Star Wars: A Long Time Ago..., Book 6: Wookiee World Review

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(More customer reviews)Terrific grouping of stories, both epic and self-contained, during the period immediately following Return of the Jedi (and Truce at Bakura) which contains some of the best and most exciting Star Wars tales to date.
With Jo Duffy firmly at the helm as writer, the Marvel Star Wars series really hit its stride with these issues. Duffy has an instinctive feel for the Star Wars Universe and especially for its characters whom she handles with expert grace. She also adds a touch of genuine humor, an element present in the films, but oftentimes lacking in Star Wars fiction. Unlike criticisms of The Phantom Menace, however, the humor never collides with the dramatic tension, and in this the author excels, producing some of the more somber and dark tales of the series. In these issues, moreover, there is an onslaught of movement, both the fast action-paced variety and the more internal dramatic ones.
With the dissipation of the Empire, an alien force moves in (precursors to the later Yuuzahn Vong) that is both ruthless and terrifying. The Nagai are the proud and sometimes vicious warriors of a system that itself has suffered the ill-effects of centuries-long war. Drawn in malevolent form by the likes of experts Tom Palmer (one of my all-time favorite SW artists) and then newcomer Cynthia Martin (who's style predates the US invasion of Japanese art), the Nagai are never one-dimensional villains, and along with fan-favorite, Lumiya (a former Rebel plant trained in the Dark Side by Vader himself), dominate these pages with a presence that perfectly fills in the gap left by the Empire.
Also featured here is Randy Stradley's first contribution (issue 86: Last Gift of Alderaan) which is a prequel to his later Crimson Empire series for Dark Horse. This is a moving tale that never fails to elicit resonance. Issue 89 (I'll See You in the Throne Room) by Ann Nocenti is likewise a haunting and evokative tale of betrayal, greed and madness that provides a forgleam of Luke's eventual descent to the Dark Side six years later in Dark Empire. Some times the Bad Guys win... Also, here is the first entry by everyone's favorite Star Wars artist, Jan Duursema in a story called "The Dream", a fantastic conclusion to The Apprentice (in Annual 3) which demonstrates the sad consequences of the abuse of power, and in which we are given a glimpse of the second Dark Lord of the Sith to follow in the wake of Vader's demise (the first being Lumiya) as well as a surprising and touching appearance by Yoda! Great stuff here! The above is just a sampling of the many incredible stories you'll find. There's also a fantastic Lando tale (with his famous and hysterical "Drebble" disguise!), Ewoks at war, Hoojibs, Han, Leia, Chewie on his homeworld of Kashyyyk and much, much more!
Dark Horse has again done a magnificent job reprinting these long out-of-print and hard-to-find issues, and they've never looked and felt so good! No true fan of Star Wars should be without this book and it's accompanying volumes on their shelf. A masterpiece of writing, art and packaging!

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The latest volume of Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... features more classic stories not seen for more than twenty years! Originally printed by Marvel Comics (issues 82 to 95), these stories take place after Return of the Jedi, as the heroes establish a base of leadership for their newly freed galaxy. Also: a stranded Leia fights for her life with a native of her destroyed home world...an Imperial trooper! Lando goes to the aid of an old flame and gets caught in a planet's political struggles. Han and Chewie set out on a treasure hunt, but manage to twart an Imperial plot. And much more! Introduction by Dark Horse Star Wars writer and editor Randy Stradley.

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War in the Pacific 1941-1945 (General Military) Review

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(More customer reviews)In March, 2010 HBO is airing the new mini-series, The Pacific, produced by Tom Hanks & Stephen Spielberg. The program is sure to spark a wave of new interest in America's Pacific campaign during WWII. History enthusiasts looking for an introduction to this subject will be well served by this new coffee table book from Osprey Publishing. Those already familiar with the history will enjoy the many photographs, historic objects, and the book's easy-reference organization of info. War in the Pacific, by Richard Overy offers a compact history in an engaging design.
The text has a scrapbook (or maybe government file) quality with color maps, photos, and historic objects to illustrate the story. Each military operation receives a two page spread. There are four or five paragraphs of descriptive text and about seven photos with descriptive captions. Mini biographies of military commanders stand out from the main text, appearing as if they are on cards with paper clipped portraits.
I am especially impressed by the inclusion of facsimiles of period documents and publications. Having read the military records of my grandfather's WWII Army battalion, I can say there is something uniquely immediate and enlightening about reading such primary source material. The book is bound with three pockets holding copies of telling documents such as: a December 8, 1941 telegram from the US Commander-in-Chief Pacific Area warning naval units of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR's notes for his speech to Congress, pages from several battle reports, radio message transcripts, a letter from General MacArthur, and the Japanese Instrument of surrender which ended the war.
Also included is a full copy of the March 9, 1944 issue of Yank Magazine, a propaganda poster, a big pull-out map of the Battle of Midway, and a pocket guide to Australia which was issued to US forces to familiarize them with their allies.
Table of Contents:
Operations Map: Japanese Expansion
Imperial Japan
Pearl Harbor
Blitzkrieg in Asia
Corregidor: Fall of the Philippines
Battle of Coral Sea
Battle of Midway
Battle for the Solomons
Guadalcanal
Operations Map 1943
Operation "Cartwheel": War for New Guinea
Island Hopping in the Pacific: Gilbert and Marshall Islands
Operations Map 1944
Marianas: Defiance to the Death
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Battle of Peleliu
Recapture of the Philippines
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Operations Map 1945
Iwo Jima
Firebombing of Tokyo
Okinawa
The Atomic Bombs
Japanese Surrender
Index

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You don't have anything like this yet!Check your collections. Never before has such a unique assembly of rare documents been available. WAR IN THE PACIFIC brings to life the story of the heroic actions of the men who fought the relentless war against Japan in World War II. Includes recorded memories, photographs, maps, and actual reproductions of 20 rare key documents and memorabilia: the dispatch to General MacArthur to abandon the Philippines, the "Pocket Guide to Australia" issued to US army and navy forces in 1942, and much more!WAR IN THE PACIFIC is being released to coincide with the much-anticipated 10-part mini-series coming from HBO in March.War In The Pacific 1941-1945 looks at the relentless war against Japan in the Pacific Islands which formed an integral part of eventual Allied victory in World War II. Setting the scene with the unprovoked Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the almost simultaneous attack on US bases on Guam and Wake Island, it then goes on to document the bloody battles fought in the jungle islands of Guadalcanal and the Philippines and the seas of the Pacific.As fortunes turned in 1942 the Allies fought hard to regain lost ground and the intensity of battle did not waver. It tells the story of the heroic actions of the men who toiled on the islands, the names of which have now become synonymous with bloodshed, hardship and unstoppable spirit which eventually resulted in victory for the Allies: Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Rabaul, Guam, Iwo Jima and finally Okinawa.This fascinating and heart-wrenching story is brought to life by the addition of 20 carefully selected facsimile pieces of memorabilia ranging from military orders to propaganda leaflets dropped by the Japanese on US troops to the personal diaries and letters home of both generals, officers and ordinary soldiers.

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Collins Atlas of World War II Review

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(More customer reviews)I chose to purchase this Atlas on account of its author, John Keegan. The Atlas is presented in an an attractive format. Each page contains a description of the battle/era alongside a map portraying the relevant events. The maps are clear, colorful and diverse. Map topics range from political developments (pre-war), strategic military events and tactical battle views, down to the battalion level. Of particular interest I found the Stalingrad map, which clearly displays the city's various districts through an isometric view. It's the first map I saw of its kind, and provides excellent understanding of a battle conducted in urban terrain. On the downside, the pages are too small for my taste, degrading the level of detail in the maps. Additionally, while ideally covered in conventional Atlases, I believe that this Atlas should have provided a geographical survey of the battlefields, describing the topography, demography, climate and land-type. It would have saved me the need of consulting another atlas. All in all, an excellent buy, and an interesting read on its own, although mainly suitable as a companion to other WWII literature.

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A stunning visual account of the greatest conflict in world history.

The Second World War is the largest event in the history of mankind. No populated continent was untouched by its operations, and the political structure of the postwar world has been largely determined by its outcome. The global nature of the war, and the ambitions of the belligerents, meant that it was fought on a scale that, even today, confounds the imagination. It was a stimulus to unparalleled economic activity and provoked the most important clash of ideologies experienced by the world since the Crusades.

The Collins Atlas of World War II furthers our understanding of the war that forever changed our world. The scale and scope of the war is examined here in graphic form, with maps that trace the military campaigns as well as the social and political developments. Authoritative text addresses the issues and events leading to war and all of the clashes and challenges during wartime.

More than 125 full-color maps, diagrams, and timelines
Edited by acclaimed military historian John Keegan
Comprehensive coverage of the prewar world and the world at war
Examination of military plans and key battles
Internet links for further research
Glossary and Index

For anyone with an interest in the history, society, politics, warfare, and culture of the world, the Collins Atlas of World War II is a perfect companion.

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Star Wars Rebel Storm Booster Pack (7 Random Miniatures) Review

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(More customer reviews)What could be better than pre-painted plastic miniatures for your Star Wars roleplaying neeeds? I highly recommend these to anyone playing the game or just into collecting Star Wars stuff. The detailing is better than anything I could achieve if I painted them. Open a box and get ready to play!

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SEA OF FALLEN STARS (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Forgotten Realms Campaign Expansion) Review

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(More customer reviews)As an avid collector of all things to do with the realms this was a must buy. The book itself is very much in the style of Faiths and Avaters being a weighty tome full of detail but in an easily accesible style. The premise is setting out an underwater campaign setting in the Sea of Fallen Stars complete with individual histories, cultures and new PC races.
As such each part is very well written and thought out but unfortunately the writer tries to do too much within this one product.
I hate to say it but this one occasion when the good old fasioned multiple book boxed set would be handy.
To top it all a few other products are really needed to help round this setting out fully, especially for newbie DM's, the complicated environment will be difficult to play out.
All in all this is a great book if your campaign is looking for something different, however, it needs an experineced DM with plenty of time to flesh out the myriad of ideas contaoned within.
Up there with Faith and Avaters as one of TSR's more thought provoking supplements.

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American Aircraft of World War II Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked up this book because I had decided to start doing scale modelling of WWII aircraft. A quick flip through the pages showed some remarkable reproductions of squadron markings and nose art, perfect for what I had in mind. Once I got it I found out exactly what a treasure it is. In addition to American markings there are some from other countries, mostly allied like China, Honduras, Free French, etc. But there are also some pictures of captured aircraft with Luftwaffe markings, something I have never seen before.
In addition to the numerous drawings, including some truly awesome two page all angle views of some of the more famous planes like the P-51, P-47, P-40, and the P-38 (just to name some), the information content for each plane was enormous. Starting with the experimental or test designation, to the first operational version, through the different variants (including the alternate names for export versions) and armament loadouts.
Far beyond what I thought I was getting and well worth twice as much as I paid for it. If you want in-depth information on American built aircraft during WWII, this is a must have book.

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This book provides a useful guide to some 120 aircraft that served with the U.S. Air Force from 1939-1945. Both combat and non-combat aircraft are chronicled by text that details each type's origin, history, and variants, followed by a full technical specification.

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Star Wars - Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire Review

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(More customer reviews)I wasn't really looking forward to reading this after the travesty that was Death, Lies, and Treachery, but I'm one of those die-hard Star Wars fans who reads everything.
Let me start off with the problems inherent in a Boba Fett centered story -- a great Star Wars story requires at least one of two things, cool space battles or cool jedi battles. Fett can provide neither. That was one (of many) of the failings of D,L,&T, as well as the main failing of the Bounty Hunter Wars book series. Another problem is that Fett is a very quiet, withdrawn individual, and that can get boring after a short time.
That all said, this was a nifty comic. While the story was a little silly, the characters were fun if not taken seriously, and the art, though kind of weird and more suited to a cartoon than a comic, was functional if not exactly inspiring.
There just wasn't much lasting value...it's fun once, but not really worth all the money. Also, this book doesn't have the cool preface by a cool author that most of the collected editions do, but it does have the cover gallery which some lack.
The real gem of this collection is Boba Fett #1/2 -- Salvage. A really good story. This and Twin Engines of Destruction really demonstrate that Fett is much better suited to one-shots than miniseries. A fun, excellently drawn, clever little gem of a comic, this book is almost worth buying for this little unrelated story alone.
Almost...

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Star Wars Jedi Apprentice Series (18 Volumes) Review

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(More customer reviews)My Son devoured this set of 20 books 1-18 and the 2 special editions I believe from what I have read that Adults and kids will enjoy reading this series. The storyline and situations aren't too complex, but the books give us a revealing insight into the training process of Jedi Knights. The point of view switches between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi; these books are really about BOTH knights and the things they teach each other on their journey. The next series Is Jedi Quest I believe.

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Behind the Blue-Star Banner: A Memoir from the Home Front Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is beautifully written and tells what military wives go through when our husbands are deployed. Michelle is brave enough to tell about the things that we never allow ourselves to say, like the way that we really feel and not what we let everyone else see. This is a great book for any military wife, a friend of a military family, or anyone who would like to take a peek into this great life that we military wives have the privilege of living. You will not regret buying this book!! Great job Michelle!!!

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Michelle Cuthrell was 23 years old, nine months out of college and 11 weeks pregnant with her first child when her husband deployed to Iraq in August 2005. With a baby in her belly and a husband in her heart, this newlywed embarked on a crazy journey that led her through a year of tests and trials, heartbreak and hard times, as she lived alone in the freezes and frosts of Fairbanks, Alaska. There, Michelle endured the pregnancy and rearing of the couple's first and only child as her husband, Matt, served with the 172nd Stryker brigade in Mosul, Iraq. But when the Department of Defense extended Matt's unit for four additional months in country, just 10 days shy of his much-anticipated homecoming after a year at war, Michelle temporarily fell apart. It was in those difficult days that she learned the real value of friendship, faith and unfailing love.

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Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace: Anakin to the Rescue (Step into Reading, Step 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a teacher. I work with children who have learning disabilities. Most of the children I work with have, what the public would call, dystexia. It is very hard to find books with large print that reflect the age group I work with. Fourth and Fifth graders don't like reading books about children much younger than themselves. Most of the books with large pint have stories about seven year old children, or even younger, this discourages and bores the older child. Today, one of my nine year boys read this book with very lettle help, but most important he really liked it and laughed in all the right places. If you have a child who hates to read,( many times this can point out some sort of problem,) try them on an age appropriate large print book. This set is published by Random House and is a great place to start.

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In this colorful fully-illustrated beginner reader, Anakin is supposed to wait for Qui-Gon outside the Jedi Temple. But Anakin hates waiting! And when he and Jar Jar find a lost little boy, Anakin knows he must help him. He wants to be brave and good, just like a Jedi Knight!

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Rogue Star (Warhammer 40,000) Review

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(More customer reviews)Andy Hoare dabbles on both sides of Games Workshop's product lines: game development for the Warhammer 40,000 (W40K) tabletop miniatures game, and in the Black Library fiction upon which it's based. He's done numerous short pieces, and this is his second novel, though clearly the first of a series. This work is more of a lengthy prolog to the series than a stand-alone book. The main characters include: Lucian Gerrit, the brash and insensitive dynastic father; Korvane, the bookish obedient son; and Brielle, the rebellious intuitive daughter.
The book abruptly, some might say inelegantly, thrusts the characters into their assigned roles. You know the personalities of the main characters before finishing the first chapter, and they don't deviate from those patterns for the rest of the work, even when there's clear evidence that to do so would be in their best interest. They form what is clearly the most dysfunctional family in the Imperium. The father blusters, issuing orders without any explanation, and even revels in the concept that his children won't understand his commands. The son, the heir apparent of the dynasty, is blindly obedient to his father and sullenly hostile towards his sister. The daughter is overtly rebellious and completely without consideration for anyone beside herself.
Action scenes provide welcome respite from the Gerrit family affairs, and both the personal- and starship-level conflicts are well written and agreeably paced. However, M. Hoare seems to have based much of his starship terminology from the age of sail, slightly at odds with previous 40K material. The helmsman turns the wheel to steer; Lucian is constantly referring to the drives as "the mains." Any reader of either Horatio Hornblower or Jack Aubrey novels will begin to wonder if they're in the 40K universe or somewhere else.
The plot flows loosely from event to event without building much of a climax, which given the book's purpose as a lengthy prolog to latter works might be forgiven. The "resolution" at the end only serves to prepare the reader for the next installment: Star of Damocles. However, if you're looking for a satisfying, stand-alone story without having to read the rest of the series when it comes out, you might want to look elsewhere.
In short: somewhat clumsy in execution, it does have redeeming features. 40K completists will want to own a copy, but others might wait to see if the rest of the series proves any better than the prolog.

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Rogue Trader Lucian Gerrit learns the true meaning of profit and loss! Andy Hoare presents an epic adventure in his debut novel for the Black Library. Lucian Gerrit is a rogue trader - a starship captain granted ancient trading rights along the Eastern Fringe of Imperial space. But his family's fortunes have been steadily declining for many generations and his inheritance amounts to little more than a pile of debt and misery. In a final desperate gamble to restore his family's former glory, Gerrit strikes a deal on a forgotten Imperial world to aid its commander in a long-standing war with his rival. As Gerrit commits his family's assets to the escalating conflict, he may lose more than his livelihood!

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Star Wars The Saga 2011 Oversized Wall Calendar Review

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(More customer reviews)What more can you ask for?
Star Wars theatrical posters on a 16 month calendar.
What's not to like except maybe the size?
If you wanted the larger 14" x 18" size from the 2006 series, inflation has cut down the size to a modest 11" x 17" - which is perfect for me since I am out of wall space.

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Spiral-bound 16-month oversized calendars feature 13 exclusive posters. Perforated edges make them easy to remove. Boost your collection of Star Wars memorabilia with this oversized calendar, featuring artful posters from all six films. The posters are perforated, so it s easy to remove them and show off your favorite episode.

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Star Wars Purge #1 One Shot (Star Wars Purge: Last Stand of the Jedi) Review

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(More customer reviews)I highly recommend this book for ANY fan of Star Wars... it fills in some details about the 'hunting down' of the survivors of Order 66 that was hinted at by Obi Wan Kenobi as he spoke to Luke in A New Hope. Also, it reveals how the legend of Vader grew during the 'dark times' of the Empire between Episodes III & IV.

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Quest For A Star: Letters Diaries Colonel Francis T. Sherman (Voices of the Civil War Series,) Review

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(More customer reviews)Quest For A Star is a collection of the Civil War letters and diary entries of Colonel Francis T. Sherman of the 88th Illinois, ably edited and with commentary by Knight Aldrich, Sherman's great-grandson. Thanks to his father's political influence, Sherman won an officers commission and commanded a brigade for much of his early service. He saw action at Perryville, Stones River, Missionary Ridge, and other battlefields. He was captured near Atlanta and endured three months in a Confederate prison before being released in a prisoner exchange. During the last months of the war, he served with General Philip Sheridan in the Appomattox campaign. His letters to his father and his diary entries reveal vivid descriptions of wartime experiences, insights into the volatile politics of the times, criticism of the incompetence of superior officers (especially General Don Carlos Buell), and more. Aldrich's commentaries give Sherman's observations an historical perspective, and draws upon his years as a professor of psychiatry and family medicine to offer fascinating speculation about inner conflicts that may have served to fuel Sherman's ambitions and political beliefs. Quest For A Star is an invaluable and much appreciated contribution to the growing body of Civil War era biographical literature.

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Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Postcard Book Review

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(More customer reviews)Based on the movie "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones", this postcard book has 16 punchout postcards. The photos are great, most of them my favorite movie stills! Definitely the postcards shouldn't be sent out to friends and family, but kept to collect. Better yet, you shouldn't even punch the cards out! For those who don't know the story of "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones", here's a brief summary.
From the last 10 years since "The Phantom Menace", a war is brewing between the Republic and a group of Separatists who are threatening to leave the Republic. The Senate is in chaos, arguing whether they should create an army of their own since there aren't enough Jedis. When Padme Amidala, now the Senator of Naboo, is targeted by an assassin, the Jedi send two Jedis to protect them: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, now Master and Apprentice. Anakin is already having enough trouble by being rebellious, irresponsible, and having no self-control. But when he meets Padme again, he finds himself uncontrollably falling in love with her and she for him. While this is going on, Obi-Wan must find out the mystery behind the Separatists movement, a huge clone army, and a strange and cunning bounty hunter.
And here's a list of the cards in the book, including the size in inches:
*1* (3.5" x 6") Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala on a romantic place in Naboo.
*2* (3.5" x 7.25") Obi-Wan Kenobi deflects a blaster bolt from Jango Fett on Kamino.
*3* (4" x 5.5") Character photo of Padme Amidala.
*4* (4" x 5.5") Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker on a speeder chase on Coruscant.
*5* (4" x 5.5") Mace Windu is thinking with Yoda, Padme, Jar-jar and others in the background.
*6* (4" x 5.5") Character photo of Zam Wessil.
*7* (4" x 5.5") A fight scene between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jango Fett on Kamino.
*8* (4" x 5.5") Obi-Wan Kenobi in his starfighter with R4-P.
*9* (5.5" x 8.5") Yoda with the caption, "Do their duty, the Jedi will."
*10* (4.25" x 9.25") Coruscant with the caption, "Coruscant - Wish you were here!"
*11* (4.25" x 9.25") A picture of the Jedi Temple's Archives Library.
*12* (4" x 5.5") Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.
*13* (4" x 5.5") An advertisement on "Attack of the Clones" Hasbro toys.
*14* (5.5" x 8.5") Obi-Wan Kenobi with the Kaminoans Taun We and Prime Minister Lama Su.
*15* (3.5" x 6") Obi-Wan Kenobi fighting a lightsaber duel with Count Dooku.
*16* (3.5" x 6") Jango Fett flying with his jet pack on Kamino.
I also recommend "Attack of the Clones Scrapbook", "Attack of the Clones" by R.A. Salvatore, and "Attack of the Clones Movie Storybook".

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Each of the glossy photographic postcards in this book features memorable scenes and beloved characters from Star Wars: Episode II. Witty quotes make this the perfect purchase for fans of all ages. These easy-to-tear-out postcards are many different sizes, too!

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Geisha, Harlot, Strangler, Star: A Woman, Sex, and Morality in Modern Japan (Asia Perspectives: History, Society, and Culture) Review

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(More customer reviews)Once you get over reading the name "Abe Sada" as though it were "Abe Lincoln," you'll have a whale of a time reading Dr. Johnston's account of a famous modern Japanese geisha and killer. He is a professor at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, but don't let his distinguished credentials put you off, he is also a tip top storyteller. Many of us in the West heard about this case first from the shocking "art film" directed by Oshima called, IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, and many guys who saw this movie back in the day will still not uncross their legs.
Johnston has won access to the original testimony and court transcriptions of Sada's arrest and trial. He quotes from memoirs of Sada provided by the man who interrogated her directly after the crime. "What really left an impression," said Adachi Umezo, "was when I asked her, 'Why did you cut him?' Immediately she became excited and her eyes sparkled in a strange way. At the time people were saying thaat she had cut off Ishida's thing because it was larger than average. But in reality, Ishida's was just average." Johnston asks the question, how did Udezo know rhat Ishida's penis was just average. Who can say, but as Johnston proves, Udezo must have seen a lot of men's genitals to make such a judgement.
As an appendix, the historian wins out over the storyteller, and Johnston's narrative voice slips discreetly away and we hear Abe Sada's own account of what happened, the way she saw it. For the first time, we see the whole murder slash castration story from the point of view of the woman who committed it, and we see that a society, like pre-war Japan, that had driven women to the point of insanity, their backs against the wall, monitored and legislated through rape and coerced brothel activity, might expect plenty more from any woman brave enough to strike back. If Abe Sada was a star, as Johnston foregrounds in his title, she became a star in much the same way that Valerie Solanas did, for political and economic reasons, however badly understood by both perpetrator and victim.

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Night of the Silver Stars: The Battle of Lang Vei Review

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(More customer reviews)"Night of the Silver Stars: The Battle of Lang Vei," by William R. Phillips, is a gripping nonfiction tale of the Vietnam War. The "about the author" section inside the book's back cover notes that Phillips served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is himself a Vietnam veteran. Phillips' sources for this book include interviews with a number of the participants in the battle. Retired general William C. Westmoreland contributed the book's foreword. The book's poetic title is an allusion to one of the United States military's highest decorations for valor in combat.
Lang Vei was a Green Beret outpost that was the object of a major attack in 1968. Phillips strikes a very effective balance of technical details and human elements as he tells the story. The book is full of intense combat scenes. The straightforward, fact-driven style is well matched to the subject matter. Intriguingly, Phillips notes where there are disagreements or ambiguities among his sources, thus reminding us of the difficulty in capturing history on the printed page.
The book is full of revealing details about weapons, vehicles, and tactics. Phillips looks carefully at the complex interlocking aspects of 20th century warfare, including human intelligence, air support, illumination, communications, first aid, and leadership. He vividly captures the "Murphy's Law" aspect of combat, whereby weapons malfunction and other things go unexpectedly wrong. Particularly fascinating is the human complexity of the battlespace in this account; the story involves not only U.S. military from different branches, but also Laotian and ethnic Vietnamese forces, as well as different tribal peoples of Vietnam.
Phillips weaves the personal stories of a number of the battle participants into the overall story. He also goes into detail about the long odyssey faced by the mother of a soldier who was declared MIA in the battle. The text is further enhanced by several pages of photographs and other illustrations, as well as by a bibliography and index. Written with intelligence and compassion, "Night of the Silver Stars" is a fitting tribute to the remarkable heroism shown by the warriors of Lang Vei.

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In Vietnam, 1968, the enemy was planning the kind of overwhelming attack that broke the French at Dien Bien Phu. But while U.S. Marines dug in at Khe Sanh, and recon missions probed the Laotian border, the enemy proved elusive-until it struck full force on an isolated Green Beret outpost. In the early darkness of February 7th, two dozen U.S. Special Forces soldiers and their indigenous fighters were overrun, attacked by waves of ground troops, mortars, flame-throwers, and a weapon they had not prepared for: North Vietnamese tanks. The battle of Lang Vei had begun.In this gripping, keenly told account, author William R. Phillips chronicles a desperate struggle for survival as the Green Berets held out against unrelenting fire from point blank range. Then, as the badly wounded Americans fought their way out of one death trap, they found themselves in another, still besieged with little hope for rescue-until a super secret, quick-reaction strike force launched one of the most daring missions of the war...

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