Wild tribal onslaughts

[bunn]

I have just realised that although I have read innumerable descriptions of situations where an isolated fort or outpost is assaulted by a wild tribal onslaught, I don't think I have *ever* read a description of a wild tribal onslaught from the point of view of the onslaughters, rather than the onslaughtees.

During that bit where the people inside the fort are biting their nails, patching things up, putting out fires, eating emergency rations and trying to snatch some sleep etc - what are the assailants *doing*? Touching up their war-paint? Barbecues...? Are they napping too, or are they formulating some complex and carefully-planned strategy that comes over to the onslaughtees as 'suddenly there were attackers everywhere'?

Comments

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I think I've put Furies of Calderon on and off (my reading list) more times than a barbarian's trousers. I keep seeing it recommended, and add it, and then later I read the precis and think, gawd, that sounds a bit FantasyLand and take it off again.

I have difficulty with the names. 'Tavi' sounds like a place with a jolly nice teashop, and then 'Alera' - a LEERER?

Is it worth trying to overcome my aversion..?

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

I love the series very much indeed, but whether you would or not, I have no idea. I love it too much to be objective, really. Yes, it is a rather Fantasyland. This is deliberate; the book came out of a dare to write a good book using some "lame" ideas of the challengers' choice, and the author also threw in a few other prevalent fantasy cliches for good measure. The first book is the weakest, in my opinion, and probably the most Fantasyland. Book 3 is my favourite: outnumbered, untested Roman legionaries vs. 100,000 dog-faced men of Kund. :-)