37 replies to this topic

[thedarkman]

Thanks for the suggestions, Scott. I liked Men of Bronze a lot, and really look forward to Lion of Cairo. Keep up the awesome work, and I will watch for your next release for sure. I have tried to scribble out a few ideas myself, but actually putting pen to paper is daunting, to say the least! I have nothing but respect for anyone who can do that for a living.

[Jack LesCamela]

I second the votes for Bernard Cornwell and Harold Lamb. Both are superb.

Interesting to note that Lamb's real reputation is as a world class historian. He wrote biographies of Charlemagne, Genghis Khan, and Hannibal for example that are still considered definitive. He also wrote histories of the Crusades, etc.

Cornwell writes great action, rogueish heroes, and villains that you can't wait to see take it in the neck. AND he's prolific. Can't ask for more than that. Funny man too.

Have you read Dewey Lambdin? He writes a series of nautical novels about Alan Lewrie, a young man forced to join the Royal Navy to avoid a scandal... only to discover his true calling is the sea. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, but don't expect a copy of Hornblower or the Aubrey/Maturin series. There's a bit more violence on display here, and Alan is a young buck who knows his way around a bordello and the occasional dissatisfied wife. He likes the ladies. Good red blooded stuff here. The first book in the series is THE KING'S COAT.

Edited by Jack LesCamela, 14 February 2012 - 04:04 PM.

[thedarkman]

I have gathered a few more books that qualify as "blood and thunder" historical adventure; Swords of the West, the first 2 books of the Saxon series by Cornwall, and Wolf of the Plains by Iggulden. But the one I am most pumped about is Calgaich the Swordsman, by Gordon D. Shirreffs. I am just 40 pages in, an it is very good; bloody pulp adventure at its best. I just love the Cetic barbarians vs the Roman Empire storyline. A special tilt of the mead horn to docpod for letting me know about this little treasure of a yarn!

[docpod]

My pleasure Dark Man. I always try to spread the joy of reading CALGAICH THE SWORDSMAN.

Morgan

[Fierro]

Good news for fans of The Religion. Looks like Willocks has at long last finished the sequel, "Twelve Children of Paris." Amazon UK shows a publication date of March 2013. Willocks says:


"Twelve Children takes place during 36 hours covering the prelude and first day of the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew. It’s a portrait of the kind of human hell that we continue to create to this day – mass murder, the unleashing of repressed rage, the use of that rage by the power elites for their own narrow political gain. It was strange while writing it to find the Libyan ‘war’ reflecting many of the same issues. The massacre in Paris was particular, but its significance is universal and, it seems, eternal. I had the title long before I had a story – it was pure instinct. On many occasions I cursed it, because I did not know who the 12 were, and it’s a lot of characters to create and weave together. ‘Why not six children ?’ I would ask myself. ‘Why not change the title ?’ But I stayed true to the title, almost superstitiously – there was some magic in it – and in the end it paid of in what I think is a spectacular and heart-rending fashion."

Edited by Fierro, 03 July 2012 - 04:07 PM.

[PaulMc]

Good news for fans of The Religion. Looks like Willocks has at long last finished the sequel, "Twelve Children of Paris." Amazon UK shows a publication date of March 2013. Willocks says:


"Twelve Children takes place during 36 hours covering the prelude and first day of the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew. It’s a portrait of the kind of human hell that we continue to create to this day – mass murder, the unleashing of repressed rage, the use of that rage by the power elites for their own narrow political gain. It was strange while writing it to find the Libyan ‘war’ reflecting many of the same issues. The massacre in Paris was particular, but its significance is universal and, it seems, eternal. I had the title long before I had a story – it was pure instinct. On many occasions I cursed it, because I did not know who the 12 were, and it’s a lot of characters to create and weave together. ‘Why not six children ?’ I would ask myself. ‘Why not change the title ?’ But I stayed true to the title, almost superstitiously – there was some magic in it – and in the end it paid of in what I think is a spectacular and heart-rending fashion."

Yippee!

[deuce]

Good news for fans of The Religion. Looks like Willocks has at long last finished the sequel, "Twelve Children of Paris." Amazon UK shows a publication date of March 2013. Willocks says:


"Twelve Children takes place during 36 hours covering the prelude and first day of the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew. It’s a portrait of the kind of human hell that we continue to create to this day – mass murder, the unleashing of repressed rage, the use of that rage by the power elites for their own narrow political gain. It was strange while writing it to find the Libyan ‘war’ reflecting many of the same issues. The massacre in Paris was particular, but its significance is universal and, it seems, eternal. I had the title long before I had a story – it was pure instinct. On many occasions I cursed it, because I did not know who the 12 were, and it’s a lot of characters to create and weave together. ‘Why not six children ?’ I would ask myself. ‘Why not change the title ?’ But I stayed true to the title, almost superstitiously – there was some magic in it – and in the end it paid of in what I think is a spectacular and heart-rending fashion."

YES!!!

[thedarkman]

Just picked up Stonehenge, by Harry Harrison, some kind of bronze age adventure that takes place in pre-historic Britain. Very little to be found on the 'net so far, but it sounds like bloody, bronze-bladed fun. Anyone read this one...docpod?

[docpod]

Just picked up Stonehenge, by Harry Harrison, some kind of bronze age adventure that takes place in pre-historic Britain. Very little to be found on the 'net so far, but it sounds like bloody, bronze-bladed fun. Anyone read this one...docpod?

 

I read it. Overall a good novel in execution but though I have some quibbles with Harrison's portrayal of the Celts. Harlan Ellison did a review of it in the 70s giving a big thumbs up.

 

Morgan

[thedarkman]

Just picked up Stonehenge, by Harry Harrison, some kind of bronze age adventure that takes place in pre-historic Britain. Very little to be found on the 'net so far, but it sounds like bloody, bronze-bladed fun. Anyone read this one...docpod?

 

I read it. Overall a good novel in execution but though I have some quibbles with Harrison's portrayal of the Celts. Harlan Ellison did a review of it in the 70s giving a big thumbs up.

 

Morgan

Thanks docpod, I knew I could count on you! I will give this one a go, as I liked The Hammer and the Cross, and had fun with West of Eden.

[Keith J Taylor]

I am addicted to blood and thunder historical novels. Bernard Cornwell's SHARPE novels are superb, and I'm glad he turned back and wrote several covering Richard Sharpe's early career, in India under Wellesley (as the Duke of Wellington then was). Sharpe's mortal enemy, the treacherous, cunning, half-crazy and completely repulsive Sergeant Hakeswill (the man they couldn't hang) is a villain you love to hate. I recommend Samuel Shellabarger (PRINCE OF FOXES, THE KING'S CAVALIER, CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE, LORD VANITY) to anybody. Dorothy Dunnet's "Lymond" series, her "Niccolo" series, and her novel of the REAL Macbeth, KING HEREAFTER, are more than worth a look. I'm convinced REH would have liked all of the above ...

[John Maddox Roberts]

Good news for fans of The Religion. Looks like Willocks has at long last finished the sequel, "Twelve Children of Paris." Amazon UK shows a publication date of March 2013. Willocks says:


"Twelve Children takes place during 36 hours covering the prelude and first day of the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew. It’s a portrait of the kind of human hell that we continue to create to this day – mass murder, the unleashing of repressed rage, the use of that rage by the power elites for their own narrow political gain. It was strange while writing it to find the Libyan ‘war’ reflecting many of the same issues. The massacre in Paris was particular, but its significance is universal and, it seems, eternal. I had the title long before I had a story – it was pure instinct. On many occasions I cursed it, because I did not know who the 12 were, and it’s a lot of characters to create and weave together. ‘Why not six children ?’ I would ask myself. ‘Why not change the title ?’ But I stayed true to the title, almost superstitiously – there was some magic in it – and in the end it paid of in what I think is a spectacular and heart-rending fashion."

So when do we get a U.S. publication? I can't find a date mentioned, which seems odd.

[thedarkman]

I am addicted to blood and thunder historical novels. Bernard Cornwell's SHARPE novels are superb, and I'm glad he turned back and wrote several covering Richard Sharpe's early career, in India under Wellesley (as the Duke of Wellington then was). Sharpe's mortal enemy, the treacherous, cunning, half-crazy and completely repulsive Sergeant Hakeswill (the man they couldn't hang) is a villain you love to hate. I recommend Samuel Shellabarger (PRINCE OF FOXES, THE KING'S CAVALIER, CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE, LORD VANITY) to anybody. Dorothy Dunnet's "Lymond" series, her "Niccolo" series, and her novel of the REAL Macbeth, KING HEREAFTER, are more than worth a look. I'm convinced REH would have liked all of the above ...

Thanks for the suggestions Keith. I am a big fan of your Bard series, and that's the type of "Dark Ages" rough & tumble, bloody and dirty fiction I crave! There seems to be plenty of Roman Empire type fiction, but not so much pre-Roman, or post-Roman stuff. Any suggestions in that vein?

Edited by thedarkman, 10 April 2013 - 03:09 PM.

[Keith J Taylor]

For pre-Roman stuff, going back a way, there's Mary Renault's two novels of Theseus, THE KING MUST DIE and THE BULL FROM THE SEA. Her Theseus is almost a pocket Conan, not big, but clever, fast and aggressive, with a feeling for the underdog despite his touchy pride, and a hell of a warrior. You can feel and smell the ancient world. Theseus's actual belief in his gods and goddesses is something you can feel too. For ancient Egypt, Mika Waltari's THE EGYPTIAN is the ultimate. Dunnett's "Lymond" series is set in the reigns of Edward VI, Bloody Mary and -- finally -- Elizabeth I, but Lymond goes just about everywhere, including to the court of Ivan the Terrible as a mercenary. He's very sophisticated, though, as good a courtier as he is a soldier. Thanks for the kind words about my BARD series ...

[Kaziglu Bey]

Good news for fans of The Religion. Looks like Willocks has at long last finished the sequel, "Twelve Children of Paris." Amazon UK shows a publication date of March 2013. Willocks says:


"Twelve Children takes place during 36 hours covering the prelude and first day of the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew. It’s a portrait of the kind of human hell that we continue to create to this day – mass murder, the unleashing of repressed rage, the use of that rage by the power elites for their own narrow political gain. It was strange while writing it to find the Libyan ‘war’ reflecting many of the same issues. The massacre in Paris was particular, but its significance is universal and, it seems, eternal. I had the title long before I had a story – it was pure instinct. On many occasions I cursed it, because I did not know who the 12 were, and it’s a lot of characters to create and weave together. ‘Why not six children ?’ I would ask myself. ‘Why not change the title ?’ But I stayed true to the title, almost superstitiously – there was some magic in it – and in the end it paid of in what I think is a spectacular and heart-rending fashion."

So when do we get a U.S. publication? I can't find a date mentioned, which seems odd.

Amazon UK now shows a release date of 23 May for this. As for a US release, I wouldn't hold your breath. It could be a few months down the road or perhaps even a year or more. I would imagine, however, that before too long we'll be able to find copies of the UK release available from Amazon sellers, through Abe Books and other online sources. That's how I'm gonna try to track down a copy for myself, anyway. I've been waiting too long for this novel to cross my fingers and hope for a 2013 US release.

[PaulMc]

RE: Twelve Children of Paris

 

Jealous that UK Amazon even has the cover art now!

 

You can order from Amazon UK if you get desperate - though it would be pricey shipping, I imagine.

[thedarkman]

For pre-Roman stuff, going back a way, there's Mary Renault's two novels of Theseus, THE KING MUST DIE and THE BULL FROM THE SEA. Her Theseus is almost a pocket Conan, not big, but clever, fast and aggressive, with a feeling for the underdog despite his touchy pride, and a hell of a warrior. You can feel and smell the ancient world. Theseus's actual belief in his gods and goddesses is something you can feel too. For ancient Egypt, Mika Waltari's THE EGYPTIAN is the ultimate. Dunnett's "Lymond" series is set in the reigns of Edward VI, Bloody Mary and -- finally -- Elizabeth I, but Lymond goes just about everywhere, including to the court of Ivan the Terrible as a mercenary. He's very sophisticated, though, as good a courtier as he is a soldier. Thanks for the kind words about my BARD series ...

Thanks again Keith for all the great ideas, saves me a ton of time in research! However, looking at my bookshelf just now, I realize I have a few books someone was too humble to mention: The Danans series. I have Book 1&2, and have not read them yet. Not to mention The Tower of Death and When Death Birds Fly( I have read TOD, but not WDBF, yet). Not sure how much is your content in those Cormac Mac Art books, but they have  your "true to history" feel to them, for sure!

 

Honestly, the BARD series is truly outstanding, and after REH, you and Wagner share second place as the best S&S writers ever, IMHO. I would love to see this series reprinted again, perhaps in a 2-3 volume omnibus along with your collected short stories. I would buy 'em all, if only to get my paws on BARD V, which is impossible to find in Canuck land! Anway, it looks like I have a bit of reading to catch up on before chasing down more books.

[Fierro]

RE: Twelve Children of Paris

 

Jealous that UK Amazon even has the cover art now!

 

You can order from Amazon UK if you get desperate - though it would be pricey shipping, I imagine.

That's one I buy from the UK at the earliest moment. Hang the price!