Action

(Thriller, plot driven, sensational life-threatening events…)

A+

DUMAS, Alexandre

The Count of Monte Cristo 1844

Huge (common) and coherent (rare) epic; Tolkienesque scope, Shakespearian vibe

A

ELTON, Ben

Popcorn 1997

Clever, funny, incisive: works as a thriller and as satire

A-

DUMAS, Alexandre

The Three Musketeers 1844

Action, flawed but heroic personalities, fascinating alternate historical values

O’BRIAN, Patrick

Master and Commander (Aubrey/Maturin series, Book 1) 1970 Historical Fiction/Action

Impressive sense of another (intriguing) time, people and place

Post Captain (Aubrey/Maturin series, Book 2) 1972 Historical Fiction/Action

Engaging and fascinating characters, settings and action

B+

COURTNEY, Bryce

The Power of One 1989

Enjoyable, gripping. Boy to successful man story in apartheid South Africa

LE CARRÉ, John

The Spy who came in from the Cold 1963

Dark, trendsetting, anti-heroic cold war machinations

MARSDEN, John

Tomorrow, When the War Began 1993 Novel/Action/Teen

Surprisingly workable war and teen romance hybrid; recognisable Oz kids

O’BRIAN, Patrick

HMS Surprise (Aubrey/Maturin series, Book 3) 1973 Historical Fiction/Action

Impressive weaving of professional and private lives in breathing historical context

B

BANKS, Iain

Canal Dreams 1989 Novel/Action

Ably realised genre hybrid, but I admired this book more than I enjoyed it

BARRY, Dave

Big Trouble 1999 Action/Humour

Professional, funny, but slick, filmic and disposable

DOYLE, Arthur Conan

Sir Nigel 1906

The 14^th century semi-quixotic adventures of a starry-eyed teen gaining knighthood

HARRISON, Harry

Queen Victoria's Revenge 1974 Action

Pleasant enough silly action pulp

FOLLETT, Ken

Whiteout 2004 Action

Follett’s superwoman biff and soap-opera romance

KENT, Alexander

The Flag Captain 1971

Adventure on the high seas. Not Patrick O’Brian, but not bad either

LUDLUM, Robert

The Bourne Identity 1980

Classic thriller. Amnesiac gradually realises he’s a super-spy

MIÉVILLE, China

King Rat 1998 Action/(Urban) Fantasy

Cool, dark X-men action and mood, bit pretentious, really silly climax

SMITH, Wilbur

The Sound of Thunder (Sean Courtney series) 1966 Action/Historical Fiction

Engaging Boer war action, dubious ‘heroic’ character

B-

BAGLEY, Desmond

Windfall 1982

OK start but descends to lazy farce

L’AMOUR, Louis

Sitka 1957

Slightly variant heroic Alaskan western

PÉREZ-REVERTE, Arturo

Captain Alatriste 1996 (trans. M.S. Peden, 2005) Historical Fiction/Action

Disappointing: more jingoism than intelligent historical action

C

CLEARY, John

The Safe House 1975

Particularly average

LUSTBADER, Eric

Second Skin 1995 Action

OK standard action novel with absurd philosophical pretensions

D-

CLANCY, Tom

The Teeth of the Tiger 2003 Action

Proudly stupid bigotry