Bit late again this month with the list. Nine books read, six of which were science fiction.
The Last Valley — Martin Windrow
A very thorough history of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, which meant the end of any serious French attempts to defeat the Vietmin and keep control of Vietnam.
Golden Witchbreed — Mary Gentle
Another book read in my Year of Reading Women project, this was as good as I remembered it as.
A Sporting Chance — Elizabeth Moon
Another lightweight Elizabeth Moon space adventure, entertaining as everything else I read of her recently.
At All Costs — David Weber
More Honor Harrington read as ebook on my Android phone.
An Investigation of Murder — Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo
A BBC4 documentary on Nordic Noir mentioned the Sjowall and Wahloo novels which made me want to read them. This was the only one we had on our shelves. A terrible, terrible translation, done by somebody who has only a limited grasp on either English or Swedish, or perhaps both. The written equivalent of one of those text to speech translators.
Mission of Honor — David Weber
And even more Honor Harrington. Weber is by all objective measures not a very good writer, but these books are like chewing gum, more enjoyable than not reading them in those circumstances where any other book would be difficult.
The Wars of the Roses — Christine Carpenter
Full subtitle: Politics and the Constitution in England, c. 1437-1509, which gives you a flavour of the focus of this book. I don’t know that much about the War of the Roses and this isn’t really a proper introduction to the period, but it worked for me.
The Deep State — Walter John Williams
Sequel to This Is Not a Game, about bringing down the military junta in Turkey through the power of the internet and alternate reality games.
Old Man’s War — John Scalzi
Scalzi’s breakthrough novel, very Heinleinian in its structure, plot and concerns but without Heinlein’s more annoying habits.