Tin Soldiers

I saw this at a local bookstore, and thought it looked interesting. A book about the next gulf war, while we were fighting in Iraq. I started reading it and couldn't stop. Like the classic Team Yankee, this book covers the war from the perspective of one unit fighting in it. You don't realy hear all that's happening elsewhere, but the detail from makes up for it.

First of all, with all the weirdness that tends to result in nations going to war, I can't say the premise of the book is off. In fact, looking at recent events, maybe not so far off the track at all. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I believe the characters were well thought out, not one dimensional as is the case in some books where action takes precedence over character development. Not perfect, but very well done. The technical aspects seem to be right on the money, at least as far as I can tell from additional research on various military websites. My only complaint is that no author seems to feel the need to explain just what a specific unit designation means, ie: Battilion 2/64 etc. I have never been able to figure this out, but I am sure that to an Army trained person it is obvious. That is my only complaint. To put it simply, go out and buy this book. Steal it if you must, but it is a terrific read. Well worth the money.

I served 12 years as an Armor officer and it is refreshing to read a fivtion novel written by an Armor officer because I know it will be full of facts and not assumptions of how the military operates. This book is an outstanding read and a real page turner. I read the whole thing in two days and craved more after the last page.I hope the author finds the time to write another novel concerning tank warfare. If he does I will be the first one in line to get it.

An astounding first novel from Michael Farmer. A very possible war as seen from the point of view of the soldiers, at the company level, and occasionaly at the brigade level. It compares very well to Harold Coyle's "Team Yankee". It is about the soldiers themselves, the fighting troops who get their hands dirty doing the actual work. This book keeps you focussed on the battle at hand."Tin Soldiers" also has a touch of Ralph Peter's "Red Army" to it, in that it takes the odd unexpected twist. What if American troops are outnumbered and vulnerable to their enemies weapons?I can't wait for his next book.

As a veteran of Desert Storm, where I served in 1st Armored Division, I have to say this book is a great ride. The dialogue makes it obvious that Farmer isn't faking this, he has talked this talk, and the action is edge-of-your-seat stuff.He takes a few "what-ifs," spins them together with what he knows, and the reader gets to experience armored warfare in a brutally vivid way.I highly recommend this book. A real keeper. I look forward to his next book.