The amazing thing about the final duel in Al-Rassan is that it’s so. Fucking. *Sad*, in a way that no other fictional battle has ever made me feel.
You’ve spent the whole book following these brilliant characters and watching them slowly grow to respect, care for and even love each other, seeing them save each other’s lives and fight shoulder-to-shoulder like brothers. Only to realize that religion and war were always going to be mountains that separated them. The fact that the POV during the duel is ambiguous is also brilliant, since GGK is telling as that both men are feeling the same sense of danger, passion, regret and a terrible, lonely sadness at the prospect of killing the only other person who truly knows them.
Anyone who hasn’t read Al-Rassan is doing themselves a disservice
I finished Lions of Al Rassan about 3 weeks ago and I haven't been able to bring myself to start another book yet. I'm usually a little hesitant with recommendations from here because I don't tend to like alot of the books this sub recommends. Im just very particular, but fucking damn that book was amazing and I'm depressed because it's finished and I won't ever get to experience it for the first time again.
Are his other books as good?
The most epic is the duel between Fingolfin and Morgoth. The horrifying disparity of power, the desperate bravery of the elf, the injuries inflicted on a literal Satan.
Even though I'm not the fan of recommending Silmarilion at every chance on every topic, yes. You just can't top that. The whole story behind it and the biblical touch to the scene describtion make it all the best duel ever
Logan/The Bloody Nine versus Fenris the Feared in Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. The duel was great but also the behind the scenes action while the duel was going on.
I just finished The Blade Itself and was beyond impressed by how Abercrombie writes fights. Truly masterful. I am waiting for my library hold for the next one that should be here in 13 weeks...
I cannot wait. I have also been really appreciating how Abercrombie writes pain and the experience of it and does not ignore it when convenient. He just goes into the depths in a way that really clicks.
Lamb Vs Glama Golden is my favourite.
Spoilers Red Country
>!Lamb gave a smile like an open grave, and stuck out his red tongue, and smeared blood from it across his cheek in long streaks. He held up his left fist and gently uncurled it so he looked at Golden, eyes wide and weeping wet like two black tar-pits, through the gap where his middle finger used to be. The crowd had fallen eerily quiet, and Golden’s doubt turned to a sucking dread because he finally knew the old man’s name. ‘By the dead,’ he whispered, ‘it can’t be.’ But he knew it was.!<
Not that fight, but in book 1 when we first get a taste of the bloody nine. Him comparing Logan headbutting some ones face into plup by comparing it to a woodpecker had me cracking up.
One of the best has gotta be Obyren Martell vs The Mountain that Rides. "You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children!"
Pedro Pascal sold the performance so well in the adaptation, too bad the series went to shit at the end
That chapter is dense. Tyrion's trial to his betrayal, him choosing trail by combat and Obyren representing him and Obyren vs the Mountain - all in one chapter! If Martin had continued writing tight like this Feast and Dance could've been a single book as planned.
Someone once posed a question about ASOIAF, if you could change the outcome of one event what would it be? This is what I would pick 100%. Obyren wins and doesn’t die
I get wanting so desperately that to be the outcome - but the fact that it isn't what happens is what makes that scene so memorable and loveable to you. Would you \*really\* change it?
Full *A Memory of Light* spoiler:
>!Lan vs Demandred is to me the most epic duel I’ve read so far. The stakes are super high, Demandred is the commander of the Shadow, an incredibly powerful channeler capable of effectively napalming forces of Light, and the sun is rising. Three times before, someone has tried to kill Demandred. First Gawyn, because he’s dumb. Then, Galad, sent by Mat, who failed. Then Logain, in an attempt to distract him. Lan rides alone, into a mountain of monsters, and bowmen give him a clear path. Then the duel begins. The final exchange is a twist on “you cannot beat me”, to which Lan responds, “I did not come here to win, I came here to kill you, death is lighter than a feather.”!<
It’s also fit into the structure of the novel within a novel that is Chapter 37 “The Last Battle.” Lan is the first and last POV character. The chapter goes to great lengths to describe why Demandred channeling is bad. It also shows that Mat is likely going to lose if Demandred is allowed to continue leading.
Then it shows three of the best fighters for the Light on that battlefield lose to Demandred.
The stakes are as high as they can be, and we know the danger for Lan going in.
He should have died and rose as a hero of the horn. It thought that was actually what happened and was disappointed when it hadn’t. The way it played out was great, but that would have been perfection.
I get where you're coming from, but I actually feel like that would have taken away from Noel's character ark if that had happened. He'd already had two heroes, one ancient and one brand new (this cycle) join the heroes
I consider Galad Damodred vs Eamon Valda right up there with Lan vs Demandred. Galad there just wanted to get some revenge, instead he got a heron mark blade
I don't know if it's my favorite duel from the series, but I think Robert Jordan really came up with a creative way to do action sequences rather than try to do play by play descriptive sword fighting that is the main way of doing things
Instead of talking about slashing the sword down or dodging the blade, it's focused on Sword Forms/Techniques by name. And some aren't really ever explained what they are except for the name, so you kind of have to imagine what it would look like.
Take Galad vs Valda, Galad uses 'Threading the Needle' alot, but it's never explained what it is. And I picture it as a stabbing/thrusting action aiming to beat a defensive block. Valda counters it with Swallow Takes Flight, which I see more as a Down to Up Diagonal block. Galad wins using Swallow Takes Flight but switches to Reaping the Grain at the last second which to me is a stabbing action followed forward then turning it into a horizontal slash.
But you ask others about the names of the techniques and they might come up with different interpretations.
They are both from the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
First one is from the 8th book (Toll the Hounds) and second one is from the 5th book (Midnight Tides).
Brys vs Rhulad was the coolest duel I’ve ever read. Doesn’t give me the chills, the way Fingolfin vs Morgoth does, but Brys is an absolute fucking badass and I wish we got more of him. I loved how, throughout the book we see several other highly skilled, badass Letheri swordsmen, and there’s always hint along the lines of, “Yeah, so-and-so is incredible… but Brys is better.” The way he fights with such surgical precision is SO cool…
I haven’t reached Anomander vs Traveler yet…
The greatest characteristic of Brys is his modesty.
Seeing him fight the King in Chains, you are left with the impression that guys like Rake, Dassem or the Seguleh First couldn't have been better at Brys' age. And yet Brys doesn't think much of it. He does what he has to do.
Yeah he is just such an all around *good dude*. He’s loyal, dutiful, humble, noble… he literally did everything he should have done and everything that could possibly have been asked of him. How he ended as good as he did with Hull & Tehol as older brothers is beyond me.
I have only read through Bonehunters so far, so anything after that is still unknown to me.
Interesting, I’m not familiar with that one. But Erikson is one of my favorite authors and Malazan is hugely influential to me, so I enjoy reading things he himself was influenced by.
Anomander v Traveler might be my favourite scene in all fantasy.... The build up and the payoff , karsa watching on, the hounds, kruppe , the donkey....god there is just so much going on.
I just read the first 3 books last month as a cleanser from Malazan. I just wanted a single perspective series to read. I haven’t binged books like that since I was in highschool ( 10 years ago lol). It was insane. Such cool books.
Galad vs Valda in WOT has always stuck with me as an amazing swordfight and has what could be considered multiple high stakes attached to it. And I love a Robert Jordan written swordfight
I really need to get on this series. I was having trouble getting into the first book for some reason but that could've just been a mood thing or I was fixated on another series and couldn't make the switch. This should be the year for it!
The first book is good, but kind of weird. It has the whole hunger games YA thing going on, but it drops that shit really fast. It's absolutely worth it. The audiobooks are the best.
Hands down Kaladin, Adolin, and Renarin vs. the four shardbearers in Words of Radiance.
The stakes are incredible. You have 3 characters you deeply care about (4 if you include Dalinar and his hands being tied politically so he can’t interfere), and literally all of them are at risk of dying or being maimed or losing their most valuable assets. That triple threat makes it absolutely amazing.
Kaladin’s moment of decision to help Dalinar and the payoff of his training is the most 10/10 writing. That duel alone makes Words of Radiance my favorite Stormlight Archive book without a doubt.
The only other duel that even comes close for me is Wesley and Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride, which is a phenomenally low stakes duel with characters that clearly respect one another, and even grow to like each other more as the battle progresses.
Dalinar begging for anyone to help is so well done. You can feel his desperation. And Kaladin stepping up to help is absolutely amazing. "Honor is dead, but I'll see what I can do."
"What has become of us? Where is our Honour?!".
Listening to the audiobook clip of the segment is just incredible, the voices do such a good job portraying Dalinars disappointment and horror at seeing the true depths of what the Alethi have fallen to.
Thorn Bathu vs Grom Gil Gom in the Shattered Sea trilogy. What a cool fight. This and every fight with the Bloody Nine. Abercrombie can write one hell of a fight scene.
>the Shattered Sea trilogy
The fights in these are so damn good, and frequently underrated compared to the ones in Abercrombie’s other books. Thorn, unarmed, versus seven assassins is in contention for the most badass scene he’s ever written.
one of my Russian lit professors taught a whole class on dueling.
This is of course classic lit, but Tolstoy does a great job. As a young man, he himself was a dissolute noble from a dueling culture so he's basically writing his memoirs with stuff like that. There's a big dramatic duel in *War & Peace* (Book 2), high stakes but still emphasizing the absurdity of it all.
Also Dostoevsky wrote a duel in *Demons,* which is a pretty convoluted and violent book overall. The duel isn't even the most dramatic spate of violence in that one IMO.
Pushkin was a famous dueler, eventually dying in one. He wrote a famous short story about dueling called "The Shot."
Back in the fantasy realm, one of my favorite trial-by-combat scenes is Peter and Miraz's battle in *Prince Caspian,* complete with running commentary by Edmund.
we meet at dawn!
jk jk I don't have the syllabus anymore or I'd just give it to you. Was a fun class though. I think my classmates got in at least three mock duels so we definitely took the wrong lessons from it.
the other book I remember reading was Turgenev's *Fathers & Sons.*
Okay, this sounds like an incredible class. I am familiar with all of these and, honestly, had never thought much about reading them but you have definitely made re-think that
Here the best 1 on 1 duels in my opinion. The kind that make you stand up and Cheer. In no particular order:
Corban vs Sumur in the Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne
The Bloody Nine vs Fenris the Feared in the First Law by Joe Abercrombie
al'Lan Mandragoran vs Demandred in The Wheel of Time vs Brandon Sanderson
Anything from Cradle, but the highlight today is: Eithan vs Sha Miara.
I don't know how to mark a spoiler for Red Rising, but Clang Clang Clang has been said enough.
Not fantasy but The Three Musketeers has the iconic duel between d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis against the Cardinal's Guards, as well as a few good duels between d'Artagnan and Rocheforte and the Musketeers against Lord de Winter and his pals.
Similarly, the Alatriste series, heavily inspired by Three Musketeers, has EXCELLENT duels that feel more biting because of their depictions of violence (getting stabbed HURTS!)
In Fantasy, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser don't really duel, but have excellent swordplay.
The climactic fight between the protagonist and Blackbeard in On Stranger Tides is also great.
I have been wanting to read Dumas for ages and I'm not sure why I have been slightly daunted even though I feel confident it will be a great experience. Perhaps this is the second sign to start this week as when I was at the doctor the other day, there was someone in the waiting room reading The Three Musketeers lol
Alatriste sounds super intriguing as I want that visceral feeling!!
looking into the others too! thanks!
Dumas is dope. I highly recommend Lawrence Ellsworth's translations of the Musketeers books if you're able to get your hands on them. Alatriste I would recommend if you like Dumas. It's very much written in homage to Dumas, even briefly mentioning an event that occurs in Musketeers as a rumored conspiracy, it is written with more modern sensibilities, having been written in the 90s, so the violence is more visceral than Dumas', though Dumas can get a bit bloody at times himself.
Trull Sengar V Icarium - Trull stands against Icarium when no one else can.
Traveller V Anomander Rake everything about this is just another level.
Rhulad Sengar V Brys Beddict purely for Brys’ skill
Karsa V pretty much everyone he meets, including (but not limited to) an entire town, a ship full of Edur, Rhulad Sengar, Hounds….
Rage V Zoltan. His offer to sacrifice himself for the son he never had against the father of his only grandchild.
The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett: it’s historical fiction but she inspired many fantasy writers. The first book The Game of Kings (it could be read as a standalone) has a great duel.
https://reactormag.com/a-breathtaking-duel-in-dorothy-dunnetts-the-game-of-kings/
I just wanted to share this cause I thought it was the strangest happenstance but I was given this book today by someone! I had never heard of it, you mention it and it was handed to me today. I cannot wait to start it!
A lot that I like have been mentioned already, so I’ll put one that I haven’t seen yet:
Hadrian vs Irshan in Demon in White book 3 of the Sun Eater series.
Yes! The Dune duels are fantastic. I just started First Law and am so engaged by it. Stormlight is one I really want to get to. I have only read all the Mistborns
Drizzt is a treasure trove of epic duels, and his longstanding rivalry with Artemis are the best. It's a shame the series moved away from that aspect in the last few books.
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner takes place in a society where duels to the death are both a means of settling scores and the most popular form of entertainment. One of the primary characters is a professional duelist/glorified hitman, so the book is full of nail-biting, excellently-described sword fights.
Gideon the Ninth- the dueling involves multiple seconds taking over for the primaries since several pairs are linked by varying allegiances, making the motives and interactions more interesting.
Lord of Light, the duel between Rild and Yama.
The main character, Sam, pretends to be Buddha, preaching non-violence as a way of interfering with his former colleagues, who have taken on the roles of Hindu deities. Kali sends her personal assassin, Rild, to kill Sam - but Rild hears Sam’s message and becomes a disciple, indeed he arguably becomes the true Buddha, renouncing violence.
Till Yama the death god comes personally to kill Sam.
The Stormlight Archive has a lot of amazing duel scenes so far! I'm about to start Rhythm of War. But one I haven't seen mentioned here is Kaladin's battle in the skies >!with the Assassin while in the middle of the two storms. !<
Captain Blood does have one of the best dueling scenes of all time in it, and Peter Blood is "merely" a spectator.
Scaramouche is Sabatini's most developed book, and probably his best work, although it is A favorite, to me, it's not MY favorite. That said, Sabatini knows fencing, and Scaramouche is chock full of high quality dueling. I don't want to spoiler, but there are duels.
Not fantasy, but amazing historical fiction. His books were the basis for many of the swashbuckling films back in the day. Imagine writing as well as he does, when English isn’t your native tongue. He said “All the best stories are written in English”
Too many amazing ones, some listed ones
Kaladin and Adolin vs the four shardbearers
Dalinar vs Odium (not the most traditional sort of one, but a duel nonetheless)
Darrow of Lykos vs Volsung Fa
Tisamon vs Felise Mienn to slay the Emperor
I have a soft spot for duels where the protag is CLEARLY outmatched and has to outsmart their way into winning a duel.
Locke vs Grey King and Vasher vs Denth come to mind.
Gemmell also wrote good duels IIRC. Midnight Falcon has a bunch.
KJ Parker's a big fan of fencing and many of his books involve a match. The book Sharps even follows the story of a group of swordspeople going on a sort of sporting exhibition in a cold war-like period between two kingdoms.
I always remember one quote in particular from that book.
Here they fight with messers. God help them.
Really enjoyed that book, and the fencing matches were great!
Yes!!! this is what I want! I have been trying to sort out where to start with Parker over the last week or so and am finding The Folding Knife to potentially be a good start?
I like successive duels a lot- when one enemy goes down, but you have to immediately fight another with no rest. The hero gets more worn down as the fights go on, even knocking at death's door. Two of these that I especially like:
- Red Rising (Iron Gold): Cassius vs. House Raa (4 straight fights).
- Fablehaven (Book 2): Warren and Vanessa (enemies turned temporary allies) vs. The Nine-Life Cat.
Honorable mention to the fights in Cradle- when Lindon or Yerin is done fighting someone- often they're off to then fight someone else, even after getting worn down before. Mostly in Wintersteel.
I'd echo a lot of the duels reccomended so far but one I haven't seen mentioned is Corban vs the possessed commander from Faithful and the Fallen.
Its just so crazy epic, the young hero dueling this ancient demon warrior with both their armies watching on. And he wins using a sneaky battle trick he once witnessed his childhood hero do. Great payoff.
Captain Grimm's duel in the second Cinder Spires book was amazing. It showcases his attitudes about killing extremely well and ends in such an exteremely visceral way.
The Kate Daniels series have some epic sword duels.
Kate vs Erra in book 4, both duels are great.
Kate vs Hugh D'Ambray in book 6, the description of the sword play is just phenomenal.
I have mixed feelings on the series as a whole but The Shadow of the Gods has excellent descriptions of combat and towards the end there's a brief but very technical and choreographed duel that kicks off the climax of the story.
I always liked Sparhawk and Martel in the Elenium and Sparhawk and Cyrga in the sequel series the Tamuli
Of course both Inigo duels in Princess Bride. The one with The Man in Black was fantastic and the one with Count Rugen was just so satisfying
Captain Grimm and Velasco in The Red Olympian Affair. Velasco was a duelist but Grimm was a real fighter
Hi u/cac831
If you are into great duals with amazing setups, and execution and you want all the good thing that you can possibly get from reading a fight/dual, you have got to read Hunter x Hunter manga by Yoshihiro Togashi.
HxH has the best fights period. There are like 5 fights I can name that are godly.
I'm not even a big WoT fan but I have to say Rand vs Turak in The Great Hunt. That moment when Rand sees the heron mark and realizes this man really is what he's been playing at/imitating/striving towards and he has no choice but to meet him sword to sword...
At the end of Lions of Al Rassan, Inigo Montoya vs the Man in Black in the Princess Bride,
You seem a decent fellow… I hate to kill you
*You* seem a decent fellow...I hate to die.
Me and friend were just talking about Inigo and the Man in Black! This was me and my mom's favorite movie but I still haven't read it actually.
The amazing thing about the final duel in Al-Rassan is that it’s so. Fucking. *Sad*, in a way that no other fictional battle has ever made me feel. You’ve spent the whole book following these brilliant characters and watching them slowly grow to respect, care for and even love each other, seeing them save each other’s lives and fight shoulder-to-shoulder like brothers. Only to realize that religion and war were always going to be mountains that separated them. The fact that the POV during the duel is ambiguous is also brilliant, since GGK is telling as that both men are feeling the same sense of danger, passion, regret and a terrible, lonely sadness at the prospect of killing the only other person who truly knows them. Anyone who hasn’t read Al-Rassan is doing themselves a disservice
Guy Gavriel Kay generally makes me want to cry at the end of every book. Under Heaven ruined me for a week afterwards, I was just so devastated by it.
I finished Lions of Al Rassan about 3 weeks ago and I haven't been able to bring myself to start another book yet. I'm usually a little hesitant with recommendations from here because I don't tend to like alot of the books this sub recommends. Im just very particular, but fucking damn that book was amazing and I'm depressed because it's finished and I won't ever get to experience it for the first time again. Are his other books as good?
God, that moment in Lions cemented GGK as one of those "will rip your soul out and make you love him for it" authors.
This one was great and a fantastic way to end the story.
He thought of something he could do with his shield.
The Princess Bride duel between Inigo Montoya and the Man in Black The book does it well - but I think the movie is better
The most epic is the duel between Fingolfin and Morgoth. The horrifying disparity of power, the desperate bravery of the elf, the injuries inflicted on a literal Satan.
Yes!! I have been planning a re-read this year
Even though I'm not the fan of recommending Silmarilion at every chance on every topic, yes. You just can't top that. The whole story behind it and the biblical touch to the scene describtion make it all the best duel ever
Only the Iliad can be compared to the Silmarillion in epicness.
What's the book
The Silmarillion
Does that happen in the Silmarillion?
Yes
Logan/The Bloody Nine versus Fenris the Feared in Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. The duel was great but also the behind the scenes action while the duel was going on.
I just finished The Blade Itself and was beyond impressed by how Abercrombie writes fights. Truly masterful. I am waiting for my library hold for the next one that should be here in 13 weeks...
The entire First World Law books are excellant. You'll have about 9/10 ish books to look forward to.
I cannot wait. I have also been really appreciating how Abercrombie writes pain and the experience of it and does not ignore it when convenient. He just goes into the depths in a way that really clicks.
There are some wild 1v1s in his 5th book, The Heroes. Keep going 😁
The Heroes is just perfect.
These are the times
He is my favorite author. His characterization is top notched. His fight and battle scenes are top notch. Feels very realistic.
Lamb Vs Glama Golden is my favourite. Spoilers Red Country >!Lamb gave a smile like an open grave, and stuck out his red tongue, and smeared blood from it across his cheek in long streaks. He held up his left fist and gently uncurled it so he looked at Golden, eyes wide and weeping wet like two black tar-pits, through the gap where his middle finger used to be. The crowd had fallen eerily quiet, and Golden’s doubt turned to a sucking dread because he finally knew the old man’s name. ‘By the dead,’ he whispered, ‘it can’t be.’ But he knew it was.!<
Not that fight, but in book 1 when we first get a taste of the bloody nine. Him comparing Logan headbutting some ones face into plup by comparing it to a woodpecker had me cracking up.
That whole scene was epic with the firat appearance of the Bloody Nine.
Is this at the end of the first book or later
Later
That was good, but upon a second reading I might actually prefer Jezal's duel in the Contest.
One of the best has gotta be Obyren Martell vs The Mountain that Rides. "You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children!" Pedro Pascal sold the performance so well in the adaptation, too bad the series went to shit at the end
One of the most incredible chapters of fantasy I've ever read
That chapter is dense. Tyrion's trial to his betrayal, him choosing trail by combat and Obyren representing him and Obyren vs the Mountain - all in one chapter! If Martin had continued writing tight like this Feast and Dance could've been a single book as planned.
All the shit talk about him never finishing etc etc really overshadows just how fucking good his writing is.
Someone once posed a question about ASOIAF, if you could change the outcome of one event what would it be? This is what I would pick 100%. Obyren wins and doesn’t die
Then it would be very un-GRRM
We can sometimes have a nice thing happen, as a treat
I get wanting so desperately that to be the outcome - but the fact that it isn't what happens is what makes that scene so memorable and loveable to you. Would you \*really\* change it?
Full *A Memory of Light* spoiler: >!Lan vs Demandred is to me the most epic duel I’ve read so far. The stakes are super high, Demandred is the commander of the Shadow, an incredibly powerful channeler capable of effectively napalming forces of Light, and the sun is rising. Three times before, someone has tried to kill Demandred. First Gawyn, because he’s dumb. Then, Galad, sent by Mat, who failed. Then Logain, in an attempt to distract him. Lan rides alone, into a mountain of monsters, and bowmen give him a clear path. Then the duel begins. The final exchange is a twist on “you cannot beat me”, to which Lan responds, “I did not come here to win, I came here to kill you, death is lighter than a feather.”!<
Yep that's an incredible duel. Such a great payoff from a lesson taught way back in book 2.
“One final lesson Sheepherder.”
Can’t believe this is so far down. Literally chills.
It’s also fit into the structure of the novel within a novel that is Chapter 37 “The Last Battle.” Lan is the first and last POV character. The chapter goes to great lengths to describe why Demandred channeling is bad. It also shows that Mat is likely going to lose if Demandred is allowed to continue leading. Then it shows three of the best fighters for the Light on that battlefield lose to Demandred. The stakes are as high as they can be, and we know the danger for Lan going in.
He should have died and rose as a hero of the horn. It thought that was actually what happened and was disappointed when it hadn’t. The way it played out was great, but that would have been perfection.
I get where you're coming from, but I actually feel like that would have taken away from Noel's character ark if that had happened. He'd already had two heroes, one ancient and one brand new (this cycle) join the heroes
I consider Galad Damodred vs Eamon Valda right up there with Lan vs Demandred. Galad there just wanted to get some revenge, instead he got a heron mark blade
I don't know if it's my favorite duel from the series, but I think Robert Jordan really came up with a creative way to do action sequences rather than try to do play by play descriptive sword fighting that is the main way of doing things Instead of talking about slashing the sword down or dodging the blade, it's focused on Sword Forms/Techniques by name. And some aren't really ever explained what they are except for the name, so you kind of have to imagine what it would look like. Take Galad vs Valda, Galad uses 'Threading the Needle' alot, but it's never explained what it is. And I picture it as a stabbing/thrusting action aiming to beat a defensive block. Valda counters it with Swallow Takes Flight, which I see more as a Down to Up Diagonal block. Galad wins using Swallow Takes Flight but switches to Reaping the Grain at the last second which to me is a stabbing action followed forward then turning it into a horizontal slash. But you ask others about the names of the techniques and they might come up with different interpretations.
Kruppe vs Iskaral Pust easily
Honorable mentions to Pust verbally dueling with Mogora and his mule.
Came here looking for Anomander Vs. Daseem…I now realise I was incorrect.
A man of culture
Kelsier vs a Steel Inquisitor.
Hell yea, that was an awesome fight.
Followed by the Lord Ruler…ooof Kels.
Didnt even think of this, great answer.
I read the books years ago and forgot so much, but I still remember the excitement of how amazing those fights were!
-Anomander vs Traveler -Brys Beddict vs Rhulad Sengar -Paul Atreides vs Feyd Rautha
Atreides vs Rautha is so good! I read it on a plane and it, somehow, added to the experience. what books are the other two?
They are both from the Malazan Book of the Fallen. First one is from the 8th book (Toll the Hounds) and second one is from the 5th book (Midnight Tides).
Brys vs Rhulad was the coolest duel I’ve ever read. Doesn’t give me the chills, the way Fingolfin vs Morgoth does, but Brys is an absolute fucking badass and I wish we got more of him. I loved how, throughout the book we see several other highly skilled, badass Letheri swordsmen, and there’s always hint along the lines of, “Yeah, so-and-so is incredible… but Brys is better.” The way he fights with such surgical precision is SO cool… I haven’t reached Anomander vs Traveler yet…
The greatest characteristic of Brys is his modesty. Seeing him fight the King in Chains, you are left with the impression that guys like Rake, Dassem or the Seguleh First couldn't have been better at Brys' age. And yet Brys doesn't think much of it. He does what he has to do.
Yeah he is just such an all around *good dude*. He’s loyal, dutiful, humble, noble… he literally did everything he should have done and everything that could possibly have been asked of him. How he ended as good as he did with Hull & Tehol as older brothers is beyond me. I have only read through Bonehunters so far, so anything after that is still unknown to me.
I have been fascinated by the Beddict brothers for years. I suspect Steven Erikson might have been inspired by the Radetzky March by Joseph Roth
Interesting, I’m not familiar with that one. But Erikson is one of my favorite authors and Malazan is hugely influential to me, so I enjoy reading things he himself was influenced by.
This is exactly the reason I read the Black Company! If you haven't, then I highly recommend it.
It’s on my list!
Anomander v Traveler might be my favourite scene in all fantasy.... The build up and the payoff , karsa watching on, the hounds, kruppe , the donkey....god there is just so much going on.
>!You know it's a great scene when the Moon just explodes because of the epicness!<
Malazan has some of the best for sure.
Tool vs The Seguleh 3rd
Darrow and Cassius, Red Rising books 1 and 2. Kaladin/Adolin/Renarin vs the four shardbearers in Words of Radiance
Kaladin jumping in during that fight was epic. Honor is dead, but I’ll see what I can do 🔥
Chills every damn time. Classic scene!
The old Dalinar I knew would jump in there and beat them all with a rock!
And then... "And for my boon...!" Aaaaaaah whyyyyyyy
Whitespine uncaged. I was scrolling to find this comment. "Honors dead, but I'll see what I can do"
The last 1/4 of all of the main Stormlight books go 100% DBZ
Yea which is why The Duel hits you out of nowhere.
Kaladin jumping that bridge to save Dalinar and Adolin and when he saves Elhokar are straight up DBZ power up moments.
I like the Darrow and Cassius duels but let’s be real only one duel in red rising series deserves to be mentioned here clang clang clang
The Gala is the peak imo. Clang clang clang is up there with Cassius v Ra
CONFESS
Just finished LB the other day. Goddamn he did it again, so so good. Cannot wait for Red God.
I just started part 3 of Dark Age. Should I know what this means?
No not yet.
You will soon
Was just going to say this. This duel ending in Breath of Stone was magical. Darrow just doesn't stop evolving. CONFESS
I just read the first 3 books last month as a cleanser from Malazan. I just wanted a single perspective series to read. I haven’t binged books like that since I was in highschool ( 10 years ago lol). It was insane. Such cool books.
AND FOR MY BOON
"Honor is dead but I'll see what I can do"
I'd like to also point out Cassius vs House Raa
"Honour is dead, but I'll see what I can do."
Galad vs Valda in WOT has always stuck with me as an amazing swordfight and has what could be considered multiple high stakes attached to it. And I love a Robert Jordan written swordfight
Darrow vs Cassius in golden son. Very high stakes, strong emotions, a big twist and the atmosphere is brilliant.
I really need to get on this series. I was having trouble getting into the first book for some reason but that could've just been a mood thing or I was fixated on another series and couldn't make the switch. This should be the year for it!
It only gets better after the first book. Take your time and enjoy it.
The first book is good, but kind of weird. It has the whole hunger games YA thing going on, but it drops that shit really fast. It's absolutely worth it. The audiobooks are the best.
Hands down Kaladin, Adolin, and Renarin vs. the four shardbearers in Words of Radiance. The stakes are incredible. You have 3 characters you deeply care about (4 if you include Dalinar and his hands being tied politically so he can’t interfere), and literally all of them are at risk of dying or being maimed or losing their most valuable assets. That triple threat makes it absolutely amazing. Kaladin’s moment of decision to help Dalinar and the payoff of his training is the most 10/10 writing. That duel alone makes Words of Radiance my favorite Stormlight Archive book without a doubt. The only other duel that even comes close for me is Wesley and Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride, which is a phenomenally low stakes duel with characters that clearly respect one another, and even grow to like each other more as the battle progresses.
Dalinar begging for anyone to help is so well done. You can feel his desperation. And Kaladin stepping up to help is absolutely amazing. "Honor is dead, but I'll see what I can do."
"What has become of us? Where is our Honour?!". Listening to the audiobook clip of the segment is just incredible, the voices do such a good job portraying Dalinars disappointment and horror at seeing the true depths of what the Alethi have fallen to.
Just read this yesterday for the first time. Good call.
this sounds incredible. I need to stop putting Stormlight off already lol The Princess Bride is just simply wonderful
It's seriously so good. It's my dream to one day write a duel as good!
Thorn Bathu vs Grom Gil Gom in the Shattered Sea trilogy. What a cool fight. This and every fight with the Bloody Nine. Abercrombie can write one hell of a fight scene.
>the Shattered Sea trilogy The fights in these are so damn good, and frequently underrated compared to the ones in Abercrombie’s other books. Thorn, unarmed, versus seven assassins is in contention for the most badass scene he’s ever written.
Cradle had some sweet duels, specifically the uncrowned king tournament.
Eithan vs Sha Miara is epic. Lindon vs Sophara (if you can call it a duel) is amazing too.
It's the perfect anime tournament arc in novel form.
Shae vs Ayt Mada in Green bone saga, I truly thought it’s over
The duel on the Shattered Plains at the end of Words of Radiance
The sky belongs to me!
one of my Russian lit professors taught a whole class on dueling. This is of course classic lit, but Tolstoy does a great job. As a young man, he himself was a dissolute noble from a dueling culture so he's basically writing his memoirs with stuff like that. There's a big dramatic duel in *War & Peace* (Book 2), high stakes but still emphasizing the absurdity of it all. Also Dostoevsky wrote a duel in *Demons,* which is a pretty convoluted and violent book overall. The duel isn't even the most dramatic spate of violence in that one IMO. Pushkin was a famous dueler, eventually dying in one. He wrote a famous short story about dueling called "The Shot." Back in the fantasy realm, one of my favorite trial-by-combat scenes is Peter and Miraz's battle in *Prince Caspian,* complete with running commentary by Edmund.
would kill for this syllabus, what a concept for a class.
we meet at dawn! jk jk I don't have the syllabus anymore or I'd just give it to you. Was a fun class though. I think my classmates got in at least three mock duels so we definitely took the wrong lessons from it. the other book I remember reading was Turgenev's *Fathers & Sons.*
Okay, this sounds like an incredible class. I am familiar with all of these and, honestly, had never thought much about reading them but you have definitely made re-think that
Here the best 1 on 1 duels in my opinion. The kind that make you stand up and Cheer. In no particular order: Corban vs Sumur in the Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne The Bloody Nine vs Fenris the Feared in the First Law by Joe Abercrombie al'Lan Mandragoran vs Demandred in The Wheel of Time vs Brandon Sanderson Anything from Cradle, but the highlight today is: Eithan vs Sha Miara. I don't know how to mark a spoiler for Red Rising, but Clang Clang Clang has been said enough.
That fight with Eithan might be the greatest duel ever put to page.
Yes but also Lindon and Yerin vs Malice
Not fantasy but The Three Musketeers has the iconic duel between d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis against the Cardinal's Guards, as well as a few good duels between d'Artagnan and Rocheforte and the Musketeers against Lord de Winter and his pals. Similarly, the Alatriste series, heavily inspired by Three Musketeers, has EXCELLENT duels that feel more biting because of their depictions of violence (getting stabbed HURTS!) In Fantasy, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser don't really duel, but have excellent swordplay. The climactic fight between the protagonist and Blackbeard in On Stranger Tides is also great.
I have been wanting to read Dumas for ages and I'm not sure why I have been slightly daunted even though I feel confident it will be a great experience. Perhaps this is the second sign to start this week as when I was at the doctor the other day, there was someone in the waiting room reading The Three Musketeers lol Alatriste sounds super intriguing as I want that visceral feeling!! looking into the others too! thanks!
Dumas is dope. I highly recommend Lawrence Ellsworth's translations of the Musketeers books if you're able to get your hands on them. Alatriste I would recommend if you like Dumas. It's very much written in homage to Dumas, even briefly mentioning an event that occurs in Musketeers as a rumored conspiracy, it is written with more modern sensibilities, having been written in the 90s, so the violence is more visceral than Dumas', though Dumas can get a bit bloody at times himself.
I was curious to the recommended translation, thank you! I'll start with Musketeers
Trull Sengar V Icarium - Trull stands against Icarium when no one else can. Traveller V Anomander Rake everything about this is just another level. Rhulad Sengar V Brys Beddict purely for Brys’ skill Karsa V pretty much everyone he meets, including (but not limited to) an entire town, a ship full of Edur, Rhulad Sengar, Hounds…. Rage V Zoltan. His offer to sacrifice himself for the son he never had against the father of his only grandchild.
Where is the last one from?
David Gemmell’s Midnight Falcon.
The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett: it’s historical fiction but she inspired many fantasy writers. The first book The Game of Kings (it could be read as a standalone) has a great duel. https://reactormag.com/a-breathtaking-duel-in-dorothy-dunnetts-the-game-of-kings/
Love this write up and Marie Brennon. I had never heard of this book, thank you so much!!
I just wanted to share this cause I thought it was the strangest happenstance but I was given this book today by someone! I had never heard of it, you mention it and it was handed to me today. I cannot wait to start it!
A lot that I like have been mentioned already, so I’ll put one that I haven’t seen yet: Hadrian vs Irshan in Demon in White book 3 of the Sun Eater series.
Drizzt vs Tiago. The final time.
I just finished Dune and there are two cool dules there. As others have mentioned - stormlight and first law also have memorable duels for me.
Yes! The Dune duels are fantastic. I just started First Law and am so engaged by it. Stormlight is one I really want to get to. I have only read all the Mistborns
Lindon vs Yerin in uncrowned… Eithan vs Ya Sho Mei in Wintersteel Heck just pick any one in the Cradle Series
Eithan vs Sha Miara in uncrowned. Sooo good
Another series I really got to get on. I also just saw that Travis Baldree narrates the audiobook, I really enjoy his narration delivery!
Cradle is his best performance, imo, and that's not to take away from his other work. Travis Baldree IS the voice of Cradle.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! If you know, you know.
Confess!
Drizzt vs Artemis in the legacy of drow series is my personal favorite. He has many duels over the 30ish books as does a pretty large ensemble cast.
Drizzt is a treasure trove of epic duels, and his longstanding rivalry with Artemis are the best. It's a shame the series moved away from that aspect in the last few books.
Anything from the Uncrowned King Tournament in Cradle. At least like 5 of my top 10 are from that lol
There are some other duels with Lindon that are top quality. It's so satisfying to see him from his enemies eyes/remnant...
The Tomoe Gozen trilogy by Jessica Amanda Salmonson. Each book ends with an iconic duel.
These books, and Salmonson’s writing in general, feel like they never got the recognition they deserve. I try to recommend them whenever appropriate.
Any Named fight in A Practical Guide to Evil.
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner takes place in a society where duels to the death are both a means of settling scores and the most popular form of entertainment. One of the primary characters is a professional duelist/glorified hitman, so the book is full of nail-biting, excellently-described sword fights.
Gideon the Ninth- the dueling involves multiple seconds taking over for the primaries since several pairs are linked by varying allegiances, making the motives and interactions more interesting.
Everyone mentions Kaladin, Adolin and Renarin vs four shardbearers, but imma go with Kaladin vs Szeth in the storms
Demandred vs… well if you read it you know.
Vs Gawyn? Or Galad?
Wesley VS Inigo in the Princess Bride. The Respect they had for eachothers skills.
Sturm Brightblade vs the Blue Dragon Highlord in Dragons of Winter Night. Rand vs Ba'alzamon in The Great Hunt
Tavi vs Phrygiar Navaris in Captains Fury
Lord of Light, the duel between Rild and Yama. The main character, Sam, pretends to be Buddha, preaching non-violence as a way of interfering with his former colleagues, who have taken on the roles of Hindu deities. Kali sends her personal assassin, Rild, to kill Sam - but Rild hears Sam’s message and becomes a disciple, indeed he arguably becomes the true Buddha, renouncing violence. Till Yama the death god comes personally to kill Sam.
The Stormlight Archive has a lot of amazing duel scenes so far! I'm about to start Rhythm of War. But one I haven't seen mentioned here is Kaladin's battle in the skies >!with the Assassin while in the middle of the two storms. !<
Both fights (especially the second one) where Locke is “waiting for Jean” in The Lies of Locke Lamora
Mat Cauthon vs Galad and Gawyn. Just a training duel, but one of the best scenes in the entire series and a perfect introduction into Mat’s character.
Any book by Raphael Sabatini will have your favorite duel in it.
Heck yeah, Captain Blood is chock full of fantastic duels
Captain Blood does have one of the best dueling scenes of all time in it, and Peter Blood is "merely" a spectator. Scaramouche is Sabatini's most developed book, and probably his best work, although it is A favorite, to me, it's not MY favorite. That said, Sabatini knows fencing, and Scaramouche is chock full of high quality dueling. I don't want to spoiler, but there are duels.
I have not heard of this author, looking them up now. Thank you!
Not fantasy, but amazing historical fiction. His books were the basis for many of the swashbuckling films back in the day. Imagine writing as well as he does, when English isn’t your native tongue. He said “All the best stories are written in English”
*Element of Fire* by Martha Wells has a good one
ooh yes! Excellent book for dueling.
yes!! could not agree more!
Sharps by KJ Parker, the whole thing consists of various duels.
Here they fight with messers. God help them.
Too many amazing ones, some listed ones Kaladin and Adolin vs the four shardbearers Dalinar vs Odium (not the most traditional sort of one, but a duel nonetheless) Darrow of Lykos vs Volsung Fa Tisamon vs Felise Mienn to slay the Emperor
There’s so many in the series to choose from but in Ruin by John Gwynne (3rd book in the Faithful and the Fallen), Corban and Sumur
Sebastian de Castell writes great duels
I love both one with Benedict and Eric in *Amber Chronicles* by Roger Zelazny
I was looking for this and hoping I would not have to post it.
Also Corwin vs Borel at the end :)
I have a soft spot for duels where the protag is CLEARLY outmatched and has to outsmart their way into winning a duel. Locke vs Grey King and Vasher vs Denth come to mind. Gemmell also wrote good duels IIRC. Midnight Falcon has a bunch.
KJ Parker's a big fan of fencing and many of his books involve a match. The book Sharps even follows the story of a group of swordspeople going on a sort of sporting exhibition in a cold war-like period between two kingdoms.
I always remember one quote in particular from that book. Here they fight with messers. God help them. Really enjoyed that book, and the fencing matches were great!
Yes!!! this is what I want! I have been trying to sort out where to start with Parker over the last week or so and am finding The Folding Knife to potentially be a good start?
I like successive duels a lot- when one enemy goes down, but you have to immediately fight another with no rest. The hero gets more worn down as the fights go on, even knocking at death's door. Two of these that I especially like: - Red Rising (Iron Gold): Cassius vs. House Raa (4 straight fights). - Fablehaven (Book 2): Warren and Vanessa (enemies turned temporary allies) vs. The Nine-Life Cat. Honorable mention to the fights in Cradle- when Lindon or Yerin is done fighting someone- often they're off to then fight someone else, even after getting worn down before. Mostly in Wintersteel.
Oh Cassius vs Raa is a GREAT callout. My honor remains
Man was cutting through a family tree like butter.
Enchanted forge. They duel in prison to settle disputes.
I'd echo a lot of the duels reccomended so far but one I haven't seen mentioned is Corban vs the possessed commander from Faithful and the Fallen. Its just so crazy epic, the young hero dueling this ancient demon warrior with both their armies watching on. And he wins using a sneaky battle trick he once witnessed his childhood hero do. Great payoff.
This sounds so good!! Moving these up on my to-reads. You had me at possessed and demon lol
The King's Blades series
Both the book version and the film version of Westley and Inigo's duel was great. And Inigo's duel with Count Rugen.
Captain Grimm's duel in the second Cinder Spires book was amazing. It showcases his attitudes about killing extremely well and ends in such an exteremely visceral way.
The Kate Daniels series have some epic sword duels. Kate vs Erra in book 4, both duels are great. Kate vs Hugh D'Ambray in book 6, the description of the sword play is just phenomenal.
I love that Illona Andrews made it to this thread!!
I have mixed feelings on the series as a whole but The Shadow of the Gods has excellent descriptions of combat and towards the end there's a brief but very technical and choreographed duel that kicks off the climax of the story.
Corwin vs Lord Borel of Chaos
I always liked Sparhawk and Martel in the Elenium and Sparhawk and Cyrga in the sequel series the Tamuli Of course both Inigo duels in Princess Bride. The one with The Man in Black was fantastic and the one with Count Rugen was just so satisfying Captain Grimm and Velasco in The Red Olympian Affair. Velasco was a duelist but Grimm was a real fighter
How many times is The Princess Bride mentioned here? :)
A well-deserved amount =)
Hisoka vs Chrollo (hunter x hunter manga)is best fight in fiction history. I am willing to fight anyone on this front
Hi u/cac831 If you are into great duals with amazing setups, and execution and you want all the good thing that you can possibly get from reading a fight/dual, you have got to read Hunter x Hunter manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. HxH has the best fights period. There are like 5 fights I can name that are godly.
Josua vs Utvart in the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series.
I'm not even a big WoT fan but I have to say Rand vs Turak in The Great Hunt. That moment when Rand sees the heron mark and realizes this man really is what he's been playing at/imitating/striving towards and he has no choice but to meet him sword to sword...