New Kingdom Egypt (Osprey Elite Series #40) - Text by Mark Healy, Illustrations by Angus McBride.

The format of this new work by Mark Healy will be familiar to anyone who has seen books from this series before: 51 pages of English text and 12 pages of full color illustrations, 27 photos, 7 maps, and 8 line drawings. The text serves as a useful introduction to the Egyptian military of this period, from the expulsion of the Hyksos and the founding of the New Kingdom to the death of Ramasses XI in 1085 BC. Healy spends a great deal of time on what he considers the roots of Egyptian imperialism, the shock of the Hyksos period and the resultant unease about her eastern borders.

He also covers the self perpetuating cycle of a large army requiring vast resources requiring control over the rich but coveted territories of Canaan, Nubia and Syria, in turn requiring a large army to protect Egyptian interests. The sections covering the New kingdom army's organization, and its tactics and strategies on campaign are excellent, but seem too short. The final third of the text covers two signal battles of the period - Megiddo and Quadesh. Although the coverage is clear and concise - the maps of Quadesh are particularly good - much of this information is readily available elsewhere.

The illustrations, however, are the primary attraction for the book. Ten of the twelve plates cover Egyptian forces from the beginning of the period to the end. Illustrated are archers (3), Medjay Nubians (1), close combat infantry (3), mounted messengers (1), trumpeter (1), drummer (1), standard bearers (4) chariot runners (1) and chariotry (2). Enemies illustrated include Canaanite peasant levies (2), Mitannian "mariyannu" chariotry (2), Libyan tribal warriors (2), and Hittite chariotry (1). The two remaining plates cover the sea and land battles against the sea peoples' invasions toward the end of the period. Overall, an excellent treatment of a very interesting subject. Anyone interested in the period will probably find this book of use.

Chariot Warfare (Army Lists for the period 3000 BC to 343 BC) by M. Holland and C. Fround.

This new book brings a whole new dimension to the published lists for this period of history. A total of fifty three lists are included. Nineteen of the lists cover many of the armies already covered by the WRG Lists (Book One), but go into additional detail or include additional data. The other thirty four lists are new, expanding what WRG terms allied contingents into full armies and adding new ones on top of these. Examples of new lists include Guti, Mitannian, Aramean, Phoenician, Phrygian and three new Elamite lists.

The lists are written to be used with the old 6th edition rules, so the minimums and maximums will need to be adjusted slightly - just as the WRG lists must be - to fit properly with the 7th edition. A bonus inclusion are four maps of the Biblical near east showing the various powers at various times during the period covered. Overall, these lists represent a serious addition to the published lists available for this era. Hopefully they will stimulte still further research and increased gaming in this most fascinating period of history.