Michael Asher

A brilliant atmospheric thriller, set in Cairo and the surrounding tombs and deserts, involving the threat of the past entwined with present deaths and future machinations. Omar Ross, a maverick archaeologist, is disturbed by the death at the foot of the pyramids of Giza, of his old colleague, a famous Egyptologist, Richard Cranwell. Cranwell had become obsessed by his search for the legendary lost city of Zerzura. Ross's suspicions become further aroused by documents left referring to other deaths, of Carnarvon, of Wingate, of Carter, all linked by the inscription for the god Thoth. It seems as if Cranwell had been on the verge of a great discovery; but every contact, every informant, disappears: Cranwell's body itself is lost and Ross, threatened, beleagured and friendless, turns to his mother's family, of the Bedouin tribe. This is a first novel with a difference. Written with great confidence, it is rich with Egyptian mythology and history, its new discoveries are plausible and convincing, the secret organizations and believers complex and frightening, and the cast of characters lively and varied.

The Eye of Ra

In Search of the Forty Days' War

A Soldier's Journey Through Violence

Shoot to Kill

the lords of the desert and the Timbuktu Railway Expedition Massacre

Death in the Sahara

From the bestselling author of The Real Bravo Two Zero comes the definitive history of the world's most elite fighting force - the SAS 'Breathtaking bravery, astonishing feats of endurance, raids and battles described with terrific immediacy and pace. Compelling and definitive . . . will surely not be bettered' Sunday Telegraph On 4 May 1980, seven terrorists holding twenty-one people captive in the Iranian Embassy in London's Prince's Gate, executed their first hostage. They threatened to kill another hostage every thirty minutes until their demands were met. Minutes later, armed men in black overalls and balaclavas shimmied down the roof on ropes and burst in through windows and doors. In seconds all but one of the terrorists had been shot dead, the other captured. For most people, this was their first acquaintance with a unit that was soon to become the ideal of modern military excellence - the Special Air Service regiment. Few realized that the SAS had been in existence for almost forty years, playing a discreet, if not secret, role almost everywhere Britain had fought since World War II, and had been the prototype of all modern special forces units throughout the world. In The Regiment, Michael Asher - a former soldier in 23 SAS Regiment - examines the evolution of the special forces idea and investigates the real story behind the greatest military legend of the late twentieth century. 'Detailed, scathingly honest. Asher has brought the critical eye of the knowledgeable insider to his in-depth study of SAS operations and personalities' Herald Praise for Michael Asher: 'This is the most complete picture of the Sudanese campaigns that has yet been published . . . a vigorous and engrossing narrative' Philip Ziegler, Daily Telegraph 'A staggering achievement. Asher has delivered a scintillating tale of a period of history that deserves to be remembered' Guardian

The Definitive Story of the SAS

The Regiment

Desert explorer and Arab scholar Asher pens a major new biography that provides readers with a nuanced portrait of Lawrence of Arabia, one of the last century's most daring and enigmatic adventurers. 49 photos.

The Uncrowned King of Arabia

Lawrence

SAS has been playing a discreet role almost everywhere Britain had fought since World War II, and had been the prototype of all modern special forces units throughout the world. This book examines the evolution of the special forces idea and investigates the real story behind the military legend of the late twentieth century.

The Real Story of the SAS

The true story of the most famous SAS operation in history. 'Bravo Two Zero' was the code-name of the famous SAS operation: a classic story of bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. BRAVO TWO ZERO by patrol commander 'Andy McNab' became an international bestseller, as did the book by 'Chris Ryan' (THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY). Both men became millionaires. Three members of the patrol were killed. One, veteran sergeant Vince Phillips, was blamed in both books for a succession of mistakes. As Michael Asher reveals, the stories in BRAVO TWO ZERO and THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY grew considerably in the telling. Their heroic tales of taking out tanks with their rocket launchers, mowing down hundreds of Iraqi soldiers, the silent stabbing of the occasional sentry, were never mentioned at their post-war debriefings... In an investigation literally in the footsteps of the patrol, Michael Asher tells the true story.

The Truth Behind Bravo Two Zero

The Real Bravo Two Zero

Writings by the conceptual artist Michael Asher—including notes, proposals, exhibition statements, and letters to curators and critics—most published here for the first time. The California conceptual artist Michael Asher (1943–2012) was known for rigorous site specificity and pioneering institutional critique. His decades of teaching at CalArts influenced generations of artists. Much of Asher's artistic practice was devoted to creating works that had no lasting material presence and often responded to the material, social, or ideological context of a situation. Because most of Asher's artworks have ceased to exist, his writings about them have special significance. Public Knowledge collects writings by Asher about his work—including preliminary notes and ideas, project proposals, exhibition statements, and letters to curators and critics—most of which have never been previously published. Asher gave few interviews, didn't write art criticism, and rarely published extensive accounts of his own work. Yet writing was central to his artistic practice, serving as a tool for working out ideas, negotiating institutional parameters, and describing thought processes. In these texts, he considers writing and documentation, discusses artistic practice, offers notes for gallery and museum talks, presents artist statements for exhibition-goers, describes individual works and their situational context, and reflects on teaching and art education. Among other things, Asher provides his definition of site specificity, addresses the function of art in public space, and analyzes the intersection of teaching art and institutional models of education. Readers will see an artist at work, formulating ethical and political strategies for making art in a situational world.

Selected Writings by Michael Asher

Public Knowledge

In the heat of battle you have two choices ... death or glory ... Libya 1942 - Rommel's Africa Korps is sweeping across Northern Africa. The ragged Allied forces engage the enemy in brutal fire-fights on the scorched desert sands. Meanwhile, the Allied commander-in-chief sends a desperate coded message to the Prime Minister - the courier is First Officer Madeleine Rose, WRNS - codename Runefish. When Runefish's plane is shot down deep behind enemy lines - GHQ must send in the commandos to pull her out. It looks like no more than a deadly fool's errand - and the man they choose is given one option: take the mission or face court martial. Battle-hardened Sgnt Tom Caine is a first class soldier who struggles with obeying orders. He must lead his small squad of specialist commandos into the hornet's nest - on a bloody mission that could change the outcome of the war ...

The Last Commando

Death or Glory I: The Last Commando

Under-armed in hostile territory, and foolishly employing the enemy as guides, the one hundred explorers were ambushed and stranded without camels or supplies in the deserts of southern Algeria. Many were killed outright, and for four months the survivors were menaced by the Tuareg, the “lords of the desert,” robbed, starved, and tricked into eating poisoned fruit. To escape, the men hid in the wastelands of the Sahara with little hope of finding food or water. Finally forced to eat each other, only a dozen men lived to tell their tale. The story of their one-thousand-mile journey is one of the most astonishing narratives of survival ever recorded.

The Lords of the Desert and the Timbuktu Railway Expedition Massacre

More Death or Glory adventure as Tom Caine is captured by Nazis. Italy, 1943 - SAS Captain, Tom Caine, is being held captive by Nazis forces. Whilst imprisoned he befriends another member of the SAS - one who has heard a rumour. The operative knows the location of an ancient codex. A codex he claims will lead them to the location of the original texts of Tacitus's Germania. Caine is deployed by the Nazis to find the codex and retrieve the texts on a mission that will most certainly bring about his death, and refusal is not an option. Caine has little choice but to begin his most deadly campaign yet. The Death or Glory series is perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Andy McNab - Michael Asher combines seamless historical accuracy with the pace and action of a modern SAS thriller. Praise for Death or Glory series: 'Breath-taking bravery, astonishing feats of endurance, raids and battles described with terrific immediacy and pace. Compelling and definitive . . . will surely not be bettered' Sunday Telegraph 'Detailed, scathingly honest. Asher has brought the critical eye of the knowledgeable insider to his in-depth study of SAS operations and personalities' Herald Michael Asher has served in the Parachute Regiment and the SAS. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has won the Ness Award of the Royal Geographical Society and the Mungo Park Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for Exploration.

Death or Glory IV: Code of Combat

'The best life of Lawrence yet published' - The Express Lawrence was a brilliant propagandist, rhetorician and manipulator, who deliberately turned his life into a conundrum. But who was the real man behind the masks? Lawrence began the GreatWar as a map-clerk and ended it as one of the greatest military heroes of the 20th century. He altered the face of the Middle East, helped to lead the Arabs to freedom and formulated modern guerilla warfare. Yet he refused any honours and spent therest of his life in near obscurity. Desert explorer and Arabist, Michael Asher, set out to solve this riddle and discovers a hero whose greatness owed as much to his weaknesses as to his strengths.

A Desert Dies chronicles Michael Asher's life with desert communities in the Sahara over three drought-filled years. While Michael came to appreciate the allure of a nomadic life in isolation, he also saw how the perennial failure of rains devastated the way of life of even the hardiest of residents. Shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award for 1986-87 A classic travel writing piece previously published by Longman's and Penguin Books in 1984 and 1986 respectively.

A Desert Dies

The British campaign in Sudan during the reign of Queen Victoria is an epic tale of adventure, as well as being one of the most important and exciting campaigns in Victorian history. In this book, Asher questions several accepted aspects of the story, shedding new light as he reconstructs this classic tale in vivid detail.

The Ultimate Imperial Adventure

Khartoum

Lawrence was both masochist and misogynist, a constant creator of myths and mysteries about himself. Yet this tormented, physically unimpressive man was also one of the authentic heroes of the twentieth century. Most biographers have been content either to glorify or to debunk, but Arabist and desert explorer Michael Asher has re-examined all the evidence to reveal a totally credible mixture of strength and weakness, self-glorification and real achievement. 'Asher's Lawrence is neither a driven visionary nor a great man, but one who had the right talents for an awfully big adventure. That adventure is Asher's subject... the core of his book is a lucid, fast-paced account of Lawrence's war... the story he has to tell is irresistibly stirring.' Lucy Hughes-Hallet, Sunday Times

Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Writings 1973-1983 on Works 1969-1979

Desert explorer Michael Asher investigates the most disastrous exploration mission in the history of the Sahara. In 1880, the French government ordered a surveying expedition for a railway that would bring the fabulous wealth of Timbuktu, in French Sudan, to Paris. This trek should have heralded a new era of French prosperity. Instead, it was a deadly fiasco. Under-armed in hostile territory, and foolishly employing the enemy as guides, the one hundred men of the expedition were ambushed and stranded without camels or supplies in the deserts of southern Algeria. Many were killed outright, and for four months the survivors were menaced by the Tuareg, the "lords of the desert," robbed, starved, and tricked into eating poisoned fruit. To escape, the men hid in the wastelands of the Sahara with little hope of finding food or water. They were finally forced to eat their own dead, or, worse, the merely weak. Only a dozen malnourished men lived to tell their tale. The story of their 1,000 mile journey is one of the most astonishing narratives of survival ever recorded. With a "superb grip of narrative and uncanny ability to evoke battle scenes" (The Guardian), Michael Asher has written an amazing true story that is as dramatic as it is frightening. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Michael Asher

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