Fellow Historians: I don't think I could have been busier over the past few months. My day job has been taking a lot of time (as well as a lot of travel) and the Russian products that Gauntlet Publications offer are selling way better than expected. Thanks to all who have passed the word as to the quality of the artwork and information in the Russian publications. Merry Christmas!! And Happy Y2K! I will be in the U.S. for this monumental event. Yes, I'm one of a whole bunch who won't be at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, although, I already had my leave before the mass exodus began. Otherwise I don't see any big deal in where I am (just that I'm home with my wife). I cut back the number of pages in this issue in order to accommodate more color. I think the payback in the color more than makes up for it. Okay, that was yesterday's news (can you tell that I don't type the editorial in one sitting?). I added the pages back in because of the amount of material I had available. Thanks to all who submitted for this issue, especially Mike McVeigh and Malcolm Wright! You two alone have attempted to fill 100 pages. My apologies on the odd-sized covers… I had to use A-4 paper as my stock of good ol' U.S. 8 1/2 x 11 had not arrived by the time I had to get this on the street. Soooooo, I had to reformat for A-4 after having printed all the covers. My, just reconfrims the status as an amateur publication... As I peruse this issue, I see that I've taken 9 pages of advertising for Gauntlet Products. At 100 pages for an issue, the calculation is easy, 9% of the magazine is dedicated to Gauntlet sales. This isn't quite as bad as the ratio found in La Gloire (where the ratio is 100%), but it is more than I should take, although… For the first time in the 2+ years of the Gauntlet U.S. existence, Gauntlet finances are approaching the black. In the U.S. and especially in Korea, reproduction costs forced me beyond the break even point. In Russia, it's not too bad, plus finally, I bought my own repro machine. This will pay for itself over the course of two issues. I decided to do this in lieu of going to glossy. Since I wouldn't be able to maintain that standard in the U.S., I thought I'd stay with consistency. Some of the other products that I offer that are produced by Russian publishers can fill the glossy and full color void. I will take the time in translating and providing these to you. The year 2000 (if the Russian book sales and figures continue at half the rate they have been) will see Gauntlet Publications stay well into the black. My thanks to everyone out there who's heard of Gauntlet Publications - and especially to those of you who carry the torch - Bryan Stroup, Pat Condray, Mal Wright, Chuck Duggie, Rich Barbuto, Chris Scruton, Pete Panzeri, and numerous others who have shown a copy of The Gauntlet to a friend. Russian Civil War This is an area where the Gauntlet can delve deeply. You'll see from this issue how I've started to provide material that is only now becoming available, and that is only to those over here in Moscow who speak Russian. The research that is being done is phenomenal. What's new in my mailbox? Besides an incredible number of orders for the Russian produced publications, I've received my first issue of the The Journal, from the Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers. Quite good. I also bought the Compendium of previous issues. It is a great collection of material. I highly recommend this society to everyone! Based out of the UK (aren't we all, at heart?), it is mirror-produced in the U.S. by Chris Scruton in the same vein that The Gauntlet and the Lone Warrior are. The Journal is a big magazine at 84 81/2 by 11 pages! Take a look, you'll be impressed. I also received my monthly copies of the HMGS Dispatch from Mid-South's Major Bill. Always something to read in there. Yes, besides letters and such, that was it. Quite the slim pickings in the mail box. But then again, I have not ordered anything either. With all the traveling and translating, I have not had any time. I will play in a real wargame on 28 November! Yes, the Moscow Napoleonic group is having a 40mm game, now that winter is back. I really look forward to it. I'll post the game review on the Gauntlet U.S. web page along with a few pictures. I'm sure it will be a good time. Eras? All historians and wargamers get pulled in more than one direction. For me, I have Peter the Great (Northern War), Suvorov in Europe, Napoleonic invasion of Russia, Russo-Turkish Wars, Russo-Japanese War, Russian Civil War, WWII, and some modern things. That's aside from my interest in Pirates, ACW, and Modern Africa, I'm sure my living room looks like most other historians, piled with books. It is daunting as most of mine are in Russian. I'm finding more and more tidbits published by Russian companies in English! I guess they know where the market is. And what I see from reading them, it is the King's English. Sorry America, the UK boasts more historians and gamers… Slammer! Finally Slammer is in its near final form. I estimate a release sometime in late January. At that time it will be taken off the internet and will only be available from Gauntlet Publications. This will be a big marketing effort with lots of free issues heading out into the world for people to try. The system works quite well. I think it beats 40K hands down! And of course I'm willing to back that up with copies. I think it will take off, for those who are tired of supplement after expensive supplement of GW's stuff. As I look back through my editorial I see that I have rambled like an insane man, given you very little information, but was very thankful to all those who provide assistance to the Gauntlet. Hmmm. Not bad. I may be insane, but that's because I think in two languages. Work in two languages. Work in a job that I have never been trained for, and love it! And now that it is December in Moscow, I see quite readily why Napoleon burned this city, then retreated out of this country. I also see why the Germans lost at Stalingrad. The weather here is brutal!!! For Gauntlet U.S. subscribers, if you want something special for your wife, like a little Matryoshka, or a birch bark art piece (picture), or a Russian Army fur cap, or the lacquer boxes, or something else very Russian, drop me a line via e-mail. For Gauntlet subscribers, I'm willing to pick up some non-historical things for your family. The lacquer boxes and matryoshka are collector's items in the States and make great conversation pieces. I've already sent these to all my family members, so I have no idea what to get them for Christmas next year. Enough rambling, one final pitch, if you play a good game, please send me a game report. I'd like to print some expanded things in the pages of the Gauntlet or simply post them on the web page. Lots of people out there thirsty for new info! Good luck! Back to The Gauntlet No. 18 Table of Contents Back to The Gauntlet List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Craig Martelle Publications This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com