# The new "Flashman" is out!!!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362 "2005-04-14T22:17:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/1 "2005-04-14T22:17:22Z")
[Flashman On The March](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400044758/qid=1113517043/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-2521859-7510410) 1867-8, Africa. Happy, beause it’s a new Flashman. Sad, because it’s probably the last Flashman, due to Fraser’s advancing age. Disappointed, because we’ll never get the true story of Harry’s involvement in the US Civil War, among other adventures. A new Flashman…goody! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/2 "2005-04-15T00:13:29Z")
Huzzah!!! ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/3 "2005-04-15T00:33:46Z")
It’s not out until November 1 in the US. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/4 "2005-04-15T01:14:05Z")
[Amazon.uk](http://Amazon.uk) is your friend! 😃 They ship worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/5 "2005-04-15T02:24:43Z")
It’s also getting a Canadian release tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/6 "2005-04-15T03:03:16Z")
YAY!! But I’ll have to wait for the paperback version since all the other Flashman books I have are in pb. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/7 "2005-04-15T03:41:43Z")
Hmm, it’s been out for 10 days in the UK. I also notice there’s a third volume in the Science of Discworld series, which has never been published here. Damn this exchange rate, I’m going shopping! ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/8 "2005-04-15T11:47:46Z")
Damn fine! I’ll have to pick up a first edition, since after scoring a first edition of the original **Flashman** , I’ve made it my life’s work to collect the entire series in first editions - I’m about halfway there, with a lucky find of a first edition **Flashman and the Dragon** in a second-hand bookstore last week: excellent condition, and only $12. Score! ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/9 "2005-04-15T13:49:45Z")
HUZZAH! Been without my Flshman fix for too long! C’mon Frazer, get the Civil War book out before you die! ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/10 "2005-05-27T16:26:12Z")
Well, we finally have a clue about what old Harry was up to during the War Between the States: [http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/Personz\_Detail.cfm?PER\_NBR=-243088046961617924385](http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/Personz_Detail.cfm?PER_NBR=-243088046961617924385) I’ll bet he looked pretty swish in the [Zouave uniform.](http://www.coppenszouaves.com/images/zou_running.jpg) But a ranker? Slumming it a bit, ain’t we, old boy? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/11 "2005-05-27T16:30:21Z")
Obviously an undercover assignement!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/12 "2005-05-27T17:33:45Z")
> [@Rodd Hill](#): > > Well, we finally have a clue about what old Harry was up to during the War Between the States: > > [http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/Personz\_Detail.cfm?PER\_NBR=-243088046961617924385](http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/Personz_Detail.cfm?PER_NBR=-243088046961617924385) > > I’ll bet he looked pretty swish in the [Zouave uniform.](http://www.coppenszouaves.com/images/zou_running.jpg) But a ranker? Slumming it a bit, ain’t we, old boy? He must have signed up whilst drunk. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/13 "2005-05-27T19:30:51Z")
> [@Rodd Hill](#): > > But a ranker? Slumming it a bit, ain’t we, old boy? A _gentleman_ ranker, suh. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/14 "2005-05-27T23:43:17Z")
I’m halfway through it at the moment: I’m reading it slowly so as to ration out the enjoyment: after the slightly disappointing last two books, a welcome return to classic Flashy knavery in exotic locales - booting paramours over waterfalls to save his skin and the like. His editor’s note is unusually topical, since he doesn’t usually employ them as a commentary on current events, let alone use them as a political pulpit: “For Flashman’s story is about a British Army sent out in a good and honest cause by a government who knew what honour meant. It was not sent without initial follies and hesitations in high places, or until every hope of a peaceful issue was gone. It went with the fear of disaster hanging over it, but with the British public in doubt that it was right. It served no politician’s vanity or interest. It went without messianic rhetoric. There were no false excuses, no deceits, no cover-ups or lies, just a decent resolve to dio a government’s first duty: to protect its people, whatever the cost. To quote Flashman again, those were the days.” I’m not saying I don’t disagree with him {please, no political debates, lest **Dex** get cross}, and the grumpy old soldier is obviously pissed off, but I think I prefer Fraser’s customary editorial detachment, where he leaves readers to draw their own parallels. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-flashman-is-out/299362/15 "2005-05-29T02:11:28Z")
Finished it last night: so much for rationing it out. Is it just me, or is Flashy getting braver? No spoilers, but the second half sags a bit, with Flashy doing nothing but his soldierly duty, and not even particularly reluctantly: he doesn’t even bother skulking or shirking, let alone rogering. He’s less the despicable rotter of old and more an amiable scoundrel. Overall a bit of a disappointment after a promising start: could it be time for Fraser to lay the series to rest?