Looking for adventure fiction books based on these preferences:
Simple style and good characterization. I'm flexible on pacing (but slightly prefer slower books, without being meandery)
Let me elaborate with examples:
I really enjoyed the Hornblower series. I found the Aubrey-Maturin series too clever at times and didn't finish the series.
I absolutely loved the original Dune but couldn't get into the sequels. (In terms of style Dune is one of my favorite fiction books)
Even though I like flawed MC's I don't really care when they tilt more antihero (Flashman, Sharpe, Discworld)
I found Pillars of the Earth's characters very flat and shallowly developed.
Can't get into LOTR or Wheel of Time due to style.
Can't really do anything too macabre either (Fall of Hyperion is a little too dark and meandery)
I also like Conan Doyle's style.
by pickledBarzun