Please help me find a new author

[Cuchulainn]

I need help finding a new author of historical fiction.

I've read some or all of Cornwell, O'Brian, Lawhead, Robert Low, Tim Severin, C.S. Forester, C.C. Humphreys, Fraser's Flashman books, Niger Tranter, Manda Scott, Edward Rutherfurd, Ken Follett, Alfred Duggan, and a bunch of other of ones that I'm not going to list.

I suppose my tastes would tend towards what you might consider the average male tastes in historical fiction. I don't like historical romance, but there doesn't have to be action or violence in the books, either.

More than anything I prefer a good story with interesting characters.

I abhor bad writing (for example, Nigel Tranter's "Hope Endures" or Robyn Young's "Crusade").

I prefer medi-eval settings, or the Napoleonic era, but neither is crucial as long as its a good story with interesting characters.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[JaneConsumer]

I've enjoyed many of the same authors, and while I'm female, there's nothing like a male read. ;)

Most recently, I enjoyed An Instance of the Fingerpost. It's what I would call an intellectual historical mystery. Discussion is here (http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440&highlight=fingerpost).

While England Sleeps by David Leavitt was also good and out of my usual geography/time period - the Spanish Civil War. Discussion is here (http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345&highlight=england+sleeps).

Have you read Aztec yet by Gary Jennings? Or any Conn Iggulden books? I haven't read the latter yet myself, but I want to.

[annis]

Cuchulainn, you might like to try Sam Barone’s books set in ancient Mesopotamia at the time when the traditional nomadic way of life started to clash with new towns and settlementd based around agriculture. There’s plenty of action , but a bit more substance than the standard swords and sandals fare.
“Dawn of Empire’ and “Empire Rising”
http://www.sambarone.com

Other ideas:

Harold Lamb’s Cossack adventures, recently reprinted in 4 volumes .

Michael Curtis Ford’s “The Ten Thousand”
The epic journey of Xenophon and the Greek mercenaries in 401 BC through hostile lands to get back to Greek-owned territory at Trebizond.

Eric Schumacher
“God’s Hammer”
The tenth century invasion of Britain from the Viking POV
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gods-Hammer-Eric-Schumacher/dp/1904959083/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222746459&sr=8-3

Guy Gavriel Kay
“Last Light of the Sun” (King Alfred0
“A Song for Arbonne” (Provemce/Cathars)
“Lions of al-Rassan” (El Cid)
Slightly alternate takes on recognizable periods of history, but not quite in the Conn Iggulden style

Tom Harper
“Demetrios Askiades” trilogy
The First Crusade from a Byzantinian POV –Harper doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to the horrors of war, but a cracking read.
1) Mosaic of Shadows
2) Knights of the Cross
3) Siege of Heaven


When stumped try the The Reading Club on Bernard Cornwell’s website. Readers exchange titles of books that they’ve enjoyed- I’ve picked up some good ideas there
http://www.bernardcornwell.net/index.cfm?page=5

As you can probably tell I always preferred Biggles books and authors like Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling and Rider Haggard when growing up to the standard girl-type stuff!

[Carine]

Cuchulainn, I'll tell you what my partner likes to read :
Simon Scarrow
Dudley Pope
Julian Stockwin
Jack Whyte
Conn Iggulden
Allan Mallinson
Raymond Khoury

He also really enjoyed Dorothy Dunnett and very recently Jules Watson.

I hope this helps you a little.

[Volgadon]

And there are always the stalwarts like Dumas and Sabatini.

[donroc]

I need help finding a new author of historical fiction.

I've read some or all of Cornwell, O'Brian, Lawhead, Robert Low, Tim Severin, C.S. Forester, C.C. Humphreys, Fraser's Flashman books, Niger Tranter, Manda Scott, Edward Rutherfurd, Ken Follett, Alfred Duggan, and a bunch of other of ones that I'm not going to list.

I suppose my tastes would tend towards what you might consider the average male tastes in historical fiction. I don't like historical romance, but there doesn't have to be action or violence in the books, either.

More than anything I prefer a good story with interesting characters.

I abhor bad writing (for example, Nigel Tranter's "Hope Endures" or Robyn Young's "Crusade").

I prefer medi-eval settings, or the Napoleonic era, but neither is crucial as long as its a good story with interesting characters.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I shall inform you when mine is available. In the meantime, have you searched through the works of Sienkiewicz (he wrote more than Quo Vadis)Costain, Shellabarger, Schoonover, Edison Marshall, early Frank Yerby, Robert Payne, Nora Lofts for starters.

And if you have not read it, this guy enjoyed DESIREE by Anne-Marie Selenko (sp?).

[Rowan]

Just out of curiosity, what is wrong with Robyn Young's "Crusade"?

[Melisende]

Stephen Grundy
- Rhinegold
- Attila's Treasure

Kenneth C Flint
- Red Branch & Ulster Cycle
- Irish Mythology

[lama]

Try Patrick Hamilton: Hangover Square, Gaslight, etc.

www.lebutler.net

[Cuchulainn]

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone!

I'm growing increasingly frustrated with chapters.ca. I buy my books there because I have the irewards membership, but I'm beginning to realize that their actual stock is quite lacking.

[Marc]

I think the list provided by Annis is more than enough for your source.Go with it.

[Anna Elliott]

What about Ruth Downie's historical mysteries? They're humorous as well as very compelling and richly detailed.

[Miss Moppet]

If you like WW2 fiction, two very good reads are Nicholas Monsarrat, The Cruel Sea, and Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny - both about the war at the sea, the first set in the Atlantic and the second in the Pacific.

[Chatterbox]

Wouk's massive two volume "Winds of War" and "War & Remembrance". Great sea battles, love affairs (very much from the male pov), submarines, all kinds of great action. Starts in early 1939 and goes through to the end of the war, from Pearl Harbor to Thereseinstadt.

[4ever Queen]

You might want to try Sharon Kay Penman's books. They are all interesting characters and her books are full of Medieval History. Or I would suggest that you start with Sunne in Splendour, or else any of her Trilogies, they are stunning!

[G. Alvin Simons]

I've enjoyed many of the same authors, and while I'm female, there's nothing like a male read. ;)

Most recently, I enjoyed An Instance of the Fingerpost. It's what I would call an intellectual historical mystery. Discussion is here (http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440&highlight=fingerpost).

While England Sleeps by David Leavitt was also good and out of my usual geography/time period - the Spanish Civil War. Discussion is here (http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345&highlight=england+sleeps).

Have you read Aztec yet by Gary Jennings? Or any Conn Iggulden books? I haven't read the latter yet myself, but I want to.

I've read several of Conn Iggulden's books & have enjoyed all of them. Well worth your time.

G. Alvin Simons