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Duty, Honor, Country: the motto of the United States Military Academy has resounded for more than 200 years. Stephen Ambrose charts the history of West Point from its origins in the Revolutionary War--when students attached to engineering and artillery regiments studied the rudiments of strategy, but mostly came and went as they pleased--to the academy's time of crisis during the Vietnam War. Ambrose's narrative centers on West Point's superintendents, the Army officers who emphasized both tradition and innovation over the years--men such as Sylvanus Thayer, who commanded from 1817 to 1833 and who introduced customs that are still observed today; and Douglas MacArthur, who joined personal flamboyance with a deep-seated commitment to martial, academic, and athletic excellence. (Among MacArthur's other contributions was his codification of the "honor system," a set of self-policing regulations that distinguishes West Point from any other nation's military colleges.) Ambrose does not gloss over the academy's less exalted moments, especially the frictions brought on by the Civil War, when many Northerners accused West Point as a whole of being proslavery. Writing in an afterword that brings the history of the academy to the present, former superintendent Andrew Goodpaster confronts such matters as the honor code scandal of 1976 and the cultural changes brought on by the admission of women to the academy in the same year. Yet this book is a fitting celebration of an institution that has been of central importance to the American military. Originally published in 1966, at the start of his career, Duty, Honor, Country shows Stephen Ambrose's skills as researcher and popularizer, skills that he would go on to develop in such later books as Undaunted Courage and Citizen Soldiers. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
This new paperback edition of Stephen E. Ambrose's highly regarded history of the United States Military Academy features the original foreword by Dwight D. Eisenhower and a new afterword by former West Point superintendent Andrew J. Goodpaster.
"There have been many other histories of West Point, but this is the best... From this excellent book every American will find interest and take pride in this truly national institution that has played so great a part in the building of the country." -- Historical Times
"The title of this first-rate account of the United States Military Academy is drawn from the Academy's motto... [Ambrose] follows the long gray line through history, skillfully re-creating the administrations of West Point's outstanding superintendents (Sylvanus Thayer and Douglas MacArthur), telling some amusing anecdotes about cadets 'who simply refused to conform to the West Point mold' (James McNeill Whistler and Edgar Allan Poe)." -- New York Times Book Review
"The conception of West Point, as Ambrose makes clear in his short history of the Military Academy, was immaculately Jeffersonian. It was a school to train engineers--that most liberal, nonaristocratic, and socially useful branch of the military service--not in order to create a corps d'élite but to provide the reservoir of military expertise which was needed if the militia ideal were to become a practical reality... Ambrose has told this story clearly and well; he is at his best in tying it to the larger context of American politics, social attitudes, and higher education." -- Journal of American History
"A welcome addition to the growing literature on military education. Ambrose covers the whole history of West Point, from the first feeble beginnings under President Jefferson down to the present. He has carefully examined both the published and unpublished sources and has rounded out the basic data with numerous interviews." -- Journal of Higher Education
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Ambrose is the Boyd Professor of History at the University of New Orleans. He is the Director of the Eisenhower Center and President of the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans
Customer Reviews:
West Point from the inside.......2007-04-04
An insightful look into the making of a "West Point" graduate, the back bone of our Army officer corp.
Great Book.......2003-01-04
Ambrose complied a great deal of information into a concise, readable, text that will give the reader a deeper insight into the country's most important military institution.
Disappointing, Considering The Reputation Of The Source.......2001-11-23
In my opinion, this book reads like a school book report. It is a disappointment, considering the reputation of the source -- Stephen Ambrose. Maybe I expected too much because the author is well known. On the other hand, I didn't expect too much from the not well known author Norman Thomas Remick and his book "West Point", and was most pleasantly surprised. But there you are, then. It's not what you do, it's who you know that counts.
Entertaining.......2001-08-04
After its initial publication in the mid sixties, this book was difficult to find so I for one was delighted when it was rereleased several years ago. West Point is always an interesting subject and books on its history are always interesting to read. My only complaint was that the whole book should have been completely updated given the changes that occurred between the 1960s and 1990s. However, I do recommend this book as a good starting point for anyone interested in West Point and the US military.
An easy-reading history of West Point.......2000-06-17
Ambrose's 1964 history of the Military Academy is an easy flowing and enjoyable insight into many of the core traditions of West Point. Some of the early history seems dry at times, but provides a seldom seen picture of the politics of the early nineteenth century. As a grad, I learned much of WP's early history that I had never known of. It was delightful to see how much of the culture and tradition has remained relatively unchanged over 150 years. On the other hand, it was interesting to see the stark contrast that exists in many areas of cadet and army life from then to now.
Ambrose has organized his work in a manner that defines the developmental stages of the Academy, beginning with the concept of military academies as first initiated in Europe. He does an excellent job of telling of the internal, and uniquely American, concerns about putting too much power into the hands of an elite military authority versus being adequately prepared for the defense of the new nation. Ambrose describes the rather weak beginnings of the Academy, and takes the reader through the its generational evolution. Along the way he cites many examples of how West Point pioneered many of the educational changes in the early American collegiate environment, as well as describing the contributions made by many of the Academy grads. He intertwines his historical narrative with a look at the cultures and traditions of West Point and how they contribute to the education of the officer corps.
I would love to see Ambrose bring this work up to date, and provide his insight as an historian into the last 35 years at the academy. The current edition has been updated by the publisher to include an afterword by General Goodpastor. Unfortunately, I found the General's comments to be a rather self-serving view of the changes that have transpired since the mid-sixties, and in particular his comments regarding the 1970's struck me as being weak, distorted, and inaccurate. As a superintendant of West Point, the General obviously has close ties to many of the recent changes and can hardly be considered as an objective oberserver. The afterword really detracts from the value of Ambrose's work. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this work to anyone interested in the early history of our republic.
Book Description
WEST POINT details the proud, 200-year history of the United States Military Academy at West Point through a collection of ritings and stunning photographs from Americas most preeminent historians and writers.Published in conjunction with the Academys bicentennial, this handsome volume commemorates the first two cen uries in the life of an institution that has become the model for military schools around the world. Since the Academys founding in 1802, West Point graduates have been high-ranking officers and leaders in every war in which America has fought. This institutions distinguished alumni include Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, William Sherman, Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson, John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, George S. Patton, Jr., Dwight Eisenhower, Frank Borman, Edwin E. Buzz Aldrin, H. Norman Schwarzkopf, and AOL founder James Kimsey.
Customer Reviews:
Visit West Point.......2003-04-12
This coffee table book was okay, no better or no worse than the others that were put together for West Point's bicentennial. But, I think pictures, whether beautiful or just okay, are substantially empty momentos -- not momentos at all -- with little in the way of meaning or value. There is no substitute for the real thing. I recommend that you personally visit West Point and take the tour --- and take pictures with you in them.
Full-color photographs on nearly every page.......2003-03-10
Collaboratively compiled by Robert Cowley and Thomas Guinzburg, featuring an introduction by General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, and superbly enhanced with contributions from a number of noted historians and writers including Stephen Ambrose, William F. Buckley Jr., David Halberstam, Arthur Miller, George Plimpton, Tom Wicker, and Cecilia Holland, West Point: Two Centuries Of Honor And Tradition is an illustrated bicentennial celebration of the endurance and legacy of the United States Military Academy of West Point. Full-color photographs on nearly every page embellish this fascinating, informative, and very highly recommended history of America's oldest (and arguably most prestigious) military academy.
Disappointed.......2002-12-16
In my opinion, this was little more than a glorified admissions department catalogue. A big public relations brochure for West Point, only you have to pay for it. Not what I expected. Sorry, I do not recommend it. I was disappointed.
Mixed Feelings.......2002-11-09
After paying a lot of money for this, I found it unremarkable, considering the names involved. And, to me, it represents something wrong -- too many people using a national icon's celebrations for personal profit. I wish this book had been done by people truly celebrating West Point by volunteering their time and talents. It probably would have been better. Because of that, along with its being a little too big, boring, glitzy, and [costly], I came away with mixed feelings about it.
A overview for beginners.......2002-10-08
This book gives an overview of the 200 years of West point. From its humble beginnings to its place as the premier military academy. Its rich with history, facts and photos.
Book Description
Now the basis for the made-for-television ESPN Original Entertainment movie "Codebreakers" (premiering at 9 P.M Eastern Time on 10 December 2005), A Return to Glory is the first book to bring readers behind closed doors at West Point during the unprecedented, widely controversial, tragic cheating episode of 1951.
Told with great precision and keen insight, A Return to Glory fuses the intertwined struggles for officers and cadets to maintain honorable conduct on the athletic field with the challenges to officers and enlisted men on the battlefields of Korea, the Cold War's first frustrating and deadly "limited war." The parallels and corollaries are astounding and often profound.
The book also tells one of the great, never-before-told collegiate football stories of the twentieth century, namely the inspiring true story of how the vaunted Army football team—nationally dominant during much of the decade preceding the incident—recovered from losing almost 40 players in the devastating cheating scandal of 1951.
Timeless and compelling, A Return to Glory is as surprising and meaningful for today's readers as it will be for those who lived the events of a half century ago. Both a period history and lively true story, the book tells of authentic and unsung heroes and young men attempting to live up to the extraordinarily high standards demanded by the Academy and its Honor Code.
While the work accurately portrays the joys, rewards, and tragedies of life in the military, it also tells thought-provoking, often humorous, uplifting stories about people and institutions, "warts and all," woven into a larger story and theme, with deliberately broad appeal intended to reach the general public.
Most importantly, in a new age of desperate battles that challenge the integrity of military leaders on and off today's battlefields, A Return to Glory tells the inspirational story of some of their Army forebears who selflessly chose the harder right over the easier wrong...and prevailed.
Customer Reviews:
Review by a 1973 West Point Graduate.......2006-01-13
I bought and read the book "A Return to Glory: The Untold Story of Honor, Dishonor and Triumph at the United States Military Academy, 1950-53" after hearing about it from other West Point graduates. It is a hefty tome, weighing in at over 1000 pages--a little intimidating when I first lifted it out of the shipping box.
However, as soon as I started reading, this book captured my full attention. I found it quite readable and very interesting. It is a thorough, detailed, and almost scholarly work.
What I find particularly interesting is how the author interweaves a number of contemporary story lines which, naturally, impacted on one another:
-- stories of West Pointers in the on-going combat of the Korea
War, including the story of First Lieutenant Dick Shea and other West Point graduates at the battle of Pork Chop Hill
-- the discovery, investigation, and resolution of the cheating scandal
-- the year of activities which celebrated the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the founding of West Point
-- the story of the glory days of Army football, its fall due to the scandal, and its incredible re-building under the legendary Army football coach, Col. Earl "Red" Blaik
-- a fascinating look at an interesting period in college
football in general, for example, the differences between "Iron Man" football, where the same team played both offense and defense, and the platoon system, then a new idea, which allowed separate offensive and defensive squads
-- the debate about what place of competitive football should occupy in collegiate life, if any at all, a debate which raged not only at West Point but at many top-notch civilian colleges of the time.
-- and, finally, what everyday life as a cadet was like during these tumultuous times, as seen through the eyes of the author, Bill McWilliams, who entered West Point the summer the scandal was breaking news.
I would offer one word of caution. If you saw the very abbreviated story as told in the TV show, "CodeBreakers," which was based on "Return to Glory," you may be surprised to discover how much more involved this book is and how much longer it is. However, the reader will find the book version all the more interesting because it delves much more deeply into every aspect of the 1951 cheating scandal than any movie could ever do.
For any reader with an interest in West Point, history, football, the Korean War, sports, or leadership topics, or any combination of the above, "Return to Glory" would be a great gift.
How an institution recovered and perservered!.......2005-11-17
"A Return to Glory" by Bill McWilliams is 3 books in one. It is the
story of West Point's tragic 1951 cheating scandal; Academy graduates in
the Korean War, including a condensed version of the
last battle for Pork Chop Hill; and the restoration of the
Academy's honor system and football program/team in the years
immediately following the 1951 incident.
Weaved into the work is the story of Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and
all he went through following the cheating incident, in personal
efforts to retain the Cadets ultimately discharged. The book has numerous
examples of the extensive correspondence between Blaik and General
Douglas MacArthur that demonstrates their close friendship and Blaik's
relentless pursuit of the cadets' retention. This also went to the highest
levels in the Pentagon and all the way to President Harry S. Truman.
The 1951 cribbing incident, as some refer to it, occurred during the
first year of the Korean War. The 1951 Army football team was the
pre-season pick for the number one college football team in the
country. Even Army's second-string team was rated better than the other
top-10 teams of that era, which included Southern Cal and Notre
Dame. A total of 83 Cadets resigned. Among them was Coach Blaik's
son Bob, Army's starting quarterback.
Earl Blaik nearly resigned following the 1951 disclosures, but at
General MacArthur's urging, didn't, and in the 1953 season,
brought his Army team back to national ranking.
The middle portion of "A Return to Glory" deals with events
surrounding the last battle for Pork Chop Hill three weeks before
the Korean War ended and the actions of West Point graduates from
1950 through 1953. The war had become trench warfare of World War
I revisited.
This is an engrossing and riveting work. You get more than a hint of
the pressure a football coach is under.
The Honor Code at West Point worked and still does, albeit in ways,
not necessarily to everyone's liking. I should know, I have a son and
daughter currently enrolled as upperclass Cadets.
"A Return to Glory" has lessons for today not necessarily limited to
football and the military. While many changes have occurred at West
Point in the last half-century, the important fundamentals haven't.
"A Return to Glory" is 1115 pages.
Duty, Honor, Country.......2002-02-19
The work is meticulous. One must like details. And if one takes the time which is well spent, it is a great book. The Academy was under critical fire for this difficult period where a lot of things were breaking down, from a Cheating Scandal to conflicts between the academic and athletic departments, the Korean War rages on and is always in the foreground, a nationally ranked football is descimated with resignations. The title says it best. A great read and wonderful historical review and analysis of a very difficult time.
But you have to love football (especially details)..........2002-01-26
Excellent coverage of a variety of issues relating to the Glory Days of Army Football - pre, during and post. Well told story but I found the extensive, play-by-play details of far too many football games somewhat distracting. Still, if you love the Academy, this is a fascinating period to read about.
Book Description
West Point Leadership Lessons shows how the leadership principles taught at West Point can be applied to people who are managers in business and beyond. The management lessons begin with West Point's motto: "Duty. Honor. Country."
Spending time on each of these three words, the book first looks at Duty from the standpoint of embracing that rare sense of personal responsibility -a trait sorely lacking in today's world of blame and victimization. It considers Honor in light of today's corporate integrity failures. And it defines Country as being part of something bigger than oneself and belonging to an entity where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, providing inspiration and contribution. The book taps into the traditions, customs and eccentricities of the academy, as well as the lessons learned by today's West Pointers in combat, politics and business.
Customer Reviews:
Ok as a leadership book, but should tell more on how the Academy works the West Pointers out.......2006-12-20
One chapter at a time, the author elaborated his "Ten Keys to West Point Success" (duty, honor, country, mission, insight, execution, strategy, proficiency, loyalty and change) with histories of Eisenhower, Patton, MacAurthur and many successful West Pointer turned managers in a well organised manner. For example, in Chapter One Duty, the author stated, with three to four pages and relevant questions for each point below, that the West Pointer 1) asks for responsibility, 2) embraces the leader's role, 3) refuses to hide behind meetings and policy, 4) understands that big challenges brings big gratification, 5) is occasionally thrust into a leadership position, 6) says, "No Excuse, Sir!" 7) owns his failures. Quite standard approach, you may say, but I do like the author's writing and presentation skill. However, there's one major drawback. As some reviewers suggested, more could be told of how those youngsters are molded into true good West Pointers in the Academy. The apparent absence of such deserved a deduction of one star. Another one was cut for the insufficiency of war time big stories of how non general grade West Pointers lead. (In that respect, I strongly recommend Secrets of Special Ops Leadership by William A. Cohen) Anyway, it's a helpful and enjoyable read, but not on the top priority list.
p.s. As usual, below please find my favorite passages for your reference.
The West Pointer lets his need define him, sets the example, gets dirty, makes others care without ordering them to do, is sometimes hated but always respected and understands the power of symbolism. Chapter Five Execution
The West Pointer is constantly seeking self improvement, is technically and tactically proficient, shares what he learns, keeps everyone informed, reads and has a hobby. Chapter Eight Proficiency
Unconvincing.......2005-10-04
Slow, unconvincing, self-congratulatory, not recommended. There. All my thoughts on this book in five words.
Mind-stimulating.......2005-08-31
I have two things to say about this book: On the minus side, the book felt like talking to an old soldier about "how they did things back then (at the academy)" and "how corrupt civilians are" (sigh!). On the plus side (and this one weights heavier in my opinion)while the "lessons" in the book are not 100% applicable to the "real world"(!), they are really mind stimulating in the sense that they challange you to look at leadership in a very different, innovative way. So, if you don't mind a grumpy old man :), I strongly suggest you read this book. There is a great chance that you will end up with some new ideas that may not be even in the book.
Insightful!.......2005-08-22
Author Scott Snair got admitted to West Point Military Academy, the U.S. Army's elite university, the hard way: rising through the enlisted ranks until he was almost too old to qualify for admission. He rose to become the president of his graduating class. Because he is a Desert Storm veteran, Snair's sincerity is beyond question. His book, if not distinctive, is as solid as the paint job on an M1-A1 Abrams tank and rolls sturdily through a market filled with books that extend the military leadership model into the realm of business. Although Snair's efforts to apply military lessons to business situations seem strained, his anecdotes are interesting and his principles are rock-solid and time-tested. He believes in establishing your leadership chops by seeking additional responsibility, and in fulfilling your commitments with honor and integrity. We salute that and agree that his book will help you be a better leader. Professionals with an interest in the military will find it particularly engaging.
Outstanding book for all to enjoy.......2005-08-02
I ordered this book because I graduated with the class of '88 and knew the author. I thought I would just read it and see what he had to say about our Alma Mater and how it relates to big business. Although I figured it would be good reading, I wasn't prepared to be blown away. What a great book! It is straight forward, with short chapters and lively stories to capture your attention, and facilitate the learning process, grad or no grad. The book is an easy read, written with no pretense or air of superiority, and can be understood by all. There is just good common sense advice, that unfortunately escapes most upper level management types. All business CEOs and any one in a management role shold read this and take it to heart. The subject matter can be applied to most any situation and the questions at the end of each chapter wrap everything up succinctly and would be great for in-service training. Managers, young and old,should read this, absorb it, and apply it in order to run a better business.
Book Description
hat was the life expectancy of a lieutenant colonel in the first wave ashore at Omaha Beach? What about a captain leading a battery into action against the Afrika Corps? Or perhaps a colonel facing elite SS and Wehrmacht divisions and calling down the fire of forty-five batteries to stop their charge at the Battle of the Bulge? Don Bennett faced all those things, and sixty years later he is one of the chosen few, a survivor who is ready at long last to tell his story. From the landing of our journeyman army in North Africa straight through to the final days as we pierced into the dark heart of the Reich, Don Bennett was there. His war was not just a few minutes or even days of fighting on a beach in France or some atoll in the Pacific. It was over two and half years of combat from Casablanca to Tunisia, from Sicily to Normandy, and on to the Hurtgen Forest, the Bulge, the Rhine, and to the final mad dash to liberate the concentration camps before the last survivors were murdered in the last gasps of the Final Solution. Honor Untarnished tells the story of that war as only a veteran combat officer like General Donald Bennett can. This is Bennett's story, a man who would later go on to the rank of four star general and command all of the NATO forces in Europe, retiring as the third highest ranking officer in the US Army. This is his WWII.
Customer Reviews:
Hard to put down.......2006-12-14
The book is well written and was hard to put down. It tells Gen. Donald V. Bennett's story of the struggle to get in and through West Point. It next moves to initial artillery training. Here he learns how to ride a horse while pulling his artillery piece. In addition, he learned how to place his foot where it would not be crushed while riding the horse. His stories of North Africa included the sights, smells, running a bordello (to get the disease rate down), and fighting Rommell. His insights and experiences in Sicily were preparations for his Normandy experience. His spell binding account of Normandy is the best chapter in the book and as good as any ever written. He gives a fresh point of view on the Battle of the Bulge pointing out the signs and intelligence higher up overlooked. His conclusion with experiences and insights about the Russians are eye opening.
An Awesome History Lesson.......2006-07-04
An awesome history lesson, especially for those who have forgotten what it takes to defeat evil in the world. I hesitantly started reading this book expecting some blowhard general to gloat about his limited accomplishments in the big war. I had a very pleasant surprise and was drawn into another perspective of what we did as a nation to defeat Hitler and his cronies. The title is taken from a line in the Cadet's Prayer from West Point. It is a prayer we all could use to recite occasionally. I very highly recommend this book.
Excellent Account.......2005-03-02
I really enjoyed this first hand account of General Bennett's experiences. I have read this type of book extensively, and I put this very close to the top of my list.
I especially enjoyed his comments about how people behaved and thought during this climatic time in our history. His feelings about missing his wife, and how he felt when his first troopers died, and what that must have meant to the families added a real human touch. I enjoyed his description of train rides, gas rationing, and many other small points that really gave me a feel for what it was like for not just soldiers, but also civilians, both American and Foreign.
I agree, it would have been really nice to have some pictures of what his vehicles looked like and some maps. But, I would also have enjoyed a picture of his wife whom he obviously loved deeply. A picture of Fort Knox, or Fort Sill during training.
Those would really have added value to this book, but it certainly stands out without them too. My thanks to General Bennett for sharing his story, and not just the combat.
Well done!!
Great Book.......2004-08-24
The first hand telling of WWII by a retired 4 star general. Detailed battle discriptions and analysis, and amazing individual encounters. Possibly THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!!!!!
Another side to World War Two.......2004-04-19
This is one of the best books I have read on World War Two, and I have read many. Bennett takes us back in time, as if we are sitting in his living room listening to him over coffee. He tells us what it was like to be an American officer during World War Two. He reveals the worry of 1942 - 1943 that we could lose the war. At that point, we were military amateurs compared to the Germans and Japanese. Our military had been dismantled after World War One.
Bennett shows an interesting side to Patton. Bennett had malaria and was in the hospital where Patton slapped a soldier for cowardice. Bennett, who was in the next tent over, cheered Patton on, as did the other patients. Patton was confronting the growing problem of desertion among American soldiers in Sicily, which was another worry we don't often hear about.
Bennett comments on the realism of the first 20 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan," which is the D Day landing at Omaha Beach. Then he adds that the real thing was four terrifying hours of that 20 minute sequence.
He sprinkles leadership advice throughout his narrative: Remain humble as an officer. Eat the same food the men eat; live in the same conditions. The worst officers, in Bennett's view, were the ones who considered soldiers their personal servants.
The book is written as a living room chat. It is not written with the polish of a John Toland or Cornelius Ryan or Stephen Ambrose. But it is movingly written.
Book Description
In At the Edge of Honor, the first of a series of novels on the life and times of Peter Wake U.S.N., the former merchant marine officer arrived at the East Gulf Blockading Squadron at Key West in 1863 as a new volunteer officer commanding the tiny armed sloop Rosalie. With her he chased blockade runners on the coasts of Florida and delved into the murky world of Confederate sympathizers in Spanish Havana and the British Bahamas.
Now the year is 1864, and Wake, assisted by his indomitable Irish bosun, Sean Rork, commands a larger ship, the naval schooner St. James. Wake's remarkable ability to make things happen continues as he searches for army deserters in the Dry Tortugas, discovers an old nemesis during a standoff with the French Navy on the coast of Mexico, starts a drunken tavern riot in Key West, and confronts incompetent Federal army officers during an invasion of upper Florida. It all adds to his growing reputation in the fleet as a man who engenders loyalty among the sailors of the lower deck and grudging respect from his superiors.
Along the way, Wake's personal life takes a new tack when he risks reputation for love by returning to the arms of his forbidden sweetheart, the daughter of a Confederate zealot. Key West provides a unique setting for them to prove that their love is strong enough to overcome the insanity of the war.
And through it all, even when surrounded by the swirling confusion of danger and political intrigue, Peter Wake maintains his dedication to balance on the point of honor.
Customer Reviews:
Peter Wake saga continues........2007-09-16
If you like the Civil War and you are interested in the state of Florida then this three book series with Capt. Wake will keep you engrossed. There is enough action and events to keep one in suspence without losing you with endless characters. Read the books in their written order to continue the suspence.
Story telling polished and honed.......2005-07-25
POINT OF HONOR by ROBERT MACOMBER
This second book in the series sails the reader into history with personal profiles verbally chiseled in stone while beguiling intrigue holds you spellbound and captivated to the very end.
A Great and Interesting Read.......2003-08-05
You don't have to be a student of the Civil War or naval history to get hooked on Bob Macomber's books. Although I try to read as much fiction and non-fiction as I can regarding the Civil War, I approached his first book (At The Edge of Honor) with some hesitation because of my ignorance concerning ships in general and the naval aspect of the Civil War in particular.
By the time I finished the first book in the series, I was ready to dive into "Point of Honor" to see what next lay in store for Peter Wake. Macomber's writing style lets you become a part of the crew and his method of allowing the reader short glimpses into the life of Peter Wake is always timed perfect. After a short time the naval and ship terms became second nature to me in large part because of the way the author talks you through the routine and drills.
The battle scenes are always interesting and his writing skills with regards to the ships and the areas they travel make it obvious that Macomber makes good use of his experience and research. I wait with anticipation for the next book in the series.
Point of Honor.......2003-08-02
This book is great, Macomber got it all right. Its great to see an American write naval fiction like an Englishman.
Macomber sails back in time.......2003-06-21
I have to admit that, as an Englishman, the American Civil War is something of a mystery to me. Until I read this book, the second in the series, the fact that some of the War was fought around the coast of Florida was a detail completely unknown to me (and even some of my Floridian friends).
So if US history is so alien to me, why did I enjoy this book so much? Quite simply, because Macomber writes with atmosphere. I challenge you all to read this book and deny you didn't feel like you were there. The words of description transpose so easily into the imagination that you can see, hear and even smell the adventures of Captain Peter Wake.
Of particular interest, keenly captured by the author, is the relationship between Wake and his crew - the educated man and the old sea dogs.
Buy this book and sail back in time to experience life aboard the schooner St James and experience the adventures of its Captain and crew. If you don't find your sea legs after this, you probably never will!
Average customer rating:
- Fantasy Adventure of an Older Style
- Virtual Realities live in the details
- A swing and three misses
- Boring fantasy
- An idea that suffers from its own success
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A Point of Honor
Dorothy J. Heydt
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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General
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ASIN: 0886777917 |
Customer Reviews:
Fantasy Adventure of an Older Style.......2005-07-02
This is a story about total-immersion gaming (of the sort also found in Piers Anthony's "KilloByte"). It is also a story about honor codes applied to modern day life, copyright violation, and attempted murder.
The main character is a well-educated, California blonde, young woman, who won total immersion interface equipment through a college raffle. Discovering that she had a knack for the game "Chivalry", she began making her living by playing in game tournaments (literally tourneys, in this case). After several years, the earning of much glory, and the accumulation of a moderate fan-base, the main character accepts a challenge from a new, unknown, and off-puttingly overconfident new tourney entrant. He loses, as is the way with most of his kind who challenge masters, but has not the funds to ransom his armor and horse. Instead, he offers the deed to a virtual manor. From the moment she accepts the deed as payment, the main character suffers attempts made on her life IN REAL LIFE.
Going into hiding until she can make sense of and prevent the attacks upon her, the main character teams up with an original programmer of and the only monk in "Chivalry", in order to solve the problems of the manor (which shouldn't exist), the world to which it leads (which is tantamount to an unauthorized full immersion version of Tolkien's Rings series), and the people who value it so highly that they will kill to keep it a secret. Along the way, they uncover at least two major security violations, betrayal, and an event of Aristotolean physics in a world of Newtonian physics.
This book is refreshingly free of graphic sexuality, well planned, well executed, and gloriously fanciful in a believable setting. Ms. Heydt's descriptions strike the right balance that gives the imagination a foothold from which to design intricate environments. Also, this story pays moderate tribute to the fact that there are some people of the feminine persuasion who do not swoon in a fight when provided with a male fellow adventurer.
This book should delight fans of adventure, creative anachronists, programmers, and those who anticipate the advent of full immersion gaming in any form.
Virtual Realities live in the details.......2001-11-26
From the opening scene, Dorothy Heydt pulls you in with the details of her VR medieval worlds as well as her hardworking heroine. The immersive sense of the fantasy VR plays well in opposition to the real world and the threats that cross over.
Anyone who enjoys fantasy escapes, whether in the Society for Creative Anachronism, wherein the author is a prominent figure, or in MMORPG games such as Everquest or Dark Age of Camelot, will experience a thrill of recognition reading this book. As a historian, I appreciated that the way Heydt worked in tidbits of medieval (and SCA) customs into her virtual world. Sure, the mystery wears a little thin two-thirds of the way through the book (and the heroine's newfound partnership accelerates unconvincingly) but the magic of the worlds-crossings worked their wonders right through the conclusion.
A swing and three misses.......2001-09-22
For starters, the reviewer below who claims to (a) be a programmer and (b) love this book is either (a) a liar (b) the author's best friend or (c) both. The presentation of VR in this book isn't the most laughable in recent fiction, but it's certainly written from the perspective of someone with little idea of how computers work, or how VR environments are, or could be, designed. In addition, the detailed descriptions of combat don't provide adequate service either, suffering from the common conceit that SCA combat is somehow an accurate representation of how hand-to-hand combat works.
Such factual discrepencies could be allowed, if this were a better fantasy/sci-fi novel...but it's not. The fantasy elements are strictly the wish-fulfillment of SCAdians everywhere who wish they didn't have to go to work for a living. The characters frequently break into off-topic digressions on history and fantasy literature, usually inaccurately and always pedantically -- much like an actual SCA event, in fact, where everyone's a self-proclaimed expert, if only on the Monty Python view of history.
Even this might be excused if the mystery plot were a decent draw, but it isn't. You'll figure out the villain in about ten pages, and the rationale for the crimes is, quite simply, ludicrous...a deeper expression of fantasy than the supposed fanatasy elements themselves. The romantic sub-plot was merely contrived, less than an afterthought.
The only redeeming features are a moderately compelling backstory about the protagonist's profession, which is never fully realized, and some in-jokes which SCAdians and fantasy fans will get, but which will eventually annoy even them.
I wanted to like this book, but I didn't. I usually don't finish books this poor, but I did, hoping against hope that it would improve. I'm surprised at the publishers for printing it, and can only assume they had an empty slot on their roster.
Boring fantasy.......2000-08-31
A book that role playing gamers will probably enjoy. Terms I hadn't heard since I was 16 playing Dungeons and Dragons; hit points, lawful good, etc. I was expecting a mystery/adventure plot, but got a fantasy adventure. Because the main action takes place in virtual reality, I failed to see the urgency of the characters situation. Couldn't they make their world whatever they wanted? Unlike other VR novels where people could die if you died in VR. Not the case here. The main characters spend there time killing virtual dragons, trolls, loch ness monsters, evil elves and harpies. I found all this very boring. I think only teenagers and preteens would enjoy this book. Most adults I think would find it boring. Hence only a one star for me.
An idea that suffers from its own success.......2000-04-25
The idea of using VR for recreations of combat in the middle ages is superb. (This is probably a dream of most SF/fantasy readers, or at least it will be after you read this book!).
Unfortunately the quest that forms a major plot line fails to excite precisely because it is taking place in a safe artificial world (and hacked one at that.)
Still this book has a great set of ideas which, together with some very nice historical touches, makes the book a pleasant way to pass the time. Also a lot of potential exists for other stories based on the use of VR for historical re-enactment.
Overall a fairly good read but one which fails to live up to its potential.
Average customer rating:
- A modern look at Don Juan
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Don Juan and the Point of Honor: Seduction, Patriarchal Society, and Literary Tradition (Penn State Studies in Romance Literatures)
James Mandrell
Manufacturer: Pennsylvania State University Press
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A modern look at Don Juan.......2007-07-05
This book was worth the read and I recommend visiting the author's web site. The characterization of Don Juan in this story is convincing and realistic. He had a code that he refused to violate, which makes him better than most men. He never seduced a woman who didn't want it.
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Algebraic Analysis of Differential Equations: In honor of Prof. Takahiro KAWAI on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday
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