♔ Double-Secret Probation Porphyrogenitus ♔

Want to read interesting medieval action, written by a guy who actually LIVED the life of a knight? I suggest La Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. He fought with sword and shield and lance in the Wars of the Roses and pined for the good old days when knights were chivalrous. His descriptions in the book are realistic, despite the superheroic level of some characters. Get a good modern translation and it's an easy read. Example: In one event, Lancelot is forced to fight an enemy in armor, while Lancelot is just in civilian clothes. Malory (a seasoned veteran) notes that this is a terrible weakness, and that Lancelot is the underdog. In modern movies we see nearly-nude barbarians fighting guys in armor like it's nothing. Malory knew better. Malory also has other interesting tidbits. At one tourney, Sir Palomides (who is Muslim) spears an opponent's horse, killing it. Everyone boos Sir Palomides, because that's not kosher in a tournament which is a sport. I suspect Palomides had no idea because tournaments weren't a Moorish thing, and he just assumed the same rules applied as in a battle. Have you read it?

Tolkien made such a genius choice in Lord of the Rings. Hobbits are not just the protagonists, but are mild and bucolic. But Tolkien's HUMANS are "dire halflings". Our species is larger-than-life, seen from the perspective of hobbits! This was so smart. It made the humans way more interesting, instead of being the "vanilla" species so many books make us. And it made me proud to be human.