Early Christmas present

Christmas time is where I usually get a lot of books, as my wife finds trying to track down minis for me too daunting. This year, I bought one for myself. It's put out by Osprey surprisingly.

Even though it's strictly Victorian SciFi, t's written like it's real history with color plates and write ups.
GASLIGHT, be prepared for new troops!

The Fort

I like to alternate between history reading and Sci-Fi Fantasy. I had finished Red Country so it was time for some history. Okay, historical fiction, brought to me by an old favorite, Bernard Cornwell of Sharpe, Saxon Chronicle and other fame.


The Fort is set in the time of the American Revolution, or the American War of Independence as it's now mostly called. A British force of fewer than a thousand Scottish infantry, backed by three sloops-of-war, sails to the desolate and fog-bound coast of New England. Establishing a garrison and naval base at Penobscot Bay, in the eastern province of Massachusetts that would become Maine, the Scots—the only British troops between Canada and New York—harry rebel privateers and give shelter to American loyalists.

In response, Massachusetts sends a fleet of more than forty vessels and some one thousand infantrymen to “captivate, kill or destroy” the foreign invaders. Second in command is Peleg Wadsworth, a veteran of the battles at Lexington and Long Island, once aide to General Washington, and a man who sees clearly what must be done to expel the invaders.

But ineptitude and irresolution lead to a mortifying defeat—and have stunning repercussions for two men on opposite sides: an untested eighteen-year-old Scottish lieutenant named John Moore, who will begin an illustrious military career; and a Boston silversmith and patriot named Paul Revere, who will face court-martial for disobedience and cowardice.

John Morre would go on to be instrumental in creating the Light units, like the 95th Rifles, famed throughout the Napoleonic Wars. He faced the green coated Marine units at Penobscot Bay, the only effective ones on the American side. Hmmmm, maybe that's how the Brits got their green coats? Moore would die in the Pennisula and Corunna. 

The book does not paint a pretty picture of Paul Revere. He would go from local hero to legend thanks to the famous poem. But, like so many legends, history paints a different picture. I have read several several articles that back Cornwell up on this.

IT also makes you rethink the idea of the citizen soldier. The patriot of legend. When this book takes place, most of those soldiers were conscripted or shanghied into service. Very few volunteers. It wouldn't be until later, we had decent enough troops to stand up to the British.

It was a great read, and it takes everything in my power now not run out and buy enough AWI stuff for a Black Powder game.

Books

Right behind my love of all things wargaming (both tabletop an electronic) is my love of reading. A glance at Her Ladyship's newly finished library will review the depths of our bibliophillia. I thought it wouldn't be too outside the realm of this blog to include a few short reviews that might interest people who also like gamin' and readin'
I just finished Red Country by Joe Abercrombie. I'll start by saying, if you haven't read Mr. Abercrombie's First Law trilogy, starting with the Blade Itself, you are living a an unfulfilled life. You haven't read good fantasy. You are lost. Go now and read them.
Now, back to this book. It takes place in the world described by the First Law, but it's not necessary to read those to get this book. This time, we got out West. the Far Country. I could say the plot is  basically the Searchers in an Old West without firearms, but that would be selling it short. Yes, we're looking for stolen children taken by the savage natives, but we meet great characters along the way, a disgraced old Mercenary Captain and disreputable crew, the old Buffalo Bill type scout who has seen better days, and take some fun twists and turns in the middle.
Abercrombie's writing is gritty and viscerel. Some of the best fight scene description's out there. George R R Martin even tips his hat to Joe.
It short, just read it. Some great fodder for wargaming hidden in there.
Next, an unread gem discovered while restocking the library, the Fort by Bernard Cornwell. A one-off story of the Revolutionary War
And, if you don't like my reviews, I highly recommend the reviews written by the Baroness, who today celebrates her Birthday. All of Unkerlant pauses from whatever conflicts it finds itself in today to rejoice! Happy Birthday, my best friend, my heart's true joy, mother of the Boy and Girl, fellow movie/game/book lover and the bestest thing that ever happened to my me.

Leviathan

I picked this up at Costco purely for the cover, but once I saw the inside map, I was sold. Leviathan is an alternate history on the brink of World War I. But the world poised for war is divided between the Clankers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans) and the Darwinists (Great Britain and Her allies). The Clankers use machines (war walkers and land battleships) and the Darwinists use bio-engineered super beasts.THe Leviathan mentioned in the title is a giant whale/blimp. Pretty cool, huh? It's a book written for teens, but so far it's action-packed and I love the setting. I smell a steampunk battle on thew horizon.