Fiction authors with real experience.

[Warped Mindless]

I like fiction with realistic action, tactics, and firearms.

Reccomend me some fiction authors who have some actual combat experience please!

So far I have read books by:

Dalton Fury (Delta)
Jeff Kirkman (SF)
John Chappy Chapman (Swat)
Jack Carr (Seal)
Marcus Wynne (Air Marshall & Contractor)
Orlando Wilson (Executive Protection)
Max Velocity (British SpecOps)
Robert Lewis (SF)
Brad Taylor (Delta)

I love nonfiction but am taking a break from it for a few weeks and want some more good fiction.

Thanks!

[TheNewbie]

I am more of a non fiction guy, and just have too much of it to read to add anything else.


In the past I did read a lot of fiction.


Jeff Struecker wrote a couple of books I enjoyed. If I remember right they were about Army SF. While they had a religious tone, I think they could be enjoyed by all.

Jeff Struecker is a former Army Ranger who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu. Later he became an Army Chaplin.

[awp_101]

If you're into sci-fi and mercenaries, the Hammer's Slammers series by David Drake who is a VN vet.

[Newbie]

Richard Marcinko

[Cory]

I mostly read non-fiction at this point.

I believe Aaron Cowan from Sage Dynamics writes fiction.I haven't read any of it, but if I was looking for detail oriented fiction I'd check out his books.

-Cory

[DG12]

Jason Kasper

J T Patten

[Drang]

If you're into sci-fi and mercenaries, the Hammer's Slammers series by David Drake who is a VN vet.

As was Joe Haldeman.

Jerry Pournelle and Gene Wolff were Korean vets.

Cyril Kornbluth eventually died of wounds from the Battle of the Bulge; Randall Garret was a Marine in the Pacific Theater.

Murray Leinster was a WWI vet. (Although I cannot verify that he even deployed.)

[Eyesquared]

I am a big fan of The Dying Place by David Maurer, a MACV-SOG guy with CCN during the Vietnam War. It is very well written and deserves to be much better known. I feel it is significantly better than Matterhorn, for instance.

We Few by Nick Brokhausen is a memoir of his time with MACV-SOG, but stylistically it's basically a novel that just happens to be true. Also a great book that deserved more attention than it has got.

[HCM]

JRR Tolkien. He was an infantry officer on the western front in WWI.

Substitute the weapons and substitute Orcs for the Germans and you see why his action / fight stuff was so good.

Gerald Petievich - retired US Secret Service Agent - wrote several crime noir books made into 80s action movies including To Live and Die in LA and Passenger 57.

[Arbninftry]

Ernest Hemingway fought in WWI and also spied a little for WWII

[Joe in PNG]

John D MacDonald was OSS in the east during WWII (though not really a gun guy, and it kind of shows).

Fredrick Forsyth spent a bit of time in the RAF, then as a correspondent covering little wars in 60's Africa.

CS Lewis of course.

[Medusa]

I am a big fan of The Dying Place by David Maurer, a MACV-SOG guy with CCN during the Vietnam War. It is very well written and deserves to be much better known. I feel it is significantly better than Matterhorn, for instance.

.

Funny you mention this today. I was out walking our dog in the neighborhood earlier today and came across a home with an suv parked in the drive with graphics on the windows concerning this novel In the back window of the suv was a small Vietnam vet sticker. I’ll have a look at the book. A number of older retired military live in my neighborhood so I guess it could be him, or who knows.

[BigD]

Duncan Falconer was SBS and has written a slew of fiction. I have read any, but his non-fiction First Into Action was fairly good (as a far as the usual "troubled childhood - > military -> selection -> training -> combat" memoirs go.)
https://www.amazon.com/Duncan-Falconer/e/B001O7YMZW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

[HCM]

Ernest Hemingway fought in WWI and also spied a little for WWII

He was present in World War I, and he was even wounded in world war one but he did not actually “fight” in World War I.

He was an ambulance driver in Italy for the American Red Cross which at the time was a neutral NGO. He was wounded by mortar fire while operating a red cross canteen feeding Italian soldiers.

He covered the Spanish Civil War as a reporter but again was not a combatant.

You know who was a combatant in the Spanish Civil War though? George Orwell. He also spent five years in Burma as a British colonial policeman. I think it would be impossible to write books like 1980 for an animal farm if you had never spent any time in government service.

[Hambo]

James Webb: Fields of Fire and Something to Die For

[Soxfan9]

Check out James Salter. He was a Korean War F86 pilot. His book The Hunters is fantastic.

[Caballoflaco]

JRR Tolkien. He was an infantry officer on the western front in WWI.

Substitute the weapons and substitute Orcs for the Germans and you see why his action / fight stuff was so good.
.

I’m just finishing my second listen of Dan Carlin’s WWI series Blueprint for Armageddon. Because Tolkien served in WWI I also just watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy and will restart the books shortly. Having some of the history so fresh in my mind has added a whole new layer to those stories.

[HeavyDuty]

A slightly different genre, but Barry Eisler was a covert CIA operator for a few years and is an exceptional writer. I suggest starting at the beginning of his John Rain (Junichi Fujiwara) series with A Clean Kill in Tokyo (confusingly originally named Rain Fall if you find an older copy.) He also blogs on personal security and protection.

[Chance]

Andy McNab (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?16731-A-Recommendation-for-Andy-McNab%92s-Books).

[serialsolver]

Joseph wambaugh


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[Sero Sed Serio]

Kent Anderson. Vietnam SF turned Portland cop in the 70s turned Oakland cop in the 80s. Wrote 3 books:

Sympathy for the Devil: Vietnam SF
Night Dogs: Portland PD
Green Sun: Oakland PD

All are good, but Night Dogs is one of my favorite novels of all time.

[blues]

Karl Marlantes (Highly recommend his book "Matterhorn")

[Dog Guy]

As was Joe Haldeman.

Jerry Pournelle and Gene Wolff were Korean vets.

Cyril Kornbluth eventually died of wounds from the Battle of the Bulge; Randall Garret was a Marine in the Pacific Theater.

Murray Leinster was a WWI vet. (Although I cannot verify that he even deployed.)

It's interesting that David Drake and Jerry Pournelle both based major series around mercenary units (Hammer's Slammers and Falkenberg's Mercenary Legion), but with very different takes on the behavior and motivation of the protagonists. Both are excellent reads. Pournelle builds a lot of political and societal context into his story lines.

[Arbninftry]

He was present in World War I, and he was even wounded in world war one but he did not actually “fight” in World War I.

He was an ambulance driver in Italy for the American Red Cross which at the time was a neutral NGO. He was wounded by mortar fire while operating a red cross canteen feeding Italian soldiers.

He covered the Spanish Civil War as a reporter but again was not a combatant.

You know who was a combatant in the Spanish Civil War though? George Orwell. He also spent five years in Burma as a British colonial policeman. I think it would be impossible to write books like 1980 for an animal farm if you had never spent any time in government service.

I am impressed, you are very astute and well read. ;)

I always thought Orwell was very predictive of the Pigs in Congress.

[runcible]

I read a modest bit of David Drake as a high school student, and early Joe Haldeman while OCONUS for the first go-around; they're both very different works for me to read, on the far side of the the (my?) war years, as I am. The texture of the reading is somewhat more frictious at times; but the stories are that much better in the rereading for it.

I found these brief writings to speak well to some particulars:
https://www.baen.com/Chapters/1439133093/1439133093.htm
https://david-drake.com/2009/vietnam/

Drake's "Redliners" is a hell of a lot harder to read on the far side of the war years, then it was as a child.

[Jim Watson]

Lt Robert A. Heinlein, USN.
Lt Elizabeth Moon, USMC.

They didn't see combat but they certainly worked with people who did.
But they don't do Gun Porn.

I get David Drake's e-newsletter. Demonstrates that PTSD is always.

[LittleLebowski]

JL Bourne (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?k=jl+bourne&i=digital-text&crid=2EGOJLZ9WRTGW&sprefix=Jl+bo,aps,224&ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_5&linkCode=ll2&tag=ratio07-20&linkId=1675f044fb194772ea737533c0e479a7&language=en_US) is a retired mustang naval aviator, a forum member here, and my best friend of many years. Some of you have shot with him.

[NEPAKevin]

Sean Parnell (https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Parnell/e/B005G8U1D2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1576352637&sr=8-1)IIRC Ranger/10th Mt. Div. wrote Outlaw Platoon(non-fiction) and has two fiction novels out. He's also running for congress someplace out in western PA.

[HCM]

Sean Parnell (https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Parnell/e/B005G8U1D2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1576352637&sr=8-1)IIRC Ranger/10th Mt. Div. wrote Outlaw Platoon(non-fiction) and has two fiction novels out. He's also running for congress someplace out in western PA.

I haven’t read his fiction but Outlaw platoon is well worth a read. Better than fiction IMHO.

Definitely give this a listen


https://youtu.be/SMHcju2eAfw

[idahojess]

Newspaper columnist James Brady (now deceased) was a marine officer during the Korean War. I've read several of his books, including his non-fiction memoir of his time in Korea.
I remember his description of the the march back from the Chosin Reservoir being quite vivid.

https://www.amazon.com/Marines-Autumn-Novel-Korean-War-ebook/dp/B003J5UHZG/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=james+brady&qid=1576354492&s=digital-text&sr=1-4

[Joe in PNG]

Mike Kupari- one of Larry Correia's collaborators- is USAF EOD.
Marko Kloos was in the West German military.

[William B.]

Jim Morris was a MACV-SOG guy during Vietnam and wrote a good fiction book about some SOG operators called "Above and Beyond".

https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Morris/e/B001KCJ0U8%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

ETA: Also, Steven Pressfield. I can't believe I left him out.

[Coyotesfan97]

Mike Kupari- one of Larry Correia's collaborators- is USAF EOD.
Marko Kloos was in the West German military.

Mike deployed to Afghanistan for EOD.

[Coyotesfan97]

Anton Myrer who wrote Once an Eagle. It’s required reading for several Military branches.

[TQP]

Tom Kratman, retired infantry LTC
Tom Kratman @ Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Kratman/e/B001IXNZFA?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1576361799&sr=1-1)


Michael Z Williamson, retired NCO, multiple deployments

Michael-Z-Williamson@Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Z-Williamson/e/B001IOFA5M?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1576361531&sr=8-1)

Kacey Ezell, USAF chopper pilot. I haven't read any of her books yet but I have read some of her shorts in anthologies.


Kacey Ezell @Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Kacey-Ezell/e/B0195040QU?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r3_c0)

[TQP]

Oh, yeah, missed one

Kurt Schlichter, retired infantry LTC and now townhall.com columnist

Kurt-Schlichter @Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Kurt-Schlichter/e/B009DYP6NU?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1576362333&sr=8-1)

[Drang]

JL-Curtis (https://smile.amazon.com/JL-Curtis/e/B00J06YA56?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1576365079&sr=8-1), who blogs as OldNFO (https://oldnfo.org/), is a retired Naval Flight Officer on P3s.

[Sigfan26]

JL Bourne is great. My favorite is always going to be Marcus Wynne. “No Other Option” and “Warrior in the Shadows” are just phenomenal novels.


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[DMF13]

Mark Berent, LtCol USAF (retired):
He flew 2 combat tours in Vietnam (F-100s and F-4s), and did a third tour doing ground support in Laos.

He wrote a series on "historical fiction" novels about air combat in SEA.

[GyroF-16]

Mark Berent, LtCol USAF (retired):
He flew 2 combat tours in Vietnam (F-100s and F-4s), and did a third tour doing ground support in Laos.

He wrote a series on "historical fiction" novels about air combat in SEA.

I’m glad you mentioned him.

I read his books when I aspired to be a fighter pilot.
I appreciate them even more after a career as a fighter pilot.

Highly recommended.

[Warped Mindless]

JL Bourne is great. My favorite is always going to be Marcus Wynne. “No Other Option” and “Warrior in the Shadows” are just phenomenal novels.


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100% agree!

[DMF13]

I’m glad you mentioned him.

I read his books when I aspired to be a fighter pilot.
I appreciate them even more after a career as a fighter pilot.

Highly recommended.He's a heck of a nice guy too. I met him when I was an AFROTC cadet, after I had read two of his books. He signed one of the books for me.

I also aspired to be a fighter pilot, but unfortunately I screwed up and washed out of UPT.

[GyroF-16]

He's a heck of a nice guy too. I met him when I was an AFROTC cadet, after I had read two of his books. He signed one of the books for me.

I also aspired to be a fighter pilot, but unfortunately I screwed up and washed out of UPT.

I’d love to meet him!

And if you like his stuff, I’d also recommend Tom Wilson. He was a Wild Weasel backseater (a “Bear”), and did some great writing, too.
I believe he’s passed away- but I’d have liked to meet him, too.

[DMF13]

I’d love to meet him!

And if you like his stuff, I’d also recommend Tom Wilson. He was a Wild Weasel backseater (a “Bear”), and did some great writing, too.
I believe he’s passed away- but I’d have liked to meet him, too.Thanks, for the recommendation on Wilson's books. I'll start working those into my reading, as I'm fascinated by the "Wild Weasel" mission. For anyone else interested in the books, here is a link to the author's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Wilson/e/B001HCW5GW/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

I really enjoyed reading Dan Hampton's "Hunter Killers."

For those interested in the Mark Berent books, here is a link to his Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Berent/e/B000APP91A?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1576383804&sr=1-1

[Robinson]

Mike deployed to Afghanistan for EOD.

I think he also worked armed security in Qatar for a time.

[RevolverRob]

Greg Walker was a Green Beret for many years, primiarily in the 1980s. He wrote fiction books under the Springblade series in the 1980s and '90s, a number of non-fiction books on U.S. Military Special Operations, particularly during the 1970s and '80s, and a number of articles for Soldier of Fortune Magazine.

Christopher Whitcomb was an FBI HRT Sniper who was at Waco, Ruby Ridge, and the LA Riots - he wrote a non-fiction autobiography titled: Cold Zero: Inside the Hostage Rescue Team, and two fiction novels Black: A Novel, and White: A Novel. All three are interesting reads.

[Eyesquared]

Kent Anderson. Vietnam SF turned Portland cop in the 70s turned Oakland cop in the 80s. Wrote 3 books:

Sympathy for the Devil: Vietnam SF
Night Dogs: Portland PD
Green Sun: Oakland PD

All are good, but Night Dogs is one of my favorite novels of all time.

I picked Night Dogs up on the basis of your recommendation and could not put it down. Great novel.

[Chemsoldier]

Mystery novelist Tony Hillerman was a WWII Army mortarman, receiving the silver star and purple heart in the pacific.

[Coyotesfan97]

I picked Night Dogs up on the basis of your recommendation and could not put it down. Great novel.

I’ve read Sympathy for the Devil multiple times. It’s great as is Night Dogs.

[Medusa]

I’ve read Sympathy for the Devil multiple times. It’s great as is Night Dogs.

Sympathy has become one of my very favorite books of any genre.

[MistWolf]

Leonard B. Scott retired from the Army as a Colonel and is a decorated Vietnam War veteran. I really liked his Vietnam War novels, such as The Expendables and Charlie Mike

[Coyotesfan97]

Sympathy has become one of my very favorite books of any genre.

I generally read Sympathy for the Devil, The Forgotten Soldier, and Close Quarters once a year. They are some of my favorite books.

[blues]

I generally read Sympathy for the Devil, The Forgotten Soldier, and Close Quarters once a year. They are some of my favorite books.

Thanks for the Kent Anderson recommendation. I'll be beginning "Sympathy for the Devil" today and follow with his other two.

[Stephanie B]

Marko Kloos, who wrote the Frontline series (http://www.amazon.com/Marko-Kloos/e/B00BUVDP8M), was a Cold War-era soldier in the German Army.

Roderick Thorp, who wrote The Detective (became a Sinatra movie of the same name) and Nothing Lasts Forever (became Die Hard) was a private detective.

So was Dashiell Hammett, who was a "Pink", and who pretty much fathered the hard-boiled PI novel. He served in both world wars.

Raymond Chandler was in the trenches in WW1 in the British Army,

[Coyotesfan97]

Robert B Parker, author of the Spenser series, was in the infantry in Korean War.

[Coyotesfan97]

Thanks for the Kent Anderson recommendation. I'll be beginning "Sympathy for the Devil" today and follow with his other two.

Enjoy!