Action & Adventure Stories

If pirates, jousting and horseback chases no longer appeal to you, you're too old or too boring. Adventure stories fell out of vogue among 20th century literary types who thought serious fiction had to be boring and depressing, but to those born with fire in their bones, adventure stories are deeply serious.

Not serious like existentialism or keeping a stiff upper lip, but serious like Robin Hood—devoted to protecting the downtrodden, committed to Maid Marian, sworn to fight injustice as long as a soul is in his body, always laughing and ready for a fight or a feast.

G. K. Chesterton wrote adventure stories because they best expressed the eternal joy that supported his generous frame. For those raised on Modern Adventure Stories, joy may seem an inappropriate word for an increasingly dark genre, but the fault lies with those who think adventures are forays into evil rather than romps with Gilbert Keith.

There's nothing evil about a good adventure. There may be bad guys (there ought to be), but if the Good Guy does his job there'll be more of his exploits to talk about than theirs. Because, should he be doing his job, the Hero will be sword-fighting, being clever, wooing, chasing and laughing to the detriment of his enemies on every page.

Average people don't have the adventures Heroes in Books have—they have the adventures of Modern Men in Books. But the way through the prosaic troubles of life isn't to immerse yourself in them, it's to let the Good Guys show The Way Out of Problems, and do your best to imitate them when you meet the less dramatic, but no less real, dangers of everyday existence.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
Did you find this review helpful?
Parent Categories
Action & Adventure Stories
74 Items found Print
Active Filters: Animal Stories: Fantasy
Abel's Island
by William Steig
from Square Fish Publishing
Animal Fantasy for 3rd-5th grade
1977 Newbery Honor Book
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$7.99
All the Mowgli Stories
Junior Deluxe Editions
by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by Richard M. Powers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Black Star of Kingston
Tales of Old Natalia #1
by S. D. Smith
from Story Warren Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.95
Chronicles of Narnia - Deluxe Hardcover Boxed Set
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX)
$139.63
Chronicles of Narnia - Mass-Market Boxed Set
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX)
$55.00
Chronicles of Narnia - Quality Softcover Boxed Set
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX)
$90.93
Doctor Dolittle's Zoo
Doctor Dolittle #6
by Hugh Lofting
from J.B. Lippincott Co.
for 3rd-7th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Doctor Dolittle's Zoo
Doctor Dolittle #6
by Hugh Lofting
1967th edition from SeaWolf Press
for 3rd-7th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$8.95
Double Trouble in Bugland
by William Kozwinkle
from David R. Godine
for 3rd-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Green Ember
by S. D. Smith
from Story Warren Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$14.95
High Rhulain
by Brian Jacques
1st edition from Philomel Books
for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Horse and His Boy
Chronicles of Narnia Book 3
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Horse and His Boy
Chronicles of Narnia Book 5
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Horse and His Boy
Chronicles of Narnia Book 5
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
Into the Jungle
by Katherine Rundell, Illustrated by Kristjana S. Williams
from Walker Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$24.99
Jungle Book
by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by Maurice and Edward Detmold
from Dilithium Press, Ltd.
for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Jungle Book
by Rudyard Kipling
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 4th-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Jungle Books
by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by Stuart Tresilian
from Reprint Society
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
Jungle Books - 2 Volumes
by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by Aldren Watson
from Doubleday & Company
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
Just So Stories
by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by Safaya Salter
from Henry Holt and Company
Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 1st-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Last Archer
Green Ember Archer #1
by S.D. Smith
from Story Warren Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.95
Last Battle
Chronicles of Narnia Book 7
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99 $5.00 (4 in stock)
Last Battle
Chronicles of Narnia Book 7
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Last Battle
Chronicles of Narnia Book 7
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Chronicles of Narnia Book 2
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Chronicles of Narnia Book 2
by C. S. Lewis, illustrated by Pauline Baynes
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Lord Brocktree
by Brian Jacques
from Firebird Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Magician's Nephew
Chronicles of Narnia Book 1
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Magician's Nephew
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
for 3rd-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Magician's Nephew
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
for 3rd-8th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
Mattimeo
by Brian Jacques
from Philomel Books
for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Mice of the Herring Bone
by Tim Davis
from Bob Jones University Press
Animal Adventure for 2nd-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Mice of the Nine Lives
by Tim Davis
from Bob Jones University Press
Animal Adventure for 2nd-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Mice of the Seven Seas
by Tim Davis
from Bob Jones University Press
Animal Adventure for 2nd-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Mice of the Westing Wind Book One
by Tim Davis
from Bob Jones University Press
Animal Adventure for 2nd-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Mice of the Westing Wind Book Two
by Tim Davis
from Bob Jones University Press
Animal Adventure for 2nd-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Mistmantle Chronicles Book 1
by M. I. McAllister
from Hyperion/Madison Press
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
Mistmantle Chronicles Book 1
by M. I. McAllister, illustrated by Christine Enright
from Purple House Press
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$16.99
Mistmantle Chronicles Book 2
by M. I. McAllister, illustrated by Christine Enright
from Purple House Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$16.99
Mistmantle Chronicles Book 3
by M. I. McAllister, illustrated by Christine Enright
from Purple House Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$16.99
Mistmantle Chronicles Book 3
by M. I. McAllister
1st edition from Hyperion/Madison Press
for 6th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
Mistmantle Chronicles Book 4
by M. I. McAllister, cover by Christine Enright, illustrated by Janna Mattia
from Purple House Press
for 3rd-4th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$16.99
Mistmantle Chronicles Book 5
by M. I. McAllister
from Hyperion/Madison Press
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
Mistmantle Chronicles Book 5
by M. I. McAllister, cover by Christine Enright, illustrated by Janna Mattia
from Purple House Press
for 3rd-4th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$16.99
Mossflower
by Brian Jacques
from Philomel Books
for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Prince Caspian
Chronicles of Narnia Book 4
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Prince Caspian
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-12th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Prince Caspian
Chronicles of Narnia Book 2
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Prince Caspian
Chronicles of Narnia Book 2
by C. S. Lewis
1972 Printing from Collier Books
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Prince Lander & the Dragon War
Tales of Old Natalia #3
by S.D. Smith, illustrated by Zach Franzen
from Story Warren Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$12.95
Redwall
Redwall #1
by Brian Jacques
from ACE Publishing
Fantasy for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Redwall
by Brian Jacques
Later Printing from Philomel Books
for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Redwall
by Brian Jacques
1st edition from Firebird Press
for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$10.99
Rescuers
by Margery Sharp
from New York Review of Books
for 3rd-5th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$11.99
Silver Chair
Chronicles of Narnia Book 6
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$7.99
Silver Chair
Chronicles of Narnia Book 4
by C. S. Lewis
from Collier Books
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Silver Chair
Chronicles of Narnia Book 4
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
Silver Chair
Chronicles of Narnia Book 4
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Sphinx at Dawn
by Madeleine L'Engle
1st edition from Seabury Press
for 4th-7th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
The Rescuers
by Margery Sharp
from New York Review of Books
for 3rd-5th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Tiger Rising
by Kate DiCamillo
from Candlewick Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$7.99
Tim Davis Mice Series
by Tim Davis
from Bob Jones University Press
Animal Adventure for 2nd-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$38.20
Toby Man
by Dick King-Smith
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Trouble in Bugland
by William Kozwinkle
from David R. Godine
for 3rd-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Chronicles of Narnia Book 5
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Chronicles of Narnia Book 3
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Chronicles of Narnia Book 5
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Chronicles of Narnia Book 3
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Chronicles of Narnia Book 3
by C. S. Lewis
from Collier Books
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Chronicles of Narnia Book 3
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
from Charles Scribner's Sons
Animal Fiction for 7th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$19.99
Wind in the Willows
Reader's Digest World's Best Reading
by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Paul Cox
from Reader's Digest
for 8th-Adult
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Wind in the Willows
Heritage Illustrated Library
by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Arthur Rackham
from Heritage Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Arthur Rackham
from Thunder Bay Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)