The Sergeant in the Snow - Mario Rigoni Stern (c.1953)

This is another book that I read because I saw others reading it or talking about it in CSW. This book is an English translation of the original Italian text. The Author was a Sergeant in the Tridentina  Division, part of the Italian Alpini Corps that served on the Eastern Front in WWII. The Author is a Sergeant Major in charge of a machine gun platoon.

The book opens around Christmas 1942, where our author's unit is holding a section of the Don River North of Stalingrad. About the first third of the book deals with the unit holding the line across the river from the Russians. The unit has been in the line for some time and Stern talks about the daily tasks and we get to know some of the men in his unit and their officers. The later two thirds of the book deals with the encirclement of his unit (along with many other German, Italian and Hungarian units) and their attempts at breaking out and reaching friendly lines.

I had a hard time getting into the book initially. Part of this has to do with the translation I think. I found myself re-reading sentences quite often. However I eventually got used to the cadence or rhythm of the writing and stopped thinking about it and found myself wrapped up in Sterns trek across the frozen steppe trying to keep his men together and alive. I was very taken by the pace of the book. When they pull off the line, things are orderly and he has a detailed narrative of the events. As the retreat progresses he is able to articulate his own as well as those around him gradual deterioration from lack of food and rest.

I have read a number of accounts of German soldiers on the Eastern Front in WWII and I was really taken by how different this one was from them. You could tell our man and the men he was describing are Italian and really have no interest in being on the Don in the middle of a Russian Winter. There isn't a lot of talk of politics or parasitism, just a bunch of guys that would much rather be at home in their villages. And yet, our guy is obviously a leader and trying his best to serve his unit and take care of his men.

He mentions other periods of his service, for example running into friends from his time in Albania and other places. I know also that his unit was as far as the Caucasus the prior summer as part of Operation Blau. Yet none of this is covered, the book stays focused solely on the retreat and his eventual escape back to friendly lines.

There are a couple of actions described in detail and one amazing incident involving a dove and a one in a million shot (Stern 1, Dove 0). Also I was taken by how humanely he and his men treated the locals. This seemed to be the case with other Italian units as well. It goes without saying that the things he and his men had to overcome (and most of them didn't) to reach friendly lines was nearly superhuman. I know I get cranky when the temperature in the house gets near 60F, I simply can't imagine what it would be like to walk for days on end, with little or no food in the sub-freezing temperatures they were exposed to. Amazing stuff.

So this was a good book, not a great one but one that I am certainly glad I had the chance to read.

Red Son

Red Son
Author: Mark Millar
Published: 2003

Let me start by saying, this is a very easy, very quick read. Once I picked it up, it sucked me right in and I wasn't able to put it down until I was finished. The art is on par with what you would expect from DC, no appearance of rushed or taking the easy route. And the story and dialoge is very engaging. Any person who is even a passing fan of the Superman mythos should look to pick this up.

This is a comic trade of three comics that were released back in 2003. Red Son Rising, Red Son Ascendant, and Red Son Setting. It is based upon the idea of "what if Superman's ship crashed 12 hours earlier/later in Soviet Russia". And follows through the the life of this soviet superman from public announcement at Stalin's new 'weapon' through several of the stages that the classic comics took Superman, just from this new perspective.

There are several noted superheroes from the DC universe that make their appearance in these comics, reimagined, including: Green Latern, Wonder Woman and Batman. Many of Superman's greatest foes also make an appearance, such as Brainiac. And of course, what Superman alternate history comic would be complete without Lex Luthor.

A quick synopsis: Superman starts as Stalin's right hand man, being the obvious counterpart to history's original 'Man of Steel'. The US enlists the aid of Doctor Lex Luthor to either overcome or remove this new threat to National Security. Time passes and Lex Luthor's various projects fail. Stalin passes away and Superman Ascends to control ofthe Soviet union and it's growing number of allies. Things build up on both sides, with Superman taking more control, dealing with more and more insurrections while things look bleaker and bleaker for the 'good guys', until things come to a head and Superman is confronted with his worst concerns.

It is an interesting exploration into how things could have turned out different with such a small change as when the capsule came down. It also, possibly inadvertantly, puts a new light on Lex Luthor, who in the normal mythos is generally presented as a brilliant if morally absent super villian. This comic paints a picture of someone, still incredibly brilliant, and still morally absent to a degree, but who's motivation is showing that humanity doesn't need a 'super being' playing parent and guadian. A theme that his actions reinforce repeatedly throughout.

The post climax ending of this is also pure gold. I can see myself revisting this several times in the future.

Dragons of a Fallen Sun

Dragons of a Fallen Sun (pt. 1 War of Souls)

Author(s): Margret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Published: April 2000

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So I've finally gotten around to updated this blog as Yockbo has so persistently reminded me that I should be doing. With being on hiatus from school for the current half term I was able to finally sit down and finish this book.

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A few months back I had started reading this book but put it down repeatedly (mostly due to my Trigger-like attention span). A few weeks after picking it up I found a trilogy compendium of the entire War of Souls which I picked up for the low price of just a little more than your standard paper back. I have been an avid reader of Weis and Hickman since my youth, and I've been reading this through their DragonLance series with much interest over the last year. If you haven't read any of this series, I'd recommend starting at the beginning as it's a very good read. The entire original trilogy can be found in this omnibus: DragonLance Chronicles.

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This new trilogy picks up after Dragons of the Summer Flame several years after The Chaos war. We find that many years have passed in world that was left behind when the gods left along with chaos as per the compact made between them at the end of the prior book. The world however is far from a pleasant place and the vying factions left behind continue to battle and war with each other for dominance. The knights of Solomnia still battle for 'good' in contrast to the knights of Neraka (the new name for the knights of Takhissis in her absence) for dominance. In additional great dragons have come to the lands of Krynn and laid claim or protection over various regions.

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This book sees the return of longtime favorite of the series: Tasslehoff the Kender, who as with many of the previous books becomes the unwitting driver of several of the plot lines. Palin Majere also returns as a main character though he is quite unrecognizable from the glorious mage we were left with at the end of the prior book. Laurana and Cameron also make a reappearance in this book, but more as supporting rolls.

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The main impetus of the book appears to be the return of a god to the world, though it does not appear to be any of the gods who once were part of it. This new god has sent an envoy to the world, a young woman 'Mina' of maybe 18, who through a series of miracles, both of war and healing creates an every stronger movement for 'the One god, who shall remain nameless'. The fervor that she creates, and the devotion in those who had forsaken any thing with the 'abandonment' of the prior gods is a well written story, leaving me interested to know how all the lines of the web that have been presented in this book will be resolved and connected in the end.

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This book seems and feels to follow the same formula that Weis and Hickman have become known for. As this is the first book in the series, it feels like much of the book is spent spinning the setting and creating a strong image of the world and the metaphorical precipice that those in the story stand within and over. The end usually comes to us with a betrayal and a cliffhanger worthy of the name leaving you wanting more. Luckily I'm reading these long after they've been published and I can begin the next book without delay.

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Overall, I'd give this book a very strong recommendation to anyone who is a fan of Fantasy.

Newest reads

Well here are some books that I read that I was really looking forward to and had to settle for somewhat of a disappointment.

It was a small 3 book series by Michael Moorcock "The Elric Saga"

The first book was a fun read. Basic premise of the book is the introduction to the Kingdom of Melnibone and the current ruler Elric.

The Melniboneese are a superior race of beings to their human brethren. The best description is maybe elf like in physical characteristics with a large ego as they know they are the supreme race. Swords and magic is what they rule with and it is far superior. Within book one it tells of Elric's struggles as he rules his kingdom and how he handles the situation which arise. Elric would be considered a pacifist among his people which in turn makes him an anomaly. The book was quite entertaining and I stayed with it as the storyline drew to a conclusion eagerly looking forward to the next book.

Book 2 and 3. Not much I want to write about this. The book jumped the shark, spiraled downward, and simply started to crash and burn. It went into time warps, different worlds, parallel universes none of which seemed to make sense as I was reading. The author seemed to need something that filled pages and whatever dropped into his tiny brain he wrote on paper.

Not the best review in town but I was uninspired