Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Please make book nominations for the May group read poll with the swashbuckling theme. Please post a link to the book on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, since it's easier to pick out what book you're actually nominating. click on add book/author above the text box, and it will allow you to add the book to your post.

The poll will go up on April 7th.

I know we tend to be very forgiving when we include books in the genre, but could we get a guiding statement as to what is meant by swashbuckling stories (it's a given that they will involve sword play, and likely pirates or horses or both). What are we talkin about here?

Why don't you post one, Hugh.

Okay... Heading to Wiki...

Better than Wiki...here are some samples from the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Swashbuckler Shelf!

http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/s...

And, I'll throw the first one out The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard by Arthur Conan Doyle.

And here is yet another bit of guidence from the web, from nobody important.

A true-blue swashbuckler takes place in the good old days when gentlemen proved their honor at the tips of their swords. All you needed was a steady blade, a fine set of mustachios, and a devastating effect on the ladies to be a genuine swashbuckler. Bravery, romance, justice and revenge were the order of the day. Soldiers, swordsmen, and spies vied for riches, glory, and fame. These are the original adventure stories, action-packed all the way. There’s often a sense of humor to a swashbuckler, a tongue-in-cheek tone combined with a narrative tendency to cheerfully fling heroes into all sorts of messes and scrapes and expect them to emerge ready for more. No one actually swashes a buckle in a these books (the definition of a swashbuckler is “a swaggering or daring soldier or adventurer�), but still, we’re talking about champions rescuing damsels in distress with astonishing acts of derring-do—in other words, real high adventure stuff. Whether the tone is as light the feather in a soldier’s hat or as dark as a sweeping black cape in the night, when it comes to reading about these dashing young men and their thrilling adventures, we just can’t get enough.

It's not my words, but boy, it would be nice if it were huh?

That's a very helpful explanation, Hugh. Thanks!

Curmudgeon wrote: "Whether the tone is as light the feather in a soldier’s hat or as dark as a sweeping black cape in the night, when it comes to reading about these dashing young men and their thrilling adventures, we just can’t get enough."

For "nobody important" they seem to write really well...! :)

p.s. a bit of useless info: some sources cite that "swash" comes from an olde-tongue word used to describe the sound of a sword being struck against a shield... No such insights on "buckle" other than for keeping your trousers (pants) up...

Buckle is is refering to a "Buckler" which would small shield held in the off hand.

Well I'll name On Stranger Tides but I'm not sure if it's what we're looking at here now that Hugh's come up with that definition. Um if you exclude that one I name The Princess Bride. But otherwise it's On Stranger Tides and someone else can nominate one.

I would like to nominate Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero by Dan Abnett. I have never read it, but sounds like a lot of fun!

Wow, Lisa, that one does sound fun! Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero.

Johnathan, On Stranger Tides sounds great too, you know I'm a Tim Powers fan from way back (too far back). The Princess Bride has a lot of support as an old favorite I think.

I'll add Ramage by Dudley Pope. If I'm allowed two.

I didn't see where anyone recommended "The Three Musketeers" also Captain Alatriste (Adventures of Captain Alatriste #1
by Arturo Pérez-Reverte this book is set in Spain. I got a little bored with lack of action, story told by a young boy taken in by the Captain. I also read the second one so maybe it wasn't so bad. It's been too long! is the Scatlett Pimpernel on GoodReads list the one the old Danny Kaye movie is based on? (Get it? Got it? Good!). I don't care. I won't be participating in "The Gray Man" discussion this month. It was the one I said got a little too grossly violent for me. Or really just gross. I have read a couple of the books, but not soon enough to participate. Such is my life lately. Getting better really recently.

I just read about Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero. that really sounds interesting.

Marge, thos all look good. And I thought the Scarlet Pimpernel stared a young Burt Lancaster?

I haven't heard of Captain Alatriste before. It sounds interesting too.

And The Scarlet Pimpernel (well the movie based on this book) is one of my mother's favorite movies. (along with "We're No Angels" staring Peter Ustinov (SP) and Humphry Bogart.)

Just to make it easier to read people's suggestions, can you please post a link for the book title? I appreciate it.

Just click on the add book/author tab about the comment box, and it will allow you to post the link.

"Swash Buckler" in general refers to "swash top boots" and the buckles for sword bandoleer or belt.

Nominating one of my all time favorites:

Scaramouche

Sabatini is seen classics of swashbucklers, adventure novels. I will definitely vote for a book by him before weird pirate adventure by Tim Powers.

Wow, we should get a list going. THere are a lot of good recommendations here. (I have a feeling that my TBR (which I had been working down some) is going to over flow again.

Mohammed is right about Sabatini...but I won't muddy the water right now with other titles. For some reason Scaramouche is a special favorite. I read it first back in '74 I think.

Mohammed wrote: "Sabatini is seen classics of swashbucklers, adventure novels. I will definitely vote for a book by him before weird pirate adventure by Tim Powers."

Hey don't be judgemental about the weird pirate adventure of Tim Powers.... *draws cutlass - on piece of paper and gets a nasty papercut *

That's the good thing about group nominations it opens up so many different genres and books we may not read otherwise.

I agree with Jonathan. As far as not wanting to read a book that's nominated, no skin....Just don't vote for it. If there are others that want to read it enough that it gets voted for, then that speaks for itself.

The good thing about group reads is it gives us a nudge to read books we might have passed by before. Or not.

Mohammed was just being humorous... lets all laugh and vote for the book we like. Really. :D see big smile enjoy!!!!

I quite enjoy the variety of nominations...the more books the better. This is one of the reasons my "to read" pile is so large.

Jonathan wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Sabatini is seen classics of swashbucklers, adventure novels. I will definitely vote for a book by him before weird pirate adventure by Tim Powers."

Hey don't be judgemental abou..."

On Stranger Tides is among my fav books. Tim Powers is in my top 10 fav SFF authors. I just meant i rather read something swashbuckling without supernatural element. Its awesome book but it has supernatural horror elements with undead,vodoo. I would vote for swashbuckler without supernatural elmenet myself.

On Stranger Tides is sounding better and better to me. I was thinking of dusting off The Drawing of the Dark. The main character there is sort of a buckler of the swash.

Curmudgeon wrote: "On Stranger Tides is sounding better and better to me. I was thinking of dusting off The Drawing of the Dark. The main character there is sort of a buckler of the swash."

Drawing of the Dark is what i thought when i saw Powers mentioned in his thread. Brian Duffy is very fine swashbuckler type hero. Story set in the Turkish seige of Vienna. That is my fav Powers novel that i will re-read many times.

Early Powers was awesome.

I like Drawing of the Dark, read it many years ago... But I love Scaramouche, so....I'm staying with Scaramouche.

i thought On Stranger Tides was pretty enjoyable (although as far as Tim Powers goes, my favorite is still the non-swashbuckling Declare). hard to believe how completely it was changed (i.e. destroyed) by the movie translation.

but Sabatini... been a while since i've read (and loved) him and for some reason i've never read his classic Scaramouche. plus it's a free download!

Mohammed wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Sabatini is seen classics of swashbucklers, adventure novels. I will definitely vote for a book by him before weird pirate adventure by Tim Powers."

Hey don't be..."

Haha I was being humorous too I recognised the vein of humour. Either way Scaramouche sounds a pretty awesome read as well and I will have to definitely add a few books to my too read list from this as Hugh said.

mark wrote: "i thought On Stranger Tides was pretty enjoyable (although as far as Tim Powers goes, my favorite is still the non-swashbuckling Declare). hard to believe how completely it was changed..."

Mark, I loved Declare. I didn't know there was a movie version of that. Declare was a great read. It's non-swashbuckling, but it was good. I started with an audio book but it sounded so good I bought the kindle version so I could read it myself. I think I quoted a scene from Mount Ararat on my review. Power's has a way with words.

oops, meant On Stranger Tides (the 4th Pirates of the Caribean film?)... although a movie version of Declare could be interesting. if only!

i'm really looking forward to reading Powers' Hide Me Among the Graves: A Novel.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I like Drawing of the Dark, read it many years ago... But I love Scaramouche, so....I'm staying with Scaramouche."

Im with you on that Sabatini book. Easy choice for me who have read all the Powers books mentioned in this thread. I don't re-read books unless i have forgotten them compeletly.

how about Captain Blood by Sabatini

Scaramouche, Scarmouche Will you do the fandango!


(sorry, my Inner queen kicked off.

Today is the last day for book nominations, so get yours in, if you so desire.

Did I nominate Scaramouche? Yeah I guess I did.

Hey Mike...what was the name of that book you wanted to nominate? :)

Oh I'm sorry, didn't I say? It was Scaramouche yes that was it, Scaramouche..... Did I say that clearly enough???? It was Scaramouche, yeah that's it, Scaramouche.

Again that was Scaramouche .

:)

LOL...not sure we got that, Mike.

LOL!

I just wanted to be clear...do you need the name of the book?????

it was something by Sabatini, i think? it's on the tip of my tongue but it's just not coming to me. was it Captain Blood? Mike, can you help me figure this out?

Of course, always willing to help it was, Scaramouche. I may have mentioned it a time...or two.

I'm sorry, I haven't been following things...what book did you recommend Mike?

I fully agree I don't think Mike nominated any book that I can see...

I nominate King's Gold a Captain Alatriste book by Arturo Perèz-Reverte.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35...

Modern take on swashbuckler and the spanish,latin style makes it interesting. Just to give people more choices to vote for if they dont want classic adventure.

I'm sorry I didn't mean to be so thoughtless Jonathan, how about I nominate....humm, let's see....maybe...uhhh... Oh, I know, Scaramouche. Yeah that's a good one.