Fiction Book Recommendations

[angel42052]

I'm currently reading some Viking novels by Bernard Cornwell which I recommend.

What are some good ancient historical novels with lots of military action??

[stockwellpete]

Ross Laidlaw is an author worth seeking out.

[TheGrayMouser]

For the Hellenistic period , Christian Cameron has quite a few series of novels. Old school, but l Sprague De Camp’s the Bronze God of Rhodes should fit the bill.

[rbodleyscott]

Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Breem

[kronenblatt]

I wouldn't say lots of or even some military action, but I just finished read Julian by Gore Vidal and it was among the best books that I've ever read. Will now embark upon Creation by the same author.

Another favourite of mine is Count Belisarius by Robert Graves.

Even later at the tenth century AD, but since you're reading Viking novels, I'd recommend The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson (a Swedish author).

And then you have of course Anabasis (or The Persian Expedition) by Xenophon.

And one of my favourite authors of all-time; Finnish Mika Waltari: The Egyptian and The Secret of the Kingdom.

[DanZanzibar]

An absolute gem - Guy Gavriel Kay. Please look him up, I just finished reading every book he ever wrote in about 9 months.

Not lots of military action, but military stuff happens mostly behind the scenes.

[SnuggleBunnies]

Even later at the tenth century AD, but since you're reading Viking novels, I'd recommend The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson (a Swedish author).

Yes, yes, and yes! One of my absolute favorites, it never gets old.

[Doyley50]

For the Roman period anything by Ben Kane, Gordon Doherty, Simon Turney, Douglas Jackson, Ian Ross, Harry Sidebottom, Adrian Goldsworthy and Anthony Riches. They have all written a series of novels which are very readable and they have done their homework. Viking period- Kristian Cameron and Preben Mørkbak. Lots of reading there. Also older works- two other Wallace Breem novels, The Legate's Daughter and the Leopard and the Cliff, and Rosemary Sutcliffe's three novels.

[kronenblatt]

I too have picked up on some of your suggestions; for example Eagle in the Snow and also Legate's Daughter by the same author. Didn't know that Adrian Goldsworthy wrote historical novels, so bought the three books in the Vindolanda series as well. Ready for summer... Many thanks everyone for recommendations!

[Tresantes]

‘Tyrant’ by Christian Cameron is great. His battles are based on the tabletop version of Field of Glory. I think he even provided scenario info somewhere so you could fight the battles in the book.

[angel42052]

These are excellent suggestions!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!! I've got pretty much all of the first books in the vars. series recommended.

[Mord]

Marching With Caesar: Birth of the 10th Legion by R.W. Peake

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield


Mord.

[julianbarker]

As above, Eagle in the Snow, plus Alfred Duggan Novels. For the period covered by the game currently I suggest

Elephants and Castles
Three's Company
Winter Quarters
The King of Athelney

Plenty more when the game gets into the medieval period.

He also wrote some good non-fiction. He Died Old is very good.

[rbodleyscott]

He Died Old is very good.

(Great biography of Mithridates VI of Pontus - not dry at all)

[Challenge1]

Apologies if they have already been mentioned but Conn Iggulden is one of my favourites, Simon Scarrow did basically "Sharpe and Harper in Roman times" with Macro and Cato; Good historical romps....

[Benedict151]

I would also recommend Imperial Governor by George Shipway, about Boudica's revolt. Recently(ish) reprinted so should not be too hard to pick up. He also wrote a couple of books about Agamemnon (Warrior in Bronze) and perhaps looking to the future 3 books about Norman England (The Paladin, The Wolftime and Knight in Anarchy). Unfortunately these have not been reprinted and 2nd hand copies seem really expensive (but are a good read and he knows his stuff).

I'd also recommend Mary Renaults novels about ancient Greece although they are light on military matters

[Gaznak]

Its not an overly military focused series, although there are some battles, but Gene Wolfe's Soldier series is an interesting very experimental historical novel set during the greco-persian wars about an amnesiac mercenary from Xerxes' army who gets stranded in Greece.

It features one of my favourite burns in literature:

[prior to a duel]

"The king reined up perhaps ten cubits before me. "No quarter will be given," he told me. "Do you understand?" I said that I did not think I could kill a man who begged me for his life, but I would try."

[ahuyton]

Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff

Beautifully written and one of her books aimed at an older audience Elements of the Arthurian myths set in Dark Age Britain as the Saxons arrive. Great battle scenes.

[hjc]

As above, Eagle in the Snow, plus Alfred Duggan Novels. For the period covered by the game currently I suggest ...

As a taster for what is most likely to be included in the upcoming DLC, "Knight with Armour" by Alfred Duggan.
I think it was his first book. When I read it as a lad it started a life-long interest in history, especially the crusades era.

[DrewMatrix]

I don't know if you are in the US or Britain but in either case I'd recommend having _both_ an amazon.com (US) amazon account and an amazon.co.uk (British) Amazon account. Then you can search both for books and particularly used books. The books available are quite different on the two sites and shipping is surprisingly fast and cheap (usually). Unfortunately at the moment shipping from one country to the other is limited due to covid-19 but that should improve soon.

At this moment amazon.co.uk does have, for example "The Paladin" is available for £3.99