New book suggestion

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FullerH

Joined
Nov 25, 1998
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I do not know how many of you are readers of historical fantasies, but I enjoy many of that sort of thing immensely. One series that I have very much enjoyed has been Jack Whyte's take on the King Arthur Cycle. He calls it the "Camulod Chronicles" and the last book in the series was four years ago. It presented Arthur to the people as the young king drawing the sword from the stone. Now, we have the eighth book in the series, The Lance Thrower. I am about 150 pages into it and am finding it to be at least as good as its excellent predecessors. I heartily recommend the series.
 
Hugh, I've read the whole series twice, except for the new one. I will have to find it. This was one of the best historical series I have seen. I don't think of it so much as fantasy as well researched historical fiction built around the legend.
 
I haven't read this particular series so I'm not sure exactly what they're like but if it's historical fact/fiction type books that you like I can recommend a couple.

BTW, by "fact/fiction" I mean fictional stories based around factual times and events.

First of all have a look at "An Instance of the Fingerpost" by Iain Pears. Absolutely excellent book.

If you want an absolute masterpiece of a series on English naval history novels you can't go past Patrick O'Brian. The relatively recent movie "Master and Commander" was loosely based on one of the books in the series. If you do decide to read these I recommend you do so in order.

Those would be my all time favourite books of their type.
 
Hmm, I think I'll take a look at it. I'm wary of long series as they have a tendency to get tedious...
 
gajinoz said:
If you want an absolute masterpiece of a series on English naval history novels you can't go past Patrick O'Brian. The relatively recent movie "Master and Commander" was loosely based on one of the books in the series. If you do decide to read these I recommend you do so in order.

Those would be my all time favourite books of their type.
Click to expand...

I second that opinion. Superb reading. I have read the whole 20-book series at least three times. As soon as I reach No.20, I just want to pick up No.1 again.

maximus otter
 
maximus otter,

You may have to change the sequence a little bit. They have just released "21", the 21st book in the series. It is a fragmentary collectors only work and includes an additional three chapters of what was to be the 21st novel in the Master and Commander series. Unfortunately, Patrick O'Brian pass away in mid sentence, but it is an interesting finish for what is probably one of the most fantastic novels ever written in the English language. The new book adds another 54 pages to the excellent 6593 page narrative of the first 20 books. The balance of the small book has photocopies of the author's hand written and heavily annotated working manuscript.

It is a shame that Patrick died at the young age of 86; I for one would have been happy if he had continued for yet another 20 volumes.

n2s





n2s
 
I wish the guy could have lived, and continued writing, until at least after I had died. A real tragedy to the literary world. :(

I'm not sure I could read the "21st" book. Reading the first three chapters and knowing there was no end would drive me insane.

Another good series, not quite up to Patrick's standard but damned good nonetheless, is the "Bolitho" series by Alexander Kent. You can read about it HERE
 
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