"Flashman: Oh why does he torture us so?" Topic

I am a member of the royal Flashman Society of SW Virginia. Well, an email recipient, anyway. They just confirmed that there will be a new Flashman out in March 2005, called "Flashman on the March". Its topic will be, sigh, the Abyssinian War of 1867.

Mr Fraser, why do you continue to torture us like this? When will the American Civil War book come out? Jefferson Davis' lightning rods indeed. Grumble, grumble.

A) Does Flashy EVER get a two week break? He's jumping, er, running away from adventure to adventure from his scuffles with Tom Brown to his death in the Great War... (Yes, rethorical, but he's been more Sir Garnet than Sir Garnet!)

B) I'm willing to guess that the ACW adventures will be published after Mr. Fraiser's desmise.

There's a Flashman Society of SW VA? Where?

I'm just glad he did another Flashman book. Full stop.

Jakar - do you think it's already written or will it be assembled posthumously?

His part in the Franco-Prussian War is eagerly awaited and I'll bet he was in the Prusso-Danish as well.

Flashman Society:

link

Thinking about this, Flashie is going to have a heck of a time not rescuing Maximillian, and going after King Theodore.

My demands, err, umm, preferences to fill in gaps in his career:

1 ) American Civil War. For too many reasons. Colonel USA. Major, CSA. ( Or was it the other way around? ) Lightning rods. Stuart. Libby Prison.

2 ) US Marshall. I thought John Cleese in "Silverado" was a Flashman tribute. "My jurisdiction ends here!"

3 ) Mexico. San Serafino Order of Purity and Truth, 4th Class.

4 ) Zulu War ( "Tiger" doesn't count. I want to hear about his great friendship with Cetshawayo.

Isn't Flashman and the Angel of the Lord the civil war book?

Im happy to send you my copy if its a want of yours to read it.

I'm guessing that he has the notes lying around his house. I just hope that he doesn't end up in the awfull "Pa's dead, so I'm taking over" thing that's happened to so many authors (see Brian Herbert, among others)...

My vote goes for Mexico and the Frenchies- one of my favorite lines in the books says something about Flashie blowing a hole in his colon the night after a meal of chilies and beans, while locked up in a mexican jail! Can't wait for some south of the border action. How old is Fraser, and how many more can we expect to be written? Mike D

Well, let's not shovel dirt on the old guy's coffin just yet. He served in WWII in Burma, so that should give you an idea of how old he is.

As for finishing off the old guys notes, well, look at the mare's nest that the Silmarillion is. Hee hee. Hijacked my own thread!

But seriously, how do you like the posthumous Hornblower novel on his Trafalgar exploits? Three chapters written, and a deskful of notes.

You fools, those references are just GMF playing with you! They're throw-away lines to tantalise and tease us. They're just a bit of fun, making the Flashman epic more colourful by referring to other adventures we'll never know the details of.

It's my bet (and I've said this before) that he has NO intention of EVER writing those books John pines for.

Scurv: Angel of the Lord is about John Brown. It's indirectly about the Civil War, but not actually set during it. If I recall there have been hints of Flashy fighting at Gettysburg, among other things. But we won't see 'em.

Let it go. It's just background colour.

Polynikes, I have resigned myself to a whole lot of Giant Rats of Sumatra. The most obvious one being the balloon in some Paraguay War.

GMF's problem is that he sometimes goes back to actually write those books, and then he is stuck with some anachronisms. Obvious ones are "The only one to charge in the right direction at Chillianwallah." Well, Flashy was a slave driver at that time, wasn't he? And what's all that about "Squiring a half-breed Hunkpapah whore to a regimental ball"? Now THAT is purely alternate universe stuff.

I disliked "Angel of the Lord" the first time I read it, but I after reading it for the 4th time last week, I am coming around. Mrs. Popplewell always turned me off.

Anyway, I hope you are wrong, and I suspect you would not mind either.

And while we are at it, I will also pine for the story behind Flashy and Chinese Gordon. Fraser does "lunatic" very well. I would also like to see a stake driven into John Charity Spring's heart. Stuff his mouth with garlic, too.

A Flashman descendant is to be found in SM Stirling's "The Peshawar Lancers", a very nice VSF novel. Again, it is an aside to the reader, since Flashy is never mentioned, but those In the Know know who he is talking about.

"I would also like to see a stake driven into John Charity Spring's heart. Stuff his mouth with garlic, too."

Well, de gustibus non est dispuntandum by god, but I should like to see the wicked old brute terrorize Flashy one more time.

Great news about the forthcoming book OFM. You made my day.

Ok question time.

Is GMC still alive?

now as an aside one of his very best books is Pyrates. If you can find a copy no price will be too high to pay.

I think, and hope, that he is. As I said, I "belong" to the Royal Flashman Society of SW Virginia (name: Major Lance Boyle), and they seem to be the most "in the know" Flashman website out there.

Why he hasn't been knighted is beyond me. Live long and prosper, Mr. Fraser. And write that d*mn*d Civil War book!

As for Pyrates... eh... I am reminded of a John Cleese production of Much Ado about Nothing (? one of them there Shalespeare™ plays). Too much wink wink nudge nudge and thigh thwacking.

Didn't care for the Pyrates myself. Truth be told, although my love for the Flashman series is deep and abiding, my favorite GMF offering is the McAuslan stories. Heresy, I know. If Flashman ranks among the best historical fiction, McAuslan is some of the best (certainly the funniest) history masquerading as fiction.

Anybody read "The Light's On At Signpost"?

I love the 'tiger' thought the Sherlock Holmes twist was worth reading the whole book for alone.

Personally I hope he just goes on missing the ACW, what I like is when Flashy pops up in a piece of history I've never even heard of and a whole new world is opened up. 'Abysinia' I know nothing, what a great choice.

P.S. Flashy hasn't been to Japan yet and with The Last Samurai recently out, who knows.

I read Lights on at Signpost. Fantastic! I had to order it from Amazon UK as it isn't available in the States.

It's only patially about his writing for film - mostly it's an erudite, dare I say reactionary, treatise written in the same style as the Spectator. He's viciously and hilariously opposed to England joining the EU and makes a damn good case for it too. Many in England seem to have never forgiven the Germans; it shows up throughout their television too- just now on the Thin Blue Line, Rowan makes a quip against them. But he does against the French and Belgians too - but who doesn't?

It's a terrific book and provides a perspective NEVER heard in the US. The English may find it common and worn out but as a Yank I found it invogorating and very funny. I read whole chapters aloud to some co-workers and they were in stitches. Just great stuff all 'round.

oh! the MacAuslan stories are also very good and really funny. I think the complete collection is available now in the US but before I had to order it from Amazon UK as well.

Just read his book "Quartered Safe Out Here" about his experiences in Burma in WWII. He was 19 in 1944 so work his age out from there. Also just finished his "The Steel Bonnets" and all I can say is both show a very different side of GMF. He had some things to say about current day soldiers kit that were telling and very much "Flashman". He also despised the Thompson Submachinegun and "lost" his in a swamp. Loved the hardened sergeant reading Henry V and returning it to Fraser with the comment that "this Shakespeare fellow must've been a soldier. He knew soldiers." This book is worth re-reading, something pops up each time you missed before. I certainly hope the rumor about another book is true. I also can't see anyone writing Flash Harry but GMF.

I read Mr American but I didn't like it too much, it only really lit up when Flashman made his regular appearences.

Black Ajax though I loved, as good as many a Flashman novel. Story of early boxing and the first 'Rumble in the Jungle' style epic fight.

Just happened across this message board while looking for new information on Flashman on the March. I note that someone up above praised The Pyrates . . . did you know that it has been made into a musical? It's in the middle of its first run in Chicago ( defianttheatre.org )

Also, I am the webmaster of the Royal Flashman Society of Southwest Virginia ( also mentioned above ) and we are planning our next meeting ( as always in a "place where Flashman slept" ) for this coming October in Boston. Details as they come available on the website ( members.aol.com/flashmanhp/flashman.html )

I can't stand Pyrates, it's got too many modern references for me. Aside from Flashie's obvious charms I really adore GMF's way of bringing history to life and breathing charactor in historical figures... Pyrates didn't do neither for me.

ahem.

Pyrates may well be the best story ever written by anyone.

If you can't enjoy it, then leave it alone for others to treasure.

Everone loves Flashy, but Pyrates is a love-song to a alternate universe and should be praised accordingly.

ATB

Olav

and I will learn to spell check before posting!