Tags:
  1. Ubrechor

    Ubrechor Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2011
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    15
    Location:
    Some Other Place

    Great Fight Scenes in Novels

    Discussion in 'Discussion of Published Works' started by Ubrechor, Jul 24, 2011.

    Hey. :)

    So, has anyone read a novel or even a short story that has a fantastic example of a written fight scene? Thinking about a plot that I have in mind, and although I haven't got around to writting it up yet, it just started me thinking about what makes a really great fight scene. I'm aware that it depends on the style of the writer, the atmosphere of the story and the taste of the reader, which is why I'm asking you lot. Any thoughts on aspects of a great fight scene? Or perhaps an example you've read?
     
  2. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    I remember a titanicstruggle to the death between a circus strongman and a musclebound middle-Eastern assassin in Alaistair MacLean's spy thriller Circus.

    I wish I could lay hands upon my copy of that novel. It stands out for me as one of the more memorable novels of that genre.
     
  3. heather_ashcraft

    heather_ashcraft New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2011
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    2
    wow,this is one i havent heard in awhile :p

    well i suppose i might be able to wisk you an example off the top of my head (ostenibly garnered from experience in "para" or "t1" on yahoo,many years ago)

    "She limped foward,forcing herself to drag onward,despite her wounds.The pistol she carried was still rolling smoke from the barrel.The upper back portion of her left leg had been hit earlier in the gun battle,in addition to two bullets that had hit her in the side..Most of the rest of the bullets had been stopped by her flak jacket,though not without some bruising..A single twig cracked off in the distance behind her,she then closed her eyes,turning as she aimed the pistol,5 bullets remaining,in the direction of the sound and repeatedly pulled thew trigger,hoping she would survive"

    "He had been pursuing her for a good few days now.His orders were to find and eliminate any stragglers left over from the attack.Many a kill was marked out on his armor via a crude sratching with a combat knife..He did not even think twice,to him this was duty,to him it was all he could think "seek and destroy any survivors"...He then looked down,perplexed as his boot hit a twig,snapping it in two..He wasnt usually that foolish.As soon as he looked back up however,gunshots range his sensitive ears,a large bullet hit his leg armor,the sheer force of the impact flipping him over..He got right back up and continued on,pre-emptively dodging left and right,the anticipation of the fire pattern allowing him to avoid a good number of bullets..Then he caught site of his target,the momentary distraction proving fatal..the final bullet hit right between the bullet proof visor peice of his helmet,and the helmet metal..the bullet forced its way through the weak spot in the worn helmet..making quick,and very explosive work on the inner contents,launching the now disused corpse backwards"

    there you are,i apoligize if i seem abit rusty because well,i actually am :p have fun and hope this helps
     
  4. Daydream

    Daydream Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    May 3, 2011
    Messages:
    559
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    In another dimension.
    Joe Abercrombie writes the best battle scenes in my opinion. Detailed and gory :)
     
  5. Steerpike

    Steerpike Felis amatus Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2010
    Messages:
    13,984
    Likes Received:
    8,557
    Location:
    California, US
    Abercrombie certainly has a knack for it.
     
  6. Soapage

    Soapage New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2011
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    1
    Day by Day Armageddon has a scene thats my favorite fight scene. Its actually 2 characters fighting a zombie horde at an abandoned airport. The scene was so intense you could visualize the entire drama and felt the tingling in your feet.
     
  7. SteamWolf

    SteamWolf New Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2011
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Newcastle
    "Legend" by David Gemell. Brilliant epic battle and fight scenes that really felt like you were a part of it.
     
  8. art

    art Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2010
    Messages:
    1,153
    Likes Received:
    117
    Possibly not exactly what you had in mind but there is a devastatingly well done slanging match, then physical tussle, in Raymond Carver's short, Little Things.

    Once read, never forgotten.
     
  9. BringerOfBacon

    BringerOfBacon New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2011
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    I think my favorite fight scenes are the ones that give you just enough to imagine it, but not too much to describe the exact position of every limb and location of speck of dirt throughout.
     
  10. martial_wolf

    martial_wolf New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2009
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Spokane Valley, Wa
    I was always partial to the fight scenes in "The Wolf's Hour" by Robert McCammon. He included just enough to give me the idea of what the character was doing but didn't bother with extreme detail.

    Of course having the werewolf character eat somebody's heart during a fight was probably a bit much.
     
  11. tiggertaebo

    tiggertaebo Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2011
    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Cumbria UK
    I always thought the fight scenes in the Orcs books by Stan Nicholls worked well.
     
  12. BareFootWanderer

    BareFootWanderer New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2011
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    1
    Steven Erikson is an extraordinary writer of such action. Very detailed and graphic. And intelligently written.

    I found Abercrombie didn't write with such a professional sense. He is still an above average writer though, most definitely!
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice