Your grandfather was a coward.

That is the angry recollection with which a former Zero fighter pilot greets two Japanese siblings who, typically, despite being educated, know next to nothing about a defining war in the Pacific that took place within living memory. The testimony rattles and confuses aspiring lawyer Kentaro and newly minted journalist Keiko since virtually the only fact they’ve grown up hearing about Kyuzo Miyabe is that he died a kamikaze. When the young pair digs deeper into the man’s past, other surviving comrades only seem to confirm the verdict, but its very import begins to shift in surprising ways.

In addition to providing a window into the experiences of the losing side’s flyboys and a frank look at contemporary Japan’s amnesia regarding the war, this novel also undertakes a blistering critique of the folly and inhumanity of the Imperial Navy and Army and a nuanced exploration of the differences between kamikaze pilots and today’s suicide bombers. At its core, however, it is a mystery of sorts about a long-dead man’s actions and intentions and a reconfiguration of the meaning of wartime loyalty and sacrifice.

A debut novel that was published when the author was fifty, The Eternal Zero has become Japan’s all-time top-selling mass-market paperback and the basis of a blockbuster film of the same name.

The year is 1986.

Inside the Soviet Union — the unthinkable is about to happen…

Sweeping across the social strata of Soviet Society, from the Gulags to the highest offices in the Communist Party, from the peasantry to sophisticated literary circles, Russia is a powder keg ready to explode…

The death of Leonid Brezhnev has left the party leaderless.

The fearless Natalya Roginova is positioning herself as a reformist figure against the brutal KGB General Semyon Kuba, who is determined to preserve the status quo.

A beautiful young student, Zoya Densky, is politicized by the arrest of her father, the central figure in a new movement to restore workers’ rights.

Igor Bukanksy, the disaffected editor of an Arts magazine, has been passed a novel of rare genius, but to publish it would be an instant death sentence.

Meanwhile the stylish wife of an American diplomat in Paris learns that the mysterious man who shared her bed the night before is a Soviet assassin.

In the great cities and on the distant steppes… in the factories and on the farms… in the universities and in the prison camps… in the highest circles of government and in the lowest depths of outcast society… giant forces are building… Russia, in all its grandeur, brutality, and impenetrable mystery, has been transformed into a human volcano about to explode…

Teeming with unforgettable characters, The Fall of the Russian Empire reveals the brutal realities of Soviet life and the inspiring spirit it takes to endure and overcome a violent regime.

“Fast-moving, realistic, very plausible… Memorable and moving human dramas… Sweeping and passionate in the grand tradition.” Publishers Weekly

“An exceptional novel of compelling interest… Highly recommended!” Library Journal

“A big historical picture with personal subplots… strong, rewarding!” Kirkus Reviews

Donald James (1931–2008) was a journalist and bestselling writer of novels, historical non-fiction and television scripts.

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It is December 1937 and the Japanese Imperial Army has just entered Nanking. Unable to reach the Safety Zone in Pokou, a group of schoolgirls are hiding out in the compound of the St. Mary Magdalene mission. They are looked after by Father Engelmann, an American priest who has made China his home for many years. The church is supposed to be neutral ground in the war between China and Japan, but eyewitness reports from the outside make it clear the Japanese are not obeying the international rules of engagement. As the soldiers pour through the streets of Nanking, committing unspeakable atrocities on civilians, thirteen Chinese courtesans from a nearby brothel climb over the church compound's walls seeking refuge. Their presence further jeopardizes the children's safety and what happens next will change all of their lives. A haunting, passionate story inspired by true life events during the Nanking Massacre, this novel shows how war challenges our prejudices and that love can flourish amidst death and destruction. The Flowers of War is an unforgettable journey through the depths of the human heart.Review“I have long been a fan of Geling Yan’s fiction for its power to disturb us out of our ordinary worlds… The Flowers of War is [a] riveting tale that touches us at the center of our being.”— Amy Tan, New York Times bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club“I will never forget some of the characters in this short novel for their amazing acceptance of their destiny and their dignity throughout. That [Yan] was able to convey this with so much authority, yet so simply, is testament to [her] splendid talent.”— The Arts Fuse

It is December 1937 and the Japanese Imperial Army has just entered Nanking. Unable to reach the Safety Zone in Pokou, a group of schoolgirls are hiding out in the compound of the St. Mary Magdalene mission. They are looked after by Father Engelmann, an American priest who has made China his home for many years. The church is supposed to be neutral ground in the war between China and Japan, but eyewitness reports from the outside make it clear the Japanese are not obeying the international rules of engagement. As the soldiers pour through the streets of Nanking, committing unspeakable atrocities on civilians, thirteen Chinese courtesans from a nearby brothel climb over the church compound's walls seeking refuge. Their presence further jeopardizes the children's safety and what happens next will change all of their lives. A haunting, passionate story inspired by true life events during the Nanking Massacre, this novel shows how war challenges our prejudices and that love can flourish amidst death and destruction. The Flowers of War is an unforgettable journey through the depths of the human heart.Review“I have long been a fan of Geling Yan’s fiction for its power to disturb us out of our ordinary worlds… The Flowers of War is [a] riveting tale that touches us at the center of our being.”— Amy Tan, New York Times bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club“I will never forget some of the characters in this short novel for their amazing acceptance of their destiny and their dignity throughout. That [Yan] was able to convey this with so much authority, yet so simply, is testament to [her] splendid talent.”— The Arts Fuse

The master of military historical fiction turns his discerning eye to the Korean War in this riveting new novel, which tells the dramatic story of the Americans and the Chinese who squared off in one of the deadliest campaigns in the annals of combat: the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as Frozen Chosin.June 1950. The North Korean army invades South Korea, intent on uniting the country under Communist rule. In response, the United States mobilizes a force to defend the overmatched South Korean troops, and together they drive the North Koreans back to their border with China.But several hundred thousand Chinese troops have entered Korea, laying massive traps for the Allies. In November 1950, the Chinese spring those traps. Allied forces, already battling stunningly cold weather, find themselves caught completely off guard as the Chinese advance around the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. A force that once stood on the precipice of victory now finds itself on the brink of annihilation. Assured by General Douglas MacArthur that they would be home by Christmas, the soldiers and Marines fight for their lives against the most brutal weather conditions imaginable—and an enemy that outnumbers them more than six to one.The Frozen Hours tells the story of Frozen Chosin from multiple points of view: Oliver P. Smith, the commanding general of the American 1st Marine Division, who famously redefined defeat as “advancing in a different direction”; Marine Private Pete Riley, a World War II veteran who now faces the greatest fight of his life; and the Chinese commander Sung Shi-Lun, charged with destroying the Americans he has so completely surrounded, ever aware that above him, Chairman Mao Tse-Tung watches his every move.Written with the propulsive force Shaara brings to all his novels of combat and courage, The Frozen Hours transports us to the critical moment in the history of America’s “Forgotten War,” when the fate of the Korean peninsula lay in the hands of a brave band of brothers battling both the elements and a determined, implacable foe.

The ultimate alternative history. World War II never happens. The German Army defeats the Allies at Dunkirk, after which it occupies France. Germany now controls a vast swathe of Europe. An unexpected event then changes the course of history forever. This book is also an indictment of the world's weak, incompetent or corrupt ruling elites.

After standing for over 7,000 years, Aleppo’s ruin came overnight.

Separated from his family during the night the rebels attacked the city, thirteen-year-old Zaid Kadir is lost in the middle of a war zone. Alongside his friends, he is forced to survive the dangers of a civil war he does not even fully understand. Zaid witnesses the destruction of the brutal Syrian Civil War as it grows more deadly by the day and rips his city apart. However, as he braves this destruction, as he desperately tries to survive this catastrophe, he discovers something. Zaid realizes that it is in the darkest hours when humanity’s spirit of hope burns brightest.

Captain Cleve Connell has already made a name for himself among pilots when he arrives in Korea during the war there to fly the newly operational F-86 fighters against the Soviet MIGs. His goal, like that of every fighter pilot, is to chalk up enough kills to become an ace.But things do not turn out as expected. Mission after mission proves fruitless, and Connell finds his ability and his stomach for combat questioned by his fellow airmen: the brash wing commander Imil; Captain Robey, an ace whose record is suspect; and finally, Lieutenant Pell, a cocky young pilot with an uncanny amount of skill and luck.Disappointment and fear gradually erode Connell’s faith in himself, and his dream of making ace seems to slip out of reach. Then suddenly, one dramatic mission above the Yalu River reveals the depth of his courage and honor.Originally published in 1956, The Hunters was James Salter’s first novel. Based on his own experiences as a fighter pilot in the Korean War, it is a classic of wartime fiction. Now revised by the author and back in print on the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Air Force, the story of Cleve Connell’s war flies straight into the heart of men’s rivalries and fears.From Library JournalSalter’s 1956 fighter pilot novel stands out as a literary endeavor in a genre dominated by cheap adventure yarns. Salter goes beyond the usual gung-ho fighter jock glitz to present the story of Capt. Cleve Connell, whose intentions of becoming an ace are thwarted by enemy pilots with plans of their own.Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Review“The contemporary writer most admired and envied by other writers…. He can… break your heart with a sentence.”—Washington Post Book World“Anyone under forty may not appreciate how profoundly Salter influenced my generation. [He] created the finest work ever to appear in print—ever—about men who fly and fight.”—Robert F. Dorr, author of F-86 Sabre“Darkly romantic… beautifully composed… a brilliant war novel.”—Chicago Tribune

Captain Cleve Connell has already made a name for himself among pilots when he arrives in Korea during the war there to fly the newly operational F-86 fighters against the Soviet MIGs. His goal, like that of every fighter pilot, is to chalk up enough kills to become an ace.But things do not turn out as expected. Mission after mission proves fruitless, and Connell finds his ability and his stomach for combat questioned by his fellow airmen: the brash wing commander, Captain Robey, an ace whose record is suspect; and finally, Lieutenant Pell, a cocky young pilot with an uncanny amount of skill and luck.Disappointment and fear gradually erode Connell’s faith in himself, and his dream of making ace seems to slip out of reach. Then suddenly, one dramatic mission above the Yalu River reveals the depth of his courage and honor.Originally published in 1956, The Hunters was James Salter’s first novel. Based on his own experiences as a fighter pilot in the Korean War, it is a classic of wartime fiction. Now revised by the author and back in print on the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Air Force, the story of Cleve Connell’s war flies straight into the heart of men’s rivalries and fears.From Library JournalSalter’s 1956 fighter pilot novel stands out as a literary endeavor in a genre dominated by cheap adventure yarns. Salter goes beyond the usual gung-ho fighter jock glitz to present the story of Capt. Cleve Connell, whose intentions of becoming an ace are thwarted by enemy pilots with plans of their own.Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Review“The contemporary writer most admired and envied by other writers…. He can… break your heart with a sentence.”—Washington Post Book World“Anyone under forty may not appreciate how profoundly Salter influenced my generation. [He] created the finest work ever to appear in print—ever—about men who fly and fight.”—Robert F. Dorr, author of F-86 Sabre“Darkly romantic… beautifully composed… a brilliant war novel.”—Chicago Tribune

The year is 1950, but not the 1950 we know. The Second World War ended in 1943. Hitler never declared war on the United States and is currently master of an empire that stretches from the Atlantic coastline of France to the Ural Mountains in Russia. Hundreds of millions are dead or enslaved as Hitler’s followers make his dreams real, but the Fuhrer is still not satisfied. To the west, Britain remains independent — and, beyond it, the United States of America.Since 1943, the world has enjoyed an uneasy peace.That is about to change…[As a matter of principle, all of my self-published books are DRM-free. You can do what you like with them (well, at least anything you can do with a paperback book.) Download a larger sample from my site — http://www.chrishanger.net — before you buy!]

An American Army combat unit in war-torn Vietnam, a prison camp behind enemy lines, a strategically important railroad bridge on the Sang Chu River — these are the ingredients of this gripping suspense novel.

Here, set in bold relief against a background of slashing monsoon rain and upthrust poison pungi stakes of elusive traitors and friendly Montagnard tribesmen, in the timely and dramatic story of Colonel David Tyreen’s eight man suicide mission into North Vietnam.

Of first priority in the rescue, before he talks, of Eddie Kreizler, held for interrogation by torture in a Viet Minh camp in North Vietnam. Second mission — to destroy the railroad bridge on the Sang Chu, protected from air attack by overhanging cliffs and heavily guarded against sabotage.

From the moment they leave their home base in South Vietnam, the unit is plagued by trouble. There is the dangerous parachute drop — in the midst of a raging monsoon — that almost ends in disaster. Then the grim spectre of treachery and internal dissension splits the group as they begin to encounter enemy patrols.

The arresting cast of characters is headlined by Colonel Tyreen, weak from malaria but fanatically intent on carrying out the mission; Captain Saville, who both admires and hates Tyreen and is willing to pay a staggering price for his loyalty; Sergeant Hooker, a tough career soldier and a demolitions expert who distrust the unit’s two Vietnamese members; and McKuen and Shannon, two reckless fliers with a clipped and outdated pale.

The Last Bridge is a swashbuckling adventure tale that brings to vivid life all the raw and brutal emotions of men at war, and the bitter personal conflicts that move them to savagery and sacrifice.

Forced into a neutral Estonian port for repairs during the chaos of the opening days of World War II, the Polish submarine, the “Eagle” and her crew are betrayed by their captain and captured by Nazi sympathizers. The crew, however, isn’t content to sit out the war. With help from unexpected sources—a naval attaché with the British Embassy and a courageous American reporter and her photographer sidekick—they overcome their captors, regain control of the “Eagle,” and escape. The German’s are convinced the “Eagle’s” crew has no stomach for a fight and will seek refuge in Sweden. But the Poles have something else in mind—join up with the British Fleet and continue fighting against their homeland’s Nazi conquerors. They face stiff odds. The “Eagle” has little food and water, few torpedoes, and no sea charts. And before she can rendezvous with the British somewhere in the North Sea, she must traverse the Baltic, which has become little more than a Nazi-controlled lake.This story is inspired by the exploits of the Polish submarine, “Orzel,” during the early weeks of World War II.Winston Churchill called her escape from the Nazis “an epic.”

Forced into a neutral Estonian port for repairs during the chaos of the opening days of World War II, the Polish submarine, the “Eagle” and her crew are betrayed by their captain and captured by Nazi sympathizers. The crew, however, isn’t content to sit out the war. With help from unexpected sources—a naval attaché with the British Embassy and a courageous American reporter and her photographer sidekick—they overcome their captors, regain control of the “Eagle,” and escape. The German’s are convinced the “Eagle’s” crew has no stomach for a fight and will seek refuge in Sweden. But the Poles have something else in mind—join up with the British Fleet and continue fighting against their homeland’s Nazi conquerors. They face stiff odds. The “Eagle” has little food and water, few torpedoes, and no sea charts. And before she can rendezvous with the British somewhere in the North Sea, she must traverse the Baltic, which has become little more than a Nazi-controlled lake.This story is inspired by the exploits of the Polish submarine, “Orzel,” during the early weeks of World War II.Winston Churchill called her escape from the Nazis “an epic.”

A collection of riveting tales of the sea including the story that launched his writing career and the account of the epic battle to sink the German battle ship, Bismarck.

THE MASTER STORYTELLER IN HIS ELEMENT…

Alistair MacLean has an unmistakable and unrivalled skill in writing about the sea and its power and about the men and women who sail it, and who fight and die in it. His distinctive voice was evident from his very first prize-winning story, The Dileas, and has been heard time and again in his international career as the author of such bestsellers as HMS Ulysses and San Andreas. The Lonely Sea starts where MacLean’s career started, with The Dileas, and collects together his stories of the sea. Here is a treasury of vintage MacLean, compelling and brilliant, where the master storyteller is in his element.

In the blaze of a Carolina summer, among the poison ivy and loblolly pines, eight Marines are killed almost casually by misfired mortar shells. Deciding that his battalion has been “doping off”, Colonel Templeton calls for a 36-mile forced march to inculcate discipline. The Long March is a searing account of this ferocious ordeal—and of the two officers who resist.

What do you do when war tears your world apart?

For fans of The Kite Runner, Girl at War and The Cellist of Sarajevo, The Longest Winter is Kevin Sullivan’s inspiring and authentic debut novel about life in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. Terry is a British doctor on a mission to rescue a sick child in urgent need of life-saving surgery. Brad is an American journalist desperately trying to save his reputation following the disasters of his last posting. Milena is a young woman from Eastern Bosnia who has fled from her home and her husband, seeking refuge from betrayal amid the devastation of besieged Sarajevo. In the aftermath of the assassination of a government minister, three life stories are intertwined in a dramatic quest for redemption.

It is the spring of 1945, and the Nazis are eliminating all the witnesses to their horrible crimes, including Jews and foreigners remaining in the prison camps. Kommandant Repp, who is known as a master sniper, decides to hone his sniping abilities by taking a little target practice at the remaining laborers in his own prison camp. But one man escapes and becomes the key to solving the mystery of the cold, calculating Kommandmant Repp and his plans for ending the war.Repp was the master sniper whose deadly talent had come to the notice of British Intelligence as the linchpin of a desperate Nazi plot to reverse the fortunes of the Third Reich at the eleventh hour. But what was the nature of the weapon that Repp was to aim—and who was to be his last target? Allied Intelligence officers Leets, from the U.S., and Outhwaite from England are dispatched to identify and abort his lethal mission. And when they finally learn the truth, the Second World War’s deadliest race against time is on….

The famous novel about three Nazi generals and a brutal wartime sex crime—and the inspiration for the 1967 film.When a Polish prostitute is murdered in 1942, the suspects come down to three German generals. But nothing happens. Then, in 1944, when the trio gathers again, another killing occurs. However, a coup against Hitler halts the investigations. Then, in 1956, a third slaying takes place-and it’s clear that this time, the murderer must be caught…Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel (1965).

Eva understands Hitler is married to Germany and must herself stand back unacknowledged as he enclasps the world in a passionate, python-like thrall. Until the last days in the final chapter of the Third Reich (and the first chapter of the novel) when Adolf and Eva move into their first home together, the Führerbunker. There, deep underground, hidden from the light of day and the light of history, but laid fully bare to the author’s unblinking eye, Eva Braun’s unquestioning patriotism and patience finally pay off in a private wedding ceremony and a cyanide capsule.

Mueller imagines the claustrophobic and morally twisted underground world of the Third Reich’s last gasp. All the Führer’s men and women, like rats in a trap, grow more and more desperate, more and more perverse, as they compete for the final crumbs of attention from their doomed leader. Only one soul remains calm amid the chaos, the ever-patient, ever pliant paramour of the vilest man who ever lived. As the world around them goes astoundingly mad, their devotion to each other remains unsullied. Trusting. Even innocent.