Book Review: “The Second World War Tank Crisis: The Fall and Rise of British Armour 1919–1945”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Dick Taylor will publish the book “The Second World War Tank Crisis: The Fall and Rise of British Armour 1919–1945” in 2021 (June 15). Mr. Taylor has published nearly 20 books.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘G’. The book goes into the history go British tanks and why they were so poor at the beginning of WWII. Production of British armor consistently had to take a second seat to aircraft.

The book lays out the technical details of its tanks. Tanks, especially good tanks, are costly. Britain had to make tough decisions on spending. Finances and manufacturing capacity had a heavy impact on tank design and production. Companies without much experience building armor often received contracts.

Tanks designed from WWI forward were analyzed. The evolution of the various designs is described. British manufacturers were too concerned with meeting production goals. They often sacrificed quality for quantity. Improvements, even when identified, were difficult to apply. Production could not be interrupted. It was not until late in the war that the British began to produce good tanks.

I enjoyed the 9+ hours I spent reading this 240-page WWII history. The book was very interesting. It was also very dry and academic making it a bit difficult to read I do like the chosen cover art. I give this book a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest. 

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 540 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.

Book Review: “Hellbound”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Authors Eric Giacometti & Jacques Ravenne (http://www.giacometti-ravenne-polar.com) published the novel “Hellbound” in 2021. This is the third book in their “Black Sun” series and their fifth publication. 

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The story is set in 1942. There are three primary characters. Frenchman Tristan Marcas, German Erika von Essling, and French SOE agent Laure d’Estillac 

The Germans are looking for the last of the alleged sacred Swastikas. They believe Germany will easily complete the conquest of Russia once they have it. Of course, not all within the German hierarchy believes in the paranormal solution. Enough in power do to aggressively continue the search. The British for the most part, think the Swastika’s magical ability is rubbish. However, they want to pursue any available options to disrupt German war efforts. 

Marcas is still operating deep undercover as a double agent. His romantic interest in von Essling continues to grow. He continues to pursue the last of the Swastikas. There is a connection between the last Swastika and the Romanov Royal family. The trail to the Swastika leads Marcas back to London. 

I enjoyed the 8.5+ hours I spent reading this 308-page WWII era thriller. This is very much an ‘Indiana Jones’ type of tale. It is pure entertainment. I like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest. 

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 540 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.

Book Review: “Galileo: And the Science Deniers”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Mario Livio (http://www.mariolivio.com) published the book “Galileo: And the Science Deniers” in 2020. Dr. Livio has published seven books and numerous technical papers. 

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. This book, as the title implies, is a biography of Galileo Galilei. 

The book chronicles Galileo’s early life, his period of discovery, and the trials he later underwent. His ‘radical’ views on science contradicted Catholic Church doctrine. This led to his books being restricted and his censure. 

I enjoyed the 8.5 hours I spent reading this 283-page history. I knew the general story of Galileo. This book certainly delves deeper into his life. His discoveries and publications are discussed. The controversy he faced with the Church is covered in detail. This was a very dry and tedious read. From the title, I knew that the book addressed the science deniers from Galileo’s time. I was not expected to encounter commentary on today’s politics. I thought that this detracted from Galileo’s life story. I like the cover art used for this book. I give this book a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Living Military History Memorial Day 2021

The Texas Military forces Museum will be open this Memorial Day weekend. The Living History unit will present Vietnam War reenactments on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the performance and the museum is free. Enter Camp Mabry through the 35th Street entrance (see Directions page for more details). A photo ID is required of all guests entering the Camp.

The Museum contains 45,000 sq. ft. of exhibits inside, and dozens of armored vehicles, artillery pieces, and aircraft on the grounds.

Book Review”Days of Steel Rain: The Epic Story of a WWII Vengeance Ship in the Year of the Kamikaze”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Brent E. Jones published the book “Days of Steel Rain: The Epic Story of a WWII Vengeance Ship in the Year of the Kamikaze” in 2021. This is his first book. 

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘PG’ because it contains some scenes of violence. The book tells the story of the light cruiser USS Astoria during the last year of WWII. 

The Astoria was a ‘vengeance ship’. The original USS Astoria (CS-34) had also been a cruiser. She was launched in December of 1933 and commissioned on April 28, 1934. She sank on August 9, 1942, after seeing action during the Battle of Savo Island. The USS Astoria (CL-90), the subject of this book, was launched on March 6, 1943, and commissioned on May 17, 1944. She was a vengeance ship because she was named after a prior ship lost in battle to the Japanese. 

The book tells the story of CL-90. It describes the background of her construction and the corresponding difficulties. The book first follows her shakedown cruise to the vicinity of Bermuda. Soon after she began operations with the Pacific Fleet. Most of Astoria’s war experience was as a carrier escort. 

U.S. Navy Captain George Dyer commanded the Astoria. He had to build the crew from what he was given. He had a few experience sailers, but most were fresh out of training or the rejects of other ships. In the months between commissioning and the end of the war, they became a tight and ready crew. It was at Okinawa where they faced their greatest challenge. It was there they faced their greatest challenge from the Japanese Kamikazes. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the 11.5+ hours I spent reading this 401-page WWII naval history. The author does a good job of working excerpts from crew written letters and journals into the story. I had never heard of using spotter planes for air-sea rescue until reading this book. Cruisers and battleships carried catapult-launched amphibious planes. The Astoria’s pilots made many a rescue. Captain Dyer faced more challenges than I would have expected. The demands of assembling and training up his crew were greater than I would have thought for 1944. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest. 

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 530 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.

Book Review: “Resurgence”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – 

Author C, J. Cherryh (http://www.cherryh.com) published the novel “Resurgence” in 2020. This is the 20th novel in the author’s Foreigner’ series. Mr. Cherryh has published more than 35 novels. 

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains some violence. The story is set in the far future. The primary character is diplomat, Bren Cameron. 

The dowager Ilisidi takes the famous Red Train to a remote town. Onboard are Cameron as well as a diverse assortment of characters. Her plan is to make a deal that will bring a close to the hostilities in the south of the Atevi continent. She is playing a risky game of intrigue and politics with Cameron at the center. 

I enjoyed the 11+ hours I spent reading this 347-page science fiction novel. I found it a little slow and confusing. While I had read book 17 (Visitor) in this series back in 2016, it was a little difficult to pick up this novel. I would certainly recommend starting at the beginning of the series to get the most out of the novel. While there is some excitement, this book is more about politics and intrigue. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review: “An American Unsung: Based On Actual Events In the Life of My Friend, Dayton Edie, American Hero”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Authors Harold Ray Finley, Jr. and Carol Greer published the book “An American Unsung: Based On Actual Events In the Life of My Friend, Dayton Edie, American Hero” in 2019. This is their only publication. 

I received a copy of this book from one of the authors in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘G’. The book tells the story of the life of Dayton Edie. 

While the book includes part of his early life, most of it focuses on his WWII and later experiences. He served in combat in both WWII and the Korean War. Because of his language skills, part of his WWII-era career was with the OSS. After the war, he performed covert missions behind the iron curtain. He left the US Army after serving 20 years. 

I enjoyed the 3+ hours I spent reading this 248-page biography. This is not one long tale, but a series of short glimpses at Edie’s life and exploits. The book is relatively short and very readable. The story is quite remarkable. Based on this biography, he should have received far more recognition for his service. His obituary and page on tankdestroyer.net substantiate his military service. The cover art is very simple but appropriate for a biography. I give this book a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest. 

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 530 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.

Book Review: “Shorefall”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Robert Jackson Bennett (https://www.robertjacksonbennett.com) published the novel “Shorefall” in 2020. This is the second book in the author’s ‘Founders Trilogy’. Mr. Bennett has published nine novels. 

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence and mature language. The story is set in a world with magic. 

Magic is not manifested through incantations in this world. The magic comes through scrivers writing out complex commands. Much like programming reality. Sancia Grado has led an unusual life. Once a slave now she is a powerful scriver. Grado has a close group of allies. With their help, she is planning to take the power to run the city of Tevanne. No longer will the powerful families hold control.  

They are on the way to success when the legendary Crasedes Magnus appears. He is one of the first hierophants. Thousands of years before he discovered how to write powerful scriving. He gave limited sentience to inanimate objects. This has become the basis for the magic that runs Tevanne. With his power, he now wants to remake humanity. 

Grado and her comrades must overcome scriven magic and survive many dangerous encounters. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the 16+ hours I spent reading this 493-page fantasy. You could read this as a stand-alone novel. It would be best though to read the first novel in the series (Foundryside) beforehand. The cover art is dark and simple, but I like it. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review: “Unsolved Mysteries of World War II: From the Nazi Ghost Train and ‘Tokyo Rose’ to the Day Los Angeles was Attacked by Phantom Fighters”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Michael FitzGerald published the book “Unsolved Mysteries of World War II: From the Nazi Ghost Train and ‘Tokyo Rose’ to the Day Los Angeles was Attacked by Phantom Fighters” in 2019. Mr. FitzGerald has published nearly a dozen books.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘G’. This book is a collection of short topics from WWII most of which have a degree of mystery about them.

I enjoyed the 6+ hours I spent reading this 242-page WWII history. I did find this book interesting and learned a few new things. It is the second book by FitzGerald (the other was Hitler’s Secret Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Nazi Plan for Final Victory) that I have read. They are similar in how they approach the history of WWII. The book does lack citations to substantiate the stories. Some of the stories included are neither ‘Mysteries’ nor ‘Unsolved’. Many conspiracy theories are mentioned for these ‘mysteries’. I like the selected cover art. I give this book a 3.5 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 530 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.

Book Review: “Rogue Planet”

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author John Andrew Karr (https://johnandrewkarr.com) published the novel “Rogue Planet” in 2020. He has published three novels and this is the second in his “Mars Wars” series. 

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The story is set a little more than 200 years in the future. Humans have ventured into space and have begun to colonize Mars. The Earth First Foundation (EFF) is opposed to any ventures into space. They have taken control of the Earth and want all humans on Earth and under their control. 

Captain Ry Devans and Dr. Karen Wagner are on MOS-1 in orbit around Mars. As the result of the nuclear detonations carried out by Devans (book #1), Mars is changing. The volcanic activity is taking the planet closer to being livable. The EFF is willing to go to any lengths to force humans from space. A Mars virus already threatened humanity only to be saved by another. Some onboard MOS-1 are exhibiting serious mood swings. This may be the sign of some new and dangerous Mars organism. 

Of course, not all on Earth are following the EFF line. There is a resistance. Devans and his team are working with those against the EFF. He makes a clandestine trip to Earth to trade with the resistance for critical supplies. 

EFF agent Paton Schiflet is one of those who is doing everything he can to quash the human presence on Mars. After Devans’ mission to Earth Schiflet is assigned to MOS-2 and ordered to Mars. His mission is to capture or destroy those who have evaded the EFF. 

I enjoyed the 10 hours I spent reading this 309-page science fiction novel. I liked the overall story. That said, some of the dialogs just don’t fit into what I think professionals would say. Devans and Wagner are leading a band of humans fighting for their survival yet Devans sometimes come across more like a college frat boy. While this novel can be read stand-alone, it would be best to begin with the first novel in the series. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).