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Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

In the following position, White threatens the Black back rank, but cannot mate. You must decide why Black escapes the mate: Has he enough power to defend against White's attack? Or, will he have a flight square or a useful interposition?

Why does White's threat against Black's back rank not lead to mate?

• White does not have enough power to mate.

• The Black King will have a flight square.

• Black has a useful interposition.

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ANSWER: The Black King will have a flight square. (The White Queen will no longer guard it.)

King James Bible.
Book of Romans.

First to Fight by Roger Moorhouse. The story of the German-Polish war. One chapter in and so far so very good.

The Noise: The Last Sound You'll Ever Hear by James Patterson and J.D. Barker.

I have just started reading “The Confederate Nation: 1861-1865” by Emory M. Thomas.

https://www.amazon.com/Confederate-Nati ... 006206102X

About week ago I played The Fury of Dracula. Novel & movies were discussed, and we all said we haven't read the novel. I got Kindle version of the novel from Project Gutenberg on my iPhone 8 and started reading it.

Rereading Kursk from Jean Lopez.

To honor Blaine Lee Pardoe, I started reading his Fire at will. Is that AS7-D in the cover? In Dark Age era (3130's)? Sure as Hell look like one! I have shelved Dracula for now.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel, awesome book

"Rebel Mountain" by Kurt Eggers.

Dune (Frank Herbert)

I just finished reading Texas Ranger by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle and have started reading The President's Daughter by James Patterson and Bill Clinton.

One never knows what type of book will appear next with James Patterson as one of the authors.

Fateful Choices - Ian Kershaw

This book was ordered on the recomendation of TuilliusDetritus. The book explores 10 decisions taken by the key players in WWII between May 1940 and December 1941. I'm well into the first chapter and it is proving an excellent, easy to read, book. I think I may order Kershaw's acclaimed biography of Hitler as a result.

I'm glad you like it. I recommended it because of the what-ifs. I know of course you like them. re Kershaw's biography of Hitler, I read it too. Good book indeed.

(1) I'm currently reading (3/4 of the way through), "Dünkirchen 1940: The German View of Dunkirk" by Robert Kershaw. Definitely an eye opener for me. I always through it was Hitler's halt order for the panzers was the reason that the BEF escaped. But this book paints a different picture.

(2) Prior to that I read, "Marching from Defeat: Surviving the Collapse of the German Army in the Soviet Union, 1944" by by Claus Neuber. Well, I read the version translated by Tony Le Tissier.

(3) And prior to that I read, "Tin Can Titans: The Heroic Men and Ships of World War II's Most Decorated Navy Destroyer Squadron" by John Wukovits.

I typically am reading a book on WW2 which I generally get through in a two weeks or so. I prefer the books that get to the personal level (e.g., (2) & (3)) but will "push" through those at a strategic level (e.g., (1)).

F Scott Fitzgerald the latest BOTM sent to me by loa.org

This series of three books looks interesting. I don't know anything about the authors so don't want to dive in yet. Hopefully after publication shortly I can see some reviews, but definitely looks very, very promising.

Here is the promotional blurb:

Seventy-five years after the end of the Second World War the details of Soviet ships, their activities and fates remain an enigma to the West. In wartime such information was classified and after a brief period of glasnost (‘openness’) the Russian state has again restricted access to historical archives. Therefore, the value – and originality – of this work is difficult to exaggerate. It sees the first publication of reliable data on both the seagoing fleets and riverine flotillas of the Soviet Navy, listing over 6200 vessels from battleships to river gunboats, and mercantile conversions as well as purpose-built warships. Divided into three volumes, this first covers major surface warships down to MTBs and armoured gunboats, as well as submarines. For every class there is a design history analysing strategic, tactical and technical considerations, and individual ship detail includes construction yard, key building dates, commissioning, fleet designations, relocations and ultimate fate. Once a closely guarded secret, the wartime loss of every ship and boat (over 1000) is described. Furthermore, the confusion caused by frequent name changes is clarified by indexes that run to 16,000 items. By following the ships through both their wartime and earlier history, the book reveals many aspects of Russian history that remain highly sensitive: clandestine co-operation with Weimar Germany and fascist Italy, the NKVD-enforced closure of Soviet borders, the ‘Gulag Fleet’, the faked Metallist sinking that excused the military occupation of Estonia, and the ill-conceived pact with Nazi Germany. Restrictions recently imposed on historical publications in Russia mean this book could certainly not have been published there – as proven by the fact that most of the authors' Russian collaborators preferred not to disclose their identities. This is undoubtedly one of the most important naval reference works of recent years and will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in warships, the Soviet Navy or wider maritime aspects of the Second World War.

Let's hope these books live up to this.

Delivery of the first issue of new Rippaverse comic series, ISOM #1, has started and I got my preorder a week ago. Full colour page super hero action. Excellent stuff that proves America still has good talent not giving up against European comics nor Japanese manga. They need to cut delivery costs though...
https://rippaverse.com/

Understanding War from T.N. Dupuy.

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Munich, 1931. Angela Raubal, 23, is found dead in the bedroom of an apartment in Prinzregentenplatz. Next to his inert body, a Walther pistol. Everything points to a suicide and pushes to close the case.
Except Angela’s not just anyone. Her uncle and legal guardian, with whom she lived, is the leader of the National Socialist Workers Party, Adolf Hitler. The troubled ties between him and his niece are also the subject of rumours in the ranks of opponents as well as supporters of this rising politician. Disturbing detail: the weapon that killed Angela belongs to Hitler.
Between political pressure, fear of scandal and shameful secrets, this event, if exposed, could put an end to Hitler’s career. And make Commissioner Sauer, in charge of the investigation, a very embarrassing witness.
In a moribund Weimar Republic, shaken by the omens of the Nazi tragedy, Fabiano Massimi deploys a fascinating novel, based on a true and unknown story, mixing archival documents and fiction with the brilliance of Philip Kerr.