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With all this time to fill I have fallen down the Nazi Secret Weapons rabbit hole again I'm afraid so I have just finished Hitler's Secret Weapons Of Mass Destruction by Michael Fitzgerald as it looked like a considered read on the subject on Amazon.
Disappointing to be honest.The research on the Die Glocke is excellent and offers by far the most logical explanation for its existence which is also the theory that I have believed for sometime that it was a type of centrifuge built for the nuclear programme. It is interesting how it seems this project has now left the lunacy of the Ancient Aliens/Nazi UFO Conspiracy/Discovery Channel & is inching towards the mainstream. Certainly the list of scientists that Fitzgerald has researched who can be linked to project would suggest that there is something there to be proven. His research into the nuclear programme is intriguing as well but then he goes and ruins it with stories of three successful tests, which raises the question if they had a working weapon why would they not use it as some kind of nuclear landmine even if they didn't have any other form of working delivery system? What did they have left to lose?
However his research on aircraft development is poor. He quotes as facts from stories made by two widely discredited Italian sources about circular flying craft, foo fighters and a ridiculous claim that an entire flight of B-24s were downed by a particle beam weapon fired by these objects. He also claims that Germans managed to break the sound barrier with a specially constructed plane and that the Lippisch 'coal powered' delta wing fighter actually flew under its own steam. (Unpowered glider versions were found before the end of the war but there is no evidence that they were flown either.) His claims about the Junkers 390 secretly being in squadron production numbers nearly a year before it actually flew are backed up by a story in a wartime comic book....
Not great all in all.
Disappointing to be honest.The research on the Die Glocke is excellent and offers by far the most logical explanation for its existence which is also the theory that I have believed for sometime that it was a type of centrifuge built for the nuclear programme. It is interesting how it seems this project has now left the lunacy of the Ancient Aliens/Nazi UFO Conspiracy/Discovery Channel & is inching towards the mainstream. Certainly the list of scientists that Fitzgerald has researched who can be linked to project would suggest that there is something there to be proven. His research into the nuclear programme is intriguing as well but then he goes and ruins it with stories of three successful tests, which raises the question if they had a working weapon why would they not use it as some kind of nuclear landmine even if they didn't have any other form of working delivery system? What did they have left to lose?
However his research on aircraft development is poor. He quotes as facts from stories made by two widely discredited Italian sources about circular flying craft, foo fighters and a ridiculous claim that an entire flight of B-24s were downed by a particle beam weapon fired by these objects. He also claims that Germans managed to break the sound barrier with a specially constructed plane and that the Lippisch 'coal powered' delta wing fighter actually flew under its own steam. (Unpowered glider versions were found before the end of the war but there is no evidence that they were flown either.) His claims about the Junkers 390 secretly being in squadron production numbers nearly a year before it actually flew are backed up by a story in a wartime comic book....
Not great all in all.
I'm trying to delve back into reading since work is on hold and uni has finished till September.
Enjoyed Richard Pryors autobiography if lacking in detail at parts. Felt it skimmed over quite a lot.
Almost half way through - Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam. Nick Turse
Enjoyed Richard Pryors autobiography if lacking in detail at parts. Felt it skimmed over quite a lot.
Almost half way through - Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam. Nick Turse
DoubleTime said:
I'm trying to delve back into reading since work is on hold and uni has finished till September.
Enjoyed Richard Pryors autobiography if lacking in detail at parts. Felt it skimmed over quite a lot.
Almost half way through - Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam. Nick Turse
if you like books about Vietnam may I recommend Chickenhawk by Robert Mason & Dispatches by Michael Herr. Both of them are outstanding.Enjoyed Richard Pryors autobiography if lacking in detail at parts. Felt it skimmed over quite a lot.
Almost half way through - Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam. Nick Turse
amongst the many books I've consumed during lockdown , Jim Naughties 'On the Road ' stood out - 50 years of experience and insight into US politics , concluding with a trip from Chicago to New Orleans in 2019 . Fascinating , very funny and utterly terrifying .
I'm also very much enjoying Woody Allen' s autobiography - he doesn't swerve the obvious but the essence of the book is his anecdotes of stand up , writing and the directing . He is very , very funny of course and has met and has worked with just about everybody
A wonderful read from Craig Brown -'One two three four ' - who knew there was still so much to say about the Beatles ? Charming and unputdownable
The Blunt End of The Grid -many motor racing autobiographies are awful . This one isn't , as it is beautifully written by Dave Roberts , who raced in various kit cars in 750 MC events. Funny , moving and a real insight into grass roots motorsport
A Race With Love and Death - Richard Williams ' brilliantly researched biography of pre war Mercedes Silver Arrow racer Richard Seaman , who was killed at Spa 3 months before WW2 began . Toffs , floozies, Delages , glamour and tragedy. Oh , and A Hitler too . A terrific read
My 'proper' reviews of the last two are on speedreaders.info
I'm also very much enjoying Woody Allen' s autobiography - he doesn't swerve the obvious but the essence of the book is his anecdotes of stand up , writing and the directing . He is very , very funny of course and has met and has worked with just about everybody
A wonderful read from Craig Brown -'One two three four ' - who knew there was still so much to say about the Beatles ? Charming and unputdownable
The Blunt End of The Grid -many motor racing autobiographies are awful . This one isn't , as it is beautifully written by Dave Roberts , who raced in various kit cars in 750 MC events. Funny , moving and a real insight into grass roots motorsport
A Race With Love and Death - Richard Williams ' brilliantly researched biography of pre war Mercedes Silver Arrow racer Richard Seaman , who was killed at Spa 3 months before WW2 began . Toffs , floozies, Delages , glamour and tragedy. Oh , and A Hitler too . A terrific read
My 'proper' reviews of the last two are on speedreaders.info
Adam B said:
thanks, I ordered Lock Artist and The Axeman's Jazz (first book in series with mobsters Lament)
please report back on November Road as that looks good too
November Road was excellent. I have now moved onto another Lou Berney novel: Gutshot Straight.please report back on November Road as that looks good too
It is currently 99p on Kindle and, half way through, is a great read. I will be picking up his other books soon, too.
As I mentioned, I'm still stuck down the Nazi Secret Weapon rabbit hole and so have just finished; The Hidden Nazi: The Untold Story Of Americas Deal With The Devil by Reuter, Lowery and Chester.
Unlike the previous read I mentioned, this is a fantastically well researched book into the story of Hans Kammler who I certainly hadn't heard of since before reading Nick Cooks book, The Hunt For Zero Point in 2010.
It takes the story of Dr Kammler and raises him away from the nonsense of Discovery Channel documentaries about Nazi UFOs presented by chancers with stupid hair & through some of the most through and exacting research I have seen in any history book, presents Kammler as a true monster who got away with facilitating some of the worst crimes of the 20th century scott free. The link to the story of U-234 & its "capture" at the end of the war was a real eye-opener in particular and offers a very good explanation as to that mysterious event. As I said, a tale expertly told and highly recommended.
Without wanting to trivialise the book too much I kept thinking that there is a great movie to be made here about WWII's Keyser Soze.
9 out of 10 devils who didn't exist...
Unlike the previous read I mentioned, this is a fantastically well researched book into the story of Hans Kammler who I certainly hadn't heard of since before reading Nick Cooks book, The Hunt For Zero Point in 2010.
It takes the story of Dr Kammler and raises him away from the nonsense of Discovery Channel documentaries about Nazi UFOs presented by chancers with stupid hair & through some of the most through and exacting research I have seen in any history book, presents Kammler as a true monster who got away with facilitating some of the worst crimes of the 20th century scott free. The link to the story of U-234 & its "capture" at the end of the war was a real eye-opener in particular and offers a very good explanation as to that mysterious event. As I said, a tale expertly told and highly recommended.
Without wanting to trivialise the book too much I kept thinking that there is a great movie to be made here about WWII's Keyser Soze.
9 out of 10 devils who didn't exist...
Edited by The Hypno-Toad on Saturday 23 May 14:07
rst99 said:
I
Autobiography of the greatest test pilot in history.
I'm halfway through this and am getting a bit frustrated at the pace of it - it starts with loads of detail about the escort carrier he was on, the people, tactics developed, etc., then at the end of WW2 it's just "I flew a bunch of German planes" with no commentary on how good or bad they were, then randomly it's a few pages on one carrier landing.Autobiography of the greatest test pilot in history.
It's a good book about a fascinating character but the skimming over some bits and going into a lot of detail on others could be improved, but I guess there are other books going into more detail.
MC Bodge said:
I'm reading "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by T E Lawrence.
It's not exactly a light read. I will endeavour to finish it.
I have stuck with it. Reading a few pages at a time over breakfast. By page 72 it has improved. I wonder if he was just trying too hard in the early pages?It's not exactly a light read. I will endeavour to finish it.
His descriptions of the people and places he visits are fascinating.
FunkyNige said:
rst99 said:
I
Autobiography of the greatest test pilot in history.
I'm halfway through this and am getting a bit frustrated at the pace of it - it starts with loads of detail about the escort carrier he was on, the people, tactics developed, etc., then at the end of WW2 it's just "I flew a bunch of German planes" with no commentary on how good or bad they were, then randomly it's a few pages on one carrier landing.Autobiography of the greatest test pilot in history.
It's a good book about a fascinating character but the skimming over some bits and going into a lot of detail on others could be improved, but I guess there are other books going into more detail.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-5282...
Link to a review of EM Forsters science fiction novella The Machine Stops. There is a link to download the novella too.
All I can say is blimey. Firstly who knew EMF wrote scifi, secondly that he wrote good scifi, thirdly woah, scarily prescient!
Link to a review of EM Forsters science fiction novella The Machine Stops. There is a link to download the novella too.
All I can say is blimey. Firstly who knew EMF wrote scifi, secondly that he wrote good scifi, thirdly woah, scarily prescient!
Ace-T said:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-5282...
Link to a review of EM Forsters science fiction novella The Machine Stops. There is a link to download the novella too.
All I can say is blimey. Firstly who knew EMF wrote scifi, secondly that he wrote good scifi, thirdly woah, scarily prescient!
Link to a review of EM Forsters science fiction novella The Machine Stops. There is a link to download the novella too.
All I can say is blimey. Firstly who knew EMF wrote scifi, secondly that he wrote good scifi, thirdly woah, scarily prescient!
I first read The Machine Stops as a teenager and it stuck in my head, such that some 40-odd years later It has been at the forefront of my mind from time-to-time this year. I found it chilling, likely and memorable. I have been meaning to revisit it for a while now....
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