The Knights Next Door: Everyday People Living Middle Ages Dreams

by Patrick O'Donnell

Travel back in time to the Current Middle Ages, a re-created world of knights in shining armor, lords and ladies, artisans and minstrels with one foot in history, the other in today's modern society. Join a journey through the nation's largest medievalist group, the Society for Creative Anachronism, as it and other groups act out their passion for times long past. Meet the cast of colorful characters who call this re-created world home and follow a young fighter as he struggles to earn knighthood and the crown of the kingdom that serves as his stage.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2004

About the author

Patrick O’Donnell is the product of two young Irish immigrants. He was born and spent his early childhood in the great city of Chicago.
He lives with his wife, kids, and 3 dogs. O’Donnell has published self-help books under different pen names and made Amazon’s “Best Sellers List.” Hobbies include physical fitness, travel, riding motorcycles, and shenanigans.

Reviews

[Regina Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Learned a few things myself, and I highly recommend it to anyone interesting in the incredible subculture simmering just below the surface of the "real world".

I'm pretty much a "lifer" in the Society for Creative Anachronism. Thirty years to date. I've seen the SCA featured in countless news clips, interviews, newspaper articles, etc, and quite a few of them were unkind, misinformed, disrespectful, or just plain embarrassing. O'Donnell gets to know the scene, gets to know the culture, immerses himself in the world, and writes what I would call an accurate, respectful book on the world that is the SCA.

It wasn't cheap to buy. I picked it up quite some time ago, and maybe with the indie publishing upsurge, it's a little less expensive, I don't know. I didn't mind paying the price because I respect what this man did for us and I wanted to support him.

If you're in the SCA, it's a must read. Support the man. If you're not, but considering coming out to see what's going on with those weirdos in the park, or even if you're just curious, give it a read. You'll have fun going along on the adventure, I promise.

[Alex Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short version: Not bad for a long magazine article, not great for a book.

Long version: I wouldn't call this so much a history as an expose, a nice journalistic paddle in the shallows of what the SCA is. Every so often, O'Donnell seems to hedge in the hopes of not offending SCA folk, which can be frustrating, if understandable. Further frustration sets in when you read about a particularly interesting aspect of the Society about which O'Donnell only has superficial things to say. Certainly don't expect to hear as much about fighting as about people. Perhaps the most satisfying thing is getting the back-story on Valharic, currently King of Atlantia and soon to become the Duke he dreams of being in O'Donnell's book.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across this tale of the Society for Creative Anachronism in a convoluted way, and I'm glad I did. O'Donnell is a journalist in real life, and decided to tell the story of an SCAdian's journey up the ranks. He picked my cousin, Tom Noble/Valharic Caligula Aurelius. Bear in mind that it's harder to be objective when reading about someone you know. Overall, the book was interesting but uneven, poorly edited and distractingly full of typos. There was a lot of fascinating information, but I had to work too hard to get it out. The parts about my cousin were riveting- there's nothing cooler than reading about someone you know from the viewpoint of a total stranger.

[Ryan Kilcoyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who was in the SCA, I enjoyed watching his journey from skeptic and outsider to enjoying the company and environment. It doesn't just focus on the one person's journey, but tells a small tale bout some of the people that were met. For those curious about the SCA it gives a better insight than just watching the people hitting each other. For those already playing, there's possibly some new info and reminders about the love that can go into the hobby. I'm re-reading it now since it's one of my favourite books.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that has been needed for a long time: a history of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronisms). Now that the SCA is over 40 years old, it has built up a history of its own. This work is both entertaining and insightful, combining the author's own experience as an SCA neophyte with some good research. Most importantly (in my mind) is the author's objective way of looking at both the benefits and the drawbacks of the SCA, and how it compares to other groups of similar focus.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was really cool to read this account of a person joining the sca. Especially because it was written at about the same time that I was in the process of joining the society for creative anachronism, it was easy for me to relate to the book. It contains a very nice overview of sca history and explains very well various activities within the group as well as why we do these crazy things.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fascinating read. The author writes about his experiences joining the SCA, from an outsider-turned-insider prospective, and at the same time provides a history of the SCA and interviews with several members about their experiences. It's a good reminder of why the SCA and similar groups are so appealing to so many, and honestly it made me want to join up.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading about someone else's experience in the SCA. Also to read because I know, or know of some of the people profiled in the book.

[Alex Jahnke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the SCA from a very neutral point of view, about the author getting started in the "current middle ages".

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book about the SCA. The longer I'm in the SCA, the more I appreciate different aspects of this book.

[Kathy Duffy]

Only got about 75 pages into this one... It didn't hold my interest. I think it would be a good read for someone who is discovering the SCA but I've been in 31 years....