Grand unified books thread

[Grey Fox]

Should I read an Harry Turtledove book? If so, which one?

[CountDeMoney]

If you do, you will be beaten the Languish Intelligensia.

You have been warned.  You only get one.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Some of the Videssos books aren't bad. MIsplaced Legion series.  Avoid anything written after 1995. Or if that is impossible burn them.

I was bored one day in Barnes and Nobles and started reading his super volcano book. What a bore. 

[Kleves]

What's the best book on D-Day + the campaign in Normandy? Same question for the Battle of the Bulge.

[Razgovory]

Some of the Videssos books aren't bad. MIsplaced Legion series.  Avoid anything written after 1995. Or if that is impossible burn them.

I was bored one day in Barnes and Nobles and started reading his super volcano book. What a bore.

I kinda liked the Byzantine James Bond one, where in each story he is confronted with some sort of super science.  Well super science for the middle ages.  He discovers plots involving moveable type, gunpowder, vaccines and distilled spirits.

[CountDeMoney]

What's the best book on D-Day + the campaign in Normandy? Same question for the Battle of the Bulge.

Recently, Beevor's latest work on D-Day is superb.
Max Hastings' "Overlord" is dated, but good, although some people think Hastings can be overly critical and "pro-German", but I don't see it and I think he's appropriately critical of the Allies where they deserve it, particularly that cockmunch Monty.

BoB I've not read much on, but I did enjoy Charles MacDonald's "A Time For Trumpets".  Very comprehensive and accessible, and an excellent read.

[sbr]

I've read breevor's d-day and time for trumpets and agree with cdm, both are very good.

[mongers]

I've read breevor's d-day and time for trumpets and agree with cdm, both are very good.

Yes, I read it a couple of months ago on an e-reader, so it must have been pretty good to encourage to finish it. 

I thought is coverage of 'war crimes' and arbitrary violence particularly interesting.

[Agelastus]

Some of the Videssos books aren't bad. MIsplaced Legion series.  Avoid anything written after 1995. Or if that is impossible burn them.

I was bored one day in Barnes and Nobles and started reading his super volcano book. What a bore.

The Misplaced Legion series and the Krispos books are good reads; his adaptation of our world's history to a fantasy world is much better done than with any of his later works. Plus, of course, they're back when he was interested in the process of getting to the climax and not just the climax itself (in other words, the "story" was more important than the "message"/"goal".)

I second the recommendation for Agent of Byzantium as well.

If you must read any of his later books, avoid the long series and try "Ruled Britannia"; his collaboration with Richard Dreyfuss, "The Two Georges" isn't bad either, although that may just be my unreformed Imperialist tendencies biasing me there.

[Eddie Teach]

Should I read an Harry Turtledove book?

No.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Agent of Byzantium was good.

[Malthus]

Just read The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson (in English translation, natch). It's one of the best historical fiction works I've read - I particularly enjoyed the author's dry, understated humour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Ships

[The Brain]

Just read The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson (in English translation, natch). It's one of the best historical fiction works I've read - I particularly enjoyed the author's dry, understated humour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Ships

It's an awesome book. Bengtsson's writing style was always great.

[crazy canuck]

Read Master and Commander  -  apart from not being entirely sure I understood what part of the ship he was talking about most of the time, I enjoyed the book and I am on to the second in the series.

I suspect one needs a kind of Grumbleresque first hand knowledge of tall ships to really enjoy this one.

[The Brain]

Just read The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson (in English translation, natch). It's one of the best historical fiction works I've read - I particularly enjoyed the author's dry, understated humour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Ships

It's an awesome book. Bengtsson's writing style was always great.

Btw, his Life of Charles XII could possibly be of interest. It's non-fiction and obviously somewhat dated, but his writing is excellent.