The book (part 2): Need some help

Bob The Mercenary · 07-11-2004, 10:12 PM

Sorry I haven't been responding to anything these past few weeks. I've been on vacation for two weeks and am going away for another two weeks on Thursday. Plus I've spent a lot of time helping out Paragon Radio so I feel like I've neglected the "family" here at NP.

I need to know the names of a few books that have well-written sword fighting scenes in them. I don't care if it's fantasy fighting with broadswords or lightsabers, I just need to take a glance at a few so I have something to emulate, and mix with my own style. I'm getting down to the nitty gritty right now and I've been reading a lot lately to "train" for my task ahead.

Fifthfiend · 07-12-2004, 01:26 AM

Offhand, I'd say Night Watch by Terry Pratchett, which has a surprisingly gritty and compelling portrayal of street-level combat. Swordfighting, knifefighting, brokenbottle fighting ironknucklesandblackjackfighting, you name it.

Not a book, but I'd also recommend watching Gangs of New York for a compelling look at the warrior mentality, as well as another well-depicted example of combat shorn of the bombast and balletic pretense of most storytelling, boiled down to the simple essence of desperate men with weapons having to kill or be killed.

Dona Maria · 07-12-2004, 01:38 AM

I think eventually someone will point you to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, but I beat them to it! The guy is all about detail (annoyingly so at times) so whatever your "task" is, maybe you can get some shiz from that. Also, I'd say Enchanter's Endgame by David Eddings. The final sword fight between a god and a demi-god (yeah, i do like that term) is compelling.

Mashirosen · 07-12-2004, 07:28 AM

The thing is, though, basing your swordfights off other writers' swordfights is kind of like trying to paint a portrait of someone with a photocopy of a photocopy of a Polaroid of the person. :\ You're probably not going for brute realism with your writing, but nonetheless, it's better to go by your own experiences -- whether they come from reading a lot of non-fiction books about fencing, sitting in on a boffer weapon LARP session, or even strapping on some safety goggles and getting a few friends to swing at eachother with sticks -- than by a secondhand version of someone else's.

I could go off on a whole tangent about the truth of "writing what you know" and the value of non-fictional research, but you probably don't want to hear that, either. :)

Thaumaturge · 07-12-2004, 07:45 AM

I second Mashirosen's post.

If you want to write about quick, light weapon fighting (such as rapiers or energy blades) go watch some fencing. Better yet, learn some fencing. Take it from me, even if it doesn't help with the writing, fencing is great fun!

For heavyier weapons (anything from longswords up to greatswords) I would second Mashirosen's suggestion about getting some friends, some protective gear, and some large (but not too large) sticks. Then attack each other, and watch what happens.

Bob The Mercenary · 07-12-2004, 10:07 AM

These are all great ideas, and I will go check those books out soon, but I'm not just going to copy a swordfight right out of someone else's work. I intended to get a feel for what a written swordfight sounds like, because I really have no experience in writing swordfights. I plan to develope my own style as I read each fight and turn out something completely different...hopefully.

Muffin Mage · 07-13-2004, 10:46 AM

Hate to say it, but any of the Drizzt books that R.A. Salvatore wrote.

Bob The Mercenary · 08-04-2004, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fifthfiend

Offhand, I'd say Night Watch by Terry Pratchett, which has a surprisingly gritty and compelling portrayal of street-level combat. Swordfighting, knifefighting, brokenbottle fighting ironknucklesandblackjackfighting, you name it.

I looked it up on Amazon. Is it part of a series, because it says it's Pratchett's "28th novel in the phenomenally bestselling Discworld series"?

shiney · 08-04-2004, 01:31 PM

Hate to say it but fifthfiend quit NP forums a while ago after disagreeing with a choice made by the moderator staff. But it probably is part of a series, or at least based on a continuing world.

Muffin Mage · 08-04-2004, 02:36 PM

Indeed it is. Terry Pratchett is the coolest fantasy author ever. He's like Douglas Adams on fantasy.

07-11-2004, 10:12 PM	#1
Bob The Mercenary Bob Dole Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bob Dole Posts: 5,606	The book (part 2): Need some help Sorry I haven't been responding to anything these past few weeks. I've been on vacation for two weeks and am going away for another two weeks on Thursday. Plus I've spent a lot of time helping out Paragon Radio so I feel like I've neglected the "family" here at NP. I need to know the names of a few books that have well-written sword fighting scenes in them. I don't care if it's fantasy fighting with broadswords or lightsabers, I just need to take a glance at a few so I have something to emulate, and mix with my own style. I'm getting down to the nitty gritty right now and I've been reading a lot lately to "train" for my task ahead. __________________ Bob Dole

07-12-2004, 01:26 AM	#2
Fifthfiend for all seasons Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19,409	Offhand, I'd say Night Watch by Terry Pratchett, which has a surprisingly gritty and compelling portrayal of street-level combat. Swordfighting, knifefighting, brokenbottle fighting ironknucklesandblackjackfighting, you name it. Not a book, but I'd also recommend watching Gangs of New York for a compelling look at the warrior mentality, as well as another well-depicted example of combat shorn of the bombast and balletic pretense of most storytelling, boiled down to the simple essence of desperate men with weapons having to kill or be killed. __________________ check out my buttspresso

07-12-2004, 01:38 AM	#3
Dona Maria tastes like burning Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: somewhere orange Posts: 436	I think eventually someone will point you to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, but I beat them to it! The guy is all about detail (annoyingly so at times) so whatever your "task" is, maybe you can get some shiz from that. Also, I'd say Enchanter's Endgame by David Eddings. The final sword fight between a god and a demi-god (yeah, i do like that term) is compelling. __________________ Between Christopher Marlow and William Shakespeare: Will: I wrote you another sonnet. Chris: No! How many times have I told you: No more sonnets! How many is that anyway? Will: About a hundred

07-12-2004, 07:28 AM	#4
Mashirosen Watch closely! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Imaginary tomorrowland Posts: 1,855	The thing is, though, basing your swordfights off other writers' swordfights is kind of like trying to paint a portrait of someone with a photocopy of a photocopy of a Polaroid of the person. :\ You're probably not going for brute realism with your writing, but nonetheless, it's better to go by your own experiences -- whether they come from reading a lot of non-fiction books about fencing, sitting in on a boffer weapon LARP session, or even strapping on some safety goggles and getting a few friends to swing at eachother with sticks -- than by a secondhand version of someone else's. I could go off on a whole tangent about the truth of "writing what you know" and the value of non-fictional research, but you probably don't want to hear that, either. :) __________________ "Remember how we all thought the Jedi were, well, Space Knights of the Round Table? Well, as it turns out, they're a bunch of self-righteous virgins who kidnap kids to replenish their numbers."

07-12-2004, 07:45 AM	#5
Thaumaturge Magikoopa Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,767	I second Mashirosen's post. If you want to write about quick, light weapon fighting (such as rapiers or energy blades) go watch some fencing. Better yet, learn some fencing. Take it from me, even if it doesn't help with the writing, fencing is great fun! For heavyier weapons (anything from longswords up to greatswords) I would second Mashirosen's suggestion about getting some friends, some protective gear, and some large (but not too large) sticks. Then attack each other, and watch what happens. __________________ Mwa ha ha ha ha!!!! ahem. sorry.

07-12-2004, 10:07 AM	#6
Bob The Mercenary Bob Dole Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bob Dole Posts: 5,606	These are all great ideas, and I will go check those books out soon, but I'm not just going to copy a swordfight right out of someone else's work. I intended to get a feel for what a written swordfight sounds like, because I really have no experience in writing swordfights. I plan to develope my own style as I read each fight and turn out something completely different...hopefully. __________________ Bob Dole

08-04-2004, 01:31 PM	#9
shiney Derrrrrrrrrrrrrp. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The land of fartz and buttz Posts: 8,266	Hate to say it but fifthfiend quit NP forums a while ago after disagreeing with a choice made by the moderator staff. But it probably is part of a series, or at least based on a continuing world. __________________ boop