When years ago we read in Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall” the following lines:—Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rained a ghastly dew From the nations’ airy navies grappling in the central blue—we little dreamt that not very far from the beginning of the twentieth century the fancy of the poet would become the fact of reality; that in the great European war in which the nation is so strenuously engaged, “the wonder that would be” would come to pass. Though happily, at present, in ...

A veteran music journalist explores how four legendary rock bands—KISS, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz—laid the foundation for two diametrically opposed subgenres: hair metal in the '80s and grunge in the '90s.It was the age when heavy-footed, humorless dinosaurs roamed the hard-rock landscape. But that all changed when into these dazed and confused mid-'70s strut-ted four flamboyant bands that reveled in revved-up anthems and flaunted a novel theatricality. In ...

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Megadeth’s iconic record, Rust in Peace, from the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist.When Rust in Peace was released in 1990, the future of Megadeth was uncertain. Fresh off their performance at the record-breaking Monsters of Rock festival, and with knockout new albums from Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica dominating the charts, the pressure to produce a standout statement record was higher than ever.

Black Crowes drummer and cofounder Steve Gorman shares the band's inside story in this behind-the-scenes biography, from their supernova stardom in the '90s to exhilarating encounters with industry legends."This book is literally the Angela's Ashes of rock memoirs. .. I absolutely loved this book."-BILL BURR, comedian"I couldn't put the book down-absolutely unbelievable read!"-JOHN MCENROE, New York Time...

Get a backstage pass and see Judas Priest like you’ve never seen them before in this electrifying memoir by the band’s cofounder and former lead guitarist.Judas Priest formed in the industrial city of Birmingham, England, in 1969. With its distinctive twin-guitar sound, studs-and-leather image, and international sales of over 50 million records, Judas Priest became the archetypal heavy metal band in the 1980s. Iconic tracks like "Breaking the Law," "Living after Mi...

A biography of one of Germany's pioneers in aerial combat: "a great read" ( Internet Modeler).Max Immelmann was born in Dresden, the son of a container factory owner. When World War I started, Immelmann was recalled to active service, transferred to the Luftstreitkäfte, and sent for pilot training in November 1914. He was on his way to becoming a legendary flying ace.Initially stationed in northern France as a reconnaissance aviator, he was shot do...

Do you know which way round a country’s flag is placed on an airplane’s tail? What Qantas stands for? What are the twenty most iconic planes of all time? And what happened to the man who successfully glided from a tower in China in the year 559 AD? This fantastic quick-read eBook features 101 amazing facts about planes, split into categories such as the history of flight, world records, the most amazing facts and many more. So if you want to know who owns the most expensive private jet in ...

Aces High is the vivid chronicle of aerial warfare over the Western Front in World War One and the personalities that characterised the era.These were the airmen who became legends in their own lifetimes: Albert Ball, Manfred von Richthofen (also known as the Red Baron), Mick Mannock, René Fonck and Georges Guynemer. The key to maintaining military superiority was by perfecting the aeroplane, which meant many of these pilots were flying dangerous, untested machines.

A pilot's behind-the-scenes account of test flying with British aircraft organizations and manufacturers in the early years of the Cold War.Written from the pilot's viewpoint, with refreshing candor and honesty, this account details what really went on behind the scenes in the defense world of the 1950s. After serving in World War II, the author continued his flying career, but to his dismay, found that quality was sometimes neglected when developing aircraft—leadi...

For a soldier, the threat of booby traps had to be at the forefront of their mind, and an ability to find and disarm them was essential.This is the first comprehensive study of World War II's battlefield booby traps, using information from rare wartime intelligence publications to identify, illustrate and describe the tactics of both Allied and Axis saboteurs.Examining all aspects of this secretive subject, from the equipment used to the techniques of placi...

An illustrated account of the DH 2, the most successful 'pusher' fighter of World War I, against the Albatros D II, part of a long family of fighters that in many ways symbolized German aerial might in the conflict.Flown by Victoria Cross recipient Lanoe Hawker and the members of No 24 Sqn, the ungainly yet nimble DH 2 helped the Allies attain air superiority over the Somme in early 1916 and hold it through the summer. With its rotary engine 'pusher' configuration ...

A firearms expert "traces the history of the 'one hand gun' from its 14th century origins . . . surveying changing technology, techniques, and design" ( Midwest Book Review).Ideally suited for both attack and self-defense, handguns have gotten smaller and deadlier. But the earliest pistols had a tendency to misfire. This was cured by the cap-lock, which proved a massive success in the American Civil War, with hundreds of thousands of cap-lock revolvers use...