Immortal

Reviews
"This is a great single-source document for a narrative of empires centered on the Iranian highlands. It also helps one to understand the Iranian view of the world, which is a critical element of analyzing current events in the region….Immortal succeeds in providing a starting point for understanding Iran's military, and for understanding the world view of Iranians in the twenty-first century."—Army Magazine

"Ward has provided a valuable addition to the literature on Iran's military. . . . Military officers and national security professionals would do well to read this book - highly recommend it."—LTC Prisco R. Hernandez, USAR, Fort Leavenworth, KS, Military Review

"[Ward] brings solid credentials and unquestioned regional expertise. In a single-volume survey, Ward might be expected to present only the most cursory examination of such a vast period and to offer little in-depth analysis. In fact, the opposite is true. . . . Ward has produced an excellent book that should be read by anyone interested in the region. It will be especially useful for those wanting insight into Iran's military capabilities and the role heritage plays in their development. It excels at being informative while lacking the dryness of a standard academic tome."—Joint Forces Quarterly

"It would behoove today's military planners to absorb these important lessons from the past as they prepare for current contingencies."—Middle East Quarterly

"An exceptionally well-informed military history that conveys a sense of the sweat and sacrifice, and of the grandeur and the blunders."—The National Interest

"A perceptive and intriguing look at Iran's military history."—Military Officer

"It would serve well anyone closely following the developments in the present diplomatic row between Iran and the West to read Immortal. It is an excellent overview of Iran's military history—a comprehensive examination of their military forces from which both specialists and generalists can benefit . . . [The] wealth of information he was able to provide is an excellent resource for those seeking to understand the country's military in a historical context."—ASMEA Newsletter

"As eloquent as it is insightful, Immortal is readily accessible to Iran specialists and non-specialists alike."—Middle East Journal

"This is not only a timely book, and one that fills a gap of information and analysis on the Iranian military, but it also cogently argues that policy makers involved with the Middle East take a cautious approach to Iran. . . . What sets this historical study apart is the depth of the research, the synthesis of political-military factors relevant to each era, and the quality of the writing, making it possible for non-academics or those without special Middle East backgrounds to profit from reading it."—Proceedings

"Immortal is a superbly written and researched work. Steven Ward has delivered a critically important contribution to understanding the Persian military. This is a must read for those who want to understand Iranian military thinking, heritage, and capability."—General Anthony C. Zinni, United States Marine Corps (Ret.), and former commander, U.S. Central Command

"Before we rush headlong into another Middle Eastern quagmire, it is critical for Americans to develop a greater appreciation for Iran's military history and capability. Steven Ward's Immortal comes at a critical moment, when its subject—the military development of Iran—is one of the most important issues confronting our nation. There are few Westerners who possess Ward's experience and understanding of the Iranian armed forces, and he has done us all a great service by placing his wealth of knowledge at our disposal. Immortal is a thoughtful, fascinating and extremely informative study of Iran's military from the past to the very present that will finally allow us to fill a large gap in our understanding of one of the most pressing foreign policy problems of the twenty-first century."—Kenneth M. Pollack, author of The Persian Puzzle: The Conflict Between Iran and America

"Far too often, Americans ignore history and leave military history to a narrow range of experts. The choice of peace or war in dealing with Iran, however, is far too important to make without an understanding of Iran's military history and how its forces have evolved. Steven R. Ward's Immortal provides essential background to making that choice."—Anthony H. Cordesman, Burke Chair in Strategy, Center for Strategic and International Studies