capital ships such as the U.S.S. California, U.S.S. West Virginia, and others.

His writing style is simple, and straight to the point. His ongoing descriptions of the scenes he saw and experienced in Hawaii and through the divers helmet port are well worth the read!

If, you liked the movie; "Men of Honor" then I guarentee you will like "DESCENT INTO DARKNESS!"

History written by a eyewitness.......2004-05-31

This really is a first-rate account of a process that has largely been ignored by writers and historians. I think it's a "given" that diving around sunken, fully armed and fueled battleships would be dangerous, but until I read this book I didn't realize just how MANY different hazards there were. For example, who would have known that it's dangerous to enter a previously-sealed but empty compartment that contains rust? (the formation of iron oxide [rust] depletes oxygen in the space)

The reader gets a firsthand account of the daily lives of salvage divers, and how frequently solutions to problems were devised on the spot. Rather unexpectedly, readers also get a firsthand description of what life was like "on the ground" during the Guadalcanal campaign.

Anyone wanting to know more about the Pearl Harbor attack really should read this book. Many people tend to think of the battle as being over when the last Japanese plane returned to its carrier; in truth, the battle had just BEGUN.

A Great Preservation of History.......2002-11-19

I recieved Descent In to Darkness as a Christmas pressent from my sister. I could not stop reading the book. I have always been a huge history buff as well as a great interest in diving . Febuary of this year (2002) I went to Maui to visit my cousin. While in Maui I got my scuba certification. My last day we flew over to Pearl Harbor to see the USS Arizona. It was very moving because I had more of a conection to the Arizona due to Raymer's detailed report on Pearl Harbor and the Arizona in the salvage eforts to raise our Pacific Fleet.

John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy

Average customer rating:

Background to US Navy Traditions
An excellent and balanced account of Jones
From Pirate to Hero
Don't judge this book by it's cover!
On Azure Waves

John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy
Evan Thomas
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743258045

Amazon.com

Evan Thomas's John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy grounds itself on the facts of Jones's life and accomplishments to bolster his place among the pantheon of Revolutionary heroes while also working to deflate the myths that have circulated about his name. Jones, we learn, was confronted throughout his life with controversy and was crippled by ambition. But Thomas lauds Jones for early innovations as an American self-made man who rose from Scottish servitude.

Jones, despite his too brisk manner, was a true success, if not genius, as a naval captain. Early in the Revolutionary War, he captured a shipload of winter uniforms destined for General Burgoyne's army in Canada, which instead warmed General Washington's troops as they swept across the Delaware to defeat British at Princeton and Trenton. Later, Jones helped formulate the Navy's plan of psychological warfare on British citizens. And Jones's strategy to cut off the British fleet via the French Navy was arguably the most decisive strategic decision of the War.

In the end, Thomas makes a good case for a renewed appreciated for Jones's role in the broader revolution, citing his many connections to the Founding Fathers and his contributions to the broader war effort. While it may be that the John Paul Jones who proclaimed "I have not yet begun to fight" never existed, the real man behind the textbook legend is every bit as compelling a figure in Thomas's hands. This temperate biography situates Jones in what will likely prove durable fashion among portraits of Adams, Franklin, Washington, and Jefferson. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

John Paul Jones, at sea and in the heat of the battle, was the great American hero of the Age of Sail. He was to history what Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey and C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower are to fiction. Ruthless, indomitable, clever; he vowed to sail, as he put it, "in harm's way." Evan Thomas's minute-by-minute re-creation of the bloodbath between Jones's Bonhomme Richard and the British man-of-war Serapis off the coast of England on an autumn night in 1779 is as gripping a sea battle as can be found in any novel.

Drawing on Jones's correspondence with some of the most significant figures of the American Revolution -- John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson -- Thomas's biography teaches us that it took fighters as well as thinkers, men driven by dreams of personal glory as well as high-minded principle, to break free of the past and start a new world. Jones's spirit was classically American.

Customer Reviews:

Background to US Navy Traditions.......2007-01-11

John Paul Jones was a historical figure, but I really did know much about him until reading this very well written story. I gave this book to a number of friends this year as a holiday gift. Jones made two voyages around England during the Revolutionary War sailing ships procured for him from France. There have been modern ships in the Navy named Ranger and Bon Homme Richard, but I did not know until reading this that those were the names of Jones ships during those famous voyages. After reading this you will know the answer to a great quiz show question which is who is the patron, that the ship, Bon Home Richard was named after. I look forward to reading the story that Evan Thomas just released describing American naval heroes of WWII.

An excellent and balanced account of Jones.......2006-12-30

I have to admit I bought this book because it was in the closeout bin and I got a deal on it. I next have to admit that it sat in a pile of books to read for at least three months before I got around to reading it. But on starting it, I was highly impressed. It's well paced, factual, well researched without being dry and scholarly.

First, I had no idea that his battles were fought off the English and Scottish coasts and that he was considered to be a pirate by the English- I always thought he fought battles off the American coast.

Second, I had no idea that he was so closely tied with Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and the closing stages of the French monarchy- nor that he served under Catherine the Great in helping her to gain a passage through the Black Sea.

Third, the personality of the man, greatly flawed in its insatiable desire for glory and honor, was balanced by an ability to fight-- and to WIN.

America wasn't a third-rate, fourth-rate or even a fifth-rate naval power during her Revolutionary War. America was essentially a "no rate." But Jones gave America victories when most others (with a few notable exception) did not. And he forced the British to bring home more of Her navy to protect home waters.

For those who have read any of the Horatio Hornblower or "Lucky Jack Aubrey" works of fiction, I recommend that they also read this book.

War is mostly waged by ordinary men- with fears, hopes, desires and needs like all of us. However, in every major conflict there a very few, like John Paul Jr., son of an English landscape gardener, who do more than their duty would dicate. For John Paul "Jones" it was his desire to be covered with glory and honor as well as his desire to build a winning AMERICAN Navy that caused him to push himselves and others far beyond the normal limits.

To "Jones", the thoughts of marriage, children, even his health were secondary to these.

I salute Evan Thomas for an excellent work about the father of the American Navy.

From Pirate to Hero.......2006-12-14

If you want to understand how the modern navy was born in America this is one of two books you will need. Understanding the mentality that drove our early navy to their few successes is a harrowing story that is told best here. This focuses on our lake fleets as well as our ocean fleets and does so in a very concise manner. The prose is very good and the information is well referenced. Anyone looking for information on the history of American navy will be well served with this book.

Don't judge this book by it's cover!.......2006-10-22

Don't judge this book by it's cover! (The cover is beautiful...)

I'll begin with the good things in the book. It has a decent overview of Jones' life and accomplishments. A first-time reader about Jones will find the catalog of his daring exploits both interesting and exciting. Evan Thomas's narration of the sea battles and manoeuvers are as thrillingly told as any of O'Brian's or Forester's epics. However, besides the battles, this book doesn't do much but echo the author's malicious conclusions about Jones.

Thomas seems to think that he is writing a Doctoral or Master's thesis and that we, as readers, continually forget what the main point of the book is. Don't be decieved, the author is not a fan of Jones. In striving to be "historically fair", we are faced with a book mainly about Jones's glaring shortcomings. Thomas has made it his goal to make sure we know that every single thing Jones did (from his letters to his heroics) was motivated by his "demon pride" (p. 310). It seems every paragraph begins or ends (sometimes both) with a scathing statement about Jones' lust for glory. Instead of stating the facts in an interesting narrative, we are faced with a continual repitition of Thomas' main thesis: Jones was not a hero, but a vain, glory-seeking upstart who wasn't even a good seaman. Often we get a sense that the thesis is wearing thin and completely falling apart. In order to buttress that, Thomas redundantly restates it lest we forget and start forming our own conclusions. Heaven forbid great men did great things for great reasons!

I have read scores of historical biographies and none have been as vitriolic towards their subject as Thomas is to Jones. Granted, Thomas does an effectual job belittling everyone, but I thought the part of the title "Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy" meant he liked Jones. It must have been added by someone else, for it doesn't reflect the author's views.

As I said previously, the book isn't without merit. It's battles are told very well, and the overview of Jones' accomplishments (and failures) are great. However, I would recommend reading another account of Jones that didn't seek to villify him and call it "historical fairness" (or whatever the term for giving more pages to his faults rather than his accomplishments is). If you want your conclusions dictated to you, read this book. If you prefer to draw them yourself, look elsewhere.

On Azure Waves.......2006-07-24

I am unaware of any hero from the American Revolution who was not flawed in some way, and John Paul Jones is no exception. But as always, the truth of their lives is much more compelling than the mythology of their lives: the actions and quotations invented about them by storytellers, which seemed to be necessary in order to cement their greatness in history (and probably to sell pamphlets and books), have only served to freeze them into short, individual moments of otherwise longer careers and lives.

There is a certain tragic sadness about the life of John Paul Jones, and Evan Thomas captures that sadness in this excellent biography. Jones was a man who, without a doubt, possessed a brilliance of naval tactics--tactics that provided the American cause with tangible cachet at its darkest hour--but a man who could never quite claim membership in the rarified company of Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin. Jones is the blue-water twin of George Washington: ambitious, dedicated, domineering, persevering, far-seeing, and challenged at every turn by lesser men, but the ducks of fate would never quite line up in his favor to boost his confidence beyond the flaws of his personality.

Evan Thomas' telling of Jones' story makes no apologies, spares no remonstrance. Thomas describes Jones through manic highs and lows, with revelations that can cause the reader to wince at Jones' more pitiful moments. But then a battle comes and Jones stands boldly, for honor not for gold, and sets aside his demons for a greater cause. Jones recognized his flaws and wrestled with them throughout his life. If anything, this struggle makes Jones greater--fully human and fighting to rise above his faults.

Aficionados of 18th century naval literature will appreciate Thomas' descriptions of the battles. Neophytes will appreciate Thomas' use of modern language and the glossary of 18th century naval terms in the back of the book.

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