Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Hi, well, um, I introduced myself yesterday in the General Discussion thread, so, ah I'll try not to repeat anything form there.

I am Terri. Australian.
I love coffee, cooking, hiking in the bush, birdwatching, botany, my vege garden, Goodreads, LIFE, history, books (der) and lots and lots of other stuff.


I read mostly non fiction and it is interspersed with, oh, maybe 20% fiction these days. although in saying that I have dedicated the month of October to finishing some fiction series' that I have been meaning to get to for aagggges, and then I am dedicating November to revisiting the crime and thriller genre, which I used to love and haven't touched on for about 12 months.

I think that's about all. Look forward to chatting to everyone.

Hello,
My name is Dawn and I live in B.C, Canada.
I have several small addictions that include buying books, getting tattoos and planning vacations.
My bookshelves are mostly filled with fantasy/sci-fi and in the interest of expanding my horizions I have started reading some Bernard Cornwell mostly because I love Richard Sharpe, how much that has to do with Sean Bean I'm not sure.
I love coffee with friends, reality TV, the symphony & opera, crocheting, traveling and obviously reading.
'Tis but a small part of me but in the interest of not sharing too much.........

Hi Dawn, nice to meet you. :)
Cornwell is my favourite author, but I am yet to read a Sharpe novel. My interest in Cornwell's books has been in his British history novels. (Saxon series, Grail series, Warlord Series, Stonehenge).

Hi Terri,
I have also never read a Sharpe novel. It's just from the TV show that I know it but it did get me to Cornwell and so far my favorite book is Azincourt. I'm halfway through the Saxon series and I will read Sharpe eventually.

And what do you make of the Saxon Series? It is my favourite series of ALL time. Uhtred is one cool drink of water. :)
Death Of Kings is my next read. (as soon as I am finished Empire of Silver by Iggulden).

I was just reading through the discussions and noticed it was your favorite.
I love Uhtred, he's my kind of hero. He does things his way and won't change for anyone. Don't think I'd want to meet him in real life but he's great in a book.
Now I'm gonna have to go find the next book.........

haha. :) He's my kind of hero too. Ruthless as all Hell and, as with you, not one I'd want to meet unless he was on my side. And his arrogance may be grating in real life. In a book, his arrogance is why I love this series so much.

Which one are you up to?

I only finished the first two so far, I think I started Lords of the North but got sidetracked, which is not unusual for me. Could be I have too many books on the go at once...
Have you read C.S Forester? Another one where I love the TV show but I haven't tried the books, yet.

I have to admit, nope, I have never read a C.S Forester. I hate being confined to ships. lol. I feel restricted. I tried my sea legs recently with a non fiction; The Discovery of Jeanne Baret: A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe.
Being confined to quarters bored me to death.


I think you'll find a slightly different Uhtred in The Burning Land. A softer more lovable Uhtred. Not that I like my Vikings soft and loveable. It's just that he has always been a bit cold and in The Burning Land he shows a gentler side with the ladies. It takes a little of the hard edge off his cold steel.

Hallo. My name is Tim and I'm 40 years old, live in Moira (Ireland) where I'm married with 3 young daughters.
I'm a huge fan of Historical Fiction, particularly the Roman, Medieval and Viking periods. Favourite writers: Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow, Douglas Jackson, Conn Iggulden and Robert Low. I also like some of the new independent writers, particularly S.J.A. Turney and Gordon Doherty.
I've tried my hand at writing a (hopefully) kick ass medieval book myself, but don't worry I won't spam about it. I'm excited to find this group as it looks like people here are all talking about the sort of books I love to read.

Finally! Someone else who has heard of Robert Low (and claims him as one of his faves). He is one of my faves too. Well at least his Oathsworn Series is, I have not read his new Robert the Bruce book.
Hi Tim!

Glad to have you join us Dawn and Tim! Welcome to the group >8)

ib.

Well hello group. Nice to meet you Dawn and Tim. I am on my Nook. Ireney, I pushed the flag button instead of reply. Immediately the whistles blew. I sent them a response in that little box that said 'explain' saying I hit the wrong button, do not blame it on the group, entirely my fault ... how do I send the explanation? There is no send button. Hi, my name is Linda, I am a member, but I probably should be a silent member. Love Cornwell, Iggulden, Uris, P. Cornwell, Wouk and many more. Tim, I hope to add your name to that list one day.

Thanks everyone for the kind welcome.
@Terri: I just started reading Robert Low's first Bruce book. Its a bit of a culture shock as he has written the dialogue in authentic scots, but once you get used to it its a fantastic read and just as good as the viking books

Oh that's weird (the authentic Scots)...I usually hate when authors do that. Hope I can get used to it when i read it.
My library has three copies of The Lion Wakes on order (for purchase) and I have been sitting first in the reserves line for a number of weeks. :)
When it finally comes in, I shall be straight into it.

p.s I was just looking at your book, Lions of the Grail. It is going on my tbr. :) I might be able to talk my library into buying it next year so I can read it. They are pretty good with fiction purchase requests.

Dawn wrote: "Hi Terri,
I have also never read a Sharpe novel. It's just from the TV show that I know it but it did get me to Cornwell and so far my favorite book is Azincourt. I'm halfway through the Saxon seri..."

I liked Agincourt too. Have you read CRACKDOWN? Not my favorite but still a good read. I'm ready to start a Cornwell series. Hard to choose which. You have so many interests. LL

Hi Linda,
I haven't read Crackdown, I have so many other Cornwell books to read.....as well as the 550 other books on my to-read list! I think I need another vacation to get some more reading done...........

Hi, my name is Michelle. I'm a nurse, and I live in Upstate NY. I'll be honest, I don't know much ancient and medieval historical fiction, but I'm always looking to expand my reading horizons. I saw Shogun listed in on the group's homepage, and that's one that I am familiar with. I'm looking forward to seeing what books, authors, and series that everyone here really enjoys so that I can give those books a try.

Welcome Michelle. :) You have a great genre in front of you to discover.

Terri wrote: "Oh that's weird (the authentic Scots)...I usually hate when authors do that. Hope I can get used to it when i read it.
My library has three copies of The Lion Wakes on order (for purchase) and I ha..."

Libraries are a great and sadly endangered institution, certainly in the british isles anyway. Thanks for the interest in my book @Terri. To tie two threads together, Robert Low kindly wrote a review of Lions of the Grail on the Historical Writers association website: http://www.thehwa.co.uk/forum/index.p...

Sorry if this is "spam", I was just really chuffed about it.
Tim

:) I wouldn't call that spam, mate

I look forward to reading the review tomorrow (about to hit the snooze button on my brain right now).

Howdy. My name is Craig, I enjoy anything well written, but for fiction I usually prefer something historical. Mary Rennault, Patrick O'Brian, George McDonald Fraser, and Steven Pressfield are favorites of mine. The period isn't very important, so long as it is reasonably accurate in terms of the historical record and it's a good story told well.

Welcome to the group Michelle and Craig!

ib.

Howdy to you too. My name is Linda. Ireney has welcomed you to the group. He is a good friend. "Howdy"--are you a cowboy ? From the southwest? It is a nice eay to say "hello" no matter where you are from.

No Linda, I'm not a cowboy, although Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy will probably be forever three of my favorite books. I did grow up in rural surroundings though and tend to be informal by nature, sometimes too much so. But thank you for the warm welcome, and thank you as well Ireney. It's nice to meet you both.

welcome craig. I recently got slagged off for liking george macdonald fraser. I didnt care though. Does anyone else recommend patrick o'brian? Ive heard his name a lot recently but havent read his stuff.

Hi Craig. Welcome. :) Hope to see you around the threads.

Tim,
I haven't read any O'Brian. I suppose I should check him out.

Well Tim, anyone who criticizes your tastes merely because yours is not in agreement with theirs isn't worth listening to anyway. Fraser was an awesome writer even if his Flashman character was such a vile individual. Thank you for the welcome.

And thank you also Terri. I love O'Brian's prose and, like Fraser really, he writes better than just about anyone else in fiction today, historical or otherwise. That's just my opinion of course and I don't mean it to sound as if it's written in stone.

Hello, folks,

I'm the author of thirty two books set in the fourteenth century called The Templar Series (which was cleverly named by a publicist to conceal the fact it's got nothing to do with Templars).

Still, I've been writing the series for seventeen years now, with Headline and more recently Simon & Schuster. Over the years I've been fortunate enough to enjoy researching my favourite period - the terrible period of war, famine and plague from 1300 to 1350. My books are firmly rooted in the period, and the scenes I use come from the court records and coroners' rolls. Most of the books have been set in Devon, and particularly the area about Dartmoor, although more recent stories have moved away to deal with the end of Edward II's reign.

My own tastes run to the accurate and reliable rather than the incredible.George MacDonald Fraser, Patrick O'Brien, Simon Scarrow, and all those others you all know who perform meticulous research. I always think that the facts shouldn't get in the way of a good story, but I prefer to ensure that no one is left confused as to the truth of the period. It's fascinating enough without elaboration.

So, since I'm always very grumpy when I get spammed, I won't be irritating anyone with extensive summaries of my books. Suffice it to say, if you want to look at my work, it's all here on Goodreads and on my website. Google will find me.

However, I'm always fascinated by what other readers reckon about historical work, so I look forward to reading your comments and hopefully engaging in discussions with some of you.

And for those who're interested, I live in North Dartmoor, with my family and two dogs. Not a Tatra, but a Rhodesian Ridgeback and a Bernese Mountain Dog. They're big enough for me. Oh, and I have about 6,000 books here too. Most based on history or archeology, although there are plenty of crime books too, since I used to be Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association.

All best

Lovely to meet you Michael.
A ridgeback hey? I don't know the Mountain Dog, but I am familiar with the Ridgeback. Beautiful dogs when bred well.

I know this is probably not the place to ask...but curiosity has got the better of me..Why Templar Series and yet no Templar theme? Was there a Templar theme in the first and then nevermore?

The idea was a book (one only) based on the end of the Templars, but then it grew into a crime book where a renegade Templar (thousands survived the persecution) returned to his old stomping ground. I liked him so much, I developed the series around him as a Keeper of the King's Peace, which was an early policing job, hunting down felons from hundred to hundred, shire to shire - as it stated in their annual warrants. So the series developed around a Templar, which meant that when Harper Collins decided to sell it in the US, they called it the Knights Templar Series - because Da Vinci Code had been successful. Little to do with Templars, though, which is why in the UK it was labelled as the West Country Mystery series.

Mind you, the latest book written (#32, out May 2013) is all about the end of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, with the battle for Acre. It's a prequel which goes more into the days before the end of the Templars. #33 will hopefully be the arrests and destruction of the Order, if commissioned.

Oh, and this is my Bernese: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_...

Ah yes. I know the Bernese now. Beautiful dogs too. Once I saw the photo I recognised them. And LOOK AT ALL YOUR GRASS!!! I am insanely jealous and would like grass like that here right now.

Hmm...I don't know which I like better, West Country Mystery Series or the Knights Templar Series. Probably the former (if it is no longer about Templars doing Templar things. hehe).

I am going to give your books a proper look in tomorrow. I meant to come back to them today...but...I get distracted easily when on Goodreads.
:)

Welcome to the group Michael! Glad to see a published author getting involved in the discussions >8) Feel free to create a new discussion topic dedicated to your series to let us know more about your work and kickoff a conversation.

Beautiful dogs!

ib.

Ireney wrote: "Welcome to the group Michael! Glad to see a published author getting involved in the discussions >8) Feel free to create a new discussion topic dedicated to your series to let us know more about ..."

Thanks, Ireney - will do. But busy just now, so will observe before making myself look a twit! All best and I'll stroke the old Berner for you!

Michael wrote: "Hello, folks,

I'm the author of thirty two books set in the fourteenth century called The Templar Series (which was cleverly named by a publicist to conceal the fact it's got nothing to do with Te..."

Hi Michael, nice to meet you. I've actually had The Last Templar on my to read list for a long time (I'm an archaeologist researching, among other things, Mediaeval Exeter).

I also used to live on Dartmoor (nr. Moretonhampstead) and my parents used to own a ridgeback, so the book may be bumped up the list!

I am still enraptured with some of those Templar series covers. The one for the first book is stunning.

The good news is, my library has 17 of your books Michael. The bad news is they aren't all those beautiful covers. The covers they carry are quite a licorice allsorts.

Lee wrote: "Michael wrote: "Hello, folks,

I'm the author of thirty two books set in the fourteenth century called The Templar Series (which was cleverly named by a publicist to conceal the fact it's got nothi..."

Ever felt Fate taking a hand?!

Terri wrote: "I am still enraptured with some of those Templar series covers. The one for the first book is stunning.

The good news is, my library has 17 of your books Michael. The bad news is they aren't all t..."

Are they the earlier ones, then? They got really confusing after a while - all so similar!

They have a few with the illumination covers, but most have these types of covers,

Hi folks
Really enjoy reading historical-fiction but not crazy on true historical non-fiction novels. find them a bit dry.
I am presently on the fourth novel, Sword Song, by Bernard Cornwell and am really enjoying the series. Having read other Cornwell novels, this is not a surprise.
I live in Ontario, Canada with interests besides having my nose in a book are motorcycles and skiing in the winter with my son.
I hope to participate in discussions with other members and receive other author and book ideas.

Bernie wrote: "Hi folks
Really enjoy reading historical-fiction but not crazy on true historical non-fiction novels. find them a bit dry.
I am presently on the fourth novel, Sword Song, by Bernard Cornwell [bookc..."
Hello Bernie, I am Linda. If you like Bernard Cornwell then we are in good company. I am not big on historical non-fiction unless the book is a biography. Do you use an E-Reader? I am reading James Cavell's TAI PAN right now. Ireney highly recommended it. Back to Cornwell. I've read at least two of his 'boat books' and not many of his historical fiction novels. Christmas is near and I know I'll get book gift certificates.
Conn Iggulden is my favorite author this year. Good evening .

Hi Bernie,
Welcome! You definitely have found the right group. See you around the threads I hope. :)

Linda wrote: "Bernie wrote: "Hi folks
Really enjoy reading historical-fiction but not crazy on true historical non-fiction novels. find them a bit dry.
I am presently on the fourth novel, Sword Song, by Bernard ..."

Thank You for the welcome Linda
I have just recently purchased my first ereader and love it! I am not one to run out and buy the latest in electronic gadgets, but these ereaders are sure handy. I have not read Cavell's Tai Pan but I do have it in my ereader for future interest. I usually have two novels going, historical and usually the latest novel from one of my favorite thriller/mystery authors. I just started THE LITIGATORS by Grisham.
I have not read any Iggulden books yet but I did purchase his Khan series books over the summer so I figure when I finish the Saxon series by Cornwell, I will dig into the Khan series. Sooooo many books to read with not enough time!

Terri wrote: "Hi Bernie,
Welcome! You definitely have found the right group. See you around the threads I hope. :)"

Thank you Terri
I look forward to this forum as it seems a little less "stuffy" than other forums I have joined or read about, plus I see that the moderator is Canadian, can't go wrong there ;).

Let's hear it for Canadians!!! :) And people think we're not patriotic....

Nice to meet you Bernie, I'm sure we'll discuss a few things as we are reading the same series at the moment. And you're right about this group, it's not stuffy at all.

Terri wrote: "They have a few with the illumination covers, but most have these types of covers,

[bookcover:The Bishop Must..."

Aha - they're the more recent ones, and I'm glad to see them still in the library! Hope you enjoy them.

Linda wrote: "Bernie wrote: "Hi folks
Really enjoy reading historical-fiction but not crazy on true historical non-fiction novels. find them a bit dry.
I am presently on the fourth novel, Sword Song, by Bernard ..."

Any James Clavell book is good, from his first, King Rat set in WWII, to the early stories like Tai-Pan and Shogun. An excellent writer. Another you may like is John Masters with Night Runners of Bengal and The Deceivers, with histories of India. Superbly well-written.

Michael wrote: "Linda wrote: "Bernie wrote: "Hi folks
Really enjoy reading historical-fiction but not crazy on true historical non-fiction novels. find them a bit dry.
I am presently on the fourth novel, Sword Son..."

Thank you for titles and authors. India and her neighbors make for fascinating reads, especially in tbe United States today.

Welcome to group Bernie! If you are a Cornwell fan, you are in good hands ... I'm sure Terri posted something about Uhtred in every thread of this discussion forum, but don't quote me on it ...

I have to second Michael on his comment about James Clavell. All of his novels are great. I am yet to read the final volume of his asian saga, Whirlwind, but it is just a matter of time. Still, Tai-Pan is my favorite, closely followed by Shogun and Noble House.

ib.

Ireney wrote: "Welcome to group Bernie! If you are a Cornwell fan, you are in good hands ... I'm pretty sure Terri posted something about Uhtred in every thread of this discussion forum ...

I have to second Mic..."

I am enjoying TAI-PAN. Thank you very much Ireney. When I finish, I want to read Michael Jeck's first book of THE TEMPLAR series. He recommended two books about India to me. Seems that everyone in the group is reading interesting books and helping each other to find other books of special interest. Thanks to everyone!