I must confess...although I absolutely LOVE Killer Angels, by his dad Michael Shaara, I completely missed the fact that his son Jeff has published two books on WWII as part of his trilogy: The Rising Tide and The Steel Wave. Anyway, I picked up both titles at B&N the other day because he wil be there to do a book signing on June 12th. Those that have read one or both....what are your thoughts?
I've only read The Killer Angels. If read as fiction, it's not bad, but not terribly accurate historically.
I started Killer Angels some years ago but didn't finish it - I never got bitten by the Civil War bug (even though I live in Virginia !). However, I saw Jeff Shaara's The Steel Wave at Border's a few weeks ago, and was intrigued by the cover (long been bitten by the D-Day bug), so I bought it - but haven't read it yet. I went to a talk and book signing he did at Border's last night, and I must say I was impressed by his talk. His books are fiction, obviously placed in an historic setting/event, but a lot of fiction is - I'm looking forward to reading it.
Weird. I posted here yesterday but it is gone. Anyhow, I picked up the book The Rising Tide yesterday (had not heard of author or book before) and then saw the thread. I'm just starting the book and will be reading over the next week while on airplanes and computerless at a conference! I'll let you know what I think next weekend.
Well, I finally finished the book. Because I am not thoroughly versed in the history of the North African and Sicilian campaigns, I found it difficult to tell what was fictionalized and what was not. As he does not make reference to any sources of his information I don't know if he looked at the personal memoires of Eisenhower, Rommel, etc when he created accounts of supposed conversation and whether the attitudes of the individuals reflect a reality. It was an interesting read. I didn't end up having any personal attachment to any character, except perhaps Eisenhower and even then it was tenuous! The tanker and paratrooper are interesting as are there comrades but they are brief storylines. There does seem to have been some historical research as "The Rising Tide" actually refers to various Generals who have had lesser fame, and who I might not have known as fact if I had not done the "Who is this General" quiz thread on this Forum! I will still probably read the second book since it goes to Normandy. These books will not probably rank amongst my greatest reads - as I was able to put it down, but seem like they would be good introductory books for someone who wants to use them as a snapshot view of The War that could launch more thorough personal research. As an aside, he actually mentions that the Canadians were in Sicily, albeit very briefly a couple of times towards the end - once kindly, and once dismissively.
I have read all three of his books on WWII. They are dy-no-mite! Very good reading. Shaara is planning a book 4 to cover the war in the Pacific under MacArthur.
Rev Bucky; I'm with you. I am halfway through The Steel Wave and it is a great-if fictionalized-read. A must for Ike fans! Shaara does write with the cinema in mind and it is possible that this one might make the big screen. I wonder who would play Gen Eisenhower? I vote for Tom Hanks. JeffinMNUSA
