I bought it after I had read his short story, “The Butcher’s Bill” in Gordon R. Dickson's hardcover anthology of science fiction related combat stories called "Combat SF" in 1975.
David's direct experience in combat in Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry (the Black Horse Regiment) in Vietnam and Cambodia was readily apparent in his writing about men and vehicles in combat.
The 11th ACR invented the use of the M113 ACAV in jungle warfare and these later manifested themselves as the "combat cars" used in "Hammer's Slammers".
His inclusion of the sort of nuts-and-bolts descriptions of all of the things that can go wrong with armored vehicles in combat and the ground level motivations, leadership, tactics and dialogue of the people involved, gave it the sort of gritty realism that can only come from someone who has "been there, done that".
I never really appreciated this aspect of his writing until several years later, after I too had "seen the elephant". Then I was even more impressed. There was a time when I would search the shelves with great anticipation for anything new from David Drake.
I guarantee you will not regret it. I still go back sometimes and reread his stuff.
He did an entire series of books and stories set the the Slammers universe, sometimes subunits of the Slammers, and sometimes even about other competing mercenary units. But the vibe was always the same.
If you are a vet, you will instantly recognize his characters archetypes. "The New Recruit". "The Newbee Lt.". "The Grizzled Old Sergeant Major.", and "The Most Dangerous Killer You Ever Met."
There were so many scenes from his books that I didn't really understand when I first started reading them at 18. Years later, I remember thinking, "Yep, Dave, you called that one absolutely goddamm right."
"Lieutenant, you're a good man, and a good officer, and I like you, but sometimes you think too goddamm much." (Sergeant Major right after ensuring that the terms of the unit's contract were fulfilled to the letter.)
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 2 points 1.4 yearsDec 11, 2023 12:41:16 ago (+2/-0)*
https://files.catbox.moe/888xol.jpg
I bought it after I had read his short story, “The Butcher’s Bill” in Gordon R. Dickson's hardcover anthology of science fiction related combat stories called "Combat SF" in 1975.
David's direct experience in combat in Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry (the Black Horse Regiment) in Vietnam and Cambodia was readily apparent in his writing about men and vehicles in combat.
The 11th ACR invented the use of the M113 ACAV in jungle warfare and these later manifested themselves as the "combat cars" used in "Hammer's Slammers".
His inclusion of the sort of nuts-and-bolts descriptions of all of the things that can go wrong with armored vehicles in combat and the ground level motivations, leadership, tactics and dialogue of the people involved, gave it the sort of gritty realism that can only come from someone who has "been there, done that".
I never really appreciated this aspect of his writing until several years later, after I too had "seen the elephant". Then I was even more impressed. There was a time when I would search the shelves with great anticipation for anything new from David Drake.
Goodbye Mr. Drake. You will be missed.
[ + ] Sector2
[ - ] Sector2 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 11, 2023 14:07:20 ago (+1/-0)
Haven't read anything he's authored, but will check out Hammers Slammers.
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 11, 2023 15:49:36 ago (+1/-0)
He did an entire series of books and stories set the the Slammers universe, sometimes subunits of the Slammers, and sometimes even about other competing mercenary units. But the vibe was always the same.
If you are a vet, you will instantly recognize his characters archetypes. "The New Recruit". "The Newbee Lt.". "The Grizzled Old Sergeant Major.", and "The Most Dangerous Killer You Ever Met."
There were so many scenes from his books that I didn't really understand when I first started reading them at 18.
Years later, I remember thinking, "Yep, Dave, you called that one absolutely goddamm right."
"Lieutenant, you're a good man, and a good officer, and I like you, but sometimes you think too goddamm much."
(Sergeant Major right after ensuring that the terms of the unit's contract were fulfilled to the letter.)