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If you have books you'd like to read and discuss in the group, please suggest them in this thread. Please try to find books that are readable, readily available and not overly costly, so as many members as possible can take part.
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I read "Gates of Fire" by
Steven Pressfield and enjoyed it
very much. I don't usually read historical fiction
but found it engaging.
Wouldn't mind a re-read and discussion.
Many points I would like to ask RAT members.
Andy Booker
Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs
Andronikos of Athens
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Hi Andy,
[amazon]Gates of Fire : An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae by Steven Pressfield[/amazon] is a great read indeed. I suppose you'd want to ask questions about historical accuracy? In that case, we should probably combine it a non-fiction book for background? How about [amazon]Thermopylae: The Battle for the West (Paperback)
by Ernle Bradford[/amazon], which is very affordable and easy to get?
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Wallace Breem
Ealge in the Snow
It just got rereleased last fall. It is a truly remarkable read, especially when you consider it was written I believe back in the 60's. Very good understanding of Roman tactics, and a really well thought out choice of timeframe for the novel.
Central plot deals with holding (I believe) the Rhine against the Barbarian crossings of the 300 AD range (I am kinda iffy on the timeframe details at the moment). You can find it cheap on Amazon, and in most Barnes and Nobles.
Mike
Mike Arledge
"fortis fortuna audiuvat"
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Gates of Fire was pretty good. It's a shame that it's not getting made into a movie anymore. A graphic novel called "300" is getting made into a movie instead. I remember when 300 came out I went to the comic book store to buy it. After leafing through the pages I didn't like what I saw. The artwork wasn't that good and it was gratuitously dark. Imagine Trent Reznor meets Thermopylae.
Michael Paglia
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I think there's a thread about that movie/book somewhere in OT. Have you tried a search for that?
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Quote:Wallace Breem
Ealge in the Snow
"Eagle in the Snow" is one of the best books I've ever read. Highly recommended especially for anyone interested in the late (or "the end of the...") Roman Empire.
________________
Quinton Carr
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I bought it but I was disappointed, because I was under the impression that it was a new book. However, it was a reprint and I can't really blame the author for the very many mistakes that he made. At the time of writing, not so much was known about the Late Roman army. As a consequence, there's not much about the Late Roman army in the book - had he situated the story in the late 2nd c., it would not have been much different.
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Read Eagle in the snow a couple of years ago. Thoroughly recommend it. There may be mistakes in it but it is very well written and the end-of-empire atmosphere is quite compelling.
It is certainly in another league compared to the Simon Scarrow paperback novels, which are entertaining for a while but pretty empty.
What are people's opinions of Peter Connolly's classic "Greece and Rome at war"? I've had it for over 10 years now and still regularly refer to it. Are there any other books of the same class that any of you can recommend?
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Please ignore my question... I've just found the "indispensable booklist".
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I too am reading 'Eagle in the Snow' (a third of the way through). Whilst not in a position to criticise the detail, I would heartily recommend it as a source of inspiration.
Its a few years since I read 'I Claudius' and 'Claudius the God', but I found them both gripping. The sinister atmosphere at court was terrifying.
Lochinvar/Ewan Carmichael
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I am currently reading Graves' Belisarius which is packed with military tactics and strategy but my biggest gripe (and one the new John Julius Norwich introduction warned me about) is that Belisarius is too good (not as a general but as a person). Still, a novel packed with late eastern detail whcih captures the mood of the time very well.
Cheers
Murray
Murray K Dahm
Moderator
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YOU SHOULD READ THE LAST LEGION
THEY HAVE NOW MADE A FILM ABOUT IT AND IT LOOKS A!W!E!S!O!M!E
hock:
hock:
[size=150:216jc2w2]Listen to sandstorm by Darude on youtube!!![/size] its wicked 8) <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="8)" title="Cool" />8) 8) <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="8)" title="Cool" />8) 8) <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="8)" title="Cool" />8) :mrgreen: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":mrgreen:" title="Mr. Green" />:mrgreen: :mrgreen: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":mrgreen:" title="Mr. Green" />:mrgreen:
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:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :roll:
Caius Fabius Maior
Charles Foxtrot
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I have been reading the Jack Whyte Camulod Chronicles. I love them. They are a great entertaining read, and the first two books are interesting, what with the fall of the empire in Britain. I also have read "Gates of Fire", and really enjoyed it. I can't remember the name of it, but it is by the same author of "Gates of Fire", it is about Alexanders Afhgan campaign. It is really good. I also have read "God's and Legions". I dont remember who it is by, but it is about Emperor Justininan. It is interesting.
Cheers,
Andy
Andy Pierucci
Stockton, California USA