Being reviews of books and magazines wargamers might want to read Review of the book "Armies of the Nineteenth Century - Asia - 1. Central Asia and the Himalayan Kingdoms" by Ian Heath, published by Foundry Books. Available from The Foundry limited, Huberts Lane, off Doyle Road, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 IRG, Channel Islands, GB The complete title page lists the topics dealt with as: "Organization, warfare, dress and weapons. 133 figures, 41 illustrations, 12 maps." And the contents list: Central Asia The Himalayan Kingdoms Bokhara Balistan Chinese Turkestan Bhutan Kashigaria Jammu and Kashmir Khiva Ladakh Khokand Nepal The Khirgiz Silkin Kuldja Tibet The Turcomans Bibliography Appendix: Central Asian tents Bibliography - One hundred and sixty seven pages packed with information. All these peoples seem to have spent a great deal of their time fighting each other or the Russians or China - a wealth of campaigns and scenarios for wargamers and, for those that enjoy it, a mass of conversions to carry out to produce weird and wonderful armies or trawling through manufacturer~s catalogs to find "maybes and almosts." I have no doubt the Foundry will try to produce some of these but with their huge present productions bodies like the Victorian Military Society wargamers need to write in with requests to give Foundry an idea of worthwhile ranges for the future, or individual wargamers. I would love some Tibetans myself to see if I could give Younghusband's "expedition" a thick ear and "send him homeward to think agame," to quote "0 Flower of Scotland." A few times there is an irritating "consult volume 2 for more details" remark: but there, Ian Heath says in his introduction that he is limited in what he can fit in about the vast subjects he has tackled, generally successfully. I find his sticking to the Wade-Giles system of writing Chinese names a bit off when the Chinese themselves say the Pin ying system is more acceptable. eg. Beijing (PY) = Peking (WG), Mao Zedong = Mao Tse Tung. British people are always a bit like this. The Zen method: "just do it," and Ian has. The drawings are excellent and give a lot of information useful to wargamers. The maps are well drawn and clear even though there is no color to assist clarity. One doesn't get a clei idea of the contours included in the maps - too difficult to include so a reference to a physical map will help when laying out terrain. In places like Nepal and Tibet don't think of "3 miles an hour" for marching pace more like "3 hours a mile." Logistics means even more in Central Asia. Various Russian Armies "expedition" or "pacification" were destroyed by terrain more than the indigenous population. I would congratulate Ian Heath on a magnum opus and recommend readers to buy or borrow the book from a library. I have just received Military Book News No. 3, February 1999 from Helion and Company, 2 Willow Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 IUE, England, Tel. 0121 705 3393, International Tel. 004 121705 3393. Website: http://www.helion.co.uk. This company has a layaway plan for books or sets ( books costing more than £ 150. They'll come to you at an agreed rate per month. At the moment this is only available to debit/credit card holders. Helion are also into publishing. The first title, History of the K.U.K. Infantry Reet Gr Khevenhuller Nr. 35 during the campaign of 1866, by Joseph May." An Austrian regiment history. About 9 more titles will become available during September to December. Prospective authors ai encouraged. Helion are also producing wargames figures. Helion are producing in the summer 25mm Austro Prussian war figures. Free painting guides will be provided. Fast play rules are in the pipeline as are colored flag buildings and more! Helion also buy military books and give their particular buying interests - which is useful. Helion also do magazine subscriptions - one, "Alte Kameraden," devoted to former members of the Heer. Another is an English language version magazine of the history of the Waffen SS. A revolting group of human beings that unfortunately seem to generate interest by National Socialist sympathizers. Note recent Nazi leanings of an Alpine regiment of the Bundeswehr (I've taken one of my tablets, don't worry!). Not worth getting this catalog. Magazine: Age of Napoleon # 30 . UK£ 3.25, USA $7.00. Another good "high fix" for Napoleon buffs. Contents include Busaco "double feature" = Busaco & Massena and The Defence of San Anton Pass. Grattaus Adventures with the Connaught Rangers. The Prussians at Ligny: were they exposed? Wellington myth explored by well known Peter Hofschroer including a German General Staff map Ligny in color. One could play Kriegspiel on the map or "blown up" by 2 on a photocopier. Also: "French tactics," a look at the French soldier and his weapons, 1804 on. "The 30ieme de Ligne re-enacted." "Officers and Gentlemen - commanding the British army" - who did and how they reached giddy heights of command in the Napoleonic wars by Stuart Reid. Also includes reviews of books and "Dusty Archive," interesting news about museums old and new. "Achievements of Field Artillery" era Napoleon part 11, by Major E.S. May, RA- "Waterloo. The German Victory part 2" translated by Da, Hollins. "Notes and Queries," letters from aficionados. The magazine is available from P~trtizan Pre,, 816-818, London Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 3NH, UK. Tel/Fax 01702 473986. Em dave@caliverbooks.demon.co.uk. Subs. UK & BFPO £ 16.00 (incl. P&P), Europe f-21.50, rest of world £ 23.50. US distributor On Military Matters, 55, Taylor Terrace, Hopewell, NJ, USA. Tel. (60 466-2329. Go on! Wallow! Back to MWAN #100 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum 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