Why Is The SWJ Recommended Reading List Devoid of Fiction?

[CPT Foley]

The Yacoubian Building (Arabic: عمارة يعقوبيان ʿImārat Yaʿqūbīān) by Egyptian author Alaa el-Aswany is more insightful on the appeal of the Islamic extremism than anything on the list.

[jcustis]

Why Is The SWJ Recommended Reading List Devoid of Fiction?

It doesn't have to be...just seems to have turned out that way. But now we have a recommendation for a new book. Do you have any other info to add, like a brief review or layout of the book's themes?

[Old Eagle]

Check out the "what are you reading now" thread. There is a broader inventory there.

[120mm]

I vote for he first three books of the "Ender's" series by Orson Scott Card.

Each one embodies a key element of Small Wars. The first is about leadership, the second is about cultural relevance and the third is about ethics.

Must read fiction for COIN afficianadoes.

[Van]

"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert A. Heinlein.

An outstanding work of fiction that describes an insurgency from inception to independence, loosely based on the American Revoltion (or the Irish-German-Presbyterian Uprising for our British readers). The roles of media, communications, lethal force, cell structures, and financing are discussed intelligently.


"The Prince" by Jerry Pournelle and S.M. Stirling.

A compilation of the Falkenberg's Legion background and stories in a single volume. The last half is about an insurgency with the full range of insurgent and counter-insurgent activities.

[CPT Foley]

(From Amazon) The Yacoubian Building holds all that Egypt was and has become over the 75 years since its namesake was built on one of downtown Cairo’s main boulevards. From the pious son of the building’s doorkeeper and the raucous, impoverished squatters on its roof, via the tattered aristocrat and the gay intellectual in its apartments, to the ruthless businessman whose stores occupy its ground floor, each sharply etched character embodies a facet of modern Egypt -- where political corruption, ill-gotten wealth, and religious hypocrisy are natural allies, where the arrogance and defensiveness of the powerful find expression in the exploitation of the weak, where youthful idealism can turn quickly to extremism, and where an older, less violent vision of society may yet prevail. Alaa Al Aswany’s novel caused an unprecedented stir when it was first published in 2002 and has remained the world’s best selling novel in the Arabic language since.

About the Author
Alaa Al Aswany was born in 1957. A dentist, whose first office was in the Yacoubian Building, Al Aswany has written prolifically for Egyptian newspapers across the political spectrum on literature, politics, and social issues.

--------------

It's flat-out disturbing, it paints the portrait of multiple sectors of Egyptian society and it's rotten to the core.

-The aspiring police candidate who turns to the mosque after he is rejected from the academy simply because his father works as a doorman

-His ex-girl friend who finally gives in and starts giving her boss what he wants, because that's the only way a woman in Egypt can hold a job outside the home

-The gay journalist living in fear the police will raid his meeting place

-"The Big Guy" aka, Mubarak, who gets a 25% cut of any significant commerce

Etc., etc.

Disturbing, but insightful.

[Culpeper]

Heart of Darkness: J. Conrad

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514D6T4VQAL._SS500_.jpg

[Tom Odom]

Heart of Darkness: J. Conrad

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514D6T4VQAL._SS500_.jpg

Excellent pick!

[William F. Owen]

All for this thread. Though there are many esteemed writers on this board, there are few novelists (http://www.amazon.com/Blackfoot-Missing-William-F-Owen/dp/0099441543/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242542816&sr=8-1) :D

...now I just have to write another one!

[Backwards Observer]

Back in the mid-seventies, an "old" Sea Dog (or he may have been a Devil Dog) noticed me reading F. Spencer Chapman's, The Jungle Is Neutral. The next time our paths crossed he handed over a copy of Robert Roth's, Sand In The Wind, "Here ya go." I never did finish Chapman's book. Go figure.

The Jungle Is Neutral (http://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Neutral-Soldiers-Two-Year-Japanese/dp/1592281079)

Sand In The Wind (http://www.amazon.com/Sand-Wind-Robert-Roth/dp/0523426011)

[Umar Al-Mokhtār]

The Quiet American (http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-American-Penguin-Classics-Deluxe/dp/0143039024/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242596915&sr=1-1)

Gardens of Stone (http://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Stone-Nicholas-Proffitt/dp/0812587278/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242596873&sr=1-1)

The Ugly American (http://www.amazon.com/Ugly-American-William-J-Lederer/dp/B000AN1XA8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242596826&sr=1-2)

Better Times Than These (http://www.amazon.com/Better-Times-These-Winston-Groom/dp/0671522663/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242596691&sr=8-1)

The Lords of Discipline (http://www.amazon.com/Lords-Discipline-Novel-Pat-Conroy/dp/0553381563/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242597013&sr=1-7) :D

and of course: The Great Santini (http://www.amazon.com/Great-Santini-Novel-Pat-Conroy/dp/0553381555/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242596964&sr=1-1)

[J Wolfsberger]

By Jean Lartéguy:

Yellow Fever (http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Larteguy-Translated-French-Fielding/dp/B0024M3Q6W/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242598689&sr=8-24)
The Centurions (http://www.amazon.com/Centurions-Jean-Larteguy/dp/B001AW9C4C/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242598564&sr=8-9)
The Praetorians (http://www.amazon.com/Praetorians-Jean-Larteguy/dp/B000E608IE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242598564&sr=8-2)


"I'd like to have two Armies -- one for display, with lovely guns, tanks, little Soldiers, staffs, distinguished and doddering Generals and dear little regimental officers, who would be deeply concerned over their General's bowel movements or their Colonel's piles; an Army that would be shown for a modest fee on every fairground in the country."

"The other would be the real one, composed entirely of young enthusiasts in camouflage uniforms, who would not be put on display but from whom impossible efforts would be demanded and to whom all sorts of tricks would be taught. That's the Army in which I should like to fight."

Jean Larteguy
French Commando/Soldier/Journalist

[ODB]

IMO Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield should be required reading for everyone in the military.

Gates of Fire (http://www.amazon.com/Gates-Fire-Novel-Battle-Thermopylae/dp/0553580531)

[patmc]

For general, good-time, fun Army fiction, try the "Brotherhood of War" series by WEB Griffin. Starts with "The Lieutenants" and follow a group of officers and their families through their careers. Starts in WWII and ends with Vietnam, if my memory serves me. There are a dozen or so books in the series, and this group of guys always seem to be in combat and at the forefront of any new Army trend (ie: tanks, aviation, Special Forces, helicopters, etc...). The series is very entertaining, and you really get to love the characters. Leadership and Army / military history more than any particular small wars, though Vietnam and Congo play key rolls in the later book. I read the series while deployed in Iraq, and they were a good escape. Worth the time if you have it.

For our Marine brothers, Griffin also has "The Corps" series. I got about half way through those, but got sidetracked. Focuses on pre-WW2 - WW2 Marines. Also great reads, especially if you're a WW2 buff.

[selil]

For our Marine brothers, Griffin also has "The Corps" series. I got about half way through those, but got sidetracked. Focuses on pre-WW2 - WW2 Marines. Also great reads, especially if you're a WW2 buff.

I have everything WEB Griffin ever wrote except for his behind the badge series. For some reason I don't read police fiction.

I just bought blackfoot. I don't read much military fiction beyond hammers slammers, and WEB Griffin. I did read the "Net" series by Clancy but though it has elements of military it is sideways to the topic.

[Culpeper]

The Man Eaters of Tsavo

Considered nonfiction but the colonel did embellish quite a bit to make it fiction enough and much later a great fiction movie.

BTW, did anyone recommend The Killer Angels yet?

There is also this really thick book titled, Once an Eagle.


America's fighting men have turned to Once an Eagle as a sourcebook for the military's core values since its publication at the height of the Vietnam War. The novel, following the careers of virtuous Sam Damon and opportunistic Courtney Massengale, is required reading for all members of the United States Marine Corps and frequently taught in leadership courses at West Point.

[Marble Model]

I vote for he first three books of the "Ender's" series by Orson Scott Card.

Each one embodies a key element of Small Wars. The first is about leadership, the second is about cultural relevance and the third is about ethics.

Must read fiction for COIN afficianadoes.

Agree; the Ender's series could serve as a refreshing change of pace for those that only read non-fiction warfare literature. Many parallels to leadership that could be applied in modern business or Small Wars in the first title--Ender's Game...just a great book.

[marct]

"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert A. Heinlein.

"The Prince" by Jerry Pournelle and S.M. Stirling.

Add in the Draka series by Sterling, Starship Troopers (BOOK, not movie) by Heinlein and Count Belisarius by Robert Graves.

Of course, I also have a major weakness for Eric Flint's 1632 series, and Rob Thornton introduced me to the John Scalzi Old Man's War series which is pretty good.

[J Wolfsberger]

The Dogs of War (http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-War-Frederick-Forsyth/dp/0553268465/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242676471&sr=1-1) by Frederick Forsyth

The rest of you have already mentioned most of the SciFi. Except for Dune (http://www.amazon.com/Dune-40th-Anniversary-Chronicles-Book/dp/0441013597/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242676558&sr=1-1). :D

[marct]

The rest of you have already mentioned most of the SciFi. Except for Dune (http://www.amazon.com/Dune-40th-Anniversary-Chronicles-Book/dp/0441013597/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242676558&sr=1-1). :D

Never really liked Worms in a Sandbox much :D. Of course, there's always the Aldenata series by John Ringo :cool:.

[Culpeper]

The Dogs of War (http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-War-Frederick-Forsyth/dp/0553268465/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242676471&sr=1-1) by Frederick Forsyth

The rest of you have already mentioned most of the SciFi. Except for Dune (http://www.amazon.com/Dune-40th-Anniversary-Chronicles-Book/dp/0441013597/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242676558&sr=1-1). :D

Yeah, The Dogs of War!

[CPT Foley]

Heart of Darkness: J. Conrad

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514D6T4VQAL._SS500_.jpg

Great recommendation. It is notably missing from the SWJ reading list. Lord Jim too.

[Gian P Gentile]

Strongly second MarcT's proposal for Starship Troopers. In my view perhaps one of the greatest books of fiction ever written about war and society.

Also consider Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.

gian

[marct]

Hi Gian,


Strongly second MarcT's proposal for Starship Troopers. In my view perhaps one of the greatest books of fiction ever written about war and society.

Personally, I always thought that Heinlein should be thought of as a philosopher - Starship Troopers is definitely a work of philosophy, as is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Space Cadet. I've often wanted to teach a course in either H&MP or "Doubt" :D!


Also consider Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.

That one, I haven't read, Gian. I'll check it out.

Let me toss in another one - Apuleius' The Golden Ass (http://www.jnanam.net/golden-ass/#ed). It is not, per se, strictly about the military and society, but it does have an immense amount of examination about how people come to believe what they do. as a side note, The Golden Ass was one of the few books that Lawrence carried with him while on campaign....

[patmc]

Also consider Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I'm pretty sure that this book was the inspiration for Metallica's song and video "One" about a man who is wounded in war and basically left a vegetable, except he can still think and feel.

I tried reading this book in college, but just could not get into it. If my memory serves me, the intro talking about Trumbo's blacklisting was pretty interesting, though it portrayed him as more of a martyr than author.

[CPT Foley]

Some Graham Greene is proably in order too, e.g., "The Quiet American, "Our Man in Havana." It's pretty cynical stuff, but he seems to have his finger on the pulse of the the post-colonial, emerging American activist Foreign policy tensions.

[Tom Odom]

here is another Africa novel that is worth a look--the movie isn't bad either

[Tom Odom]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I'm pretty sure that this book was the inspiration for Metallica's song and video "One" about a man who is wounded in war and basically left a vegetable, except he can still think and feel.

I tried reading this book in college, but just could not get into it. If my memory serves me, the intro talking about Trumbo's blacklisting was pretty interesting, though it portrayed him as more of a martyr than author.

that would fit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_(Metallica_song)). remember the book (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Got_His_Gun)came out on the eve of WWII and was well recieved--until the left picked it up as a reason to stay out of the war--until Hitler invaded the USSR--and later became the reason Trumbo was blacklisted

It was Timothy Bottom's first movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067277/)and redone as a stage-movie in 2008. (http://www.johnnygothisgunthemovie.com/)

[Steve Blair]

The movie was more the inspiration than the book, but you would be correct about "One".

[Steve Blair]

The Thirteenth Valley is pretty good. I also have a soft spot for Leonard Scott's stuff (some of it, at least...The Hill, The Expendables, and The Iron Men are all pretty good). Fred Chiaventone's stuff (Moon of Bitter Cold, A Road We Do Not Know) is pretty good for a look at the Frontier Army and the Indian Wars.

[Gian P Gentile]

Tom and Steve are right with their explanations of the book, movie, and metalica video. I show the video in class usually in the concluding lesson for our block on World War I and explain the background to the video, movie, and book. But I have also used it at the end of the second semester for any number of classes on post vietnam. Either way it is a powerful video that crosses a number of different historical and contextual points.

g


that would fit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_(Metallica_song)). remember the book (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Got_His_Gun)came out on the eve of WWII and was well recieved--until the left picked it up as a reason to stay out of the war--until Hitler invaded the USSR--and later became the reason Trumbo was blacklisted

It was Timothy Bottom's first movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067277/)and redone as a stage-movie in 2008. (http://www.johnnygothisgunthemovie.com/)

[jkm_101_fso]

Tom and Steve are right with their explanations of the book, movie, and metalica video. I show the video in class usually in the concluding lesson for our block on World War I and explain the background to the video, movie, and book. But I have also used it at the end of the second semester for any number of classes on post vietnam. Either way it is a powerful video that crosses a number of different historical and contextual points.

g

"One" is one of my favorite songs of all time...

Metallica also has a song called "For Whom the Bell Tolls"...not sure if it has anything to do with the Hemingway novel about the Spanish Civil War.

Lyrics:

Make his fight on the hill in the early day
Constant chill deep inside
Shouting gun, on they run through the endless grey
On the fight, for they are right, yes, by whos to say?
For a hill men would kill, why? they do not know
Suffered wounds test there their pride
Men of five, still alive through the raging glow
Gone insane from the pain that they surely know

For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls

Take a look to the sky just before you die
It is the last time you will
Blackened roar massive roar fills the crumbling sky
Shattered goal fills his soul with a ruthless cry
Stranger now, are his eyes, to this mystery
He hears the silence so loud
Crack of dawn, all is gone except the will to be
Now they will see what will be, blinded eyes to see


And lyrics to "One"

I cant remember anything
Cant tell if this is true or dream
Deep down inside I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me

Now that the war is through with me
Im waking up I can not see
That there is not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now

Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please god,wake me

Back in the womb its much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But cant look forward to reveal
Look to the time when Ill live

Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me

Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please god,wake me
Now the world is gone Im just one
Oh god,help me hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God help me

Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
I cannot live
I cannot die
Trapped in myself
Body my holding cell

Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell

[Steve Blair]

I'm pretty sure that "For Whom the Bell Tolls" ties back to Hemingway. At the time they did that, Metallica was still heavily influenced by Iron Maiden's stuff, and with Cliff Burton still alive that was a given. I think he had a hand in "One" before he was killed in that bus crash.

[slapout9]

The Casca book series by Sgt. Barry Sadler (yes the one with the song) was pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Mercenary-Casca-No/dp/0515095354

[120mm]

I have everything WEB Griffin ever wrote except for his behind the badge series. For some reason I don't read police fiction.

I just bought blackfoot. I don't read much military fiction beyond hammers slammers, and WEB Griffin. I did read the "Net" series by Clancy but though it has elements of military it is sideways to the topic.

Oddball trivia factoid: I've been corresponding periodically with David Drake since the late 1980s; first by letter and then by e-mails. He's really a nice guy and is an extremely driven writer.

BTW, I dislike the genre of police fiction as well, but I await, with baited breath each and every book my John Sandford....

[SethB]

I liked James Clavell's books:

Tai-Pan (http://www.amazon.com/Tai-Pan-James-Clavell/dp/0440184622/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244003540&sr=8-1).
Shogun (http://www.amazon.com/Shogun-James-Clavell/dp/0440178002/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244003540&sr=8-3).
King Rat (http://www.amazon.com/King-Rat-James-Clavell/dp/0385333765/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244003540&sr=8-6).
Gai-Jin (http://www.amazon.com/Gai-Jin-James-Clavell/dp/0385343272/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244003540&sr=8-8).
Noble House (http://www.amazon.com/Noble-House-James-Clavell/dp/0385343264/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244003540&sr=8-10).
Children's Story (http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Story-James-Clavell/dp/0440204682/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244003540&sr=8-16).
Whirlwind (http://www.amazon.com/Whirlwind-James-Clavell/dp/B000F7VAIE/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244003615&sr=8-19).

In these novels you will find insurgency, revolution, grand strategy, torture, intercultural communication, finance, indoctrination and just about everything that is discussed on the forum. They needn't be read in order, although I would advise it, except Tai-Pan should be read before Gai-Jin.

[lamont]

The Dogs of War (http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-War-Frederick-Forsyth/dp/0553268465/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242676471&sr=1-1) by Frederick Forsyth

The rest of you have already mentioned most of the SciFi. Except for Dune (http://www.amazon.com/Dune-40th-Anniversary-Chronicles-Book/dp/0441013597/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242676558&sr=1-1). :D

What about Forever War?

http://www.amazon.com/Forever-War-Joe-Haldeman/dp/0312536631

There's some of the Fred Saberhagen Berzerker-series short stories and some of Keith Laumer's bolo short stories that are good and probably topical (the full length novels tend to not be very good).

A Fire Upon the Deep is a great book, but I don't know if I can do any gymnastics to tie it into COIN, its just a great book...

[Umar Al-Mokhtār]

the Metallica song For Whom the Bell Tolls is based mostly on Chapter 27 in Hemingway's novel, where El Sordo and his men are killed in an air attack on the hill they were defending, with allusions to the final chapter where Jordon is lying wounded, awaiting the Fascists, and is contemplating his death.

Have to add:

Jones’ From Here to Eternity

Wouk’s The Caine Mutiny

[Coldstreamer]

..no one seems to have mentioned 'Once An Eagle' by Anton Myrer - ultimate novel of command, integrity and self respect. It also has sex in it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Eagle-Myrer/dp/0061030864/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244111518&sr=1-1


Amazon Review:

Anton Myrer, a former U.S. Marine, has written the all-time greatest novel of a soldier's life of service. The protagonist, Sam Damon, was commissioned on the battlefield but never forgot his simple and honorable roots as a citizen and enlisted man. He lived a life of dedicated service, loyal to his subordinates, leaders, the Army, and the nation, and rose to two-star General officer rank. His nemesis was a West Point graduate, Courtney Massengale, who was never a soldier at heart, but merely a careerist... out for himself. On one level, these two characters provide contrasting types of military officers, one noble and self-sacrificing, and and the other obsessed with personal aggrandizement. On a more intimate level, these two characters represent the struggle within every soldier's heart between the allure of promotion and prestige, and the call to duty and humble loyalty to his men and profession. Myrer died of cancer on Robert E. Lee's birthday in January 1996. I read the book before I was commissioned at West Point in 1976 and the story stuck with me throughout my own humble 20+ year career as a constant conscience and counselor against self-promotion. This is a character-building tale!

[Tom Odom]

..no one seems to have mentioned 'Once An Eagle' by Anton Myrer - ultimate novel of command, integrity and self respect. It also has sex in it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Eagle-Myrer/dp/0061030864/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244111518&sr=1-1


Amazon Review:

Anton Myrer, a former U.S. Marine, has written the all-time greatest novel of a soldier's life of service. The protagonist, Sam Damon, was commissioned on the battlefield but never forgot his simple and honorable roots as a citizen and enlisted man. He lived a life of dedicated service, loyal to his subordinates, leaders, the Army, and the nation, and rose to two-star General officer rank. His nemesis was a West Point graduate, Courtney Massengale, who was never a soldier at heart, but merely a careerist... out for himself. On one level, these two characters provide contrasting types of military officers, one noble and self-sacrificing, and and the other obsessed with personal aggrandizement. On a more intimate level, these two characters represent the struggle within every soldier's heart between the allure of promotion and prestige, and the call to duty and humble loyalty to his men and profession. Myrer died of cancer on Robert E. Lee's birthday in January 1996. I read the book before I was commissioned at West Point in 1976 and the story stuck with me throughout my own humble 20+ year career as a constant conscience and counselor against self-promotion. This is a character-building tale!

That's because Sam Damon was real! :D

[patmc]

That's because Sam Damon was real! :D

The Gospel according to Anton is fiction????

[selil]

Oddball trivia factoid: I've been corresponding periodically with David Drake since the late 1980s; first by letter and then by e-mails. He's really a nice guy and is an extremely driven writer.


Next time you talk to David Drake tell him thanks from a fan.

[Backwards Observer]

Loyd Little wrote two novels that were particularly adept at walking between the worlds. Parthian Shot (http://www.amazon.com/Parthian-Shot-Loyd-Little/dp/0804100047) has been mentioned on the Council. In The Village Of The Man, about a somewhat burned-out CIA guy posing as a Catholic priest in Seventies Laos, is also excellent.

Loyd Little related links:

Loyd's Memories (http://gia-vuc.com/loydsmemories.htm)

Gia Vuc A Camp (http://gia-vuc.com/GIA-VUC-CAMP.htm)

Council related:

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/showthread.php?t=2179

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/showthread.php?t=1788

[pjmunson]

is also out as a movie. It had to be considerably trimmed back to make it to the screen in Egypt, but it is still pretty good and Adel Imam has a great performance as Zaki Bey.

[Billy Ruffian]

Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series was pretty good.

While not focusing solely on the military aspects of the Late Republic (although she does go into some great deal about the Marian reforms), she does an excellent job in my opinion of detailing the campaigns of the renegade Quintus Sertorius as well as the pontic wars between King Mithridates and the Republic. The Social and Civil wars and the guerilla campaigns of the Samnites and Marsian tribes are also well done I think.

The First Man in Rome (http://www.amazon.com/First-Man-Rome-Colleen-Mccullough/dp/0061582417/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1246995988&sr=1-1)
Fortune's Favourites (http://www.amazon.com/Fortunes-Favourites-Masters-Colleen-McCullough/dp/0099462524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246996069&sr=1-1)
Caesar's Women (http://www.amazon.com/Caesars-Women-Colleen-Mccullough/dp/0061582425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246996088&sr=1-1)
Caesar (http://www.amazon.com/Caesar-Masters-Rome-Colleen-McCullough/dp/0099460432/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246996114&sr=1-1)
The October Horse (http://www.amazon.com/October-Horse-Novel-Caesar-Cleopatra/dp/1416566651/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246996114&sr=1-2)

Good historical fiction that aims for realism as opposed to strict historical accuracy. When it comes to the minutae of wearing a toga or how to weaken the shaft of a pila though the author makes sure to get it right.

[carl]

A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin (I never tire of recommending this book.)
Cross of Iron by Willie Heinrich
Goodbye to Some by Gordon Forbes (Navy patrol bombers in the SW Pacific. There was a reason they didn't drill procedures for losing an engine on takeoff.)
The Last Squadron by Gerd Gaiser (Things were pretty good for the Luftwaffe fighter squadrons until they had to try to hold back the tide coming out of Willow Run and Santa Monica.)
And Quiet Flows the Don by Sholokhov

The man-eater hunting books by Jim Corbett aren't fiction but they are great. I think it was Robert Thompson maybe who said if you want to understand what it is like to live where terrorists reign, read Jim Corbett's books.

[Steve Blair]

Cross of Iron by Willie Heinrich

A great book. Crack of Doom by the same author is also quite good.

[Billy Ruffian]

I forgot to place theGrass Crown in between Fortune's Favourites and Caesar's women. It focuses almost exclusively on Sulla's administration and restructuring of the Republic during his dictatorship.

[120mm]

Next time you talk to David Drake tell him thanks from a fan.

Wilco.

[Clinkerbuilt]

In the same vein as Pournelle's "The Prince", "1634" and anything else Drake:

THE STARFIST SERIES

http://www.amazon.com/StarFIST-David-Sherman-amp-Cragg/lm/MLSKSY9YW9WY


THE RAJ WHITEHALL SERIES

http://www.amazon.com/Forge-Raj-Whitehall-General-Book/dp/0671720376/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247838881&sr=8-2

[Kevin23]

How about the Dune series of books by Frank Herbert? As it has good examples of leadership, the politics of waging a war in a far away land, a complicated situation both tactically and strategically, and even some COIN.

[Ken White]

by George MacDonald Fraser -- you'll learn more...

[Kevin23]

Btw I guess many of the Tom Clancy novels are good also.

Larry Bond could also be added to the list, especially for Vortex and Red Phoenix.

[Ken White]

Fiction is fiction and there's little to be learned from it. The more outrageous the premises of the book, the less of real benefit likely to be found. OTOH, if you read 'em for entertainment, cool.

[Ron Humphrey]

I always liked Mccaffrey's Dragons of Pern for everything from long term societal development, conflict amongst groups, joint ops:D, and just plain old well developed characters with story-lines that could fit just about any third world country.

Also like a lot of Clancy and Brown but always with the caveat Ken mentioned.