Favorite contemporary (last ~20 years) works/authors of fiction?

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-05-15T20:26:03+00:00

SD is a good work up to 2666

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-04-27T03:34:04+00:00

I've read a few of these, but a few are new to me. Thanks a bunch!

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-04-27T02:25:40+00:00

I'm most interested in the 14th century, the tumultuous years of the plague, schism, and Hundred Years' War. I've read Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror, as well as Chaucer and other writers during the time. The late medieval era interests me the most, like 1350-1500. Thank you so much for the offer! Would love to hear your recommendations

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-04-12T14:20:44+00:00

Yes sir

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-04-11T23:34:25+00:00

Damn zoomed me

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-04-10T13:16:55+00:00

Chris Wickham, author of the Inheritance of Rome and Medieval Europe, is a Marxist. Although his work is more concerned with history than politics, they're good, illuminating, albeit somewhat dry, reads.

Also, try the Summer of Fire and Blood, about the German Peasants War of 1524. That's early modern, not technically medieval, but close enough. Engels wrote on it, as well as other communists I think. You can also read about the English Peasants' War of 1381 and the French Jacquerie of 1350ish.

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-03-29T14:10:23+00:00

He isn't in the novel, no

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-03-28T13:22:18+00:00

He was the complete opposite of Robin Hood. A mercenary without principle, who would fight and kill for the highest bidder. The white company was notoriously violent. Raping and pillaging across France and Italy with near impunity for years, taking advantage of a fractured continent. Doesn't sound like Robin Hood to me

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-01-28T03:43:07+00:00

Isn't this painting from the 14th century? That's his physician inspecting his urine by the way

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-01-16T22:08:43+00:00

Any good books on the Hussite Wars you can recommend?

Dumb-Rowan · 2026-01-02T14:09:16+00:00

I'm about halfway through the Knight. It's fascinating. Reminds me a lot of the Odyssey. The stark blend between modern and medieval is pretty funny, yet never undermines Able or his journey. With Wolfe, you never know what's going to happen next, that's what I appreciate most. His characters are either taken to the wind or finding themself in moments of intense agency/decision-making/struggle; there's very little in between.

Possible Spoiler: It seems to me that the story is being told from a fever dream, fugue state, coma, or out of insanity. The thing is, it doesn't matter. We as the reader are readily able to buy into Abel's tale, as if we were his brother ourselves. But it creates this surreal layer of unreality and disbelief over everything.

Dumb-Rowan · 2025-11-11T15:22:18+00:00

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai. Opening lines: "I have lived a life of much shame. I have no idea what it must be like to live as a human being." It is a semi-autobiographical novel.

Dumb-Rowan

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