The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander

[Onkel Neal]

I wanna read this book, but $103 is more than I can afford. Checked the Houston library, no luck. Anyone know of a cheaper paperback edition?

http://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-U-Boat-Commander-Recollections-Erich/dp/0275938980

Any ideas? Has anyone read this?

[ETR3(SS)]

That is quite pricey. :o But it could be worse...

http://www.amazon.com/Janes-Fighting-2008-2009-Stephen-Saunders/dp/0710628455/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264458129&sr=1-3

[frau kaleun]

Yup, that's one I want to get my hands on as well. It's on my Wish List at Amazon... keep promising myself that I'll treat myself out of a holiday bonus or some such, but the money always ends up being needed elsewhere.

I haven't seen a cheaper version anywhere either, and Amazon's usually the cheapest source that I trust anyway.

Never spent anywhere near that much on just one book before, but eventually I'll cough it up because, dude, it's TOPP. :D

[elanaiba]

bookfinder.com is your friend...

[Onkel Neal]

Yup, that's one I want to get my hands on as well. It's on my Wish List at Amazon... keep promising myself that I'll treat myself out of a holiday bonus or some such, but the money always ends up being needed elsewhere.

I haven't seen a cheaper version anywhere either, and Amazon's usually the cheapest source that I trust anyway.

Never spent anywhere near that much on just one book before, but eventually I'll cough it up because, dude, it's TOPP. :D

True!

bookfinder.com is your friend...


Thanks, Dan. :cool:

[frau kaleun]

That is quite pricey. :o But it could be worse...

http://www.amazon.com/Janes-Fighting-2008-2009-Stephen-Saunders/dp/0710628455/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264458129&sr=1-3


Wow. Also, OUCH.

[Onkel Neal]

Can you check something for me? Dial up Google and paste The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander in and search. What are the top few results? :hmmm:

[frau kaleun]

Can you check something for me? Dial up Google and paste The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander in and search. What are the top few results? :hmmm:

Amazon.com: The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander: Recollections of ... (http://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-U-Boat-Commander-Recollections-Erich/dp/0275938980)

The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander and over 400000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon's new wireless reading device. Learn more ...
www.amazon.com › Books (http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/b%3Fie%3DUTF8%26node%3D283155&ei=RO5eS9PrHIv-NdrT4ecL&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAgQ6QUoAA&usg=AFQjCNGupu1l4aR6Y8BX38gNbGNQD40Qnw) › Biographies & Memoirs (http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.amazon.com/Biographies-Memoirs-Books/b%3Fie%3DUTF8%26node%3D2&ei=RO5eS9PrHIv-NdrT4ecL&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=2&ved=0CAkQ6QUoAQ&usg=AFQjCNFhXnWOVoeUvfEtgY23qNZw2Wr27Q) - Cached (http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:4KC6bCdi6NEJ:www.amazon.com/Odyssey-U-Boat-Commander-Recollections-Erich/dp/0275938980+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) - Similar (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=related:www.amazon.com/Odyssey-U-Boat-Commander-Recollections-Erich/dp/0275938980+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&sa=X&ei=RO5eS9PrHIv-NdrT4ecL&ved=0CAsQHzAA)

The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander — www.greenwood.com (http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C3898.aspx)

Though it is a melancholy tale, Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander will help the American military officer greatly in the development of his view of military ...
www.greenwood.com › Catalog (http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.greenwood.com/catalog.aspx&ei=RO5eS9PrHIv-NdrT4ecL&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=3&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CBEQ6QUoAA&usg=AFQjCNHLSuyBmKp7D4gnV32U5ML-8HdxtA) - Cached (http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:1IAJb5gIcI4J:www.greenwood.com/catalog/C3898.aspx+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)

Battle of the Atlantic Bookstore - U-Boats/Kriegsmarine. (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/annemariepurnell/canbiblub.html)

Topp, E. (1992) The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander - Recollections of Erich Topp. Praeger. Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk. U-boat Commander's Handbook. (1989). ...
homepage.ntlworld.com/annemariepurnell/canbiblub.html - Cached (http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:ooSeI-pBFoMJ:homepage.ntlworld.com/annemariepurnell/canbiblub.html+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) - Similar (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=related:homepage.ntlworld.com/annemariepurnell/canbiblub.html+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&sa=X&ei=RO5eS9PrHIv-NdrT4ecL&ved=0CBUQHzAD)

The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander, Erich Topp, Book - Barnes & Noble (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Odyssey-of-a-U-Boat-Commander/Erich-Topp/e/9780275938987)

Admiral Topp's memoirs reflect the faith, hopes, errors, and transformations in a man's life, indeed those of a whole generation whose understanding of ...
search.barnesandnoble.com/...Odyssey-of-a-U-Boat-Commander/.../9780275938987 - Cached (http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:_jtUgReYU5IJ:search.barnesandnoble. com/The-Odyssey-of-a-U-Boat-Commander/Erich-Topp/e/9780275938987+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) - Similar (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=related:search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Odyssey-of-a-U-Boat-Commander/Erich-Topp/e/9780275938987+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&sa=X&ei=RO5eS9PrHIv-NdrT4ecL&ved=0CBgQHzAE)

The odyssey of a U-boat commander (Open Library) (http://openlibrary.org/b/OL1565503M)

The odyssey of a U-boat commander. recollections of Erich Topp. by Erich Topp Published in 1992, PRAEGER (Westport, Conn). The odyssey of a U-boat commander ...
openlibrary.org/b/OL1565503M

A Visit with a U-Boat Ace: Erich - Front page (http://www.uboat.net/articles/index.html?article=65)

I had asked about his wartime patrols and Topp wrote back mentioning his memoirs, The Odyssey of a U-boat Commander: Recollections of Erich Topp. ...
www.uboat.net/articles/index.html?article=65 - Cached (http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:Ex8itcwSGnwJ:www.uboat.net/articles/index.html%3Farticle%3D65+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) - Similar (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=related:www.uboat.net/articles/index.html%3Farticle%3D65+The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&sa=X&ei=RO5eS9PrHIv-NdrT4ecL&ved=0CB0QHzAG)

The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander - SUBSIM Radio Room Forums (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=160743)

2 posts - 2 authors - Last post: 15 hours ago
The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander Sub & Naval Discussions: News, Books, Films, and Models.
www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=160743 - 15 hours ago

The Odyssey of a U-boat Commander - Topp, Erich New Boo on eBay ... (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Odyssey-of-a-U-boat-Commander---Topp,-Erich-New-Boo_W0QQitemZ390144774475QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq2010 0118?IMSfp=TL1001182210004r18868)

Jan 18, 2010 ... Find The Odyssey of a U-boat Commander - Topp, Erich New Boo in Books, Comics Magazines, Non-Fiction Books category on eBay.co.uk.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Odyssey-of-a-U-boat-Commander---Topp,-Erich-New-Boo_W0QQitemZ390144774475QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq2010 ... - Cached (http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:xRQFU9Imz-cJ:cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Odyssey-of-a-U-boat-Commander---Topp,-Erich-New-Boo_W0QQitemZ390144774475QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq2010 0118%3FIMSfp%3DTL1001182210004r18868+The+Odyssey+o f+a+U-Boat+Commander&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)

The odyssey of a U-boat commander : recollections of Erich Topp ... (http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/605537)

Available in the National Library of Australia collection. Author: Topp, Erich; Format: Book; x, 242 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.

[frau kaleun]

I'm getting a broken link message when I try to go to bookfinders.com - anybody else having any luck with that?

Did a Froogle search for sellers, here's a link to that:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=The+Odyssey+of+a+U-Boat+Commander&cid=16891649241008028197&os=sellers#p

Looks like the lowest price is around $78 but I've never heard of that seller.

[elanaiba]

The link is with no "s"

http://www.bookfinder.com/

Bought through links found there many times ... normally you end up on a site such as abebooks that handles multiple antiquariats and is trustworthy, as far as I can tell.

[frau kaleun]

The link is with no "s"

http://www.bookfinder.com/

Bought through links found there many times ... normally you end up on a site such as abebooks that handles multiple antiquariats and is trustworthy, as far as I can tell.

Sorry, 's' was my typo. Still trying to access http://www.bookfinder.com/ by typing in URL and via Google, getting "link appears to be broken." Best I can do is the Google cache but the links from there to urls within bookfinder.com return the same error. Weird.

[Hitman]

So it's all of you requesting it what pushes the price so far, uh?

I see I'm not the only one who wants it :haha:

[frau kaleun]

Don't look at me, Amazon was listing it at that price when I first looked it up.

In other words, blame Neal. :O:

[sharkbit]

For that price, I would expect Erich Topp to deliver the book himself......or young, buxom, scantily clad females.
:D

[Donner]

It's a good book. It's more reflective than thrilling. Interesting insights into the history of the period and his post-war career in the West German Navy and NATO. If you are looking for thrilling u-boat exploits, this is definitely not the book for you.

I purchased the book in 1997 and was fortunate enough to get it signed by Topp in 1999. :ping:

[frau kaleun]

It's a good book. It's more reflective

So I've heard, all the more reason to read it IMO.

I purchased the book in 1997 and was fortunate enough to get it signed by Topp in 1999. :ping:

Wow, very cool!

[Onkel Neal]

(http://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-U-Boat-Commander-Recollections-Erich/dp/0275938980)
The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander - SUBSIM Radio Room Forums (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=160743)

2 posts - 2 authors - Last post: 15 hours ago
The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander Sub & Naval Discussions: News, Books, Films, and Models.
www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=160743 - 15 hours ago

(http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Odyssey-of-a-U-boat-Commander---Topp,-Erich-New-Boo_W0QQitemZ390144774475QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq2010 0118?IMSfp=TL1001182210004r18868)
.

Thanks for that. I was amazed that our little thread was so high up there, and the thread was so new. Mysterious Google!

[frau kaleun]

Typically if I google something to do with u-boats, some Subsim url shows up in the top ten results I get back, and recently it's been top five or top two most of the time. :D

[nikimcbee]

You could have the Houston library get the book on a library loan from another library, it just takes alittle whille to get the book and you usually can't renew the book. (meaning you have to return it by the date).
I think you just need to find a library that has it, then have your local library request it. You also may have more luck with this if you go to a university library (vs a local county library). Most university libraries have reciprocity with each other.:D

[ThePinkSubmarine]

I too would like to read that book - since Topp has such an interesting career.

Is the book on Wolfgang Luth any good? (I only ask because that one is more affordable).

Neal -- you could always do an Inter-Library Loan. I've had quite a bit of luck getting stuff from the Library of Congress. I'm sure you'd have to wait FOREVER - but I'd bet giving Topp's importance to the Battle of the Atlantic that it would be there!

--- Yes...the LOC does have 2 copies of the book ---

[frau kaleun]

Is the book on Wolfgang Luth any good? (I only ask because that one is more affordable).

If you mean the one by Jordan Vause, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Same for the other one he wrote, called "Wolf" IIRC. I think those are the only two he's done and I wish he'd write some more!

[frau kaleun]

FWIW this book is down to $83.16 on Amazon now (new). Used copies available from $65.99.

Wondering if it's time to bite the bullet, or wait to see if the price drops any more. :hmmm:

Edit: well the cheapest used copy was free shipping as it would be fulfilled by Amazon and the description makes it look like it's in pretty good shape. So... yeah, that didn't take long. :doh:

I also pre-ordered U-Boat Tactics in World War II by Gordon Williamson & Ian Palmer which is set to be released next week.

I'm postive I started out this little impulse shopping binge with a search from the box at the top of the forums, but I was in and out of my Amazon Wish Lists a half dozen times in between ordering one book and the other. I hope Subsim still gets a cut of both purchases. I don't think I left Amazon and then went back in, as I'm typing this in a separate tab that I opened when I saw the price on the Topp book had come down.

Edit part deux: aaaaaand I also ordered the latest Terry Pratchett book. I really need to close that darn tab. :O:

Edit again dagnabbit: aaaaaaaaaand a copy of Showell's U-Boats Under The Swastika for $4.99. SOMEBODY STOP ME!

[Sailor Steve]

Typically if I google something to do with u-boats, some Subsim url shows up in the top ten results I get back, and recently it's been top five or top two most of the time. :D
Off-topic, but your comment made me, so it's your fault:

Many, many times in my research for Ship Names I've used Google as a last resort, and many, many times I've found a reference I jumped on, only to discover it was a link to somebody's SH3 patrol log. :dead:

[frau kaleun]

Many, many times in my research for Ship Names I've used Google as a last resort, and many, many times I've found a reference I jumped on, only to discover it was a link to somebody's SH3 patrol log. :dead:

Well that seems like a valid enough source of information. :O:

[Herr-Berbunch]

About as reliable as Wikipedia :O:

If Steve takes his information from people's patrol logs then a quick glance at mine would show that virtually the whole of the Atlantic makes the U-boats seem no threat at all, in fact, the biggest threat is to my own crew or the escorting vorpostenboots, Milchkows, or lightships! Only about 10 000 GRT for the whole shooting match, including August '39, AND the torpedo practice! :har:

[Sailor Steve]

About as reliable as Wikipedia :O:

If Steve takes his information from people's patrol logs...
Don't worry, I don't. It just happens that when my other sources fail me, I google the name to see what comes up.

I sometimes only get one or two hits, which have nothing to do with the ship.

I sometimes get several hits related to baseball: I type in 'SS Waterdale', and get "...grounded out to ss; Waterdale hit a home run."

And sometimes I'll be looking for a small freighter named SS Wilmington, 2378 tons, and get a reference that says "SS Wilmington, Medium Merchant, 6275 tons". I'll get excited, say "There was another Wilmington? And it was bigger?" and then I'll look at it and see an obvious SH3 patrol log entry, sigh, and go back to my search.

It's just that there are so many out there, and it happens so often...

And sometimes, sometimes, I'll find a link to a photo of the ship, a description better than the ones I have, and I'm happy for five minutes.

[frau kaleun]

OMG OMG OMG when I first ordered Topp's book the delivery estimate was Dec 15 so I figured I would end up getting it for Christmas. I wasn't surprised since I think even the new copies sold by Amazon show that a 2-day turnaround isn't possible for that item.

But I just checked and it was shipped today from Lexington which means I should have it tomorrow! It's Christmas in October everybody!

:yeah:

:rock:

:woot::woot::woot:

*does happy dance*

:woot::woot::woot:


:shifty:

Okay, you can go back off-topic now. I'm spent. :D

[Captain Nemo]

I have managed to obtain this book from my local library via another library that is part of a consortium of libraries that lend to each other here in London. Looking forward to reading it this week:D.

Nemo

[Castout]

OMG OMG OMG when I first ordered Topp's book the delivery estimate was Dec 15 so I figured I would end up getting it for Christmas. I wasn't surprised since I think even the new copies sold by Amazon show that a 2-day turnaround isn't possible for that item.

But I just checked and it was shipped today from Lexington which means I should have it tomorrow! It's Christmas in October everybody!




So how's the book? Could you do me a favor by photocopying the pages and have them sent to me. :haha: (Please mod it's just a joke if I had been serious I would have sent her a PM instead so pls don't ticket me)

[frau kaleun]

I had a couple other books I had to finish before starting this one, which I did last night. I'm only a few pages in but it's good so far. :yeah:

[FIREWALL]

Anybody checked out Blue Jacket Books ?

[frau kaleun]

I have some of their titles I'm sure but I've never bought anything directly from their site. (Assuming you mean the USNI.org site.)

[FIREWALL]

I was looking at the back of my W. Luth book and saw Blue Jcket books after reading this thread.

I'm going to buy the one on Amazon maybe.

[Deamon]

Is there a german version of this book ?

[frau kaleun]

Is there a german version of this book ?

I believe this would be it:

http://www.amazon.de/Fackeln-%C3%BCber-Atlantik-Lebensbericht-U-Boot-Kommandanten/dp/3548281524/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291162878&sr=1-1

[frau kaleun]

So how's the book?

Sorry I didn't answer this question better earlier, lol. I kinda forgot about this thread until Deamon's post above brought it back to my attention.

I finished the book 2-3 weeks ago and really enjoyed it. As others have mentioned, it is not a blow-by-blow account of his WWII career, altho of course that period of his life is covered. The first half of the book covers his life before and during the war, the rest is devoted to his life and career(s) after the war ended. It is very introspective, philosophical in some respects, and will tell you as much (if not more) about the "insides" of the man than about anything else.

Much of the first half of the book is taken directly from diaries and journals that he kept as a young cadet and officer, with commentary added by Topp at the time the book was written. The book actually opens with a short chapter on the sinking of the Reuben James, which seems to stand out for Topp as the most significant event of his wartime career; if you've seen some of the interviews he gave for various documentaries about the war you might remember that he sometimes spoke of still being haunted by it 40+ years later.

The book was definitely intended as far more than a war memoir - as Topp himself writes in the preface, the book "is meant as a commentary on the ambivalence of the human condition. It seeks an answer to the question [of] why we followed the siren songs of a totalitarian regime whose deeds even today hover over us like dark shadows. My journal stands for all the faith and hopes, the errors and transformations of a human life."

[ReFaN]

This book is on my Too buy list, when i get money, right after *Donate too subsim*