201 replies to this topic

[PaulMc]

This series isnt bad either-

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Tim_Severin

The Viking series. Its a bit more 'historical fiction' than blood and guts but it gives a good insight into the last days of the Viking age.

Great! I'll need to checkout the non-fiction "Brendan's Voyage", too!

Thanks!

[Skarthi]

Anybody read this-

http://www.amazon.co...o/dp/0890835977

Its a trilogy about Harald Hadrada apparently ?

[Casca]

Robert Anton Wilson is dead(fnord). I'll miss him. This writer has had more influence on my life than any other.

The Illuminatus Trilogy (with Robert Shea) just may be one of the scariest, fastest roller coasters of a book ever written. This book, quite literally, has everything.
Here are some excerpts:
This link NSFW.

Good Ole Bob has many other books worth checking out. IMHO. You can find them, among other things, here:
http://rawilson.com/main.shtml

Celebrate the man for a moment:
http://robertantonwilson.blogspot.com/ ...if you will.

Hail Eris!!!

(fnord)

[Rachel Edidin]

I just finished Carter Beats the Devil, by Glen David Gold. Brilliant stuff, particularly if you like historically-based fiction.

[Mark Finn]

I just finished Carter Beats the Devil, by Glen David Gold. Brilliant stuff, particularly if you like historically-based fiction.

Hey Rachel! Welcome to the calm side of Howard fandom!

I'll second that vote for Carter Beats the Devil. It's bloody brilliant. It's not fair that Gold is married to Alice Sebold. Who told them they could BOTH be brilliant authors? Sheesh.

And I'll throw one out there for you lovers of the chase: The Parker series, written by Richard Stark (a pseudonym for Donald Westlake), is a long-running set of heists and capers with this big, tough, stoic guy named Parker who keeps his own moral compass and works off of a real specific code (sound familar?)...anyway, he's really not Conanish, but he is one tough S.O.B. Finding a complete set of his adventures takes patience and persistence, but OH, it's worth it. I eat these books like candy. Tough, bitter candy. Some of the best muscular and downbeat prose out there. Highly recommended.

[deuce]

Anybody read this-

http://www.amazon.co...o/dp/0890835977

Its a trilogy about Harald Hadrada apparently ?

Hey Skarthi! It most definitely is. The other two books are The Road of the Sea-Horse and The Sign of the Raven. Since you seem to be a big fan of Norse/Viking-based fiction, you oughtta check out all of Poul's other "Saga of the North" novels. They stretch from the early Dark Ages to Renaissance times. Excellent books. Much better than Conan the Rebel (which wasn't bad).

[Skarthi]

Anybody read this-

http://www.amazon.co...o/dp/0890835977

Its a trilogy about Harald Hadrada apparently ?

Hey Skarthi! It most definitely is. The other two books are The Road of the Sea-Horse and The Sign of the Raven. Since you seem to be a big fan of Norse/Viking-based fiction, you oughtta check out all of Poul's other "Saga of the North" novels. They stretch from the early Dark Ages to Renaissance times. Excellent books. Much better than Conan the Rebel (which wasn't bad).

Cheers Deuce I have just finished the 'Hammer and the Cross' trilogy so i need a new read.

[Skarthi]

I just got these from Amazon-

http://www.amazon.co...a...8273&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.co...-...8273&sr=1-1

Which are the ones you mean i presume but the 'Last Viking' series is really expensive for some reason
Anybody know anywhere else i could pick this up at a decent price ?

SKARTHI

[deuce]

Hey Skarthi! "Sword" is considered by many, many people to be a fantasy classic. Among others, it influenced KEW and Moorcock. A brutal, doomful book. Hrolf Kraki was the Danish "King Arthur" (and nephew to King Hrothgar). Poul (first generation Danish-American) truly does him justice. The "Viking" trilogy is expensive because Zebra published it once, 25+ yrs ago. If ya like 'em, don't stop there. There's like, 5 more books in the "Saga".

[Skarthi]

Hey Skarthi! "Sword" is considered by many, many people to be a fantasy classic. Among others, it influenced KEW and Moorcock. A brutal, doomful book. Hrolf Kraki was the Danish "King Arthur" (and nephew to King Hrothgar). Poul (first generation Danish-American) truly does him justice. The "Viking" trilogy is expensive because Zebra published it once, 25+ yrs ago. If ya like 'em, don't stop there. There's like, 5 more books in the "Saga".

Cheers Deuce but what are the titles of the other 5 ?

SKARTHI

[Kander Grimm]

And I'll throw one out there for you lovers of the chase: The Parker series, written by Richard Stark (a pseudonym for Donald Westlake), is a long-running set of heists and capers with this big, tough, stoic guy named Parker who keeps his own moral compass and works off of a real specific code (sound familar?)...anyway, he's really not Conanish, but he is one tough S.O.B. Finding a complete set of his adventures takes patience and persistence, but OH, it's worth it. I eat these books like candy. Tough, bitter candy. Some of the best muscular and downbeat prose out there. Highly recommended.

I agree Mark, the Parker series is hard-boiled fiction at it's best. For a treat, you should try the Shell Scott books by Richard S. Prather. The stories are hilarious and yet the violence and action in the stories is tough and blood-curdling. I suspect that Scott's wanton, womanizing ways aren't exactly PC these days, but they are worth a read and who knows, that type of fiction might make a comeback.
Jim Collins

Edited by Kander Grimm, 11 July 2007 - 10:57 PM.

[deuce]

We can only hope.

[Pontifex]

I've been reading Fritz Leiber's _Fafhrd and Me_. Brilliant stuff.

Gather, Darkness! (some printings omit the punctuation in the title) by Lieber is a fantastic read too. really evokes mystery and darkness like any good horror fantasy but is a little bit different by the end of the novel.

I have had this book for months but haven't read it yet (among many, many others). I just keep getting books and putting others aside for later, lol.

[Sermon Bath]

I just read Steelheart by william c dietz........now this is the only book ive read by this guy and never heard of him before but this is easily one of the best reads Ive EVER had. The lead character is a very human android called Doon and hes one of the best characters ive found in fiction. I liked this book so much that I just went and bought four more by the same author. They may all suck for all I know but STEELHEART is a rare treat. The android is a tremendously Howard like character in many ways...........this book has dashes from several genres including modern lit but I havent found a part yet that bored me and its pretty long. Ive been recommended another of his called PRISON PLANET which I just ordered from the web. Dietz's stuff is supposedly a lot like David Drake but hes a helluva lot better than drake from what I can tell though I dont dislike Drake. Dietz also wrote three star wars books but im not into star wars although I just might check one of them out now. Dont pass on STeelheart!!!

[Pontifex]

I had read Fifty One Tales by Lord Dunsany a little while ago and loved it. I'm currently reading a book called The Short Works of Lord Dunsany, which is a compilation of several of his books. It contains the books Fifty One Tales, A Dreamers's Tales, The Gods of Pegana, Tales of Three Hemispheres, and Tales of War.

So far, The Gods of Pegana is the only one I haven't really cared for. It's interesting but its pretty dry and there's no real story. I think I saw one reviewer say its similar to the Silmarillion of LOTR fame (which was so boring I couldn't finish it and may be the only book I've never finished).

Anyway, Lord Dunsany has quickly become one of my favorite authors. While most of his stories are very short, they are very well written and very detailed. I don't know how to describe it, but when I read his stories, I get this feeling that I don't think I've ever felt with any other author. His prose just really grabs me and I don't want to let go.

I've already ordered 3 more books of his stories and can't wait to continue reading. I'll be disappointed when there isn't any more of his work left to read.

[PainBrush]

Just to add a little bit of weirdness to Dunsany's already kind of weird works is this - he never re-wrote , re-worked or did a 'finished' draft of any of his stories , they were all done in one sit-down , one time , one draft & he wrote all his stuff literally sitting on some crumpled old silk hat . God I love eccentric geniuses !!! His stories put you right in the middle of some weird dreams .

Edited by PAINBRUSH, 06 September 2007 - 10:06 PM.

[Pontifex]

Just to add a little bit of weirdness to Dunsany's already kind of weird works is this - he never re-wrote , re-worked or did a 'finished' draft of any of his stories , they were all done in one sit-down , one time , one draft & he wrote all his stuff literally sitting on some crumpled old silk hat . God I love eccentric geniuses !!! His stories put you right in the middle of some weird dreams .

"Spring In Town" and "Blagdaross" are my 2 favorite stories so far. Specifically the end of "Blagdaross" when Blagdaross is telling his story. They just really stirred something in me.

Edited by Pontifex, 07 September 2007 - 01:37 AM.

[Mikey_C]

Overcoming my fear of long novels, I am currently deep into Donna Gillespie's The Light Bearer. Highly recommended; anyone with an interest in the Roman Empire will love this - it's one of those books you can effortlessly get into and read.

[timeless]

Any good recommendations on something scary? It's October and time to read a couple of good horror novels. No vampires please, they haven't been the slightest bit scary to me since Kolchak The Night Stalker staked one in the seventies.

Anything good at all? I've tried Lumley, didn't like him. Clive Barker, ditto. No more Stephen King, please.

Gimme something...

[Croms Bones]

The Blade Itself, by Joe Abercrombie. It's been an entertaining and, well written, and funny fantasy read.