Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
General Discussions
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
Stuart, which sword & sorcery are you reading? I read a lot of SF&F myself.
Michelle wrote: "Stuart, which sword & sorcery are you reading? I read a lot of SF&F myself."I linked it in my comment. I did not want to dwell on it since this goodreads group kept sending me popups telling me not to write about fantasy books.
But the book is called Endithor's Daughter. #4 from the "Red Sonja" series by Richard Tierney and David Smith. I think they were writing alot of additional books to Howard's various minor characters. These Red Sonja books are kind of hard to find now and a bit pricey. Took me a year to get around to ordering this one. I am about half way through it and my assessment so far of it is a kind of a mixed bag. But its not a long novel so if you have the time and interest it would not take long to read.
They do have some pretty classic Boris Vallejo artwork on the covers. I think I had a Boris Vallejo calendar one year that included the covers from at least one of these books.
I see it now. My gosh, I haven't thought of Boris Vallejo in decades!!
If you are reading a fantasy book you can mention it here in What Are You Reading, Stuart. This thread is for any and all genres. It is only in the historical fiction threads where fantasy is a no-go.
(p.s Nobody gets popups from the group so you have me confused on that one).
Michelle wrote: "I see it now. My gosh, I haven't thought of Boris Vallejo in decades!!"He definitely had a shining moment around that time.
Terri wrote: "If you are reading a fantasy book you can mention it here in What Are You Reading, Stuart. This thread is for any and all genres. It is only in the historical fiction threads where fantasy is a no..."
That all sounds reasonable to me.
I wish I could take a picture of the pop up but it was certainly there yesterday (and I had difficulty dispelling it at the time) and it was pretty group specific in how it read... It probably is something on goodreads end. It may be because I have not been very active on goodreads lately or may be goodreads is trying to tighten security as social media in general comes under public scrutiny. Its also true that my recommendations were not working for a few days there though they have now returned. Whatever the case, I am not seeing it now.
Richard III and the Princes in the TowerVery informative. Questions a lot of the negatives assessed to Richard ….even casts doubts his physical shortcomings.
I could use a good S&S book. I liked the Fafrhd & Grey Mouser series, and the Conan series, but I haven't found much since then that is well written.
I finished Sharpe's AssassinGood read, Sharpe again saves the day :) Wellington play a much bigger role in this one than he usually does.
currently reading Ken Follett's newest
This on is a ripped from the headlines political thriller. It starts with US CIA tracking Jihadists in Chad, then brings in the US Pres who happens to be a woman, dove tails to North Korea and China. I'm about half way through and really enjoying it. Mr. Follett knows how to weave an interesting and engaging novel!
Sean wrote: "I could use a good S&S book. I liked the Fafrhd & Grey Mouser series, and the Conan series, but I haven't found much since then that is well written."Try the haven series by Simon R Green Hawk and fisher.
happy wrote: "I finished Sharpe's AssassinGood read, Sharpe again saves the day :) Wellington play a much bigger role in this one than he usually does..."
I really enjoyed that one!!
I just finished The Burning Land, and of course it was good. His books generally are! I downloaded two Ben Kane Tullus novellas earlier today, so I decided to start one of those before continuing with the series proper. The lucky winner for today is Eagles in the East SHORT story (Eagles of Rome series):.
Sean wrote: "I could use a good S&S book. I liked the Fafrhd & Grey Mouser series, and the Conan series, but I haven't found much since then that is well written."Have you read any Roger Zelazny? The Great Book of Amber is good. Or if you like a more swashbuckling sort of fantasy tale, Traitor's Blade was a lot of fun. It reminded me of The Three Musketeers but in a fantasy setting.
Sean wrote: "I could use a good S&S book. I liked the Fafrhd & Grey Mouser series, and the Conan series, but I haven't found much since then that is well written."The Goodreads recommendations on my "Conan" bookshelf are never in the ballpark.
I have not had much luck with Fritz Leiber. I bought several last year but have not finished the one I started. I do mean to give it another go when I have the time though.
I like Robert E Howard best of all of them.
But others I like are CJ Cherryh's Morgaine books. CL Moore's Jirel stories (and Shambleau, though thats SF).
JA Salmonson's Amazons anthologies are generally good... (highlights being Gillian Fitzgerald, Tanith Lee, Phyllis Ann Karr, Jo Clayton) The First of the two books contains a further reading list.
Andrew J Offutt did some good Howard-inspired writing though I've only read the comics adaptions myself. His pirate-fantasy books like Demon in the Mirror look interesting too.
Michael Moorcock's books are highly regarded (Elric and others) but I have a hard time finding them in my bookstore but I saw him talk at a local festival about King of the City.
If you want to read the inspirations of Howard... HP Lovecraft and Lord Dunsany are the obvious ones. Also Talbot Mundy I think I read somewhere. I would not be surprised if Howard was familiar with Howard Pyle... Edgar Rice Burroughs and H Rider Haggard are also in that time frame.
After that I would probably start delving into actual mediaeval legends and literature.
Stuart, you're welcome to look through my bookshelves. Aside from historical fiction, I have many fantasy works and some sci-fi.
I finished the Ben Kane novella, Eagles in the East SHORT story (Eagles of Rome series):, and it was a good addition to the series.
Michelle wrote: "Stuart, you're welcome to look through my bookshelves. Aside from historical fiction, I have many fantasy works and some sci-fi."Thanks. good suggestion!
Mark wrote: "Sean wrote: "I could use a good S&S book. I liked the Fafrhd & Grey Mouser series, and the Conan series, but I haven't found much since then that is well written."Try the haven series by Simon R ..."
I will, thanks!
I finished C.J. Cherryh's Rusalka, which was a re-read, tonight. Now I've begun Ben Kane's Eagles in the Storm.
Michelle wrote: "I finished C.J. Cherryh's Rusalka, which was a re-read, tonight. Now I've begun Ben Kane's Eagles in the Storm."I was looking at CJ Cherryh's The Dreamstone today in the store. I finished my Red Sonja book so I went in search of some Middle English books but instead ended up buying three SF books. Leigh Brackett's Starmen of Llyrdis, Diadem from the Stars by Jo Clayton and Judgement Night by C L Moore.
I have finished
(a crime by Aussie crime writer Garry Disher).Am now reading
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz ZafónI figured it was about time. I feel like everybody has read it but me.
I haven't read that one. Maybe one day. I haven't read much Roman for years, but I quite liked some of Kane's novels when I did.
I'm readng Susanna Gregory's The Chancellor's Secret, the final book in the Matthew Bartholmew series.
Michael wrote: "I'm readng Susanna Gregory's The Chancellor's Secret, the final book in the Matthew Bartholmew series."Here's the link
Dang another one of my favorite series is coming to an end :(
I finished Never
I enjoyed it. It's a modern day thriller that is ripped from the headlines - A US president, who happens to be republican woman is trying to avoid a nucular war with China - I won't say how it ends. For me a solid 4 star read.
Currently reading Dan Jones's latest
This is a history of the Middle Ages from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Reformation, roughly 1100 yrs. So far it has been very readable and seems to be well researched - as I would expect from Mr. Jones
I have Suzanna Gregory’s THE HAND OF JUSTICE (Matthew Bartholomew #10) waiting for me!!
I just finished “The Other Woman” by Daniel Silva;, another in his series about Gabriel Allon. I must say that this one is Good! I could hardly put it down; one night I woke up at three in the morning, bed light on and the book on my chest.
Marilyn, I’m glad you are enjoy this series!!
"Swords and Deviltry" by Fritz Leiber The first of his "Swords" books. (Although kind of late his writing career... these stories did not actually get penned until 1970. Some of the later books have stories that go back to the 30s, 40s or 50s I think.) The final story (I havent been reading them in order) really has a strong 60s counter-culture feel to it so I think its as much about when it was written as the setting of the book itself.
I just read The Fort, the latest by Adrian Goldsworthy. I loved it, possibly even more than his first trilogy.
I have The Fort but I haven’t cracked it open yet. In fact I almost sent to my sleeper file. Will keep it available.
Reading Tana French’s FAITHFUL PLACE. Enjoying!
I just finished Wake by Shelley Burr
And I am now reading The Scarlet Cross by Lyn McFarlane
May wrote: "Reading Tana French’s FAITHFUL PLACE. Enjoying!"
I've really enjoyed her books!
I just finished Dan Jones' newest
This is non fiction history of the middle ages - from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Reformation - roughly 1100 yrs,
While it is roughly cronological, Mr Jones breaks his chapters into themes - ie the barbarian invasions of the 400-500s, the rise of Islam, the Mongols, the rise of Monastism etc
I really like Mr. Jones' writing style and insights. A very good overview of the age 4+stars
I have got to get to Dan Jones someday….ugh.
Reading TRAVELS WITH GEORGE by Nathaniel Philbrick
One of my favorite historical fiction books is "The Ill-Made Knight" by Christian Cameron. It's set in 14th century Europe and is extremely well done. The series just gets better and better ...And for what it's worth, 44 of the 773 reviews I've posted are in historical fiction (most of the rest are science fiction and fantasy, but there's some philosophy and history in there as well.)
The Lais of Marie de France by Marie de France. Penguin edition. Translated by Glyn S Burgess and Keith Busby. first edition.(1986).These are 12 narrative poems (Breton Lays) originally written in Old French for the English court during the 12th century renaissance.
Marie being the earliest female writer in French is a rather enigmatic figure. She probably was not actually named Marie de France as that name was not given her until the 16th century. But another poet in her day, Denis Piramus does confirm her existence and the popularity of her poems at the time.
Some have suggested she might be a nun or abbess in England but the translators say that is unlikely because while she certainly had a religious education since she was literate and multilingual, the content of her poems does not read like the writing of a religious writer, but more like chivalric or love songs of the Provencal troubadors who were in their heyday in French courts at this time. Her education is probably more because of her being a member of the nobility.
Marie seems to suggest that her poems come from Breton sources but teachers I had at the University were generally dubious of that. I have read other translations of these tales before (the Norton anthology version for example) but I cannot now remember much of the details, so I will wait until I have finished reading this book to try to say what they are about.
I stumbled across this book in the poetry section of Half Price Books, and thought I would read it.
Just started The Fatal Crown by Ellen Jones. Funny, in the last book I read Stephens wife was a greedy, raving #’!”* and in this one she’s, so far, a saint. LolI keep waiting for her to change!
Dee wrote: "Just started The Fatal Crown by Ellen Jones. Funny, in the last book I read Stephens wife was a greedy, raving #’!”* and in this one she’s, so far, a saint. LolI keep waiting for her to change!"
I have always felt that we do not give Maude enough credit.
Just found LION HEART by Ben Kane stuffed into the back of the shelf!! Already absorbed!!
Reading “Black Hawk Down” by Mark Bowden. Informative, grizzly, heartbreaking, etc. can’t think of everything that crosses my mind but it’s certainly absorbing. You don’t fully realize what soldiers go through in combat unless you have someone in your family has or perhaps read this book. The movie was true to the story but reading it is even more harrowing.
Marilyn wrote: "Reading “Black Hawk Down” by Mark Bowden. Informative, grizzly, heartbreaking, etc. can’t think of everything that crosses my mind but it’s certainly absorbing. You don’t fully realize what soldier..."Definitely a tough read, that one. Knowing the outcome before you even start.
I've just finished Andrew Roberts new biography of George III
A bit long - appox 700 pages including the appendex, but very well researched and written. Prof Roberts was the first historian to have access to George's personal papers when the Crown made them available a few yrs ago - over 200K pages of them :)
The George that Prof Roberts writes about is about 180 degrees opposite of the accepted view of him. A 5 star read IMnotsoHO
my thoughts if anyone is interested
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Currently reading an older Paul Doherty book
This is not a mystery, more straight HF, with a bit of a twist - Cardinal Beaufort has an agent tracking Joan of Arc to try and determine if her claims are true
I just began Legion: 1 by Geraint Jones. I can obtain this prequel series on U.S. Kindle, but not the Bloof Forest series proper. I don't know why.
I finished The Serpent Amongst the Lilies. Very short - less than 200 pages, fun read.The main plot line has to do with Joan of Arc and her fate. The English Cardinal Beaufort, who is also Herny VI's uncle, sends an agent to get close to "The Maid" and try and find out just what she is - does she hear angels or devils.
The story follows Matthew Jankyn and he travels to Lyon and join Joan retinue and gets close to her - through to her trial and death, or did she really die?
Mr Doherty seems to have a penchant for medieval conspiracy theories. I enjoyed it, great way to pass a couple of hours - 4 stars
also posted in the late middle ages thread
I'm reading a City on Fire by Don WinslowMan, it's good. Have to keep making myself put it down. I could have read this book in one sitting it has been so good.
nearly finished but I can't see it being anything but 5 stars.
This is my first Don Winslow book. I'll be reading more for sure.
I had to put Legion aside. It just wasn't working out for me at all.
Michelle wrote: "I had to put Legion aside. It just wasn't working out for me at all."I looked at your Legion just now and recognised the name. And yet, when I went to his author page, the book I am familiar with of Geraint Jones is Blood Forest and it is not there. Weird. Hard to believe there would be two of them writing about the same stuff.
This was my review of Blood Forest. Wondering if he's still doing the same thing. Rolling out the same old squaddie porn.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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When I finish that I intend to get back to Middle English literature. I was reading Langland last year... which I havent finished but I put aside because I got inspired to read Chaucer this Christmas. So that's on my to-be-read list if I can decide which version to read. So many translated versions seem to lose a lot of the poetic sense... but I haven't found a physical copy of the original yet. All the side by side versions seem to be greatly edited.
I just ordered the Paston Letters so that should appear in my mailbox shortly as well. Maybe I will rewatch Helen Castor's documentary about the Pastons when it comes.
I would like to read Sir Gawain, after seeing the film a few months back but again I have to find a good edition.
Then after that, maybe I will get back to Langland.