Ask the Author: Myke Cole
Answered Questions (27)
Myke Cole
There are examples of heavy cavalry defeating Greek phalanxes. A good one to remember is the breaking of the Theban Sacred Band at Chaeronea in 338 BC (Yes, I know many scholars believe Alexander was commanding an infantry phalanx, but this doesn’t jive with what we know of how he fought). I align with the traditional view that the Macedonian phalanx pinned the Sacred Band in place, allowing the Companion cavalry to deliver a knockout blow from a flank.
But even if I’m wrong in my reconstruction of Chaeronea, this principle holds true: The phalanx was intensely vulnerable from the flank and rear. It only fought in one direction - straight ahead. Any cavalry attack that could turn a flank on a phalanx was bound to be devastating. We certainly see this in the final stage of the Battle of Pydna, which I covered in the book.
Thanks for reading and engaging with the work!
But even if I’m wrong in my reconstruction of Chaeronea, this principle holds true: The phalanx was intensely vulnerable from the flank and rear. It only fought in one direction - straight ahead. Any cavalry attack that could turn a flank on a phalanx was bound to be devastating. We certainly see this in the final stage of the Battle of Pydna, which I covered in the book.
Thanks for reading and engaging with the work!
Myke Cole
Oh wow, I’m just seeing I missed this question from long ago. Apologies for that!
I think this is a moot point as there is a near-zero chance of an omnibus edition of any of my work ever being produced, but the bottom line is that I’m happy that anyone engages with my work in any form. I really appreciate that an omnibus is something you want.
I think this is a moot point as there is a near-zero chance of an omnibus edition of any of my work ever being produced, but the bottom line is that I’m happy that anyone engages with my work in any form. I really appreciate that an omnibus is something you want.
Myke Cole
It’s definitely something I’ve spoken to my agent about. The current thinking is “let’s wait until THE KILLING LIGHT comes out and see how sales go.” If my agent is going to approach the publisher and suggest an omnibus edition (a compiled version of all three books in a single volume), it helps to be able to cite solid sales numbers. The publisher needs to see that there is a market for the book. So, we’ll revisit this in December or January 2020.
Myke Cole
Nope. I won’t say it’ll *never* happen, but huge phonebook-sized tomes aren’t my thing. I certainly enjoy them when I read them, but it just doesn’t seem to be how I write. At the present moment, I have two short fantasy sci-fi novels under contract, and I’m about to sign a contract for a new military history (nonfiction) work that’ll be about the same length as LEGION VERSUS PHALANX (around 100-120,000 words). I’m also pitching a comic book that I have high hopes for, and I’m about to start shooting a new TV show (more on that when they take the gag off).
After that, the idea that’s most singing to me is an alternative history that I have 25% of an outline for and the first 10,000 words.
I never say never, but it’s unlikely I’ll produce a Sandersonian/Brettian work of fantasy any time soon. Sorry!
After that, the idea that’s most singing to me is an alternative history that I have 25% of an outline for and the first 10,000 words.
I never say never, but it’s unlikely I’ll produce a Sandersonian/Brettian work of fantasy any time soon. Sorry!
Myke Cole
First off, a “Polybian” Roman century (what you’re describing - and it would probably be under 100 men) would only be armed with spears with it were in a maniple of triarii. If it were a century of hastati or principes, they would be armed with swords and javelins.
If you’re asking me for the voice command given for “above face,” then the answer is “I don’t know.” It’s possible I’m missing something, but I’m not aware of a source that gives that specific verbal command for the legion in the period I’ve studied (3rd-2nd C. BC). If others are familiar with a primary source which gives this language, please provide it here in the comments and accept my thanks in advance.
I’m aware of reenactment groups that have Latin commands for about face, but I don’t know their sourcing, or if they’re just translating English into Classical Latin. I do know that they are reenacting *imperial* legions, which are hundreds of years later than the Polybian legions I study.
Sorry, I know this doesn’t answer your question, but hopefully it illustrates a few things:
1.) Historians know more and more about less and less, and it’s critical to ask questions narrowly - specifying period, region and even the part of a unit in order to get a decent answer.
2.) All answers to all questions have to be sourced, or else they are speculation (they are usually speculation even when they are sourced.
3.) All purported experts, even professionals (I claim to be neither), must be willing to say “I don’t know,” at any time, and to invite others to correct/help them. If you lay claim to expertise you don’t actually possess, sooner or later, someone is going to gut you in public.
Wish I could be more helpful! Best of luck finding your answer!
If you’re asking me for the voice command given for “above face,” then the answer is “I don’t know.” It’s possible I’m missing something, but I’m not aware of a source that gives that specific verbal command for the legion in the period I’ve studied (3rd-2nd C. BC). If others are familiar with a primary source which gives this language, please provide it here in the comments and accept my thanks in advance.
I’m aware of reenactment groups that have Latin commands for about face, but I don’t know their sourcing, or if they’re just translating English into Classical Latin. I do know that they are reenacting *imperial* legions, which are hundreds of years later than the Polybian legions I study.
Sorry, I know this doesn’t answer your question, but hopefully it illustrates a few things:
1.) Historians know more and more about less and less, and it’s critical to ask questions narrowly - specifying period, region and even the part of a unit in order to get a decent answer.
2.) All answers to all questions have to be sourced, or else they are speculation (they are usually speculation even when they are sourced.
3.) All purported experts, even professionals (I claim to be neither), must be willing to say “I don’t know,” at any time, and to invite others to correct/help them. If you lay claim to expertise you don’t actually possess, sooner or later, someone is going to gut you in public.
Wish I could be more helpful! Best of luck finding your answer!
Myke Cole
Yup. Recorded Books consulted with me on pronunciations prior to recording. That said, if ‘ell O ese’ Is how the name is pronounced in your head, then I’m fine with that. Whatever helps you most enjoy the story.
Myke Cole
I’m looking at it as we speak, and there’s at least 20 books piled on there, so I’ll narrow it down to the three that are closest to my nightstand (and therefore being actively read). The first is Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico (research. If LEGION VERSUS PHALANX sells well enough, I want to pitch LEGION VERSUS WARBAND, which would cover Caesar’s Gallic campaigns. The second is The Macedonian War Machine 359-281 BC. The last is the ARC of Richard K. Morgan’s latest - Thin Air. It’s a hard-boiled noir work set on a far-future Mars, and it cements Morgan in my mind as one of the great gifts to Science Fiction. The guy is the second coming of Dashiel Hammett, but updated for 2018. He’s so damn good it makes me want to give up writing. If you haven’t read Morgan’s previous work, start with Altered Carbon (for SF), or The Steel Remains (for fantasy).
Myke Cole
Of course. It’s one of the most important sources for Hellenistic warfare and culture in general. Anchor Books produces the “Landmark Ancient Histories,” great high-end editions of some of the more important sources, including Arrian, with notations, maps, illustrations and commentary. My Landmark edition of Arrian has pride-of-place on the integrated bookshelf in the headboard of my bed.
Myke Cole
Hi Roland, thanks for asking this.
I think THE ARMORED SAINT is my best work, and I would prefer you start there. That’s the first book in my SACRED THRONE trilogy, and will be followed by THE QUEEN OF CROWS and THE KILLING LIGHT.
However, THE SACRED THRONE is medieval-setting dark fantasy. If you’d rather read my modern military fantasy (think Hotter Potter joins the Navy SEALs instead of going to Hogwarts), then you’ll want to read my other books. I recommend the following order:
Start with GEMINI CELL, then read the whole REAWAKENING prequel trilogy (JAVELIN RAIN, then SIEGE LINE). After that, start on my SHADOW OPS series (CONTROL POINT, then FORTRESS FRONTIER, then BREACH ZONE). That’s not the order they were published in, but it is the correct order for the story.
Lastly, if you’re interested in my nonfiction/ancient history, LEGION VERSUS PHALANX will be out in October. I hope you’ll check it out.
Hope this helps!
I think THE ARMORED SAINT is my best work, and I would prefer you start there. That’s the first book in my SACRED THRONE trilogy, and will be followed by THE QUEEN OF CROWS and THE KILLING LIGHT.
However, THE SACRED THRONE is medieval-setting dark fantasy. If you’d rather read my modern military fantasy (think Hotter Potter joins the Navy SEALs instead of going to Hogwarts), then you’ll want to read my other books. I recommend the following order:
Start with GEMINI CELL, then read the whole REAWAKENING prequel trilogy (JAVELIN RAIN, then SIEGE LINE). After that, start on my SHADOW OPS series (CONTROL POINT, then FORTRESS FRONTIER, then BREACH ZONE). That’s not the order they were published in, but it is the correct order for the story.
Lastly, if you’re interested in my nonfiction/ancient history, LEGION VERSUS PHALANX will be out in October. I hope you’ll check it out.
Hope this helps!
Myke Cole
THE ARMORED SAINT has a gay protagonist, and one of the main supporting characters is gay.
Myke Cole
Did you ever read Zilpha Keatley Snyder's "Below the Root?" It was published back in the 70's and turned into a video game in the 80's.
It envisions the world as a massive forest, with a civilization that lives in the branches, forbidden to touch the ground, hangliding between the trees to get around. The world has it's intrigues and problems, but it reminds me of a more peaceful version of the great tree civilizations in the world of the film Avatar.
Wouldn't mind checking out life in Orbora, if only for a little while.
It envisions the world as a massive forest, with a civilization that lives in the branches, forbidden to touch the ground, hangliding between the trees to get around. The world has it's intrigues and problems, but it reminds me of a more peaceful version of the great tree civilizations in the world of the film Avatar.
Wouldn't mind checking out life in Orbora, if only for a little while.
Myke Cole
So pleased you like it! Unfortunately, I don't write reviews for blogs. I did that review as a stretch goal for the Worldbuilders charity fundraiser, and then crossposted it here. Best of luck with GotFiction! If you need review copies of any of my books, just let me know and I'd be happy to send them your way.
Myke Cole
I don't keep a summer reading list. I also don't really think that books are seasonal. I read books all year round, and I don't prefer one over the other based on the time of year.
Right now, to to-read shelf is pretty much 100% ancient history. I have the Osprey book coming out next year, and I constantly checking and double checking my knowledge of the subject matter. In my backpack right now is Taylor's The Roman Republic at War, with Goldsworthy's The Complete Roman Army on deck. I am getting my fiction via audiobook, mostly when I work out. Right now, I'm listening to Daniel Abraham's The Widow's House.
Right now, to to-read shelf is pretty much 100% ancient history. I have the Osprey book coming out next year, and I constantly checking and double checking my knowledge of the subject matter. In my backpack right now is Taylor's The Roman Republic at War, with Goldsworthy's The Complete Roman Army on deck. I am getting my fiction via audiobook, mostly when I work out. Right now, I'm listening to Daniel Abraham's The Widow's House.
Myke Cole
This is a great question, but the truth is that I don't have any current mysteries in my life (other than cases I'm working on, that I can't discuss on here). The truth is that my life is pretty clear and mapped out, and I take a lot of pride in being self-aware.
I am frequently (read: always) frustrated that I'm not where I want to be in life, but it's never because I don't know where I want to go. That is, I think, a problem for most people - that uncertainty, and I am truly lucky to know exactly what my desired end-state is.
I am frequently (read: always) frustrated that I'm not where I want to be in life, but it's never because I don't know where I want to go. That is, I think, a problem for most people - that uncertainty, and I am truly lucky to know exactly what my desired end-state is.
Myke Cole
Wow. This took me completely by surprise. I never really thought about it, but I think I'd have to say Cutter and Leetah from Wendy & Richard Pini's Elfquest. I love the cultural separation between the Wolfriders and the Sun Folk, and how their love overcomes it, uniting not just them, but their tribes.
This theme is repeated between Tyldak and Dewshine, and is equally moving there.
I know, I know, Elfquest is an ancient and esoteric corner of fandom, but it's my honest answer.
This theme is repeated between Tyldak and Dewshine, and is equally moving there.
I know, I know, Elfquest is an ancient and esoteric corner of fandom, but it's my honest answer.
Myke Cole
There are two books that I highly recommend anyone who wants to work in CNO (Computer Network Operations) read. However, these books will only help you if you already have the engineering background to support them. You must *first* be a computer engineer, and *then* learn CNO. So, if you don't have an IT background, pick a lane (development, client/server architecture or network infrastructure) and develop real and concrete expertise there first. Assuming you already have that foundation, here are two great books:
- Open Source Intelligence Techniques by Michael Bazzell is amazing. It's my bible, and I always have it on-hand.
- The Sling and The Stone by Thomas X. Hammes is a great strategic reference to understand insurgent mindsets and how to fight against a diffuse foe.
- The NSA has recently declassified their "Untangling the Web" manual, which is mostly a Google Dorking handbook, but a really useful one.
The rest is all tradecraft, which you learn by doing. Make damn sure you know how to get around any OS, and that you know all your basics: Port scanning, forcible browsing, the latest and greatest exploit kits, the common vulnerabilities. You don't need to be a DB engineering to know how to compromise a SQL DB. You don't have to know Tomcat to know how to exploit its admin interface and upload a malicious .war file.
But let me reemphasize this: Cyber is computers. It is absolutely nothing else. If you try to go into this field as anything other than a computer engineer, you're wrong.
- Open Source Intelligence Techniques by Michael Bazzell is amazing. It's my bible, and I always have it on-hand.
- The Sling and The Stone by Thomas X. Hammes is a great strategic reference to understand insurgent mindsets and how to fight against a diffuse foe.
- The NSA has recently declassified their "Untangling the Web" manual, which is mostly a Google Dorking handbook, but a really useful one.
The rest is all tradecraft, which you learn by doing. Make damn sure you know how to get around any OS, and that you know all your basics: Port scanning, forcible browsing, the latest and greatest exploit kits, the common vulnerabilities. You don't need to be a DB engineering to know how to compromise a SQL DB. You don't have to know Tomcat to know how to exploit its admin interface and upload a malicious .war file.
But let me reemphasize this: Cyber is computers. It is absolutely nothing else. If you try to go into this field as anything other than a computer engineer, you're wrong.
Myke Cole
Ha! The sad truth is that I don't bench at all anymore. I have impingements in both shoulders that could damage my rotator cuffs if I'm not careful. I don't want to have shoulder surgery, so I do other stuff for my chest (dips, pushups and rising cable-crossovers). I think my max. was 315 lbs in high school, but that was a looooong time ago.
Myke Cole
I definitely suffer from missing reader expectations. On the one hand, I try to stay out of politics and avoid staking positions. I'd rather not comment than risk alienating a reader or coloring their view of my work. My goal is to write great stories that are unencumbered by the reader's view of me personally.
On the other hand, I have a strong sense of justice and try to stand up for what I believe in, even when doing so is difficult or uncomfortable. There have been some issues where I have taken public stands and it has no doubt cost me readers. I'd be lying if I said I was fine with that. The thought of losing even one reader due to a personal disagreement really rattles me.
Anyone who reads my work can't fail to notice that my positions often diverge from the prevailing military culture, and more importantly, from the prevailing culture of those who admire the military and either have never served, or have served in the past. To the extent this cognitive dissonance causes me to lose their respect or attention, I am tremendously troubled, but I do feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do artistically.
Hope that wasn't too careful an answer :)
On the other hand, I have a strong sense of justice and try to stand up for what I believe in, even when doing so is difficult or uncomfortable. There have been some issues where I have taken public stands and it has no doubt cost me readers. I'd be lying if I said I was fine with that. The thought of losing even one reader due to a personal disagreement really rattles me.
Anyone who reads my work can't fail to notice that my positions often diverge from the prevailing military culture, and more importantly, from the prevailing culture of those who admire the military and either have never served, or have served in the past. To the extent this cognitive dissonance causes me to lose their respect or attention, I am tremendously troubled, but I do feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do artistically.
Hope that wasn't too careful an answer :)
Myke Cole
No. I *much* prefer that new readers start with Gemini Cell. It's chronologically (in terms of story) the earliest of my 4 published novels. I also think it's my strongest work, and I like to put my best foot forward.
Javelin Rain, which comes out in March 2015, is a sequel to Gemini Cell. A third novel, Siege Line, will be coming out in 2016, and will wrap up that trilogy. The events in all three of those books happen before those in Control Point.
Javelin Rain, which comes out in March 2015, is a sequel to Gemini Cell. A third novel, Siege Line, will be coming out in 2016, and will wrap up that trilogy. The events in all three of those books happen before those in Control Point.
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