Good and nicely edited, 09 Oct 2008
A lot of pictures, diagrams and information that make this book a very interesting read. More educative than gripping, still I liked it a lot.

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills review, 09 Aug 2008
I agree with Sniper .338 on his review on this book which reads the following:

"The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read."

Although the only thing I do not agree with is the five star rating that Sniper .338 gave the book. I would give it a 4 star rating because though the book is very realistic and illustrated it is not a manual thus should not be called so.
For very good and understandable reasons the author does not go into much detail but it does seem to try and explain several points with vague ideas (due to the sensitivity of the sniping nature). This can be appreciated especially in a couple of chapters that should be skinned down to bullet points or overall ideas in a few pages rather than sub-paragraphs that do not really say much. So bullet points would be more useful

Overall: I do not regret buying this book at all, in fact I would recommend it but not with a five out of five star rating. The word manual in the tittle and the couple of extensive chapters that do not say much are the reasons why I am giving it a 4 out of 5 rating.

Sniper skills book review, 04 Jan 2008
The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read.

Fantastic , 26 Sep 2006
Once again, Mr Spicer has managed to write an understandable and well illustrated book. I have been fortunate to receive a 'pre-released' book and am very happy with what I have seen. It is understandable and he has the gift to write as though he is talking to the reader. The subjects covered are illustrated and explained well and gives the reader an understanding of what is being spoken about. I would definately recommend both of Mr. Spicers books.

Good and nicely edited, 09 Oct 2008
A lot of pictures, diagrams and information that make this book a very interesting read. More educative than gripping, still I liked it a lot.

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills review, 09 Aug 2008
I agree with Sniper .338 on his review on this book which reads the following:

"The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read."

Although the only thing I do not agree with is the five star rating that Sniper .338 gave the book. I would give it a 4 star rating because though the book is very realistic and illustrated it is not a manual thus should not be called so.
For very good and understandable reasons the author does not go into much detail but it does seem to try and explain several points with vague ideas (due to the sensitivity of the sniping nature). This can be appreciated especially in a couple of chapters that should be skinned down to bullet points or overall ideas in a few pages rather than sub-paragraphs that do not really say much. So bullet points would be more useful

Overall: I do not regret buying this book at all, in fact I would recommend it but not with a five out of five star rating. The word manual in the tittle and the couple of extensive chapters that do not say much are the reasons why I am giving it a 4 out of 5 rating.

Sniper skills book review, 04 Jan 2008
The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read.

Fantastic , 26 Sep 2006
Once again, Mr Spicer has managed to write an understandable and well illustrated book. I have been fortunate to receive a 'pre-released' book and am very happy with what I have seen. It is understandable and he has the gift to write as though he is talking to the reader. The subjects covered are illustrated and explained well and gives the reader an understanding of what is being spoken about. I would definately recommend both of Mr. Spicers books.

Great Attention to Detail, 15 Jul 2008
If someone mentioned the name of Robert Hardy to you, you would probably bring to mind a picture of an English actor with a plummy-voice and tweed suit, who has appeared in countless television and theatre dramas and you would be correct. Many people do not know Robert Hardy's alter ego, the author and man who is interested in medieval weaponry in general and the English longbow in particular. Robert Hardy also has a long association with the Royal Armouries, so it soon becomes apparent that his love and knowledge of weaponry has been gleaned over a long period of time. With these qualifications it is only right and proper that people interested in the subject are more than ready to read what the author has to say on the subject.

I found the book both fascinating and informative. I did however feel that some of the photographs could have been slightly better, but this is a minor criticism and I suppose there are only so many ways that you can photograph a bow before the photographs begin to look repetitive. The book covers every conceivable question anyone could possibly ask on the subject of the longbow the medieval equivalent of the automatic rifle.

The book takes us from when the longbow was first used, possibly 8,000 years ago, right through until the present day. It gives detailed information on how to make a longbow from scratch, showing the tools and material needed. It covers all the major battles where either the outcome was decided by this fearsome weapon, or it featured heavily in the battle and even shows photographs of bows that were raised with the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's ship of war.

I found it fascinating to read about a weapon that virtually every Englishman had to practice using at some point during his life, much like the football practice that many young men religiously attend today. Although in the case of the longbow, depending on the period in history, we are talking about it was compulsory.

Specialist Subject: Verbiage & Pomposity, 09 Jul 2004
Like other books of its type, this one has a lot of information contained within it, but Hardy's writing style is awful and it's hard to get beyond the appalling verbosity. There is little structure to the book, and Hardy meanders back and forth through his subject doing to the English language what the English longbowmen did to the French at Crecy. A good Editor could have turned this book into something really special. Sadly the wealth of information and enthusiasm for the subject is obscured by Hardy's writing style and the need to include far more information than is necessary (the endless anorakish appendices are especially pointless). It may be the definitive work on the subject, but it's an up-hill struggle to read.

A definitive text., 31 Jan 2003
This excellent book gives a comprehensive history of the longbow. It covers the development of the bow and arrow from its humble beginnings to the heyday of the longbow and the famous battles with the French and at home in the Wars of the Roses. It explains many technical aspects, such as why yew is such a good material for bow-making, the various stages of making a longbow and how arrow points developed to penetrate chain mail and armour. Robert Hardy describes the raising of the Mary Rose, the discovery of so many longbows on board and how those bows were tested. In short the author proves himself to be extremely knowledeable, passionate and willing to impart the information that he must have worked so diligently to obtain.

Very accurate and clear book, 05 Aug 2001
This book is exceptional since it is very clear and complete from the historical and technical points of view. The author is clearly in love with the subject, and so am I.I have long been looking for the corresponding video, published by the BBC, but without luck.If anyone can tell me how to obtain it,please advise. Thank you.

A succint thorough history of the longbow through the ages., 10 Apr 2001
This book is the key book for any longbow fanatic, plus an interesting read for anyone at all interested in this immensely powerful weapon which is key to our past. It follows the origins of the longbow from neadertal bows to the famed longbowmen of Crecy and Agincourt, then its sad decline from a lethal weapon to a sporting pastime plus it tells of the ceremonial bow regiments of the victorian era. Lastly it contains a detailed description of how a beginner should set about making their own bow, the tools the wood and the time that is needed, followed by an appendix laying out the physical properties of the woods used and how the bow and the arrows should relate to each other in length or strength. The author, the well known Robert Hardy has a very relaxed style and you immediately feel comfortable immersed in the knowledge and experience and photographs that he has ammassed as a master of the longbow for the last sixty years. A great read.

Good and nicely edited, 09 Oct 2008
A lot of pictures, diagrams and information that make this book a very interesting read. More educative than gripping, still I liked it a lot.

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills review, 09 Aug 2008
I agree with Sniper .338 on his review on this book which reads the following:

"The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read."

Although the only thing I do not agree with is the five star rating that Sniper .338 gave the book. I would give it a 4 star rating because though the book is very realistic and illustrated it is not a manual thus should not be called so.
For very good and understandable reasons the author does not go into much detail but it does seem to try and explain several points with vague ideas (due to the sensitivity of the sniping nature). This can be appreciated especially in a couple of chapters that should be skinned down to bullet points or overall ideas in a few pages rather than sub-paragraphs that do not really say much. So bullet points would be more useful

Overall: I do not regret buying this book at all, in fact I would recommend it but not with a five out of five star rating. The word manual in the tittle and the couple of extensive chapters that do not say much are the reasons why I am giving it a 4 out of 5 rating.

Sniper skills book review, 04 Jan 2008
The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read.

Fantastic , 26 Sep 2006
Once again, Mr Spicer has managed to write an understandable and well illustrated book. I have been fortunate to receive a 'pre-released' book and am very happy with what I have seen. It is understandable and he has the gift to write as though he is talking to the reader. The subjects covered are illustrated and explained well and gives the reader an understanding of what is being spoken about. I would definately recommend both of Mr. Spicers books.

Great Attention to Detail, 15 Jul 2008
If someone mentioned the name of Robert Hardy to you, you would probably bring to mind a picture of an English actor with a plummy-voice and tweed suit, who has appeared in countless television and theatre dramas and you would be correct. Many people do not know Robert Hardy's alter ego, the author and man who is interested in medieval weaponry in general and the English longbow in particular. Robert Hardy also has a long association with the Royal Armouries, so it soon becomes apparent that his love and knowledge of weaponry has been gleaned over a long period of time. With these qualifications it is only right and proper that people interested in the subject are more than ready to read what the author has to say on the subject.

I found the book both fascinating and informative. I did however feel that some of the photographs could have been slightly better, but this is a minor criticism and I suppose there are only so many ways that you can photograph a bow before the photographs begin to look repetitive. The book covers every conceivable question anyone could possibly ask on the subject of the longbow the medieval equivalent of the automatic rifle.

The book takes us from when the longbow was first used, possibly 8,000 years ago, right through until the present day. It gives detailed information on how to make a longbow from scratch, showing the tools and material needed. It covers all the major battles where either the outcome was decided by this fearsome weapon, or it featured heavily in the battle and even shows photographs of bows that were raised with the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's ship of war.

I found it fascinating to read about a weapon that virtually every Englishman had to practice using at some point during his life, much like the football practice that many young men religiously attend today. Although in the case of the longbow, depending on the period in history, we are talking about it was compulsory.

Specialist Subject: Verbiage & Pomposity, 09 Jul 2004
Like other books of its type, this one has a lot of information contained within it, but Hardy's writing style is awful and it's hard to get beyond the appalling verbosity. There is little structure to the book, and Hardy meanders back and forth through his subject doing to the English language what the English longbowmen did to the French at Crecy. A good Editor could have turned this book into something really special. Sadly the wealth of information and enthusiasm for the subject is obscured by Hardy's writing style and the need to include far more information than is necessary (the endless anorakish appendices are especially pointless). It may be the definitive work on the subject, but it's an up-hill struggle to read.

A definitive text., 31 Jan 2003
This excellent book gives a comprehensive history of the longbow. It covers the development of the bow and arrow from its humble beginnings to the heyday of the longbow and the famous battles with the French and at home in the Wars of the Roses. It explains many technical aspects, such as why yew is such a good material for bow-making, the various stages of making a longbow and how arrow points developed to penetrate chain mail and armour. Robert Hardy describes the raising of the Mary Rose, the discovery of so many longbows on board and how those bows were tested. In short the author proves himself to be extremely knowledeable, passionate and willing to impart the information that he must have worked so diligently to obtain.

Very accurate and clear book, 05 Aug 2001
This book is exceptional since it is very clear and complete from the historical and technical points of view. The author is clearly in love with the subject, and so am I.I have long been looking for the corresponding video, published by the BBC, but without luck.If anyone can tell me how to obtain it,please advise. Thank you.

A succint thorough history of the longbow through the ages., 10 Apr 2001
This book is the key book for any longbow fanatic, plus an interesting read for anyone at all interested in this immensely powerful weapon which is key to our past. It follows the origins of the longbow from neadertal bows to the famed longbowmen of Crecy and Agincourt, then its sad decline from a lethal weapon to a sporting pastime plus it tells of the ceremonial bow regiments of the victorian era. Lastly it contains a detailed description of how a beginner should set about making their own bow, the tools the wood and the time that is needed, followed by an appendix laying out the physical properties of the woods used and how the bow and the arrows should relate to each other in length or strength. The author, the well known Robert Hardy has a very relaxed style and you immediately feel comfortable immersed in the knowledge and experience and photographs that he has ammassed as a master of the longbow for the last sixty years. A great read.

A GRAPHIC INSIGHT INTO THE MURKY WORLD OF NUCLEAR DEFENCE., 14 Sep 2007
I must admit that until I picked up this fantastic book I had no idea that these large undergound bunkers even existed. The rational behind these huge military civil defence bunkers came from the Cold War. And during the early 1950's billions of pounds were diverted from the already war torn country to nuclear civil defence. It was feared by the governments that a nuclear attack could happen at any moment and they would need to take shelter to still govern. But not only run the devistated country but to wage nuclear war on the other countrys. So during this post war period thousands of huge bunkers were built in secret undergound across the country. This book delves into only just declassified files to look into the countries defence plans. The staggering idea is that only military and govenment personell would be housed in the large shelters. And if any civilain should find a bunker they would be killed on sight ! and not given refuge. A tell tale sign of a bunker are the large comm's masts not unlike mobile masts dotted about the countryside. I have been to Kelvingdon Hatch which is a large 3 floor 'Rotor' station and it's a revelation. With it's mix of 1950's to 80's technology which would run the main base as it was in command of smaller council based defence stations in the Essex area. The whole complex is very eerie indeed and it's like stepping back 50 years. It does show how seriously the then Governments took the reality of a Nuclear attack. And at how little it thought of the Civil population at large should an attack happen !. This is a must buy and the book itself feels like a forbidden text due to it's nature. The bunker sites themselves are also a shock and even two such's proximity to my own home In Orpington.


Still Cuts it!!!, 25 Feb 2007
Whilst this is a reprint it has to be said that McCamley's seminal work still cuts it. What helps this is the vast array of sites included in the publication. If you need more of a contextual story of British defence then maybe Four Minute Warning by Clarke through Tempus is the one, however this book has some superb aspects to it. Read it or miss out.

Good Read, 02 Sep 2003
An excellent well researched book written in an easy to read style. Plenty of photographs and illustrations support the text. The subject matter was facinating.

Very Interesting, 18 Aug 2003
Bought this book and have to say it was superbly intersting and captivating.

It describes ALL major construction projects over the world such as NORAD etc but also some of the projects I had never heard of such as the Diefenbunker in Canada

Well worth buying for the excellent analysis of all major projects

Forgotten Hidden History, 17 Jun 2003
As someone who used to work in the building pictured on the cover of Nick McCamley's book it was bound to hold some interest. Having read the book from cover to cover in one sitting I can only say that it is fortunate that somebody has been dedicated and indeed interested enough to research and document in a truly scholarly fashion the years of hidden history of underground citadels in the US and UK. The UK sites were for use in times of conflict, and latterly in the worst scenario imaginable. As such many were not neccessarily secret, just not publicised, and with the outbreak of peace that we encountered in Europe in the early '90s so many of these buildings were abandoned, demolished or disposed of. The history of these sites is recorded here in an unbiased and realistic reference work that is well presented and accurate. An excellent book that far outstrips all others on the subject read to date.

Good and nicely edited, 09 Oct 2008
A lot of pictures, diagrams and information that make this book a very interesting read. More educative than gripping, still I liked it a lot.

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills review, 09 Aug 2008
I agree with Sniper .338 on his review on this book which reads the following:

"The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read."

Although the only thing I do not agree with is the five star rating that Sniper .338 gave the book. I would give it a 4 star rating because though the book is very realistic and illustrated it is not a manual thus should not be called so.
For very good and understandable reasons the author does not go into much detail but it does seem to try and explain several points with vague ideas (due to the sensitivity of the sniping nature). This can be appreciated especially in a couple of chapters that should be skinned down to bullet points or overall ideas in a few pages rather than sub-paragraphs that do not really say much. So bullet points would be more useful

Overall: I do not regret buying this book at all, in fact I would recommend it but not with a five out of five star rating. The word manual in the tittle and the couple of extensive chapters that do not say much are the reasons why I am giving it a 4 out of 5 rating.

Sniper skills book review, 04 Jan 2008
The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read.

Fantastic , 26 Sep 2006
Once again, Mr Spicer has managed to write an understandable and well illustrated book. I have been fortunate to receive a 'pre-released' book and am very happy with what I have seen. It is understandable and he has the gift to write as though he is talking to the reader. The subjects covered are illustrated and explained well and gives the reader an understanding of what is being spoken about. I would definately recommend both of Mr. Spicers books.

Great Attention to Detail, 15 Jul 2008
If someone mentioned the name of Robert Hardy to you, you would probably bring to mind a picture of an English actor with a plummy-voice and tweed suit, who has appeared in countless television and theatre dramas and you would be correct. Many people do not know Robert Hardy's alter ego, the author and man who is interested in medieval weaponry in general and the English longbow in particular. Robert Hardy also has a long association with the Royal Armouries, so it soon becomes apparent that his love and knowledge of weaponry has been gleaned over a long period of time. With these qualifications it is only right and proper that people interested in the subject are more than ready to read what the author has to say on the subject.

I found the book both fascinating and informative. I did however feel that some of the photographs could have been slightly better, but this is a minor criticism and I suppose there are only so many ways that you can photograph a bow before the photographs begin to look repetitive. The book covers every conceivable question anyone could possibly ask on the subject of the longbow the medieval equivalent of the automatic rifle.

The book takes us from when the longbow was first used, possibly 8,000 years ago, right through until the present day. It gives detailed information on how to make a longbow from scratch, showing the tools and material needed. It covers all the major battles where either the outcome was decided by this fearsome weapon, or it featured heavily in the battle and even shows photographs of bows that were raised with the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's ship of war.

I found it fascinating to read about a weapon that virtually every Englishman had to practice using at some point during his life, much like the football practice that many young men religiously attend today. Although in the case of the longbow, depending on the period in history, we are talking about it was compulsory.

Specialist Subject: Verbiage & Pomposity, 09 Jul 2004
Like other books of its type, this one has a lot of information contained within it, but Hardy's writing style is awful and it's hard to get beyond the appalling verbosity. There is little structure to the book, and Hardy meanders back and forth through his subject doing to the English language what the English longbowmen did to the French at Crecy. A good Editor could have turned this book into something really special. Sadly the wealth of information and enthusiasm for the subject is obscured by Hardy's writing style and the need to include far more information than is necessary (the endless anorakish appendices are especially pointless). It may be the definitive work on the subject, but it's an up-hill struggle to read.

A definitive text., 31 Jan 2003
This excellent book gives a comprehensive history of the longbow. It covers the development of the bow and arrow from its humble beginnings to the heyday of the longbow and the famous battles with the French and at home in the Wars of the Roses. It explains many technical aspects, such as why yew is such a good material for bow-making, the various stages of making a longbow and how arrow points developed to penetrate chain mail and armour. Robert Hardy describes the raising of the Mary Rose, the discovery of so many longbows on board and how those bows were tested. In short the author proves himself to be extremely knowledeable, passionate and willing to impart the information that he must have worked so diligently to obtain.

Very accurate and clear book, 05 Aug 2001
This book is exceptional since it is very clear and complete from the historical and technical points of view. The author is clearly in love with the subject, and so am I.I have long been looking for the corresponding video, published by the BBC, but without luck.If anyone can tell me how to obtain it,please advise. Thank you.

A succint thorough history of the longbow through the ages., 10 Apr 2001
This book is the key book for any longbow fanatic, plus an interesting read for anyone at all interested in this immensely powerful weapon which is key to our past. It follows the origins of the longbow from neadertal bows to the famed longbowmen of Crecy and Agincourt, then its sad decline from a lethal weapon to a sporting pastime plus it tells of the ceremonial bow regiments of the victorian era. Lastly it contains a detailed description of how a beginner should set about making their own bow, the tools the wood and the time that is needed, followed by an appendix laying out the physical properties of the woods used and how the bow and the arrows should relate to each other in length or strength. The author, the well known Robert Hardy has a very relaxed style and you immediately feel comfortable immersed in the knowledge and experience and photographs that he has ammassed as a master of the longbow for the last sixty years. A great read.

A GRAPHIC INSIGHT INTO THE MURKY WORLD OF NUCLEAR DEFENCE., 14 Sep 2007
I must admit that until I picked up this fantastic book I had no idea that these large undergound bunkers even existed. The rational behind these huge military civil defence bunkers came from the Cold War. And during the early 1950's billions of pounds were diverted from the already war torn country to nuclear civil defence. It was feared by the governments that a nuclear attack could happen at any moment and they would need to take shelter to still govern. But not only run the devistated country but to wage nuclear war on the other countrys. So during this post war period thousands of huge bunkers were built in secret undergound across the country. This book delves into only just declassified files to look into the countries defence plans. The staggering idea is that only military and govenment personell would be housed in the large shelters. And if any civilain should find a bunker they would be killed on sight ! and not given refuge. A tell tale sign of a bunker are the large comm's masts not unlike mobile masts dotted about the countryside. I have been to Kelvingdon Hatch which is a large 3 floor 'Rotor' station and it's a revelation. With it's mix of 1950's to 80's technology which would run the main base as it was in command of smaller council based defence stations in the Essex area. The whole complex is very eerie indeed and it's like stepping back 50 years. It does show how seriously the then Governments took the reality of a Nuclear attack. And at how little it thought of the Civil population at large should an attack happen !. This is a must buy and the book itself feels like a forbidden text due to it's nature. The bunker sites themselves are also a shock and even two such's proximity to my own home In Orpington.


Still Cuts it!!!, 25 Feb 2007
Whilst this is a reprint it has to be said that McCamley's seminal work still cuts it. What helps this is the vast array of sites included in the publication. If you need more of a contextual story of British defence then maybe Four Minute Warning by Clarke through Tempus is the one, however this book has some superb aspects to it. Read it or miss out.

Good Read, 02 Sep 2003
An excellent well researched book written in an easy to read style. Plenty of photographs and illustrations support the text. The subject matter was facinating.

Very Interesting, 18 Aug 2003
Bought this book and have to say it was superbly intersting and captivating.

It describes ALL major construction projects over the world such as NORAD etc but also some of the projects I had never heard of such as the Diefenbunker in Canada

Well worth buying for the excellent analysis of all major projects

Forgotten Hidden History, 17 Jun 2003
As someone who used to work in the building pictured on the cover of Nick McCamley's book it was bound to hold some interest. Having read the book from cover to cover in one sitting I can only say that it is fortunate that somebody has been dedicated and indeed interested enough to research and document in a truly scholarly fashion the years of hidden history of underground citadels in the US and UK. The UK sites were for use in times of conflict, and latterly in the worst scenario imaginable. As such many were not neccessarily secret, just not publicised, and with the outbreak of peace that we encountered in Europe in the early '90s so many of these buildings were abandoned, demolished or disposed of. The history of these sites is recorded here in an unbiased and realistic reference work that is well presented and accurate. An excellent book that far outstrips all others on the subject read to date.

shotgunners delight, 20 Mar 2008
simply the best book on gunsmithing i have ever read in 40 years,covers every aspect of the gunsmiths work in great detail.written in a straightforward but entertaining style, no shotgunners bookshelf should be without it,highly recommended..

An Excellent Book, 12 Sep 2007
Whether you are someone who shoots regularly, or just someone with an interest in the workings of shotguns and everything that goes with owning a gun, this is the book to buy. Much of the work of the gunsmith is never really seen by the owner as it is the internal components of the gun that are usually adjusted or replaced. However, anyone with any interest at all in their shotgun will either know or want to know how to strip their gun, both for cleaning maintenance and also if they have a minor malfunction while out shooting.

This volume goes into full detail about the gunsmith's art. Who has not admired the beautiful finish on many of the shotgun's in your local gun shop, even if they are far out of your price range. The barrel[s] finish, be it a blacked, blued or brown finish and on some of the top notch weapons, the beautiful engraving and tooling of both the metal and the stock. How these and other things are achieved is covered in the book. The different types of gun are also covered in some detail. Side by side barrels, over and under, the different types of ejector mechanism etc.

Also very importantly the book goes into detail about gun proofing and the law. All in all the book covers virtually everything that you need or would like to know. It shows both the complexity of the shotgun and the skill of the gunsmith.

Good and nicely edited, 09 Oct 2008
A lot of pictures, diagrams and information that make this book a very interesting read. More educative than gripping, still I liked it a lot.

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills review, 09 Aug 2008
I agree with Sniper .338 on his review on this book which reads the following:

"The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read."

Although the only thing I do not agree with is the five star rating that Sniper .338 gave the book. I would give it a 4 star rating because though the book is very realistic and illustrated it is not a manual thus should not be called so.
For very good and understandable reasons the author does not go into much detail but it does seem to try and explain several points with vague ideas (due to the sensitivity of the sniping nature). This can be appreciated especially in a couple of chapters that should be skinned down to bullet points or overall ideas in a few pages rather than sub-paragraphs that do not really say much. So bullet points would be more useful

Overall: I do not regret buying this book at all, in fact I would recommend it but not with a five out of five star rating. The word manual in the tittle and the couple of extensive chapters that do not say much are the reasons why I am giving it a 4 out of 5 rating.

Sniper skills book review, 04 Jan 2008
The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read.

Fantastic , 26 Sep 2006
Once again, Mr Spicer has managed to write an understandable and well illustrated book. I have been fortunate to receive a 'pre-released' book and am very happy with what I have seen. It is understandable and he has the gift to write as though he is talking to the reader. The subjects covered are illustrated and explained well and gives the reader an understanding of what is being spoken about. I would definately recommend both of Mr. Spicers books.

Great Attention to Detail, 15 Jul 2008
If someone mentioned the name of Robert Hardy to you, you would probably bring to mind a picture of an English actor with a plummy-voice and tweed suit, who has appeared in countless television and theatre dramas and you would be correct. Many people do not know Robert Hardy's alter ego, the author and man who is interested in medieval weaponry in general and the English longbow in particular. Robert Hardy also has a long association with the Royal Armouries, so it soon becomes apparent that his love and knowledge of weaponry has been gleaned over a long period of time. With these qualifications it is only right and proper that people interested in the subject are more than ready to read what the author has to say on the subject.

I found the book both fascinating and informative. I did however feel that some of the photographs could have been slightly better, but this is a minor criticism and I suppose there are only so many ways that you can photograph a bow before the photographs begin to look repetitive. The book covers every conceivable question anyone could possibly ask on the subject of the longbow the medieval equivalent of the automatic rifle.

The book takes us from when the longbow was first used, possibly 8,000 years ago, right through until the present day. It gives detailed information on how to make a longbow from scratch, showing the tools and material needed. It covers all the major battles where either the outcome was decided by this fearsome weapon, or it featured heavily in the battle and even shows photographs of bows that were raised with the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's ship of war.

I found it fascinating to read about a weapon that virtually every Englishman had to practice using at some point during his life, much like the football practice that many young men religiously attend today. Although in the case of the longbow, depending on the period in history, we are talking about it was compulsory.

Specialist Subject: Verbiage & Pomposity, 09 Jul 2004
Like other books of its type, this one has a lot of information contained within it, but Hardy's writing style is awful and it's hard to get beyond the appalling verbosity. There is little structure to the book, and Hardy meanders back and forth through his subject doing to the English language what the English longbowmen did to the French at Crecy. A good Editor could have turned this book into something really special. Sadly the wealth of information and enthusiasm for the subject is obscured by Hardy's writing style and the need to include far more information than is necessary (the endless anorakish appendices are especially pointless). It may be the definitive work on the subject, but it's an up-hill struggle to read.

A definitive text., 31 Jan 2003
This excellent book gives a comprehensive history of the longbow. It covers the development of the bow and arrow from its humble beginnings to the heyday of the longbow and the famous battles with the French and at home in the Wars of the Roses. It explains many technical aspects, such as why yew is such a good material for bow-making, the various stages of making a longbow and how arrow points developed to penetrate chain mail and armour. Robert Hardy describes the raising of the Mary Rose, the discovery of so many longbows on board and how those bows were tested. In short the author proves himself to be extremely knowledeable, passionate and willing to impart the information that he must have worked so diligently to obtain.

Very accurate and clear book, 05 Aug 2001
This book is exceptional since it is very clear and complete from the historical and technical points of view. The author is clearly in love with the subject, and so am I.I have long been looking for the corresponding video, published by the BBC, but without luck.If anyone can tell me how to obtain it,please advise. Thank you.

A succint thorough history of the longbow through the ages., 10 Apr 2001
This book is the key book for any longbow fanatic, plus an interesting read for anyone at all interested in this immensely powerful weapon which is key to our past. It follows the origins of the longbow from neadertal bows to the famed longbowmen of Crecy and Agincourt, then its sad decline from a lethal weapon to a sporting pastime plus it tells of the ceremonial bow regiments of the victorian era. Lastly it contains a detailed description of how a beginner should set about making their own bow, the tools the wood and the time that is needed, followed by an appendix laying out the physical properties of the woods used and how the bow and the arrows should relate to each other in length or strength. The author, the well known Robert Hardy has a very relaxed style and you immediately feel comfortable immersed in the knowledge and experience and photographs that he has ammassed as a master of the longbow for the last sixty years. A great read.

A GRAPHIC INSIGHT INTO THE MURKY WORLD OF NUCLEAR DEFENCE., 14 Sep 2007
I must admit that until I picked up this fantastic book I had no idea that these large undergound bunkers even existed. The rational behind these huge military civil defence bunkers came from the Cold War. And during the early 1950's billions of pounds were diverted from the already war torn country to nuclear civil defence. It was feared by the governments that a nuclear attack could happen at any moment and they would need to take shelter to still govern. But not only run the devistated country but to wage nuclear war on the other countrys. So during this post war period thousands of huge bunkers were built in secret undergound across the country. This book delves into only just declassified files to look into the countries defence plans. The staggering idea is that only military and govenment personell would be housed in the large shelters. And if any civilain should find a bunker they would be killed on sight ! and not given refuge. A tell tale sign of a bunker are the large comm's masts not unlike mobile masts dotted about the countryside. I have been to Kelvingdon Hatch which is a large 3 floor 'Rotor' station and it's a revelation. With it's mix of 1950's to 80's technology which would run the main base as it was in command of smaller council based defence stations in the Essex area. The whole complex is very eerie indeed and it's like stepping back 50 years. It does show how seriously the then Governments took the reality of a Nuclear attack. And at how little it thought of the Civil population at large should an attack happen !. This is a must buy and the book itself feels like a forbidden text due to it's nature. The bunker sites themselves are also a shock and even two such's proximity to my own home In Orpington.


Still Cuts it!!!, 25 Feb 2007
Whilst this is a reprint it has to be said that McCamley's seminal work still cuts it. What helps this is the vast array of sites included in the publication. If you need more of a contextual story of British defence then maybe Four Minute Warning by Clarke through Tempus is the one, however this book has some superb aspects to it. Read it or miss out.

Good Read, 02 Sep 2003
An excellent well researched book written in an easy to read style. Plenty of photographs and illustrations support the text. The subject matter was facinating.

Very Interesting, 18 Aug 2003
Bought this book and have to say it was superbly intersting and captivating.

It describes ALL major construction projects over the world such as NORAD etc but also some of the projects I had never heard of such as the Diefenbunker in Canada

Well worth buying for the excellent analysis of all major projects

Forgotten Hidden History, 17 Jun 2003
As someone who used to work in the building pictured on the cover of Nick McCamley's book it was bound to hold some interest. Having read the book from cover to cover in one sitting I can only say that it is fortunate that somebody has been dedicated and indeed interested enough to research and document in a truly scholarly fashion the years of hidden history of underground citadels in the US and UK. The UK sites were for use in times of conflict, and latterly in the worst scenario imaginable. As such many were not neccessarily secret, just not publicised, and with the outbreak of peace that we encountered in Europe in the early '90s so many of these buildings were abandoned, demolished or disposed of. The history of these sites is recorded here in an unbiased and realistic reference work that is well presented and accurate. An excellent book that far outstrips all others on the subject read to date.

shotgunners delight, 20 Mar 2008
simply the best book on gunsmithing i have ever read in 40 years,covers every aspect of the gunsmiths work in great detail.written in a straightforward but entertaining style, no shotgunners bookshelf should be without it,highly recommended..

An Excellent Book, 12 Sep 2007
Whether you are someone who shoots regularly, or just someone with an interest in the workings of shotguns and everything that goes with owning a gun, this is the book to buy. Much of the work of the gunsmith is never really seen by the owner as it is the internal components of the gun that are usually adjusted or replaced. However, anyone with any interest at all in their shotgun will either know or want to know how to strip their gun, both for cleaning maintenance and also if they have a minor malfunction while out shooting.

This volume goes into full detail about the gunsmith's art. Who has not admired the beautiful finish on many of the shotgun's in your local gun shop, even if they are far out of your price range. The barrel[s] finish, be it a blacked, blued or brown finish and on some of the top notch weapons, the beautiful engraving and tooling of both the metal and the stock. How these and other things are achieved is covered in the book. The different types of gun are also covered in some detail. Side by side barrels, over and under, the different types of ejector mechanism etc.

Also very importantly the book goes into detail about gun proofing and the law. All in all the book covers virtually everything that you need or would like to know. It shows both the complexity of the shotgun and the skill of the gunsmith.

Hits the mark, 31 Jul 2007
This book is handsome enough to adorn any coffee table, but it's much more than a glossy tribute to one of history's most feared and famous weapons - the longbow. Actor Robert Hardy - a key player behind the important, and controversial, technical analysis of the powerful bow staves recovered from the wreck of the Tudor warship Mary Rose - contributes several feisty chapters, but the bulk of this substantial book is the work of Dr Matthew Strickland, a lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Glasgow.
Dr Strickland is a leading authority on Medieval warfare, and he uses his knowledge to place the longbow squarely within its broad historical context. He provides a scholarly but readable account of the role of archery (including the crossbow and composite bows) from Hastings to the Armada. En route, 'The Great Warbow' tackles not only the epic set-piece encounters of the Hundred Years War, but all manner of lesser battles and skirmishes fought from Scotland to Portugal. In addition, it includes coverage of such relevant themes as hunting, armour, castles and the rise of gunpowder weapons.
From start to finish, the combination of narrative and analysis is based upon an intimate acquaintance with the sources, including many chronicles that have never been published in English. This is bolstered by a generous selection of well-reproduced and thoughtfully-captioned illustrations. There is also enough technical data to support the book's conclusions, although this is not stretched beyond its limits simply to prove a point.
The end result is not only a comprehensive account of the capabilities and limitations of the longbow, and the armies who both used it and faced it, but also what is now perhaps the best English-language overview of Medieval European warfare in general.

queery, 18 Jun 2007
can someone tell me please, is this a rehash of the earlier book by Hardy, or is it's content different enough to justify buying it

Highly recommended, 15 Jan 2006
Being a keen archer for many years,using both the modern compound bow and the old English Longbow,I saw this book advertised on Amazon and added it to my wishlist.
My parents got it for me for Xmas and as soon as I opened it that was the last anyone saw of me for the holidays.
It is highly informative on many different aspects,things like the technical side of the bow,why we were the only country to adopt it in such high numbers,and other things like the types of arrowheads used and how archers would aim for the faces of Knights with lifted visors at 100 paces.
One fascinating chapter,although quite sqeamish,has highly detailed surgical reports of how these were removed from any soldier lucky(?) enough to survive one embedding itself in their head.
The authors Matthew Strickland and Robert Hardy(yes the actor from All creatures great and small!) obviously have a great respect and love of this symbol of Medieval England.
I defy any true Englishman or lady not to feel an immense feeling of pride when they read this.
Buy this book and I promise you will love it.It's not just a good book,it's a beautiful one.
For St.George!!!!

Very informative, 09 Jul 2005
This is an excellent book which deals comprehensively with the use and effect of both the longbow and crossbow. But it is more than this inasmuch as it surveys the great battles of the later middle ages and considers the tactics - including archery - which helped to win or lose them. The authors are clearly experts and the illustrations are superb - it deserves to become the standard work in the field.

Good and nicely edited, 09 Oct 2008
A lot of pictures, diagrams and information that make this book a very interesting read. More educative than gripping, still I liked it a lot.

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills review, 09 Aug 2008
I agree with Sniper .338 on his review on this book which reads the following:

"The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read."

Although the only thing I do not agree with is the five star rating that Sniper .338 gave the book. I would give it a 4 star rating because though the book is very realistic and illustrated it is not a manual thus should not be called so.
For very good and understandable reasons the author does not go into much detail but it does seem to try and explain several points with vague ideas (due to the sensitivity of the sniping nature). This can be appreciated especially in a couple of chapters that should be skinned down to bullet points or overall ideas in a few pages rather than sub-paragraphs that do not really say much. So bullet points would be more useful

Overall: I do not regret buying this book at all, in fact I would recommend it but not with a five out of five star rating. The word manual in the tittle and the couple of extensive chapters that do not say much are the reasons why I am giving it a 4 out of 5 rating.

Sniper skills book review, 04 Jan 2008
The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read.

Fantastic , 26 Sep 2006
Once again, Mr Spicer has managed to write an understandable and well illustrated book. I have been fortunate to receive a 'pre-released' book and am very happy with what I have seen. It is understandable and he has the gift to write as though he is talking to the reader. The subjects covered are illustrated and explained well and gives the reader an understanding of what is being spoken about. I would definately recommend both of Mr. Spicers books.

Great Attention to Detail, 15 Jul 2008
If someone mentioned the name of Robert Hardy to you, you would probably bring to mind a picture of an English actor with a plummy-voice and tweed suit, who has appeared in countless television and theatre dramas and you would be correct. Many people do not know Robert Hardy's alter ego, the author and man who is interested in medieval weaponry in general and the English longbow in particular. Robert Hardy also has a long association with the Royal Armouries, so it soon becomes apparent that his love and knowledge of weaponry has been gleaned over a long period of time. With these qualifications it is only right and proper that people interested in the subject are more than ready to read what the author has to say on the subject.

I found the book both fascinating and informative. I did however feel that some of the photographs could have been slightly better, but this is a minor criticism and I suppose there are only so many ways that you can photograph a bow before the photographs begin to look repetitive. The book covers every conceivable question anyone could possibly ask on the subject of the longbow the medieval equivalent of the automatic rifle.

The book takes us from when the longbow was first used, possibly 8,000 years ago, right through until the present day. It gives detailed information on how to make a longbow from scratch, showing the tools and material needed. It covers all the major battles where either the outcome was decided by this fearsome weapon, or it featured heavily in the battle and even shows photographs of bows that were raised with the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's ship of war.

I found it fascinating to read about a weapon that virtually every Englishman had to practice using at some point during his life, much like the football practice that many young men religiously attend today. Although in the case of the longbow, depending on the period in history, we are talking about it was compulsory.

Specialist Subject: Verbiage & Pomposity, 09 Jul 2004
Like other books of its type, this one has a lot of information contained within it, but Hardy's writing style is awful and it's hard to get beyond the appalling verbosity. There is little structure to the book, and Hardy meanders back and forth through his subject doing to the English language what the English longbowmen did to the French at Crecy. A good Editor could have turned this book into something really special. Sadly the wealth of information and enthusiasm for the subject is obscured by Hardy's writing style and the need to include far more information than is necessary (the endless anorakish appendices are especially pointless). It may be the definitive work on the subject, but it's an up-hill struggle to read.

A definitive text., 31 Jan 2003
This excellent book gives a comprehensive history of the longbow. It covers the development of the bow and arrow from its humble beginnings to the heyday of the longbow and the famous battles with the French and at home in the Wars of the Roses. It explains many technical aspects, such as why yew is such a good material for bow-making, the various stages of making a longbow and how arrow points developed to penetrate chain mail and armour. Robert Hardy describes the raising of the Mary Rose, the discovery of so many longbows on board and how those bows were tested. In short the author proves himself to be extremely knowledeable, passionate and willing to impart the information that he must have worked so diligently to obtain.

Very accurate and clear book, 05 Aug 2001
This book is exceptional since it is very clear and complete from the historical and technical points of view. The author is clearly in love with the subject, and so am I.I have long been looking for the corresponding video, published by the BBC, but without luck.If anyone can tell me how to obtain it,please advise. Thank you.

A succint thorough history of the longbow through the ages., 10 Apr 2001
This book is the key book for any longbow fanatic, plus an interesting read for anyone at all interested in this immensely powerful weapon which is key to our past. It follows the origins of the longbow from neadertal bows to the famed longbowmen of Crecy and Agincourt, then its sad decline from a lethal weapon to a sporting pastime plus it tells of the ceremonial bow regiments of the victorian era. Lastly it contains a detailed description of how a beginner should set about making their own bow, the tools the wood and the time that is needed, followed by an appendix laying out the physical properties of the woods used and how the bow and the arrows should relate to each other in length or strength. The author, the well known Robert Hardy has a very relaxed style and you immediately feel comfortable immersed in the knowledge and experience and photographs that he has ammassed as a master of the longbow for the last sixty years. A great read.

A GRAPHIC INSIGHT INTO THE MURKY WORLD OF NUCLEAR DEFENCE., 14 Sep 2007
I must admit that until I picked up this fantastic book I had no idea that these large undergound bunkers even existed. The rational behind these huge military civil defence bunkers came from the Cold War. And during the early 1950's billions of pounds were diverted from the already war torn country to nuclear civil defence. It was feared by the governments that a nuclear attack could happen at any moment and they would need to take shelter to still govern. But not only run the devistated country but to wage nuclear war on the other countrys. So during this post war period thousands of huge bunkers were built in secret undergound across the country. This book delves into only just declassified files to look into the countries defence plans. The staggering idea is that only military and govenment personell would be housed in the large shelters. And if any civilain should find a bunker they would be killed on sight ! and not given refuge. A tell tale sign of a bunker are the large comm's masts not unlike mobile masts dotted about the countryside. I have been to Kelvingdon Hatch which is a large 3 floor 'Rotor' station and it's a revelation. With it's mix of 1950's to 80's technology which would run the main base as it was in command of smaller council based defence stations in the Essex area. The whole complex is very eerie indeed and it's like stepping back 50 years. It does show how seriously the then Governments took the reality of a Nuclear attack. And at how little it thought of the Civil population at large should an attack happen !. This is a must buy and the book itself feels like a forbidden text due to it's nature. The bunker sites themselves are also a shock and even two such's proximity to my own home In Orpington.


Still Cuts it!!!, 25 Feb 2007
Whilst this is a reprint it has to be said that McCamley's seminal work still cuts it. What helps this is the vast array of sites included in the publication. If you need more of a contextual story of British defence then maybe Four Minute Warning by Clarke through Tempus is the one, however this book has some superb aspects to it. Read it or miss out.

Good Read, 02 Sep 2003
An excellent well researched book written in an easy to read style. Plenty of photographs and illustrations support the text. The subject matter was facinating.

Very Interesting, 18 Aug 2003
Bought this book and have to say it was superbly intersting and captivating.

It describes ALL major construction projects over the world such as NORAD etc but also some of the projects I had never heard of such as the Diefenbunker in Canada

Well worth buying for the excellent analysis of all major projects

Forgotten Hidden History, 17 Jun 2003
As someone who used to work in the building pictured on the cover of Nick McCamley's book it was bound to hold some interest. Having read the book from cover to cover in one sitting I can only say that it is fortunate that somebody has been dedicated and indeed interested enough to research and document in a truly scholarly fashion the years of hidden history of underground citadels in the US and UK. The UK sites were for use in times of conflict, and latterly in the worst scenario imaginable. As such many were not neccessarily secret, just not publicised, and with the outbreak of peace that we encountered in Europe in the early '90s so many of these buildings were abandoned, demolished or disposed of. The history of these sites is recorded here in an unbiased and realistic reference work that is well presented and accurate. An excellent book that far outstrips all others on the subject read to date.

shotgunners delight, 20 Mar 2008
simply the best book on gunsmithing i have ever read in 40 years,covers every aspect of the gunsmiths work in great detail.written in a straightforward but entertaining style, no shotgunners bookshelf should be without it,highly recommended..

An Excellent Book, 12 Sep 2007
Whether you are someone who shoots regularly, or just someone with an interest in the workings of shotguns and everything that goes with owning a gun, this is the book to buy. Much of the work of the gunsmith is never really seen by the owner as it is the internal components of the gun that are usually adjusted or replaced. However, anyone with any interest at all in their shotgun will either know or want to know how to strip their gun, both for cleaning maintenance and also if they have a minor malfunction while out shooting.

This volume goes into full detail about the gunsmith's art. Who has not admired the beautiful finish on many of the shotgun's in your local gun shop, even if they are far out of your price range. The barrel[s] finish, be it a blacked, blued or brown finish and on some of the top notch weapons, the beautiful engraving and tooling of both the metal and the stock. How these and other things are achieved is covered in the book. The different types of gun are also covered in some detail. Side by side barrels, over and under, the different types of ejector mechanism etc.

Also very importantly the book goes into detail about gun proofing and the law. All in all the book covers virtually everything that you need or would like to know. It shows both the complexity of the shotgun and the skill of the gunsmith.

Hits the mark, 31 Jul 2007
This book is handsome enough to adorn any coffee table, but it's much more than a glossy tribute to one of history's most feared and famous weapons - the longbow. Actor Robert Hardy - a key player behind the important, and controversial, technical analysis of the powerful bow staves recovered from the wreck of the Tudor warship Mary Rose - contributes several feisty chapters, but the bulk of this substantial book is the work of Dr Matthew Strickland, a lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Glasgow.
Dr Strickland is a leading authority on Medieval warfare, and he uses his knowledge to place the longbow squarely within its broad historical context. He provides a scholarly but readable account of the role of archery (including the crossbow and composite bows) from Hastings to the Armada. En route, 'The Great Warbow' tackles not only the epic set-piece encounters of the Hundred Years War, but all manner of lesser battles and skirmishes fought from Scotland to Portugal. In addition, it includes coverage of such relevant themes as hunting, armour, castles and the rise of gunpowder weapons.
From start to finish, the combination of narrative and analysis is based upon an intimate acquaintance with the sources, including many chronicles that have never been published in English. This is bolstered by a generous selection of well-reproduced and thoughtfully-captioned illustrations. There is also enough technical data to support the book's conclusions, although this is not stretched beyond its limits simply to prove a point.
The end result is not only a comprehensive account of the capabilities and limitations of the longbow, and the armies who both used it and faced it, but also what is now perhaps the best English-language overview of Medieval European warfare in general.

queery, 18 Jun 2007
can someone tell me please, is this a rehash of the earlier book by Hardy, or is it's content different enough to justify buying it

Highly recommended, 15 Jan 2006
Being a keen archer for many years,using both the modern compound bow and the old English Longbow,I saw this book advertised on Amazon and added it to my wishlist.
My parents got it for me for Xmas and as soon as I opened it that was the last anyone saw of me for the holidays.
It is highly informative on many different aspects,things like the technical side of the bow,why we were the only country to adopt it in such high numbers,and other things like the types of arrowheads used and how archers would aim for the faces of Knights with lifted visors at 100 paces.
One fascinating chapter,although quite sqeamish,has highly detailed surgical reports of how these were removed from any soldier lucky(?) enough to survive one embedding itself in their head.
The authors Matthew Strickland and Robert Hardy(yes the actor from All creatures great and small!) obviously have a great respect and love of this symbol of Medieval England.
I defy any true Englishman or lady not to feel an immense feeling of pride when they read this.
Buy this book and I promise you will love it.It's not just a good book,it's a beautiful one.
For St.George!!!!

Very informative, 09 Jul 2005
This is an excellent book which deals comprehensively with the use and effect of both the longbow and crossbow. But it is more than this inasmuch as it surveys the great battles of the later middle ages and considers the tactics - including archery - which helped to win or lose them. The authors are clearly experts and the illustrations are superb - it deserves to become the standard work in the field.

A non-ficton book that;'ll scare you a bit., 06 Oct 2003
I give this five stars, because it is a must read book. However, first let me warn you that the cosmetic appearance of this book might turn off many discerning readers. The sensational title, the quoted reviews from not-quite-reputable magazines, the wildly speculative sounding description on the back cover, and some interior illustrations such as the photo of a FATE magazine might give a very erroneous impression of the importance of the book. I myself probably would've avoided buying it had I seen it at a book store, and that, my friends, would have been a mistake.

Jerry E. Smith presents us first with the facts and details of the HAARP installation in Alaska. He tells us fairly what the government says is its intended purpose. He painstakingly explains the technology of the project and what the capabilities are, and this is indeed where the book starts getting scarier than Stephen King. At least, we can dismiss Mr. King's works as fiction. Not so with this book.

Mr. Smith's style is often conversational, and yet always authoritative. He keeps the reader interested throughout the book, and gives hooks at each chapter's end telling us what's coming up ahead. He's easy with the science, thank goodness, since I was no star in high school or college science. He does refresh our memories of what scientific knowledge is necessary for understanding HAARP and it's potential uses and effects. Even if HAARP is an innocent little scientific research toy that our tax dollars are making possible, it can inadvertently do our environment irreparable harm. And if anybody decides to take advantage of the capabilities that Mr. Smith proves it has, it can affect our weather, wipe out the user's enemies (real or fancied), and--according to the technological evidence presented, affect our thinking, our perceptions, our minds.

In building this case, Mr. Smith is fair in citing sources. If a statement is supposition, not supported by hard evidence, the author tells us so. I considered some of the sources rather unreliable, but even if one dismisses questionable sources, those that are inarguable are enough to be convincing that HAARP is a dangerous presence.

Once establishing the dangerous potential of HAARP, Mr. Smith examines possible conspiracies. We're quite aware of the New World Order. Some feel this projected world government would better the world, end war, enable us to solve Earth's problems. Others fear the emergence of leaders and controllers who are more concerned with wielding power than with the public good. Such a group would naturally have access to HAARP and it's capabilities. Many Christians are convinced that a benevolent appearing but actually malevolent "Anti-Christ" who has extraordinary powers and will inspire worship from the masses will be in control of the New World Order. HAARP has the potential of giving such a leader these powers. Many of us feel such a leader or group of leaders would be inevitable in any New World Order whether or not one gives any credit to Biblical prophecy. And the author emphasizes what any conspiracy type group could use HAARP for. There are many other conspiracy theories detailed here, some being wildly speculative. However, Mr. Smith explains that in this section of the book, he is merely pointing out possibilities that many see as threats regardless of his personal opinion.

Finally, we're inspired to action. Smith tells us just what each of us can do as individuals. Each of us has a sphere of influence in which we can influence others, and each person one of us influences will in turn influence others, so each individual can make a difference. The writer shows ways to do this.

In summation, I realize there will be readers who will find ways to dismiss the allegations here. And this is certainly a right each has. However, even if you reject the book's premise, even if you take the opposite side and decide to defend HAARP, you will have learned from this book and you will have been inspired to take a stand.

I do rather hope you decide to read this book.

An important and well researched book, 20 Aug 2003
So many conspiracy books are based on unsourcable accounts, suppositions and pure speculation. It is a refreshing change to read a book which is both well researched, and based on proven, scientific fact.

The writing style and broad coverage of the issues, both technical and ethical, surrounding the HAARP project make this book an important yet easily digestible work. This only serves to make the conclusions of this book even more shocking. Investigative journalism at it's best.

A truely FANTASTIC read., 10 Jan 2001
Jerry E.Smith's account of the HAARP project, it's links to other conspiracy's and how it governs our day to day life is truely remarkable. Thought provoking and a certain must for all. I look forward to reading all the books by Jerry E. Smith.

psychotronics/ good information, 30 Apr 1999
book is a good read- lots of information found that is NOT covered ever in the mainstream and alternative presses on isssues of psychotronics and electromagnetic mind control

One of the MOST important books you'll read this Century, 14 Mar 1999
I highly recommend Jerry's book - it is extraordinary - investigative journalism - at its best. It goes beyond 5 stars - I rate it 17 stars - hands down - because of the quality of research within its pages and the evidence presented that does in fact mark HAARP as the ultimate weapon of conspiracy. I am confident that Jerry's HAARP book is destined to become a great scientific classic. It delves into HAARP's nature, tells its history and makes one wonder ... is HAARP a Star Wars device? ... Science out of Control? ... Is it to control mass minds? ... Will it even control our weather? ... Your head will spin at the possibilities as many applications for HAARP technology are explored here. This book is presented in an intriguing style - it's easy to read and will stimulate your thinking - you'll want to read this book from cover to cover and not put it down. Read this fascinating story on HAARP & become informed. If you value your personal library - this book absolutely belongs there.

Good and nicely edited, 09 Oct 2008
A lot of pictures, diagrams and information that make this book a very interesting read. More educative than gripping, still I liked it a lot.

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills review, 09 Aug 2008
I agree with Sniper .338 on his review on this book which reads the following:

"The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read."

Although the only thing I do not agree with is the five star rating that Sniper .338 gave the book. I would give it a 4 star rating because though the book is very realistic and illustrated it is not a manual thus should not be called so.
For very good and understandable reasons the author does not go into much detail but it does seem to try and explain several points with vague ideas (due to the sensitivity of the sniping nature). This can be appreciated especially in a couple of chapters that should be skinned down to bullet points or overall ideas in a few pages rather than sub-paragraphs that do not really say much. So bullet points would be more useful

Overall: I do not regret buying this book at all, in fact I would recommend it but not with a five out of five star rating. The word manual in the tittle and the couple of extensive chapters that do not say much are the reasons why I am giving it a 4 out of 5 rating.

Sniper skills book review, 04 Jan 2008
The illustrated manual of sniper skills I believe is an excellent book, one of my top printed resources on the subject. Although it is alittle holistic and lacks specific direction, it does this for good reason, as Mr Spicer states he does not wish to add to the education of a passing reader who has more sinister applications of this knowledge, therefore some of the more sniper specific expertise appears to be omitted. This book is highly reliable and from a very credible source, and covers many broad areas without confusing the reader and offers some good illustrations and photographs to educate and inspire. I am very pleased with this book, whilst I wouldn't call it a 'manual' by any means and this could mislead some, it is not a field manual, but it is very informative on the topic of sniping and to anyone interested in the subject, this is a very robust read and not compiled of hear-say war tales retold for hollywood drama which fill the shelves. Mark Spicer breaks down sniper training and employment in a realistic and satisfying read.

Fantastic , 26 Sep 2006
Once again, Mr Spicer has managed to write an understandable and well illustrated book. I have been fortunate to receive a 'pre-released' book and am very happy with what I have seen. It is understandable and he has the gift to write as though he is talking to the reader. The subjects covered are illustrated and explained well and gives the reader an understanding of what is being spoken about. I would definately recommend both of Mr. Spicers books.

Great Attention to Detail, 15 Jul 2008
If someone mentioned the name of Robert Hardy to you, you would probably bring to mind a picture of an English actor with a plummy-voice and tweed suit, who has appeared in countless television and theatre dramas and you would be correct. Many people do not know Robert Hardy's alter ego, the author and man who is interested in medieval weaponry in general and the English longbow in particular. Robert Hardy also has a long association with the Royal Armouries, so it soon becomes apparent that his love and knowledge of weaponry has been gleaned over a long period of time. With these qualifications it is only right and proper that people interested in the subject are more than ready to read what the author has to say on the subject.

I found the book both fascinating and informative. I did however feel that some of the photographs could have been slightly better, but this is a minor criticism and I suppose there are only so many ways that you can photograph a bow before the photographs begin to look repetitive. The book covers every conceivable question anyone could possibly ask on the subject of the longbow the medieval equivalent of the automatic rifle.

The book takes us from when the longbow was first used, possibly 8,000 years ago, right through until the present day. It gives detailed information on how to make a longbow from scratch, showing the tools and material needed. It covers all the major battles where either the outcome was decided by this fearsome weapon, or it featured heavily in the battle and even shows photographs of bows that were raised with the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's ship of war.

I found it fascinating to read about a weapon that virtually every Englishman had to practice using at some point during his life, much like the football practice that many young men religiously attend today. Although in the case of the longbow, depending on the period in history, we are talking about it was compulsory.

Specialist Subject: Verbiage & Pomposity, 09 Jul 2004
Like other books of its type, this one has a lot of information contained within it, but Hardy's writing style is awful and it's hard to get beyond the appalling verbosity. There is little structure to the book, and Hardy meanders back and forth through his subject doing to the English language what the English longbowmen did to the French at Crecy. A good Editor could have turned this book into something really special. Sadly the wealth of information and enthusiasm for the subject is obscured by Hardy's writing style and the need to include far more information than is necessary (the endless anorakish appendices are especially pointless). It may be the definitive work on the subject, but it's an up-hill struggle to read.

A definitive text., 31 Jan 2003
This excellent book gives a comprehensive history of the longbow. It covers the development of the bow and arrow from its humble beginnings to the heyday of the longbow and the famous battles with the French and at home in the Wars of the Roses. It explains many technical aspects, such as why yew is such a good material for bow-making, the various stages of making a longbow and how arrow points developed to penetrate chain mail and armour. Robert Hardy describes the raising of the Mary Rose, the discovery of so many longbows on board and how those bows were tested. In short the author proves himself to be extremely knowledeable, passionate and willing to impart the information that he must have worked so diligently to obtain.

Very accurate and clear book, 05 Aug 2001
This book is exceptional since it is very clear and complete from the historical and technical points of view. The author is clearly in love with the subject, and so am I.I have long been looking for the corresponding video, published by the BBC, but without luck.If anyone can tell me how to obtain it,please advise. Thank you.

A succint thorough history of the longbow through the ages., 10 Apr 2001
This book is the key book for any longbow fanatic, plus an interesting read for anyone at all interested in this immensely powerful weapon which is key to our past. It follows the origins of the longbow from neadertal bows to the famed longbowmen of Crecy and Agincourt, then its sad decline from a lethal weapon to a sporting pastime plus it tells of the ceremonial bow regiments of the victorian era. Lastly it contains a detailed description of how a beginner should set about making their own bow, the tools the wood and the time that is needed, followed by an appendix laying out the physical properties of the woods used and how the bow and the arrows should relate to each other in length or strength. The author, the well known Robert Hardy has a very relaxed style and you immediately feel comfortable immersed in the knowledge and experience and photographs that he has ammassed as a master of the longbow for the last sixty years. A great read.

A GRAPHIC INSIGHT INTO THE MURKY WORLD OF NUCLEAR DEFENCE., 14 Sep 2007
I must admit that until I picked up this fantastic book I had no idea that these large undergound bunkers even existed. The rational behind these huge military civil defence bunkers came from the Cold War. And during the early 1950's billions of pounds were diverted from the already war torn country to nuclear civil defence. It was feared by the governments that a nuclear attack could happen at any moment and they would need to take shelter to still govern. But not only run the devistated country but to wage nuclear war on the other countrys. So during this post war period thousands of huge bunkers were built in secret undergound across the country. This book delves into only just declassified files to look into the countries defence plans. The staggering idea is that only military and govenment personell would be housed in the large shelters. And if any civilain should find a bunker they would be killed on sight ! and not given refuge. A tell tale sign of a bunker are the large comm's masts not unlike mobile masts dotted about the countryside. I have been to Kelvingdon Hatch which is a large 3 floor 'Rotor' station and it's a revelation. With it's mix of 1950's to 80's technology which would run the main base as it was in command of smaller council based defence stations in the Essex area. The whole complex is very eerie indeed and it's like stepping back 50 years. It does show how seriously the then Governments took the reality of a Nuclear