In SM Stirling's The Protector's War (New York, 2006), Chapter Fourteen, pp. 389-391 describe a single fight between two women, Astrid and Eiler, and one man:
the women pursue the man;
the man, half way across a creek, throws a rock which knocks Astrid over;
Eiler jumps into the creek and attacks the man, who holds a machete and a bowie;
he stabs with the bowie but she knocks it aside with her buckler;
she stabs with her short sword;
the guards of the short sword and the machete lock;
she is thrown backward and the machete cuts her jaw;
he dodges her counterstroke;
when he stabs but misses with the bowie, she strikes his wrist with her buckler, breaking bone and making him drop the bowie;
he blocks her next blow with his machete and strikes her face with his broken hand;
he knocks her under the water and lands on top of her;
his good hand squeezes her throat;
she stabs with her dirk but his mail turns the stroke;
his grip stops and water rushes into her lungs;
she lunges up to find the man skewered by Astrid's sword.
That was quite interesting when reread for the purpose of summary. But I am glad that Stirling writes a lot more than fight scenes!
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, it was interesting, this action scene. And you already know of my doubts about the plausibility of there being so many female warriors, so need to repeat them. I can accept idea of a SMALL percentage of the strongest and most agile women becoming soldiers.
And, yes, there is far more to Stirling's books than simple action and adventure. And the same can be said of such naive books as Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom novels.
Sean
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