Rodger Raubach

(REAL NAME)
 
Helpful votes received on reviews: 67% (18 of 27)
Location: Converse County ,WY USA
In My Own Words:
I am a semi-retired chemist with a Doctorate in Physical Chemistry and a U.S.Army veteran. I am also a part-time rancher raising Gelbvieh cattle. My interest in books ranges from Military History to Alternate History and Military Science Fiction.I am a serious student of weapons and warfare. My favorite authors are Eric Flint, WEB Griffin, and John Ringo. Keith Laumer's "Bolo" series is also on my… Read more

Interests
Aviation and space exploration; numismatics; military history; firearms; sci-fi novels; alternate history.
 

Reviews

Top Reviewer Ranking: 137,744 - Total Helpful Votes: 18 of 27
American Empire: The Victorious Opposition by Harry Turtledove
3.0 out of 5 stars Awfully repetitive!, May 23 2004
I have read all of the "Great War" and all of the "American Empire" AH novels by Harry Turtledove , and I have just about had enough! From the novel "Breakthroughs" until this book , we have only had awfully repetitive cameo glimpses into the mundane lives of many characters who seem to have no redeeming qualities whatever.

In the present work , we finally wind up losing some non-essential personae: Nellie Semphroch(Jacobs) , Lucien Galtier , Laura Secord(Moss) , and Sylvia Enos. Some of these characters hung around waaay to long for my taste! We see Colonel Abner Dowling promoted to General officer rank and finally manages to get out of Utah.

Jake… Read more

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (W&hellip <b>DVD</b> ~ Russell Crowe
This film was really a good effort to compress the contents of several Patrick O'Brian novels into a feature length motion picture. The title is also somewhat misleading , since NONE of the events of "Master and Commander" are actually portrayed in the film , and the plot heavily relies on "Far Side of the World" for most of the story line.

Russell Crowe really becomes Jack Aubrey , and Paul Bettany portrays a fairly true part of the character Steven Maturin.
Unfortunately for the viewing audience , much of Doctor Maturin's role in the novellae is not revealed , that of the Admiralty intelligence officer.

I thought that the portrayal of life aboard a Royal Navy "Man O'War" was… Read more

1634: The Galileo Affair by Eric Flint
1634: The Galileo Affair by Eric Flint
3.0 out of 5 stars BORING!, May 2 2004
I'll start out being up front , in that I am really a fan of the 1632 universe alternate histories. I have read all 4 books in the series. Unfortunately this one is a real bust.

The basis of the story is a mission to Venice is set up by USE President Mike Stearns to establish a trade relationship for the growing industrial power of Grantville/Thuringia/USE. Stearns selects Fr. Larry Mazzare , Sharon Nichols , and Tom "Stoner" Stone to handle things as the diplomatic mission. Stoner also includes his three (behaviorally moronic) sons to accompany the mission.

Cardinal Richelieu has plans to thwart the Grantville mission and sends forth assorted nasty fellows , such as Michel… Read more