Since FGM's main focus is on Combat Mission era topics I would like to mention just a few books that I really enjoyed.
Two books that I relied on heavily for my 82nd Airborne Campaign were "Put Us Down in Hell" by Chuck Nordyke and "Normandy 1944 - German Military Organization, Combat Power and Organizational Effectiveness" by Niklas Zetterling.
With me being a Dutch Canadian, a few years back I decided I needed to learn more about the experience of the Canadians from Normany through to the end. My late father-in-law had served with the Canadian Black Watch in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. To that end I have found he whole series by Mark Zuelke both very informative and a captivating read. Really enjoy his 'personal accounts' style.
For the Dutch reader in particular the following three books hold particular interest (at least for me anyway).
The Forgotten Battle - Overloon and the Maas Salient 1944-45 by A. Korthals Altes and N.K.C.A. In't Veld
Forgotten Victory - First Canadian Army and the Cruel Winter of 1944-56 by Mark Zuelke
Als Sterren van de Hemel - De oorlog in he Rijk van Nijmegen 1944 by Norbert A de Groot (Dutch language version of Operation Market Garden)
Carpe vitam.
Two books / series come to my mind:
1. Blitzkrieg-Legende by Karl-Heinz Frieser (English: The Blitzkrieg Legend: The 1940 Campaign in the West): A really excellent book about the 1940 campaign in the west, not only from the German perspective but also analysing the Allied command and decision making, which played a huge role in the decisive outcome.
2. The Pacific War Trilogy by Ian W. Toll: A really great and exhaustive narrative of the American War in the Pacific. Doesn't cover China, Indochina etc. as such, especially in the later stages. But still very well written and worth the time to read through them.
Well, I'm just a fantasy/sci-fi reader.
I grew up as a teenager reading Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Dragonlance will always have a special place in my heart alongside Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings. My Alan Lee–illustrated edition from 1993 is still on my shelf. I still remember the posts from the old FGM forum about who would finish A Song of Ice and Fire
For me, ancient era novels:
- Julian by Gore Vidal.
- Count Belisarius by Robert Graves.
- Creation by Gore Vidal.
- Sinuhe, The Egyptian by Mika Waltari.
- Augustus by John Williams.
- God of War by Christian Cameron
Just reading ... The Woman by Kristin Hannah a story about the Army Nursing Corp all about the horrors of Vietnam war, Nurse
Frankie McGrath joined up as a nurse not knowing what she was going into..... I believe it's a true story
Happily retired, I worked till I was 72, am now 88, this year 2026 I will be 89
you could say I have earnt my crust
Grenadiers by Kurt Myer
Hell's Gate by Doug Nash
Infantry in Attack by Erwin Rommel
Any one read 1177 BC - The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline?
I might suggest, The Great Siege: Malta 1565, by Ernle Bradford.
Set several hundred years after the crusades, and focused on the Knights Hospitaler's epic defense of the titular island.
This one was recommended to me as a teen, by my father, and though at the time I had no interest (or knowledge) of the period, it hooked me from the first pages. I have reread it several times over the years.
Well researched and absolutely gripping.
The men of byegone days were truly a different sort.
I’m about a quarter of the way through Wizard and Glass (book four of The Dark Tower) and I’m fully invested in the story and the characters. What really keeps me turning pages is how personal it feels — Roland’s past, the bond between him, Eddie, and Susannah, and the sense that everything is connected for a reason. The world just keeps getting deeper the more you read, and I’m really glad I finally picked it up… even if Blaine the Mono still owes me therapy. 🚆
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
Some time I mentioned reading a book called
The Woman by Kristin Hannah a story about the Army Nursing Corp all about the horrors of Vietnam war, Nurse
Frankie McGrath joined up as a nurse not knowing what she was going into. What struck me about this story the way troops, nursing and all involved in this war were treated when the war finished by fellow Americans on there return home to the USA .... Treated as if they were criminals, Nurse's weren't even recognized as Vet's in fact many troops wouldn't have got home if it wasn't for them, A memorial erected eventually
Happily retired, I worked till I was 72, am now 88, this year 2026 I will be 89
you could say I have earnt my crust
One that really stayed with me was Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I went into it expecting a good WWII biography and ended up getting something much more powerful. Louis Zamperini’s story is incredible on its own, but Hillenbrand’s writing really brings the endurance, survival, and resilience aspects to life without ever feeling sensationalized. It’s one of those books that’s hard to put down even though you already know how the story ends. Highly recommended if you enjoy history that reads like a novel.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses on the human side of war, two strong recommendations from Robert Dugoni are Hold Strong and The World Played Chess. Hold Strong brings WWII vividly to life through the parallel stories of a POW surviving the Bataan Death March and a WAVE codebreaker serving on the intelligence front, blending frontline hardship with the quieter sacrifices made behind the scenes. The World Played Chess shifts to the lingering emotional impact of Vietnam, following a young man whose life is shaped by veterans carrying invisible scars long after the war ends. Together, the two novels show Dugoni’s strength at combining deeply personal stories with real historical context — powerful, readable, and especially meaningful for readers who appreciate war history told through the lives of ordinary people.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
Last few months i am in "lovecraftian" mood. I read Necronomicon first time year ago, and since then almost everything what Lovecraft wrote. For me it is a master of gothic horror ( and horror in general ). I've read horror before, but Lovecraft is another level.
Apart from that, i'm great SF and fantasy fan. Currently i'm reading Greg Bear - Eon.
@zaraza Nice! Lovecraft really does pull you into a whole different kind of horror — more cosmic dread than traditional monsters. My wife is actually a huge Lovecraft fan as well (She introduced me to the mythos), so our house has ended up with a small library of Lovecraftian books and a other fun little trinkets of our favorite tentacled gentleman, Cthulhu. 😄
I’ve always liked how Lovecraft built that whole eerie New England mythos — Arkham, Miskatonic University, the Necronomicon — where it all feels almost believable until you realize you’ve wandered a little too close to something ancient and not meant for human minds. Best to enjoy the stories… and maybe avoid any suspicious tomes bound in strange leather from Arkham’s library. 🐙📚
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
@zaraza Nice! Lovecraft really does pull you into a whole different kind of horror — more cosmic dread than traditional monsters.
Exactly. That melancholic and "you don't know what it is, but even if you did, you wouldn't understand it" feeling bought me right away.
I’m currently making my way through The Dark Tower by Stephen King, and I have to say… long days and pleasant nights to anyone else who has walked the path to the Tower. I’m really enjoying the journey with Roland and his ka-tet so far. I’ve made my way through The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, The Waste Lands, and Wizard and Glass, and I’m now heading further along the Beam. Ka is a wheel and the world has moved on. I’m curious how many others here have taken the road to the Dark Tower… and whether you say thankee-sai.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
Stephen R. Donaldson’s Chronicles of Thomas Covenant takes place in The Land, one of the most imaginative fantasy worlds ever put on the page and is among my favorite books of all time. Instead of the usual heroic chosen-one, the story follows Thomas Covenant, a bitter man from our world who believes the magical realm around him is only a dream, creating a constant tension between wonder and disbelief. The Land itself is filled with powerful Lords, ancient stone keeps like Revelstone, and strange forces like the Staff of Law and wild magic. Among the many memorable characters is Saltheart Foamfollower, a Giant whose spirit is as large as his size—part of a seafaring people known for their love of stories, laughter, and deep loyalty. His friendship with Covenant becomes one of the emotional anchors of the series, blending humor, courage, and tragedy in a way few fantasy characters ever achieve.
The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant return to The Land years later, bringing Covenant back alongside the determined healer Linden Avery. The world he once knew has changed dramatically, suffering under the terrifying power of the Sunbane, which twists the very forces of nature. As Covenant and his allies struggle to save the Land from destruction, the story deepens the series’ themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the burden of wild magic.
The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant bring Stephen R. Donaldson’s epic saga to its dramatic conclusion. Linden Avery returns to the Land in a desperate quest tied to her son Jeremiah, while the very fabric of reality—the Arch of Time itself—hangs in the balance. As old powers awaken and long-running mysteries finally come together, the series delivers a sweeping finale filled with sacrifice, revelation, and the ultimate fate of the Land.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
One that really stood out to me recently was With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge.
What makes it different from a lot of WWII books is how raw and personal it feels. This isn’t a high-level overview of strategy or unit movements — it’s the war at ground level, in the mud, fear, exhaustion, and chaos of places like Peleliu and Okinawa.
Sledge doesn’t try to dramatize anything, which somehow makes it hit even harder. The small details — the heat, the insects, the strain on the men — really stick with you. It gives you a deep respect for what those Marines endured, and how it stayed with them long after the war.
If you’ve seen The Pacific, a lot of it is based on this book, but the book goes even deeper.
Highly recommended if you’re interested in the human side of combat rather than just the operational side.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
If you’re looking for a great read, I highly recommend the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny.
It’s a fantastic mix of fantasy, intrigue, and shifting realities—where entire worlds are just shadows of the one true Amber. The story follows a royal family with the power to walk between these worlds, and most of the conflict comes from their own rivalries, schemes, and betrayals.
Sharp writing, memorable characters, and a really original concept—it pulls you in fast and keeps you hooked.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here: