Cernenko, E. V. The Scythians, 700-300 BC.

London: Osprey Publishing Co, 1983.

The Scythians were early Iron Age nomads whose range was the Pontic steppes, just north of the Black Sea. Since that’s part of Russia, it was Soviet archaeologists who first excavated the royal tombs and warriors’ barrows where most of the Scythian artifacts in existence were discovered. Because, besides horses and alcohol, they loved decorative gold work, and they were very accomplished artists.

Fryer, Jonathan.The Great Wall of China.

South Brunswick, NJ: A. S. Barnes, 1975.

I have a longstanding interest in military history, but since it focuses on Europe, or at least the Western world, I’ve never paid much attention to China. In rereading Keegan’s A History of Warfare, however, I came across his discussion of the military reasons behind the piecemeal construction, over a period of a thousand years or so, of the Great Wall, the most massive construction in the history of Man — roughly 4,000 miles, total.

Nicolle, David. Medieval Warfare Source Book. Vol. 1: Warfare in Western Christendom.

London: Arms and Armour Press, 1995.

I’ve worked my way through several volumes in this publisher’s “Source Book” series — disappeared into them for days at a time, actually — and this one is well up to the superior quality I’ve found in the others. Each book takes an “everything you want to know” approach and is largely successful for any reader without a Ph.D. in the subject under discussion.

Healy, Mark. New Kingdom Egypt.

(Elite series, 40) London: Osprey Publishing Co, 1992.

Over the past couple of decades, I’ve worked my way slowly through perhaps one-third of Osprey’s long, long list of small, nicely illustrated volumes of military history. Even though I’m widely read in this field, I always learn something new, and (I admit it) I enjoy studying the full-color plates of uniforms and weapons. The quality of the writing, however, does vary somewhat, and this is one of the less successful efforts.

Abercrombie, Joe. Red Country.

NY: Orbit, 2012.

It’s kind of hard to believe that The Blade Itself, Abercrombie’s first work of robust, “real world” fantasy, appeared less than six years ago. Now, with the sixth volume set in his uncomfortable, hardscrabble, magic-fueled but vey human world, he has become a highly-regarded fixture in the field with glowing reviews even from professional readers who don’t ordinarily venture into this kind of thing.

Bujold, Lois McMaster. Paladin of Souls.

NY: HarperCollins, 2003.

When last we saw the Dowager Royina Ista of Chalion (who’s actually only about forty), she had regained her sanity, the curse over the royal family (and thus over the country) having been removed by Castillar de Cazaril, who has now become Chancellor to Ista’s daughter, the young Royina Iselle and her husband, Royse Bergon of the kingdom next door.

Abercrombie, Joe. The Heroes.

NY: Orbit, 2011.

The title of this fifth book in the author’s increasingly masterful opus is deliciously ironic. As his fans have long since figured out, Abercrombie doesn’t do heroes. However, he has learned to do characters of great depth and color and a number of the players from his previous works come together here to sort of thrash things out.

Abercrombie, Joe. Best Served Cold.

NY: Orbit, 2009.

The author’s “First Law” trilogy crashed onto the noir fantasy scene like a mercenary’s battle ax and if you enjoyed that — and I did, very much — you’ll be right at home with this one. We all know what’s “best served cold” and vengeance in all its forms is very much the theme.

Abercrombie, Joe. Last Argument of Kings.

(The First Law, Book 3) Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2008.

The third volume of a trilogy is where all the crises are resolved, and all the questions answered, and all doubts settled. Often, almost by tradition, it’s also where the final battle is won, and the prince and princess are married, and the medals handed out. But Abercrombie has shown — repeatedly — that he doesn’t care much about tradition, not unless there’s a good reason. And he definitely doesn’t do “happily ever after.”

Abercrombie, Joe. Before They Are Hanged.

(The First Law, Book 2) Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2008.

It’s often the case with the traditional trilogy narrative form that its weakest link is the middle volume. In the first volume, all the characters have been introduced and their motivations explained, and the main action has gotten under way. And the eventual resolutions of everything that began in the first volume must obviously wait until the third, concluding volume.