"Bulldog Drummond vs Vampires?" Topic

Looked through a Barbara Hambly vampire novel (Pale Guardian) yesterday, and one of her characters is described by a contemporary as "jumping around like a cross between Leatherstocking and Bulldog Drummond." Unfortunately, this is early 1915, and the first Bulldog Drummond story won't be published until 1920. So either I've caught Hambly in one of her very rare errors, or her vampire novels take place in the same universe as the Bulldog Drummond stories, and Drummond has already become legendary in the first year of the Great War.

Those with suitable figures and rules might wish to consider Bulldog and the Black Gang saving England from vampires. (And could they stake the Cambridge Five and Neville Chamberlain, just to be on the safe side? Can't take chances, you know.)

Are her series worth reading? If so, which ones. Thanks

Hambly never wrote a bad book in her life, but tastes vary. The vampire books begin with Those Who Hunt the Night, which I'd recommend. The others less so--but I have read them all.
For the pulp enthusiast--and my own personal favorite Hambly--there's also Bride of the Rat God--supernatural goings-on in silent movie era Hollywood.
For the fantasy fan, there's The Spirit Ring, a supernatural version of Renaissance Italy, and the "Darkmage" books--The Silent Tower and The Silicon Mage.
For the straight mystery fan, her big series is the "Benjamin January" books, set in and from New Orleans in the 1830's--good novels, good mysteries, but at best inspiration for RPG/skirmish, not something you'd use directly unless you had some very uncommon miniatures and rules.

Again, depends on what you like. There are other series, but this pretty much shows her range.

I wonder if "Dracula's America" would be a good starting point. Not the right setting, but I've read a lot of positive reviews about the set.

link

I am always looking for good fantasy, sci-fi I have not read. Not for gaming purposes, strictly enjoyment. Currently going through Ilona Andrews, "Kate Daniels" series. Enjoyable, similar to the Dresden Novels. Although I would rank Dresden a little higher.

Thanks in advance.

Drummond shows up in Kim Newman's Dracula series, in "The Bloody Red Baron" which is set during WW1. IIRC he comes across as a bit of a twit.

I love the Hambly vampire series.
Picked up " they who hunt the night" years ago at a 2nd hand book store. Then got them all.
Sadly, I have read that there will be no more.
did not enjoy the Benjamin January book so much though ?
Russ Dunaway

We should do our best fantasy series and best fantasy series NOT finished by their Artists.

Of course one comes to mind right off: JRR Martin you lazy twit, letting HBO ruin your great series. Get off that fat butt and finish it correctly! Unless of course, South Park had you pegged.

This goes for Patrick Rothfuss and his Kingkiller Chronicle too. What's it been 2011? They fought WW2 in less time!

Oh, show a little charity, 35th. Once Martin was a writer. Now all he is is a celebrity. Isn't that punishment enough?

But to toss in a couple nominations, there's Mark C. Perry's "Morigu" trilogy (two volumes) and Rodrigo Garcia Y Robertson's "Spiral Dance" series (one volume.)

And over in SF, there's Alexi Panshin's Anthony di Villiers five volume series, holding at three volumes since 1968. If it's pure fantasy, my vote is the Perry. If it's fantasy or SF, it's the Panshin.

Russ, where did you hear there would be no more Don Simon Ysidro books? In fairness to Ms Hambly, if it's true, she's not ending on a cliffhanger. In any series, life goes on, unless the author kills of everyone. If it's a publisher thing, keep an eye out: Hambly frequently does continuation short stories when the publisher doesn't want another volume or the idea won't stretch to a book. She's done two in that universe that I know of already.

I'll throw in

Scott Lynch, and the "Gentleman Bastard" series.

He's gotten slow with his next book too.

Sometimes I don't think they know how to finish them.

Unlike Robert Jordon and the "Wheel of Time" who we all knew was milking it till he died. Glad Sanderson could finish it decently.

I thought "The Spirit Ring" was Lois McMaster Bujold? We could have more of the Vor series very happily.

I said I would throw in some good completed series. As a change of pace, thought to throw in some great standalone historical "fiction", before I slip to fantasy.

Bernard Cornwell. His books rarely ever let me down and I think these are his two best series
"The Sharpe Series"
"The Last Kingdom Series"

George McDonald Fraser and his "Flashman" series. Loads of enjoyment.

She did do a short story on Ysidro but it was only kindle and I don't do that.
I read this on her FB site some time back -- unless there has been a change in plans -- I HOPE !!

Russ Dunaway

Opps I apologize if took this off purpose. I can stop if you would like.

Not necessary, 35th. It may not paint miniatures, but it's a good non-political discussion. I can live with that.

Advocate, I'd distinguish between "I would have enjoyed more volumes" and "the so and so never finished the story!" Spirit Ring was a good book, but the story had a beginning, a middle and an end, so the characters can go on without my supervision. "Morigu" was nearing the climax of a war, the lead in "Spiral Dance" was still trying to get home--or anywhere--and someone was trying to kill Villiers. That puts them in the George RR Martin category.

Iffy middle ground would be J Robert Janes' "Kohler and St Cyr" mysteries. The end of Clandestine (2015) wasn't a cliffhanger, but the leads are still in occupied France. A series end would be an escape to Spain, or the Liberation. Still, given Janes is 87, I try not to be unreasonable.

Russ, I have the opposite problem: fine with kindle, but no Facebook. (Some authors think having a Facebook site means they are communicating: what it actually means is they've authorized "Meta" to spy on them.)

🤔 well Bernard Cornwell and George McDonald Fraser will definitely paint figures. Historical Figures. Enjoyable books!

JRR Martin Massive Medieval fantasy Wars. I mean basically it's the war of the roses for the first so many books.
Scott Lynch pulp figures in a swashbuckling sense.

Well, looked at that way, the Perry books have mass battle fantasy, and the Robertson takes place in the Pilgrimage of Grace, which has possibilities for those with Tudor armies.

The Kohler & St Cyr books take place in occupied France, so Gestapo, Milice, Resistance and skirmish/RPG games?

The Benjamin January books do not lack for combat scenarios, come to that. I just object to skirmish games where I have to track the reloading of muzzle-loading rifles. (Bonus points for the scene in "Free Man of Color, in which a character complains "you don't know how to reload a rifle? What are they teaching young ladies in finishing schools these days?!")