The Sailor and the Dancing Girl by Andy Copestake - Book Review

With a title that sounds like a back-catalogue effort from the Hallmark Channel, or maybe a mid-career musical theatre number by David Essex, The Sailor and the Dancing Girl is instead one of the latest releases in Helion and Co's "From Reason to Revolution" series from the keyboard of Andy Copestake.

Having known Andy a good few years (politeness demands that I state not the actual figure, but a driver of a similar age would have a considerable no claims bonus by now!) and being fellow TWATS (Tantobie Warfare And Tactical Society), I'd known that this tome was coming for a while now. Full disclosure: I paid for this copy with my own money, and neither Andy nor Helion & Co have had any input in to this review. Nor have they had sight of its contents prior to its public posting.

As soon as the title was announced on the Helion website, I signed up for release notification, and on day of publication, ordered it. Even with the vagaries of The Royal Mail these days, the package arrived a few days later, and upon opening it...

"Well, hello there little fella! You're a wee bit dinkier than I recall!"

Presumably for cost and sustainability reasons, the book that arrived was indeed smaller than previous volumes in the series - here's a comparison between Andy's first Helion release and his latest. 

Whilst the text is a bit smaller and thus slightly more testing on these ageing peepers of mine (even with the reading glasses - yes, gentle reader, I'm at that stage of life), the overall result isn't too bad. Indeed, popping the book into my work bag for a couple of commutes to the office made me realise that the new format is certainly better if you want to carry the tome around. And as always with Helion's publications, the actual physical quality cannot be faulted.

Coming in at just over 210 pages, The Sailor and The Dancing Girl's subtitle tells the reader everything they should expect. The campaigns of General George Thomas and the Begum Somru are an intriguing mix of politics, warfare during the decline of the Moghul Empire, and inter-personal drama. Such events require background, and this is supplied by the opening chapters detailing the roles of mercenary's in 18th Century warfare, and the nature of the British involvement in Bengal.

From there we are introduced to the mercenary Walter Reinhardt. His marriage to a dancing girl, Farzana, allows the lady to inherit his brigade of troops, and rule the principality of Sardhana as the Begum Somru.

The narrative then switches to the life and times of George Thomas. Warfare and politics intertwine as battles are fought, alliances made (and betrayed), and the reach of economic colonialism asserts a new order on India.

This is another quality piece of work from Mr Copestake and one that has been a bit of a passion project for him. The narrative has a well-researched depth, and the bibliography contains a wealth of primary and secondary sources. The author isn't afraid to question existing histories on the subject matter, and where he does, the rationale provided is capably supported by references to the relevant sources. 

Battles and machinations are described with clarity, and the imagery provided varies from contemporary illustrations and Victorian artwork, to a handful of modern photographs of the Red Fort. There are maps of general locales as well as for specific battles, and the usual mid-section artwork is nicely done. 

Outside of the core text, there's a useful timeline, a chapter on the uniforms and organisation of the forces commanded by our principal pairing, and finally a list of known Europeans officers who held positions within those commands.

All in all, this is a very readable tome on an intriguing subject. Kudos to Andy and the team at Helion & Co for an excellent addition to the 'From Reason to Revolution" series, suitable for both historians and wargamers who wish to add verisimilitude to their on-table efforts. 

You can pick up a copy of The Sailor and the Dancing Girl from HMV and David Essex's website the Helion & Co website here.

Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue - Book Review

Apple is the last of the original "Holy Trinity" of personal computer manufacturers. Whereas Tandy and Commodore are long gone, by luck, good judgement, and even more luck (especially in the 90's!), Apple have not only survived but have become, at the time of writing, the third most valuable company in the world by market capitalisation. That doesn't mean much to the average person but some people's boats are floated by such things so, yeah, whatever. Anyway, to mark its fiftieth year, David Pogue has written what is intended to be a comprehensive history of the corporation. 

Before we dive into this absolute chonk of a tome, gentle reader, let us get the obvious out of the way first. Apple is, to put it mildly, a divisive company. Some absolutely love its products, corporate outlook, and sense of style (although not all at the same time), whereas others consider it an over-controlling crusher of personal choice and expression. This review isn't going to be a polemic either way. It's just a review of a book after all.

Must... resist... the... urge to caption the back cover photo!!!

Beginning with the two Steves, the author delivers a cleanly written and engaging history of the company. The layout is spacious and there's plenty of room for imagery to breathe. With a few sidesteps here and there, the narrative is delivered chronologically, and where hardware is discussed, boxouts provide the dates of availability, price at the time, some basic specs, and a factoid. Similarly, where significant individuals are introduced, they also receive a box out with a mini-bio including areas of interest before and after their time at Apple. 

Style, power, lead-acid batteries. What's not to like?

There isn't much left uncovered, with even cancelled hardware getting an airing too, although as a hardware person, I would like to have seen a smidge more detail on the "what might have beens." That being said, the book is already at near six hundred pages and the paper quality does come across as a compromise between print reproduction and sheer bulk. And if you ever wanted to know how the iPhone came about, well, you'll be well covered here.

If Robert Ludlum had written The Matrix novelisation. 

The tone can vary somewhat. Where criticism of the company is due, it is delivered with a light tough, perhaps too light, although to the credit of the author, it does not descend into full on fawning over the Church of Jobs and co. And yet, given the company's recent (cough) publicity (cough) with the current US Administration, no matter how warm and fuzzy using an Apple product might make you feel, they are, at the end of the day, there to make money and that's about it. 

Yes, cynical, I know, but it's true. The company just happens to be very good at it.

For all of their age, somehow the content still feels relevant.

Another (minor) flaw, but funnily enough only around the sections about the early 1990's, is that the dates get a bit confused. Events are mentioned in the wrong year, and the foretelling of ARM's contribution to Apple's financial survival is pushed a decade out. These aren't huge issues by any means, and it calms down once we head towards the millennium, but readers beware: using this tome as a reference will require additional confirmation before you start quoting it. Mind you, as I was taught at school, any and every source should be supported if being used as a reference. 

If forced in 1991 to pick either System 7 or Windows 3.0, I choose RISC OS 3.0 ;-)

All in all, this is an interesting read, and one that sheds a good deal of light on a tech company that was there at the very beginning of the personal computer revolution (as far as America was concerned - the Apple II was always stupidly over-priced in the UK), and one that has, in many ways, influenced the direction of travel for personal tech over the last 50 years.

As a single volume summary on the history of one of Tech's biggest companies, this one is hard to beat even once you take into account its idiosyncrasies. Leaving aside politics and corporate ethics (an oxymoron, surely?), it is a decent history and is an overall worthwhile contribution to the literature documenting Apple. You can pick up or order a copy in at the usual physical and online bookstores. 

The Time Traveller's Guide to Survival, Success, and Profit by Andrew McGuigan - Book Review

Question: What connects a miserable prick of a Roman Emperor, CJ's train exploits in GTA: San Andreas, and the finest authentic street food ever to grace the metropolitan heart of north-west County Durham? Answer: They all feature in this "how to" guide to making time travel more fun than just preventing your own birth or forcing small boys to ride a flying train whilst they desperately need a pee... 

Courtesy of Andrew McGuigan, this near four hundred page tome tempts the reader with monetary gain, where success can be yours with just three pre-requisites: this book, moral shades of grey that would make E. L. James blush, and a functioning time machine. 

As such technology is not yet an Argos Click and Collect away, you should prepare yourselves with thirty chapters of advice, hints, and tips on how on navigate the murky eddies of time travel and financial avarice. You may wish to enrich yourself culturally by observing historically significant events, meeting your favourite (or most hated) famous figure, or re-visiting Bob's Butty Van (RIP), and it's all for the better when there's a few quid in it. For those veering towards the darker side of self improvement there is that option too, but hey, you can't say you aren't warned before perusing that section's pages. And yes, there are limits even then.

Chapters are split via topics - war, tourism, food, the arts, betting, and the like. There is a light-hearted tone throughout, and cheeky little winks to the audience lift the presentation further. Numerous illustrations to break up the already well laid out text, as well as boxouts with snippets from past, present and future time travellers to illustrate the joys, and pitfalls, of chronological sojourns. Best of all, none of the chapters are overly long, meaning you're as much at ease dipping in and out as you are gorging yourself for hours on end. 

Yet what makes TTGSSP a really cracking read is not just the deftness of the text, or the side eyes at the reader, but the fact that as you progress, you will learn things. Yep, this book is edutainment! 

Wait, no, not that edutainment so beloved of 1990's software houses. No, this book will teach you about places, events, and peeps that may not have heard of before, and you'll have a damn good chuckle as you do so. More than once, I had to put down the guide and switch to online sources to find out more - the bon mots presented here creating an appetite for knowledge that demanded satiating. And that's not all, as the last couple of chapters detail literature and films that feature time travel and its consequences. Whilst not exhaustive (there's only so much room in the book), they're a bloody good starting point if you want to know more but don't fancy checking out the FedNet. 

The true worth of TTGSSP lies in not only suggesting concepts of wealth accumulation that might be slightly more ethical than investment banking, but also in making learning about history fun in an almanac of who, how and when, wrapped up in the sassy pants that only a Heed Army veteran could wear. At one point, my good lady asked me to stop pointing out cool things in it because the interruptions were rather frequent, but who doesn't want to reconsider Genghis Kahn with the most glorious of English dialects? 

Funny, informative and a downright fantastic read, the TTGSSP is a tome that you'll find yourself coming back to time and time again. It is one to fill your head with intriguing snippets that'll have you crowned in the local pub quiz, and one that when the day comes, might just provide the retirement funds suitable for the lifestyle you really want to live. Hopefully without careening around in a chunk of metal at 88 miles per hour! And if peregrinating through periods of history doesn't replace Jet2 for those sneaky little trips away, then at least you'll still have a bloody good read on your bookshelves. I enjoyed this one so much that although I have the (kindly received) pdf review copy on my Kindle, I've ordered a physical copy too. It really is that good!

You can pick up your own copy of The Time Traveller's Guide to Survival, Success, and Profit from Lulu.com using the following link: https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/ttgtssp.

Too Much Fun by Jesper Juul - Book Review

Subtitled "The Five Lives of the Commodore 64 Computer", Too Much Fun has, in my humble opinion, one of the finest introductions to any reference work for either a specific format or a general history of computing. Why? Because the author states clearly and concisely from the very beginning that the US-centric history of "video games" is extremely narrow, and most definitely NOT what the accepted history of video games (console and computer-based) should be defined as.

Indeed, it's only been a few months as I write this since there was a bit of a kerfuffle about video games "history" and the approach taken by rather too many social media peeps in that the US crash of 1983 is revered as a turning point in video games history, permitting our Lord and Saviour Nintendo to deliver us from boredom. And I'm not even getting into the computer vs video gaming nomenclature argument, because if you stick to the latter as meaning home consoles only, then the home computing scene pretty much never existed. As I may have said in many non-professional (and in some professional) settings, what absolute complete and utter bollocks. And here is Mr Juul's finely written tome to help prove it. 

Oh, this isn't a format thing, and I'll tell you it pleased be no end to see the Olivetti Programma 101 referenced in a very early infographic, but it needs to be recognised by all that just because you experienced events from your cultural viewpoint, that doesn't mean to say it was the only perspective. Just check out Lewis Packwood's Curious Video Games Machines! With this MIT publication, the author brings a highly focussed look at where the influential Commodore 64's origins, how it succeeded, how it maintained its popularity, and how it became, and continues to be, a legend in home computing. And for games. 

The Five Lives of the C64 have space to breathe, with the first chapter giving us a narrative explaining where the C64 came from and how it did what it did  - for the time, an impressive machine. The second moves onto the gaming side of the computer's life, and how it captured the hearts of those fortunate enough to experience it (all the more so if you had a disk drive - even one as slow as the 1541!). That being said, my first home computer was an Amstrad CPC 464 and I absolutely loved that micro. Didn't mean I wasn't envious when I saw some of the other computers my friends had - different games for different formats, but as a ten year old, receiving the mono-screened majesty of the CPC was a moment of joy. Then it went into the loft when I acquired an Amiga. Oh well...

The author moves onto the demo scene in chapter three, and how both individuals and groups managed to stretch the capabilities of Commodore's stand out micro far beyond the expectations of its original creators. I only really got into experiencing the output of demo groups when I had the aforementioned Amiga, but having had a look about the author's website (https://www.jesperjuul.net/c64/ - and frequently referenced within the text), I now have a much greater understanding of the 8-bit's wonder. 

The fourth section details the efforts to keep the C64 relevant, and that means GEOS - quite the achievement for a 6502-powered machine. I will, however, dock Mr Juul a half point from this blog's non-existent review scoring system for not mentioning RISC OS in his list of GUI's on page 160. I'm not angry, just... disappointed... ;-)

The final chapter deals with the legacy of the C64 and the how and why it has become a highly appreciated retro system today, before wrapping up the text with a fitting lesson for a conclusion. Throughout, there are quotes, interviews and personal reminiscences that add much flavour and detail to the subject. 

The book ends, as it should, with a highly useful bibliography, and having a scan through the tomes listed, I have to say I own quite a few of them. Yes, there will be a review of TOO BLUE! in the forthcoming weeks, because oh boy, there's things that need saying...

Anyways...

One of the joys of reading about the history of gaming is expanding my knowledge. As a UK bod, I'm much more familiar with that market and its history (as well as having been playing games since the early 1980's), so by extension, my knowledge of other country's gaming past is naturally going to be patchy until I get to read more about it. This knowledge base is not a reason for me to dictate that events in the UK have a greater importance than those in other countries. Far from it. Instead, it's a reason to learn about those other markets, the hardware, the software and the people behind them, and that's what this book does for a very specific subject, and it does it bloody well. 

The dominance of the US-centric history or gaming (video/computer/whatever) is not a good thing. Yes, it should be acknowledged as a huge market, and a highly influential one, but it was not the be all and end all (see Mr Packwood, for example, or Jamie Lendino's fine ST tome, Faster Than Light). Too Much Fun is a marvellous example of this being highlighted and providing a thoughtful and illuminating history of a computing format that, if we were to subscribe to the seemingly "orthodox" view, died after the excruciating US 8-bit price war of the early 1980's. A war that console "video games" history would have you believe never actually occurred. It did, and to find out what happened next to the C64, this book will serve you well. 

You can check out the author's website here where you'll find details on this and his previous books. You can pick up this book from the usual online stores (also listed on the author's website), and I'm sure you'll be able to order it in to your local bookshops as well. You won't be disappointed if you do. 

Tailships by John Rodgaard - Book Review

There has always been something about Cold War anti-submarine warfare that has fascinated me. From reading (and watching) The Hunt for Red October to devouring Red Storm Rising, playing 688 Attack Sub and Cold Waters, the subject has always had a depth (no apologies) that intrigues. And it is in the less well documented area of the Mediterranean that Helion and Co's recent release focusses its attention: Tailships - The Hunt for Soviet Submarines in the Mediterranean 1970-73.

You may think that this will be a bit of a dry text considering the topic and the brevity of the period it covers. That cannot be further from the truth. What the author, a 41-year veteran of the US Navy who retired at the rank of Captain, has done is integrate not only the technical and operational aspects of the small fleet of (outdated and obsolete) converted Destroyer Escorts, but also the social aspects of their crews, the process of manning them as well as the effect their deployments had of their families. There is much more to this than just "one ping only, Vasiley." 

The first couple of chapters set the scene - the Cold War and the importance of anti-submarine warfare. From there, we are given a guide to the theatre of operations, and how the Med was a tricky prospect for those in the ASW game due to its physical characteristics. The core details how the staging of the aging Destroyer Escorts was initiated as well as their operational deployments in-theatre. They quickly demonstrated their usefulness and became a valued capability, despite their mechanical weaknesses and rapid platform obsolescence. Would it be waspish of me to compare the situation to the current Type 23 debacle in the RN? Probably, but no less true. Where that particular organisation is at has many reasons, but running ships with 18-year design lifespans well into their fourth decade has come home to roost. I know, a discussion for another time, but the GP's are thirty plus year old and even the newest ASW ship commissioned nearly 22 years ago, and will be 33 when she reaches her planned decommissioning.

Back to the Med, and Tailships finishes off with a "what happened next" chapter, running quickly passed the SURTASS ships and the current much needed requirements for having towed array equipped vessels in service. 

Throughout, there are many contemporary photographs, with diagrams and maps detailing deployments, concepts and locales, and the centre section artwork is, as always, a feast for the eyes.  The author writes clearly and is as good with technical descriptions as he is with the social studies. The more than comprehensive bibliography at the back is certain to be a source of future reading too. For those looking for action packed sonar hunts, this isn't the book for you, but if you wish to learn more about how such an important capability came into being, and remains as critical today as it did then, then Tailships is the book for you. You can pick it up directly from Helion and Co here.

Every Hazard and Fatigue by Joshua Provan - Book Review

When it comes to military history, I find it does me good to read a book on a subject I know next to nothing about. A cynic might suggest I should do the same in my professional life but I do know my CCFA's from my SYSTABS, and my KTYPES from my KSPAR6's... Mostly ;-). Anyway, at the Battleground show last November, I picked up a copy of Andy and Jim's book, Khalsa! (reviewed here) from the Helion & Co stand, as well as this little gem by Joshua Provan. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed his 2022 effort, Bullocks, Grain, and Good Madeira (reviewed here), I had an inkling that his treatment of the Siege of Pensacola in 1781 would be worthy of perusal. I was not to be disappointed. 

West Florida wasn't exactly the centre of Britain's struggle in North America but it was of some importance. With Spain joining the conflict on the side of the rebellious Americans and the French, it placed additional strain on British (and their allies) resources. Over some 200 pages, Mr Provan weaves a tale worthy of your time, even if to most it is a fairly forgotten vignette amongst the many more famous events that defined the conflict.

There are twelve chapters in total, along with orders of battle for each side. The opening sections introduce us to the Spanish, British and Allied Nations, with much attention placed on the latter whose importance was both recognised and, at times, unwanted given the difference in cultures. The author takes an even approach to all, supported by numerous contemporary letters and illustrations. 

After discussing the terrain and the locale, as well as the events that preceded the actual siege, we are then given four chapters that provide a day by day account of the struggle. Highly detailed, clearly organised, and with a pleasing narrative style, Mr Provan paints an evocative picture of siege warfare at a time when gentlemanly conduct was seen as a prerogative. It was not an easy fight, yet standards were held high even after the British surrendered, albeit not to everyone's satisfaction.

There are maps and imagery aplenty, and the central section with the colour plates will be of great use to those wishing to re-enact the struggle on a table top, as will the orders of battle. As always with Helion & Co publications, the bibliography included at the end of the book will provide a great deal of follow up reading if you're enamoured with this treatment of the siege. 

With highly readable prose and a narrative structure that builds to a dynamic conclusion, Every Hazard and Fatigue is another great release from Helion and a fantastic effort from Mr Provan, suitable for readers no matter their level of existing knowledge. If the American War of Independence/Revolutionary War is your thing, you'll do yourself a great favour in picking up a copy from Helion & Co here. It is also an essential purchase if you want to bring Pensacola to your wargaming table. The American War of Independence/Revolutionary War is not a period I have read much about (outside of a few more general texts), but having been spurred on by this volume, I dare say some further, more in-depth reading is required. I can give no higher praise. 

Defending Rodinu - Volume 2 by Krzysztof Dabrowski - Book Review

Here we are with volume two of Defending Rodinu, this time continuing the story from 1961 to 1991, and this is where things get more interesting as technological and organisation developments both aid and hinder the air defence of the Soviet Union. 

The first chapter gives a run down of the PVO (Soviet Air Defence Force), its organisation and the surveillance, control and early warning systems it employed. Chapter two focuses on the developments in surface to air and anti-ballistic missile technology throughout the period covered - the amount of effort put into fielding highly advanced technology for the time is impressive, despite the obvious effects such spending would have on the wider Soviet economy - but that's a tale for another time. 

Chapter three covers the aircraft pushed into service and the various missile systems they used. As a military aviation enthusiast, I do like the design of early jets, and the range of Soviet machines do, at least for me, have a certain je ne sais quoi. From the svelte Sukhoi Su-11 to the more sedate looking Yakolev Yak-25, there are some striking looking aircraft here. The purposeful Yak-28 gets some love, as does the incomparable (and might fine) Tupolev Tu-128 - now that is how you build a long-range interceptor!

Chapters four and five cover polar and border intercepts, whilst chapter six proves that there is nothing new in this world as the Soviets dealt with many a balloon incursion long before it became fashionable to shoot down the things using an almost priceless F-22 and an expensive AIM-9X. 

Chapter seven is a more sombre read, taking on the subject of airline intercepts and, of course, covering the infamous shoot down of KAL Flight 007 in 1983. There were other intercepts, but none ended in the tragedy that engulfed that Korean Air Lines 747. 

Chapter eight is all about the defections that the service suffered, nine features the successful shoot downs of valid targets, whilst ten highlights possibly the most absurd missed interception of the Cold War, Mathias Rust's jolly boys day out to Moscow. It wasn't the only light aircraft shenanigans, as you'll find out here. The final chapter relates the closing period of the Cold War.

There are a couple of appendices: Commander of the PVO between 1945 and 1991, and a chronological list of the PVO's aerial victories, of which there were many more than I expected. 

As always with a Helion & Co publication, there are numerous photographs, maps and diagrams, all of which are high quality - taking into account the nature of the original imagery and its age, whilst the central artwork section has some lovely profiles of the aircraft featured within. For those who, in the best traditions of the Federal Network infomercials, want to know more, there is a cracking bibliography to investigate too. 

In the same vein as volume one, this is a well written, highly informative and interesting look at how the Soviet Union approached air defence through the Cold War. With plenty to read, look at and follow up on, they're a very worthy pair on the subject, and of much benefit to history fans and those who may wish to put something on the table. You can buy this (and the preceding volume) directly from Helion and Co here, as well as follow the publisher on Twitter here. 

Ada Lovelace: The World's First Computer Programmer by Beverley Adams - Book Review

You may, gentle reader, be aware of Ada Lovelace, or what she was known for, but even though I knew of her and vaguely appreciated her legacy, that knowledge was pretty shallow. When I saw this tome being advertised in the coming soon section of Pen and Sword's website, I decided to remedy that issue.

A slim hardback, you may think that the brevity of this tome denotes a lack of substance. It does not. What we get here is a highly detailed and well-researched telling of not only Ada's life, but also of her origins - as aptly noted by the author, you cannot talk about Ada and her life without knowing fully the story of her parents, the most famous of which was Lord Byron. In reading this book, you'll find out a lot more about Lady Byron and, well, yes, there is a lot to learn.

The first third of the book gives us the background on the Byron family and Ada's parents. To say that there was controversy back in the day would be a mild understatement. Hell, some aspects would be completely outrageous now! The middle third describes Ada's childhood, her upbringing and contains a focus on her work with Charles Babbage, most importantly, Note G, whose importance cannot be understated. The final third details her marriage, parenthood and her decline, aided by an addiction to gambling, before finally succumbing to cancer at too young an age.

I often joke with my good lady that if I'm feeling too happy, I'll watch something like Jane Eyre to bring me down, as there is nothing like a simple tale of 19th Century folk to sort out a good mood. The real world events of Ada's life, her circumstances and the actions of the people around her (especially her mother), make the efforts of the Bronte sisters seem like a BBC Radio 4 light comedy. Both engrossing and horrific in turn, it is both a testament to Ada herself for achieving what she did, and a cautious note to those who might deny her legacy because of her actions (and most notably) reactions to those around her. 

Ada Lovelace is rightly remembered for her mathematical genius and her accomplishments as a woman in the early Victorian-era. However, it is the story of her heritage and her life after Note G, that provide ample evidence that although the lady was an outlier of her time, the societal behaviour and expectation of Pre-and Early Victorian England meant that she could never truly escape the Byron connection. 

Beverley Adams has written a compelling and very readable account of Ada Lovelace's life and times, and one that should be read by those with an interest in the very founding of computer science (for to know the person is to know their work). It also highlights an important woman whose abilities were doubted at the time and whose achievements are recognised today, and who should stand as an example to others as to what they can achieve. 

You can purchase this book directly from the publisher's website here or from the usual online and physical book stores. You can also follow the author on Twitter here. 

Al-Hussein by Ali Altobchi (with Tom Cooper and Adrien Fontanellaz) - Book Review

AKA Iraq goes full Blue Peter. Not to besmirch the name of that fine show, but just like when Blue Peter fashioned a makeshift Tracy Island back in 1993 using a yogurt pot, toilet roll and a metric f**ktonne of papier-mâché (the clip is on YouTube if you search for it), the Iraqi effort to produce domestic weapons yielded some surprising results - pretty impressive from a technical point of view when you consider the effect of international sanctions and an empty bank account. 

As the talented Ms Andrews once sang, the beginning is a very good place to start and in this tale, it is the creation of the State Organisation for Technical Industries (SOTI) in 1970 that paved the way for the early steps Iraq took to work with arms producers overseas. Add in some international politics and shenanigans, stir, then simmer until war with Iran is declared. Now rename the SOTI into the Military Industrial Commission (MIC). Bring to the boil by adding Scud's, MiG-25's and a soupçon of anti-radar missiles, and thus begins the journey towards a domestic conventional weapons industrial base. A touch of in-flight refuelling may add a certain... je ne sais quoi...

It wasn't just the French (see what I did there) and the Soviets who were supporting the Iraqi regime. There were links to Brazil and Argentina, the latter of whom had a ballistic missile program that I had never heard of before, which certainly gave the impression that Iraq was serious about building up its war fighting capability. 

Of course, if you want to talk about Iraqi conventional weaponry, you need to mention Gerald Bull. When not keep Teesport's custom's officials busy, Bull also had a hand in long range 155mm artillery and was much more successful in that arena than any supergun design associated with him. 

Combined with the events of the Iran-Iraq War, that's about two thirds of this book. The rest concerns itself with the legacies of the principle characters, the 1991 Gulf War and the follow up period to the end of the decade. 

The writing is clear and concise throughout and the 68-page length is about right. What was quite surprising was how adept the Iraqi military were in fielding some rather "funky" designs, and by funky, I mean plain weird. Much like Iran stuck HAWK surface to air missiles on their fighters and Standard SAM's inplace of the HAWK's on their usual launchers, Iraq bolted Exocet missiles to a Dassault Falcon 50 business jet, and older AA-2 Atoll (R-3S and R-3R infra-red guided air to air missiles) were stuck on BMP chassis' because it filled a perceived need (and there was little choice but to improvise). Much like the fictional A-Team or MacGyver, the resultant weapons were, at least, functional, if not entirely practical - I mean, biz-jet with Exocets. What's next? Vulcan's with Sea Dart's as an interceptor? (And yes, gentle reader, there were plans and thoughts about that very thing...).

Check out Vulcan's Hammer by Chris Gibson pages 171-174. I prefer the AIM-54 Phoenix option myself...

And still there is more. Continued ballistic missile developments, ad-hoc Electronic Counter Measures aircraft, Airborne Early Warning aircraft, tankers and drones - the effort expended in being able to demonstrate any capability (no matter how asymmetric to the opponent's) is truly astounding. 

As befits the topic, there is a wealth of contemporary photography on display, as well as many screen grabs from video presentations of the time. Maps are detailed and the included artwork is of the usual high quality. As always, the bibliography is a cracking source of further reading.

This is another welcome tome from Helion & Co and will be of great benefit to those who have an interest in the period, the theatre or maybe want to put something on the table - there are quite a few "what-ifs" in capability this book offers that could liven up any hypothetical game. And, whilst there were no Blue Peter badges for the boffins who stuck these projects together, Ali Altobchi and company deserve a symbolic one for this fine volume. You can buy Al-Hussein direct from Helion & Co here or from their trade stands at various UK wargames shows - you can find out which ones they attend via their website and social media links. 

The Sino-Soviet Border War of 1969 - Two Book Review

One of the joys of perusing through Helion & Co's @war back catalogue is that you get to find publications on some pretty obscure conflicts. Whilst I knew the 1969 Border War had happened, my knowledge about it was very limited. At the recent Border Reiver show, I managed to turn up and have a chat with the chaps on the stand as well as pick up a few books, including this lovely two-parter by Dmitry Ryabushkin and Harold Orenstein. 

Volume one sets the up necessary background and the first battle of the conflict. You first get a potted history of the region and the political machinations that occurred between the Russian Empire/Soviet Union and China. What then follows is a description of the build up to the initial clashes before the authors take us through the battle of Damansky Island in painstaking detail. This is necessary as both the Soviet Union and the People's republic of China were extremely focussed on propaganda and it has been with some difficulty (and the receipt threats) that the most accurate account the author can convey has been written. Never underestimate the power of the state to try to control its own history, a warning that should be obvious even to the most laissez faire of people today. You can almost hear the (modern day) cry of "fake news" echoing through the "reports" of events. Volume two concludes the account of the conflict with a very detailed description of the confrontation at Lake Zhalanashkol and the general aftermath, where both sides took count of their actions.

It must be said that the sheer volume of contemporary imagery that has been included here is much to the author's credit, and whilst reader discretion is advised (war is never clean and you will see the consequences of combat), these merely emphasise the brutality of the fighting. It is also important to note that wherever possible, the authors have included the names of those killed, providing recognition of the men who died in the service of their respective countries.

As is the usual for Helion&Co publications, there are plenty of maps and artwork, all to the usual high standards, and combined, these two volumes form an in-depth introduction to one of the less well known conflicts of the Cold War period. Detailed bibliographies are included, as are prodigious notes to details in the text, and it is plain to see that a lot of effort has been put into these works. Aside from the historical angle, these two volumes will also give you everything you need to know if you wish to re-enact the conflict on the table. 

You can buy these rather superb volumes directly from the publisher here or keep an eye on their social media channels (at the bottom right of the page displayed by that link) to see which shows they're attending. 

The First Atomic Bomb by Jim Mangi - Book Review

I have always enjoyed a good counter-factual story and, when it comes to military history, there have been some corkers - although I leave "For Want of a Nail" out of that list just because it is simply too dry for me. In one sense though, that is a good example to pick (along with Third World War by General Sir John Hackett) in that both books position themselves as historical works published after the events they portray. The First Atomic Bomb does the same thing here, pivoting from actual history at the point of the first nuclear bomb test.

What follows is a well told tale (if sometimes a little dryly - maybe the author is a fan of For Want of a Nail?) where events may or may not diverge as far as you think they would. Here, the Soviets invade Japan, Korea is not divided and, well, you'll need to read the book to find out the rest. The Cold War still plays out, but with different locations and sometimes different players, and certainly with different outcomes, given what we know happened in South East Asia following the end of the Second World War. 

It is sometimes just a case of changing the name of the country affected by a specific political dogma yet the results seems to be awfully familiar. There again, certain political processes lend themselves to failure (certainly when combined with human nature) and more than a few recognisable names pop up here and there to move things along.

Of course, the main question raised by any counter-factual should be "is it realistically possible for these events to have occurred?" and it's a good question to ask. Given the scale of the narration and the more strategic level of detail, I would say yes, it's quite plausible. After all, whilst events may hinge upon the decision of an individual or two at very specific moments, situations tend to develop at a rate often takes that decision making process (and effect) away from those concerned. I think the author here has taken a valid approach and as he has written a previous book (that one asking what if the atomic bomb had been developed early), I think I will have to pick that book up in the future. 

Whoops, SPOILERS!

It is clear that a lot of research has taken place to give the right level of authenticity to the alternate past despite what seems to be the almost inevitable status quo at the turn of the 21st Century having been achieved in this timeline too. There are plenty of photographs which are re-purposed to fit the narrative, but in a nice touch, they are also described in detail for what they actually show. Kudos for that.

For me, this was an entertaining read, and one that put a spotlight on an area that I hadn't seen covered in much detail before in counter-factual history. If this sounds like something for you, The First Atomic Bomb can pick this up at all of the usual physical and online book retailers.