# Reccommend some historical/fantasy military campaign fiction?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 7, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710 "2011-01-07T03:56:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/21 "2011-01-07T17:01:11Z")
Gentle also wrote GRUNTS, which I understand involved Tolkien Orcs getting access to modern military hardware; I’ve never tracked down a copy to read myself, but it could be a possibility.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/22 "2011-01-07T17:02:45Z")
> [@MarcusF](#):
>
> S M Stirling’s Emberverse and The General series have been mentioned but for military campaign fiction I would suggest the \*Island in a Sea of Time \*series. Alien Space Bats transport the island of Nantucket from 1998 to the Bronze age so the plucky islanders have to fight to survive. Starting with only the weapons they can manufacture with the tools they have but developing “new” weapons as their capabilities and resources increase.
Also Stirling’s [Domination of the Draka](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domination_of_the_Draka) series, if you have a high tolerance threshold for . . . certain things . . . Anyway, there are countless thrilling battle-scenes in _Marching Through Georgia_ (Draka vs. the Waffen-SS in Caucasian Georgia).
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/23 "2011-01-07T17:14:52Z")
Pournelle, BTW, has edited a series of paperback military-SF anthologies, _There Will Be War._ Nine or ten volumes, I believe.
Also the three-volume anthology _Imperial Stars_ (one volume of which, of some non-military interest, includes his first published explication of the [Pournelle Chart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pournelle_chart) of political ideologies; provides an interesting comparison to the Libertarians’ [Nolan Chart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_chart)).
And, within his [CoDominium/Empire of Man universe,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoDominium) used here as a shared universe with multiple authors contributing, the _Warworld_ anthology series, all set on the planet Haven (which might or might not be the same planet as Prince Samual’s World in [_King David’s Spaceship,_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_David%27s_Spaceship) which includes a Kingdom of Haven – I’m not clear on that point). Look here if you want to see the Sauron Supermen in battle – and at home.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/24 "2011-01-07T17:20:05Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#):
>
> This may not be exactly what you have in mind, but there is a terrific book about a mercenary army. The war that they were hired to fight was lost, and their general was betrayed and murdered, leaving them trapped deep in hostile territory. They were forced to fight their way out to safety. The story is written from the POV of one of the leaders during the march, and was written by one of the great stylists of the age. The book is available for free on the Internet: [The March Up Country](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1170)
Or, you could just rent [the movie.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warriors_(film))
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### Author:  [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/25 "2011-01-07T17:30:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Or, you could just rent [the movie.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warriors_(film))
🙂 That movie is EPIC!
Can you count suckas!?
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/26 "2011-01-07T17:44:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> And, within his [CoDominium/Empire of Man universe,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoDominium) used here as a shared universe with multiple authors contributing, the _Warworld_ anthology series, all set on the planet Haven (which might or might not be the same planet as Prince Samual’s World in [_King David’s Spaceship,_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_David%27s_Spaceship) which includes a Kingdom of Haven – **I’m not clear on that point).** Look here if you want to see the Sauron Supermen in battle – and at home.
It isn’t the same planet. Haven is a common name in Pournelle’s universes.
Seconding **Grunts**. Orc Marines are a hoot, and don’t get me started on how you join an orcball team.
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/27 "2011-01-07T17:57:47Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#):
>
> This may not be exactly what you have in mind, but there is a terrific book about a mercenary army. The war that they were hired to fight was lost, and their general was betrayed and murdered, leaving them trapped deep in hostile territory. They were forced to fight their way out to safety. The story is written from the POV of one of the leaders during the march, and was written by one of the great stylists of the age. The book is available for free on the Internet: [The March Up Country](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1170)
Which reminds me, if the OP doesn’t mind sci-fi and occasional leftist-bashing there Weber & Ringo’s March books, starting with _March Upcountry_ and _March to the Sea_. Both are in the Baen Free Library. An immature prince and his regiment of bodyguards are stranded on an extremely hostile planet and have to march across two continents and cross an ocean with only the ammunition and equipment they brought with them.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/28 "2011-01-07T18:06:06Z")
Seconding **Der Trihs**. All 4 of the books in the series are excellent, although the last one isn’t so much campaigning as it is political intrigue.
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/29 "2011-01-07T20:33:28Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Seconding **Der Trihs**. All 4 of the books in the series are excellent, although the last one isn’t so much campaigning as it is political intrigue.
For that matter the [Lt Leary](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCN_Series) series is pretty interesting. I spotted a lot of the old style buy your comission/old boy network of the 17th 18th century wet navies influence.
You can pick up freebies at the 5th imperium website in the wiki.
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### Author:  [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/30 "2011-01-07T21:41:02Z")
Nothing at all like what’s been suggested so far, but I found a decent read at my local library the other day: _Winter Quarters_ by Alfred Duggan. Two young Gauls join the Roman army as cavalry auxiliaries and end up accompanying Crassus on his campaign against Parthia. It’s less fantastic than the books already mentioned but religious concerns are often on the main characters’ minds-- specifically, the disfavor of a goddess they’d hoped to have left behind them.
I’m pretty pleased with the book. Part of why it’s so enjoyable is because the last historical novel I picked up on a whim at the library was Wilbur Smith’s _Assegai_, which didn’t just insult my intelligence, it tried picking a fight.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/31 "2011-01-07T21:54:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Also Stirling’s [Domination of the Draka](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domination_of_the_Draka) series, if you have a high tolerance threshold for . . . certain things . . . Anyway, there are countless thrilling battle-scenes in _Marching Through Georgia_ (Draka vs. the Waffen-SS in Caucasian Georgia).
Say: Draka vs. Dorsai: Who would win? (Assuming rough equality in numbers, armament and technology – including genetic-engineering technology, so, no New Race _Homo drakensis_ unless the Dorsai are similarly enhanced.)
Draka vs. Klingons?
Draka vs. Ewoks?
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/32 "2011-01-07T21:56:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Never read Turtledove for an exciting war-story. His style is so clotted and repetitious and tedious and omigod-when-is-this-gonna-END?! that what you get instead is a **realistic** war-story (that being what war is like to a soldier).
It was written long before his Lizard invasion series, which I agree is dire.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/33 "2011-01-07T21:58:57Z")
[_The Old Man’s War_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Man%27s_War) series by Philip Scalzi.
And, of course, [_The Forever War_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forever_War) by Joe Haldeman.
[_Starship Troopers_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers) is worth reading for the characters, politics and military culture; the battle scenes . . . sometimes it’s hard to visualize what’s going on. We never even get more than the vaguest hints of what the Bugs **look** like.
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/34 "2011-01-07T22:01:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> [_The Old Man’s War_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Man%27s_War) series by Philip Scalzi.
That would be John Scalzi. And the third book doesn’t have much military action. Also, we’re pretty far afield from medieval/fantasy stories by this point, though the OP did say he was open to other genres.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/35 "2011-01-07T22:03:55Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> [_Starship Troopers_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers) is worth reading for the characters, politics and military culture; the battle scenes . . . sometimes it’s hard to visualize what’s going on. We never even get more than the vaguest hints of what the Bugs **look** like.
Yeah, but I saw the movie so I’m all set 😃
**Dave Hartwick** , this may sound dumb but thanks for reminding me about my local library. I need to hit their website and look some of these books up and see what they have rather than just buying stuff. Go figure, huh?
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/36 "2011-01-08T02:02:26Z")
> [@Quartz](#):
>
> It was written long before his Lizard invasion series, which I agree is dire.
Artistic quality always suffers when a writer takes up a cause. But, at least Turtledove did manage to alert millions to the threat of the [Lizard People!](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AuthorTract)
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/37 "2011-01-08T04:30:51Z")
> [@Jophiel](#):
>
> I say “fantasy” only because I don’t want a nonfiction account of the Crusades or something but I don’t need fireballs, magic swords and giants (I appreciated the first Paks novel being rather magic-lite). I’m not completely invested in the time period if you think there’s some simply fantastic novel set in another period but it is the one I’m initially angling for.
How do you feel about [a fictionalized account of Vietnam](http://www.markberent.com/)?
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### Author:  [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/38 "2011-01-08T06:47:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> The Earth factions might have **thought** that. Pournelle takes us far enough into Skully’s mind to leave no doubt as to who was using whom. **Nobody** ever used Skully.
Yeah but how far would, I think her actual name was skilly, rather than skully, anyways, how far would she have gotten without the techno ninjas and the arms that senator whats his name provided.
Declan
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### Author:  [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/39 "2011-01-08T14:32:07Z")
Just on the military campaign side with zero fantasy element is the [Flashman series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Paget_Flashman), which is howlingly funny account of a lecherous, cowardly, racist, greedy, bullying soldier with the British empire.
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### Author:  [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reccommend-some-historical-fantasy-military-campaign-fiction/566710/40 "2011-01-08T19:38:36Z")
Another vote for _The General_ series (S.M. Stirling/David Drake) and the _Belisarius_ series (Eric Flint/David Drake), as well as the _Empire of Man_ series (David Weber/John Ringo).
Stirling’s _Domination_ series is short on combat except for the aforementioned _Marching Through Georgia_.
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