Swordsman with a backbone storyline... Does it exist?

[thorfinn]

Hello. First post. What a better way to start than to ask for recommendations.

I'm looking for something very specific.

I want to read any fantasy book(s) about a young, up-and-coming swordsman. He can either start out as a nobody that merely stumbles on a sword left behind by someone (maybe his family), or he can already be an established killer (Conan comes to mind as a similarity).

Magic would be a plus if it's part of the story, but it's definitely not a must.

So far, I can say that everything Conan I have already read. Same goes with Lord of the Rings and Hobbit.

I am currently reading The Eye of the World from the Wheel of Time series, but that left me wanting a lot more. Not enough blood for my tastes.

It would also be great if the main character is a male that travels from place to place. Maybe he's actually an anti-hero that refuses to help until sh*t really hits the fan (Berserk is one similarity... unless you read manga, ignore this).


Basic Outline of what I'm looking for:

young (if not possible, then i don't mind old)
swordsman of sorts

Help would be greatly appreciated. I'll be looking forward to recommendations.

[silver]

Wizards First Rule by Terry Goodkind sounds like it is exactly what your looking for.

[Bowlie]

Mushashi by Eiji Yoshikawa comes to mind. It's one of the most popular novels ever in Japan. I started it and was enjoying it but was commuting an hour and a half to school everyday at the time so I never finished it. The half that I read was great though.

[ryan2]

I'll suggest a book from my experience, but it may not be exactly what you are looking for for two reasons. The first is that only the first book of the series is written. The second reason is that the book mostly follows the adventures of four different characters, not a single swordsman. The name of this book is Acacia. It is written by David Anthony Durham.

This eldest sibling of the book is a young swordsman student who finds himself suddenly displaced as a war sweeps across the continent.

The book is actually very good, and it honestly is a tad dark. It seemed to me that no matter how important a character might seem to the story, Durham feels no need to protect any of them from its ruthless mechanisms. Anyone could die. Anyone could live. Anyone could be twisted to bitterness or become selfless. I liked it because it was unpredictable.

[thorfinn]

Wizards First Rule by Terry Goodkind sounds like it is exactly what your looking for.

Ah, I forgot about that one. I have seen the TV show loosely based on the series, but I haven't read the books yet. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks.

Mushashi by Eiji Yoshikawa comes to mind. It's one of the most popular novels ever in Japan. I started it and was enjoying it but was commuting an hour and a half to school everyday at the time so I never finished it. The half that I read was great though.

Interesting. I already know Musashi's history having read different manga/small books and such, but I've never read Eiji's book. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

I'll suggest a book from my experience, but it may not be exactly what you are looking for for two reasons. The first is that only the first book of the series is written. The second reason is that the book mostly follows the adventures of four different characters, not a single swordsman. The name of this book is Acacia. It is written by David Anthony Durham.

This eldest sibling of the book is a young swordsman student who finds himself suddenly displaced as a war sweeps across the continent.

The book is actually very good, and it honestly is a tad dark. It seemed to me that no matter how important a character might seem to the story, Durham feels no need to protect any of them from its ruthless mechanisms. Anyone could die. Anyone could live. Anyone could be twisted to bitterness or become selfless. I liked it because it was unpredictable.

Sounds interesting. I'll give it a try. Thanks.