Best Ideas for a Military Novel

2008-02-02 14:19:45

#1

Ghandi767: Member; +17|7051|Hanging in the Balance

What kind of plot do you think would make the best Military Novel

Moreover, how would you want it to be told? Through the eyes of a pilot? tanker? armor operator? grunt? sniper? Squad? Platoon?

A few ideas:
US v. China (Taiwan)
US v. NKorea (S Korea)
US v. Iran
NATO v. Eastern European Faction (Chechen-like)
US v. Arab Insurgency
NATO v. Afghan Militia
US vs. Fictitious Country (Specify Region, Stance, etc. of Country)
NATO vs. Fictitious Country (Specify Region, Stance, etc. of Country)

Thanks

Last edited by Ghandi767 (2008-02-02 14:22:39)

2008-02-02 14:32:27

#2

Spearhead: Gulf coast redneck hippy; +731|7119|Tampa Bay Florida

NATO vs. fictional country would be cool (that way the novel could avoid US nationalism, or something, you know.)

Maybe through the eyes of a sniper of grunt who gets left behind in enemy territory?

Last edited by Spearhead (2008-02-02 14:33:07)

2008-02-02 14:46:27

#3

jord: Member; +2,382|7107|The North, beyond the wall.

Would have to be through a Pilot or a Grunt, a Sniper would work well.

Telling the story through the eyes of a Artillery operator or Armour operator won't be too exciting.

I'd do a foreign military to avoid national bias and such. Maybe you could do UK V Argentina as we've been talking about the Falklands lately, maybe they re take it and kill the residents or something.

2008-02-02 14:49:32

#4

Spearhead: Gulf coast redneck hippy; +731|7119|Tampa Bay Florida

jord wrote:
Would have to be through a Pilot or a Grunt, a Sniper would work well.

Telling the story through the eyes of a Artillery operator or Armour operator won't be too exciting.

I'd do a foreign military to avoid national bias and such. Maybe you could do UK V Argentina as we've been talking about the Falklands lately, maybe they re take it and kill the residents or something.

NATO would be cool though, because instead of just one nation vs. another, it could be like different militaries from all the NATO countries. A joint effort. It'd also add to the chaos.

Maybe all of them are in the war together, but they're all trying to capture something first? Like they're all racing against eachother to get some important technology or something. Then it could be about seeing who fires on the other first?

Last edited by Spearhead (2008-02-02 14:50:05)

2008-02-02 14:52:55

#5

jord: Member; +2,382|7107|The North, beyond the wall.

Spearhead wrote:
jord wrote:
Would have to be through a Pilot or a Grunt, a Sniper would work well.

Telling the story through the eyes of a Artillery operator or Armour operator won't be too exciting.

I'd do a foreign military to avoid national bias and such. Maybe you could do UK V Argentina as we've been talking about the Falklands lately, maybe they re take it and kill the residents or something.
NATO would be cool though, because instead of just one nation vs. another, it could be like different militaries from all the NATO countries. A joint effort. It'd also add to the chaos.

Maybe all of them are in the war together, but they're all trying to capture something first? Like they're all racing against eachother to get some important technology or something. Then it could be about seeing who fires on the other first?

Yeah sounds cool, need to be pretty clued up on how NATO and alliances work though.

Wonder what the tech could be, Biological maybe?

2008-02-02 15:17:02

#6

M.O.A.B: 'Light 'em up!'; +1,220|6652|Escea

I've covered a few in the ones I write, Afghanistan, Iran, China, Chechnya, Russia. The last of which kinda orbits around a WWIII scenario i.e Russians invading Europe. I base mine on special forces troops, which covers a varied range of roles, sniper, assault inf etc. I did write one with North Korea in but it didnt work out very well. As such a few of mine aren't taking place during a full scale war, like the Iranian one. But gl with it, to be truly honest no-one beats being the bad guys like the Russians in entertainment .

Last edited by M.O.A.B (2008-02-02 15:17:54)

2008-02-02 16:01:56

#7

Commie Killer: Member; +192|6816

US-China
NATO-USSR(Have it take place in 87, maybe you can beat out Clancy)

2008-02-02 16:06:39

#8

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6966|Long Island, New York

NATO vs. Fictitious country, in the eyes of a sniper.

It'd be interesting.

2008-02-02 17:27:14

#9

RAIMIUS: You with the face!; +244|7143|US

US v. China, NATO v. fictitious, or US v. fictitious, if you are going to use a pilot's perspective. China is developing a very potent air force.

2008-02-02 17:29:08

#10

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6719|Éire

America versus the rest of the world.

If it's turned into a Hollywood movie America will win hands-down.

2008-02-02 17:34:59

#11

CameronPoe: Member; +2,925|6984

Ghandi767 wrote:
What kind of plot do you think would make the best Military Novel

Moreover, how would you want it to be told? Through the eyes of a pilot? tanker? armor operator? grunt? sniper? Squad? Platoon?

A few ideas:
US v. China (Taiwan)
US v. NKorea (S Korea)
US v. Iran
NATO v. Eastern European Faction (Chechen-like)
US v. Arab Insurgency
NATO v. Afghan Militia
US vs. Fictitious Country (Specify Region, Stance, etc. of Country)
NATO vs. Fictitious Country (Specify Region, Stance, etc. of Country)

Thanks

If you haven't personally been in the military then don't bother because you aren't likely to be able to write a realistic portrayal of a) warfare or b) the mindset of the soldier during his trials and tribulations. If you have then fair enough.

2008-02-02 17:49:40

#12

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6834|North Carolina

Nuke goes off in India. Pakistan is blamed. India attacks Pakistan, then WW3 begins.

2008-02-02 20:38:42

#13

Commie Killer: Member; +192|6816

CameronPoe wrote:
Ghandi767 wrote:
What kind of plot do you think would make the best Military Novel

Moreover, how would you want it to be told? Through the eyes of a pilot? tanker? armor operator? grunt? sniper? Squad? Platoon?

A few ideas:
US v. China (Taiwan)
US v. NKorea (S Korea)
US v. Iran
NATO v. Eastern European Faction (Chechen-like)
US v. Arab Insurgency
NATO v. Afghan Militia
US vs. Fictitious Country (Specify Region, Stance, etc. of Country)
NATO vs. Fictitious Country (Specify Region, Stance, etc. of Country)

Thanks
If you haven't personally been in the military then don't bother because you aren't likely to be able to write a realistic portrayal of a) warfare or b) the mindset of the soldier during his trials and tribulations. If you have then fair enough.

Clancy didnt do to bad, though even from someone who is only 16, I did get the feeling he got a few things....wrong.

2008-02-03 00:39:57

#14

RAIMIUS: You with the face!; +244|7143|US

Clancy is also able to get scarily accurate "estimates" of classified programs. He does a MASSIVE amount of research and has good sources. Plus, he is a good writer.

2008-02-03 01:02:08

#15

nukchebi0: Пушкин, наше всё; +387|6753|New Haven, CT

"Estimates"=bribe induced information, no doubt.

Actually, that reminds me of how accurately the producers of Dr. Strangelove replicated the interior of a B-52. The Air Force thought they had gotten pictures of it illegally.

2008-02-03 03:42:51

#16

Ghandi767: Member; +17|7051|Hanging in the Balance

Thanks for the responses so far.

I've narrowed it down a bit:

US+Canada, Maybe UK against a Fictional Country (Eyes of a 101st Platoon)
US+ Canada vs. NKorea, China (Eyes of a Mech Inf Squad)
NATO vs. Valeyat Faqih (Middle Eastern Alliance) (Eyes of a Marine Battalion)

2008-02-03 04:09:15

#17

Mekstizzle: WALKER; +3,611|7050|London, England

Turquoise wrote:
Nuke goes off in India. Pakistan is blamed. India attacks Pakistan, then WW3 begins.

It would fit in with his username

2008-02-03 04:12:39

#18

jord: Member; +2,382|7107|The North, beyond the wall.

Ghandi767 wrote:
Thanks for the responses so far.

I've narrowed it down a bit:

US+Canada, Maybe UK against a Fictional Country (Eyes of a 101st Platoon)
US+ Canada vs. NKorea, China (Eyes of a Mech Inf Squad)
NATO vs. Valeyat Faqih (Middle Eastern Alliance) (Eyes of a Marine Battalion)

I suppose it might be better if you did it though a US soldier. Pointless doing it through a Chinese/British/Canadian/Middle Eastern soldier if you don't know much about how they work or are organised.

2008-02-03 04:14:23

#19

djphetal: Go Ducks.; +346|6764|Oregon

A Farewell To Arms is the best military-related book ever.
Make one like that.

2008-02-03 04:14:35

#20

M.O.A.B: 'Light 'em up!'; +1,220|6652|Escea

CameronPoe wrote:
Ghandi767 wrote:
What kind of plot do you think would make the best Military Novel

Moreover, how would you want it to be told? Through the eyes of a pilot? tanker? armor operator? grunt? sniper? Squad? Platoon?

A few ideas:
US v. China (Taiwan)
US v. NKorea (S Korea)
US v. Iran
NATO v. Eastern European Faction (Chechen-like)
US v. Arab Insurgency
NATO v. Afghan Militia
US vs. Fictitious Country (Specify Region, Stance, etc. of Country)
NATO vs. Fictitious Country (Specify Region, Stance, etc. of Country)

Thanks
If you haven't personally been in the military then don't bother because you aren't likely to be able to write a realistic portrayal of a) warfare or b) the mindset of the soldier during his trials and tribulations. If you have then fair enough.

I'm only 17, haven't been in the military, and I've got quite a lot of realistic stuff, the only thing I need to fully back it up is the use of acronyms.

2008-02-03 04:17:13

#21

djphetal: Go Ducks.; +346|6764|Oregon

Okay, but seriously... the best way to tell a story is not to tell it like history, but rather to show someone something that could only be felt through your words.

2008-02-03 15:41:51

#22

RAIMIUS: You with the face!; +244|7143|US

M.O.A.B wrote:
I'm only 17, haven't been in the military, and I've got quite a lot of realistic stuff, the only thing I need to fully back it up is the use of acronyms.

Unless you have a TON of sources who have military experience, you need more than just an understanding of acronyms. The military is an amazingly complex organization with many viewpoints and experiences. If you don't have close connections with what you are trying to communicate, your own understanding will likely be very limited.

Sure, you can still write a good story without a thorough understanding of military life, but don't expect it to be extremely realistic.

Last edited by RAIMIUS (2008-02-03 15:43:00)

2008-02-04 05:44:53

#23

M.O.A.B: 'Light 'em up!'; +1,220|6652|Escea

RAIMIUS wrote:
M.O.A.B wrote:
I'm only 17, haven't been in the military, and I've got quite a lot of realistic stuff, the only thing I need to fully back it up is the use of acronyms.
Unless you have a TON of sources who have military experience, you need more than just an understanding of acronyms. The military is an amazingly complex organization with many viewpoints and experiences. If you don't have close connections with what you are trying to communicate, your own understanding will likely be very limited.

Sure, you can still write a good story without a thorough understanding of military life, but don't expect it to be extremely realistic.

Yeah, its probably why I keep mostly to infantry rather than focusing particularly on say pilots or tankers as I know more about the infantry, but still need to research more. Weapons I've got nailed no problem and the descriptions of the effects of the weapons as well like bullets which do damage representing what they would in real life (.50 round aint gonna make a wee hole ).

2008-02-04 10:25:40

#24

GunSlinger OIF II: Banned.; +1,860|7072

The life of an US Army Mechanized Infantry 1st Cavalry Division trooper during OIF II. Id buy that for a dollar.

Last edited by GunSlinger OIF II (2008-02-04 10:25:56)

2008-02-04 10:47:41

#25

M.O.A.B: 'Light 'em up!'; +1,220|6652|Escea

GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
The life of an US Army Mechanized Infantry 1st Cavalry Division trooper during OIF II. Id buy that for a dollar.

What about $7? I need to make a profit

BF2S Forums Best Ideas for a Military Novel

jord wrote:

Spearhead wrote:

jord wrote:

Ghandi767 wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

Ghandi767 wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

Ghandi767 wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

Ghandi767 wrote:

M.O.A.B wrote:

RAIMIUS wrote:

M.O.A.B wrote:

GunSlinger OIF II wrote:

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