Hello beloved sub 👋🏼 I’ve seen a few posts where military/warfare fiction has been solicited, but a lot of the answers tend to recommend works skewed toward sci-fi (kind of special ops-y futuristic/dystopian stuff). I’m wondering if there’s any strictly military pulp out there? I read a lot of historical nonfiction (e.g. The Splendid and the Vile), memoir/biography/journalism (e.g. With the Old Breed, Generation Kill), and even historical fiction (e.g. Matterhorn), and some are truly riveting, or poignant, or stark, some even gorgeously written. But, am I missing, like, huge series of pulp-y page turners? Like, sometimes I want the thrill and the adventure and the tactics but where the (real) stakes aren’t as high, or real lives aren’t on the line. Does that make sense? Would love some suggestions!
by rayshul
5 Comments
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Start with W.E.B. Griffin’s The Lieutenants. The Brotherhood of War series is better than pulp and covers US wars/police actions/coups/Special Ops from the end of war2 to viet nam.
The Liam Devlin Series by Jack Higgins. Set in world war 2 about a group of German paratroopers attempt to assassinate Winston Churchill.
The Last Detail by Darryl Ponicsan. Follows two navy lifers assigned to escort a young sailor to prison for a petty crime.
John Ringo has written a lot of military but it’s mostly sci-fi.
His Paladin of Shadows series might work for you, Ghost is the first book but really sets up the following four.
Be warned, Ringo is pretty right wing & misogynist, but still one of my guilty pleasures.
For a mix of sharp wit and critical insight into the absurdities of war, I always recommend ‘Catch-22’ by Joseph Heller. It’s a book that can make you laugh out loud one moment and reflect deeply the next. The circular logic and satirical tone provide a unique take on the experiences of war.