Subject
United States. Army -- Officers -- Fiction Books
Best books
Walter J. Sheldon
Your Time is Up
"Your Time is Up" by Walter J. Sheldon is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around Colonel Lawrence E. Boggs, a career officer in the U.S. Army, who inadvertently connects through a telephone with a historical technician from the future named Zon Twenty. The novella explores themes of time travel, destiny, and the moral implications of knowledge about the future. The plot begins with Colonel Boggs receiving a strange phone call that leads him to discuss historical events with Zon Twenty, who reveals that Colonel Boggs's era is on the brink of a "Final War." As Boggs becomes increasingly tempted by the prospect of using information about future events to advance his career and ensure his survival, he engages in a risky exchange of questions and answers with Zon. However, as the conversation progresses, it becomes apparent that the knowledge Boggs seeks has dangerous ramifications. The story culminates in a dark twist that highlights the potential for hubris and the unforeseen consequences of trying to manipulate fate.
Charles King
The colonel's daughter : $b or, Winning his spurs
"The colonel''s daughter: or, Winning his spurs" by Charles King is a novel written in the late 19th century. Set on the Arizona frontier, it entwines military life and romance, centering on adjutant John Truscott, impulsive young lieutenant Arthur Glenham, and Grace Pelham, the colonel’s daughter, amid garrison routines, social maneuvering, and rising Apache unrest. Expect brisk soldierly realism, sharp drawing-room tensions, and a quietly forming love triangle pressed by the threat of war. The opening of the novel paints Camp Sandy in blistering heat, introducing the disciplined, reserved Truscott; the warm-hearted, wealthy Glenham; and the talkative, factional garrison community awaiting the arrival of Colonel Pelham’s wife and the much-admired Grace. Gossip swirls about Grace and Glenham, while Truscott’s integrity, past clashes with meddling superiors, and quiet generosity are established when he sacrifices his own trip so Glenham can attend the Prescott festivities. At the Prescott ball, Grace’s beauty captivates all, her mother manages access, and local rivalries flare, even as Truscott is delayed by urgent duty. During the night, alarms spread that the Tonto Apaches have left the reservation; bugles sound, officers are summoned, and Glenham, having just been gently refused by Grace, is swept toward field service. In parallel, Truscott rides alone through the mountains, discovers the murdered mail-carrier and a ranch in flames, and pushes on, signaling the outbreak that will drive the story from ballroom to battlefield.
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