The Weekend Warriors is NOT a "How to Play Paintball" book. It’s just a chronicle of one man’s paintball war stories. There have been incredible changes in the sport and the players over the years. Stories range from the early days of single-shot breach loading pistols to today’s digitally enhanced full-auto marvels of technology. There’s a lot to be learned from listening to the tales of how it was back in the old days, and new paintballers might just be able to learn from someone else’s mistakes!
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
Eight of us got together on a Sunday night, and this time we made sure that everyone had on glowsticks before we started. Unfortunately we could only find one color-green. To be able to distinguish the teams, everyone on one team had their glowstick taped down the middle to show two glowing green lines. Everyone on my team had their glowsticks taped at both ends. That way, when someone looked at our glowsticks, they would only see one big fat glowing green line. All the glowsticks were taped in the middle of the wearer’s back so as to not ruin their night vision.
The games were going to be elimination, so both sides just walked away from each other, and after 10 minutes passed on our synchronized watches, the game just simply started. No one had brought a flashlight or a spotlight this time, and it was extremely hard walking through the woods in the pitch dark. Fat trees were easy enough to see, but the smaller saplings and twigs were invisible. With every step I took, small branches or trees slapped against my mask. It was impossible to remain stealthy and still advance, but we all tried. Occasionally, there was a pop from someone shooting into the noise, but for the most part, the first fifteen minutes were event free.
I switched to crawling, but it was just as difficult. When I stopped to consider my options, the mosquitoes came out in force. I was just about to get up and try to find a more bug free location when I noticed that my surroundings were no longer pitch black.
A thin layer of fog had formed right before my eyes. It was only two or three feet thick and hovered about as many feet above the ground. Behind it, I saw some of the larger trees in the woods. They were silhouetted by a glowing green reflection on the fog behind them. The sight was actually shocking. Just a few feet away, on the other side of what may or may not have been a clearing, the enemy was behind those trees-or was it the enemy?! Maybe I had circled back and was facing towards to my own people now. I had to wait until I could see an actual glowstick. Then I could decide whether or not that green glow was the enemy.
Until then, I decided to sit and wait. The mosquitoes were getting worse. As more bugs buzzed by and crept into my mask, I imagined others crawling up my camo. Then I remembered my glowstick. If I could see the reflection on the fog from the other people, then mine must have been showing my location too! They must have known my location. I tried to roll over or lean up against a tree, but it was really hard to cover that damn stick. I tried to cheat and cover it with my hand, but there was no way to cover it while it was in the middle of my back. After all, that is why we put them there in the first place! I had to move-fast.
When I started to crawl, someone fired off three rounds in my direction. None of them came close, but I had definitely been seen. I rolled over on my back to cover the glowstick, and then I watched to see if they would try to fire again. From out behind one of the big trees, I saw someone lean out, then step out and fire another 8-10 rounds. These were closer, but the shooter didn’t hide after firing, so I knew that they didn’t see me. I was safe. I couldn’t fire upside down, but I was safe.
Someone else stepped out from the tree immediately on the shooter’s left side. Then another stood up from behind the shooter. They were getting ready to come after me. I checked my submachine gun. The safety was off. The (3) 5-round clips were loaded. I pulled out another three from my ammo pouch and held them in my hand. If things got crazy, I’d shove those in right away. Most people were keen to the rapid firing of an empty gun, but few had seen how fast it could be reloaded! I was going to catch someone, and with that new smg, I was going to rain it down on them!
Two new targets moved toward me, but my original shooter stayed in place to cover them. When the first person was close enough, I rolled over on my belly and fired off three 3-round bursts. My target flopped over backwards and scurried back to his tree. The other person that was advancing on me ran past me on the left, and the original shooter tried to fire at me, but his rounds were still going wildly around me. Somehow, I had still been seen!
About the Author
Originally from the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, Scott has been playing paintball all over the United States since 1989, and he is still considers himself a Weekend Warrior. Besides The Weekend Warriors, he’s also written a hauntingly realistic techno-thriller about a conventional WWIII with China, North Korea, and several Arab nations. It’s called, Black Rain for Christmas. In addition to his literary, military, and political interests, he is also an avid aviculturalist.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captures the essence of the game,
This review is from: The Weekend Warriors (Paperback)
Scott's new Paintball book is not only about his evolution as a player, from the 80's to the present, but also the evolution of the game/sport.His stories bring to life the intensity of the game, as well as the teamwork and feelings of victory. We also get a chance to see how the sport has changed, in equipment, as well as attitude. The personal nature of the stories allows a look inside a player's head, giving insight for nonplayers into why Paintball has become so popular. As a player, it put me back on the field, trying to make the right move, solving problems and overcoming challenges. Scott's book captures the essence of the game, from "Paint ball Math" to "Post Paintball Fatigue Syndrome", and tells a darn good story, too. If you've ever wondered why people love the game, or just want to read some good "war stories", pick it up!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent,
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This review is from: The Weekend Warriors (Paperback)
This is excellent casual reading for any paintball fan. Although most of the experiences were woodsball, a lot of it applies to speedball as well. Easy to read, despite a few grammatical and typographical errors. Definitely reinforces the idea that many paintball players are "average" and not a bunch of loons. Fun reading.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From A Man Who Knows,
By Anders MacLaren (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Weekend Warriors (Paperback)
Scott Malensek's third offering, while a departure from his fiction, is an excellent look at the game of paintball from an insider's view. And who better to share opinions and anecdotes than one who has been an avid fan of the game since its conception? From his point of view, we see the ins and outs, as well as the ups and downs, of this exciting pasttime.Scott's memoir touches on all of the bases, from sportsmanship to Post-Paintball Fatigue. The lighthearted anecdotes are a joy to read, ranging from games behind friends' houses to the exploits of hundreds of people on professional fields. It is rare that one can so vividly see the love of a fan for a game as Malensek displays in his latest work. From the greenest "newbie" to the most hardcore player, or even those simply contemplating entering the arenas of this widely-spreading sport, there is something for everyone in this book. It comes highly recommended, not only for its grasp but for its humor and insightfulness as well. A wonderful read!
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