From the 1898 Martian Siege of Baltimore to a forlorn AI attack dog on the blue-star-scarred surface of MZ458-C and from the merc-manned Freestead Mayflower off the coast of post-apocalyptic Portland to the man-desperate shores of the Red Sea, here are seventeen science fiction stories of valiant endurance. These heroes battle conspiracies of usurpers, confront the unearned consequences of others’ willful lunacy, seek out buried truths at unbearable personal expense and endure the inhuman demands of digital rebellion in worlds innately hostile to truth and freedom. With original, never-before-published works from veteran authors, including William F. Wu, as well as emerging talents.
Drummer Richard Bentinck of the 23rd of Foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers) was a rarity: he survived many sanguinary experiences and recorded his adventures. His writings provide an evocative portrait of an ordinary soldier’s perception of living with one of the most experienced Napoleonic infantry battalions. He was discharged in 1823 for ill health, but lived a full life, dying in 1878 as an old man. Jonathan Crook has meticulously researched his ancestor’s life, finding unpublished first-hand accounts from Bentinck of desperate conflict across the globe, from Copenhagen to Martinique, throughout the Peninsular Campaign and culminating at the battle of Waterloo. These accounts are drawn from interviews that Bentinck conducted with a journalist just before his death. The title of the book is taken from the Battle of Aldea de Ponte: Wellington identified a tactical vulnerability and called for infantry to conduct an immediate manoeuvre. On being informed that the 23rd of Foot was best disposed, he smiled and said, ‘Ah, the very thing,’ demonstrative of his hard-earned confidence.
A major history of the British Empire’s early involvement in the Middle East Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798 showed how vulnerable India was to attack by France and Russia. It forced the British Empire to try to secure the two routes that a European might use to reach the subcontinent—through Egypt and the Red Sea, and through Baghdad and the Persian Gulf. Promised Lands is a panoramic history of this vibrant and explosive age. Charting the development of Britain’s political interest in the Middle East from the Napoleonic Wars to the Crimean War in the 1850s, Jonathan Parry examines the various strategies employed by British and Indian officials, describing how they sought influence with local Arabs, Mamluks, Kurds, Christians, and Jews. He tells a story of commercial and naval power—boosted by the arrival of steamships in the 1830s—and discusses how classical and biblical history fed into British visions of what these lands might become. The region was subject to the Ottoman Empire, yet the sultan’s grip on it appeared weak. Should Ottoman claims to sovereignty be recognised and exploited, or ignored and opposed? Could the Sultan’s government be made to support British objectives, or would it always favour France or Russia? Promised Lands shows how what started as a geopolitical contest became a drama about diplomatic competition, religion, race, and the unforeseen consequences of history.
Leach describes his exploits with the 95th Rifles, including the expedition to Denmark, the battles of Rolica, Vimiero, Busaco, Salamanca, Vitoria, and the Nivelle, culminating in the battle of Waterloo, where he was posted to the sand-pit next to the crucial position of La Haye Sainte. He also recounts the vicissitudes of campaigning in the Peninsular, vividly describing those under his command and those of higher rank that he came into contact with. Full Title of the book is - Rough Sketches Of Life Of An Old Soldier; During A Service In The West Indies; At The Siege Of Copenhagen In 1807; In The Peninsula And The South Of France In The Campaigns From 1808 To 1814, With The Light Division; In The Netherlands In 1815; Including The Battles Of Quatre Bras And Waterloo: With A Slight Sketch Of The Three Years Passed By The Army Of Occupation In France, &c. &c. &c. A classic of the genre.
Thomas William Taylor’s letters span the entire brief but era defining 1815 campaign, they were written without affectation, without thought for a wider audience and the immediacy of an eye-witness recollecting events that occurred moments before. The letters although brief are an important source for the events of the campaign, as the author’s pen sketches the life around him before the battle, the movement of troops and the encampments and their thoughts of family far away. The first letter on the great battle are written the morning afterward, the text written by “half straw, half pencil”, the notes are poignant, pungent and accurate to the flow of the battle as it has been reconstructed. He writes of the battle itself, Wellington’s well known dislike of the British cavalry arm, the heartfelt loss of his comrades such as “Poor Gunning killed in the last charge, and I write it in tears”, French brutality of prisoners and pointedly the decisive effect of the Prussian engagement during the early evening of the battle. The pursuit of the routed French army is recounted as is the occupation of Paris as he wishes to be back home with his wife and children whilst earnestly wishing for promotion. A fine short collection of letters, unspoilt by any embellishment. Author Thomas William Taylor [????-1854]
From the Imperium-controlled aetherlanes to a tech noir restitution agency in the Free Zone and from a steampunk, 1894 China with clockwork automatons to a post-1984 Orwellian dystopia with mandatory goodpharm, here are ten science fiction stories of defiance and daring. Split evenly between strong female and male leads, these heroes fight losing battles on principle alone, discover lies hidden deep inside themselves, execute daring rescues and fight for love and liberty in a society where human dignity is cheaper than obsolete swarmbots. These original, never-before-published works are from veteran authors, including William F. Wu, as well as emerging talents.
The enjoyment of wargaming is greatly enhanced if the battles (games) are played within well thought-out scenarios. Instead of simply lining up evenly-matched armies and fighting to the death, the players can have realistic objectives (such as the capture of a vital piece of terrain or delaying a superior enemy to cover a retreat) and be confronted with more challenging tactical decisions. Devising such scenarios can take a lot of effort, and more critically, time, which is always in short supply. This book is designed to take the time and effort out of organising fascinating and challenging wargames set in the Peninsular War. rnrnIn addition to 20 carefully devised scenarios of varying size and complexity, this book contains a concise introduction to the theatre of operations and an integrated chronology of battles and campaigns, showing where the scenarios fit into the wider events. The scenarios and orders of battle are intended for use with Pen & Sword's own Napolenic wargame rules, Grand Battery, but they are easily adaptable for use with other leading systems.rnrn Briefing notes on the context of the battle and the dilemmas and objectives facing each commander.rn Orders of battle for each side and any other information required to set up. rnContents :rnrn Concise introduction to the Peninsular War with chronology to place the scenarios in context.rn 20 carefully devised scenarios of varying size and complexity.rn a wargamer-friendly map, showing players where to place terrain, buildings and other features that had an impact on the battlefield. It will also show initial dispositions (historical) and mark the point of entrance (or exit) of units during the battle. rn Clear win/lose/draw conditions.
From Truman to Trump, the deep corruption of our political leaders unveiled. Many critiques of the Trump era contrast it with the latter half of the twentieth century, when the United States seemed governed more by statesmen than by special interests. Without denying the extraordinary vigor of President Trump’s assault on traditional ethical and legal norms, Jonathan Marshall challenges the myth of a golden age of American democracy. Drawing on a host of original archival sources, he tells a shocking story of how well-protected criminals systematically organized the corruption of American national politics after World War II. Marshall begins by tracing the extraordinary scandals of President Truman, whose political career was launched by the murderous Pendergast machine in Missouri. He goes on to highlight the role of organized crime in the rise of McCarthyism during the Cold War, the near-derailment of Vice President Johnson’s political career by two mob-related scandals, and Nixon’s career-long association with underworld figures. The book culminates with a discussion of Donald Trump’s unique history of relations with the traditional American Mafia and newer transnational gangs like the Russian mafiya—and how the latter led to his historic impeachment by the House of Representatives.
When examining the variety of British directors included here, the reader will see just how misleading the term 'British film' can be. The book places ten contemporary British directors side by side. But whilst the reader is able to trace certain common themes, comparisons between the characters are actually characterized by a startling degree of diversity of style and opinion.
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