Astrodene Review: Victory by Julian Stockwin

Victory starts off with a major setback for Kydd and keeps up a fast pace throughout which makes it another page turner for Julian Stockwin.

It was never going to be easy weaving the events surrounding the well known and often used events of Trafalgar into something that was fresh and gripping but this is exactly what has been produced, so I’m not going to spoil it by giving too much away in this review.

The personal lives of Kydd, his friend Nicholas Renzi and sister Cecilia are weaved skillfully into the events off Toulon and the fateful chase across the Atlantic when Kydd’s ship joins the fleet.

Read more Astrodene Review: Victory by Julian Stockwin.

Astrodene Review: The Sallee Rovers by M. Kei

This novel starts in traditional HNF style with Lieutenant Peter Thornton and his friend Lieutenant Roger Perry attending the Admiralty and recieving orders for the Frigate Ajax. However from that point onwards the narrative is very fresh. Firstly the captain of the Ajax is rather inept and not the usual ‘Mr Nice Guy’. He takes a dislike to Thornton and finds every opportunity to berate him. When they encounter a sinking Spanish Galley in need of assistance the Ajax saves the Spanish crew but Thornton and two crew members are left behind with the slaves. His lack of familiarity with this type of vessel soon leads to one of the slaves, a corsair, taking command.

The rest of the narrative explores the relationship between these two whilst giving us a strong insight into the world of galleys, lateen rigged vessels and the world from the corsair point of view. Thornton ‘takes the turban’ and helps in the formation of a Sallee navy.

Read More Astrodene Review: The Sallee Rovers by M. Kei.

Going commercial frees NASA for deeper space – Orlando Sentinel

Fortunately, the Obama administration has proposed a game-changing solution that uses private industry to more cost-effectively take on the more mundane aspects of human transportation to low-Earth orbit, freeing up needed funds to send astronauts to explore deep space.The administration’s wise commercialization approach echoes an immensely successful path taken by NASA in the past. Consider: At the dawn of the Space Age, all satellites were built and launched by governments. But early on, communications satellites were encouraged to go commercial. The result: a $100 billion-plus spinoff industry that employs thousands of workers to build the satellites, their ground stations, launchers and associated command and control infrastructure. It also launches more satellites annually than any other form of spaceflight. The money saved frees NASA to do other things with its resources.

via Going commercial frees NASA for deeper space – Orlando Sentinel.

Astrodene Review: True Colors by Alaric Bond

In his new novel, True Colours, Alaric Bond continues the story of the frigate Pandora and the members of her crew. We are also introduced to some new characters in a story that skilfully takes us through the traumatic events of the two great mutiny’s at Spithead and the Nore, as well as Duncan’s struggle to blockade the Dutch with little support.

Read more Astrodene Review: True Colors by Alaric Bond.

In the King’s Name (HC)

Although it is not due for release until February 2011 the latest Bolitho novel by Alexander Kent titled In the King’s Name is now available for pre-order in hardcover worldwide.

Filled with high-seas intrigue and sharp tensions, this nautical novel takes an intense voyage into the heart of Napoleonic-era Africa. The year is 1819 and Captain Adam Bolitho has been sent on an urgent but risky mission to make a fast passage from Plymouth to Freetown, West Africa, with secret orders for the senior officer stationed there. Due to the slave trade being declared illegal, ships in every harbor are waiting to be scrapped and officers have been cut loose without hope of future commands, thus Adam soon finds himself the object of envy and jealousy. In Africa he discovers unexpected allies and faces an enemy far more powerful and ruthless than any he has known before.

Read More In the King’s Name (HC).

Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction

False Colors, set in the 1760’s, is a book which can be divided into three sections. At the beginning John Cavendish is given command of a prize bomb ketch and Alfie Donwell volunteers as his First Lieutenant. They are given verbal orders to deal with the barbary corsairs and after a sequence where Donwell is imprisoned and rescued they bombard Algiers. After escaping there is a subsequent engagement with a xebec during which Cavendish is badly wounded.

Read More Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction.

Exclusive: BIOS will be dead in three years | THINQ.co.uk

It’s the one major part of the PC that’s still reminiscent of the PC’s primordial, text-based beginnings, but the familiarly-clunky BIOS could soon be on its deathbed, according to MSI. The motherboard maker says it’s now making a big shift towards point and click UEFI systems, and it’s all going to kick off at the end of this year.

Speaking to THINQ, a spokesperson for the company in Taiwan who wished to remain anonymous said that “MSI will start to phase in UEFI starting from the end of this year, and we expect it will be widely adopted after three years.”

According to the MSI mole, the first new UEFI products will be based on Intel’s Sandy Bridge chipset, spanning the whole field from entry-level boards to high-end kit. The company says that it expects the boards to be introduced towards the end of this year, and into early 2011. “We won’t consider UEFI as an expensive premium feature,” said the spokesperson, “but as a must-have for everyone!”

via Exclusive: BIOS will be dead in three years | THINQ.co.uk.

John Barry: An American Hero in the Age of Sail (HC)

Author Tim McGrath has a new book out which is now available in hardcover,John Barry: An American Hero in the Age of Sail

The man regarded as “the Father of the American Navy” returns to the quarterdeck in John Barry: An American Hero in the Age of Sail, the first comprehensive biography of this legendary officer in generations. Son of a hardscrabble Irish farmer from County Wexford, Barry was sent to sea as a child, arriving in Philadelphia during the restless decade before the American Revolution. Brave and ambitious, he ascended the ratlines to become a successful merchant captain at a young age, commanding the most prestigious ship in the colonies and recording the fastest known day of sail in the century.

Read More John Barry: An American Hero in the Age of Sail (HC).

Writing for Chronicles eMagazine

Last month saw the launch of a new eMagazine about historical literature Chronicles.

Starting with this months issue I will be writing a regular column about books, covering various aspects about the authors and their works as well as keeping eveyone up to date with what new novels and non-fiction books are coming out.

You can subscribe (free) to the eMagazine at www.chronicles.us.com

via Writing for Chronicles eMagazine.

Google Dumps Microsoft Windows Company-Wide — Blames Windows For China Hacking Attack

Well, Google has taken the next step in its world domination plan, banning Microsoft Windows from internal use.

Employees will be given the choice between Apple’s Mac OS and Linux.

Adding insult to injury, Google is also publicly citing Windows security problems for the decision and blaming Windows vulnerabilities for the China hacking incident.

So that’s 20,000+ Windows licenses that won’t be sold and renewed at Google in future years.

Given that Google is in the process of introducing a competitive platform and operating system (Android/Chrome), this move isn’t surprising. The important question for Microsoft is whether other companies will follow suit.

via Google Dumps Microsoft Windows Company-Wide — Blames Windows For China Hacking Attack.