Harlequin by Bernard Cornwell

I'm reading this book at the moment. It's about an English archer in the 14th century. He's armed with the most powerful hand weapon of the time; the longbow. Basically so far it's involved a fair amount of looting and pillaging by both French and English including the hero. I'll review the book properly when I've finished it.

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

Hey Vkm, tell me what you think about the book once youve read it. Ive been wanting to get this one out of recommendations, and it does sound likegood old fun.  Any other things youve read from Cornwell?

 

Regards,

Mike

 

 

 

Kaelay, yes, i've been reading the Dune books. There's 6 Frank Herbert senior wrote:

Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapter: House Dune. After those, Herbert's son decided to give it a try and, according to Mr. Thunderhead and several other reviews I've heard, managed to make a total mess out of the series.

I've only read up to the 4th book from the original series. Hoping I'll have some time to read the last two one of these days (after i finish reading all the mess I have yet to get through)

 

As for some books Mr. Mike forgot to mention along the rpg genere that I believe are good wholesome fun:

Dhampyr: Half Damned, Heresies of the Way, Blood and Silk (from Kindred of the East)

War in Concordia, Inanimae, Fool's Luck (from Changeling)

Heard Call of Cthuhulu (the old edition, not the d20 one) is also good, gonna try and pick it up one of these days...

I finished the book today, Harlequin by Bernard Cornwell. It was pretty good and quite informative of how warfare was fought back at the start of the Hundred Years War. The book shows how a lot of the fighting was done and how the English and Welsh archers were so effective in massed numbers, being able to loose half a dozen arrows before the crossbowmen could fire two volleys.

The plot is okay though not brilliant. The book is based like most of Cornwell's Sharpe series in history and almost all the engagements in the book happened. The book reaches a climax at the Battle of Crecy where the English, who have torched their way through France, face a French force over twice their size. It's great learning about the time and if you're a fan of Bernard Cornwell the book is definitely worth getting. If you're not get it anyway and find out why the longbow was the most feared weapon of it's time.

@ Mike, I have read all of  Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, except the latest one; Sharpe's Escape which I just started today. I really like Sharpe as it's very informative of the warfare of that time, without it I would never have learnt how to load a Baker rifle . I like Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Waterloo best and of course it's good seeing the French having their ****s kicked.

 

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

Yeah, He does have a nice hand for writting period stories and warfare quite nicely. But sometimes the main human  stories can drag around pretty unimpressively.

Thats why I asked.

But still, Ill give it a try. I know the portrait of the places and times he gives out in his books are pretty top notch, but for that I  can read many other things, I for once would love to read an enthralling story with a novel. Ill see how it turns out.

Any favorites from the sharpe Series?

Rifles and Fortress, I liked.

How bout you?

Regards,

Mike 

I liked Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Waterloo both had plenty of action in it and a fairly good storyline. Sharpe's Rifles was also pretty good, I enjoyed the fight Sharpe had with Harper. Sharpe's Fortress I should read again sometime, I know it takes place in India but I can't remember too much about it.

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

Cool beanz.

Any other books youve read lately? or any new things youve thought of picking up? (or old ones if thats the case)

 

Regards,

Mike

Not just yet, though I'm almost done with a book mom asked me to read, and the next thing on the list right now is a book i got that has a few lovecraft stories, "The best of HP Lovecraft" by Ballantine Books / DelRey should prove nice i think *nods*

 

My mom once lovingly and without missing the beat called me ¨A freaking idiot¨. She didnt even noticed she did, implicitly in the line she said, and it was only like.. 10 minutes after, when i was smiling at the motherly counsel she gave me when i said: Waiit a moment.. She called me a freaking idiot!

Speaking of nightmarish psychologial kicks in the ego, Try out some of the ¨other¨ Lovecraftian writters. Some of them rock the boat, but i cant remember any of the names (I read their stuff a long time ago, sorry). But check it out. Some of them are par to the old cooge himself in freaky surreal terror.

Theres always ¨Harry potter:The unmentionable evil that lurks in the children´s eye and naws at the sanity of the human unconscious¨ as an option.

Right now, im in a hunt for the many books of The Great magician. Ive only recently met with his rich work, and we will have a most favored long affair.

Regards,

Mike

 

 

Well due to your ravings about Bernard Cromwell I picked up a copy of Sharpe's Devil and am reading it. So far (1st chapter) it is pretty good. I just might have to read others from this series.  Thanks guys.

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H-here, b-bunny, bunny, bunny...

Like i already stated, i've already read harry potter... the first 2 books, anyway, and find it quite bland. I agree its a good book for kids, but thats about it... i fail to see anything really deep or interesting in the books, so they're a decent read when and only when there's nothing else at hand to read... nothing at all... as in "no magazzines, no game manuals, no school books, no writings on the wall... nothing "

Jwm?

You sir, have been served.

*bows*

 

And Archer-lad?

¨Harry potter:The unmentionable evil that lurks in the children´s eye and naws at the sanity of the human unconscious¨ is not real. Repeat with me.  Non existant. I dont read Potter either, but i can understand how it is magistrally done to suit the needs of the many, and for that, it is a great book. 

Id rather have a lot of people start reading  because of a Book that doesnt suit my personal taste, then disregard and trample it because of our lack of contextual Simils. (And not only kids, this digestable-writting thing that bloomed in the last years makes adults read too, and that is good for everyone.)

 

I just went and bought myself a babies craddle full of books by the way.

I`ll Review as I read.

 

Regards,

Mike

I think Sharpe's Devil is the last book in the series, at least in chronological order. The first book in chronological order is, I believe, Sharpe's Tiger set in the 1790s in India.

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

A great book?

 

Well, the word i'd use is not "great" for the harry potter series, for a great book would mean that the book itself is so good that it actually won awards that are worthwhile and critics everywhere praise it. Now, for HP, i'd say the books are "correctly written" for the designated market. That is true. It MAKES the book good in the minds of those who are within the desired segment, but other than that, its just a simple book...

 

Same way as starwars or startrek... just because they've gone and gotten millions, made movies, sold stuff and what not doesnt mean they are great, just means they are correctly directed toward the desired public and that public enjoyed it

 

I think...

 

hehe

Yeah from what I have read so far it does appear to be at the end of Sharpe's career. I should probably not have started at the end but it is what I picked up at the Library.

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H-here, b-bunny, bunny, bunny...