Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

A few people were interested in a Buddy Read of The Ten Thousand. I just started it so anyone who's interested....shout.

I'm about 10% in and the story is flowing pretty well. Reminds me a little bit of the Greek city states-Sparta maybe. I don't know any of the background of this series so I'm not sure if this was his aim with these novels. I found it interesting with all the fantasy I read that "The sword was for defeat, for the black end when one could no longer deny it." The spear was the primary weapon. Going to have to brush up on my ancient military knowledge.

Mike, thanks for setting it up! I'm in, will get the book today and start this weekend.

I'm on page 50 and have it laying next to to get into as soon as I'm through checking Email and so on.

I just finished my sermon for tomorrow...and referenced Paksenarrion in it, LOL. I wonder how many of the people listening will have read the book? Probably none (unless 1 or 2 have on my recommendation.

Ctgt. I mentioned that there seems to be a lot of influence from Xenophon. He related the story (reported as true) of 10,000 Greek mercenaries who supported a Persian prince in an attempt to overthrow his brother and take the throne (Cyrus). Ironically the Greeks won the final battle of the war but their "employer", Cyrus was killed which left them deep in enemy territory alone. The 10,000 then had to fight their way to the sea and back to Greece, and they made it.

So there is a lot of Greek look to the story. Our "hero" mentions things that reference the Spartans, like a boy having to kill a wolf and a man to become a man.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: " Our "hero" mentions things that reference the Spartans, like a boy having to kill a wolf and a man to become a man. "

I guess this is a re-telling of that story? I have to look into this more.

You're right! I had forgotten about that from Sparta.

I'm not sure how far you are since I'm reading the Kindle version(14% somewhere in chapter 4)(view spoiler)[ but I enjoyed the mythology surrounding the cursebearers and Antimones' black armor. (hide spoiler)]

BTW I like your biscuit pictures. My Dad made some sausage gravy for breakfast this morning.

I don't think it's a retelling. I think he took the events of Xenophon's Anabasis and used them as a starting point. Jack Campbell (John G. Hemry) did the same thing in his science fiction Lost Fleet series.

Oh, I was in a discussion about country breakfast in another group, LOL.

I just recommended this book to my husband. He is not on Goodreads, but I think this might be right up his alley. Thanks!

I'm a fan so far...of course lots of blood, sweat and stink, but well written.

Has anyone looked up "pasang" yet? The only place I can find it is as a measure of distance in the old Gor novels, it's about one seventh of a mile.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Oh, I was in a discussion about country breakfast in another group, LOL."

OK, I had to go look at these pictures you're talking about. Did you make those yourself Mike? Biscuits and Gravy is definitely my dad's favorite breakfast. I have to say I've never tried it, but hear a lot of good things about them. Nothing beats homemade biscuits and jelly though! Uh Oh, Now I'm hungry...better go fix dinner now!

No not those but I can make biscuits. I just don't take the time much. My daughter and I are both on low calorie and high fiber diets so biscuits are a seldom treat.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I'm a fan so far...of course lots of blood, sweat and stink, but well written.

Has anyone looked up "pasang" yet? The only place I can find it is as a measure of distance in the old Gor novels, it..."

I tried the Kindle dictionary but pasang didn't come up. I'm not too sure how great a dictionary it is, so I looked it up and there is a reference to an antelope but no unit of measurement. I also thought aichme and sauroter seemed like ancient terms for parts of the spear but no definition for them either. Guess he's making stuff up as he goes. Definitely gritty so far.

I Googled the word and the Gor reference came up, so I'm going with the 1/7 of a mile definition.

I'm not familiar with the Gor novels. It's obviously used in that context so your definition works for me.

They were (I don't know if they're still in print)a series of fantasy novels I ran on back in the '60s and '70s when I was an older teen and in my early twenties. They really amount to what I guess you'd call "almost soft core porn". They take place in a world much like ancient Greece but with magic and they lean heavily on a BDSM type plot device. I wouldn't recommend them but they seem to have a sort of cult following today.

I outgrew them years ago, but they still get referenced.

They don't sound like my cup of tea.

I'm really enjoying the book so far. Have you red any other Kearney books? I have Hawkwood and the Kings on my shelf waiting to be read.

No I found these back when the Border's Books downtown was going out of business and bought them at a discount because the synopsis sounded good. I'll probably try more now.

I also read Kearney was mentioned for a Gemmell award. He's another favorite of mine.

Well, I'm off to read some more. Have a good night Mike. Good luck with your Paks sermon tomorrow.

Yeah. I'm going to turn in early. It's not a Pacs sermon, but I'm using the book as an example of people becoming what they are because of what they've lived. LOL

Chapter six spoiler (view spoiler)[ Or maybe chapter 5? It's interesting you brought up Paks earlier. This section reminded me a little bit of her joining the company although not as detailed. Now we get some of the fantasy part of the story with the new race introduced. He's setting up some pretty distinct classes, first among the soldiers now among the Kuf. The Kefre obviously look down upon the human race and at this point, Arkamenes considers the ten thousand no more than shock troops or cannon fodder. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ He seems to have taken the historical relations between the Persians and the Greeks and magnified it to reflect the fantasy world. (hide spoiler)]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

I agree. I need to check and see if he has done any interviews about his process with this series.

Ready for ch.15 (page 257) and still hooked. I'm going to turn in early and keep reading...probably won't get to sleep soon.

The action seemed to slow for a couple of chapters but has picked up again. He is doing a fair amount of cultural world building so I guess that is to be expected.

I'm starting today. Not a lot of time this weekend for reading.

I'm 3/4 of the way through but didn't get a chance to pick it up yesterday. Like it a lot. I didn't think it slowed down all that much Ctgt, but I think I know where you were. This thing moves pretty quickly. I have the other 2 in this "series" of books. If they're all this good I'll more than likely try other books by Kearney.

It definitely picked up (view spoiler)[as the invasion of Kufr starts and we start switching POV. I think it was all the descriptions of the races and the surrounding geography. Very interesting and necessary stuff just not as much action. It's actually setting up to be a very enjoyable series. It doesn't feel like one of those throw away uber action type books. (hide spoiler)] I'm just about halfway done, chapter 14.

By the way Ctgt I'm thinking you were very close to right earlier when you said (view spoiler)[ that it's a retelling. It's not exactly a retelling but it has all the elements...one especially but you may not have gotten there yet so I won't mention it. (hide spoiler)]

Looks that way, Mike. I just found this interview Kearney did back in 2008

Paul Kearney SFFWorld.com interview

I think I'll read the whole interview after I finish the book.

I finished it: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

I've shelved it with my favorites.

Mike, you're finished.... already?!?

Well.... I'm on page 74.

I like it a lot and sort of burned through it. I laid it aside yesterday because I had "other stuff" going on but I read till 1:00 Sunday night (or Monday morning I guess).

No spoilers....talk when you're finished.

I couldn't sleep last night, I should have stayed up and read instead of tossing and turning all night.

No spoilers. I'll catchup.

Sorry, I should have said, I'm happy you enjoyed the book!

Yeah...I'm trying to talk myself into finishing some library books before I go on to the next and 4th in the Riyria Revelations series, LOL.

So at least for a bit I think the reading slump is over.

What a relief, lol!

Yeah, I just finished a nonfiction I liked to.

Chapter 26 (view spoiler)[The Qaf. This sequence bothered me, it probably should not have because this is a fantasy with non-human races but this changed the "feel" of the story for me. Up until this the story focused so much on the military aspects that this seemed to come from left field. Anyone else find this distracting or was it just me? (hide spoiler)]

Not too much...

(view spoiler)[ I have Corvus off the shelf and am planning to start it fairly soon. Kearny builds on this book to build the next 2. It looks like he's taken Greco-Macedonian history, re-imagined it in this fantasy world and told the story. (hide spoiler)]

What's everyone else think of it?

I really enjoyed it, is everyone finished?

I'm not finished yet, I'm about 40% done. I'm reading it on my Kindle. Going to read the earlier posts.

Ctgt wrote: "Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I'm a fan so far...of course lots of blood, sweat and stink, but well written.

Has anyone looked up "pasang" yet? The only place I can find it is as a measure of distanc..."

I think that's one of the reasons it's taking me so long to read this. A lot of the words and the names of the characters are hard for me to read. I'm constantly having to stop and reread sometimes, which makes things a little confusing at times.

Ctgt wrote: "The action seemed to slow for a couple of chapters but has picked up again. He is doing a fair amount of cultural world building so I guess that is to be expected."

Not sure it's my kind of world yet. You and Mike read faster then me. : )

I pretty much burned through it once I started.

I'm still reading, I'm 62% done. I'm sorry to say is just not holding my interest.

Sorry to hear that, Eileen. I really enjoyed it. What don't you like?

I think simply, I'm just a little confused on what's going on in the story.

My kindle is at home and I know I have some notes on it, so over the weekend we can toss some questions back and forth?