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

67 Items found Print

Active Filters:

Nautical Fiction,

In-Stock Books & Materials

	Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies Hornblower Series #11 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company for 9th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $14.00 (1 in stock)
	Barbary Jihad Monroe Family Chronicles #4 by Douglas Wilson from Veritas Press for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.00
	Black Buccaneer Dover Evergreen Classics by Stephen W. Meader from Dover Publications for 3rd-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $5.99
	Black Falcon by Armstrong Sperry from John C. Winston for 6th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $18.00 (1 in stock)
	Blue at the Mizzen Aubrey/Maturin #20 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Captain Blood Penguin Classics by Rafael Sabatini from Penguin Classics Historical Romance for 7th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $16.00
	Captains Courageous Signet Classics by Rudyard Kipling from Signet Classics Nautical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Captains Courageous Signet Classics by Rudyard Kipling from Living Book Press Nautical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64
	Catriona (David Balfour) by Robert Louis Stevenson from Living Book Press for 9th-Adult in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $10.16
	Commodore Hornblower by C. S. Forester 1^st edition from Little, Brown & Company for 9th-12th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Coot Club Swallows and Amazons #5 by Arthur Ransome from David R. Godine for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $14.95
	Cruise of the Arctic Star by Scott O'Dell from Beautiful Feet Books for 6th-Adult in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $13.95
	Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes from Little, Brown & Company Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1924 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes, illustrated by Warrenn Chappell from Little, Brown & Company for 5th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes Dover 2018 from Dover Publications Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1924 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.99
	Fiddler's Gun by A. S. Peterson 1^st edition from Rabbit Room Press for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99
	Flint's Island by Leonard Wibberley from Bethlehem Books Nautical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $11.95
	Fortune of War Aubrey/Maturin #6 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.50 (1 in stock)
	Golden Ocean by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.50 (2 in stock)
	Great Quest by Charles Boardman Hawes from CreateSpace for 5th-8th grade 1922 Newbery Honor Book in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.95
	He Went with Champlain by Louise Andrews Kent 2022 Reprint from Living Book Press for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.59
	He Went with Christopher Columbus by Louise Andrews Kent 2022 Reprint from Living Book Press for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.59
	He Went with Drake by Louise Andrews Kent 2022 Reprint from Living Book Press for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.59
	He Went with John Paul Jones by Louise Andrews Kent 2022 Reprint from Living Book Press for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.59
	He Went with Magellan by Louise Andrews Kent 2022 Reprint from Living Book Press for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.59
	He Went with Marco Polo by Louise Andrews Kent 2022 Reprint from Living Book Press for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.59
	He Went with Vasco da Gama by Louise Andrews Kent 2022 Reprint from Living Book Press for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.59
	Innocent Voyage or A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes, illustrated by Lynd Ward from Heritage Press for 4th-7th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $7.00 (2 in stock)
	Jack Plank Tells Tales by Natalie Babbitt First Edition (first thus) from MDC Books for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower by C. S. Forester (based on the works of), C. Northcote Parkinson from Sutton Publishing for 9th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Lord Hornblower by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company for 8th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Master and Commander Aubrey/Maturin #1 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Midshipman Bolitho by Alexander Kent from McBooks Press for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Mutineers by Charles Boardman Hawes from Little, Brown & Company for 5th-8th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Pigeon Post Swallows and Amazons #6 by Arthur Ransome, illustrated by Mary Shepard from David R. Godine for 5th-9th grade 1936 Carnegie Medal in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.95
	S.O.S by K. Norel First English from Paideia Press for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Secret Water Swallows and Amazons #8 by Arthur Ransome Revised from David R. Godine for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $16.95
	Smugglers by Iain Lawrence from Yearling for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Submarine Spy Mike Danford Adventure Series #01 by Arnold Ytreeide from Jericho Quill Press for 6th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Susan Creek Monroe Family Chronicles #2 by Doug Wilson from Veritas Press Nautical Fiction for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.00
	Swallows & Amazons Collection by Arthur Ransome from David R. Godine for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome from David R. Godine Family stories/boating for 7th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $16.95
	Swallows and Amazons for Ever! containing abridged editions of Coot Club and The Big Six by Arthur Ransome from Red Fox Family stories/boating for 7th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island Puffin Classics by Robert Louis Stevenson from Puffin Books Action/Adventure for 5th-9th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	Treasure Island Everyman's Library Children's Classics by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Mervyn Peake from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. for 5th-9th grade in Everyman's Library Children's Classics (Location: FIC-ELC) $17.95
	Treasure Island Illustrated Junior Library Series 3 by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Norman Price from Grosset & Dunlap Action/Adventure for 5th-9th grade in Illustrated Junior Library (Location: VIN-IJL) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island Scribner Illustrated Classics by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth Deluxe from Atheneum for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $18.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by William Sharp from Grosset & Dunlap Action/Adventure for 5th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $8.00 (2 in stock)
	Treasure Island Scribner Illustrated Classics by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth Deluxe from Atheneum for 5th-9th grade in Scribner Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SCRIB) $24.99
	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Louis Rhead from SeaWolf Press for 5th-9th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $9.95
	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by John Lawrence from Candlewick Press Action/Adventure for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island Illustrated Junior Library Series 2 by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Norman Price from Grosset & Dunlap for 5th-10th grade in Illustrated Junior Library (Location: VIN-IJL) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated with stills from 1934 MGM film from Grosset & Dunlap Action/Adventure for 5th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Michael Clay Thompson from Royal Fireworks Press Action/Adventure for 5th-9th grade in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island Macmillan Classics by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by John Falter from Macmillan for 4th-8th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Eleonore Schmid from New York Graphic Society for 5th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi from HarperTrophy for 4th-6th grade in Clearance: Fiction (Location: ZCLE-FIC) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi from Scholastic Press for 3rd-7th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Two Williams Monroe Family Chronicles #3 by Doug Wilson from Veritas Press Nautical fiction for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.00
	Two Years Before the Mast (abridged) by Richard Henry Dana Jr. from Nelson Doubleday, Inc. for 5th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Voyage of the Frog by Gary Paulsen Revised from Yearling for 7th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $1.20 (1 in stock)
	Wanderer by Sharon Creech from HarperCollins for 4th-6th grade 2001 Newbery Honor Book in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.99
	Wanderer by Sharon Creech First Scholastic Printing from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Wanderer by Sharon Creech 1^st edition from HarperCollins for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea Swallows and Amazons #7 by Arthur Ransome from David R. Godine for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.95
	Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley from Living Book Press Historical Fiction for 9th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $20.99
	Winter Holiday Swallows and Amazons #4 by Arthur Ransome from David R. Godine for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Connect