Any tips for good military fiction? (Preferably Navy)

[BOSSHOG]

I enjoy a good fiction read about the Navy of any period of time. I've recently read works by Larry Bond and David Poyer. If anybody has any suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Maybe a good WWII action yarn on a tin can or a sub.

Fair Winds Shipmates.

[SteppingRazor]

1. Have you read Patrick O'Brian's stuff?

The Aubrey-Maturin series is lengthy, but pretty good. The Russell Crowe pic Master and Commander was based on a few small portions of it.

[Billy Ruffian]

41. Another recommendation for Patrick O'Brian

I've read all 20 of the books four times. I find a new gem in each book, each time through.

The Cruel Sea, (Nicholas Monsarrat?) is a classic.

Run Silent Run Deep was recommended elsewhere in the thread.

On The Beach

The Last Ship

I think I saw someone else recommend James H. Cobb. I'd second that.

Bookmarks Magazine recently published a list of 101 Crackerjack Sea Stories

[BOSSHOG]

42. Thanks very much

for the recommendations and the site. It seems for the last year or so all I have been reading is fiction or non-fiction military books.

[Joe_VB]

2. Try Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin Series

Its about the Royal Navy around 1800 or so. The movie Master and Commander was based on one of his books in the series. I've enjoyed reading all of them. Being an old squid myself.

Joe

[McCamy Taylor]

21. Second! Jane Austen joins His Majesty's Navy. Best historical fiction ever

[YOY]

3. Herman Woulk

Although I find him a little insulting at times...rather unapologetically insulting to non WASP Americans.

[elehhhhna]

4. anything recently issued by Rummy's office shouled do.

[elehhhhna]

5. Gw's speeches are also superb Mil fiction.

[Ian David]

6. I'm boycotting Tom Clancy. He donated to Alan Keyes

Being a Republican is bad enough.

Being an Alan Keyes Republican is beyond forgiveness.

[unhappycamper]

7. Charles Taylor also wrote a lot of naval stuff.

IIRC, "First Salvo" was pretty good.

My favorite naval series is the Horatio Hownblower books by C.S. Forrester.

on edit: forgot HH

[whopis01]

8. How about that banner

behind Bush that read "mission accomplished"? That was on a carrier (so it qualifies as navy) and is military fiction. It seemed like it was going to be a short read (since it consisted of only two words), yet it turned out to be one of those ones that you just can never seem to put down once you have picked it up.

[goddess40]

40. The White House has scrubbed that out of the picture

They have cropped the photo so it only shows Bush and not the sign

[soldier101]

9. Blind Man's Bluff

It's not fiction, but could be. The history channel has a special on it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1891620088/sr=1-9/qid=1145899812/ref=sr_1_9/102-7799453-3552927?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books

[bikebloke]

10. Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Series

Napoloeonic age swashbucklers.

[spindrifter]

11. It isn't the Navy and he wouldn't own up to

it being a military story, but here's a really interesting and well-written book:

A Dangerous Friend by Ward Just

http://www.ha.osd.mil/2004mspc/

You can check out the blurbs at Amazon's page.

I could hardly believe it when I saw that they were saying "hearts and minds" back in the Vietnam days. I was fascinated, in part, because I know someone who was an IVS person in Vietnam during the era he writes about.

[Democrats_win]

12. Buller's Dreadnought. Also, "The Enemy Below."

Buller's Dreadnought might be hard to get though. Amazon doesn't sell it directly but has their usual "buy 20 new and used" link.

It's pre-WW1 about the British/German battleship arms race. If I recall from reading it in 83, the fictional Buller had to deal with German diplomats who were very anxious to learn about Britain's new weapon in a world in which these weapons quickly became obsolete when another country unveiled a newer version. Recall the German Kaiser was related to the British monarchs so there was diplomacy the two rivals and spying.

"The Enemy Below" is fairly famous and full of suspense as a destroyer goes after a submarine. This is a very good story and there may be a movie.

[BOSSHOG]

13. The Enemy Below

is an outstanding movie with Robert Mitchum as the Destroyer Skipper. I didn't even consider it being a book. Thanks for the info. I'm reading a book about a Sub now, "Dangerous Ground" by Larry Bond. I appreciate the suggestions.

[Democrats_win]

15. Dangerous Ground sounds good; have to check it out.

[krispos42]

24. Clear the Bridge! Run Silent, Run Deep

"Clear the Bridge!: The War Patrols of the USS Tang" is a pretty good non-fiction book about the USS Tang's war patrols against Japan in WW2. It was written by her skipper, who spent some time in a Japanese prison camp.

"Run Silent, Run Deep" is a fiction novel by a guy named Beach. I think Edward Beach, but don't quote me on that. It's a pretty good WW2 book as well.

[Captain Hilts]

34. I just finished "Clear the Bridge!" Good read. nt

[yellowdogintexas]

14. W.E B Griffin writes good military fiction. My late FIL, a

retired Marine loved his books.

[MemphisTiger]

16. My father was in the NAVY and has said that Clancy's work

is quite accurate, especially the inner workings of the government parts. For that he has been cut off by the current administration from officially researching any more books. Who cares if he donated to Keys, it's not like he won.

[bluescribbler]

17. "Stand By to Start Engines" by Adm. Dan Gallery

Funny stuff about birdfarm sailors. Pranks and hijinks. At one point they outfit Middies helmets with radios for the Army-Navy game. Army can't figure out why Navy seems to know what they're going to do before they do it.

[northzax]

18. well, the best of them all

(even better than the Aubrey books, imho) has to be the Hornblower series. Same type of topics, British officer fighting Napoleon, the books follow his entire career.

For more modern stuff, you could try Patrick Robinson, he's writtin some submarining stuff, although you have to wade through 50 pages of him insulting liberals, greenies, clinton and everything else. Everything is the fault of the democrats.

[Captain Hilts]

19. "Goodbye to Some" about navy B-24 pilots in the Pacific and...

Mr. Roberts is a VERY good read. Even if you've seen the movie.

But, Goodbye to Some is a really good read. It has several listings on Amazon and is also part of the Classics of Naval Literature series. Check out the Naval Institute Press's website for more naval novels.

It never occurred to me that "The Enemy Below" was a book. I really liked the movie.

[abluelady]

20. Check out "Sense of Honor"

the author James Webb is running in the Democratic Primary for Senate in Virginia. I think he is a grad of Annapolis. He has about a dozen books out--mostly Vietnam books, I think.

[McCamy Taylor]

22. What about Forester's "Hornblower" the father of the genre?

Patrick's Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin series is better, but a serious student of the naval historical fiction genre really should check out the Hornblower saga since that is the one that started it all. It is well worth the read if you are interested in the military and naval aspects.

As some one who is a sucker for any book or movie that has anything to do with the ocean, heed my warning, there are many, many bad knock offs of Forester out there. Beware.

[krispos42]

23. James H. Cobb

'Choosers of the Slain' is his first book, taking place in the South Atlantic in the Navy's newest warship, a stealth destroyer called the "Cunningham". I read it twice back-to-back.

"Sea Fighters" is a story (using the captain from 'Slain') about Navy combat hovercraft in greenwater operations off of Liberia against a dictator. I thought is was very good. Innovative tactics.

"Sea Strike". The name is mediocre, but the action is good.T he Cunningham gets involved in the Chinese civil war, which starts when Tiawan invades the mainland.

"Target Lock" is about a revamped Cunningham teaming up with a special ops carrier to look for weapons smugglers in Indonesia.

All of these books have excellent detail and depth.

[BOSSHOG]

25. Wow, thanks very much

Sounds like just what I'm looking for. I have not heard of that author. One change I have made due to gas prices is not get out much so I'm shopping more on line. I'll check to see if I can find him online. Thanks Again.

[krispos42]

26. Glad to help

I stopped reading Tom Clancy after "The Sum of All Fears"... his stuff was just getting too long for me, I fear. I enjoy long books and have read Harry Turtledove's "Darkness" series (6 long books) a couple of times, but after "Sum" it just had trouble keeping my attention. Same thing with Stephen King... after "Insomnia" I started to pass on his new stuff.

I picked up "Sea Strike" at a yard sale or something, read it twice, then went down to the library and borrowed the first two books and bought the 4th.

[RiDuvessa]

27. If you don't mind some science fiction in you military fiction,

You should try the "Honor Harrington" series by David Weber. It's kind of like Horatio Hornblower in Space. Plus, there are several special anniversary editions where you can get hardback editions for $3.00.

[Rowdyboy]

28. The "Jack Reacher" novels by Lee Child are really excellent , Boss...he's

ex-army and one bad SOB.

Check it out:

"When it comes to action, Jack more than knows how to take care of himself. And when the going gets rough, he can— and does—show that he can be the roughest..."

KILLING FLOOR

Welcome to Margrave, Georgia—but don't get too attached to the townsfolk, who are either in on a giant conspiracy, or hurtling toward violent deaths, or both.

There's not much of a welcome for Jack Reacher, a casualty of the Army's peace dividend who's drifted into town idly looking for traces of a long dead black jazzman. Not only do the local cops arrest him for murder, but the chief of police turns eyewitness to place him on the scene, even though Reacher was getting on a bus in Tampa at the time. Two surprises follow: The murdered man wasn't the only victim, and he was Reacher's brother whom he hadn't seen in seven years. So Reacher, who so far hasn't had anything personal against the crooks who set him up for a weekend in the state pen at Warburton, clicks into overdrive.

Banking on the help of the only two people in Margrave he can trust—a Harvard-educated chief of detectives who hasn't been on the job long enough to be on the take, and a smart, scrappy officer who's taken him to her bed— he sets out methodically in his brother's footsteps, trying to figure out why his cellmate in Warburton, a panicky banker whose cell-phone number turned up in Joe's shoe, confessed to a murder he obviously didn't commit; trying to figure out why all the out-of-towners on Joe's list of recent contacts were as dead as he was; and trying to stop the local carnage or at least direct it in more positive ways. Though the testosterone flows as freely as printer's ink, Reacher is an unobtrusively sharp detective in his quieter moments—not that there are many of them to judge by.

Despite the crude, tough-naïf narration, debut novelist Child serves up a big, rangy plot, menace as palpable as a ticking bomb, and enough battered corpses to make an undertaker grin.

Winner of the 1998 Barry Award for Best First Novel, awarded by Deadly Pleasures magazine.

[BOSSHOG]

29. Thanks Rowdy

I read one of his a couple of years ago. He ended up in the desert with a bunch of bad guys who were planning to take over the world and of course ole Reacher kicked their asses barely breaking a sweat. I remember one scene where a bad guy was shot in the head with a powerful rifle from long distance and his head exploded. I appreciate the reminder. I meant to read more his stuff but never did.

How was your trip to NOLA? I went down to the Navy Base on Dauphine Street to see an old buddy who was retiring the morning of Friday the First. Slipped into the quarter, had a burger at Coop's and did a little Christmas shopping and got out early. My wife was gone for a week visiting her mother and I was borderline wacko by the time she got back. I hope you all had a great visit.

[Rowdyboy]

30. Hey Boss, I was REALLY glad to be back in my favorite city in the world...

Honestly, it made me feel better just to know the small part that I know and love is still intact. I'm very much afraid the city is irrevocably changed, though. I doubt the residents of the ninth ward will ever be able to afford to return. The city seems to me MUCH whiter. Still wonderful, but not the New Orleans I knew.

We had a balcony over Decatur, ate again at my favorite place, Irene's, and tried Tujac's for the first time. Damn! I'd never had filet mignon. That was indescribable...Since you recommended them we enjoyed a great burger burger at Coop's (you could see their sign from our balcony), and our last meal was at the Redfish Grill which you also mentioned. Somehow, I should have known bar-b-que oysters were a bad move. The soup, however, was flawless and I really appreciate your suggestions. You didn't mention Louisiana Pizza Kitchen the same area, but we loved it too-great menu!

Its nice having friends who can point you in the right direction.

As to the bars, my favorite is the Corner Pocket. I more than made my contribution to New Orleans recovery in the form of God only knows how many $1 bills stuffed into the front of young men's...well, you know the drill. Suffice it to say, we had a VERY good time, spent as much as we could, and enjoyed a little piece of heaven for 5 days.

[BOSSHOG]

31. Outstanding News

Yes the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen is a big ole slice of Heaven. You must have been very close to Fiorella's. Thats a great place for fried chicken. Coop's has antique dirt on the window sills, but I do enjoy the ambience. Way back in my younger days (when I caroused the corner way past midnight) I discovered that outside the gay bars at Bourbon and St Ann was where the girls hung out, trying to get a glimpse of the guys dancing on the bars. They also provided dollar bills to the economy. Glad you had a great time. The cruise ships will resume in October. Step by step.

[wakeme2008]

37. I love the "Jack Reacher" series...

but he does need to shower and change clothes :rofl:

[Ezlivin]

32. Mr. Roberts by Thomas Heggen

If you've seen the movie, you've not read the book. It's genuine in that the sailors talk and act like sailors, not the G-rated version of the film.

"The Outer Buoy" by Jan de Hartog is also a good read. It is the last book in a series that includes "The Captain", "The Commodore" and "The Centurion."

I'll also put in a plug for a non-fiction book, "Surface at the Pole" by Vice Admiral James Calvert. The USS Skate was my boat and I'm a bit proud of its accomplishments (even if they were before my time of service).

[Captain Hilts]

33. This is a GREAT read. Even if you've already seen the movie...

Boredom was a great enemy in the war.

http://www.ss-407.net/

[bluedogyellowdog]

35. James Webb

"A Country Such As This" is a good place to start. Follows the lives of some 1950s-era Naval Academy graduates through the societal changes of the 1960s and 70s. I'm not just recommending him because he's now a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, btw, but because his books are good in their own right.

[BOSSHOG]

36. Thanks BDYD and welcome to DU

I was on active duty when Webb was SECNAV. He was a pain in the ass but there was no ambiguity in his marching orders. And he does have a reputation as a good writer. I certainly hope he is Virginia's next Senator. I appreciate the recommendation.

[Billy Ruffian]

38. There are several military fiction books here

A list of 101 Crackerjack Sea Stories has a bunch of military fiction books in it.

James H. Cobb has some modern naval action.

W.E.B Griffin has been mentioned. I enjoyed his stuff greatly, although his series about the USMC got more than a bit formulaic (still fun, just not terribly suspenseful)

John Ringo writes military SF.

William Brinkley wrote a good book called "The Last Ship"

I can't remember whether "The Cruel Sea" was mentioned. That is specifically WWII nautical (it's in the list of 101 Crackerjack Sea Stories) "Das Boot" is also on that list.

Not fiction, but "Thunder Below!: The USS *Barb* Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II" by Eugene B. Fluckey is VERY good. There's another non-fiction book about submarine activity in the cold war, but I can't recall the title at the moment.

If your local library is up-to-date, their on-line catalog should have a category type search that will help.

That should keep you for a while ;-)

[hedgehog]

39. I can't swear to the authenticity, but I 'd put in a good word for the

Caine Mutiny. It really captures the ambivalence many of us feel about a professional military.

[Forkboy]

43. I'm a sucker for submarine stories

But I'd stay away from Larry Robinson's latest couple.Not only are they very obviously right wing,but even worse than that they're boring.

Michael DiMercurio has written some fun ones.Here's a list of his stuff with a synopsis for each.

http://www.iblist.com/author16276.htm

[porkrind]

44. "Marching through Georgia" by S.M. Stirling

One of my favorite all-time novels, it's an alternative history WWII-era sci-fi story that explores the idea that the Dutch kept and built and military empire in South Africa called the Draka, who are a powerful third faction in WWII. This book is excellent, don't miss it! :)

[Forkboy]

45. That sounds cool...I'll have to try to find that one at the library.

[iamjoy]

46. The Last Ship

by William Brinkley.

Written in 1988. I think set then or in the near future. It's about the aftermath of nuclear war, not sure if that is what you want.

[Forkboy]

47. I read that one and liked it a lot.

That's a blast from the past! :)

[qdemn7]

48. Stephen Coonts

Not to be confused with Dean Koontz. His first novel was "Flight of the Intruder" made into a movie. His character was Jake Grafton, who started as a Lt. flying A-6s in 'Nam, retired as an Admiral. Coonts was a pilot in 'Nam so he's not some airchair commando. http://www.coonts.com/

You want a real SF turn to your Naval Fiction, then I suggest the Axis of Time saga. A US-led multi-nat Task Force in 2021 is whipped back in time to the middle of the US Fleet headed for the Battle of Midway. A la the movie "The Final Countdown", but this time they stay in 1942. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_Time

James Cobb's fist book "Choosers of the Slain" was superb, later efforts not so good. http://www.amazon.com/Choosers-Slain-James-H-Cobb/dp/042516053X