H. G. Wells 
Little Wars 

Despite being a pacifist, Wells masterfully explains and gathers all the prerequisites for waging a war… with toy soldiers. ‘Little Wars’ can be said to be the original instruction manual for how to run a tabletop battle. Satire and pacifist views blend in this narrative that expresses Wells’ idea that wars should be waged on the dining room floor rather than among the corpse-ridden trenches of Europe. The book’s influence on modern warfare manuals and board games is indisputable, as tabletop conflicts are conducted to this day. Wells portrays the harrowing nature of war, but his humour ensures the book remains an entertaining read. The whimsical writing and stunning sketches create a book that should be read by all fans of tabletop war games.-