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Red Gambit #1
Opening Moves
The first of a series of books that cover World War Three, from July 1945 through to its close in September 1947.
From the cold waters of the Baltic to a coffee shop in Turkey, a Chateau in Alsace to paddy fields in China, a foxhole in Northern Germany to the Kremlins private offices, the Red Gambit series will carry you through the events that lead up to and continue through what became known as World War Three.
Told from the point of view of the soldiers in the frontline, aircraft pilots, submarine and tank commanders and on to the Supreme Commanders on either side of the divide.
Ride with Colonel of Tanks Arkady Yarishlov of the Red Army, fight alongside Major John Ramsey VC of the Black Watch, learn about leadership and honour from ex-SS Standartenfuher Ernst-August Knocke and follow Major Marion J Crisp to glory with the 101st US Airborne Division.
Soldiers who had been fighting for years could look up at the summer sky and know that death would not visit them that day.
It was the pause but they didn't know it.
March 2013 revisions attend to spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in sixth edition, plus coloured maps and some new graphics.
[The ‘Red Gambit Series’ novels are works of fiction, and deal with fictional events. Most of the characters therein are a figment of the author’s imagination. Without exception, those characters that are historical figures of fact or based upon historical figures of fact are used fictitiously, and their actions, demeanour, conversations, and characters are similarly all figments of the author’s imagination.]
From the cold waters of the Baltic to a coffee shop in Turkey, a Chateau in Alsace to paddy fields in China, a foxhole in Northern Germany to the Kremlins private offices, the Red Gambit series will carry you through the events that lead up to and continue through what became known as World War Three.
Told from the point of view of the soldiers in the frontline, aircraft pilots, submarine and tank commanders and on to the Supreme Commanders on either side of the divide.
Ride with Colonel of Tanks Arkady Yarishlov of the Red Army, fight alongside Major John Ramsey VC of the Black Watch, learn about leadership and honour from ex-SS Standartenfuher Ernst-August Knocke and follow Major Marion J Crisp to glory with the 101st US Airborne Division.
Soldiers who had been fighting for years could look up at the summer sky and know that death would not visit them that day.
It was the pause but they didn't know it.
March 2013 revisions attend to spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in sixth edition, plus coloured maps and some new graphics.
[The ‘Red Gambit Series’ novels are works of fiction, and deal with fictional events. Most of the characters therein are a figment of the author’s imagination. Without exception, those characters that are historical figures of fact or based upon historical figures of fact are used fictitiously, and their actions, demeanour, conversations, and characters are similarly all figments of the author’s imagination.]
812 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
51 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 31, 2012
I love it. I'll admit I'm a sucker for a good alt-history book/series. Started with Turtledove, currently w/ Stirling, and now Gee. There are defintiely some editorial problems w/ the ebook, but not enough to distract from what is an obviously well researched and written book.
I'm anxiously looking forward to the next book in the series.
I'm anxiously looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 18, 2014
Przyznaję szczerzę, przemęczyłem się przez tę książkę. I teraz zastanawiam się dlaczego. Nie dlaczego chciało mi się męczyć, a raczej dlaczego pierwsza część "Czerwonego Gambitu" męczy. Colin Gee ładnie operuje angielskim (tyle, na ile mogę ocenić, będąc Polakiem), świetnie opisuje starcia, ale... No właśnie, w "Opening Moves" nie ma kluczowego czy kluczowych bohaterów, a co za tym idzie, nie ma fabuły. To fabularyzowany dokument, świadectwo wojny, która nigdy nie miała miejsca. W sierpniu 1946 roku Sowieci decydują się uderzyć na zachód i jak łatwo się domyśleć, początkowo idzie im aż nadto dobrze. Lotnictwo aliantów dostaje bęcki, siły lądowe krwawią i cofają się, kolejne dywizje fajfokloków i gumożujów są rozbijane, oczywiście kosztem setek tysięcy zmasakrowanych czerwonoarmistów. Trup ściele sie gęsto, całe miasta są wymazywane, wraz z broniącymi ich jednostkami. Mimo to czasem autor nuży. Jako bezprzykładny freak lubujący się w batalistyce lubią tego typu literaturę, czasem jednak miałem dość kolejnych bitew. Zabrakło jakiejś, jakiejkolwiek fabuły (celowo wspominam o tym po raz drugi), poza globalną - wojną Sowietów i Zachodu. Co prawda gdzieś zarysowuje się wątek ex-żołnierzy Waffen SS, którzy pod egidą Francji (sic!) mają wrócić do walki już jako członkowie Legii Cudzoziemskiej. To jednak mało. Tym samym muszę się zastanowić, czy warto sięgnąć po kolejny tom.
Decyzja o tyle trudna, że Gee świetnie opisuje pole bitwy. Nie idealizuje, nie dzieli na dobrych i złych. Jego opisy cechuje różnorodność, a same bitwy biją agresywną dynamiką. Obrona Hamburga przez Szkotów i Niemców to majstersztyk (ha! jest nawet kontratak górali przy wtórze "Scotland the Brave"!), świetnie przedstawiony został atak sowieckich spadów na średniowieczny zamek-siedzibę oficerów alianckich i niemieckich. Takich scen jest mrowie: zagłada pułku "Nocnych Wiedźm", cichy atak syberyjskiej dywizji na stanowiska Amerykanów, rozmielenie na drobne sowieckiego korpusu przez uporczywą obronę aliantów, ucieczka niemieckich jeńców z sowieckiego obozu... I chyba dla tych scen daję 3 gwiazdki, a nie jedną mniej.
Całościowo książce bliżej na półce jest dokonaniom Ambrose'a czy Carrella niźli Clancy'ego lub Larry'ego Bonda.
Decyzja o tyle trudna, że Gee świetnie opisuje pole bitwy. Nie idealizuje, nie dzieli na dobrych i złych. Jego opisy cechuje różnorodność, a same bitwy biją agresywną dynamiką. Obrona Hamburga przez Szkotów i Niemców to majstersztyk (ha! jest nawet kontratak górali przy wtórze "Scotland the Brave"!), świetnie przedstawiony został atak sowieckich spadów na średniowieczny zamek-siedzibę oficerów alianckich i niemieckich. Takich scen jest mrowie: zagłada pułku "Nocnych Wiedźm", cichy atak syberyjskiej dywizji na stanowiska Amerykanów, rozmielenie na drobne sowieckiego korpusu przez uporczywą obronę aliantów, ucieczka niemieckich jeńców z sowieckiego obozu... I chyba dla tych scen daję 3 gwiazdki, a nie jedną mniej.
Całościowo książce bliżej na półce jest dokonaniom Ambrose'a czy Carrella niźli Clancy'ego lub Larry'ego Bonda.
February 13, 2017
What happened to the Allied generals?, August 14, 2016
This review is from: Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
On the Allied side, Mr. Gee writes of privates and sergeants, lieutenants and captains, majors and colonels, but when it comes to generals most of them must have joined Montgomery in hospital. If such a war had actually occurred, Patton alone would have made enough noise that no one could have ignored him. But in Mr. Gee's world, almost the only Allied general who does anything is Eisenhower. And mostly he engages in tortured introspection, watches the maps and chain smokes. The leaders of the Allied nations are also mostly MIA or more accurately, missing without action. De Gaulle appears occasionally to approve the recruitment of the German SS into the Foreign Legion.
It is only on the Soviet side that generals and the dictator Stalin and his henchmen appear. Even here there are curious absences such as Kruschev and only a brief appearance by Molotov.
The battles are described in micro detail and with such a sameness that about half way through, I found myself skimming over them and reading only the connecting threads. This is very unusual for me, as I like historical and fictional accounts of battles. One of the books which I enjoyed in high school was Creasy's Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World. Two others were Charles MacDonald's Company Commander and Robert Crisp's Brazen Chariots.
Despite its limitations, this series has a strong fan base, many of whom are war gamers. I too enjoy war games but for reading, even though Jack Strain's World in Flames contains some rough writing and editing it covers the same ground in a more realistic and exciting story. At least the generals and national leaders make appearances in Mr. Strains work. And General Patton does indeed make his opinions known and works around foolish orders as was his wont.
This review is from: Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
On the Allied side, Mr. Gee writes of privates and sergeants, lieutenants and captains, majors and colonels, but when it comes to generals most of them must have joined Montgomery in hospital. If such a war had actually occurred, Patton alone would have made enough noise that no one could have ignored him. But in Mr. Gee's world, almost the only Allied general who does anything is Eisenhower. And mostly he engages in tortured introspection, watches the maps and chain smokes. The leaders of the Allied nations are also mostly MIA or more accurately, missing without action. De Gaulle appears occasionally to approve the recruitment of the German SS into the Foreign Legion.
It is only on the Soviet side that generals and the dictator Stalin and his henchmen appear. Even here there are curious absences such as Kruschev and only a brief appearance by Molotov.
The battles are described in micro detail and with such a sameness that about half way through, I found myself skimming over them and reading only the connecting threads. This is very unusual for me, as I like historical and fictional accounts of battles. One of the books which I enjoyed in high school was Creasy's Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World. Two others were Charles MacDonald's Company Commander and Robert Crisp's Brazen Chariots.
Despite its limitations, this series has a strong fan base, many of whom are war gamers. I too enjoy war games but for reading, even though Jack Strain's World in Flames contains some rough writing and editing it covers the same ground in a more realistic and exciting story. At least the generals and national leaders make appearances in Mr. Strains work. And General Patton does indeed make his opinions known and works around foolish orders as was his wont.
December 17, 2012
It's good but there are 4 more books left to go so we shall see we're go from there.
October 3, 2021
My mother was born in Nuremberg before the end of the war. I would think that if this was history and not fiction, I would not be here. Although it is 700+ pages it held together very well, Most stories this big tend to drop a bit in intensity as the story goes on, this one did not. The placement of the maps to help you visualize the area that is being read about was just right. Well done. I look forward to book two to see what happens as well as to see if Mr. Gee can keep the intensity up as well.
July 22, 2020
It’s a page turner
Started reading this because I got it for free but didn’t take every long and I was hooked.
The book is well written with very good plot lines and realistic scenarios.
This is a very realistic portrayal of how World War III could have played out had the Soviets made their move in 1945.
Started reading this because I got it for free but didn’t take every long and I was hooked.
The book is well written with very good plot lines and realistic scenarios.
This is a very realistic portrayal of how World War III could have played out had the Soviets made their move in 1945.
May 28, 2022
July 1945 begins the Third World War. The Soviets have not stopped at Berlin, they have invaded and assassinated Allied leaders and quickly gained control of vital areas. Interesting rock em sock em battle scenes.
May 24, 2017
Pretty good. Definitely worthy reading book 2.
March 28, 2015
Quite good book
I have read a ton of poorly to badly written Alternate History, so I approached this series with some trepidation. To my great relief this work is quite well written and researched. I can not recommend this book highly enough. The action is well written and the characters are believable. The research is much better than I expected. I can't wait to start the next book!
I have read a ton of poorly to badly written Alternate History, so I approached this series with some trepidation. To my great relief this work is quite well written and researched. I can not recommend this book highly enough. The action is well written and the characters are believable. The research is much better than I expected. I can't wait to start the next book!
August 26, 2013
Not for me to say, as I wrote it :-) I did so for myself, but it seems that it is favourably received in the wider world, something that I find extrememly satisfying.
I hope you will enjoy reading it yourself :-)
I hope you will enjoy reading it yourself :-)
July 11, 2013
If you're of a military history bent and like a ripping yarn well told....then purchase this book.
You will be transported at breakneck speed from the smokey war room of Ike to the cold hard Kremlin at the stroke of a talented pen.
You will be transported at breakneck speed from the smokey war room of Ike to the cold hard Kremlin at the stroke of a talented pen.
January 7, 2015
This is a well written, well thought out, entertaining book series
May 13, 2016
Outstanding alternative history, explicit and brutal account of a Soviet invasion of occupied western Germany.
June 7, 2016
A real page turner. Very believable. I am not normally a fan of alternative history but this one kept me on the edge of my seat.
July 1, 2015
Read it all you history needs!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews