Hardtack & Coffee or The Unwritten Story of Army Life Review

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(More customer reviews)There are numerous histories of the Civil War and some have become classics. Most of these focus on battles and great heroes. Billings, however, a Civil War veteran, writes about the daily life of the average soldier. We learn about the soldier's motivation to fight, camp discipline, diet, housing, medical care, recreation and just about everything else that comprised the life of the Civil War era soldier. Billings' book is serious yet he manages to write in a lighthearted tone, replete with levity. This is a great book to round out a Civil War buff's study of the great conflict.

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Most histories of the Civil War focus on battles and top brass. Hardtack and Coffee is one of the few to give a vivid, detailed picture of what ordinary soldiers endured every day—in camp, on the march, at the edge of a booming, smoking hell. John D. Billings of Massachusetts enlisted in the Army of the Potomac and curvived the conditions he recorded. The authenticity of his book is heightened by the many drawings that a comrade, Charles W. Reed, made in the field.This is the story of how the Civil War soldier was recruited, provisioned, and disciplined. Described here are the types of men found in any outfit; their not very uniform uniforms; crowded tents and makeshift shelters; difficulties in keeping clean, warm, and dry; their pleasure in a cup of coffee; food rations, dominated by salt pork and the versatile cracker or hardtack; their brave pastimes in the face of death; punishments for various offenses; treatment in sick bay; firearms and signals and modes of transportation. Comprehensive and anecdotal, Hardtack and Coffee is striking for the pulse of life that runs through it.

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Balance of Trade (Liaden) Review

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(More customer reviews)Fans and newcomers alike should thoroughly enjoy Lee & Miller's latest adventure set in their ever-engaging Liaden Universe. Taking a break from all things Korval, they bring us a tale from an earlier time when Terrans and Liadens were still relative strangers to each other. Our young hero is Jethri, from a human trading ship burdened with a cold, distant mother, and an enigmatic, dead father but blessed with a deft hand for trade. He stumbles into a Liaden matter of honor and his own sense of fair play and justice bring him to the regard of Master Trader Norn van'Deen, Clan Ixin. She decides that there is trade and profit to be made by championing him as her apprentice.
Whisked off to learn Liaden ways and trade far from everything he has ever known, he has an uncertain start but gradually finds his footing and his mettle. He conquers Liaden bows, makes friends as well as enemies and for a spacer born and bred, even manages to find his footing living on a planet.
Jethri is a compelling young man, real enough to not be perfect, but with enough integrity and kindness to make you root for him. His tour through Lianden life is interesting, focusing much more on trade than any of the previous books. Fans of the space opera style romance of previous books will be find little of that here, nonetheless they won't be disappointed since Lee & Miller write as great a story as ever. Familiar trademarks also show up: scouts, cats, librarians and dramliza all play a part, but respectfully take a back seat Jethri and his journey.
The only nitpick I had was the book spends so much time building to various plot points - the mystery surrounding Jethri's father, the existence of old tech, his admittance to the Liaden trade guild - that the ending, when it does come, falls somewhat short of satisfying as it just started to get really interesting. If only there had been another 400 pages! As it is, the story provides a very agreeable time and certainly leaves room for more adventures with Jethri. I'll definately look forward to reading more about him.

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Wolverine's Daughter Review

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(More customer reviews)Wolverine was a legendary warrior. He was also Kelyn of Ketura's father. He had left her mother before she was born. Kelyn cared nothing for the Wolverine or his legends. She wanted nothing to do with him. She grew up in the mountains of Ketura learning to survive, like her father before her as her mother wished. She had to practice much harder than the others of the village due to her occasional bouts of clumsiness. Where others did things gracefully, she was awkward. Where others learned quickly, she had to practice often and thoroughly.
When her mother died, the village witch told her that she must find her father if she wanted to find herself. So she began her journey. Kelyn did not wait for trouble to find her. She followed trouble to find the Wolverine. Once found, a battle of witches, barbarians, and sorcery began! Kelyn also found out WHY she was often clumsy. However, she could not understand why that clumsiness vanished at times of danger and battle. One thing was for certain, the Wolverine could not deny she was his daughter and he had definitely met his match!
**** Excellent! Like watching Xena and Hercules side-by-side! I plan to look up other books by this amazing author! Highly recommended reading here! ****

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