If you’re into darker, more classic fantasy, I’d recommend checking out Michael Moorcock—especially his Elric series.
Elric of Melniboné is about as far from the typical hero as you can get—physically weak, morally conflicted, and bound to a soul-drinking sword that’s as much a curse as it is a weapon. The stories are fast-paced, atmospheric, and a bit haunting, with a real sense that power always comes at a cost.
It’s classic sword-and-sorcery, but with a darker edge and a lot more depth than you might expect.
"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:
@panzer-lehr Very thought-provoking book. Pulls no punches. I was interested to see Sledge portrayed in "The Pacific".
Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama is in the top 10 of my all-time favorite books. Set in the near future, astronomers detect a massive object entering the solar system. At first, they thought it was an asteroid, but it is soon revealed to be an artificial spacecraft. A team of explorers is sent to investigate...
This is the first book in a four-book series. Rama II is also great, but books 3 and 4 are not my cup of tea. They tend to drift off from hard SF to more sociological aspects of what is going on...
Foundation and Empire is the second book in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, and it’s a great continuation of what is, overall, one of the all-time classic science fiction sagas. While the TV show pulls ideas from across multiple books, the novels themselves are much tighter and more focused on big ideas like the rise and fall of civilizations and the limits of prediction. This installment raises the stakes with the introduction of the Mule, adding a real sense of unpredictability. As a whole, the Foundation series is smart, ambitious, and absolutely worth the read.
"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:
Many readers consider the Robot series to be a 'prequel' to the Foundation saga. I highly recommend reading some of these books ( The Complete Robot ), especially now that AI is beginning to influence every aspect of our society. The stories feel entirely different in today's context, we are effectively living through the same dilemmas, concerns, and doubts that Asimov wrote nearly a century ago. I had more fun and "though provoking" reading Robots 2-3 years ago then i did 20+ years ago.
I’ve read the first three books of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, and so far I’m really impressed. The world-building is excellent—everything feels big, lived-in, and carefully put together, especially the different cultures and the way the magic system works. It starts off a bit familiar, but by the second and third books it really begins to open up and feel like something much larger.
What stood out to me most is how the story expands. Each book feels like the map is getting bigger and the stakes are rising, which I really enjoyed. That said, you can already feel the pacing slow down a bit in places—it’s definitely more of a long campaign than a quick, action-packed scenario.
I also watched the The Wheel of Time, and while it’s a solid show on its own, it changes quite a bit from what I’ve read so far. Some characters and storylines feel pretty different, so it comes across more like an alternate take than a straight adaptation.
Overall, through three books, I’m in—really enjoying the journey so far, just pacing myself for what looks like a long road ahead.
"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:
Any one read 1177 BC - The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline?
It's on my list.
One of the most horrible features of war is that all the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.
- George Orwell, Homage To Catalonia
If you’re looking for a great read, I highly recommend Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. It’s a fast-paced sci-fi story about a lone astronaut trying to save humanity, with a great mix of real science, humor, and a surprisingly strong friendship at its core. And if you’d rather watch first, it’s currently in theaters—and by most accounts it’s a remarkably faithful adaptation of the book, with only a few changes.
"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:
A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan.
Less about firefights, more about decisions, personalities, and how a war can go wrong even when people think they’re doing the right thing.
Not a light read—but a powerful one if you’re interested in the deeper “why” behind Vietnam. 🪖📚
"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:
Memoirs of Luftwaffe Bf-110 pilot Wilhelm Johnen. Very interesting book that covers many technical aspects of night warfare during WWII.
Brutal, immersive, and impossible to put down—I felt like I was right there in the ruins, watching both sides grind themselves into nothing. Beevor doesn’t glorify a damn thing; he just shows you the reality, and it sticks with you long after you finish.
"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:
The Defence and Fall of Greece, 1940–41 is a sharp, no-nonsense account of the 1940–41 campaign—Greeks beat the Italians, then get crushed once the Germans step in; clear, well-paced, and gives the Greek army its due without any fluff.
"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:
Brutal, immersive, and impossible to put down—I felt like I was right there in the ruins, watching both sides grind themselves into nothing. Beevor doesn’t glorify a damn thing; he just shows you the reality, and it sticks with you long after you finish.
Heh, got this some time ago, but i didn't read it yet...
Very interesting technical history.
It covers development of systems like Knickebein, X-Gerat, Wotan and counter measueres against them, long and short radar systems, ground mapping radars, radar jamming etc...