En garde!

Calenorn · 10-04-2016, 07:27 AM

I'm hunting for the best sword fights in literature. Not the best story, necessarily, but the best blow-by-blow descriptions of the duel itself. Thrust - parry - riposte - lunge; that sort of thing.

Any ideas for me?

Pulpmeister · 10-04-2016, 08:46 AM

Rafael Sabatini is a start. He was a conscientious researcher and knew his stuff. Several of his books have sword duels. i haven't read "Scaramouche" lately, which has a French revolution setting, but I recall that "Scaramouche" himself became a fencing master.

"The Lion's Skin" has a sword duel as a key element.

Calenorn · 10-04-2016, 12:05 PM

Thanks, PM!

Sabatini certainly does know his stuff! A skilled writer, as well; he keeps me turning the pages.

I will advance The Lion's Skin to the top of TBR!

JSWolf · 10-05-2016, 03:04 PM

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

rkomar · 10-05-2016, 03:19 PM

It's been a long time since I read it, but "Perchance to Dream" by Mack Reynolds (scifi) had some sword fighting scenes in it. I can't remember if they were accurate though, but they were important to the story. The sword fighting was done using Roman short swords, and was about battle sword work rather than fencing. Like I said, I can't remember if the descriptions are detailed or not, but it may be worth checking out to see if they are.

DiapDealer · 10-05-2016, 06:50 PM

KJ Parker's "Fencer Trilogy". Parker's writing is not everyone's cup of tea, but his knowledge of fencing, sword/armor-making, and the engineering of medieval warfare in general is quite extensive. He also has a standalone novel called Sharps that is centered around fencing.

Paul Edwin Zimmer (Marion Zimmer Bradley's brother) wrote the "Dark Border" fantasy duology (there were some other books tacked on as after thoughts later, but I don't really include them). Zimmer was a swordmaster himself, and the sword fights in those two books were some of the most memorable I've ever read.

Apache · 10-06-2016, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Paul Edwin Zimmer (Marion Zimmer Bradley's brother) wrote the "Dark Border" fantasy duology (there were some other books tacked on as after thoughts later, but I don't really include them). Zimmer was a swordmaster himself, and the sword fights in those two books were some of the most memorable I've ever read.

He and his sister also wrote the Hunters of the Red Moon and it's sequel The Survivors. They are science fiction and the hero is a master of the katana.

There is also the four book series Kensho. It is science fiction too. I do not think it is available as ebooks though.
Wayfarer
Kensho
Satori
The Wanderer

Apache

Calenorn · 10-06-2016, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Thanks, JSW. I'm due to re-read Three Musketeers. Wish it had a better ending.

Calenorn · 10-06-2016, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkomar

It's been a long time since I read it, but "Perchance to Dream" by Mack Reynolds (scifi) had some sword fighting scenes in it. I can't remember if they were accurate though, but they were important to the story. The sword fighting was done using Roman short swords, and was about battle sword work rather than fencing. Like I said, I can't remember if the descriptions are detailed or not, but it may be worth checking out to see if they are.

Looks waaaaaaay out of print, but I'll put it on my radar! Thanks!

pwalker8 · 10-06-2016, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

He and his sister also wrote the Hunters of the Red Moon and it's sequel The Survivors. They are science fiction and the hero is a master of the katana.

There is also the four book series Kensho. It is science fiction too. I do not think it is available as ebooks though.
Wayfarer
Kensho
Satori
The Wanderer

Apache

I have all those in paper, but unfortunately, I don't think any are available in ebook. Paul Zimmer died back in 97. I'm not sure what happened to Dennis Schmidt, author of the Kensho series. The Hunters of the Red Moon and the Survivors is available as an ebook. While I really enjoyed the series, it's pretty obscure and hard to find now. Both series seem to be orphaned.

hildea · 10-06-2016, 02:30 PM

Ellen Kushner's Riverside books -- "Swordspoint" and "The Priviledge of the Sword".

Apache · 10-06-2016, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I have all those in paper, but unfortunately, I don't think any are available in ebook. Paul Zimmer died back in 97. I'm not sure what happened to Dennis Schmidt, author of the Kensho series. The Hunters of the Red Moon and the Survivors is available as an ebook. While I really enjoyed the series, it's pretty obscure and hard to find now. Both series seem to be orphaned.

Yes they are. I have all of them in paper and they are well worn. If they were available in ebook, like Hunter's of the Red Moon and Survivor, I would buy them.
Apache

Calenorn · 10-07-2016, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hildea

Ellen Kushner's Riverside books -- "Swordspoint" and "The Priviledge of the Sword".

Ooh! This might be just the thing!

Many thanks!

pwalker8 · 10-07-2016, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

Yes they are. I have all of them in paper and they are well worn. If they were available in ebook, like Hunter's of the Red Moon and Survivor, I would buy them.
Apache

Same here.

Angst · 10-13-2016, 02:52 PM

I second KJ Parker.
Also The Greatcoats sieries by Sebastien de Castell

10-04-2016, 07:27 AM	#1
Calenorn Brash Fumbler Posts: 1,203 Karma: 9224939 Join Date: May 2013 Device: NST, Kobo Mini	En garde! I'm hunting for the best sword fights in literature. Not the best story, necessarily, but the best blow-by-blow descriptions of the duel itself. Thrust - parry - riposte - lunge; that sort of thing. Any ideas for me?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Free (Kindle/Nook) Once a Princess: Sasharia en Garde! book 1. by Sherwood Smith	arcadata	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	2	09-01-2011 07:53 AM
Sell Leather Avant-Garde Kindle Case	phoenixfire1965	Flea Market	0	12-29-2008 12:35 PM

10-04-2016, 08:46 AM	#2
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,822 Karma: 29145056 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	Rafael Sabatini is a start. He was a conscientious researcher and knew his stuff. Several of his books have sword duels. i haven't read "Scaramouche" lately, which has a French revolution setting, but I recall that "Scaramouche" himself became a fencing master. "The Lion's Skin" has a sword duel as a key element.

10-04-2016, 12:05 PM	#3
Calenorn Brash Fumbler Posts: 1,203 Karma: 9224939 Join Date: May 2013 Device: NST, Kobo Mini	Thanks, PM! Sabatini certainly does know his stuff! A skilled writer, as well; he keeps me turning the pages. I will advance The Lion's Skin to the top of TBR!

10-05-2016, 03:04 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,740 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

10-05-2016, 03:19 PM	#5
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,054 Karma: 18821071 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	It's been a long time since I read it, but "Perchance to Dream" by Mack Reynolds (scifi) had some sword fighting scenes in it. I can't remember if they were accurate though, but they were important to the story. The sword fighting was done using Roman short swords, and was about battle sword work rather than fencing. Like I said, I can't remember if the descriptions are detailed or not, but it may be worth checking out to see if they are.

10-05-2016, 06:50 PM	#6
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,568 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	KJ Parker's "Fencer Trilogy". Parker's writing is not everyone's cup of tea, but his knowledge of fencing, sword/armor-making, and the engineering of medieval warfare in general is quite extensive. He also has a standalone novel called Sharps that is centered around fencing. Paul Edwin Zimmer (Marion Zimmer Bradley's brother) wrote the "Dark Border" fantasy duology (there were some other books tacked on as after thoughts later, but I don't really include them). Zimmer was a swordmaster himself, and the sword fights in those two books were some of the most memorable I've ever read.

10-06-2016, 02:30 PM	#11
hildea Wizard Posts: 1,315 Karma: 67561852 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Norway Device: PocketBook Touch Lux (had Onyx Boox Poke 3 and BeBook Neo earlier)	Ellen Kushner's Riverside books -- "Swordspoint" and "The Priviledge of the Sword".

10-13-2016, 02:52 PM	#15
Angst Cannon Fodder Posts: 2,878 Karma: 52253556 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Probably a library Device: PRS-350, Kindle DX, Kindle Paperwhite	I second KJ Parker. Also The Greatcoats sieries by Sebastien de Castell

Advert

Advert