Thursday, November 17, 2011

The Fascination Of Adventure Books

By Richard Shaker


Adventure books have captured the heart and imagination of millions of readers for generations. What's better than buried treasure, lost civilizations, magic carpets, or abandoned ruins to keep you awake at night? Men and boys especially have always been drawn to the tales filled with feats of brave daring and heroism.

From the ancients to medieval societies to the modern age, humanity has long been fascinated with brave heroism and daring deeds. All the better if it includes some bravery, as well. The Odyssey and the Iliad would be in this genre, as would Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. There are many more that could be named.

It has not grown old with age, with countless movies and books written about the Old West and even superheroes of the future. Countless variations have kept the genre alive and well, after the explosion of fictional tales in the 19th century.

The word adventure comes from the Latin word for an arrival. This seems odd to modern readers when you consider that most stories of this type require a going out to accomplish their goals. Whether traveling to the South Pole or sailing down a river, bold men and women must face obstacles and risks with a steadiness that the reader hopes will be able to bring them back to civilization.

There is very seldom a shortage of volunteers to begin these expeditions, whether in a tale or real life. Humanity as a whole hungers to experience danger and perform great deeds that will live on for years. Though most of it is voluntary, the adventures can also be thrust upon our intrepid heroes. Most commonly, it involves the hero triumphing over some obstacle, evil or benign.

While this subgenre of literature has seen many changes over its long life, like sailing pirates to high tech espionage, it remains vibrant and entertaining. At least for the foreseeable future, humanity will continue to enjoy the labors of adventure books.




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