The Conquering TideWar in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944By: Ian W. TollNarrated by: P. J. OchlanSeries: The Pacific War Trilogy, Book 2Length: 27 hrs and 22 mins The mud and guts of a marine strewn on the shore. The Iron and shells of a sailor blasted to bits. Although Japan is no longer in ascendance, it’s…
Category: Optimi Libri
Pacific Crucible: The Paper Dragon
Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942By: Ian W. TollNarrated by: Grover GardnerSeries: The Pacific War Trilogy, Book 1Length: 22 hrs and 6 mins After completing the American European War Trilogy I wanted to complete its counterpoint. The Pacific war while similar in that it is a war against an aggressor is very…
Matterhorn: Soul Eater
MatterhornA Novel of the Vietnam WarBy: Karl MarlantesNarrated by: Bronson PinchotLength: 21 hrs and 11 mins In reading this book I was confronted with the ethereal face of a man in pain from fear of losing his soul. After traversing the mud-sucking pages of chapters encased in sodden boots while steeped in the fetid rot…
The Guns at Last Light: Nostalgia for a Great Tragedy
The Guns at Last LightThe War in Western Europe, 1944-1945By: Rick AtkinsonNarrated by: L. J. GanserSeries: The Liberation Trilogy, Book 3Length: 32 hrs and 18 mins The Phoenix is trained and ready for its final engagement with the foe. From the invasion of Normandy to liberating concentration camps. This concluding volume covers an episode of…
The Day of Battle: Arise Phoenix and Conquer Romulus
The Day of BattleThe War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944By: Rick AtkinsonNarrated by: Jonathan DavisSeries: The Liberation Trilogy, Book 2Length: 32 hrs and 41 mins Victorious in the crimson gore of North Africa, the Allied Army moves on to the “Soft Underbelly” of the Third Reich. The campaigns in Sicily and Italy were the sensible…
The Quantum Magician: Partial Superposition
The Quantum MagicianBy: Derek KunskenNarrated by: T. Ryder SmithSeries: The Quantum Evolution, Book 1Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins A heist novel on a multi-star system scale. The diversity of characters and places built into this novel support its standard plotline. The character development and novel plot devices create magnetic action. Once you get close…
The Licanius Trilogy: Do You Have a Choice?
The Licanius TrilogyBy: James IslingtonNarrated by: Michael Kramer82 hrs and 35 mins I started this series in July and finished it in the first week of January. The over arching concept of choice and what that means in a deterministic universe. Can one be responsible for your actions if they are predetermined? The statement held by this…
Learning War
An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa (1942-1943)The Liberation Trilogy, Volume 1By: Rick AtkinsonNarrated by: George GuidallLength: 26 hrs and 5 mins A new Army of the Americans goes to the land of North Africa to fight a war that they were reluctant to join. The tenacity of the American soldier that I…
A Man for the Ages
The Last Lion: Winston Spencer ChurchillVolume IIIDefender of the Realm, 1940-1965 By: William Manchester and Paul ReidNarrated by: Richard BrownLength: 53 hrs and 23 mins The world was at war. The English people looked at who could lead them. And the name that came to the forefront was that of Winston Churchill. One man who…
Rescuing Rawhide
The Innocent: A NovelBy: David BaldacciNarrated by: Ron McLarty, Orlagh CassidyLength: 12 hrs and 14 mins While this book might be a nice divertimenti from my usual fare this last book of my recent novel/pulp kick felt more monotonous than I was expecting. It seemed to cast detailed procedural elements and thrilling sequences in a…
War by Another Name
Starship TroopersBy: Robert A. HeinleinNarrated by: Lloyd JamesLength: 9 hrs and 52 mins I walked into this novel not really knowing what to expect and found a very enjoyable experience. Unlike some sci-fi novels I found that the story and ideas did a very good job of carrying you through. Heinlein’s background in WWII comes…
A Man from a Different Age
The Last Lion: Winston Spencer ChurchillVolume IVisions of Glory 1874-1932By: William ManchesterNarrated by: Frederick DavidsonLength: 41 hrs and 19 mins The Romance of the 19th century was instilled into Winston. It was this vision of a great people that began him on his journey to be the man of the hour. His childhood was one of noble…