Works by
Al Karasa
(Writer)

Fiction

• Firehead's Malice (2003)
  Maritime Fiction in the spirit of C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian, Forehead's Malice is a rousing sea adventure that sweeps across the West Indies during the Seven Years? War, where navies clash and pirates roam. A tale of passionate greed and ruthless betrayal in the age of sailing warships - the most powerful and awe-inspiring weapons of their time.

  • Was Lady Crimhedden, noblewoman, respected Royal Navy widow, involved with pirates?

  • And was her lover really a spy for the French?

  • What happened to the brig with dispatches to warn the fleet?

  • Could they have fallen into pirates hands?

  Even so, the most notorious pirates regress to deserved insignificance - overshadowed by the greater greed of nations in deadly contest to wrest West Indies' resources to their own gains in what was, in fact, the very first world war.

• Sheridan's Rain (1994)
  Fast paced novel of speed, skill snd callous determination in the Golden Age of Sports car racing.
  
  Le Mans, Targa Florio, Mille Miglia - they are all here - the greatest road races of all time, as are the colorful people who made them happen.
  
  Heroic automobile racing, the likes of which will never be again, that this book brings us in a most intimate and knowledgeable insider's view.

Non-fiction

• Sidney's Pub and Other Salty Yarns (2007)
  A hilarious, unruly stew of sailing yarns sure to appeal to sailors and non-sailors alike, and all those who take their ventures more seriously than themselves. From scalping mowers to sinking dinghies and axe attacks at sea, trouble follows the adventures in this collection of true stories told with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

• Drive Smart! (2001)
  Accidents, as in "chance happenings" (according to Webster), are hardly chance at all. Accidents don't just happen. They are caused; caused by indifference and by incompetence. A meteor hitting your car is an accident, everything else is driver error. If you don't believe that, this book will convince you.
  
  Racing drivers use their eyes, hands and feet in ways which can benefit us on the highway. This book shows how these skills can be used to improve everyday driving. It addresses the thought processes involved and suggests ways to improve quick thinking, rapid decision making and anticipation to help avoid accidents. State driver licensing tests do nothing to show the applicant's ability to minimize judgment errors. This book shows exactly what they are and how to correct them.
  
  Whether you are expert or novice at driving, you will learn equally from this book. It will make you a better driver.

War Games Research

The following briefs present well researched historical battle scenarios for miniatures war games. Any good set of rules can be used with these scenarios. They have been extensively play-tested using at least 3 different rule sets. Orders of battle are compiled from historical references cited and should be applicable to the various rule books with little or no change.

For additional information and to order, click here.

• Field of Arms: Scenarios for Medieval Wargames in Miniture
  Includes historical overview and events leading up to each battle at Lincoln 1141, Lake Peipus 1242, Durbe 1260, Marchfield (Durnkrut) 1278, Bannockburn 1314, Grunwald (Tannenberg) 1410, Agincourt 1415.

• Belrood Campaign: A MAP-to-TABLETOP SYSTEM
  Hypothetical campaign rules & set-up for medieval wargaming. Easy to learn strategic map movement leading to tactical level tabletop battles. Covers logistics, sieges, castle economy, reinforcements, and morale class advancement by troop experience.

• Thundering Sail: In the Seven Years' War
  Naval battle scenarios from the age of sail, including overview of naval tactics, events leading up to each engagement, historical outcome of each scenario, what-if study possibilities, and a mini-campaign for 1758-1760 on the Coromandel Coast.

• Flag Signals: Tactical Naval Sail Rules for Miniatures Wargaming
  Simple, quick to learn, fleet action rules based on flag signal system used in the 18th century, following contemporary conventions of flagship command and control. Intended for 1/2000 to 1/1200 scale. Includes signal cards, templates, etc. - everything except miniature ships.

• Citadel 1943: East Front Scenarios from Kursk to the Dniepr
  Includes a training scenario, organization charts, color maps & OOB, and most major armored actions during the battles for Kursk and their aftermath, July through September 1943.

• Kursk 1943: Beresovka Sector -- 48th Panzer Corps area of operations
  This is a miniatures wargame campaign framework based on eye witness/participant accounts by Maj. Gen. F.W. Von Mellenthin.
  
  Organization and Orders of Battle for both sides are given
  in ready to use form.
  
  What-if situations are explored for study. Includes color maps of table top battlefield and historical progress of the campaign.