Discussions

Have a question or a comment about the Strongbow Saga or Judson Roberts’ other work? Want chat with other readers about the books or related subjects? Post here and look for responses from the author and other fans of the series.

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779 thoughts on “Discussions

  1. Just finished”The Long Hunt” and was baffled where the story stopped. Coming to your website I now understand book 5 is underway. Thank you for hanging in there. I have a son in Bend, Oregon and know how beautiful that country is. Okay, get back to work. Warm regards, Larry Chime

  2. I just got an email update and while I am disappointed there is no firm date for the new release, there is an upside. I have so enjoyed the series that I look forward to re-reading them in order when book five is released as it has been long enough that I can enjoy them as much as at the first reading! Good luck to you in all of your endeavors.

    • Thank you! I’ve always tried to write it as if it’s a single story, being read straight through, so when it’s finished, that will be the best way to really get a full appreciation.

  3. hi Mr Roberts, i was introduced to your books in elementary school and i finished the fourth book years ago. a couple months back i was just screwing around online and found this site out of curiosity. i thank you for finding the time to read this (assuming you are) and don’t want to put stress on you. that being said, i just want to ask when, or even if, the fifth book comes out. i understand you have your farm and publishing business and its hard to find the time to research and write something like this. i also know it could be difficult to predict when a book will be released or even finished. i’m willing to wait another five years for you to finish it, or i can take it if you say you will abandon it for your work or to retire. all i want is the earliest and latest year you could realistically finish, and how close you are to being done, and again, i can take an indefinite hold. i just want to know.

    • Thank you very much, Jaeden, for your kind message and the very generous tone you pose your question in. I posted a VEERRRY LOONNGG answer on the home page.

      All best,

      Judson

      • thanks. i’m excited to hear that the research is (mostly) behind you, and even more excited to hear about the 9th century Russian setting. i hope you luck with your MS too. take all the time you need, i love your historically accurate settings and details

    • I’m sorry, but I consider my birth date to be the kind of information that could be used in identity theft, so I do not give it out to someone I do not know. As far as schooling, I have a law degree, which amounts to three years of specialized graduate school beyond a four year college degree.

  4. Ok so the info I was talking about is threw this guy Ky white that is what he does so if you contact him he will get you all info you need he’s a great man like your self (Ky.white@ancesteralcharts.com

  5. I found this you might find interesting strongbow three is a strong bow in the irsh English history also related to Ragnar

    • An English Norman nobleman who participated in a Norman invasion of Ireland, and then settled there, was called Strongbow, although according to Wikapedia, that might have been a mis-translation of his title, the Count of Striguil, and there’s some doubt about whether he was ever actually called Strongbow. I have not seen anything that indicates any relation to Ragnar, though. In fact, I’ve never found anything of a factual nature that traces Ragnar’s lineage, because it is so wrapped up in legend that there’s a lot of disagreement about him. Where did you read that there was a connection?

      Thanks.

  6. I just discovered this series of books about a month ago. I have very quickly been reading through the books one right after the another. I have enjoyed these books very much! The characters, history, the adventure, and plot line, have all made for very fun reading. I have just finished reading book four today. I am just realizing now that there is no book 5 completed and available to let me know what happens next. Oh NO! Mr Roberts please hurry and finish book five. I need to know what will happen to Halfdam and his friends. Sigrid must be freed from the slavers, Harald must be avenged, and Toke must be brought to justice. I can not wait to read the next book when it is available. I hope we will not need to wait to long for more of the Strongbow Saga.

    • Thanks, Todd. It’s coming. And it will be good when it’s finally finished, so the story (it really is one story, rather than a series of related books) can be read straight through.

    • Rumors of my demise—and your wittiness—are greatly exaggerated.

      But seriously, I understand readers’ frustration with how long it is taking me to get this book out, and I do apologize. But I’ve been working on this story for a very long time—it’s getting close to 20 years now. And over time, the story has grown into something much different from what I originally envisioned. In the very earliest draft, it was a single book that ended with the duel in Paris, except Halfdan fought and killed Toke in the duel, rather than Snorre, and married Genevieve. I didn’t find that “all neat and tidy” wrap up very plausible, though, plus the story did not come alive for me as it was written back then. I have, and continue to put a lot of time, research, and effort into trying to create a story that (1) comes alive for readers, and sweeps them into the world of the story, (2) has characters whom the readers become emotionally involved with, and feel real, (3) has strong emotional power, plus lots of exciting action, and (4) is realistic, both in the larger sense of how the Vikings and their time are portrayed, and on a smaller scale, in how the characters act and what they accomplish.

      I also never envisioned, when I began working on this story, how it would impact readers. When it was still being published by its original publisher, HarperCollins, the books only reached a fairly small audience. But since I have taken them back and republished them myself, plus have written the fourth installment of the story, the Strongbow Saga has attracted an unusually diverse audience, both male and female, ranging in age from middle school students to retirees. And many readers have written to tell me they’ve read the books many times, which leaves me feeling both awed and humbled. I owe it to readers like that to get the story’s conclusion right, and I will take as much time as necessary to try to do so.

      • I was one of the Harper Collins buyers I have the first 3 first editions books.
        I do have to say I love hard back books more than paper back books can any one get hard back books