MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

SameOldStory · 10-02-2010, 11:50 PM

For my purpose Rome means anything from Roma, the city, to any of its far flung outposts. If you want, call it the Roman experience.

Recently I finished five books -
Under the Eagle and The Eagles Conquest by Simon Scarrow
Roma and Roman Blood by Steven Saylor
Pompeii by Robert Harris.

About the authors
Simon Scarrow - He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia after working at the Inland Revenue, and then went into teaching as a lecturer at City College Norwich.
He is best known for his Eagle series of Roman Military fiction set in the territories of the Roman Empire, covering the second invasion of Britain....

Steven Saylor - Steven Saylor is the author of the ROMA SUB ROSA series of historical mysteries featuring Gordianus the Finder and set in the ancient Rome of Cicero and Caesar.

Robert Harris - Robert Harris is the author of Pompeii, Enigma, and Fatherland. He has been a television correspondent with the BBC and a newspaper columnist for the London Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. His novels have sold more than ten million copies and been translated into thirty languages.

The Eagle series is fast action/adventure. Think fast roller coaster. The main characters in the book, Marco and Cato, are opposites. If their world was different they would probably dislike each other quite a bit. They don't antagonize each other, they simply have so very little in common.

Macro is a career soldier who has reached his Peter Principle. As a soldier and leader in battle, he is very competent. But as a new Centurion in charge of 83 men, he's somewhat lacking. He knows the Roman Legion, but the Roman Legion has a lot of paperwork. He is effectively illiterate. If that comes to the attention of those over him, he'll be busted back in to the ranks.

Cato is about 16 - 17 and grew up in the Imperial Palace as a slave. He was given his freedom upon joining the Roman Legion. Not that he had a choice about it. Unfortunately for Macro, and Cato, he is assigned as Macro's #2 officer. With out any training! But he can read, so Macro makes use of him. No one expects him to live long.

Roma is a short history, spanning centuries. If that makes sense. Perhaps I should say that it's about the founding of Rome as told by many individuals, over many centuries, and over their lifetimes. The book isn't that that large, 486 pages. But the stories amount to an epic tale.

Roman Blood is a detective story, pure and simple. What makes it so enjoyable is that Roma is an alien world. This is not the Rome of today. Reading this book you'll almost taste the dust in the streets, and touch the blood stained stones.

Pompeii is of course about the last few days of Pompeii in 79 AD, as seen from the eyes of a newly appointed chief engineer to the Aqua Augusta, the aqueduct going around Mount Vesuvius.

10-02-2010, 11:50 PM	#1
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	When in Rome For my purpose Rome means anything from Roma, the city, to any of its far flung outposts. If you want, call it the Roman experience. Recently I finished five books - Under the Eagle and The Eagles Conquest by Simon Scarrow Roma and Roman Blood by Steven Saylor Pompeii by Robert Harris. About the authors Simon Scarrow - He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia after working at the Inland Revenue, and then went into teaching as a lecturer at City College Norwich. He is best known for his Eagle series of Roman Military fiction set in the territories of the Roman Empire, covering the second invasion of Britain.... Steven Saylor - Steven Saylor is the author of the ROMA SUB ROSA series of historical mysteries featuring Gordianus the Finder and set in the ancient Rome of Cicero and Caesar. Robert Harris - Robert Harris is the author of Pompeii, Enigma, and Fatherland. He has been a television correspondent with the BBC and a newspaper columnist for the London Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. His novels have sold more than ten million copies and been translated into thirty languages. The Eagle series is fast action/adventure. Think fast roller coaster. The main characters in the book, Marco and Cato, are opposites. If their world was different they would probably dislike each other quite a bit. They don't antagonize each other, they simply have so very little in common. Macro is a career soldier who has reached his Peter Principle. As a soldier and leader in battle, he is very competent. But as a new Centurion in charge of 83 men, he's somewhat lacking. He knows the Roman Legion, but the Roman Legion has a lot of paperwork. He is effectively illiterate. If that comes to the attention of those over him, he'll be busted back in to the ranks. Cato is about 16 - 17 and grew up in the Imperial Palace as a slave. He was given his freedom upon joining the Roman Legion. Not that he had a choice about it. Unfortunately for Macro, and Cato, he is assigned as Macro's #2 officer. With out any training! But he can read, so Macro makes use of him. No one expects him to live long. Roma is a short history, spanning centuries. If that makes sense. Perhaps I should say that it's about the founding of Rome as told by many individuals, over many centuries, and over their lifetimes. The book isn't that that large, 486 pages. But the stories amount to an epic tale. Roman Blood is a detective story, pure and simple. What makes it so enjoyable is that Roma is an alien world. This is not the Rome of today. Reading this book you'll almost taste the dust in the streets, and touch the blood stained stones. Pompeii is of course about the last few days of Pompeii in 79 AD, as seen from the eyes of a newly appointed chief engineer to the Aqua Augusta, the aqueduct going around Mount Vesuvius. Last edited by SameOldStory; 10-02-2010 at 11:53 PM.