[frookenhauer]

For me its gotta be the Chain of Dogs. Its exiting all the way through, but Coltains Last stand in sight of Aren was heartstopping stuff. The actual battle was well planned, but the way that the defenders on Arens walls were forced to watch, knowing they could have turned the tide if the Fist allowed them to, added to the drama. In the final moments when the Dogslayers finally overwhelm the last of the defenders around Coltain we are allowed some humour in the form of the cattle dog and that little poodle thing, anyone remember the names, and then they fall. Simply awesome.

[bwgan]

I absolutely agree. I think it's the best battle I have ever read.* I have read it so many times and yet I still fume, cry, tear my hair, wail and gnash my teeth...it's not a pretty sight



*Some might say that being a girl means that I don't know about battle scenes etc. They might say that and they might even be correct...they might also like hospital food.

[frookenhauer]

bwgan;359914 said:

I absolutely agree. I think it's the best battle I have ever read.* I have read it so many times and yet I still fume, cry, tear my hair, wail and gnash my teeth...it's not a pretty sight



*Some might say that being a girl means that I don't know about battle scenes etc. They might say that and they might even be correct...they might also like hospital food.

You probably get this all the time, but could you read the sequence again and maybe film it?

The last time was in hospital, the food weren't all that bad, but I'm not sure I wanna find out anytime soon:D

[Dance]

Glen Cook's Black Company series - the rebel army marching on Lady's stronghold.

[HoosierDaddy]

It's a nice day for a Red Wedding.

Mat's pov in the Aiel battle in the fires of heaven are pretty good.

[Terez]

HoosierDaddy;360051 said:

Mat's pov in the Aiel battle in the fires of heaven are pretty good.

I enjoyed Rand's points of view from the Battle of Cairhien at least as much as Mat's, because the Lews Therin memories were really kicked up a notch in that battle, partly due to delirium. Before that, there had only been a scattered few instances of Lews Therin.

It's an odd pick for a WoT battle, though, considering that most people go for Dumai's Wells'. I don't really have a favorite...Dumai's Wells and the Battle of Cairhien were good ones, but the Asha'man battle against the Seanchan in Altara was pretty awesome, too. Especially the end, with both sides thinking they had lost badly.

For Erikson, Chain of Dogs is an obvious vote, Y'Ghatan being another good pick. Capustan and Black Coral were pretty good. Pale wasn't all that exciting to me. I did enjoy the Bonehunters' expedition on Lether, but not so much the other battles going on there. MT was a good book but I didn't enjoy the Edur conquest battles much, as far as battles go. Raraku in HoC was good stuff.

Spoiler

The battle against chaos inside Dragnipur was cool, but not really enough detail to be a favorite.

I guess if I had to pick a favorite out of all those, I'd pick the Bonehunters on Lether. Not much to it, really, but it was good stuff. All the rest of them were just too bloody depressing.

[frookenhauer]

God, I haven't read any Wheel of Time in a long, long, er...time. I stopped reading the set because of the long wait between books and when the next book did come out, the other books were a haze. I had planned to wait until he finished and then go back, but the great big eejit died on us. I hear someones going to finish the tale and tie up loose ends, tell me guys is it worth a re-read?

Terez;360053 said:

For Erikson, Chain of Dogs is an obvious vote, Y'Ghatan being another good pick. Capustan and Black Coral were pretty good. Pale wasn't all that exciting to me. I did enjoy the Bonehunters' expedition on Lether, but not so much the other battles going on there. MT was a good book but I didn't enjoy the Edur conquest battles much, as far as battles go. Raraku in HoC was good stuff.

Spoiler

The battle against chaos inside Dragnipur was cool, but not really enough detail to be a favorite.

I guess if I had to pick a favorite out of all those, I'd pick the Bonehunters on Lether. Not much to it, really, but it was good stuff. All the rest of them were just too bloody depressing.

Apart from the chain of dogs I'm inclined to agree with you, Capustan was spectacular and Black Coral had its moments too, but Y'Ghatan was a bit of a let down, I didn't really warm to that particular battle .
As for what you've hidden behind the veil, I think that was a lost opportunity for exactly the reason you stated, good call.
Depressing? One of the reasons I like Erikson so much is the fact that he actually manages to fuck with our emotions and leaves a mark. I say he's at is best when we're left shaken by what we've read, which is why I chose Coltains last stand.

[Terez]

frookenhauer;360067 said:

God, I haven't read any Wheel of Time in a long, long, er...time. I stopped reading the set because of the long wait between books and when the next book did come out, the other books were a haze. I had planned to wait until he finished and then go back, but the great big eejit died on us. I hear someones going to finish the tale and tie up loose ends, tell me guys is it worth a re-read?

Well, I'm probably not the right person to ask since I'm probably the biggest WoT fan of the regular posters, so of course I think it's worth a re-read. I didn't start reading it till after Winter's Heart came out so I didn't have this burn-out waiting for the books problem.

frooky said:

Depressing? One of the reasons I like Erikson so much is the fact that he actually manages to fuck with our emotions and leaves a mark. I say he's at is best when we're left shaken by what we've read, which is why I chose Coltains last stand.

I'm not trying to say the depressing battles weren't awesome. I just preferred the Bonehunters' campaign on Lether because it was about damn time they got a chance to really put their skills to good use, and Hellian in particular was good fun.

[Slum]

Gruntle and Co. filling a building with dead tenescrowi. /Win.

[HoosierDaddy]

Hmmm. Best battle sequence:

Malaz: My favorite is the March of the Malazan Marines in R.G.
WOT: Okay, it's not the Aiel one. It's the Forsaken - Rand's Band battle atthe end of Winter's Heart.
aSoIaF: The battle at King's Landing = awesome.
Black Company: The Battle of Charm is pretty awesome.

That's all I got for now.

[Dolorous Menhir]

Remember Coltaine.

[Riot]

Always liked the battle of Skeln Pass in Druss the Legend. How one man made such a difference in holding the line, and managing to strike fear into the enemies elites. Basically its a fictional recreation of the 300 spartans against the persian empire. Druss has to be one of the greatest creations of a hero in fantasy.

[frookenhauer]

Terez;360069 said:

Well, I'm probably not the right person to ask since I'm probably the biggest WoT fan of the regular posters, so of course I think it's worth a re-read.

There have been numerous unconfirmed sightings and reports, but I thought people such as yourself were extinct, guess I was wrong . I'll put it back on my to read list as soon as Brandon finishes the set. BTW I didn't put WoT on hold until just before Winters Heart, funnily enough.

HoosierDaddy;360200 said:

aSoIaF: The battle at King's Landing = awesome.

Yep, I was impressed. Hey, did you get round to having a look at those links?

Riot;360236 said:

Always liked the battle of Skeln Pass in Druss the Legend. How one man made such a difference in holding the line, and managing to strike fear into the enemies elites. Basically its a fictional recreation of the 300 spartans against the persian empire. Druss has to be one of the greatest creations of a hero in fantasy.

Druss is a god and this was one my all time favorite battles, I think this may have been one of the first Gemmel books I've read, and I know I cheered out loud when Gorbens immortals were routed.

[Valgard]

I will go with the Chain of dogs as well as it always affects me.

I will also mention Druss holding the fourth wall at Dros Delnoch in Legend one of my favorite moments from any book.

There are also many of the battles by Bernard Cornwell but especially in his warlord chronicles series the battle at the end of the first book was brilliant gritty and bloody.

[Cougar]

I have to admit to a soft spot for Dumai Wells; when Rand/Lews pwned those irritating Aes Sedai at last I was well pleased "I am the prince of the morning!" etc

Skeln Pass, is excellent, Gemmell has lots of good battle scenes, He was a very cinematic writer in this respect, simple with little excess wordage. Also the Crokus field in Lion of Macedon, Conavar beating the Stone army in the Rigante series and the one at the end of Last Sword of Power.

You can't really argue with charge of the Rohirim at the Battle of the Pelenor Fields either

But I'm going to have to say the Chain of Dogs, more specifically when Sormo Enath dies, butterflies etc, Vathar Crossing I think.

[Dr Trouble]

Memories of Ice is My favorite. I love Paran and his awesome battle skillz.

Also, frookenhauer>> Spoilers man, C'mon!

[Pallol One Eye]

In no particular order some of my faves are:
Chain of Dogs
Seige of Capustan
Kings Landing
Legend, the whole thing after the Nadir show up.
The battle at the end of Gemmel's Dark Prince.
Liked the table top battle between Parmenion and ????? (forgot the name) in Lion of Macedon
Couple of Battles in Midnight Tides were really good between the Edur and Lether.
There are some battle sequences in Thomas Harlans Oath of Empire series that are really awesome. Can't remember specifics other than the Battles at Alexandria and Constantinople. Actually the series is reasonaby good about a 7 out of 10 on my scale.
Pelenor Fields and Helms Deep.
The end of Moorcocks Stormbringer Chaos vs Law
Couple in The Warrior Prophet were really good, particularly the crossing the river one, cant remember that name either.

[The Tyrant Lizard]

I second the river crossing battle, of which i cannot remember the name either.

I also second the affore mentioned Druss battles, and would like to add any other battle he was involved in. Druss is one of the most scene-stealing characters I've ever read about. I've read an DG interview where he once said Druss even managed to manipulate him, surviving the Nadir horde long, long after he thought he would have killed him off.

Most Gemmel books have got pretty memorable battle-scenes at their climax, so I can't really name one.

The battle at Coral was my favourite Malazan one - that was one of the most hectic scenes of all time.

Also, There is a battle scene in a particular Goodkind book that i thought was great (go easy on me) The one where Khalan has to organize a defence, and uses shire horses with chains between them to knock down lines of men. TG does have his moments.

[Aptorian]

The Tyrant Lizard;360593 said:

Also, There is a battle scene in a particular Goodkind book that i thought was great (go easy on me) The one where Khalan has to organize a defence, and uses shire horses with chains between them to knock down lines of men. TG does have his moments.

I think I remember this. It's the book where she makes the soldiers strip down naked in the middle of winter and paint themselves white and orders them to attack the Imperial Order.

It was pretty awesome.

[Cougar]

The Tyrant Lizard;360593 said:

Also, There is a battle scene in a particular Goodkind book ...

I didn't finish reading this post since my eyes had glazed over and rolled into the back of my head but...


:shocked:BURN THE HERETIC, HE PREACHES THE GOSPEL OF THE FALLEN ONE:shocked: