Stories of combat from a man who embedded with Chechen guerrilla forces: “His insights . . . are second to none.” —Thomas de Waal, author of Black Garden Books on guerrilla war are seldom written from the tactical perspective, and even less seldom from the guerrilla’s perspective. Fangs of the Lone Wolf: Chechen Tactics in the Russian-Chechen Wars 1994-2009 is an exception. These are the stories of low-level guerrilla combat as told by the survivors. They cover fighting from the cities of Grozny and Argun to the villages of Bamut and Serzhen-yurt, and finally the hills, river valleys, and mountains that make up so much of Chechnya. The author embedded with Chechen guerrilla forces and knows the conflict, country, and culture. Yet, as a Western outsider, he is able to maintain perspective and objectivity. He traveled extensively to interview Chechen former combatants now displaced, some in hiding or on the run from Russian retribution and justice. Crisp narration, organization by type of combat, accurate color maps, and insightful analysis and commentary help to convey the complexity of “simple guerrilla tactics” and the demands on individual perseverance and endurance that guerrilla warfare exacts. The book is organized into vignettes that provide insight on the nature of both Chechen and Russian tactics utilized during the two wars. They show the chronic problem of guerrilla logistics, the necessity of digging in fighting positions, the value of the correct use of terrain and the price paid in individual discipline and unit cohesion when guerrillas are not bound by a military code and law. Guerrilla warfare is probably as old as man, but has been overshadowed by maneuver war by modern armies and recent developments in the technology of war. As Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, and Chechnya demonstrate, guerrilla war is not only still viable, but increasingly common. Fangs of the Lone Wolf provides a unique insight into what is becoming modern and future war. Includes maps and photographs

The conflict in Chechnya, going through its low- and high-intensity phases, has been doggedly accompanying Russia's development. In the last decade, the Chechen war was widely covered, both in Russia and in the West. While most books look at the causes of the war, explain its zigzag course, and condemn the brutalities and crimes associated with it, this book is different. Its focus lies beyond the Caucasus battlefield. In Russia's Restless Frontier, Dmitri Trenin and Aleksei Malashenko examine the implications of the war with Chechnya for Russia's post-Soviet evolution. Considering Chechnya's impact on Russia's military, domestic politics, foreign policy, and ethnic relations, the authors contend that the Chechen factor must be addressed before Russia can continue its development.

An examination of the difficulties faced by the Russian military in planningand carrying out urban operations in Chechnya.Russian and rebel military forces fought to control the Chechen city ofGrozny in the winters of 1994-1995 and 1999-2000, as well as clashing insmaller towns and villages. The author examines both Russian and rebeltactics and operations in those battles, focusing on how and why thecombatants' approaches changed over time. The study concludes that whilethe Russian military was able to significantly improve its ability to carryout a number of key tasks in the five-year interval between the wars, otherimportant missions--particularly in the urban realm--were ignored, largelyin the belief that the urban mission could be avoided. This consciousdecision not to prepare for a most stressful battlefield met withdevastating results, a lesson the United States would be well served tostudy.

Recounts the story of the Chechens' struggle for independence and the Kremlin politics that precipitated it. The authors, both reporters on the scene during the war, trace the history of the conflict but focus on the military and political events of the war itself. They conclude with a discussion of the birth of an independent Chechnya. Several maps and a cast of characters are appended. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

"The story is really told by the big, bright pictures—which glow with the rhythms and beauties of this remote habitat...Enthralling fare for budding naturalists." —Kirkus Reviews The Great Bear Rainforest is a majestic place full of tall trees, huge bears and endless schools of salmon. Award-winning photographer and author Ian McAllister's luminous photographs illustrate the story of a lone wolf who swims to one of the small islands that dot the rainforest's coast. The island provides him with everything he needs—deer, salmon, fresh water—everything, that is, but a mate. When a female wolf arrives on the island's rocky shores, she and he start a family and introduce their pups to the island's bounty. Wolf Island is part of the My Great Bear Rainforest series, which includes The Seal Garden, A Bear's Life and A Whale's World.

After my mate rejected me, I wanted to kill him. Instead, I ran away-which nearly killed me... A year ago, everything was different. I had just left my home, joining the infamous Mountainside Pack. The daughter of an omega wolf, I've always been prized-but not as prized as I would be if my new packmates found out my secret. But when my fated mate-Mountainside's Alpha-rejected me in front of his whole pack council and my secret got out, I realized I had one choice. Going lone wolf was the only option I had, and I took it. Now I live in Muncie, hiding in plain sight. If the wolves ever left the mountains surrounding the city, I'd be in big trouble. Good thing that the truce between the vampires and my people is shaky at best and Muncie? It's total vamp territory. Thanks to my new vamp roomie, I get a pass, and I try to forget all about the call of the wolf. It's tough, though. I... I just can't forget my embarrassment-and my anger-from that night. And then he shows up and my chance at forgetting flies out the damn window. Ryker Wolfson. He was supposed to be my fated mate, but he chose his pack over our bond. At least, he did-but now that he knows what I've been hiding, he wants me back. But doesn't he remember? I told him I'll never be his mate, and there isn't a single thing he can do to change my mind. To Ryker, that sounds like a challenge. And if there's one thing I know about wolf shifters, it's that they can never resist a challenge. Just like I'm finding it more difficult than I should to resist him.