Q & A: James Holland

James Holland is a writer and historian. In April 2003, he published his first work of history, Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege 1940-43 (Orion), which became a Sunday Times top ten bestseller. In January 2004, his first novel, The Burning Blue, set to a backdrop of the Battle of Britain, was published by William Heinemann. In May 2005, his second work of history, Together We Stand: North Africa 1942-1943 – Turning the Tide in the West, was published. His second novel, A Pair of Silver Wings, was published in March 2006.

His latest history is Italy's Sorrow: A Year of War, 1944-45, which was released in March 2008.

Future projects include a new history of the Battle of Britain, which will be the first account to tell the events of the summer of 1940 from both sides, and a series of novels, set during the Second World War and featuring infantryman, Jack Tanner.  The first four books of this series will be set in Norway in April 1940, France in June May and June 1940, Crete in May 1941, and North Africa in May-June 1942.

1. What are you doing at the moment?

I’m doing research at the moment. First, for my next non-fiction, which is a new history of the Battle of Britain, and second, for the next Jack Tanner, which will centre about the counter-attack at Arras in May 1940 and the retreat to Dunkirk.

2. When did you get hooked on history and why?

I’ve always loved history – my older brother, Tom, was always obsessed with history and I think I tagged along with his interests when I was a boy. Then I studied history at university, although never any twentieth century; in fact, the Restoration was always my biggest interest then.

3. If you were any warrior from history who would you be?

Roland ‘Bee’ Beamont – one of the greatest fighter pilots and flew (and pioneered) a staggering number of aircraft.

4. What is your favourite war film?

The Dawn Patrol, starring Errol Flynn.

5. Why do you think Military History is important?

Because it tells us so much about who we are today.

6. What is your favourite quote from history/historical quote?

England expects every man to do his duty.

7. If you could fly any plane or drive any tank from history, which would it be?

A Spitfire Mk IX – without any question whatsoever.

8. Best military cock-up in history?

Singapore must rank quite highly.

9. Who is your military hero?

Nelson & Field Marshal Alexander

10. If you could pit two armies from history against each other, which two would you pick, and why?

Julius Caesar’s Romans and Alexander’s Greeks – because they were two fine armies and although separated by three hundred years were not so differently armed.

11. Elephants or horses?

Discuss the pros and cons… Horses for their greater manoeuvrability. Elephants are obviously pretty solid, but difficult for making good your escape if things were getting dicey...

12. Favourite Michael Caine quote?

‘The engine’s overheating and so am I. Either we stand down or blow up. Now which do you wnat?’

13. What is your favourite war comic?

Battler Britton

14. Spartan or Roman?

Roman – they knew how to enjoy themselves.

15. What is your favourite Osprey book?

Denmark and Norway 1940 – invaluable when I was writing The Odin Mission.

The blog team: Your Knights in shining armour

I recently mentioned that at the London Book Fair this year three of the blogging team would be wearing a suit of armour. We each took it in turns. Phil took Monday, Richard the Tuesday and I took the Wednesday.

And I think it is safe to say that we have developed a great sense of respect for the men that used to go into battle wrapped up in a tin can. We each managed about 4 hours in the armour before the heat, weight, and spasming shoulder muscles took their toll. And we were only walking around making small talk and posing for photographs, not swinging a massive sword.

That aside, it was a fun experience, and certainly attracted a number of people to our stand. I did promise you some pictures of us suited up. And as I am sure you will not laugh, here goes! The first five pictures show Phil 'suiting up'.

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The next couple of pictures are of Richard as a very jaunty Knight!

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And last, but not least, here are a few of me!

And if you would like to experience the fun...and pain involved in being a Knight for a day, you should go to The Knight Shop where we rented our suit from. The internet is great, you can find everything on here...next year I want to go as a Samurai!!

Samurai: The World of the Warrior - Guest stars on Peep Show!

A couple of months ago I got an email from the Production Controller workinng on the fifth series of Peep Show, asking for permission to use Stephen Turnbull's book Samurai: World of the Warrior in one of the episodes.

For those who don't know, Peep Show is an award-winning Channel 4 sitcom that follows the antics of Mark (David Mitchell) and Jeremy (Robert Webb), two twenty-somethings living in south London. The show is shot in a first-person point of view style (hence the name!) and is a great favourite within the Osprey offices.

The thought of one of our books featuring in such a well-known British television series has got us all really enthusiastic... although the publicity hound in me is still sorely tempted to re-release the book with a cheesy "As seen on TV" splash across the front cover. But I think I may have to reign myself in somewhat!

The fifth series of Peep Show starts this Friday on Channel 4 at 10.30pm.

If you don't live in the UK, you may be able to watch the show at  http://www.channel4.com/watch_online from the 3rd May.

Q & A: Gordon Rottman

Gordon L Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969–70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. He was a special operations forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training Center for 12 years and is now a freelance writer, living in Texas.

What are you doing at the moment?

I have recently finished up a Duel series book on the M3 medium tank vs the PzKpfw III in North Africa, and a Warrior on a US Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and trying to find time to work on a historical fiction novel.

When did you get hooked on history and why?

Its difficult to say when, I guess while I was in elementary school and I read the "Wooden Horse"; and then got hooked on the Hornblower books.  As to why, I wanted to know what life and combat were like in the past.  As for why, it's fascinating to learn how soldiers lived in the past and how things were down, what has changed and what has not.

If you were any warrior from history who would you be?

Genghis Khan seems to have had a good thing going, but I'd rather be in an army with indoor plumbing and hot showers in the barracks, and decent mess halls.

What is your favourite war film?

There's actually only a small number of war films I really like.  I guess my all time favourites are "Bridge over the River Kwai" and "The Guns of Navarone."

Why do you think Military History is important?

I realized that learning the whys and wherefores of tactics and techniques of the past gave you a depth of knowledge to make better decisions and consider the best options in current situations.

What is your favourite quote from history/historical quote?

By an ROTC instructor in 1967, Master Sergeant Robert Weaver, who said, "Not only do you need enough ammo to take the hill, you need enough to get off of it."  I took that to heart and had it confirmed as a truism in 1969.

If you could fly any plane or drive any tank from history, which would it be?

If I could go back in time I'd gladly risk flying a B-17 mission over Germany, but I'd rather be a gunner than a pilot.

Best military cock-up in history?

Iraq followed closely by Vietnam.  The conventional US armed forces and politicians are incapable of truly fighting an insurgency.

Who is your military hero?

Brigadier General Robert W. Frederick commanding the 1st Special Service Force.  He really knew how to lead men and what it took to create a truly great unit.

If you could pit two armies from history against each other, which two would you pick, and why?

I'm not much into counterfactual history (don't get me wrong, its fun to read), but I think the 1st Marine Division against a Waffen-SS division on European terrain in about 1944 would be an interesting study.  I think the SS troops would be appalled at the ferocity of the Marines compared to their experiences with the US Army.

Elephants or horses? Discuss the pros and cons…

Horses.  Elephants are too conspicuous, their movement routes are limited, they're fast in short spurts, but overall too slow, they require more fodder and water, and they're more temperamental and unperdictable, plus their numbers are limited.  Give me the manoeuvrability and reliability of horses.

Favourite Michael Caine quote?

There's a couple of good lines in "Zulu," but I like what he said at the 1999 Academy Awards when nominated for best actor for his role in "The Cider House Rules."  When he found that Haley Joel Osment had been nominated for "The Sixth Sense", Caine said, "Well, I thought there goes my shot for a second Oscar."  Caine won it, but he was gracious enough to recognize Osment and ensured they later did a movie together.

What is your favourite war comic?

I read some of the Sergeant Rock comics in the late 1950s, but then they starting having them fight dinosaurs and so forth.  I liked the old Classic comics, which were comics made from classic novels.

Spartan or Roman?

Roman, they had a better chance of surviving.

What is your favourite Osprey book? 

So many.  I really enjoying researching the Khe Sanh Campaign book.  It led me to come to some different conclusions.

April Titles Available Now!

We don't often get the chance to meet our customers face-to-face and gauge their reaction to new books before they are 'officially' released around the world. But that is what we were able to do last weekend at Salute. Armed with our newest titles, some very sexy posters and our new Field of Glory themed Osprey shirts, we ventured down to London.

And this month's new titles were gobbled up by the visitors to our stand.

Rather unsurprisingly, the star of the show was the latest instalment of Field of Glory, the third companion volume Immortal Fire - which contains details on Greek, Persian and Macedonian armies. It sold really well throughout the day, and we were inundated with requests for further army lists on all manner of subjects and themes.

There was also a bit of a buzz surrounding CAM 194 Liberation of Paris 1944. As a military subject the liberation is quite often overlooked, but with the street fighting, the involvement of Free French and Resistance forces and the politicized deployment of Patton's Third Army to Paris, it is an intriguing tale.

Our Elite Tactics mini-series seems to go from strength to strength, and the latest instalment is no exception.

ELI 162 World War II Desert Tactics has it all - massive tank battles in the scorching desert, the clash of wills and minds between Rommel and Monty and an analysis of how battles were won or lost, as well as the impact that the climate had on strategy and tactics. It has some really great tactical artwork inside, with loads of tanks rumbling across harsh desert landscapes...what more could you ask for?

NVG 142 Tudor Warships is the first instalment in Angus Konstam's two-part analysis of the subject. This particular book covers Henry VIII's navy, focussing in particular on the fate of the Mary Rose. It is breathtakingly illustrated by our 'naval artwork' guru Tony Bryan.

Another of our long-term established experts, Stephen Turnbull, provides us with FOR 74 Japanese Castles. Stephen has published over 30 books with Osprey and remains a favourite with Eastern Warfare fans for his well researched books which invariably include rare photos and illustrations taken from his own private collection.

Nicholas Cage and Windtalkers seems to crop up with disturbing regularity in  our Worst Film lists, so we hope WAR 127 Native American Codetalkers will go some way to addressing this.

It describes the lives, training and combat experiences of the "Windtalkers" and I think stands as a much more admirable (and accurate) memorial to these brave men.

Our new series releases this month are wrapped up with the fantastic ACE 81 Griffon Spitfire Aces and BTO 33 The US Army in the Vietnam War.

Last but not least, this month sees the release of three of our non-series hardback books. All three of these books have been incredibly well-received, with widespread coverage and reviews for Brushes and Bayonets in the Daily Mail and on the BBC website.

Tools of Violence is being well reviewed across the military fraternity, whilst Counterinsurgency in Modern Warfare is poised to be adopted as a training guide for the British Army and has been reviewed in a number of highly prestigious newspapers (John will be posting about this later in the week).

All in all another exciting bunch of books....roll on May!

Free Aviation magazine and Osprey competition

As I mentioned in a previous post, Fighting High Magazine is a great free aviation e-zine. Steve Darlow has just emailed to tell me that the second issue is available to download here.

Once again it is a great read - and inside there is the chance to win a bunch of Osprey books in Fighting High's Spot the Plane competition!

Good luck everyone, and enjoy!

Getting all medieval at the London Book Fair

Next week is the London Book Fair - one of the two biggest events of the year for the Osprey team based in the UK. So, most of the office is currently running around with a strange look in their eyes - probably not blind panic, but there is a certain amount of stress involved in getting ready for the fair. Virtually every department has been working towards this event for months. The marketing department put together the trade catalogues and posters for the event with the help of our production and design team. The sales team are arranging meetings with book buyers from around the world - and are responsible for the nuts and bolts of the stand and the event. The editorial team are checking everything for spelling mistakes...and are gearing up for a chance to check out what else is going on in military history publishing. It is a hectic, busy time, but it is always worth it.

In particular, the Osprey stand is developing a bit of a reputation for the quality of the posters displayed across the whole stand - and its not surprising really - Osprey artwork blown up to lifesize is quite simply awesome. Richard mentioned the posters we took to the Frankfurt book fair (the other major event for us) in a post last year and I remember them arriving in the office and being unfurled. Staring at a six foot tall Spitfire taken from one of our Duel books was amazing.

But this year we have toned down the posters. Rather than having massive artwork we have decided to emphasise the fact that this year is Osprey's 40th birthday. We haven't left it there though. This year, as an additional draw for our stand there will be a man standing on the stand wearing a full suit of armour.

That's right - a suit of armour. And who would be foolish enough to volunteer for such an embaressing and most likely uncomfortable experience as this? Well none other than my fellow bloggers Richard and Phil. And me.

We will take some photos. And we will post them up on the blog. But on one condition. Please don't laugh!

Osprey in line to win prestigious literature prize

News is filtering in from Stockholm that the Osprey Men-at-Arms series is due to be honoured at this years Nobel Prize Ceremony. The shock decision to nominate the Men-at-Arms series for the Nobel Prize for Literature has come as a shock especially as it is the first time that the prize is being awarded to a group of books rather than an individual author.

A judge on the panel said that the decision to nominate the series was born out of an "admiration for the life span and extent of the Men-at-Arms canon". She went on to comment that "over the last 40 years the Men-at-Arms series has developed in line with history. Over the 450 titles published it is possible to witness, not only the progress of military history throughout the ages, but also the change in the way military history is perceived over time, from the height of the Cold War through to the fall of the Berlin Wall".

Further details will follow as soon as they are made available...

The Greatest Field of Glory Competition Ever!

That might sound like an ambitious statement, but Osprey have teamed up with Slitherine and Wargames Factory to bring you the chance to win some fantastic prizes which are sure to set pulses racing!

THE GRAND PRIZE - WIN A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF MINIATURES

Win one of every Field of Glory box set produced by Wargames Factory, along with all the Field of Glory rules and army books for the Ancient and Medieval series. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") $1,000!

100 WINNERS - WARGAMES FACTORY FIELD OF GLORY BOX SET

Choose between Romans or Celts! Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") $29.95

20 WINNERS - OSPREY BOOK

Various titles available to win! Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") $19.95

10 WINNERS - SLITHERINE GATES OF TROY GAME DOWNLOAD

Download the Gates of Troy game! Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") $24.95

10 WINNERS - Slitherine The History Channel® Great Battles of Rome PS2 game

Win the fantastic Great Battles of Rome game on the Playstation 2! Approximate Retail Value ("ARV")

Go to http://www.winthefieldofglory.com to play the qualifying game and win! Contestants can enter every day until 31st May.

Free aviation magazine

I have just been sent details about a fantastic new online aviation magazine, Fighting High. It is completely free to download and is well worth a look. Fully illustrated and with production values rarely seen in a free online magazine, it is edited / published / created by avaition expert and published author Steve Darlow. He knows his stuff, and his passion comes through in the quality of the e-zine.

Issue 1 is still available, and according to Steve Issue 2 is due out in April.

If anyone out there knows about other free historical / military / wargaming e-zines that are worth a look let me know here - and I will spread the word!

Happy Easter everyone!

I am not actually in the office today, but through the wonders of modern technology I scheduled this on Thursday, which makes it look like I am incredibly dedicated working over a long weekend....

Have a good Easter everyone!

As you read this I will probably be knee deep in DIY...and hopefully some chocolate too!

Q & A: Martin Pegler

Martin Pegler has a BA Hons in Medieval and Modern History and an MA in Museum Studies, both from University College, London, and was for many years the Senior Curator of Firearms at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds. He now lives in the Somme, France, where he and his wife run a small bed and breakfast, which is situated on top of the old German front line! Martin has established The Somme Historical Centre (www.martinpegler.com), where visitors can see the technology used in the 1914–18 trench warfare. Martin enjoys shooting historic firearms, and has participated in many shooting competitions. He is currently an author and firearms consultant and he also lectures at local Great War museums. In his spare time, Martin runs motorcycle tours of the battlefield. He is the author of a number of books including The Military Sniper since 1914, Firearms in the American West 1700–1900, and the highly acclaimed Out of Nowhere: A History of the Military Sniper, and he has also contributed to a number of magazines. In the 1980s he had the privilege of interviewing many World War I veterans about their wartime experiences, and the recordings are now part of the sound archives of the Imperial War Museum, London.

What are you doing at the moment?

Dividing my time between doing battlefield tours, writing and refitting our kitchen.

When did you get hooked on history and why?

Ever since I was a child it has fascinated me. I have no explanation for it though.

If you were any warrior from history who would you be?

Hmmm, tricky. Nobody famous really appeals to me, possibly an archer at Agincourt or one of the Guards square at Waterloo. Certainly not a private on the Somme.

What is your favourite war film?

For accuracy, Private Ryan, for sheer mastery of the subject, Oh What a Lovely War.

Why do you think Military History is important?

All of the folly of mankind is to be found there, and if anyone cared to look, most of the answers too. Alas, every generation re-invents the wheel.

What is your favourite quote from history/historical quote?

George Santayana, 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

If you could fly any plane or drive any tank from history, which would it be?

No trouble there, a Lancaster bomber and MkIV tank from WW1. In fact I have driven in a MkIV tank....

Best military cock-up in history?

Probably Passchendaele.

Who is your military hero?

A man called Harry Furness. It's a long story.

If you could pit two armies from history against each other, which two would you pick, and why?

The Afrika Korps and the Roman Legions. What a dust-up that would be.

Elephants or horses? Discuss the pros and cons…

Oh come on, I live in France, that question here simply means the best way to cook them....

Favourite Michael Caine quote?

It has to be 'Not a lot of people know that.'

What is your favourite war comic?

I don't have one, I think I was 12 when I read the last one.

Spartan or Roman?

Roman, I prefer to wear clothes.

What is your favourite Osprey book?

Almost impossible to answer, some I love for their artwork, some for the topics and the extraordinary knowledge that many authors have.

March Books now available

Just in time for Easter, the latest batch of Osprey books should be hitting stores near you today (and should be available to buy online etc).

The two titles that really leap out at you have to be the next two installments of the hugely popular Duel series, Duel 7 Sopwith Camel vs Fokker Dr I: Western Front 1917-18 and Duel 8 P-40 Warhawk vs Ki-43 Oscar: China 1944-45. The Sopwith vs Fokker is our first non-World War II title in the Duel series, and I think it is the best of the bunch so far. It is an intriguing read, discovering the conditions the pilots fought under and the makeshift nature of their aircraft - all of which is an eye-opener. The digital artwork is also breathtaking - in fact, I liked it so much I decided to use it on the cover of the July-December 2008 Catalogue in the UK!

Also out this month is the long-awaited title New York 1776. This  makes up a interesting 'city' pair with Campaign London 1914-17, which discusses the first time that London was bombed by Germany, and analyses the military effectiveness of the German aerial bombardment on the capital.

Regular guest blogger Peter Dennis has illustrated the next in our Elite Tactics mini-series, Elite 160 World War II Infantry Assault Tactics. Written by Gordon Rottman, this provides an insight into exactly how infantry assaulted heavily fortified positions, including bunkers. It also looks at the specialised equipment that was developed for infantry assaults.

I have already admitted that I am a fortifications nut, so the two fortresses out this month are right up my street, I only wish I had them last year when I visited Rome and Northumberland (they work quite well as tourist guides for the more discerning visitor)...oh well... Fortress 71 covers The Walls of Rome, and Fortress 70 is on The Strongholds of the Border Reivers. The author of Fortress 70, Keith Durham, has just written a article for the blog (it will be going up later in the week) which is actually a chapter from this book which had to be cut for space reasons.

Finally - SAS Heroes (or Who Dares Wins if you are in the US) has finally arrived! Also out this month is Warrior 119 American Bomber Crewman 1941-45, Modelling 41 Modelling Scale Aircraft, COM 71 Il-2 Shturmovik Guard Units of World War 2, the paperback version of The Vikings and Knight: Noble Warrior of England 1200-1600.

Enjoy!

SAS launch and competition announcements

Congratulations to Reg Fowle, Mrs T Boylin, James Cockburn and David Comerford who won the competition we ran to win tickets to see Pete Scholey's talk at the National Army Museum on the 15th March at 2.30. Remember, if you didn't win, you can still pick up a discounted ticket here.

Last Wednesday we held the official launch for SAS Heroes - which was a great opportunity to meet up with Pete and some of his colleagues. With uniform displays showing the evolution of SAS kit, a genuine Pink Panther, and a demonstration of the tactics used to end the Iranian Embassy siege the day went off brilliantly.

This is a photo of Pete, flanked by his 'security detail' sitting in the fabulous Pink Panther outside the National Army Museum. The security detail was made up of Colin Wallace, Bob Podesta and Pete Winner, all of whom were great sports - walking around in full gear for over 4 hours despite the heat.

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A shot of the whole display - overwhelming, especially with the radio playing recordings of real morse code transmissions.

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SAS kit used during the First Gulf War - this is the kind of stuff worn by the men on the Bravo Two Zero mission. There was the whole range of kit on show, and it is really interesting to see what has changed, and how similar some of the kit is to stuff that was used in the jungle in the 60s!

It also shows just how much kit these guys had to carry around - in some terrible conditions...I could barely shift it let alone carry it for miles!

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The best bit...hearing how the siege of the Iranian embassy was broken, as told by a soldier who was there! Thanks very much soldier "I" - a great story, and a fascinating insight into the planning, manpower and skill behind the raid that first brought the SAS into the public eye.   

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All in all, I think a good time was had by everyone - but the launch was not solely about the book. Rather it was a chance for Pete to say an emotional 'thank-you' to the people who inspired him, the 20 heroes in the book and their families and friends. It also provided an opportunity to remember the men in the book who were killed in action, or who have passed away since leaving the SAS. They will not be forgotten.

B2-A Stealth Bomber crashes in Guam

One of the best features in our aviation books must be the detailed plane profiles that make up the middle slice of the books. The profiles include aircraft markings and nose art, and are excellent source material for modellers. A great deal of research goes into ensuring that these profiles are as accurate as possible. However, there are usually too many aircraft built to be able to include every plane profile. But, one of our books does actually contain a profile image of every single aircraft ever built - Combat 64: B-2A Sprirt Units in Combat.

Only 21 B-2As (more popularly known as Stealth Bombers) were ever built, and all of them are featured in our book, with complete profile information. But, after the announcement over the weekend that the USAF had lost one of its billion-dollar aircraft, it seems our book needs some updating. Thankfully the pilots of the B-2 ejected safely, but B-2A 89-1027 Spirit of Kansas exploded on impact, sending up huge plumes of smoke.

To quote from our book,

"The sixth Block 10 aircraft delivered, Spirit of Kansaswas issued to the 509th on 18 February 1995. The aircraft performed the wings first ever mission over the Pacific Ocean when it flew to the Hawaiian Islands to make the 50th anniversary of VJ-Day on 1 September that same year. In 1997, this aircraft performed the first ever mission of a B-2A to the UK when it conducted a flypast at the Royal Internation Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford. As usual with all B-2As visiting the UK, the jest was escorted by two F-15s from the 48th FW at RAF Lakenheath.

Q and A: Tony Holmes

Osprey Aviation Editor since 1989, Tony Holmes is a native of Fremantle, Western Australia. Responsible for devising the Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft and Aviation Elite Units series, Tony has also written more than 25 books for Osprey in the past 17 years. Awarded the Tailhook Association's contributor of the year award last year for his coverage of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he has written four books in the last 18 months in the Combat Aircraft series. His latest book, F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Enduring Freedom is out this month.

What are you doing at the moment?

Trying to write several magazine articles that have been on the backburner whilst struggling to keep various Osprey titles that I have been editing on schedule.

When did you get hooked on history and why?

I grew up surrounded by model and full-size aircraft as my father was in the Royal Australian Air Force and then subsequently worked in civil aviation, and my grandfathers had seen combat in World War 2 in the RAF and the Royal Marines, respectively. Listening to war stories from my grandparents, reading Commando and Battle comics, leafing through my father's large collection of avitaion periodicals and books and avidly watching films on the television effectively fed my history 'habit'.

If you were any warrior from history who would you be?

A humble sergeant pilot flying a Hurricane or Spitfire in No. 11 Group in the summer of 1940, preferably with pre-war flying experience so that I had a better chance of surviving to see Christmas!

What is your favourite war film?

The Battle of Britain, followed closely by The Eagle Has Landed. I know that you have not asked for this, but my least favourite by some considerable margin is Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, even though the truly luscious Kate Beckinsale does her utmost to keep us men folk entertained during the 183-minute historical howler.

Why do you think Military History is important?

Surely people have to have some understanding of how our everyday lives in the 21st century have been shaped by conflict, rather than by 'Celebrity Bum Swap' or some other equally asinine reality garbage that seems to fill our TV screens and newspaper pages these days? A healthy interest in military history also helps me pay my mortgage!

What is your favourite quote from history / historical quote?

Legendary German fighter ace Oberstleutnant Adolf Galland's reply to Reichsmarschall Herman Goering's question on 2 September 1940 as to what the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe could do to help Galland's unit prevail in the Battle of Britain. "I should like an outfit of Spitfires for my Jagdgeschwader."

If you could fly any plane or drive any tank from history, which would it be?

A late-war Spitfire F XIV - the fastest frontline piston-engined fighter of World War 2.

Best military cock-up in history?

Speaking from a purely aeronautical perspective, the Italian Regia Aeronautica's rather half-hearted, and very late, contribution to the Luftwaffe's efforts to win the Battle of Britain take some beating.

Who is you military hero?

Any pilot who climber into a Hurricane or Spitfire and took on the might of the Luftwaffe druing the summer of 1940 (see a theme developing here?!)

If you could pit two armies from history against each other, which two would you pick, and why?

Again, looking at this with my aviation editor's hat on, I think Finnish fighter pilots in Bf 109Gs taking on Jagdwaffe pilots on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1943 in the same Messerschmitt fighters would make for a fascinating contest. The Finns were amongst the very best fighter pilots of World War 2, and their German counterparts were at the very top of their game in support of the massive tank battles in the Crimea in the hot summer of 1943.

Elephants or horses? Discuss the pros and cons...

Give me something with a liquid-cooled Rolls Royce Griffon engine driving a five-bladed propeller any day!

Favourite Michael Caine quote?

"You'll be in a barrel if you don't look out for fighters". Sqn Ldr Canfield admonishes one of his young pilots as they wade into seemingly defenceless Stukas attacking radar sites on the south coast during The Battle of Britain.

What is your favourite war comic?

Without a doubt Commando, especially those with an aviation theme - I had dozens of them in my collection whilst growing up as a kid in far off Western Australia.

Spartan or Roman?

Not too good on my ancients I'm afraid, as very few of them learned to fly.

What is your favourite Osprey book?

Anything written by John Weal or Greg VanWyngarden.

February books available now, Field of Glory available in the US and Canada

This month seems to have flown past and once again it is time to announce the release of this months new titles. The title that immediately leaps out is Fortress 69: The Berlin Wall and the Intra-German Border 1961-89, written by Gordon L Rottman. Gordon is one of our most prolific authors, and was actually stationed in West Germany and staged reconnaisance missions on the eastern side of the wall during the Cold War.

This month sees a new title in the Elite series, Elite 161 The US Home Front 1941-45. Now, this is a bit of a departure for the series, and for Osprey in general, as it focuses on the civilian forces as well as military forces involved in the war effort in America during World War II - discussing everything from recyling to the role of boy scounts and girl guides! It also provides an interesting contrast to the British Home Front.

As well as these books, we have a great new book by aviation editor Tony Holmes on the Tomcat in Iraq. We also have a book on Hittite Fortifications, one on the Sherman Firefly and our 445th Men-at-Arms book - this one is on Medieval Polish Armies! Two strong Campaign titles are also released this month, one on Vienna 1683 and one on Poitiers AD 732. Both of these Campaigns have been perrenial favourites in the 'Books I'd like to read' section of our website - proof we do listen to you all!

Finally, a small apology. I got a little carried away just before the launch of Field of Glory in the UK. The countdown to the release date was probably a little over the top. But, I have managed to calm myself down a little now, so in a much more refined, calm manner - Field of Glory is here! It has now been officially released in the US and Canada.

SAS Competition - win tickets

Pete Scholey is going to be a celebrity speaker at the National Army Museum in London on the 15th March, talking about his experiences in the SAS and about the heroes that he served with. Tickets for the event are £10, but the museum have put together a great deal for Osprey readers. If you go here you can get these at a discount - only £7.50. On the day you can also pick up a copy of Pete's book and get it signed.

The National Army Museum have kindly provided the Osprey Blog with four tickets to the event - and we are going to be giving them away to four blog readers. To enter all you need to do is answer the question below.

How many years did Pete Scholey serve in the SAS?

The answer can be found at www.ospreysas.com - have a look and then send your answer together with your full name and address here.

SAS Heroes: Remarkable Soldiers, Extraordinary Men is released on March 10. In the US and Canada, the book has been renamed Who Dares Wins: Special Forces Heroes of the SAS and is out on the 18th of March.

Field of Glory has arrived!

Let battle commence.

(And if you are in the US or Canada, dont worry - Field of Glory will be with you in a week)

Remember - you can buy your copy here.

Or at the official Field of Glory site.

Or in any good bookstore.

Enjoy!

Q & A: Angus Konstam

Angus Konstam hails from the Orkney Islands, and is the author of over 50 books, 30 of which are published by Osprey. This acclaimed and widely published author has written several books on piracy, including The History of Pirates. His most recent work is a full-length piratical biography: Blackbeard: America's Most Notorious Pirate. A former naval officer and museum professional, he worked as the Curator of Weapons at the Tower of London and as the Chief Curator of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. He now works as a full-time author and historian, and lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

What are you doing at the moment?

Putting my feet up! I’ve just finished writing Sovereigns of the Seas: The Quest to Build the Ultimate Renaissance Battleship. It’s a 120,000 word romp through the world of Renaissance ships – from around the time of Henry V (c.1415) until the English Civil War. It’ll be published by Wiley’s in the States during the late spring of 2008.
Apart from that I’m working with Osprey’s editors to put the finishing touches to The Complete History of Piracy, another 120,000 word book I wrote earlier this year. It’ll also be out next spring, and does exactly what it says on the cover – gives readers the most detailed account of piracy yet seen in print! While it concentrates on the so-called “Golden Age of Piracy” it also follows the activities of cutthroats from the Ancient Mediterranean to the modern waters of Indonesia.
Finally I’ve got a few Ospreys to write. A two volume set of New Vanguard titles on The Tudor Warship is already in production (the incomparable Tony Bryan will be doing the artwork), and another two-volume set on British Battleships of the Second World War is slated for early next year. Then there are the two Fortress series titles – The Forts of Arthur’s Britain and Scapa Flow – I’m actually working on those at the moment. It’s going to be a busy winter!

When did you get hooked on history and why?

I blame Miss Thompson, my history teacher when I was in my early teens. That poor lady and Mr. Feraday of Kirkwall Grammar School have a lot to answer for! Then there were my parents, who holidayed in Europe a lot when I was a kid, dragging me with them.
All those German castles and Italian hill-top towns gave me a sense of place as well as purpose – helping me tie in events I read about with places I’d visited. That’s particularly important when you come to write about military history. You really need to “walk the battlefield” before you can get a real sense of what happened there.

If you were any warrior from history who would you be?

I’d much sooner write about them than actually having to be them! Admiral Cunningham. Anyone who plays golf and sips G&T’s before going out and beating the Italians in 1940 gets my vote…

What is your favourite war film?

That’s a tough one – I’d have to say A Bridge Too Far, closely followed by Tora Tora Tora. Of course my favourite film of all time (apart from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie or the Lion in Winter – what can I say – I like catty dialogue!) is probably Apocalypse Now, but I’d class it less of a war film and more of a journey into the unknown.

Why do you think Military History is important?

Is it? I suppose it is. Military history has long been the unloved child in the historical family. During the last half century it was considered beneath the academic radar – the province of retired colonels and geeks. Fortunately, during the past two decades a new breed of historians – people like Geoffrey Parker, John Lynn and Anthony Bevoir have resurrected it. A quick glance at the shelves in your local bookshop will show you how popular – and mainstream – it now is.

What is your favourite quote from history/historical quote?

"These savages may indeed be a formidable enemy to your raw American militia; but upon the King’s regular and disciplined troops, sir, it is impossible they should make any impression."
General Braddock to Benjamin Franklin (before his defeat at the hands of the Iroquois)

If you could fly any plane or drive any tank from history, which would it be?

A T-34 – the tank that won the war. Of course, they’d have to specially widen the hatch to get me in…

Best military cock-up in history?

There are so many to choose from. Probably anything involving Ambrose Burnside is good for a laugh, and his Battle of the Crater (1864) must rank as one of the biggest cock-ups around…

Who is your military hero?

Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson. It’s the old salt in me. Others in my top ten include (in alphabetic order): General-at-Sea Blake, Caesar, Cornwallis, Fairfax, Lee, Marlborough O’Connor, Patton and Zukhov. Read into that lot what you will.

If you could pit two armies from history against each other, which two would you pick, and why?

The Allied and Soviet armies of 1945 against the Nazi one of 1939. That way we would have ended the war by Christmas, and saved 100 million lives…

Elephants or horses? Discuss the pros and cons…

Not if they’re heading towards me!

Favourite Michael Caine quote?

“My name is Michael Caine - not a lot of people know that”.
Of course, in a recent interview he also said of his acting career; “First of all, I choose the great roles, and if none of these come, I choose the mediocre ones, and if they don't come, I choose the ones that pay the rent”. Authors can relate to that… then there’s “ The best research for playing a drunk is being a British actor for 20 years”.

What is your favourite war comic?

Fox News – its comic the way they don’t mention the war…
Apart from that I’d have to say the Victor. When I was a kid my parents got me Look & Learn, which I read then swapped for the Victor!

Spartan or Roman?

Roman. The Spartans were wimps compared to the Romans of the late Republic, who were single-minded in their ability to impose their military will on their enemies – however long it took. Anyone who’s read Tom Holland’s superb Rubicon (or even seen Rome, the TV mini-series) will realise just how formidable people like Caesar, Pompey, Crassus, Gaius Marius, Sulla and Octavian actually were. By all accounts their women-folk were even more deadly, and if given the chance would have made mincemeat of the oiled macho posturing of the poor Spartans!

What is your favourite Osprey book?

Anything illustrated by the late Angus McBride. If I had to pick one it would be the Elite title I did with him on Pirates. That and whichever one I’m writing at the moment!

Countdown to Field of Glory - 1 day to go

A tremendous announcement on the eve of the release of Field of Glory - Slitherine and Osprey are pleased to announce that Wargames Factory are due to create the official range of plastic miniature box sets for Field of Glory .

Wargames Factory have announced that the first sets will be Late Republican Romans (Julius Caesar's Legions) and Celts. These massive 48-figure boxes will be available for only $29.95 (UK prices as soon as I can lay my hands on them).

You can read more about the announcement and register your interest here .

Countdown to Field of Glory - 2 days to go

By the end of 2008 (I know, it is only February) there will be 7 companion volumes to the Field of Glory rulebook. I have already mentioned the first three - Rise of Rome, Storm of Arrows and Immortal Fire.

In May this will be followed by Swords and Scimitars: The Crusades Army List. Legions Triumphant: Imperial Rome at War arrives in June. Eternal Empire: The Ottomans at War is due out in September and finally, Decline and Fall: Byzantium at War is available from October.

Plans for any further companions or for new rules lists covering different periods are still in the box marked 'Top Secret' - but as soon as I am allowed to I will let you know!

Countdown to Field of Glory - 3 days to go

Just three days to go now, and there is a strange sense of suspense hanging over the office - a breathless anticipation. We have even set up our own little Field of Glory club in the office. Joe and Phil are going to take us through the rules and then let us loose. Pictures of the carnage will be posted, I promise!

Before answering another FAQ, I thought now would be the perfect time to ask if there is anything you would all like to know about Field of Glory that I am yet to answer. Let me know and I will answer as soon as I can.

Q: How is victory achieved?

A: Players win a game of Field of Glory by inflicting a certain number of attrition points on the enemy army. Attrition points are inflicted whenever an enemy unit is disorganized, shaken, routed or destroyed.

Countdown to Field of Glory - 4 days to go

Now for some real teasers - these four pictures are sneak previews of the Field of Glory rulebook. This is what it looks like inside - full colour, with plenty of tables, photos, maps and Osprey artwork. Plus it has 'useful tips' - a great tool when you want to get straight into the game.

Download field of glory_rulebook_p47.pdf

Download field of glory_rulebook_p53.pdf

Download field of glory rulebook_p83.pdf

Download field of glory_rulebook_p97.pdf

These next two pages are from the first companion, Rise of Rome.

Download rise_of_rome_p13.pdf

Download rise_of_rome_p14.pdf

And these are from Storm of Arrows.

Download storm_of_arrows_p37.pdf

Download storm_of_arrows_p60.pdf

Q: How are opposing units compared?

A: In Field of Glory each unit is assigned a set of attributes, such as "light horse", "heavily armoured" or "drilled", based upon their historical battlefield role, armament and training. These attributes are then compared between opposing units in combat to determine an initial degree of combat advantage.

Countdown to Field of Glory - 5 days to go

A copy of the third army list companion, Immortal Fire: Field of Glory Greek, Persian and Macedonian Army list landed on my desk five minutes ago. Again, Peter Dennis has done a great job with the cover art -atmospheric and '300esque' - the swords and sandals stuff that I just love!

It might seem strange that I am counting down the days to the release of Field of Glory, and yet I have a copy of a book in the series which is only due out in April already sitting on my desk. The copy on my desk is what we refer to as an 'advance'. These are printed in a small initial batch and are used by virtually everyone in the Osprey offices. The production and design department check them for any printing errors and colour problems that crop up from time to time. The sales team sends copies out to our sales reps and bookstore chains. And the marketing team sends out the copies to stimulate reviews and generate pre-publication interest. It is an exciting moment for everyone when a new month's batch arrives and everyone can see the product of a lot of hard work.

Immortal Fire itself contains armies that include Alexandrian Macedonian, Hellenistic Greek, Classical Greek, Classical Indian and Early Achaemenid Persian, among others.

Q: Does the game use heroic characters?

A: No. Field of Glory tries to be as historically accurate as possible and does not include any high-powered individual characters. Although the game does allow for individually based commanders, these are for command and control purposes and do not fight as separate units.

Countdown to Field of Glory - 6 days to go

The second army list companion to be released in the Field of Glory series in six days time is Storm of Arrows: Field of Glory late Medieval Army list.

Containing a complete historical overview of the late Medieval period it details the armies of the Hundred Years' War, Medieval Scottish Armies, Italian Condotta, Medieval French, the armies of the Wars of the Roses and many more.

On a slightly different note - I have just been informed that Field of Glory is available to buy in Australia from today!

Q: Is it an IGOUGO game?

A: It is an "I go, you go game" - meaning that players take alternating turns. However, it includes a reaction system which occasionally allows you to move troops during your opponent's turn.

Countdown to Field of Glory - 7 days to go

The first army list companion is Rise of Rome: Field of Glory Republican Rome Army List, and for an idea of which armies it covers, here is a list of some of the armies included.

Mid Republican Roman

Late Republican Roman

Gallic

Pyrrhic

Later Carthaginian

Ancient Spanish

Later Macedonian

Later Seleucid

Later Ptolemaic

Numidian or early Moorish

Pontic

Early Armenian

Parthian

Later Jewish

Illyrian

Attalid Pergamene

Bosporan

Spartacus (Slave Revolt)

Q: What type of dice does Field of Glory use?

A: The game uses six sided dice.

Countdown to Field of Glory - 8 days to go

The initial Field of Glory launch will see the publication of three books, the Field of Glory rules set and two army list companions.

With the cover art done by Peter Dennis (who contributes to this blog from time to time) they all look fantastic, but I must say that so far, this cover is my personal favourite. It is from the Field of Glory rulebook.

Now on to our second frequently asked question:

Q: What base size is used?

A: The system calls for a standard 40mm wide base for 15mm figures and 60mm wide for 28mm models, though depth can vary depending on the type of troops you are using. Normally, a base will contain three 28mm or five 15mm figures.

Countdown to Field of Glory - 9 Days to go

One of the most exciting projects that Osprey have taken on in the last few years is nearly here!

For those who don't know, Field of Glory is an Ancient and Medieval strategy battle game that uses miniature figures on a tabletop to represent vast armies. It can be used to recreate battles from any culture or time period before the preeminence of firearms. That is just a very brief outline - if you want to know more, visit the excellent Field of Glory website, www.fieldofglory.com

Produced in conjunction with Slitherine, Field of Glory has created quite a buzz in the wargaming community, and as its release date draws ever closer, we are all getting more and more excited - we can't wait to see what you all think of it.

So, I decided we should have a countdown to its arrival in the UK on the 10th February (customers in the US and Canada will have to wait a little longer - it is released over the pond on the 19th), where I will answer some of the questions we are frequently asked about Field of Glory.

Q: What scale of miniature does Field of Glory use?

A:The rules can be used with miniatures of any size and scale, but works best with 28mm, 25mm or 15mm figures.

Lego turns 50

This week was the 50th anniversary of Lego, the building blocks which kept many of us occupied for hours on end while we were growing up. I know Lego is not the most obvious subject for a post on a military history blog, especially as throughout its history Lego has maintained its distance from 'realistic' military subjects. But that didn't stop me from building ridiculously over the top tanks etc when I was a kid. And their pirates were cool.

Now, while I may have grown out of Lego, some people obviously did not. In fact, some of them have taken the boyish weapon building to extremes. Take a look at these machines made out of Lego - simply awesome, if somewhat scary.

However, that is nothing compared to this - a Lego Gatling gun, which fires hundreds a elastic bands!

Here is a great video of it in action...

And here is a montage of other Lego-based weapons, including an excellent trebuchet.

I still have all of my old Lego stashed away somewhere. I haven't used it for years, but somehow cant quite bring myself to bin it, and having seen that trebuchet in action, my fingers seem to be itching...I wonder how far it could throw a tennis ball?

The Polish Bear Attacks (Literally)

Something lighter for the weekend - the story of a bear who served in the Second World War.

A possible title for Osprey...

Warrior 197:

Killer Bears of the Polish Army 1939-45?

Or would it be better suited to the New Vanguard series? Bear Transportation teams of World War II?

Q & A: Steve White

Steve White has worked for Marvel UK on such comics as The Real Ghostbusters, Thundercats, Transformers and The Punisher. He has also written Rogue Trooper for 2000 AD. He currently works for Titan Publishing, working firstly as a graphic novels editor on such series as Modesty Blaise and Dan Dare, as well as the first collection of legendary British comic strip, Charley’s War and more recently as editor of The Official RAF Magazine and Wallace & Gromit Comic. He lives in London.

What are you doing at the moment?

I’m currently senior comics editor at Titan Magazines, running a small department of three editors and an assistant ed that producers about 15 titles every four weeks. Most are repackaged US material but we originate several titles, including a new Transformers comic, which has been great fun to do – sure as hell beats working for a living! Aside from that, been working on a book about Jaws and its cultural impact, just for fun.

When did you get hooked on history and why?

Mainly through my interest in aviation. As a kid I always wanted to be a fighter pilot – too many war comics – and it was through a book called “And Kill MiGs”, which was just a catalogue of combat accounts, but which really fired me up. I started reading more on Vietnam, which kind of led to a more general interest in air wars, then war as a whole. However, I was interested more in a tactical level than a strategic one.

If you were any warrior from history who would you be?

Hmmm. I always wanted to take part in a cavalry charge, so I like the idea of being a Napoleonic Hussar. I also like the idea of being one of The Few – something so timelessly romantic about being a Spitfire pilot.

What is your favourite war film?

I’d have to say the first 30 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Occasionally you watch a movie and think, well, things are never, ever going to be the same again. This has totally raised the bar on the genre – like Star Wars or Blade Runner or The Matrix in sci-fi. Characterisation and narrative aside, stylistically, it tore up the rule book. Just look at some of the films that followed, like Enemy At The Gate and Blackhawk Down.

Why do you think Military History is important?

Well it’s the old axiom of those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It sounds clichéd but clichés get that way because they’re usually true.

What is your favourite quote from history/historical quote?

"Who was that masked man?" (To put that in context, it’s from The Ravens by Christopher Robbins, about the secret air force that fought communism in Laos. He relates an incident where an anti-aircraft gun was holding up air strikes; a forward air controller was trying to get US bombers to hit the gun but they refused. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, this Laotian T-28 appeared, rolled in, and hit the site, destroying the gun, then just as suddenly disappeared, at which point the FAC asked on air, “Who was that masked man?” I thought it was the coolest, funniest thing I’d read in a long time and stole it for a comic I wrote a few years later.)

If you could fly any plane or drive any tank from history, which would it be?

P-47 Thunderbolt – just a mean ugly/beautiful mutha of an aircraft. I don’t like the idea of being in a tank but given the choice, I’d probably go for a Tiger.

Best military cock-up in history?

Vietnam.

Who is your military hero?

Randy Cunningham. Not sure I agree with his politics, but his attitude was inspirational to me as a young man. He took the gung-ho out of fighting and killing for me.

If you could pit two armies from history against each other, which two would you pick, and why?

This may sound weird but I’d fight World War 3 in Europe between NATO and WarPac circa late ‘80s. Just to see what would happen.

Elephants or horses? Discuss the pros and cons…

Armour