So What Are You Reading Now? (Page 68 of 71)
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Originally Posted By mPisi: Eh, European, so gun opinions disregarded  . Probably an error by Stephenson, a European would have called it a Kalashnikov I think. Originally Posted By mPisi: Eh, European, so gun opinions disregarded . Probably an error by Stephenson, a European would have called it a Kalashnikov I think. A paragraph or two later the same gun is indeed called a Kalashnikov. An American author should have at least a couple of gun savvy friends to help with details. Same with other specialty areas. Fall kept bringing up interesting things and leaving them behind, really so disappointing. Moab is such an amazing prediction of the diametrically opposed viewpoints on issues like Covid, BLM riots, and Jan 6. People on Reddit get mad when I point out that in 2020 it really would have been nice to have technical escorts in some blue areas. But really I disliked Fall since it was catty and one-sided in its criticisms of conservatives. All the bad stuff in conservative thinking, and no equal consequences in the liberal areas (like their cities are unchanged from pre-2020 conditions). Cheap jokes like saying the religious folks print signs in Comic Sans. Stephenson had not been that blinkered before in my experience. Example in Cryptonomicon, Randy visiting his co-worker's house, realizing they are churchgoers, and finding the children oddly well-behaved. Things like that. There are lots of guns in Termination Shock, and criticism of bad gun owners, but it comes from another gun user who has demonstrated his competence, so it is appropriate. I noticed the same things while reading Fall. I think Neal has drunk the koolaid or absorbed it by osmosis in the Seattle fog. It's too bad. I bought my copy of Termination Shock for $4.99 at Ollie's (overstock outlet), so I might get my money's worth. |
Did not know we had a book forum On the hunt for a new book to read and will dig through this thread. I Last read these: -The one second after series - The Road -Red storm Rising -Lucifers hammer -Empire of the summer moon. Just finished this and enjoyed very much. Also learned some plains history. |
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Originally Posted By GrayMan66: A paragraph or two later the same gun is indeed called a Kalashnikov. An American author should have at least a couple of gun savvy friends to help with details. Same with other specialty areas. I noticed the same things while reading Fall. I think Neal has drunk the koolaid or absorbed it by osmosis in the Seattle fog. It's too bad. I bought my copy of Termination Shock for $4.99 at Ollie's (overstock outlet), so I might get my money's worth. Originally Posted By GrayMan66: Originally Posted By mPisi: Eh, European, so gun opinions disregarded . Probably an error by Stephenson, a European would have called it a Kalashnikov I think. A paragraph or two later the same gun is indeed called a Kalashnikov. An American author should have at least a couple of gun savvy friends to help with details. Same with other specialty areas. Fall kept bringing up interesting things and leaving them behind, really so disappointing. Moab is such an amazing prediction of the diametrically opposed viewpoints on issues like Covid, BLM riots, and Jan 6. People on Reddit get mad when I point out that in 2020 it really would have been nice to have technical escorts in some blue areas. But really I disliked Fall since it was catty and one-sided in its criticisms of conservatives. All the bad stuff in conservative thinking, and no equal consequences in the liberal areas (like their cities are unchanged from pre-2020 conditions). Cheap jokes like saying the religious folks print signs in Comic Sans. Stephenson had not been that blinkered before in my experience. Example in Cryptonomicon, Randy visiting his co-worker's house, realizing they are churchgoers, and finding the children oddly well-behaved. Things like that. There are lots of guns in Termination Shock, and criticism of bad gun owners, but it comes from another gun user who has demonstrated his competence, so it is appropriate. I noticed the same things while reading Fall. I think Neal has drunk the koolaid or absorbed it by osmosis in the Seattle fog. It's too bad. I bought my copy of Termination Shock for $4.99 at Ollie's (overstock outlet), so I might get my money's worth. Finally finished. Parts of it were interesting and entertaining, but the ending sucked. No resolution to the big questions implied throughout the story. Lots more thinly veiled (or direct) anti-right and anti-USA agit-prop unbalanced by anything. Disappointing. |
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Listening to Hunters Run by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois, and Daniel Abraham. "Running from poverty and hopelessness, Ramón Espejo boarded one of the great starships of the mysterious, repulsive Enye. But the new life he found on the far-off planet of São Paulo was no better than the one he abandoned. Then one night his rage and too much alcohol get the better of him. Deadly violence ensues, forcing Ramón to flee into the wilderness. Mercifully, almost happily alone—far from the loud, bustling hive of humanity that he detests with sociopathic fervor—the luckless prospector is finally free to search for the one rich strike that could make him wealthy. But what he stumbles upon instead is an advanced alien race in hiding: desperate fugitives, like him, on a world not their own. Suddenly in possession of a powerful, dangerous secret and caught up in an extraordinary manhunt on a hostile, unpredictable planet, Ramón must first escape . . . and then, somehow, survive." An hour and a half in and its excellent so far, I don't know who is the narrator but he's great. Aliens, murder, survival in the wilderness. |
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Just finished "Launching Liberty" by Doug Most. About the frantic rush to build merchant marine freighters for WWII. Henry Kaiser was one hell of a builder. As a publicity stunt they built a Liberty ship in less then 5 days. Also some I've finished recently "Across the Lunar Wilds" by Earl Swift. The designing and building of the lunar rover. "Arming the World" American gun makers in the Gilded age by Geoffrey Stewart. Companies like Remington armed the world, and almost destroyed themselves. "Cattle Kingdom" by Christopher Knowlton. The rise and crashing fall of the European owned Montana cattle ranches of the 1880's. "Gangster Hunters" by John Oller. How the FBI ended the 1930's gangster wave. "Gun Barons" by John Bainbridge. The men who armed the American West and the guns they invented. "Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselves" by Alec Bierbauer. How a small group of people invented the killer drone. "Queen Of All Mayhem" by Dane Hucklebird. Bell Starr was not some outlaws mistress, she was an actual organized gang boss. "The Wrong Stuff, by John Strausbaug. The Russian space program was secretly a disaster of failure. |
| Finished Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy last week and am about halfway through The Company by Robert Littell |
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| Die with Zero, about halfway through it, it’s a quick read. Nothing earth shattering but a good reminder what’s important. |
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. - Thomas Jefferson
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How the World Made the West: A 4,000 Year History was pretty good if you want to learn about how interconnected a lot of ancient civilizations were with trade (goods and ideas). Has around 100 pages of footnotes to other sources if you want to go down the rabbit holes. |
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Originally Posted By strider98: Finished Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy last week and am about halfway through The Company by Robert Littell I’ve read the company and thoroughly enjoyed it. The mini series was pretty good, as far as mini series go. They picked the perfect actor to portray the Harvey guy in the book. |
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Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History. Pretty good coverage of the good and bad of Christianity since its beginning. The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality (Discover the Christian roots of the values we prize in western society). Similar to the above book, but not as well written to me. |
| Just finished Rogue Heros. Not bad. Went a little in depth on some of the characters at times but a decent book on the Brittish SAS. |
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“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
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“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
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I just finished Senator Kennedy's book. He's a funny guy. Just about to start "The Gales of November" by John Bacon, about the Edmond Fitzgerald. Just got the first few pages read of Stephen Hunter's "The Gun Man Jackson Swagger". This time the Swagger is an 1890's gunfighter. |
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Humble Bump to ask AR15.com to read my recently published book on Amazon. I know my post count is low, but I have been lurking for over a decade. The book is called "The Kingmaker and the Caliphate." It's about the next 9/11 strike on the homeland using sleeper cells that sneak over the southern border. Here are some of the things that would interest this forum: AR15.com Easter eggs, duels, militias, cigars, beer, and a massive engagement with Middle Eastern forces. Please help out a struggling author and check out my book. |
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Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: I started crying havoc. It showed up a few days ago and I figured it would be a good one to go into. Just finished it. Good book, just like the other Jack Carr novels. |
3-7-77
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
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Originally Posted By TheKingmaker: Humble Bump to ask AR15.com to read my recently published book on Amazon. I know my post count is low, but I have been lurking for over a decade. The book is called "The Kingmaker and the Caliphate." It's about the next 9/11 strike on the homeland using sleeper cells that sneak over the southern border. Here are some of the things that would interest this forum: AR15.com Easter eggs, duels, militias, cigars, beer, and a massive engagement with Middle Eastern forces. Please help out a struggling author and check out my book. @thekingmaker Have any hardcovers? |
3-7-77
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
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“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
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Originally Posted By TheKingmaker: I don't have a hard cover available for sale. The paperback cover does look amazing, and is the main character's tattoo on his back. Hopefully that intrigues you! Copy. Thanks |
3-7-77
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
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Finished the below. Black Snow - good read on the bombing campaign of Japan during WW2. Origin by Jennifer Raff - not a great read on the peopling of the Americas. Probably only had 1-2 chapters that dealt with the genetics and routes of migration. Rest of the book wasn't worth reading. |
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I've been listening to this one and it's fantastic. I highly recommend the the audio book. Attached File |
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
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Originally Posted By larkinmusic: I've been listening to this one and it's fantastic. I highly recommend the the audio book. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/84490/71ZHeDgzK3L__AC_UF1000_1000_QL80__jpg-3654502.JPG |
Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship him. Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.
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I've read a bunch of stuff lately. The most notable underway is Tom Wolfe's A Man In Full. For some reason I thought Wolfe was only a 60s writer, and didn't realize he didn't get into novels until the late 80s and this one in the late 90s. really enjoying it. |
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"On the bright side, the money we saved by not going to Mars in the 1970s, we spent on welfare and public schools." - @MorlockP
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Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why This book is most impressive. |
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I've finished Tom Clavin's "Running Deep" about the most deadly American submarine of WWII and what happened to the surviving crew after they got sunk and captured. I'm waiting for "Brothers of the Gun", by Mark Lee Gardner, about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. Coming next year, "Boom Town" about Frank Hamer, the Texas Rangers, and the out of control oil boom town of Bolger Texas. The town badly needed cleaning up. Hamer and the Rangers were happy to oblige. |
| Finishing The Great Influenza by Barry. I read it about 20 years ago. The current edition has an afterword about COVID-19, written in 2021. It was very interesting to read what people thought was going on in 21, now from a 2025 perspective. |
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Originally Posted By GrayMan66: Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson. Some stupid gun stuff right at the beginning was a turn-off. Pressed on. Climate change is the undercurrent. TBD whether it goes woke or not. There’s some undercurrents of it, but it’s classic Stephenson. World spanning tale populated with interesting characters and real world application of technology. |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
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Originally Posted By GrayMan66: Page 11 of hardback edition: "But just as she was getting to the door, gunfire sounded from outside. The queen, as part of her royal duties, had spent enough time around weapons to know this was not a pistol. It had the shockingly impressive punch of a rifle and the shots came rapidly enough to indicate that it was semi-automatic. So, an assault rifle." Next page the guy has an "AK-47." Grating. On page 133 and my reading time is limited, so might be a while. I've enjoyed most Stephenson books (Fall was not good, IMO, despite having potentially interesting subject matter). Meh. It’s a civvie semi-auto AK pattern rifle. Red specifically doesn’t have full auto weapons. Neal isn’t writing gun stories, he’s writing stories that sometimes contain guns. |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
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Attached File Link to GD thread I highly recommend this, link to @doc540 initiated thread in GD. |
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Originally Posted By GrayMan66: A paragraph or two later the same gun is indeed called a Kalashnikov. An American author should have at least a couple of gun savvy friends to help with details. Same with other specialty areas. I noticed the same things while reading Fall. I think Neal has drunk the koolaid or absorbed it by osmosis in the Seattle fog. It's too bad. I bought my copy of Termination Shock for $4.99 at Ollie's (overstock outlet), so I might get my money's worth. Dan Simmons managed to find a safety lever on a Glock, and he lives in Colorado. |
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Originally Posted By FZJ80: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/434728/IMG_8583_jpeg-3670566.JPG Link to GD thread I highly recommend this, link to @doc540 initiated thread in GD. amazing book just amazing |
"People, Ideas, Technology - IN THAT ORDER"
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Originally Posted By GrayMan66: A paragraph or two later the same gun is indeed called a Kalashnikov. An American author should have at least a couple of gun savvy friends to help with details. Same with other specialty areas. I noticed the same things while reading Fall. I think Neal has drunk the koolaid or absorbed it by osmosis in the Seattle fog. It's too bad. I bought my copy of Termination Shock for $4.99 at Ollie's (overstock outlet), so I might get my money's worth. There is no doubt he has drunk the cool aid. Or probably more to the point, he's a product of his location. He does make awesome tech thirllers, but he does seem to be a rather liberal person. I met him in Denver while presenting my beer at GABF. He was reading from his new book at Tattered Cover, "ReamDe" and I said fuck it, Im leaving the show to go see him. freacking LOVE Snowcrash, Diamond age, System of the Wold series, SevenEves (mostly). Anethem (check out the fan made trailer on youtube) But yeah, liberal |