To better give the feel of the entire war, the author gives us a wide cast of 21 recurring characters – primarily Americans and Soviets – and provides essentially snapshots of what each experiences in the war. This created a novel that also worked well as a wargaming campaign, with military engagements that were detailed and developing from stage to stage. In Team Yankee, Coyle primarily followed a single military unit and its struggles during the Third World War. Mistakes occur, fighting escalates, and a lot happens until the war reaches a conclusion. light infantry forces waiting for their armor to arrive by ship.Īs the novel progresses, both sides find their plans falling apart. president decides that 'something must be done' and, against military advice, commits the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) to seize and defend the Straits, leading to an interesting match-up between over-extended Soviet forces and U.S. The Soviets make the calculation that they can invade Iran (repeating the scheme of their WWII-era invasion of Iran), advance swiftly while Iran is engaged by Iraqi forces, and seize the valuable Straits of Hormuz before NATO can interfere.

Coyle, writing in the late 80s, sets his book in a future where the Soviet Union still exists, where perestroika (reforms) in Russia are largely for show, and the Soviets remain driven to acquire strategic ports. Sword Point was his second novel – as it says on the book cover, 'A NOVEL by the author of TEAM YANKEE.'įrom today's perspective, we know that the Soviet Union would collapse. With Coyle's first novel, Team Yankee, now revived as a miniatures game, I thought it would be interesting to go back and read some of his other novels. Foreward, Cast of Characters, Glossary of Military Terms, Acknowledgments. Sword Point is a story about the importance of learning and growing, and it is a great introduction to the world of knights and swords. He also becomes friends with other knights, and they help him to learn more about himself and the world around him. He joins a knightly order and begins to learn the skills and techniques necessary to be a successful knight. After being orphaned and spending his childhood being raised by a band of warriors, he discovers the power of the sword and the importance of knighthood. First edition/first printing in Very Good+ condition with a small, dime sized stain to the upper edge and bumped corner in Near Fine dust-jacket with minor edge wear is the story of a young man who discovers the power of the sword and the importance of knighthood.Sword Point is the story of a young man who discovers the power of the sword and the importance of knighthood.

Sword point harold coyle