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penguin_emperor_of_the_north's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book so much. It's just so much fun to read. Just the concept of a band of medieval Englishmen counterattacking against an alien empire, it appeals to my sense of humor.
The narrator is a pious Franciscan friar and so everything gets filtered through that lens. The sense of humor in here is definitely not wacky or over the top. The humor more comes from the dissonance between Brother Parvus's medieval Catholic point of view and the science fiction war going on around them. And, even more so, the dissonance between Brother Parvus' pessimism and Sir Roger's bravado.
One of my favorite quotes, kind of summarizes the theme:
The narrator is a pious Franciscan friar and so everything gets filtered through that lens. The sense of humor in here is definitely not wacky or over the top. The humor more comes from the dissonance between Brother Parvus's medieval Catholic point of view and the science fiction war going on around them. And, even more so, the dissonance between Brother Parvus' pessimism and Sir Roger's bravado.
One of my favorite quotes, kind of summarizes the theme:
Hearken Brother Parvus, I'm weary of this whining about our own ignorance and feebleness. We're not ignorant of the true Faith, are we? Somewhat more to the point, maybe, while the engines of war may change through the centuries, rivalry and intrigue look no subtler out here than at home. Just because we use a different sort of weapons, we aren't savages. (p115)
manglitter's review against another edition
Dnfed it at 35% in it. I absolutely don't want to read this....(you name it). I've got multiple issues with this story and I don't see why some people were praising it.
gabrielrobartes's review against another edition
4.0
The very definition of "rollicking". Tremendously fun Golden Age space opera that's aged remarkably well.
aradne's review against another edition
5.0
This book sounds ridiculous, and a little awful, but I must convey to you how much fun I found this book to be.
The High Crusade is the chronicle of a Roger de Tourneville, as recorded by Brother Parvus and the events that took place after a spaceship landed near the town of Ansby, where Sir Roger was preparing to depart on a crusade. The aliens disembark their spaceship wielding a phase guns, but are quickly overtaken by an English heavy cavalry charge. Sir Roger intends to take the spaceship with him in his pursuit of war, but due to a traitorous alien, the entire English town end up on the alien planet. So the English crusade through the universe in the name of Christ our Lord.
It's awesome.
The High Crusade is the chronicle of a Roger de Tourneville, as recorded by Brother Parvus and the events that took place after a spaceship landed near the town of Ansby, where Sir Roger was preparing to depart on a crusade. The aliens disembark their spaceship wielding a phase guns, but are quickly overtaken by an English heavy cavalry charge. Sir Roger intends to take the spaceship with him in his pursuit of war, but due to a traitorous alien, the entire English town end up on the alien planet. So the English crusade through the universe in the name of Christ our Lord.
It's awesome.
tritlo's review against another edition
4.0
Originally rated 3 stars, but I keep thinking about it. The silliest premise, and yet it stays with you! Recommended!
a_o's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mezilla's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I wish all modern fantasy and sci-fi books were this succinct. There were no overdone, page long paragraphs of useless anything. It was all very fast paced and needed for the story to progress. I really loved the idea of what early 1300s humans would've done to understand and win out in the stars.
I think the idea of them lying through their teeth to get a leg up is both realistic and sort of funny.
I think the idea of them lying through their teeth to get a leg up is both realistic and sort of funny.
chzdavmpr's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
artbookshelfodyssey's review against another edition
2.0
I loved the concept behind this book - Knights vs. Aliens!- but it was not quite what I was expecting. It just didn't grab my attention. The book was not long, but it felt like it was. The narrator of the story was amusing, so that was good. The book was written in the 1960s, so there was alot of standing around discussing philosophy and stuff. And I'm not sure I liked the mindset that the "good guys" had - that all must be conquered. They basically became the "bad guys" only it wasn't ever criticized. But maybe that was the point? Anyway, give it a try. You might like it.