Action & Adventure Stories

Store Location

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

Fiction & Literature

Fiction by Genre

Action & Adventure Stories

72 Items found Print

Active Filters:

Fantasy Fiction,

10th grade (Ages 15-16)

	All My Holy Mountain The Binding of the Blade Book 5 by L. B. Graham from P&R Publishing Fantasy for 7th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard from SeaWolf Press Adventure for 7th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW)
	Ashtown Burials Collection - Paperback Books 1-3 by N. D. Wilson for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $23.17
	Between the Forest and the Hills Bethlehem Books Adventure Library by Ann Lawrence from Bethlehem Books Humorous Fantasy for 7th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.50
	Beyond the Summerland The Binding of the Blade Book 1 by L. B. Graham from P&R Publishing Fantasy for 7th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Binding of the Blade Series by L. B. Graham from P&R Publishing Fantasy for 7th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Boy's King Arthur by Sidney Lanier (illustrated by N.C. Wyeth) from Charles Scribner's Sons for 6th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Bringer of Storms The Binding of the Blade Book 2 by L. B. Graham from P&R Publishing Fantasy for 7th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Conference of the Birds by Ransom Riggs for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court Books of Wonder by Mark Twain (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman) from HarperCollins for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Conspiracy of Kings Queen's Thief Series #4 by Megan Whalen Turner Reprint from Greenwillow Books for 9th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.99
	Crying for a Vision by Walter Wangerin Jr. from Simon & Schuster Macmillan for 9th-Adult in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Desolations of Devil's Acre by Ransom Riggs for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Endless Knot Song of Albion #3 by Stephen R. Lawhead 2^nd edition from Thomas Nelson Publishers Celtic Fantasy for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $12.00
	Endless Knot Song of Albion #3 by Stephen R. Lawhead Reprint from Thomas Nelson Publishers Celtic Fantasy for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict Mysterious Benedict Society Book 5 Mysterious Benedict Society #5 by Trenton Lee Stewart from Little, Brown & Company for 5th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.99
	Father of Dragons The Binding of the Blade Book 4 by L. B. Graham from P&R Publishing Fantasy for 7th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Gulliver's Travels Macmillan Classics by Jonathan Swift, retold by Padraic Colum and illustrated by Willy Pogany from Macmillan for 7th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Gulliver's Travels / Treasure Island by Jonathan Swift, Robert Louis Stevenson from Grosset & Dunlap for 4th-10th grade in Companion Library (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition Harry Potter Book 2 by J. K. Rowling Illustrated from Arthur A. Levine Books for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $39.99
	Harry Potter Collection by J. K. Rowling for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Hobbit - Audio Book CDs by J. R. R. Tolkien; Andy Serkis (reader) from Recorded Books, LLC for 3rd-Adult in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO)
	Hobbit, The by J.R.R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin for 5th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $35.00
	Hobbit, The by J.R.R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin for 5th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $40.00
	Hollow City Book 2 by Ransom Riggs from Quirk Books for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Hollow City by Ransom Riggs for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Inheritance Cycle - Hardcover set by Christopher Paolini from Random House for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Invaders Brotherband Chronicles Book 2 by John A. Flanagan 1^st edition from Philomel Books for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.00 (3 in stock)
	Invaders Brotherband Chronicles Book 2 by John A. Flanagan from Philomel Books for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	Journey of Souls by C. D. Baker from Preston Speed for 7th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	King Arthur by Sidney Lanier from Charles Scribner's Sons for 6th-10th grade in Scribner Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SCRIB) $29.99
	King Arthur and His Knights Junior Deluxe Editions by Henry Frith, illustrated by Henry C. Pitz from Nelson Doubleday, Inc. Fairy Tales, Fables, & Legends for 7th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	King Arthur and His Knights based on Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Mallory by Sir James Knowles, illustrated by Louis Rhead and other artists from Dilithium Press, Ltd. for 5th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table Everyman's Library Children's Classics by Roger Green from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 7th-10th grade in Everyman's Library Children's Classics (Location: FIC-ELC) $17.95
	King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table Puffin Classics by Roger Green from Puffin Books Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 6th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	King of Attolia Queen's Thief Series #3 by Megan Whalen Turner Reprint from Greenwillow Books for 9th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.99
	King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard from Dover Publications Adventure for 7th-12th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.00
	King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard from SeaWolf Press Adventure for 7th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW)
	Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Map of Days by Ransom Riggs for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth by Brian Sibley from Houghton Mifflin for 5th-10th grade in Lord of the Rings (Location: LIR-LOTR)
	Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums Mysterious Benedict Society Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart from Little, Brown & Company for 5th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.99
	Mysterious Benedict Society - Boxed Set by Trenton Lee Stewart from Little, Brown & Company for 5th-10th grade in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX) $50.00
	Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey Mysterious Benedict Society #2 by Trenton Lee Stewart from Little, Brown & Company for 5th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.99
	Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma Mysterious Benedict Society Book 3 by Trenton Lee Stewart from Little, Brown & Company for 5th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.99
	Out of the Silent Planet Space Trilogy Book 1 by C. S. Lewis from Charles Scribner's Sons Allegorical Science Fiction for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.00
	Out of the Silent Planet Space Trilogy Book 1 by C. S. Lewis from Charles Scribner's Sons Allegorical Science Fiction for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $24.00
	Out of the Silent Planet Space Trilogy Book 1 by C. S. Lewis 46th Printing from Collier Books for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Perelandra Space Trilogy Book 2 by C. S. Lewis from Charles Scribner's Sons Allegorical Science Fiction for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $16.99
	Perelandra Space Trilogy Book 2 by C. S. Lewis from Charles Scribner's Sons Allegorical Science Fiction for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $25.00
	Pilgrim's Progress in Today's English by John Bunyan from Moody Press Christian Prose Epic/Allegory for 9th-Adult in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $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)
	Princess Bride by William Goldman from Harvest Books for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $18.00
	Princess Bride by William Goldman from Harvest Books for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Princess Bride by William Goldman from Harcourt Humorous Adult Fairy Tale for 8th-12th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $30.00
	Queen of Attolia Queen's Thief Series #2 by Megan Whalen Turner Reissue from Greenwillow Books for 9th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $11.99
	Return of the Temujai Brotherband Chronicles Book 8 by John A. Flanagan from Philomel Books for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	Return of the Thief Queen's Thief #6 by Megan Whalen Turner from Greenwich House for 9th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.99
	Saga of Eric Brighteyes Tolkien's Bookshelf: Volume 6 by H. Rider Haggard 1^st edition from Leaves of Gold Press for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $29.95
	Saga of Eric Brighteyes by H. Rider Haggard 1^st edition from Newcastle Publishing Co for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Shadow in the Deep The Binding of the Blade Book 3 by L. B. Graham from P&R Publishing Fantasy for 7th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Silver Hand Song of Albion #2 by Stephen R. Lawhead 1^st edition from Lion Publishing Celtic Fantasy for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Pearl / Sir Orfeo by Anonymous, J. R. R. Tolkien (Translator) from Ballantine Books Medieval Fairy Tale/Poetry for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $8.99
	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Pearl / Sir Orfeo by Anonymous, J. R. R. Tolkien (Translator) from Mariner Books Medieval Fairy Tale/Poetry for 8th-Adult in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED) $16.99
	Space Trilogy - Hardcover Set by C. S. Lewis from Simon and Schuster Allegorical Science Fiction/Fantasy for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $71.10
	Space Trilogy - Quality Softcover Set by C. S. Lewis from Simon and Schuster Allegorical Science Fiction/Fantasy for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $41.58
	Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs for 8th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	The Outcasts Brotherband Chronicles Book 1 by John A. Flanagan for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	Thick as Thieves Queen's Thief Series #5 by Megan Whalen Turner from Greenwillow Books for 9th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.99
	Thief Queen's Thief Series #1 by Megan Whalen Turner Reissue from Greenwillow Books for 9th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $12.99
	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)

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Connect