Sniper!

Can anyone reccomend a good sniper novel? wwii or non either one.

Thanks,

 

I've been scratching my head, DB - and can't think of a single one !

A really useful book ( non-fiction, though ) is Captain C. Shore's 'With British Snipers To The Reich' ( 1946, but reprinted by Greenhill Books about four years ago ). Punch 'sniper' into the forum search engine and you'll find other suggestions in old threads ( especially around 'Enemy At The Gates' time ).

But as for novels....

 

Found a site of several books WW2 and other wars:

http://www.warbooks.com/snipe.html

http://www.historyofmilitary.com/Grandfathers_Tale_The_Tale_of_a_German_Sniper_0595164625.html

http://www.history-europe.com/War_of_the_Rats_A_Novel_055358135X.html

 

I found "War of the Rats" a good read. Read it without trying to detect any minor detail errors. That sort of reading can ruin any good novel. It's about Vasily Zaitsev in Stalingrad. The Germans send an SS sniper to kill him. I apologize for not being able to give you the author. I lent the book to a "friend" some time ago and I fear I'll never get it back.

 

Another example of this forum costing me money..prompted by Kai's posting, I've ordered a copy of 'Grandfather's Tale' from Amazon.

If it's a load of rubbish, Kai - I know where to find you ...

 

Thanks Guys!

I had already been looking at buying 'Grandfather's Tale'

I looked up "War of the Rats" and it looks good too! Now I don't know which to read first.

Thanks again,

 

Martin/David, they both are fiction.......I know you're going to hate this but thought I would post anyway

~E don't throw the plate at me please

 

It's OK, Erich - for once, fiction's what we want !

 

You can get the book Marine sniper about Carlos Hathcock. He's scored the most kills for a US sniper with 93 confirmed. Of course its nonfiction and Vietnam but just thought to put that in as well.

Greg

 

Too bad the book on Simo Häyhä is so far only in Finnish (?)...I´m sure it would have its audience if it was released in English!



The white death in Finnish is " Valkoinen kuolema".

Well, here´s something to read on Him:

http://www.snipersparadise.com/History/hayha.htm

[ 20. August 2003, 06:19 AM: Message edited by: Kai-Petri ]

 

Thanks, I havne't had much free time lately, so I never got a chance to look for it...

Anyone know if this book "Valkoinen kuolema" has been published in english yet?

Thanks

 

Found this, The Sniper Samio Hayha, Tapio Sarrelainen www.worldwartwobooks.com i think I might get me a copy.

 

Here's another one,

Amazon.com: Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross (9781844153176): Albrecht Wacker: Books

It seems interesting, I might order this one after I'm done my queue.

 

Another from Vietnam:

13 Cent Killers: The 5th Marine Snipers in Vietnam:by John J. Culbertson.

Which is esp interesting if you have read "Marine Sniper" as he "slags" Carlos and makes some not to subtle claims that Carlos stories..are just that...stories..or at least strong embellishments.

War of the Rats; i have read and its enjoyable..but as was said earlier..it based on reality but is not a "true" story.

 

Sniper on the Eastern Front is a Must read it that good

Just got Sniper Ace to read next

 

Would you agree with some of the negative reviews it has received on Amazon?

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross

I try to avoid those reviews because in my experience people who haven't read the book comment on it intentionally to discredit it or cast doubt among readers.

 

..As the writer of one of those negative reviews, yes I would ! ..personally I thought the book was worthless as an historical document, or a memoir, whatever ! The 'sniper' featured isn't even a real person. The book is very loosely based on the experiences of an Fallschirmjäger unit (IIRC) but in reality is just one long litany of exploding heads and torsos gushing intestines.. now I'm not a fan of horror movies, I don't play on my kids X-Box or PS games, but the passage featuring the limbless torso screaming; "where are arms, where are my legs " was too much for me....Pythonesque and grotesque...