Fiction with a Fencing Theme

[Fencergrl]

I love Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction.
Any suggestions for good books?

I just finished Dave Duncan's series .... I think he wrote about 9-10 books with a fencing theme to them.
Before that I read Jo Walton's three in her series.

Any others anyone can think of?

[telkanuru]

Series:

His Dark Materiels (Golden Compass, Subtle Knife, Amber Spyglass)

Anything by David Eddings
Anything by Garth Nix

Those are my favourite modern fantasy. For sci-fi, Timothy Zahn is my favourite author.

[DHCJr]

There are several fencers who have incorporated fencing in some of their subplots. The 3 that come to mind are Heinlein (Glory Road), Asprin in the 1st of the Phule's series and George Takai (Sulu) Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe.

[Go? Fencing?]

Not to mention The Naked Time, the episode of Star Trek (original series) where Sulu chased crewmen around with a rapier!

[jeff]

Roger Zelazny's "Nine Princes In Amber" and "Lord of Light". He was actually a fencer - epee, I think. Heinlein also fenced.

[Goldgar]

Originally Posted by DHCJr

There are several fencers who have incorporated fencing in some of their subplots. The 3 that come to mind are Heinlein (Glory Road), Asprin in the 1st of the Phule's series and George Takai (Sulu) Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe.

Let's not forget our own "Peach", Delia Turner!

[gojujay]

Joel Rosenburg- Keepers of the Hidden Ways series. Deals with what happens AFTER Ragnorak. Two fugitive from alternate, but connected world, one of whom is the Builder of the worlds and their connections, flee to our world. Specifically North Dakota (they were looking for someplace remote to hide ). One is a duelling master from a champions-for-hire house. Lot of Norse mythos links. Good books, only two I believe. I didn't like the way he wrapped up the second book and series.

[howtobrew]

There are so few distinctive books with a combination of good writing, good plotting and good swordsmanship. I have read thousands of books over the years and I am racking my brain to recommend some....
Well, first of all I will heartily recommend The Phoenix Guards and Five Hundred Years After by Stephen Brust. These are written in the spirit of Alexander Dumas and Wodehouse. The writing style makes you grin and the swordplay, if not quite real, is descriptive and adventurous.
What else...
Okay, the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan are not fencing per se, but definitely swordplay, with a more oriental style. "The Boar Parts the Silk" and such... If you have read them you know what I am talking about, if you haven't read them, the ten novel and counting series is one of the best plotted speculative fiction series ever, with great villains! A great villain makes a great story, and Jordans books have a whole group of 'em.

Hope you like them,
HtB

[Gav]

Try The Colours in the Steel. I found it very entertaining. Also read Memory by th same author. Both are the first books in wider Trilogys.

[miyamoto]

Well, it's not fantasy of sci-fi, but Sabatini writes some great fencing fiction. Scaramouche was great.

Also, Fritz Leiber wrote some fencing scenes into his stories involving Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

And lastly, I remember one comedic sci-fi book that actually detailed a team fencing tournament as one of the chapters. It was rather amusing as the writer really got the feel of it down as he described how empty tournaments usually were, involving only fencers and the occasional friend or family member to watch...

[VELISARIOS]

Read the Fencing Master. It is very good book and the scenario is impresive and unprecticamble.

[fencerchica]

"The Castle of Iron", one of the books within the omnibus _The Intrepid Enchanter_ by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt.

Professor Harold Shea is about to undertake a trip into the world of Spencer's "Faerie Queene" and is trying to find an appropriate weapon. When he goes shopping for one, he's disgusted by all the wallhangers and decides to make do with his old fencing epee from his college days. Snaps off the point d'arret and grinds the blade down to a needle point. Then later on, he proceeds to whip some armored knight *** with fencing moves (described in great detail), in which he uses the epee to penetrate chinks in their armor.

[Fencergrl]

Wow... you guys are coming up with some great choices. I thought this was going to be a tough one. When everyone's done with the suggestions, I'll definitely print off the list. Thanks!

[CheekyCanuck]

Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny is good, but not too descriptive in the sword fighting and very male oriented (circa 1960's but good none the less).

[Philistine]

In Greg Keyes continuing series "The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone" (first "the Briar King" second "the Charnel Prince") there is a small subplot (larger in the 2nd) involving a form of fencing.

Keyes is a fencer, and the scenes are well done.

The books themselves are superb, and well worth the read even without the fencing.

--Philistine

[Svidrigailov]

Don Quijote!! --- it has a component of swordfighting...with midieval swords, not epees and such but...its worth a read anyway.

and of course, I'm surprised no one has mentioned my other favorite book:

the three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas! Its so much better than any of the stupid movies they've based off it...

and for a modern twist on the three musketeers, you could read "the Dumas Club" by Arturo Perez Reverte (the original is in spanish but I'm sure its been translated to english).

[miyamoto]

Originally Posted by Svidrigailov

the three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas! Its so much better than any of the stupid movies they've based off it...

I'm guessing you never saw the 1973/4 movies The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers. Excellent movies, and they actually follow and enhance the book.

[gojujay]

Originally Posted by miyamoto

Well, it's not fantasy of sci-fi, but Sabatini writes some great fencing fiction. Scaramouche was great.

Also, Fritz Leiber wrote some fencing scenes into his stories involving Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

And lastly, I remember one comedic sci-fi book that actually detailed a team fencing tournament as one of the chapters. It was rather amusing as the writer really got the feel of it down as he described how empty tournaments usually were, involving only fencers and the occasional friend or family member to watch...

The book is Phules Company by Robert Aspirin(?). First in a series, but that is the only fencing ref, I think.

[gojujay]

Originally Posted by fencerchica

"The Castle of Iron", one of the books within the omnibus _The Intrepid Enchanter_ by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt.

Professor Harold Shea is about to undertake a trip into the world of Spencer's "Faerie Queene" and is trying to find an appropriate weapon. When he goes shopping for one, he's disgusted by all the wallhangers and decides to make do with his old fencing epee from his college days. Snaps off the point d'arret and grinds the blade down to a needle point. Then later on, he proceeds to whip some armored knight *** with fencing moves (described in great detail), in which he uses the epee to penetrate chinks in their armor.

I've got a compilation of three stories called The Complete Compleat Enchanter by L. Sprague de Camp. One of my favorites. Go Belphebe!!!!(sp?)

[DHCJr]

Originally Posted by gojujay

The book is Phules Company by Robert Aspirin(?). First in a series, but that is the only fencing ref, I think.

To you and miyamoto, this is the third time this book has been mentioned. I talked about it and the name is Asprin and he was a fencer and is a fencing coach, I believe in Michigan. It is a great visualization of what a fencing tournament is like.