In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with historian and author Alexander S. Burns about his book Infantry in Battle, 1733–1783.

Burns challenges the long-standing myth that 18th-century infantry were rigid automatons following rote drill. Instead, his work reveals a far more dynamic reality — one where soldiers and officers constantly negotiated tactics, adapted to terrain, and shaped the outcome of battles from the ground up.

The discussion spans from the battlefields of northern Italy to the American War of Independence, tracing how ordinary soldiers fought, took initiative, and learned within the chaos of war. Burns also shares insights from rare soldier letters uncovered in archives across Europe, illustrating how men thought, moved, and survived under fire.

Finally, he previews his upcoming projects, including new studies on George Washington’s army and the Duke of Cumberland’s campaigns.

Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world.

Links:

Infantry in Battle 1733–1783

Blog: Kabinettskriege

X: https://x.com/kkriegeblog

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kabinettskriege.bsky.social

Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/

X: https://x.com/Helionbooks

Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com

Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with writer and historian Gabriel Neville, author of The Last Men Standing: The 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution.

Gabriel shares the remarkable story of one of Virginia’s most distinctive regiments — a force shaped by frontier experience, cultural diversity, and the harsh realities of early American warfare.

Drawing on two decades of research, Neville discusses how he pieced together a narrative many believed impossible to write, uncovering forgotten diaries, service records, and pension accounts to tell the full story of the 8th Virginia.

From brutal frontier battles and disease-ravaged campaigns to the human cost of revolution, the conversation brings to light a side of the war rarely seen — one defined not by founding fathers, but by the ordinary soldiers who endured it.

Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world.

Links:

The Last Men Standing: The 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution

Gabriel Neville — 8thVirginia.com

Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/

X: https://x.com/Helionbooks

Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com

Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with aerospace engineer, pilot, and author Bill Norton about his groundbreaking new series Air-to-Air Missiles: Development and Combat Across 80 Years.

Drawing on decades of experience in flight testing and aeronautical engineering, Bill explores the evolution of guided air combat weapons—from their World War II prototypes to the latest fifth and sixth generation systems shaping modern aerial warfare.

The discussion breaks down how air-to-air missiles work, why they sometimes miss, and how human factors, technology, and combat conditions interact in the chaos of real engagements. Bill also reflects on current challenges, from counter-drone warfare to escalating defense costs, and previews the six-volume series that comprehensively covers eight decades of innovation, testing, and combat experience.

Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world.

Links:

Air-to-Air Missiles Vol. 1: Technology, Development and Operation

Air-to-Air Missiles Vol. 2: First Generation and Early Experiences 1944–1967

Bill Norton on LinkedIn

Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/

X: https://x.com/Helionbooks

Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com

Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au