Roman and Native in North Britain edited by I.A. Richmond

Roman and Native in North Britain edited by I.A. Richmond is a chronological look at how the Roman invaders influenced and were influenced by the native Britons. Essays cover the Iron Age through to the collapse of Roman rule in the fifth century. Most of the analysis is based upon politics and warfare. There are occasional references to trade.

Evidence is either archaeological or from primary sources. This book was published 50 years ago so much of the archaeological material is probably been superseded by new discoveries but presumably much of the primary source analysis should still hold up. I was quite surprised to note that some of the secondary sources touched upon had been published within occupied Europe during the second world war.

Mildly recommended.

Is available through AbeBooks.

Queen Victoria's Enemies (2) : Northern Africa by Ian Knight

Queen Victoria's Enemies (2) : Northern Africa by Ian Knight another week, another Osprey. This book attempts to cram several conflicts in 48 pages. Occasionally without much success. There's coverage here of the campaign in the Sudan, Somalia and Dahomey. Much is made of the units the British faced there leadership, weapons and tactics. Typically there's photos and artwork.

Considering there seems to be other titles in the Osprey series covering these campaigns I'm not too sure why this was published. I did learn a few things which is always good but I probably wouldn't pay full price for this.

Mildly recommended.

Is available through AbeBooks.

Grand Prix Circuits: A Tour of Formula 1 Circuits from Starting Grid to Chequered Flag by Alan Henry

Grand Prix Circuits: A Tour of Formula 1 Circuits from Starting Grid to Chequered Flag by Alan Henry a short widely illustrated book on various racetracks from around the world. These were the circuits used in the 1998 F1 season. Each entry consists of a quote from a driver a short history of the track including changes and famous races. There is some discussion of the history of formula 1 racing in a particular country. Finally some analysis of areas to pass and famous corners.

It was quite interesting to read the analysis. Henry is perfectly willing to criticize the modern tendencies in track design. The movement to take away the personality of circuits. I tend to agree with his assessment. I quite enjoyed the book.

Recommended.

Is available through AbeBooks.

Time for a little hypocrisy

Boing Boing that pulpit for free speech and openness has without comment deleted all references to Violet Blue [the calls of sexism seem premature]. Naturally this has led to comments. My particular favorite was the rather lame attempt on the part of Patrick Nielsen Hayden to defend BB's actions.

The Age of Attila by Colin Douglas Gordon

The Age of Attila by Colin Douglas Gordon was originally published in 1960. This book contains translated fragments from ancient historians about the fifth century A.D. Gordon points out that this era of Roman imperial history is particularly lacking in sources the information being broken up between obscure texts. So he provides them grouped into one place. He is solely interested in political and military history which I was quite happy about.

As the title suggests the Hun invasions are central to the events discussed in the book. Particularly interesting were the descriptions of Attila's character. His behavior towards several Roman embassies are enlightening as well as the perception of the Huns by the Romans. There doesn't seem to be much your about battles only their outcomes.

These sources are connected by introductions that give background on chronology and some contextual analysis of the sources. The book concludes with a discussion of dating the sources as well as their authorship. The book gives an excellent illustration of how often so much of what we know about the past is based on very brief material. Always something that historians should keep in mind.

Recommended.

Is available through AbeBooks.

Legerdemain: The President's Secret Plan, The Bomb and What The French Never Knew by James Heaphey

Legerdemain: The President's Secret Plan, The Bomb and What The French Never Knew by James Heaphey is the memoir of the author's time in French Morocco. He was sent by the American Air Force to attempt to foster anti-French feeling while at the same time make sure that the Americans would continue their basing rights within the independent country.

There are several revelations contained within this book. Perhaps most stunning is that without telling the French the Americans had nuclear weapons stationed within their base. There was also coordination between the Moroccan terrorists, the Americans and the Israelis. The Israelis providing guns. The CIA was also responsible for torturing a French agent.

Heaphey's cover as a newspaper reporter on the US base allowed him to meet with various individuals including a very young Anwar Sadat and Otto Skorzeny the famous German paratrooper. It also gave him the ability to move around Casablanca with more freedom than would be the case without his journalist cover.

The book is particularly good at describing the various factions within the country as well as the often conflicted loyalties of various people. With nearly 60 years of hindsight there is also quite a bit of reflection here. Be actual intelligence work takes up a relatively small portion of the book. This does provide a nice perspective on what intelligence agents really do. There are some fictional flourishes there's a lot of dialogue and the author freely admits to being vague on certain points. This is understandable considering the circumstances.

Recommended!

Is available through AbeBooks.



Note: this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Quotation [occasional]

“I like Mountain Dew.” From the testimony of Mohammed Babar. at the Khawaja trial. He was asked if it was a code word for something to be brought to Pakistan. You cannot purchase Mountain Dew in Pakistan.

Guerrilla in Striped Pants by Walter W. Orebaugh

Guerrilla in Striped Pants by Walter W. Orebaugh is the memoir of an American consul who joined the Italian resistance. He was captured in Monaco after setting up an American consulate. After being moved to various locations in Italy he escaped when the Italian government fell. He joined up with the guerrillas. He participated in several attacks while trying to gain material support from the allies. He ended up making a perilous journey through the enemy and allied lines. The final leg involving a sailboat. He received the Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

The memoir has the usual fictional flourishes that are so common today. Even after 40 years he is writing down dialogue in quotation marks which certainly suggests a very good memory. Orebaugh comes off as a rather disagreeable person either complaining about things which really aren't so bad [his internment by the Italians in relatively well-off quarters for example] or bragging about his accomplishments. In an appendices are his medal citation and an excerpt from a State Department report. There is also a rather positive portrayal of the peasants as well.

Recommended an interesting account from the Italian campaign.

George Carlin, 1937-2008 RIP

Sad news, I was a fan of his since the day in high school when my dad bought for me Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics. With the admonition never to let mom here it. One of my litmus tests for people became what do you think of Carlin? If they didn't I was always mildly worried that they were going to become offended at some innocuous comment of mine. If they did like him that I knew I'd be okay. Coming from a very religious area of Canada this is quite useful.

Paul T. Riddell

He is shutting things down [link will be up for 24hrs]. I first came across his work back in 1999 at the Healing Power of Obnoxiousness. He took evident glee at making fun of the arrogant, delusional or just plain stupid in and out of the science fiction community. My favorite would have to be Cat Piss Man. Paul you will be missed.

No Mercy by Colin Forbes

No Mercy by Colin Forbes a truly embarrassing novel from the end of a decent career. Several people have been ritually murdered conveniently the head of the Secret Intelligence Service just happens to be in the neighborhood investigating an amnesia case [I'm not making this up]. What follows is 300 pages of atrocious dialogue, wooden characters and a whole lot of telling not showing. Apparently this is set in the present day but it often seems like they're dealing with approximately 1970s level of technology. There's no forensics team just one guy yelling at some hapless police officials. They're inexplicably using paper printouts of accounting ledgers. There is a tacked on plot involving a missile shipment but it really doesn't add anything. Supposedly if you pull a lever you can change the output of a factory from artillery shells to guided missiles. Maybe they should call GM they won't have to shut down that truck plant in Ontario after all.

I had enjoyed one of the authors earlier novels [The Stone Leopard]. Actually this was back in high school so perhaps what I enjoyed is the memory of the novel as opposed to the reality. Now I'm a little scared to go back and reread it. I thought it was terrific at the time. Maybe I'll discover just how lousy my taste was..

Avoid!

Is available through Abebooks.

Coming of the Spirit of Pestilence: Introduced Infectious Diseases and Population Decline among Northwest Coast Indians, by Robert Boyd

Coming of the Spirit of Pestilence: Introduced Infectious Diseases and Population Decline among Northwest Coast Indians, by Robert Boyd. That certainly is quite the title. There's coverage from California North to the Yukon border and from the late 18th century through the mid-19th. There are several diseases covered including smallpox, tuberculosis and even malaria. There were multiple outbreaks that swept through the various native groups. Most interesting was the various reactions including religion and scapegoating. The text is very dry. I get the feeling that Boyd is quite proud of all the research he's done so he's going to reference all of it. There are quite a few extensive quotations from primary sources which was nice. Explanatory footnotes accompany the text as well as general information on epidemiology and the various illnesses.

Recommended there's a lot of information here even if it is occasionally hard going.

Is available through Abebooks.

Something Fishy At Macdonald Hall by Gordon Korman

Something Fishy At Macdonald Hall by Gordon Korman. Time for a little more nostalgia although come to think of it I may never have made it to this book in the series. Since apparently it was published in 2000. Considering I was reading issues of Jane's at that point. It's probably a little unlikely.

In any event this is the seventh and currently final book in the series although there's no real conclusion as such. Bruno and Boots instead of causing trouble must investigate a series of pranks that have been taking place . They keep getting the blame. At one point being up for expulsion from their private school. Characterization is rather stereotypical and there are no real insights here but it's still fun.

I actually laughed more reading this that I have during the last several "adult" humor novels I've read. I'm not sure if that says more about the books or me.

Recommended!

Is available through Abebooks.

National Book-Collecting Contest

The Alcuin Society is running an essay contest for under 30 Canadian book collectors. Here are the rules in English. I suppose I could enter but I don't really see the point. They seem to be mostly interested in books as art. I on the other hand am building a research library.

Harry Potter prequel

The Harry Potter prequel Rowling did for charity has been released. Here is a transcription just in case you don't feel like waiting for the website to load up or read her handwriting. It seems rather strange to review a 800 word seen so I won't.

I tend to agree with HogwartsProfessor that obviously there's been work done on other storylines. Eventually there will be more books released. He thinks within the decade I'd give it a little more time maybe 15 years. I think her best shot in the meanwhile would be to publish something under a pseudonym. Since as Andrew Wheeler point it out back in his review of Deathly Hallows whatever she publishes next will be a sales disappointment.