Who's on your literary action squad?

Capt MJ

Formerly Known As Attila The Hunnette
15-Year Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Messages
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Given we are into summer/beach/deck/poolside reading season, I will reveal a weakness for recurring lead or major supporting characters, current or former military, in action thrillers. Not necessarily great literature, but fun reads and kick-butt wish-they-were-real folks. This is what I call my snack reading in between serious reading.

Who are your favorites? Comments? A working criteria would be if they had a military background, past or present. Some may not have, but are heavily enmeshed in government black ops, so go ahead and throw them in. I am hoping for some new authors to follow in this genre.

My top four for a git-'er-done mission:
Mitch Rapp (original author Vince Flynn is dead; Kyle Mills is carrying on)
Scot Harvath (Brad Thor)
Jack Reacher (Lee Child)
Cotton Malone (Steve Berry)

Will Robie and Jessica Reel (David Baldacci), Cassiopeia Witt (Steve Berry), Oliver Stone (David Baldacci), Alex Hawke (Ted Bell), Jason Bourne (original author Robert Ludlum is dead; Eric van Lustbader is carrying on), Dirk Pitt/Kurt Austin/Juan Cabrillo (Clive Cussler), can certainly rotate in.

Ian Fleming's James Bond is, of course, always welcome. Historically, Richard Sharpe (Bernard Cornwell).
 
I love Jack Reacher, and Baldacci is one of my all-time favorite authors. For light summer reading along the theme you're looking for, check out Samantha Moon series by J.R. Rain. Fun beach books!
 
I love Jack Reacher, and Baldacci is one of my all-time favorite authors. For light summer reading along the theme you're looking for, check out Samantha Moon series by J.R. Rain. Fun beach books!

Will put on my list.
 
Jack Reacher hands down (even though Lee Childs should have made him a former Marine vs Army!)
 
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Have you read W.E.B. Griffin's "The Corps" series of novels?

These fit your requested type of book and Lt Kenneth McCoy and Sgt Ernie Zimmerman are great characters.
 
Have you read W.E.B. Griffin's "The Corps" series of novels?

These fit your requested type of book and Lt Kenneth McCoy and Sgt Ernie Zimmerman are great characters.

DH enjoys those. Griffin has so many series, I am overwhelmed at the library. I need to pick a series and start at the beginning. Will start with those characters' series, since you recommend.
 
Knowing you are of nautical inclination, Jack Aubrey?

Have 'em all, spot on call. Why did Patrick O'Brian have to pass away? One of my other favorite categories: Horatio Hornblower, Richard Bolitho, etc. I am always happy to read my way through the entirety again, enjoying the classic leadership lessons that still apply today. "The lesser of two weevils..."
 
Given we are into summer/beach/deck/poolside reading season, I will reveal a weakness for recurring lead or major supporting characters, current or former military, in action thrillers. Not necessarily great literature, but fun reads and kick-butt wish-they-were-real folks. This is what I call my snack reading in between serious reading.

Who are your favorites? Comments? A working criteria would be if they had a military background, past or present. Some may not have, but are heavily enmeshed in government black ops, so go ahead and throw them in. I am hoping for some new authors to follow in this genre.

My top four for a git-'er-done mission:
Mitch Rapp (original author Vince Flynn is dead; Kyle Mills is carrying on)
Scot Harvath (Brad Thor)
Jack Reacher (Lee Child)
Cotton Malone (Steve Berry)

Will Robie and Jessica Reel (David Baldacci), Cassiopeia Witt (Steve Berry), Oliver Stone (David Baldacci), Alex Hawke (Ted Bell), Jason Bourne (original author Robert Ludlum is dead; Eric van Lustbader is carrying on), Dirk Pitt/Kurt Austin/Juan Cabrillo (Clive Cussler), can certainly rotate in.

Ian Fleming's James Bond is, of course, always welcome. Historically, Richard Sharpe (Bernard Cornwell).

First bit of LITS info. I'm a character in two of Ted Bell's books.... So I'm an Alex Hawke fan.
 
3M Cloud Library app

I am sure many of you are familiar with this, but in case not, it's a free app for iPhone, iPad and am sure other devices. If your library participates, you simply find your library one time in the app, enter your library card number and library online password. After that, simply open the app, browse, search and download books. You can place them on hold if not available for immediate download and get notified when available. You can manually return them or just let the app automatically suck them out of your device on the return date. You can adjust settings for font size, etc. I also have Overdrive but haven't used that as much, except for audio books.

While I prefer "real" books, I can't stand being without something to read if stuck someplace. It's handy to open the phone and have one right there, and on vacation, I will have several. On my phone right now, with bookmarks: re-reading Sun Tzu "The Art of War," Brad Thor's latest "Code of Conduct," one of Lee Child's older Jack Reachers "Persuader," first of Bernard Cornwell's American Revolution era series, and "Winning Teams-Winning Cultures" by Senn and Hart focusing on the theory of the shadow of the leader.

I have always been hesitant to know what it means that I am usually reading 6-10 books at once in various formats. Don't tell me. It depends on my mood, available time and setting.
 
Anything by Bernard Cornwell and any of his historical novels. Shields, swords, spears and bows in a number of series going back to the founding of Great Britain. Richard Sharpe I would suggest if you are new but they can also be a great reread. For Mystery (off pattern from military) someone not usually mentioned, the John Lescroat books set in San Francisco with lawyer Dismas Hardy and homicide detective Abe Glitsky. Start with "Dead Irish" and work your way through all sixteen.

Although not a Marine, for humor and really short read I always liked the Sgt. Mike and Sledge cartoons in Stars and Stripes by Michael T. Hodgson. He made fun of every rank and every service. There are some great compilations of the cartoons in book form. Just looking it up I start to laugh.
 
Anything by Bernard Cornwell and any of his historical novels. Shields, swords, spears and bows in a number of series going back to the founding of Great Britain. Richard Sharpe I would suggest if you are new but they can also be a great reread. For Mystery (off pattern from military) someone not usually mentioned, the John Lescroat books set in San Francisco with lawyer Dismas Hardy and homicide detective Abe Glitsky. Start with "Dead Irish" and work your way through all sixteen.

Although not a Marine, for humor and really short read I always liked the Sgt. Mike and Sledge cartoons in Stars and Stripes by Michael T. Hodgson. He made fun of every rank and every service. There are some great compilations of the cartoons in book form. Just looking it up I start to laugh.

I have read all Bernard Cornwell except the Revolutionary War series, which is part of the summer plan. Particularly liked the Thomas of Hookton books. Uhtred has been a long-time favorite, and he has made it to TV. Smart leader. Read all the Sharpes and liked Sean Bean in the role on PBS.

Will take a look at Lescroat. I have been on a Brit detective arc for the last several years, time to rotate back to U.S.

Thank you!
 
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I will mention an oldie...
Army Tank Commander, Scott Dixon (Author: Harold Coyle, himself a VMI alum and former Tank commander).
Titles: Team Yankee and Sword Point.
 
Please let me know where Uhtred made TV? Was it on British TV? That I would like to see as I have read the whole series. Hold the shield wall and push. Lescroat is a great writer and you also get information on how to season, clean and maintain a cast iron frying pan as an extra. Sean Bean was great in the role. Kids got me the whole series (not just US series but all through Waterloo). Two wonderful days.
 
Please let me know where Uhtred made TV? Was it on British TV? That I would like to see as I have read the whole series. Hold the shield wall and push. Lescroat is a great writer and you also get information on how to season, clean and maintain a cast iron frying pan as an extra. Sean Bean was great in the role. Kids got me the whole series (not just US series but all through Waterloo). Two wonderful days.

BBC America, "The Last Kingdom," first season, 8 episodes, 2015. Serpent-Breath and WaspSting get their licks in. Starts at the chronological beginning. I expect another season to start soon. Still recovering from last round of Vikings on History.


 
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Sorry to diverge from the fiction theme, but must recommend Rick Atkinson's extraordinary series known the the "Liberation Trilogy", which I just finished.

This is a well-researched, beautifully written set of books focusing primarily from an American viewpoint on United States involvement during WW2 in North Africa(an Army at Dawn) Italy (The Day of Battle), and Western Europe (The Guns at Last Light).
 
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