History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Marine Fire Fighting

Manufacturer: Fire Protection Publication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Guides | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

American Merchant Seaman's Manual: For Seamen by Seamen

ASIN: 0879391774

Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum

Average customer rating:

Mesmerizingly Morbid!
Hidden From History
Well done, but enough to make you gag...
Horrifying Tale Spun Well
One of the deadliest disasters in New York history.

Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum
Edward T. O'Donnell
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0767909054
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Book Description

There were few experienced swimmers among over 1,300 Lower East Side residents who boarded the General Slocum on June 15, 1904. It shouldn’t have mattered since the steamship was only chartered for a languid excursion from Manhattan to Long Island Sound. But a fire erupted minutes into the trip, forcing hundreds of terrified passengers into the water. By the time the captain found a safe shore for landing, 1,021 had perished. It was New York’s deadliest tragedy prior to September 11, 2001.

The only book available on this compelling chapter in the city’s history, Ship Ablaze draws on firsthand accounts to examine why the death toll was so high, how the city responded, and why this event failed to achieve the infamy of the Titanic’s 1912 demise or the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Masterfully capturing both the horror of the event and heroism of men, women, and children who faced crumbling life jackets and inaccessible lifeboats as the inferno quickly spread, historian Edward T. O’Donnell spotlights an important incident with which most Americans are unfamiliar. Enhanced by moving photographs, Ship Ablaze brings to life a bygone community while honoring the victims of that forgotten day.

Customer Reviews:

Mesmerizingly Morbid!.......2006-12-04

An excellent book about the General Slocum disaster, a 1904 steamboat fire that killed more than 1,000 people, mostly women and children on a church outing. Absolutely mesmerizing from start to finish.

Hidden From History.......2006-09-10

This disaster has been hidden from historical references better than anything I've ever come across. Over 1,000 people die horribly, mostly women and children, and the following has occurred:

The 2004 Microsoft Encarta DVD Encyclopedia makes absolutely no reference to this event.

The book "New York Times Page One" does not show this as one of it's important front page dates.

The book "Chronicles of the 20th Century" (1300+ pages) only makes mention of the ship's owners being found negligent, not the event itself.

The largest loss of life from a single disaster from 1904 until 2001 and they can't mention it! Thankfully, this book does it justice and brings the hidden truth to light.

Well done, but enough to make you gag..........2005-12-04

I think this is the year as a reader, as a watcher of television and news, that I've finally reached my endpoint as concerns human disasters. I've always been interested to an extent of this type of story...if we weren't newspapers would not fare well. But I started picking up more of these books after the making of the movie, Titanic, and it's about 7 years later, and I am pretty sure I've had it. Nothing about the writer's abilities, just between the constant onslaught of real life disasters with the hurricane season now ending, the tsunami of last year, constant reportage on this ridiculous war in Iraq, and normal everyday life, I cannot take on any more sorrow and of course, the stupidity and greed that goes with these stories. I didn't even finish this one. If you like this genre, and this type of reading doesn't depress you deeply, as it did me, then this book is for you.

This is not the 'ostrich' burying it's head. It's rather I decided to stop rubbernecking in this manner. I don't do it when there are fires or car accidents, so I don't know why this should be anything different. If I am interested in it from an engineering or scientific view of things, as occurred with the 1927 dynamiting of the New Orleans levees, then I'll go for the history. I know this stuff happened, and where it is absolutely necessary to know more for family research or whatever, fine, I can look it up online. This is not the type of reading that I consider as being of benefit for me, nor is it entertaining to read about the needless deaths of so many. There are other things I'd rather do and read than books of this genre, though it is obvious that as with true crime, this is a popular genre which will not be going away soon.

Karen Sadler

Horrifying Tale Spun Well.......2004-12-17

Edward T. O'Donnell tells a horrific tale in Ship Ablaze. In a matter of minutes a steamboat full of a German-American church group went from enjoying a ride down the East River on a beautiful day towards picnic grounds to fighting for their lives as an inferno consumed the lives of over a thousand people, mainly children and women, through fire or drowning. The very life preservers themselves became instruments for the deaths of many as it dragged them straight to the bottom of the river. The author does a magnificent job of setting the scene for the tragedy but his best work comes in the description of the disaster itself. It is heartbreaking and breathtaking and impossible to pull away from. This book is a wonderful memorial to a time and event that should not ever be forgotten.

One of the deadliest disasters in New York history........2004-09-27

One hears about some very familiar disasters, but I was not familiar with the General Slocum steam boat disaster. Over 1,000 people (mainly women and children) died in this disaster on the East River. O'Donnell does a superb job of detailing New York at the turn of the century and the dangers associated with steamship travel. Then he goes into great detail about the disaster and the aftermath of the sinking of the General Slocum.
I believe O'Donnell does a fair job of detailing who failed in this disaster. The owner, USSIS, and the Captain all were to blame for this dangerous situation. The result was the decimation of a large German immigrant church community.
O'Donnell's short chapters, and his coverage from all angles gives the reader a clear picture of the disaster. One can understand the nature of this tragedy and the effect on New York City.

Average customer rating:

But how does Gerrold REALLY feel about Gene Roddenberry?
Another great Star Wolf novel!
Different writer?
Highly entertaining science fiction
newest Star Wolf novel different--not worse

Blood and Fire
David Gerrold
Manufacturer: Benbella Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1932100113

Book Description

Executive Officer Korie had faced and defeated seemingly invincible Morthan battleships, elusive bio-computer imps, and dreaded Morthan assassins. It would be on the starship Norway, however, that he would meet his greatest challenge—a challenge that could change the outcome of a war and the destiny of humankind. The latest installment of the Star Wolf series, this third galactic struggle concludes the popular trilogy with a rescue mission that is far from routine. Never before published, Blood and Fire is the long-awaited conclusion to the Star Wolf series.

Customer Reviews:

But how does Gerrold REALLY feel about Gene Roddenberry?.......2004-06-06

Based on the rather reiterative fore- and afterwords by DC Fontana and Gerrold, respectively, this installment of the Star Wolf's misadventures is a bit of a catharsis for Gerrold regarding the headaches he received trying to get this story filmed as an episode of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. The book is interspersed with sharp jabs at the Star Trek franchise, such as Captain Parsons' previous posting, the "Big E" (the US Navy's nickname for the Enterprise) being too valuable to risk on the front lines due to potential morale problems if it's destroyed, and one of the Norway's doomed crewmembers being named M. Okuda, after TNG production staffer Michael Okuda; I also suspect that the Norway's AI "LENNIE" is named after Roddenberry's lawyer who shot down the episode in preproduction. The death of one recurring character wasn't a surprise if you'd read the Star Wolf Briefing Book, which had marked said character for death. The complaints about it not reading like the earlier Star Wolf books do have merit, since this is technically a novelization of a teleplay, but I was able to shrug it off because I've been experiencing similar with novelizing a screenplay of my own.

Another great Star Wolf novel!.......2004-06-02

Blood and Fire is another great book, in a wonderful series, from one of America's most underappreciated authors.

I do not understand where the criticisms of some are coming from. The characters and story of Blood and Fire have all of the depth and breadth that those of us who read Gerrold have come to expect from one of his books. In this book, perhaps, Gerrold places a bit more emphasis than he usually does on the subject matter rather than on the internal lives of the characters; the unsophisticated reader may not appreciate that this is a perfectly valid and, in this case, appropriate approach. But don't be surprised to find significant character development here too; Gerrold is, after all, Gerrold.

Blood and Fire is a fantastic continuation of the Star Wolf story and should not be missed.

Different writer?.......2004-04-04

One of the best books I've ever read in Sci-Fi, was The Voyage of the Star Wolf. In fact, I had re-read it in anticipation of the final book of the trilogy.

It was as fresh and engaging as the first time I had read it. I had forgotten some of the plot, so it was fun to see how Brik and Korie would out smart the terrifying Morthan assassin. Characters were well developed and smartly defined, with fast paced action. The reader is left on the edge of the seat to the very last minute; even past the very last minute.

Blood and Fire reads like a NASA narrative of a Mars mission. Some of the story seems intended to fill pages. Take this passage:

"On the Bridge, Captain Parsons watched the progress of the docking procedure with deep concern."

No, this is not a NASA narrative, this is one of those silly soliloquies one expects from the mouth of an airhead blond on "Days of Our Lives".

Why couldn't Gerrold show us Captain Parsons' concern?

Compare that with this passage from The Voyage of the Star Wolf:

--------

"Korie looked to the captain. The old man was frozen.

"Sir-?"

Captain Lowell started to lift a hand, as if he was about to say something. A thought flashed through Korie's mind. He's never been in a real battle.

Korie whirled. ""Targeting-? Get a lock on her. Battle stations! Stand by to fire.""

HARLIE replied instantly. "Targetting now."

Captain Lowell blinked, as if abruptly realizing where he was: "Uh- what did the flagship say?"

-----

See the contrast? We don't need the author to tell us Captain Lowell was completely freaked out by the Morthan attack, we could feel what was going on in the Captain's mind. We were on the deck of that ship with the attack of the dreaded Morthans underway.

This is Gerrold at his best. Which is why Blood and Fire is a real disappointment. It's as if a really good story concept, Star Wolf, was being used to generate a sequel, and the job was handed off to a team of contract script writers because the original writer was fighting over a contract.

Come on David, you can do better then this.

Two stars only because I admire the author.

Highly entertaining science fiction.......2004-04-03

For someone who does not typically read science fiction, I must say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was reminded at times of a particular popular science fiction/horror movie classic, but that's to be expected, as this is a book based on a Star Trek script. I think it only makes for a more fast-paced, exciting story line. As far as writing goes, Gerrold's tone manages to be entertaining yet never condescending. He gives just enough detail and description to satisfy your imagination without slowing down the story's pace. Overall, Blood and Fire is a great blend of action and substance.

newest Star Wolf novel different--not worse.......2004-03-23

The first two books in this series were written in an earlier era of science fiction-- and they read like it. (Which is not, at all, to say anything against them: Voyage was probably my favorite of the three.) Blood and Fire is a different kind of book, written at a different time, with a different kind of story arc.

The book was based on an unproduced episode of Star Trek: Next Gen . . . and it reads like an episode. Neither better nor worse-- just different. The story plunges you far more quickly into the action, there's more of an ensemble feel, and the duration of time in which the story takes place is much shorter.

Book Description

The John J. Harvey fireboat was the largest, fastest, shiniest fireboat of its time, but by 1995, the city didn't need old fireboats anymore. So the Harvey retired, until a group of friends decided to save it from the scrap heap. Then, one sunny September day in 2001, something so horrible happened that the whole world shook. And a call came from the fire department, asking if the Harvey could battle the roaring flames. In this inspiring true story, Maira Kalman brings a New York City icon to life and proves that old heroes never die. Winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Award An ALA Notable Book A Child Magazine Best Book of the Year A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Horn Book Fanfare Title A Booklist Editors' Choice A Booklist Top of the List Winner

Customer Reviews:

Brings tears to my eyes........2007-10-01

A true triumph over adversity. A very nice book to read to your little ones and not such a scary way to let them know a sad part of our history.

Heartwarming Hero!.......2007-06-15

Heartwarming Hero!!!

Imagine your most favorite hero. Is he tall, strong, courageous, and faithful? Well, this hero is all that and more. Fireboat, by Maira Kalman is a heartwarming story of a boat that was built in 1931 with all the newest and greatest gadgets to aide in fighting fires. The fireboat is named the John J. Harvey and for many years it fought fires on ocean liners and along New York's busy piers. After 64 years of protecting the New York area the John J. Harvey is retired. Left unused for five years it was ready to be sold as scrap material when a few people got together and brought the John J. Harvey back to life. After many repairs the old fireboat is up and running again. Not as a fireboat but as a pleasure boat for all. As the story progresses history is in the making. The most horrific thing imaginable happens on September 11, 2001. This is where a hero of the past steps in to help and doesn't stop until his work is done. A tragedy, yes, a hero, yes, forgotten no. The John J. Harvey is an important part of history that will always have friends to care for him. If you are looking for a book about September 11th to share with yourself, your children or your grand-children then this is the book for you. It is a simple and loving example of what people can do to help others during such a tragic time. This is a must read and an unforgettable story of what America lost on the day of September 11, 2001.Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey (Picture Puffin Books)

The Fireboat.......2006-11-10

The author deals with the terrorist attacks on the twin towers in a very dignified way. Nothing in the story would devistate young readers or listeners. The illustrations are wonderful and quite appropriate. Next year when 9-11 arrives I will read this story to my students to help them remember this tragic incident.

An American Archetype.......2006-08-25

There is a traditional story of the retired firehorse that responds to the bell. John J. Harvey is a true example of that. She and her crew answered the bell that day. It troubles me that so many reviewers want to "revise" this book to remove the horror of that day. You can not revise the events and remove the horror from them. It needs to be recalled, remembered and dealt with, both by children and adults. I love this book. As a firefighter and Naval Reservist I can't say enough good things about the story here. More importantly enough good things can not be said about John J. Harvey and the crew that saved her and then brought her back into service that day.

Great kids' book on an almost impossible subject.......2005-08-29

I was amazed at E. Bird "Ramseelbird's" negative review of this book. He feels that Kalman's treatment of September 11 was flippant and cutesy-pie??

My son, who was in nursery school at the time, was severely traumatized by the horrible events of that day and his parents' reactions. He had a pretty good factual understanding, but couldn't quite piece it all together emotionally. I searched for a book about 9/11 that he could relate to. This was it. Far from being flippant, the book sets the tone of 1931, the birthyear of the fireboat John J. Harvey, with other "normal" stuff that was going on that year. In fact, everything *is* normal until THAT DAY. Yes, the tone changes. But doesn't that reflect reality in this case?

The gouache illustrations give a great child's-eye view of what happened.

Fire at Sea: The Tragedy of the Soviet Submarine Komsomolets

Average customer rating:

A very interesting read, but still somewhat weak
"Lost in Translation" is a Good Subtitle
Needs a better translation...
View from the Inside of the Soviet Navy

Fire at Sea: The Tragedy of the Soviet Submarine Komsomolets
D. A. Romanov
Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Norway | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Russia | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1574884263

Book Description

This book is the first complete English-language edition of D. A. Romanov’s vigorous defense of the people and institutions that built the ill-fated Soviet nuclear attack submarine Komsomolets which caught fire and sank in the Norwegian Sea on April 7, 1989, while on its first patrol. Afterward, the Soviet Navy claimed that numerous technical imperfections had caused the accident. In addition, official investigators portrayed the crew as self-sacrificing and well trained, upheld the commanding officer’s actions, and found no fault in behavior among the dead or surviving crew members.

Buoyed by Mikhail Gorbachev’s glasnost, dissident voices challenged the official view. The resulting controversy ruined careers, damaged personal and professional relationships, and divided the Navy itself. Romanov refutes the Soviet Navy’s claim that from the very beginning it had done everything to ensure that Komsomolets was well prepared for independent patrolling, that it had trained the crew well, and that the submarine’s personnel had performed capably during the accident.

Observers familiar with the issues and the acrimony that surround the loss of the Russian submarine Kursk in August 2000 will find startling antecedents in the Komsomolets incident. Readers interested in submarine operations and technology, Cold War navies, Russia, and the dark side of personal and bureaucratic behavior will be thoroughly satisfied by this comprehensive study of what really happened and the ensuing cover-up.

Customer Reviews:

A very interesting read, but still somewhat weak.......2007-02-18

In 1989, the Komsomolets sank. For some reason, instead of blaming the crew (K-219, K-19...), the Soviets chose in this incident to concentrate blame on the boat's design.

Of course, the boat's designers can't leave this unchallenged, so one of them responds in this book.

The good stuff: Despite a few overly-literal translations, as a whole the book is quite readable. The author convincingly defends his thesis that the crew's incompetence was the primary cause of the sinking.

The bad stuff: Romanov's defense of the design against the "Design Peculiarities" mentioned by the commission is a little weak. More than half of Romanov's defenses are regulation based ("they didn't say to do so in the 1967 regs") rather than reasoning based ("this move will actually be detrimental to the safety of the boat").

This kind of legalistic defense might be better than a reasoning defense had he been under lawsuit. And he's probably correct that it won't have made a difference either way with that crew. But he's trying to sell a book to a public that has already been biased by the Commission into believing the designers are negligent. Perhaps a reasoning, less bureaucratic approach is better for the situation.

Also, sometimes, Romanov's arguments inappropriately intrude into operational decisions. For example, he criticizes the decision not to surface immediately. From a design and engineering standpoint, surfacing at the first sign of trouble is correct. However, from a tactical viewpoint, no sub likes to surface unless he clearly has to.

Sometimes he even weakens his own position. For example, the original crew requirement was for 29 officers of senior lieutenant (a.k.a. at least 2 years experience) or over, 26 michmen (a.k.a. at least 3 years of conscript experience+2 years of school), and 2 cooks. He groans because the Navy decided to sub in a few conscripts for his michmen.

The Soviet Navy, I'm sure, has no qualms about a fully-professional crew if they can provide it. The manning, however, is roughly equivalent to a US sub design that mandates that all its officers be at least Lieutenant j.g. (no Ensigns) and all its enlisted be at least Petty Officer 1st Class or above. Acceptable for an experimental submarine, but Komsomolets is supposed to be a combat submarine that experiments with deep diving. For a combat submarine design, this lack of positions for apprenticeships is clearly untenable (especially since the new design Soviet subs are of equal technical sophistication and are all headed Komsomolets' way in manning levels).

Despite these flaws, it is still a very interesting read and its base tenet is well-argued.

"Lost in Translation" is a Good Subtitle.......2007-01-27

The bad up front: As noted in an earlier review, the quality of the translation is really poor, apparently more a "decoding," or word-for-word effort, than a real translation. In addition, the result reflects little or no knowledge of submarine or power plant language, terminology, and organization.

The editor's prior submarine experience did little or nothing to help matters. There are clear errors in translation, some of which already have been noted. In addition, abbreviations have been left unexpanded, even in transliterated form, and the glossary is minimal at best. The end notes now are number beginning at 1 for each chapter, but apparently once were numbered consecutively throughout. The change has resulted in confusing references between end notes. Finally, in at least one instance the illustration captions have been switched - the main ballast tank blow diagram (Figure 5) is listed as being the sources of air pressurizing compartment seven diagram (Figure 4), and vice versa. Apparently the detailed captions identifying the numbered items either were not translated, or were missing in the original.

On the good side: The book is still worth reading, as it offers several key insights into the state of the Soviet nuclear submarine navy, and thus probably also into the current state of the Russian nuclear submarine navy. There also are some fascinating system diagrams which indicate the way key systems are laid out. The book was written by one of the submarine designers at the Rubin Bureau, which designed the Komsomolets, and thus has a stake in how the events are presented. The author clearly lays the majority of the blame for the loss of the ship on the ineptitude and lack of training of the submarine's crew.

Curiously enough, by way of explanation the author describes several design features of the Komsomolets without seeming to realize just how dangerous or ill-conceived some of these design features are. As but a single example, the ship's emergency diesel generator requires an electrically driven pump for its cooling. As an emergency power source for the reactor plant and the ship, it would have bneen far better to have the engine's cooling pump driven directly by the engine itself, thus making the operation of this vital emergency power supply dependent on outside power, at least initially.

Despite all the drawbacks, the book is still of interest both to historians and to naval and submarine buffs. One could only wish that the translation were better.

Needs a better translation..........2006-12-06

I was initially very excited to see this book was available. The Komsomolets was the advanced technology "Mike" class submarine. Designed with a titanium hull and advanced hull design, the submarine was a worry for the US Navy in the closing days of the Soviet Union. However in 1989, a fire broke out on board while in the Norwegian sea, and this drove the submarine to the surface. The fire spread and the submarine floundered and eventually sank, with considerable loss of life. The present book's author, D. A. Romanov, was one of the designers of the submarine. As such, he is ideally placed to discuss the technical issues and aspects that lead to this tragedy.

Unfortunately, a better title for this book might be "Lost in Translation". It is immediately clear that the translator has no knowledge of submarines, and the translation appears to be almost a literal word for word version, with little regard for idiomatic phrasing. The result is an extremely awkward, and in many cases unintelligible book. Two examples: "The supply of oxygen in these compartments was provided by the periodic opening of the corresponding valves in the oxygenated collector of the electro-laser in the electromechanical air regenerating system located in the second compartment." A little further on the same page: "In accordance with the RBZh-PL-82 (appendix 15), the watchstander of the compartment must control the content of the oxygen in the atmosphere of the compartment no less than six times a day by use of a portable apparatus, independent from the condition of the automatic means of control." These border on some of the best technobabble since Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The official investigation by the Soviet Navy of the Komsomolets accident basically exonerated the crew and the leadership, instead blaming the accident on numerous "design pecularities" and "technical imperfections" of the submarine. Romanov's thesis is that crew training and readiness were woefully inadequate, and the failure to routinely monitor oxygen systems led to a fire that started in compartment seven (the aftermost compartment at the stern). The failure to control the fire by promptly discharging Freon -based extinguishing materials into compartment seven led to the fire spreading forward, and smoke spreading through the ventilation system. Confusion reigns in the few minutes after the fire develops, and precious time is lost in attempting to clarify the situation aft. Romanov systematically goes through the accident timeline and testimony and points out step by step how the crew and officers lost several chances to control and contain the fire and save the submarine. He defends the design of the submarine and condemns the poor casualty training and especially the lack of officer leadership in the disaster. Even when the decision was made to surface the submarine and discharge life rafts from special canisters built into the hull, the lack of training and preparedness conspires to kill additional men in the icy waters. The deployment canister is designed to rapidly discharge the rafts into the water by having the bottom of the canister drop away and release the rafts. This operation is totally misunderstood, and instead the crew tries to lift the 200 lb rafts out of the top of the canisters. Romanov also devotes a section near the end (Assault of the Pundits) to answering specific criticisms leveled at the submarine design. I suspect that there may be a decent and intriguing story struggling to get out of this book; unfortunately, it didn't make it!

I was extremely disappointed in this book overall. As noted above, significant sections of it are excruciatingly difficult to read and understand. The language is extremely stilted, reminiscent of Cold War Tass press releases. There are a number of rather complicated block diagrams of key ship's systems throughout the book; these are labeled in Russian and there is no accompanying explanatory text. The diagram titles are minimally helpful (e.g. sources of smoke and gas in compartments two and seven). As such, they just fill space and do not aid the reader at all in understanding the technical arguments. The book does have some photos, although many were taken underwater after the sinking and are extreme close-ups. Without some sort of context, it is next to impossible to say why any particular photo is shown and what the reader should take from the picture. Unless you are an extremely hard-core Russian submarine fan, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to you.

View from the Inside of the Soviet Navy.......2006-04-11

This is an important and interesting book on at least three levels.

First it is a glimpse into how the Soviet Union designed and built nuclear submarines. It is written by the deputy chief designer of the design bureau. It uses the story of the Soviet Sub Komsomolets which sank on its first patrol as the centerpiece of the story. Here is an explanation of how designs were carried out. Without going into detail in a short review such as this, the interesting points were:

These people were not dumb, they understood what they were doing,
the system they worked in was at the same time similar to and different from the way designs are carried out here in the US,
they were allowed the latitude to produce the best design they could.

Second it is interesting to see that within the supposed monolithic system, individuals such as the author still held strong opinions. They perhaps were more restricted in what they could say, but that's not too different than the way the Navy or big corporations work here.

Third, it is clear that the people such as Mr. Romanov have learned that there comes a time when they can publish books on interesting events that happened while they were 'on watch.' And that publishing such books helps to get their view exposed and this can't help but provide a bit more income during retirement.

Fire Ship (Star Trek Voyager: The Captains Table, Book 4)

Average customer rating:

Janeway Commands Alien Starship
Very Memorable
GREAT BOOK! Must Read!
Wow.
A shove to the wall!

Fire Ship (Star Trek Voyager: The Captains Table, Book 4)
Diane Carey
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0671014676

Book Description

There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...even in the Delta Quadrant.

A sudden attack separates Captain Kathryn Janeway from her ship and crew. Soon she is rescued -- but not by Voyager. Alone aboard an alien vessel, Janeway finds herself in the middle of a war she cannot yet understand. She must quickly learn the ways of this new culture and work her way back to captain if she is to protect her new allies from the war that only she knows is coming. Without her ship, all her quick wits and Starfleet experience may not be quite enough to save the Delta Quadrant from war.

Customer Reviews:

Janeway Commands Alien Starship.......2006-05-30

The above line is how it would read if this were a real Voyager episode on TV. It's too bad the producers of the show never made this book into a TV episode! Janeway was found drifting in an escape pod only to be captured by an alien starship. She has work her way up the chain of command to captain the ship.

Of all the Voyager novels I've read this one is a keeper. It's as one reviewer put it, one of those novels you can read more than once. Janeway has to create a command structure from the ground up without the help of the Federation or any of her officers from Voyager.

Very Memorable.......2003-10-31

For those of you who are mad that this ook doesn't feature Voyager or anyone besides Janeway: If you skim through the book, you can easily tell that this book is Janeway and nothing but Janeway.

That being said: Yes, Janeway is out of character. But guess what? It's a story that Janeway's telling. Maybe it happened, and maybe it didn't. That's what we're left to guess at. Here's another way to think about it: Chakotay making up Indian stories to prove a point to someone. Jesus coming up with a parable. Did it happen? Probably not. Or maybe not that exact way. It's a story and you just 'go with it' and enjoy the ride.

Anyway, back to the book... Basically, Janeway is exploring and comes upon this little bar where all these captains sit around telling 'war stories'. She's asked to tell a story and begins. The whole novel is her story, basically.

What did I think of the book? I loved it. It was an interesting story and I really couldn't put it down when I first read it. And get this: I've read it several times after. Now that's a good book!

So do yourself a favour and read 'outside the box...er, ship' this time. Well, unless you hate Janeway - then don't read the novel.

GREAT BOOK! Must Read!.......2003-06-12

I was expecting this book to be good, but it was more than good, it was excellent. An excelent plot that keeps the book up non stop until you are done.

Wow........2003-02-17

I am very loathe to give any Star Trek book more than three stars. Star Trek books are almost by definition entertainment light, and mere entertainment should not, generally, receive more than three stars. But then along came Diane Carey and Fire Ship, and try as I might I cannot bring myself to give it only three stars.

Like Sulu, Picard, and Sisko before her (Kirk had been there before), Janeway stumbles into the incredibly dopey "Captain's Table", a bar exclusively for captains of ships from all times and places. Like her predecessors, Janeway must tell a story. But there the comparisons with previous Captain's Table debacles ends. Carey boldly ignores the Captain's Table conventions and lets Janeway tell her story without the constant interruptions that plagued the previous books.

And what a story it is. Janeway finds herself alone with an alien crew, forced to adapt to no longer being in charge and literally swabbing decks. Carey has found her stride as an author (see the atrocious TNG novel Ghost Ship for an earlier effort), weaving a narrative that is compelling, interesting, and evocative. There are, inevitably, some bits that do not entirely "work," but this was the first Trek novel in a long, long time that I a) didn't want to put down and b) looked forward to picking up again. It is also the first Trek book in recent memory that I actually *want* to read again.

An observation about the negative reviews. I have never been a big Voyager fan. I am familiar with the characters, of course, but, except for the Doctor, am not attached to any of them. So, the lack of other Voyager crew did not bother me in the slightest. Similarly, I am by no means a Janeway afficionado. Is "Fire Ship"'s Janeway a realistic portrayal of the original? I have no idea; it was to my inexpert eye. However, "Fire Ship" is so enjoyable that the Star Trek aspects of it are really beside the point. Read "Fire Ship" and enjoy it for the wonderful tale it is.

A shove to the wall!.......2002-11-08

This was indeed a very thrilling book because you dont know the characters and its makes it very unpredictable! However I did miss the crew, but this I have to admit is the best stand alone Janeway book next to "Mosaic" of course. I recommed this book if your a Janeway fan! :)

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It

Average customer rating:

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal...
Bravery, personified
When Things Go Wrong on Carriers
A Gripping Tragedy, And A Strange Whitewash?
Excellent!

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It
Gregory A. Freeman
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Vietnam War | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0066212677
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Amazon.com

In midsummer 1967, the United States aircraft carrier Forrestal, stationed off Vietnam, lost 134 men to fires and ensuing explosions after an errant missile from one of its own planes ruptured a fuel tank on a nearby jet. Gregory A. Freeman's Sailors to the End is a starkly illuminating account of the disaster which, like so many maritime tragedies, was perfectly preventable. Although a faulty detonation switch (similar to a surge suppressor) caused the rocket to fire, the crippling, deadly conflagrations were caused by exploding ordnance--"ancient ... thin-skinned" bombs of World War II vintage. The Navy never admitted its guilt in the matter, a point Freeman makes very clear. He has a knack for balancing instructive overviews with telling details (for example, each link in the ship's anchor chain weighed 360 pounds). Freeman does not shy from the grotesque detail, and many scenes, especially in the sick bay, are harrowing to read. The sad tale of the men of the Forrestal is a model of narrative clarity and honest reporting. --H. O'Billovich

Book Description

In the tradition of New York Times bestsellers In Harm's Way and The Terrible Hours comes a mesmerizing, high-adrenaline account of the heroic sailors who survived one of the worst accidents in U.S. naval history.

Sailors to the End tells the dramatic and until now forgotten story of the 1967 fire on board the USS Forrestal during its time at Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam. The aircraft carrier, the mightiest of the U.S. fleet, was preparing to launch attacks into North Vietnam when one of its jets accidentally fired a rocket across the flight deck and into an aircraft occupied by pilot John McCain. A huge fire ensued, and McCain barely escaped before a 1,000-pound bomb on his plane exploded, causing a chain reaction with other bombs on surrounding planes. The crew struggled for days to extinguish the fires, the five thousand men on board experiencing different kinds of hell -- some trapped in damaged compartments waiting to die, some battling rivers of flaming jet fuel in order to rescue their buddies. Almost all of them were innocent eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds, but in an instant they were thrust into a tragedy that nearly destroyed the ship and took the lives of 134 men.

Written with the intensity and excitement of a thriller, and based on never-before-disclosed information and extensive interviews with the fire's survivors, here is the first full, minute-by-minute account of the disaster. Told through the stories of a dozen sailors, including John Beling, the carrier's beloved captain who was made a scapegoat for the disaster, Sailors to the End follows the Forrestal from its home in Norfolk, Virginia, through its mission in Vietnam. Focusing on the fateful fire and its aftermath, this book provides a gripping tale of heartache and heroism as young men find themselves trapped on a burning ship with bombs exploding all around them.

Sailors to the End also corrects the official view of the fire, providing evidence that the U.S. government compromised the ship's safety by insisting on increased bombing despite the shortage of reliable weapons. For thirty-five years, the terrible loss of life has been blamed on the sailors themselves, but this meticulously documented history shows that they were truly the victims and heroes, deserving recognition for their efforts during a sweeping tragedy that until now has been only a footnote in history. Gregory A. Freeman dramatically brings this story to life, creating a work that is both riveting and moving.

Customer Reviews:

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal..........2004-06-24

Riveting! One of the most well written books I have read in a long time. Having served over 20 years in the Military, this book and the men it honors, makes me proud to have served even more. We all owe a unpayable dept to the heroic men of the USS Forrestal. Should be included in the Military Professional Reading list.

Bravery, personified.......2004-04-08

The fire on the Forrestal was the major Naval event of my career up to that time. I knew some of the men who were a part of her ships company and airwing. I later came to know some who had survived that day.

At the time of the fire, I knew that a major catastrophe had overtaken the ship and its' crew. Over the remaining years of my military career, I came to learn what (I thought) was the cause of this tragedy. A 'training film' on the disaster focused on the mobile 'starter' unit left running under the Zuni rocket was the basic cause.

It wasn't until I read this great book by Gregory A. Freeman that I learned "the rest of the story". The mobile unit was only the causitive agent. Lack of communications and the bypassing of safety regulations were also contributing factors. But most importantly was the Johnson/McNamara administration's decision to intensify the bombing effort against the North Vietnamese. This decision meant using outdated, dangerous ordinance. This fact was kept from the public (and from the rank and file) for years. It goes to the heart of the prosecution of this vile war. In essence they said "damn the personal prosecuting the war, just prosecute it".

More importantly than the above political statement is the fact that this book brought so close to me the heroism of those sailors onboard Forrestal, from the flight deck Chief Petty Officer who raced into the conflagration to supervise the fire fighting efforts, to the Doctors and Corpsmen in sick bay who dealt with the massive casualties that overcame them, to the Damage Control Officer who took "speed" to save his ship, to the brave young men in after steering who died doing what they were trained and ordered to do, to the brave and heroic Commanding Officer who fought with all his skills and leadership and was eventually successful in saving this magnificent ship.

I am not sure in this day and age if anybody in the United States questions the skill and bravery of the young men who defend her, but if they do, just spend a few bucks and pick up this wonderful book.

When Things Go Wrong on Carriers.......2003-08-08

This story recounts how dangerous Aircraft Carriers may be even out of combat as the author describes how a series of failures on the USS Forrestal created one of worst naval accidents, killing 134 men in 1967, as the crew was preparing to launch an air offensive on Vietnam.

The story, which centers on a tragic fire, looks at the incident from various sailor's perspectives, and paints an excellent picture for the reador of real life on an aircraft carrier and the mindset of a group of young men battling for their survival againt two of a sailor's greatest enemies -- Fire and the Sea.

A Gripping Tragedy, And A Strange Whitewash?.......2003-07-06

"Sailors to the End" presents the events aboard the Forrestal in gripping detail, and pays homage to the brave men who fought the terrible fire in 1967. I certainly can't argue with the spirit in which it was written, or the strong prose. However, as I read the book, I found myself increasingly angry with the text's attempts to justify the actions of Captain John K. Beling. While Beling is presented here as a badly-wronged victim of circumstance (he was strongly reprimanded after the fire, and never again commanded a ship), there is a great deal of evidence in the book to support the idea that he got off too easily. Beling, it is clear, was a showboater who had the audacity to propose flying aircraft off the damaged ship as it sailed into its home port for the first time after the tragic accident, and a man who refused to accept responsibility for what was doubtlessly a preventable incident. Freeman seems anything but impartial in his analysis of the fire, preferring instead to blame "the system" and the lack of political support for the situation. One has to wonder what his motivation was - perhaps the author feared a blackball by the retired crew? It is not difficult to see, using some of the evidence presented in the book, that ordnance crews under Beling ignored critical safety instructions, and that the presence of obselete weapons on board was not brought to the Captain's attention due to a failure in the chain of command. That to me indicates Beling was actually guilty of dereliction of duty, and that he got off far too easily. In my book, he should never have been allowed to remain an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Excellent!.......2003-03-13

I found this to be a great book - very enjoyable to read and was well researched, organized, and written. It could easily have been titled 'Heroes to the End', as it tells a story of true heroism and bravery (2 words often overused and abused) in the face of disaster. The only part that I thought was somewhat thin was research and analysis of the subsequent navy and other investigations (but this did not detract from the story itself). The author organized the story really well, telling much of it from the eyes of several sailors present on those fateful days. It is chilling to read about the event that led to the book's title. The author goes into a reasonable level of detail on the events leading up to the tragic fire and explains many navy equipment and processes in layman's terms. The book at times seems overly sympathetic to Capt. Beling, but I agree that at the end of the day, no matter what, the captain always has full and ultimate responsibility for his ship and its crew. I was surprised how many people saw me reading this book and recollected the event like it happened yesterday. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

MATTER OF FACT BOOK
pipi
Texas History Reference
Little Known Event
Thorough, but neither personal nor exciting.

The Texas City Disaster, 1947
Hugh W. Stephens
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 029277723X

Book Description

"This is the best documented look at the Texas City disaster ever done."

—Robert B. Fairbanks, Associate Professor of History, University of Texas at Arlington

On April 16, 1947, a small fire broke out among bags of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in the hold of the ship Grandcamp as it lay docked at Texas City, Texas. Despite immediate attempts to extinguish the fire, it rapidly intensified until the Grandcamp exploded in a blast that caused massive loss of life and property. In the ensuing chaos, no one gave much thought to the ship in the next slip, the High Flyer. It exploded sixteen hours later.

The story of the Texas City explosions—America's worst industrial disaster in terms of casualties—has never been fully told until now. In this book, Hugh W. Stephens draws on official reports, newspaper and magazine articles, personal letters, and interviews with several dozen survivors to provide the first full account of the disaster at Texas City.

Stephens describes the two explosions and the heroic efforts of Southeast Texans to rescue survivors and cope with extensive property damage. At the same time, he explores why the disaster occurred, showing how a chain of indifference and negligence made a serious industrial accident almost inevitable, while a lack of emergency planning allowed it to escalate into a major catastrophe. This gripping, cautionary tale holds important lessons for a wide reading public.

Customer Reviews:

MATTER OF FACT BOOK.......2007-10-07

I would describe this as something of a 'matter of fact book', not a thrill to read. That is not to say it's a bad book by any means, only that it is not written as a great story, but as a narrative of events in Texas City in April 47. The author looks at what happened, how it played out, and who was responsible. The human side of the disaster gets little attention, although there are some notable descriptions from time to time. The disaster is largely attributed to inexperience and complacency in handling explosive chemicals and fertilizer. Readers interested in the subject will likely enjoy this book, but it is far from the last word on what took place at the docks when the Grandcamp and High Flyer exploded.

pipi.......2007-08-14

A bit of American history that I had never known about.

A very detailed book about a bad day in Texas.

Texas History Reference.......2005-08-18

This book is a good source of information about the Texas City Disaster. I felt that the author was very factual about the events. However, I also felt that he seemed to concentrate on all the mistakes. Although it is necessary to point out the mistakes so that they may not be repeated, I felt that the book could also emphasize some of the positive results of the disaster. This is a very good book for reference. It is not weighted down with a lot sensationalism.

Little Known Event.......2002-11-12

I never read about this event in any of my history books. This story of events grips the reader or at least me and had me questioning how things could go so bad. It does not really touch you on an emotional level but more on an intellectual one. The information is all there and is told in matter-of-fact prose. It does not really editorialize and that is what I liked about it.

Thorough, but neither personal nor exciting........2001-10-23

This is a horrible disaster which needs to be known to all of us. As far as facts and figures, causes and blames, go, the book is thorough. What it is NOT is exciting or dramatic. I have read lots of disaster fiction and nonfiction, and what I find lacking in this book is the personal element--most such books DO include some of the many personal dramas which are part of such a major event. Lacking these, the book does not "touch" one the way it should. Similarly, the lack of personal histories weakens the drama inherent in such an event.

Book Description

Featuring 16 months of exciting action photography. The hottest fire truck and rescue vehicle photography available depicts firefighters across the nation battling blazes and performing death-defying rescues. Every month includes a main photograph of a modern emergency response vehicle on scene and one sidebar image. Each exemplary on-scene photo is accompanied by an informative caption and utilizes the dramatic lighting and action of the moment to magnify the tension of the situation.

Customer Reviews:

For the fire engine fanatic.......2007-01-18

This is a good sized calendar. The photos are beautiful;colorful,clear and crisp.Great for anyone of any age who loves fire trucks.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books