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Clash of Eagles
Imagine a world where the Roman Empire never fell...In AD 1218, Praetor Gaius Marcellinus, commander of the 33rd Legion, invades Nova Hesperia, a land inhabited by Powhatani, Iroqua and Cahokiani. In search of gold, he and his men find only death. Marcellinus is taken prisoner, but his life is spared. To survive he must re-evaluate his allegiances and find a new place in a strange land.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
245 people are currently reading
3398 people want to read
About the author
Alan Smale
40 books157 followersAlan Smale is a professional astronomer, but his writing tastes have always veered more towards alternate and twisted history, fantasy, and horror. His novella of Romans in ancient America, "A Clash of Eagles" in Panverse Two, won the Sidewise Award for Alternate History, and the first book in a trilogy set in the same universe, CLASH OF EAGLES, appeared in 2015 from Del Rey in the US and Titan Books in the UK and Europe. The series continues with EAGLE IN EXILE (March 2016) and will conclude with EAGLE AND EMPIRE (2017). Alan has sold 40 short stories to magazines including Asimov's, Realms of Fantasy, Abyss & Apex, Paradox, and Scape, and original anthologies Panverse One and Two, Apollo's Daughters, Book of Dead Things, and Writers of the Future #13.
Alan grew up in England, and has degrees in Physics and Astrophysics from Oxford University. He serves as director of an astrophysical archive, and performs research on black hole binaries at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Alan also sings bass with well-known vocal band The Chromatics, and is co-creator of their educational AstroCappella project.
Alan grew up in England, and has degrees in Physics and Astrophysics from Oxford University. He serves as director of an astrophysical archive, and performs research on black hole binaries at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Alan also sings bass with well-known vocal band The Chromatics, and is co-creator of their educational AstroCappella project.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
February 17, 2015
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews
WHAT IF . . . The Roman Empire had never fallen?
Better yet – what if the Roman Empire not only continued to exist but conquered Europe and then decided to invade the American Continent?
Sounds interesting, right?
Well, in Clash of Eagles that is exactly what Alan Smale sets out to explore.
In this “what if” world, Rome has continued to grow. In the east, it is confronted by the Chinese Empire. In the west, it has followed rumors of gold across the wide sea to a new world inhabited by savages.
Leading the Roman expedition of conquest is Praetor Gaius Marcellinus, who lands in what is obviously the Chesapeake Bay region before discovering that the cities of gold lie far away across the mountains. With the whole success of the expedition (not to mention his career) on the line, Gauis sets his army into motion with native guides determined to transverse the wild, forested lands, cross the distant Allegheny Mountains and reach the flood plains of a huge river where the natives say the people build mountains filled with gold.
As the march drags on and on, the Romans begin to be worn down; sweltering heat, overgrown virgin forests, the lack of roads, and war-like natives sucking all hope from their weary limbs. Once the column enters the land of the Iroquois things become even worse, as these fierce fighters constantly stalk the Roman column, slinking within the shadowy undergrowth just out of sight, waiting to silently ambush and kill scouts, hunters and any Roman unlucky enough to be separated from the group. But Gauis Marcellinus will not be deterred by the harshness of the conditions, because the lure of golden cities along the Mississippi River calls to him and he is determined to claim them for Rome’s new western empire!
Clash of Eagles is one of those alternative history novels that takes the familiar, mixes in a few surprises, and creates a plausible world filled with amazing variety. What I mean by that is here we have authentic Roman soldiers existing in a very traditional North American continent, but into this familiar scene, Mr. Smale mixes in new technologies, different historical events, and the imaginary clash of two cultures that had no (or limited) contact with one another in real life, yet he presents it in such a way that it never sounds outlandish at all!
A good book is only as good as its main character though, and Mr. Smale gives readers a fine one in Gauis Marcellinus. He is definitely a Roman, a fighting man, and a conqueror, but as the story evolves, he begins to show other parts of his personality. He shows honor, humility, love, and forgiveness. And through Gauis’ evolution, the whole tale of the clash of different cultures comes alive.
But this is a novel that promises combat between Roman legionaries and tomahawk wielding Native Americans, right? And I’m sure some of you are wondering if Clash delivers on that tantalizing vision. Well, don’t be concerned, because it does. There is battles galore within these pages. Each one blood soaked affairs, filled with enough strategy and bloodletting to keep the adrenaline pumping and the nerves twitching. But be warned, these are a thinking mans fights, not so fixated on minute details of every duel that the battles read like a “How to Fight Like a Roman Legionnaire” manual. And just to liven things up even more, Mr. Smale adds in some Native American weapons and fighting techniques that not only surprise Gauis and his Romans but the reader as well!
Even with all that gushing, however, I have to admit that Clash of Eagles did have a few problems that detracted from my enjoyment.
First, this is a one horse story, in that Gauis Marcellinus is the only character that really develops. While I fully enjoyed his viewpoint, I just believe that someone else’s viewpoint (perhaps a Native American?) would have lent a great deal to the narrative as a whole.
Two, the technological achievements of the Native Americans were never really explained. I thought they were great additions to the story, very creative on Mr. Smale’s part, but there didn’t seem to be any basis for them. What I mean, is that usually technology progresses steadily from Point A to Point B, leaving behind signs of its progress. But here, the Native Americans just have some really cool technology without any lead up to it.
Three, I love alternative history for the . . . cool history! So while I didn’t want Clash of Eagles to be a history book, I still would have like Mr. Smale to have spent a little more time telling me how the Roman Empire’s timeline diverged from ours, why it survived, and some other “What If” factual context such as that. I mean, the absence of this didn’t ruin the story at all, but I personally think its inclusion would have made the novel even better.
Four, even though the Romans were in no way shown as technologically superior in every way to the Native Americans, the later parts of the story spent too much time portraying Gauis as the white man bringing modern technology to the red-skinned natives. It probably wasn’t as bad as I just made it sound, but our favorite Praetor does a lot of teaching things to the natives. Not bad in and of itself, just overdone a little bit in my opinion.
No matter my complaints, I felt Clash of Eagles was a well written, engaging alternative history story that mixed an exciting “What If” scenario with a brilliantly described Native American background. By the end, I not only found myself entertained but craving to know more about the Native American culture that was portrayed so vividly. And that is why I’ll be following this series going forward.
Del Rey Publishing and Netgalley provided this book to me for free in return for an honest review. The review above was not paid for or influenced in any way by any person, entity or organization, but is my own personal opinions.
WHAT IF . . . The Roman Empire had never fallen?
Better yet – what if the Roman Empire not only continued to exist but conquered Europe and then decided to invade the American Continent?
Sounds interesting, right?
Well, in Clash of Eagles that is exactly what Alan Smale sets out to explore.
In this “what if” world, Rome has continued to grow. In the east, it is confronted by the Chinese Empire. In the west, it has followed rumors of gold across the wide sea to a new world inhabited by savages.
Leading the Roman expedition of conquest is Praetor Gaius Marcellinus, who lands in what is obviously the Chesapeake Bay region before discovering that the cities of gold lie far away across the mountains. With the whole success of the expedition (not to mention his career) on the line, Gauis sets his army into motion with native guides determined to transverse the wild, forested lands, cross the distant Allegheny Mountains and reach the flood plains of a huge river where the natives say the people build mountains filled with gold.
As the march drags on and on, the Romans begin to be worn down; sweltering heat, overgrown virgin forests, the lack of roads, and war-like natives sucking all hope from their weary limbs. Once the column enters the land of the Iroquois things become even worse, as these fierce fighters constantly stalk the Roman column, slinking within the shadowy undergrowth just out of sight, waiting to silently ambush and kill scouts, hunters and any Roman unlucky enough to be separated from the group. But Gauis Marcellinus will not be deterred by the harshness of the conditions, because the lure of golden cities along the Mississippi River calls to him and he is determined to claim them for Rome’s new western empire!
Clash of Eagles is one of those alternative history novels that takes the familiar, mixes in a few surprises, and creates a plausible world filled with amazing variety. What I mean by that is here we have authentic Roman soldiers existing in a very traditional North American continent, but into this familiar scene, Mr. Smale mixes in new technologies, different historical events, and the imaginary clash of two cultures that had no (or limited) contact with one another in real life, yet he presents it in such a way that it never sounds outlandish at all!
A good book is only as good as its main character though, and Mr. Smale gives readers a fine one in Gauis Marcellinus. He is definitely a Roman, a fighting man, and a conqueror, but as the story evolves, he begins to show other parts of his personality. He shows honor, humility, love, and forgiveness. And through Gauis’ evolution, the whole tale of the clash of different cultures comes alive.
But this is a novel that promises combat between Roman legionaries and tomahawk wielding Native Americans, right? And I’m sure some of you are wondering if Clash delivers on that tantalizing vision. Well, don’t be concerned, because it does. There is battles galore within these pages. Each one blood soaked affairs, filled with enough strategy and bloodletting to keep the adrenaline pumping and the nerves twitching. But be warned, these are a thinking mans fights, not so fixated on minute details of every duel that the battles read like a “How to Fight Like a Roman Legionnaire” manual. And just to liven things up even more, Mr. Smale adds in some Native American weapons and fighting techniques that not only surprise Gauis and his Romans but the reader as well!
Even with all that gushing, however, I have to admit that Clash of Eagles did have a few problems that detracted from my enjoyment.
First, this is a one horse story, in that Gauis Marcellinus is the only character that really develops. While I fully enjoyed his viewpoint, I just believe that someone else’s viewpoint (perhaps a Native American?) would have lent a great deal to the narrative as a whole.
Two, the technological achievements of the Native Americans were never really explained. I thought they were great additions to the story, very creative on Mr. Smale’s part, but there didn’t seem to be any basis for them. What I mean, is that usually technology progresses steadily from Point A to Point B, leaving behind signs of its progress. But here, the Native Americans just have some really cool technology without any lead up to it.
Three, I love alternative history for the . . . cool history! So while I didn’t want Clash of Eagles to be a history book, I still would have like Mr. Smale to have spent a little more time telling me how the Roman Empire’s timeline diverged from ours, why it survived, and some other “What If” factual context such as that. I mean, the absence of this didn’t ruin the story at all, but I personally think its inclusion would have made the novel even better.
Four, even though the Romans were in no way shown as technologically superior in every way to the Native Americans, the later parts of the story spent too much time portraying Gauis as the white man bringing modern technology to the red-skinned natives. It probably wasn’t as bad as I just made it sound, but our favorite Praetor does a lot of teaching things to the natives. Not bad in and of itself, just overdone a little bit in my opinion.
No matter my complaints, I felt Clash of Eagles was a well written, engaging alternative history story that mixed an exciting “What If” scenario with a brilliantly described Native American background. By the end, I not only found myself entertained but craving to know more about the Native American culture that was portrayed so vividly. And that is why I’ll be following this series going forward.
Del Rey Publishing and Netgalley provided this book to me for free in return for an honest review. The review above was not paid for or influenced in any way by any person, entity or organization, but is my own personal opinions.
April 30, 2017
In an interesting twist of alternate history, Clash of Eagles describes a scenario in which the Roman Empire never fell, and its legions march all over the known (and unknown) world after having completely conquered the entirety of the European continent.
1218 AD. Gaius Marcellinus commands the 33rd legion as it marches across the newfound lands of Nova Hesperia after having disembarked in the bay of Chesapica. A series of violent encounters with various native peoples takes the Roman army deeper and deeper into the unknown until it faces a surprisingly civilised enemy in a fateful battle...
The first book of this trilogy starts out with a very interesting premise, and keeps its level of entertainment all the way through. There are a few flaws, such as not really taking the time to build this alternate world and not giving any supporting characters multiple dimensions and development, but overall it's quite definitely worth reading.
1218 AD. Gaius Marcellinus commands the 33rd legion as it marches across the newfound lands of Nova Hesperia after having disembarked in the bay of Chesapica. A series of violent encounters with various native peoples takes the Roman army deeper and deeper into the unknown until it faces a surprisingly civilised enemy in a fateful battle...
The first book of this trilogy starts out with a very interesting premise, and keeps its level of entertainment all the way through. There are a few flaws, such as not really taking the time to build this alternate world and not giving any supporting characters multiple dimensions and development, but overall it's quite definitely worth reading.
May 24, 2017
Disappointment of the year!
Alternate historical fiction in which Roman Empire never fell and now tries to conquer North American continent. Sounds amazing, right?
I cannot deny that premise for this novel was perfect. But where was world-building? Where was explanation of how such alternate world came to be? Where was engaging storytelling and character development? Without all of that even the best idea for story turned into one flat and boring novel.
If you are in mood for military oriented novels with strong leading hero BUT you also want rich storytelling, world-building and complex characters go for Red Rising or The Last Kingdom.
Alternate historical fiction in which Roman Empire never fell and now tries to conquer North American continent. Sounds amazing, right?
I cannot deny that premise for this novel was perfect. But where was world-building? Where was explanation of how such alternate world came to be? Where was engaging storytelling and character development? Without all of that even the best idea for story turned into one flat and boring novel.
If you are in mood for military oriented novels with strong leading hero BUT you also want rich storytelling, world-building and complex characters go for Red Rising or The Last Kingdom.
Read
March 7, 2016Received from NetGalley
The time is now, but the Roman Empire never fell. Leading a Roman expedition of conquest of what is obviously North America is Praetor Gaius Marcellinus. He's landed on the east coast, his goal to march west to discover the cities of gold across the mountains.
His force is already tired and stressed, but he has to march on, depending on indigenous guides in order to navigate the wild geography and unknown lands, before reaching the flood plains of the vast river that we recognize as the Mississippi.
The book is filled with plenty of adventures and battle scenes, the backbone being Smale's superlative understanding of Roman culture, fighting techniques, and equipment. Added bonus, how emperors thought: at the start, Marcellinus considers the world empire that now nearly stretches across the entire globe, and reflects on the problems of administration, problems which not only evoke the writings of some actual Roman emperors, but even the memoirs of other emperors such as China's remarkable K'Ang-Hsi.
Another interesting aspect is Smale's extrapolations of First Nation cultural development. He doesn't explain how they got there, but I enjoyed seeing where he went with various cultures as the Romans progressed on their trek. This is not Romans smashing their way through the simple "Indians" of days of yore: the encounters are far more complex, and definitely bloody as the Romans are tested to the max.
Downside? Marcinellus is really the only character who gets complex treatment. Everyone else is pretty much a pilum-carrier, and there is a serious dearth of women. Still, if you like Alt History, things Roman, well-done battle scenes, and lots of wild geography, this book should give you plenty of bang for your buck.
The time is now, but the Roman Empire never fell. Leading a Roman expedition of conquest of what is obviously North America is Praetor Gaius Marcellinus. He's landed on the east coast, his goal to march west to discover the cities of gold across the mountains.
His force is already tired and stressed, but he has to march on, depending on indigenous guides in order to navigate the wild geography and unknown lands, before reaching the flood plains of the vast river that we recognize as the Mississippi.
The book is filled with plenty of adventures and battle scenes, the backbone being Smale's superlative understanding of Roman culture, fighting techniques, and equipment. Added bonus, how emperors thought: at the start, Marcellinus considers the world empire that now nearly stretches across the entire globe, and reflects on the problems of administration, problems which not only evoke the writings of some actual Roman emperors, but even the memoirs of other emperors such as China's remarkable K'Ang-Hsi.
Another interesting aspect is Smale's extrapolations of First Nation cultural development. He doesn't explain how they got there, but I enjoyed seeing where he went with various cultures as the Romans progressed on their trek. This is not Romans smashing their way through the simple "Indians" of days of yore: the encounters are far more complex, and definitely bloody as the Romans are tested to the max.
Downside? Marcinellus is really the only character who gets complex treatment. Everyone else is pretty much a pilum-carrier, and there is a serious dearth of women. Still, if you like Alt History, things Roman, well-done battle scenes, and lots of wild geography, this book should give you plenty of bang for your buck.
January 7, 2016
It's not often that you see a speculative fiction novel with a proper historical appendices.
The last few pages of Clash of Eagles underscores what makes this book so great - the author's obvious passion for historical research. Smale shows a command of both Mississippian Native American culture and the military culture of the later Roman principate that realistically extrapolates this alternative history in a way that truly lives and breathes. If Rome *had* survived into the late Middle Ages, and if it HAD undertaken a conquest of the North American continent, there is little doubt in my mind that this is exactly what it would look like.
Clash of Eagles is that rarest and best of alternative histories: the one you BELIEVE, the one that makes sense. This is not some flight-of-fancy "what if?" scenario. It is a sober and careful assessment built on a bone-depth immersion in two very different lines of history. In this alone, Clash of Eagles is an achievement.
But this particular mule hauls other important loads. Smale has a storyteller's flair for character, and presents an ensemble cast with a depth of detail that George R. R. Martin would approve of. Smale's characters are complex, flawed and struggling, heroic and triumphant. They are the worst and the best of what we see in ourselves, and as such are totally compelling.
A lot of authors talk about the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement, but Smale is *doing* it. Clash of Eagles broadens the fantasy field in a real and sober consideration of Native American culture, taking First Nation achievements seriously, and making their power and scope and integral part of the fabric of his storytelling. The Cahokians and Iroqua of this book finally get a chance to come onto the speculative fiction stage in all their flawed glory. Women are war leaders and clan chiefs, technological innovators and political agitators, with real power over the story's protagonist, who even enters into a romantic-tension where he wields lesser power. If you are looking for fantasy with real sexual equality, you will find it here.
Clash of Eagles is a triple threat: it works as a novel, as a historical speculation and as cultural extrapolation. But its real value is singular: it's a ripping good yarn, and one that will keep you reading long past your bed time.
The last few pages of Clash of Eagles underscores what makes this book so great - the author's obvious passion for historical research. Smale shows a command of both Mississippian Native American culture and the military culture of the later Roman principate that realistically extrapolates this alternative history in a way that truly lives and breathes. If Rome *had* survived into the late Middle Ages, and if it HAD undertaken a conquest of the North American continent, there is little doubt in my mind that this is exactly what it would look like.
Clash of Eagles is that rarest and best of alternative histories: the one you BELIEVE, the one that makes sense. This is not some flight-of-fancy "what if?" scenario. It is a sober and careful assessment built on a bone-depth immersion in two very different lines of history. In this alone, Clash of Eagles is an achievement.
But this particular mule hauls other important loads. Smale has a storyteller's flair for character, and presents an ensemble cast with a depth of detail that George R. R. Martin would approve of. Smale's characters are complex, flawed and struggling, heroic and triumphant. They are the worst and the best of what we see in ourselves, and as such are totally compelling.
A lot of authors talk about the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement, but Smale is *doing* it. Clash of Eagles broadens the fantasy field in a real and sober consideration of Native American culture, taking First Nation achievements seriously, and making their power and scope and integral part of the fabric of his storytelling. The Cahokians and Iroqua of this book finally get a chance to come onto the speculative fiction stage in all their flawed glory. Women are war leaders and clan chiefs, technological innovators and political agitators, with real power over the story's protagonist, who even enters into a romantic-tension where he wields lesser power. If you are looking for fantasy with real sexual equality, you will find it here.
Clash of Eagles is a triple threat: it works as a novel, as a historical speculation and as cultural extrapolation. But its real value is singular: it's a ripping good yarn, and one that will keep you reading long past your bed time.
January 22, 2015
Free from net gallery in return for a honest review.
well just finished this, in all it was a great story, well thought out and well written by an author who as done his research.
An alternative history fantasy so no magic or fantasy races.
Wished we had more on this version of the roman empire, but that may happen in future books.
well just finished this, in all it was a great story, well thought out and well written by an author who as done his research.
An alternative history fantasy so no magic or fantasy races.
Wished we had more on this version of the roman empire, but that may happen in future books.
April 24, 2022
Military alt-hist SF/F done right, with the nets up and the homework done. An impressive achievement of fiction and scholarship. Best book of this sort I've read in years. Vol. 2 is in its way to me from the library. I'm looking forward to it. [spoiler alert: #2 is almost as good, & #3 is good too!]
In the early 13th century, Cahokia Thunderbird air-power defeats the 33rd Eagle Legion -- leaving only their Praetor Gaius Marcellinus alive. He's joined a 'select' group of commanders who led their Legions into utter destruction -- but all the others has the grace to die with them. Gaius was spared by a Cahokian pilot-scout -- who happens to be a beautiful woman!
How's that for a teaser? I'm (belatedly) reading this at the behest of the reliable Sherwood Smith, whose review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... That's the one you want to read first.
I don't know how likely it would be that a surviving Roman Empire at (roughly) 1218 AD would still be stuck at advanced Iron Age tech. In our timeline, the ancient Romans were remarkably capable engineers. But in essence: my highest recommendation, if this sounds like your sort of book. It was for me. 4.5+ stars.
In the early 13th century, Cahokia Thunderbird air-power defeats the 33rd Eagle Legion -- leaving only their Praetor Gaius Marcellinus alive. He's joined a 'select' group of commanders who led their Legions into utter destruction -- but all the others has the grace to die with them. Gaius was spared by a Cahokian pilot-scout -- who happens to be a beautiful woman!
How's that for a teaser? I'm (belatedly) reading this at the behest of the reliable Sherwood Smith, whose review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... That's the one you want to read first.
I don't know how likely it would be that a surviving Roman Empire at (roughly) 1218 AD would still be stuck at advanced Iron Age tech. In our timeline, the ancient Romans were remarkably capable engineers. But in essence: my highest recommendation, if this sounds like your sort of book. It was for me. 4.5+ stars.
January 4, 2020
“Marcellinus lay still, panting, as those fireflies danced. The body of the Iroqua rested on top of him, quivering as his life drained away into the dirt. Marcellinus savored the man’s death. His part in this battle was done, and if he shoved the body away and tried to stand, he risked getting a flaming arrow in his own back for his pains.”
What would have happened if the Roman Empire never collapsed?
That is the question Alan Smale takes on in the alternate history fantasy series, Clash of Eagles.
Set in A.D. 1218, the first installment follows Gaius Publius Marcellinus, a veteran warrior and Praetor. The Emperor has sent him and the 33rd Legion on a trek across the continent to invade Nova Hesperia, newly discovered land which is what we now know as North America. Expecting an easy victory, the Romans were severely underestimating their enemies. Outnumbered and outskilled, the Romans end up losing badly against the Cahokians. Marcellinus is captured by the indigenous tribe and finds himself living among them.
Battles ensue, personalities clash, loyalties are tested, cultures are integrated and the majority of it feels authentic. It’s evident that Smale did his research! Though he clearly took some liberties with certain flying instruments used in this version of history!
The city of Cahokia actually existed and was located near the Mississippi River. Consisting of about 20,000 people, it was one of the largest cities in the world at the time. Known for being ‘Mound Builders’, the ancient city was covered in at least 120 earthen mounds, totaling about 16 kms. Having never heard of Cahokia before, it was fascinating to read about it once I finished Clash of Eagles. Envisioning the landscape and how glorious it must have looked back then, the elaborately planned community with such amazing architecture.
“Women could wield power in Roma. They could lead dynasties, rule great households, sometimes even manipulate the entire Imperium from behind the scenes. Yet none were warriors the way Cahokian women were, and of the warrior women, none was as competent and impressive as Sintikala. She was fast and aggressive, tough, and a little haughty.”
Although I have always been interested in ancient Rome, I’m not the most avid historical fiction reader. I’ve gone through phases, but it isn’t necessarily something that completely holds my attention as much, especially these days. Historical fiction seems to ebb and flow in popularity, with a recent rise over the years. People dig reading about different time periods in historical settings that actually existed. Historical fiction is such a broad umbrella term though, isn’t it? There’s historical fantasy, alternate (or alternative) fiction, speculative fiction.. some people believe alternate history is sci-fi, other’s refuse to consider it as such.. sub genre, sub genre, SUB-SUB-SUB GENRE. Oof. This is why I’m not that concerned with labels. Books are books are books!
I do tend to lean more towards the alternate history/speculative fiction side of things, preferring instead to read books that have reinvented a story that took place or could have taken place. I’m all about imagining a world of possibilities and the “what ifs” surrounding the details. Luckily, this was a roundabout way of saying that Clash of Eagles will appeal to fans of both historical fiction and alternate history, as well as readers who are into speculative fiction and military fantasy. It’s brilliant!
Admittedly, I did struggle with this in the beginning. There are a lot of names to get used to, the worldbuilding can be quite dense and the info-dumps took a bit to wrap my brain around. I was much like the Kombucha meme at first, unsure of how I felt about it! However, once it gets going I was entirely immersed within this re-imagined story in which the Roman Empire never fell.
Brutal violence, including bludgeoning and scalping; cinematic battle sequences; flawed, complex characters; richly constructed storytelling; and solid historical research. Plus appendixes and notes and maps! Behold, my nerdy heart!
Clash of Eagles is a hard-hitting debut that I’m looking forward to continuing!
What would have happened if the Roman Empire never collapsed?
That is the question Alan Smale takes on in the alternate history fantasy series, Clash of Eagles.
Set in A.D. 1218, the first installment follows Gaius Publius Marcellinus, a veteran warrior and Praetor. The Emperor has sent him and the 33rd Legion on a trek across the continent to invade Nova Hesperia, newly discovered land which is what we now know as North America. Expecting an easy victory, the Romans were severely underestimating their enemies. Outnumbered and outskilled, the Romans end up losing badly against the Cahokians. Marcellinus is captured by the indigenous tribe and finds himself living among them.
Battles ensue, personalities clash, loyalties are tested, cultures are integrated and the majority of it feels authentic. It’s evident that Smale did his research! Though he clearly took some liberties with certain flying instruments used in this version of history!
The city of Cahokia actually existed and was located near the Mississippi River. Consisting of about 20,000 people, it was one of the largest cities in the world at the time. Known for being ‘Mound Builders’, the ancient city was covered in at least 120 earthen mounds, totaling about 16 kms. Having never heard of Cahokia before, it was fascinating to read about it once I finished Clash of Eagles. Envisioning the landscape and how glorious it must have looked back then, the elaborately planned community with such amazing architecture.
“Women could wield power in Roma. They could lead dynasties, rule great households, sometimes even manipulate the entire Imperium from behind the scenes. Yet none were warriors the way Cahokian women were, and of the warrior women, none was as competent and impressive as Sintikala. She was fast and aggressive, tough, and a little haughty.”
Although I have always been interested in ancient Rome, I’m not the most avid historical fiction reader. I’ve gone through phases, but it isn’t necessarily something that completely holds my attention as much, especially these days. Historical fiction seems to ebb and flow in popularity, with a recent rise over the years. People dig reading about different time periods in historical settings that actually existed. Historical fiction is such a broad umbrella term though, isn’t it? There’s historical fantasy, alternate (or alternative) fiction, speculative fiction.. some people believe alternate history is sci-fi, other’s refuse to consider it as such.. sub genre, sub genre, SUB-SUB-SUB GENRE. Oof. This is why I’m not that concerned with labels. Books are books are books!
I do tend to lean more towards the alternate history/speculative fiction side of things, preferring instead to read books that have reinvented a story that took place or could have taken place. I’m all about imagining a world of possibilities and the “what ifs” surrounding the details. Luckily, this was a roundabout way of saying that Clash of Eagles will appeal to fans of both historical fiction and alternate history, as well as readers who are into speculative fiction and military fantasy. It’s brilliant!
Admittedly, I did struggle with this in the beginning. There are a lot of names to get used to, the worldbuilding can be quite dense and the info-dumps took a bit to wrap my brain around. I was much like the Kombucha meme at first, unsure of how I felt about it! However, once it gets going I was entirely immersed within this re-imagined story in which the Roman Empire never fell.
Brutal violence, including bludgeoning and scalping; cinematic battle sequences; flawed, complex characters; richly constructed storytelling; and solid historical research. Plus appendixes and notes and maps! Behold, my nerdy heart!
Clash of Eagles is a hard-hitting debut that I’m looking forward to continuing!
April 8, 2015
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
What a satisfying read. Imagine an alternate history where Rome didn't fall, and was responsible for leading the age of discovery into the New World. How would their early encounters with the Native Americans go?
This book turned out to be much more than a "what if?" situation, developing into a richly constructed historical fantasy. While the author mentions it as the first of a trilogy, the story here is pretty much self-contained. Still, I'll definitely want to read more!
The pacing is good, though a bit on the slow side. It feels alright though, as it takes time to properly world-build and to get the key players into place. Smale does a good job keeping it interesting even at points where he has to make brief info-dumps. It's a little a time, and is interspersed with bits of humor and action scenes.
And the battles! Oh yes, Bernard Cornwell take note. Alan Smale can stir the dust and kick up a shit storm with his epic battles. In many books, these grow tedious, but here they managed to hold my interest all the way though. Easy to visualize, you feel like you're right there in the heart of it all.
But really, this book is more than the sum of its parts. It's more than a Native American story with Romans dumped in for flavoring. It's more than cool battle sequences. I think what we'll see in the final product won't be really known until the trilogy is complete. I for one am looking forward to the journey.
What a satisfying read. Imagine an alternate history where Rome didn't fall, and was responsible for leading the age of discovery into the New World. How would their early encounters with the Native Americans go?
This book turned out to be much more than a "what if?" situation, developing into a richly constructed historical fantasy. While the author mentions it as the first of a trilogy, the story here is pretty much self-contained. Still, I'll definitely want to read more!
The pacing is good, though a bit on the slow side. It feels alright though, as it takes time to properly world-build and to get the key players into place. Smale does a good job keeping it interesting even at points where he has to make brief info-dumps. It's a little a time, and is interspersed with bits of humor and action scenes.
And the battles! Oh yes, Bernard Cornwell take note. Alan Smale can stir the dust and kick up a shit storm with his epic battles. In many books, these grow tedious, but here they managed to hold my interest all the way though. Easy to visualize, you feel like you're right there in the heart of it all.
But really, this book is more than the sum of its parts. It's more than a Native American story with Romans dumped in for flavoring. It's more than cool battle sequences. I think what we'll see in the final product won't be really known until the trilogy is complete. I for one am looking forward to the journey.
February 22, 2024
I read this book based on a recommendation from someone. I did enjoy this and gave it 4 stars. Sometimes alternate history books don't work out, but to me this was a very good historical novel with some strong fantasy elements.
"Clash of Eagles" follows general Gaius Marcellinus invades the newly-discovered North American continent. Marcellinus thinks that his troops will be able to root out the First Nation inhabitants they meet. However, he's shocked to see his troops killed and he's taking as a hostage back to the chiefs of the very people he hoped to enslave.
"Clash of Eagles" had historical elements that I was interested in. And I loved the idea behind the book, what if the Romans got to the Americas first? Someone said this was Last of the Mohicans mixed with Rome. But I thought it was more like "Dances with Wolves" mixed with Rome.
It also had truly compelling characters that I would enjoy reading about in the future. I wanted to know more about Marcellinus's life in Rome. It didn't sound awesome. And with Rome facing China in the east, and trying to go west for gold, it seems like Rome is going to fall, just not in the same time period as before. I loved seeing Marcellinus going from general to eventual teacher. And I did like the beginnings of a potential love story I am seeing between Marcellinus and someone I won't name to not spoil in the review.
The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars was that at times the flow of the book just slows things down to the point that you just want things to hurry up and get going. I know this is the first book in a trilogy, so it makes sense at times why Smale did slow things down a bit.
I said in my brief update here though that I really appreciated the appendices to the book and the care that Smale took to keep things as historically accurate when possible, but also throwing in the fantasy elements when needed.
"Clash of Eagles" follows general Gaius Marcellinus invades the newly-discovered North American continent. Marcellinus thinks that his troops will be able to root out the First Nation inhabitants they meet. However, he's shocked to see his troops killed and he's taking as a hostage back to the chiefs of the very people he hoped to enslave.
"Clash of Eagles" had historical elements that I was interested in. And I loved the idea behind the book, what if the Romans got to the Americas first? Someone said this was Last of the Mohicans mixed with Rome. But I thought it was more like "Dances with Wolves" mixed with Rome.
It also had truly compelling characters that I would enjoy reading about in the future. I wanted to know more about Marcellinus's life in Rome. It didn't sound awesome. And with Rome facing China in the east, and trying to go west for gold, it seems like Rome is going to fall, just not in the same time period as before. I loved seeing Marcellinus going from general to eventual teacher. And I did like the beginnings of a potential love story I am seeing between Marcellinus and someone I won't name to not spoil in the review.
The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars was that at times the flow of the book just slows things down to the point that you just want things to hurry up and get going. I know this is the first book in a trilogy, so it makes sense at times why Smale did slow things down a bit.
I said in my brief update here though that I really appreciated the appendices to the book and the care that Smale took to keep things as historically accurate when possible, but also throwing in the fantasy elements when needed.
December 4, 2014
Description -
Clash of Eagles tells of the tale of of an alternate world where the Roman Empire has not fallen, and the continent of North America has just been discovered. Hungry for land and gold, the Emperor has sent Praetor Gaius Marcellinus and the 33rd Roman Legion across the ocean to invade the newly discovered lands.
Marcellinus and his men expect an easy victory over the native inhabitants, but the 33rd Legion clashes with an unique civilisation armed with weapons and strategies that no Roman has ever imagined. Suffering a cataclysmic defeat, Marcellinus is spared by his captors and kept alive for his military and strategic knowledge. As he recovers and learns more about the native inhabitants, he finds himself drawn into their society and their way of life. But threats, both Roman and Native, are growing on the horizon, and Marcellinus finds himself struggling to keep the peace as the continent surges towards bloody conflict.
Review -
I am the first to admit that I love alternative history. I have demolished the works of Turtledove with glee in the past, and sat late into the night pouring over the historical nuances of Bernard Cornwell. One of the things that I loved about those works was their ability to transport me into a radically different world and keep me riveted. Does Clash of Eagles stand up to the works of those authors? In some ways yes, and in others no. I loved many things about Clash of Eagles, but I also found myself noticing things that I felt let the story down.
Firstly, the battle scenes were well done. Historically accurate (Smale could have taken some more poetic license though, and depicted a Roman Army that had evolved more in terms of weaponry and tactics... it is after all 1218AD in the novel), interesting, and action packed. I could almost feel myself standing in formation with the legionnaires at times, and the tactical nuances of the natives were crafty and fascinating (their use of air attacks and how fighting the legion changed them for example). This leads me to my next point. Smale's world building is great in some parts, and washed over in others. I found his passages on the native inhabitants (mainly the people of Cahokia, or the 'Mound Builders') intriguing and richly detailed. I became immersed in their great civilisation that once existed on the banks of the Mississippi, and I enjoyed the massive impact (cultural and technological) that Marcellinus had on their society. His passages on Rome were, in comparison, washed over. It is 1218AD in the novel, and the Roman Empire has not only repelled the barbarians but continued to conquer and expand its empire (for example Briton and Scandanavia are Roman provinces). We get very little meat on the bone in regard to these events. How did the Roman Empire survive? What were the ramifications of that survival? Smale just blazes through this and, in my opinion, avoids detailing what could have been an incredibly fascinating part of his novel (especially seeing as this is one the cool things about alternative history... the 'what ifs').
The characters of Clash of Eagles are also a little hit and miss. Marcellinus was an excellent protagonist, whose narrative kept me turning the pages in anticipation of what was coming. I especially enjoyed how Smale highlighted the cultural divide between Marcellinus and the Cahokians, and their attempts to communicate with each other were very funny at times. Smale's native characters are also extremely well done, with a richness and depth that I found very reminiscent of the Native Americans in the movie Dances with Wolves. In opposition to this I found Smale's depiction of his Roman characters (and other non-natives for that matter) to be a little shallow and lacking in the depth. Again I just wanted a little bit more on the bone to satisfy that alternative history nerd within me.
I enjoyed the overall pacing and plot of the story. At times the story did slow down, especially in the parts detailing Marcellinus initial introduction to Cahokian society. After that though the plot moved along nicely and I found myself more locked in the further along I got. All in all Clash of Eagles is a solid alternative history with tones of Dances with Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans. Yes, it has some weaknesses, but overall it was an enjoyable read and one I would recommend to fans of Cornwell, Turtledove, and Clavell.
3.5 out of 5 Stars
smashdragons.blogspot.com.au
Clash of Eagles tells of the tale of of an alternate world where the Roman Empire has not fallen, and the continent of North America has just been discovered. Hungry for land and gold, the Emperor has sent Praetor Gaius Marcellinus and the 33rd Roman Legion across the ocean to invade the newly discovered lands.
Marcellinus and his men expect an easy victory over the native inhabitants, but the 33rd Legion clashes with an unique civilisation armed with weapons and strategies that no Roman has ever imagined. Suffering a cataclysmic defeat, Marcellinus is spared by his captors and kept alive for his military and strategic knowledge. As he recovers and learns more about the native inhabitants, he finds himself drawn into their society and their way of life. But threats, both Roman and Native, are growing on the horizon, and Marcellinus finds himself struggling to keep the peace as the continent surges towards bloody conflict.
Review -
I am the first to admit that I love alternative history. I have demolished the works of Turtledove with glee in the past, and sat late into the night pouring over the historical nuances of Bernard Cornwell. One of the things that I loved about those works was their ability to transport me into a radically different world and keep me riveted. Does Clash of Eagles stand up to the works of those authors? In some ways yes, and in others no. I loved many things about Clash of Eagles, but I also found myself noticing things that I felt let the story down.
Firstly, the battle scenes were well done. Historically accurate (Smale could have taken some more poetic license though, and depicted a Roman Army that had evolved more in terms of weaponry and tactics... it is after all 1218AD in the novel), interesting, and action packed. I could almost feel myself standing in formation with the legionnaires at times, and the tactical nuances of the natives were crafty and fascinating (their use of air attacks and how fighting the legion changed them for example). This leads me to my next point. Smale's world building is great in some parts, and washed over in others. I found his passages on the native inhabitants (mainly the people of Cahokia, or the 'Mound Builders') intriguing and richly detailed. I became immersed in their great civilisation that once existed on the banks of the Mississippi, and I enjoyed the massive impact (cultural and technological) that Marcellinus had on their society. His passages on Rome were, in comparison, washed over. It is 1218AD in the novel, and the Roman Empire has not only repelled the barbarians but continued to conquer and expand its empire (for example Briton and Scandanavia are Roman provinces). We get very little meat on the bone in regard to these events. How did the Roman Empire survive? What were the ramifications of that survival? Smale just blazes through this and, in my opinion, avoids detailing what could have been an incredibly fascinating part of his novel (especially seeing as this is one the cool things about alternative history... the 'what ifs').
The characters of Clash of Eagles are also a little hit and miss. Marcellinus was an excellent protagonist, whose narrative kept me turning the pages in anticipation of what was coming. I especially enjoyed how Smale highlighted the cultural divide between Marcellinus and the Cahokians, and their attempts to communicate with each other were very funny at times. Smale's native characters are also extremely well done, with a richness and depth that I found very reminiscent of the Native Americans in the movie Dances with Wolves. In opposition to this I found Smale's depiction of his Roman characters (and other non-natives for that matter) to be a little shallow and lacking in the depth. Again I just wanted a little bit more on the bone to satisfy that alternative history nerd within me.
I enjoyed the overall pacing and plot of the story. At times the story did slow down, especially in the parts detailing Marcellinus initial introduction to Cahokian society. After that though the plot moved along nicely and I found myself more locked in the further along I got. All in all Clash of Eagles is a solid alternative history with tones of Dances with Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans. Yes, it has some weaknesses, but overall it was an enjoyable read and one I would recommend to fans of Cornwell, Turtledove, and Clavell.
3.5 out of 5 Stars
smashdragons.blogspot.com.au
June 3, 2018
The Roman Empire never fell. It survived and extended, and when the Vikings started their raids, the Romans brought them to heel - so it's now the 13th century and the Vikings bring tides of new, rich lands where gold flows aplenty.
Naturally, Rome sends out a legion to conquer that new land and bring back the riches, shipping the soldiers across the Atlantic on Viking ships. And less naturally, it turns out that some tribes across the Atlantic have discovered flight, so they can drop fire on their enemies (literally).
And thus, an extraordinary battle ensues between Rome and Native American tribes, leading to a clash of civilizations!
...this is the point where I got a coffee and sober up for the rest of the review...
While the idea is *brilliant*, I'm not so sure about the way it's handled. It's very... very...
Look, when the Romans march, they build roads, ok? So that needs to be mentioned in detail. They also build fortifications every night, so that has to be described. And before you know it, you're reading loads and loads of passages like:
And you read about palisades, and how to train soldiers Roman-style, and how hard it is to forge iron rather than bronze, and how to make a bathhouse and...
It's a sort of realistic alternate universe novel, I suppose? It has a few battles, but little action otherwise, and a lot of descriptions of how the main character and the leader of his legion, Marcellinus, employs everything he knows to bring Roman innovation to this new land. And if you're reading this to be wowed, even the primitive, yet very effective flying machines soon become boring, because they're put back in storage on the gigantic mound built by generations of Indians (they carried the earth in baskets), in a wattle and daub longhouse which is taken down and rebuilt every year.
At one point, I started feeling as if I were reading my old history textbook, because it was about as dry.
But, once the Stockholm syndrome kicked in and I started enjoying the book, I realized "Clash of Eagles" isn't about Romans vs. Indians, nor about the clash of great armies (unless a "clash" is a short battle in which one army gets obliterated). It's a fantasy of quick technological innovation and ingenious engineering. It's about one man who tries to bring his civilization to a new world and by the gods, does he do it! He forges, he makes bricks, he makes wheelbarrows and needles, and he won't be stopped!
I was going to three-star the book, but the ending left me somewhat bitter -
Naturally, Rome sends out a legion to conquer that new land and bring back the riches, shipping the soldiers across the Atlantic on Viking ships. And less naturally, it turns out that some tribes across the Atlantic have discovered flight, so they can drop fire on their enemies (literally).
And thus, an extraordinary battle ensues between Rome and Native American tribes, leading to a clash of civilizations!
...this is the point where I got a coffee and sober up for the rest of the review...
While the idea is *brilliant*, I'm not so sure about the way it's handled. It's very... very...
Look, when the Romans march, they build roads, ok? So that needs to be mentioned in detail. They also build fortifications every night, so that has to be described. And before you know it, you're reading loads and loads of passages like:
“Marcellinus was interested to see that here in Woshakee, where space was tight, the houses had been built in rows as neat and orderly as any castra or Roman town. It was a way of getting as many houses as possible inside the small compound defined by the palisade perimeter.”
And you read about palisades, and how to train soldiers Roman-style, and how hard it is to forge iron rather than bronze, and how to make a bathhouse and...
It's a sort of realistic alternate universe novel, I suppose? It has a few battles, but little action otherwise, and a lot of descriptions of how the main character and the leader of his legion, Marcellinus, employs everything he knows to bring Roman innovation to this new land. And if you're reading this to be wowed, even the primitive, yet very effective flying machines soon become boring, because they're put back in storage on the gigantic mound built by generations of Indians (they carried the earth in baskets), in a wattle and daub longhouse which is taken down and rebuilt every year.
At one point, I started feeling as if I were reading my old history textbook, because it was about as dry.
But, once the Stockholm syndrome kicked in and I started enjoying the book, I realized "Clash of Eagles" isn't about Romans vs. Indians, nor about the clash of great armies (unless a "clash" is a short battle in which one army gets obliterated). It's a fantasy of quick technological innovation and ingenious engineering. It's about one man who tries to bring his civilization to a new world and by the gods, does he do it! He forges, he makes bricks, he makes wheelbarrows and needles, and he won't be stopped!
I was going to three-star the book, but the ending left me somewhat bitter -
January 22, 2024
In a world in which the Roman Empire never fell, North America has been discovered. A Roman legion is sent to find gold and take over the land. Gaius Marcellinus leads this legion and realizes that the barbarians are far more capable at warfare than Rome ever imagined. After a massive battle, Gaius is captured and spared by the Cahokian Native Americans. Gaius's whole world is changed from that moment as he struggles to find a life for himself among the Cahokians.
Clash of Eagles was an attempt for me to branch out into historical fiction which is a genre I don't tend to read. I did enjoy learning a bit about the Cahokian Native Americans because I truly don't remember learning about them before. I am moderately knowledgeable about Rome's history so it was good to see a good amount of familiar Roman warfare.
The alternate history part was also interesting as Briton and Scandanavia are Roman provinces. Early in the book, a few mentions are made about the continuing struggles of integrating people from various recently added Roman provinces. It was also interesting seeing the author utilizing some unsupported technological achievements to make the Native Americans a far more terrifying opponent to face.
I thought the biggest thing Clash of Eagles suffers from is it's generic and stereotypical characters. There isn't one character that feels truly distinctive in the entire book. All the Cahokian characters and Gaius Marcellinus seem like various background characters from books and movies. I personally expect to have at least one character to cheer for, care about, and just plain enjoy but I didn't find such a character in Clash of Eagles. This took much of the interest out of the battles for me because I wasn't concerned with the welfare of any of the characters.
Another part of the book that didn't fit well was it's romance. Gaius becomes enthralled with one of the main Cahokia women, but it really doesn't make any sense. The author doesn't provide any explanation into why Gaius is interested in her short of the fact that she's a strong woman. The reader is in Gaius's mind and able to read his thoughts so it really seemed like some additional reason for his interest should have been provided. His interest just didn't seem realistic. I could have accepted this if not for the fact that at various times in the book Gaius is shown gazing upon voluptuous barley dressed Cahokian women and trying to control himself. I could have believed that he respected and admired this strong woman, but not his romantic interest. I did enjoy the general laughter and joking from the Native Americans about Gaius's earlier romantic partner.
Overall Clash of Eagles was an average book that is likely to be appreciated by fans of historical fiction and alternate historical fiction.
2.5 out of 5 stars
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Clash of Eagles was an attempt for me to branch out into historical fiction which is a genre I don't tend to read. I did enjoy learning a bit about the Cahokian Native Americans because I truly don't remember learning about them before. I am moderately knowledgeable about Rome's history so it was good to see a good amount of familiar Roman warfare.
The alternate history part was also interesting as Briton and Scandanavia are Roman provinces. Early in the book, a few mentions are made about the continuing struggles of integrating people from various recently added Roman provinces. It was also interesting seeing the author utilizing some unsupported technological achievements to make the Native Americans a far more terrifying opponent to face.
I thought the biggest thing Clash of Eagles suffers from is it's generic and stereotypical characters. There isn't one character that feels truly distinctive in the entire book. All the Cahokian characters and Gaius Marcellinus seem like various background characters from books and movies. I personally expect to have at least one character to cheer for, care about, and just plain enjoy but I didn't find such a character in Clash of Eagles. This took much of the interest out of the battles for me because I wasn't concerned with the welfare of any of the characters.
Another part of the book that didn't fit well was it's romance. Gaius becomes enthralled with one of the main Cahokia women, but it really doesn't make any sense. The author doesn't provide any explanation into why Gaius is interested in her short of the fact that she's a strong woman. The reader is in Gaius's mind and able to read his thoughts so it really seemed like some additional reason for his interest should have been provided. His interest just didn't seem realistic. I could have accepted this if not for the fact that at various times in the book Gaius is shown gazing upon voluptuous barley dressed Cahokian women and trying to control himself. I could have believed that he respected and admired this strong woman, but not his romantic interest. I did enjoy the general laughter and joking from the Native Americans about Gaius's earlier romantic partner.
Overall Clash of Eagles was an average book that is likely to be appreciated by fans of historical fiction and alternate historical fiction.
2.5 out of 5 stars
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2015
An alternate history epic, and well worthy of the title. In this world, the Goths did not sack Rome. The Romans are continuing to expand their frontiers, fighting the Mongol Khan on one side while sending troops across the Atlantic on the other. Marcellinus, a Roman Praetor, has been charged with finding the fabled gold. Roman tactics might not work quite so well in the New World though, and their concept of warfare may have a different result in the mountains of Appalachia, or when they near the great Mississippi river.
I'm glad there are to be more books in the series. The worldbuilding is excellent, the characters generally well-rounded (no black hats or white hats here), and Marcellinus' internal honesty and introspection prove most interesting as he is forced to re-evaluate everything he knows and believes, and begins to see his warriors as individual people rather than just a mass of faceless troops.
As an anthropologist, it was incredibly fascinating to see Roman soldiers coming up against braves, the interactions with the local tribes with their varying customs and how even the simplest things (like counting on fingers) may be done differently. They clash, with great confusion, and eventually start melding together to create a wholly new picture, yet there is always a price to pay for innovation.
The level of detail in Smale's research is quite astounding, but the level of thought that's gone into recreating these lost civilizations was even more so - and that's before you see the "alternative" part - but I also appreciated the detailed appendices with their extra information, creating more historical context and offering a lengthy bibliography to anyone who wishes to learn more.
I already had to recommend Clash of Eagles to someone else, who is waiting impatiently for his copy! If you enjoy military SF (historic rather than futuristic) or alternate history, you should definitely take a look.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm glad there are to be more books in the series. The worldbuilding is excellent, the characters generally well-rounded (no black hats or white hats here), and Marcellinus' internal honesty and introspection prove most interesting as he is forced to re-evaluate everything he knows and believes, and begins to see his warriors as individual people rather than just a mass of faceless troops.
As an anthropologist, it was incredibly fascinating to see Roman soldiers coming up against braves, the interactions with the local tribes with their varying customs and how even the simplest things (like counting on fingers) may be done differently. They clash, with great confusion, and eventually start melding together to create a wholly new picture, yet there is always a price to pay for innovation.
The level of detail in Smale's research is quite astounding, but the level of thought that's gone into recreating these lost civilizations was even more so - and that's before you see the "alternative" part - but I also appreciated the detailed appendices with their extra information, creating more historical context and offering a lengthy bibliography to anyone who wishes to learn more.
I already had to recommend Clash of Eagles to someone else, who is waiting impatiently for his copy! If you enjoy military SF (historic rather than futuristic) or alternate history, you should definitely take a look.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
And to be honest, I did not finish it. Alternate history is a tricky genre. The author needs to have thought through the consequences of all the differences that would exist from their chosen divergence from history. It also needs to be engaging and human.
Many alternate history authors are enamored of military history and want to talk about subjects like : what if the South had won the Civil War? What if America hadn't entered WWII? What if the Romans had fought Native Americans? And that last question is the one addressed by this book. Unfortunately, the author has also decided to set his book around 1300-1600 (I know, that's a massive difference, I just don't care enough and it doesn't really matter) so that the Vikings could be in Greenland and the Romans, who have remained in power, could follow them to the New World. And the problem: it doesn't matter whether it's 1300 or 1600, because Roman technology and tactics are exactly the same as they were in 100 A.D. No new weaponry, no new armor, still spears and shields. I would rather these Romans had fallen through a wormhole, like Harry Turtledove's lost Roman legion who got to fight lots of different armies. The utter lack of progress for the last thousand years or so was annoying and drew me out of the story.
The other problem is another one common to military history buffs who want to postulate "what if?". They have a great question to answer, but can't actually think of a plot to answer it with. And people don't matter, it's a military strategy game, all in their heads. So, wooden characters, negligible female characters (the first one we see barely avoids getting raped by a whole legion, because the author needs to show us his main character's a nice guy), and not a very interesting plot. Nothing engaged me. Therefore, DNF.
And to be honest, I did not finish it. Alternate history is a tricky genre. The author needs to have thought through the consequences of all the differences that would exist from their chosen divergence from history. It also needs to be engaging and human.
Many alternate history authors are enamored of military history and want to talk about subjects like : what if the South had won the Civil War? What if America hadn't entered WWII? What if the Romans had fought Native Americans? And that last question is the one addressed by this book. Unfortunately, the author has also decided to set his book around 1300-1600 (I know, that's a massive difference, I just don't care enough and it doesn't really matter) so that the Vikings could be in Greenland and the Romans, who have remained in power, could follow them to the New World. And the problem: it doesn't matter whether it's 1300 or 1600, because Roman technology and tactics are exactly the same as they were in 100 A.D. No new weaponry, no new armor, still spears and shields. I would rather these Romans had fallen through a wormhole, like Harry Turtledove's lost Roman legion who got to fight lots of different armies. The utter lack of progress for the last thousand years or so was annoying and drew me out of the story.
The other problem is another one common to military history buffs who want to postulate "what if?". They have a great question to answer, but can't actually think of a plot to answer it with. And people don't matter, it's a military strategy game, all in their heads. So, wooden characters, negligible female characters (the first one we see barely avoids getting raped by a whole legion, because the author needs to show us his main character's a nice guy), and not a very interesting plot. Nothing engaged me. Therefore, DNF.
November 25, 2015
My review of this got deleted accidentally I guess.
I read an advance copy that I received via Goodeads, and does not influence my opinion at all.
After I read the blurb I got an "Asterix et Obelix" vibe, and since I love that series this book had lots to live up to. Sadly it had a very flat delivery.
I was expecting something different. Cool tribes in America fighting the legions, I got a piece of white bread with no butter.
It felt odd since the legions lacked the advancement I expected of 1218AD, maybe it is the scenic in me that could not get behind it.
There was a lack of world-building. We do not even get to know how Briton and Scandinavia became Roman provinces!
Characters were also very flat and very cliched.
I just cannot give this anything higher, and it makes me sad since some other people seem to have, at least, tolerated it.
I read an advance copy that I received via Goodeads, and does not influence my opinion at all.
After I read the blurb I got an "Asterix et Obelix" vibe, and since I love that series this book had lots to live up to. Sadly it had a very flat delivery.
I was expecting something different. Cool tribes in America fighting the legions, I got a piece of white bread with no butter.
It felt odd since the legions lacked the advancement I expected of 1218AD, maybe it is the scenic in me that could not get behind it.
There was a lack of world-building. We do not even get to know how Briton and Scandinavia became Roman provinces!
Characters were also very flat and very cliched.
I just cannot give this anything higher, and it makes me sad since some other people seem to have, at least, tolerated it.
March 19, 2015
3.5 to 4 stars
Good but not great.
As other reviewer(s) have noted, this ends up being a one-man show almost exclusively - Marcellinus, the Praetor of the XXXIII Legion, marching west across the Appallacians towards the mighty Mississippi years before Horace Greeley penned the phrase "Go West, young man.' The Romans, and their Norse scouts, encounter various Native Americans with startlingly advanced technology for a stone-age culture lacking even the wheel*.
Marcellinus is the only truly fleshed out character. All others - Romans, Norsemen, Native Americans - are barely cardboard cutouts in comparison. Some of the Cahokians, in the latter half of the book, get more interesting, but not by much.
The book as a whole was an interesting mental exercise of "what if" the Roman Empire hadn't collapsed and continued conquering beyond the European, African and Asian land masses to North America? And equally interesting were the advancements predicted among the natives.
My thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read an eARC of Clash of Eagles before it's official release this month.
* I learned from reading Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond that if not for the Spanish leaving horses behind after their conquests, no other beasts of burden were available to the natives of North America for domestication. Bison excluded. Without domesticated animals, the usefulness of the wheel diminishes.
Good but not great.
As other reviewer(s) have noted, this ends up being a one-man show almost exclusively - Marcellinus, the Praetor of the XXXIII Legion, marching west across the Appallacians towards the mighty Mississippi years before Horace Greeley penned the phrase "Go West, young man.' The Romans, and their Norse scouts, encounter various Native Americans with startlingly advanced technology for a stone-age culture lacking even the wheel*.
Marcellinus is the only truly fleshed out character. All others - Romans, Norsemen, Native Americans - are barely cardboard cutouts in comparison. Some of the Cahokians, in the latter half of the book, get more interesting, but not by much.
The book as a whole was an interesting mental exercise of "what if" the Roman Empire hadn't collapsed and continued conquering beyond the European, African and Asian land masses to North America? And equally interesting were the advancements predicted among the natives.
My thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read an eARC of Clash of Eagles before it's official release this month.
* I learned from reading Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond that if not for the Spanish leaving horses behind after their conquests, no other beasts of burden were available to the natives of North America for domestication. Bison excluded. Without domesticated animals, the usefulness of the wheel diminishes.
February 9, 2019
Clash of Eagles has a very interesting concept- what if the Roman Empire had not fallen and in 1218 AD had invaded Nova Hesperia- the New World?
Praetor Gaius Marcellinus leads the 33rd Legion into the heart of America, landing at Chesapeake Bay. That was a very interesting concept. The Romans eventually run into the Cahokians who end up defeating them. Gaius is "adopted" by the tribe to teach them new methods of warfare as they battle the Iroquois.
That's the gist. Overall an interesting story and it had some real potential to be amazing. The concept of the Native Americans developing flying "wings" is a bit much though. This is the 1200's and wooden flying wings are truly hard to believe. The rest of the story is pretty decent and there is a lot of information in here about the lifestyles and the world of the Cahokians. I also enjoyed the concept of the Natives learning Roman style warfare and weapons.
Perhaps my biggest complaint was with the ending. I realize that this is a trilogy but still, the fact that the Great Sun Man came up with the idea to have Gaius train his people and then when it leads to war to be mad was incredibly irritating. I liked the book enough and I thought the scenario was interesting. Will I come back to read the rest of the trilogy? Perhaps someday, but unlikely to be any time soon. A good story and a good concept. But nothing amazing.
Praetor Gaius Marcellinus leads the 33rd Legion into the heart of America, landing at Chesapeake Bay. That was a very interesting concept. The Romans eventually run into the Cahokians who end up defeating them. Gaius is "adopted" by the tribe to teach them new methods of warfare as they battle the Iroquois.
That's the gist. Overall an interesting story and it had some real potential to be amazing. The concept of the Native Americans developing flying "wings" is a bit much though. This is the 1200's and wooden flying wings are truly hard to believe. The rest of the story is pretty decent and there is a lot of information in here about the lifestyles and the world of the Cahokians. I also enjoyed the concept of the Natives learning Roman style warfare and weapons.
Perhaps my biggest complaint was with the ending. I realize that this is a trilogy but still, the fact that the Great Sun Man came up with the idea to have Gaius train his people and then when it leads to war to be mad was incredibly irritating. I liked the book enough and I thought the scenario was interesting. Will I come back to read the rest of the trilogy? Perhaps someday, but unlikely to be any time soon. A good story and a good concept. But nothing amazing.
April 30, 2016
A Roman Dances with Wolves. A Roman Conquistador looking for a city of gold gets attack by Native American air force equipped with hand gliders at Little Big Horn. Seemed like some thing out of Ancient Aliens.
April 3, 2015
Find many more reviews at Geekritique!
They say that the Roman Empire never truly fell - that it simply became the Roman Catholic Church. But what if the Roman Legion hadn't shifted its power to the theological? What if they continued their conquest of the world, taking under their wings nation after nation? That is the bare bones idea of Alan Smale's alternative history novel, Clash of Eagles, book one of the Hesperian Trilogy. He takes it a step further however. Had the world power that was the Roman Empire not fell, it would likely be them to cross the ocean to the shores of North America, or 'Nova Hesperia' as Smale refers to it, instead of the Spanish.
The logic of the novel, had history gone in that direction, made total sense to me. The Romans would have utilized viking technology in their ships to make them fire resistant. They certainly wouldn't have waited until 1492 to sale the ocean blue. Instead, Clash of Eagles sees the Roman Legion, led by Praetor Gaius Marcellinus, into the newly discovered Nova Hesperia in search of gold nearly 200 years prior to Columbus' existence. Small mention of Genghis Khan putting up a strong fight against the Roman Empire on another front really helped put the time period into perspective. The Romans expect their superior war strategy and advanced weaponry to be an easy victory over the native inhabitants of the land. But they couldn't be more wrong.
War between the native tribes of Nova Hesperia and the Roman Legion is one of those incredible what-if novelties you don't realize you need to read until you pick up Clash of Eagles. And I was delighted to discover after finishing that this book is actually part one of a trilogy, meaning it won't be the last time we visit this revised historical landscape.
And then the book lost me a bit in its historical accuracy. And I know: why would I take points away from a novel that prides itself on its alternate history for a few counts of historical inaccuracy? Well, up to this point the book does an excellent job of setting up a believable background of Roman history and conquest. This in theory shouldn't have affected the North American native tribes any. But according to Smale's novel, the natives have the ability (200 years before they would have originally been discovered by the Spanish) to operate mechanized winged hand gliders, which they use in warfare. This took me a while to come to grips with. Even in a book that deals entirely with a warped history, I, as the reader, expect a level of realism when it comes to devices and plot elements native to the time and people. (And as far as I've researched, there were absolutely no winged gliders in Native American tribal history or customs. If I'm wrong, please call me out on that.)
That said, I soon got over this qualm. The flying instruments were actually quite instrumental in the way the plot developed, and it was truly very cool. Alan Smale does a fine job of presenting the mechanics of his alternate world, and representing the different tribes native to the area he wrote the story around (Cahokia, Iroqua, Mohican, etc.). But for a large portion of the novel, we are taken on a trip to help understand the intricacies of the world. And the novel loses itself slightly, the momentum of the plot dipping quite rapidly, with chapters that simply don't seem to know how to end. That said, the character development, the different languages and the barriers therein, the terrain and seasonal issues - all are handled with extreme care.
Clash of Eagles is an excellent read. If you're a fan of Roman history, Native American tribal warfare, or stories of first contact, this book is for you.
July 8, 2019
“Heading west in as straight a line as they could manage. Which, being Romans, was pretty d---d straight.”
Excellent alternate history. Imperial Rome invades thirteenth-century North America in search of gold. Smale drops the reader into the story and supplies details as the Romans march west. Good character and plot development.
“Even when you were younger. Would you have spoiled her?” “You don’t have daughters, do you?” “No.” “Ask me again when you do.”
Lacks a believable antagonist after the opening scenes. Marcellinus is his own worst enemy, of course, but someone to butt heads with would add to the fun. Sintikala is that and more, but someone more rabid would move the story better.
“Even now it was hard for him to square the pragmatic and down-to-earth everyday aspect of the Cahokians with the more superstitious and pagan side that came alive during their nighttime ceremonies and the occasional daytime rituals like this.”
Read the appendices, but not until after reading the story. Smale did his research and made his assumptions, but the first time reader should dive in and swim with the flow.
“By later afternoon she had made it almost all the way to her goal, the Black Mountain in Applachia.” Three hundred miles a day on a hang glider?
Quibble: Okay, hang gliders, but not ones that can fly over three hundred miles a day. Three days top canoe from Saint Louis to Cairo, Illinois? There’s another non sequitur involving boats which is also a spoiler.
“The elders nodded as if Marcellinus had said something very wise, which meant they were humoring him.”
Excellent alternate history. Imperial Rome invades thirteenth-century North America in search of gold. Smale drops the reader into the story and supplies details as the Romans march west. Good character and plot development.
“Even when you were younger. Would you have spoiled her?” “You don’t have daughters, do you?” “No.” “Ask me again when you do.”
Lacks a believable antagonist after the opening scenes. Marcellinus is his own worst enemy, of course, but someone to butt heads with would add to the fun. Sintikala is that and more, but someone more rabid would move the story better.
“Even now it was hard for him to square the pragmatic and down-to-earth everyday aspect of the Cahokians with the more superstitious and pagan side that came alive during their nighttime ceremonies and the occasional daytime rituals like this.”
Read the appendices, but not until after reading the story. Smale did his research and made his assumptions, but the first time reader should dive in and swim with the flow.
“By later afternoon she had made it almost all the way to her goal, the Black Mountain in Applachia.” Three hundred miles a day on a hang glider?
Quibble: Okay, hang gliders, but not ones that can fly over three hundred miles a day. Three days top canoe from Saint Louis to Cairo, Illinois? There’s another non sequitur involving boats which is also a spoiler.
“The elders nodded as if Marcellinus had said something very wise, which meant they were humoring him.”
April 1, 2016
Clash of Eagles is the first in the Clash of Eagles Trilogy and starts with the Praetor of the 33rd Hesperia Legion on an expedition to annex the continent of Hesperia (America) in the 12 century AD! :D The book is told from the perspective of Gaius Marcellinus the Praetor of the Legion and the the first part of the book focuses on Legions trek through new New Hesperia and their encounters with the locals who noses are firmly out of joint at having these unwelcome visitors on their lands! :D
As the Legion advances they encounter a woman called Sisika who claims to be Chieftain's daughter who Gaius sends on her way to tell the settlements in front of them to get out of the way and they will have no issue! :D This is handles well and it is noted by Gaius that takes note of the Roman Eagles both plot points to have relevance later on! :D AS they continue to advance though the Legion starts having issues with in it ranks as primarily the 33rd is not made of the crème of the crop and this exasperates the situation as they come under attack from Iroquois forces who are employing novel technologies the Romans have never seen! :D At the same time this is the first set piece battle in the book and you really get a great feel for the events in as they unfold with the Gaius having to literally kick one of his Tribunes in action which of course set things up for mutinous behaviour down the road! :D
The rest of the book though for the most part focuses on events one the the Romans reach the city of Cahokia where the Roman form up for battle and then Gaius had to defeat a mutiny leaving the first blood of the day only then to be confronted by the Cohokian land forces and the their air as well not to mention the Cahokian mastery of their version of their Greek Fire which decimates the 33rd Legion in matter of minutes leaving a Gaius captured and the last Roman left standing! :D This is all handled a very merciless styles with events happening in the book in visceral way that after spending all the time with legion you can understand Gaius almost disbelief at the situation and how thing have changed so rapidly! :D
After this the the book shift gears even more in a different direction with Gaius starting to be incorporated within the tribe and how he starts to teach the Cahokians the Roman way of doing things and at the same time teaching him there way of doing things! :D This adds a lot of the humour and further action in the book with Gaius going for his first flight to prove his made of the right stuff, going on his first battle with the Cahokians and the newly First Cahokia, paying the price for instances of bad judgement and running into Saskia again which adds some more twists! :D
The final battle of the book sets the scene for the next book with a climactic battle with the Iroquois and the War Chief accusation that it is all Gaius's fault! :D Which does seem harsh given what has gone before but ties in the brilliant characterisation that you see throughout the book as people are often known to react that way after events like that but at the same time it demonstrates that the bigger threat of the returning Romans is still being ignored which sets things up brilliantly politically, culturally and military for the net book with Gaius not being totally adrift as the situation would seem due to the scene Saskia and with some of the other he has come to know throughout the book! :D
The culture and character throughout are all portrayed brilliantly with culture both takes from historical fact and the speculation all work brilliantly and the evolution of both the Roman State and Cohokian people having a natural unforced feel to it! :D The characters as well all come off as individuals with all their warts and all with many of the having differing views which the books explores in various means ranging from comedy to drama! :D
Brilliant, fast paced, grand in scope areal edge of the seat adventure and highly recommended! :D
As the Legion advances they encounter a woman called Sisika who claims to be Chieftain's daughter who Gaius sends on her way to tell the settlements in front of them to get out of the way and they will have no issue! :D This is handles well and it is noted by Gaius that takes note of the Roman Eagles both plot points to have relevance later on! :D AS they continue to advance though the Legion starts having issues with in it ranks as primarily the 33rd is not made of the crème of the crop and this exasperates the situation as they come under attack from Iroquois forces who are employing novel technologies the Romans have never seen! :D At the same time this is the first set piece battle in the book and you really get a great feel for the events in as they unfold with the Gaius having to literally kick one of his Tribunes in action which of course set things up for mutinous behaviour down the road! :D
The rest of the book though for the most part focuses on events one the the Romans reach the city of Cahokia where the Roman form up for battle and then Gaius had to defeat a mutiny leaving the first blood of the day only then to be confronted by the Cohokian land forces and the their air as well not to mention the Cahokian mastery of their version of their Greek Fire which decimates the 33rd Legion in matter of minutes leaving a Gaius captured and the last Roman left standing! :D This is all handled a very merciless styles with events happening in the book in visceral way that after spending all the time with legion you can understand Gaius almost disbelief at the situation and how thing have changed so rapidly! :D
After this the the book shift gears even more in a different direction with Gaius starting to be incorporated within the tribe and how he starts to teach the Cahokians the Roman way of doing things and at the same time teaching him there way of doing things! :D This adds a lot of the humour and further action in the book with Gaius going for his first flight to prove his made of the right stuff, going on his first battle with the Cahokians and the newly First Cahokia, paying the price for instances of bad judgement and running into Saskia again which adds some more twists! :D
The final battle of the book sets the scene for the next book with a climactic battle with the Iroquois and the War Chief accusation that it is all Gaius's fault! :D Which does seem harsh given what has gone before but ties in the brilliant characterisation that you see throughout the book as people are often known to react that way after events like that but at the same time it demonstrates that the bigger threat of the returning Romans is still being ignored which sets things up brilliantly politically, culturally and military for the net book with Gaius not being totally adrift as the situation would seem due to the scene Saskia and with some of the other he has come to know throughout the book! :D
The culture and character throughout are all portrayed brilliantly with culture both takes from historical fact and the speculation all work brilliantly and the evolution of both the Roman State and Cohokian people having a natural unforced feel to it! :D The characters as well all come off as individuals with all their warts and all with many of the having differing views which the books explores in various means ranging from comedy to drama! :D
Brilliant, fast paced, grand in scope areal edge of the seat adventure and highly recommended! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2015
3,5 stars
The first thing that caught my eye when I scrolled through the available books on NetGalley was the cover. It is a fierce, very sharp cover that hints at an action-filled story centered on the Roman Empire. Historical Fiction is my second favourite genre next to SFF and I simply couldn’t resist. The story wasn’t anything like I had expected it to be, though it was action-packed and had something to do with the Romans. ‘Clash of Eagles’ was an interesting spin on Roman conquest and puts the spotlight on a lesser known civilisation on the American continent.
Smale tells the story of a thriving Roman Empire that sets out to conquer the Americas. It is rumoured that in this New World, there is gold aplenty and who can withstand the call of cities build from gold, right? Praetor Gaius Marcellinus and his legion of soldiers set out to find this fabled city and bring back gold, fame and glory to their home country. To get to this city they need to travel far through uncharted territory, in a climate they aren’t used to and in circumstances their army isn’t trained for. Soon, their dream bubble is burst and they find themselves on unfamiliar territory surrounded by what they might see as savages.
Through a series of unfortunate events (for the Romans), Gaius ends up alone with one of the native tribes: the Cahokians. At first there is a lot of distrust between him and the Cahokians but slowly he learns more about these people and this foreign land and with every day going by his respect for them grows. Not only are they incredibly resourceful, they are also a kind people that ultimately, though at first reluctantly welcome Gaius in their midst.
I didn’t particularly like the main character, Praetor Gaius Marcellinus. He’s very determined to learn these people the Roman ways, but sometimes this was, in my opinion, very demeaning towards the people he’s now living with. Some of the improvements he brings to their civilisation are useful, especially with the threats they are facing, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the Cahokians from time to time. It’s a bit sad this guy has to teach them how to live their lives and how to go to war or organize their defences, while they have shown before that they are very capable of finding solutions and defending themselves.
Sadly, Gaius was the only character where we got an in-depth view into his feelings, his evolution throughout the story and his person. I would have liked to get a bit more of that from the other characters in the book, certainly because at first glance they are very interesting people.
I was, however, pleasantly surprised we learned a lot about a new civilisation and that the focus wasn’t on the Roman Empire itself. If you know me a little bit, you’ll know that I went online and researched a bit. I was quite surprised to find that the location described actually exists and the spin the author gave to the mysteries about the place and the people that lived there was great and very imaginative.
Readers that were expecting strategic fights, blood and gore won’t be disappointed either, because there is enough of that going on in the book. These fights get the adrenaline pumping again after the pace in the book has slowed down a bit and make for a great dynamic in the story. Like I hinted at with the ‘strategic fights’, there’s a lot of talk about strategy, which was right up my alley.
All in all, ‘Clash of Eagles’ was a very entertaining book that give a twist to our history and an explanation to one of our unsolved mysteries. Action-packed, imaginative, well written and quite fresh, though with a few minor hick-ups, this book kept me flipping the pages. I am curious to find out what we will discover in the two books following this one that will explore this alternate history further.
The first thing that caught my eye when I scrolled through the available books on NetGalley was the cover. It is a fierce, very sharp cover that hints at an action-filled story centered on the Roman Empire. Historical Fiction is my second favourite genre next to SFF and I simply couldn’t resist. The story wasn’t anything like I had expected it to be, though it was action-packed and had something to do with the Romans. ‘Clash of Eagles’ was an interesting spin on Roman conquest and puts the spotlight on a lesser known civilisation on the American continent.
Smale tells the story of a thriving Roman Empire that sets out to conquer the Americas. It is rumoured that in this New World, there is gold aplenty and who can withstand the call of cities build from gold, right? Praetor Gaius Marcellinus and his legion of soldiers set out to find this fabled city and bring back gold, fame and glory to their home country. To get to this city they need to travel far through uncharted territory, in a climate they aren’t used to and in circumstances their army isn’t trained for. Soon, their dream bubble is burst and they find themselves on unfamiliar territory surrounded by what they might see as savages.
Through a series of unfortunate events (for the Romans), Gaius ends up alone with one of the native tribes: the Cahokians. At first there is a lot of distrust between him and the Cahokians but slowly he learns more about these people and this foreign land and with every day going by his respect for them grows. Not only are they incredibly resourceful, they are also a kind people that ultimately, though at first reluctantly welcome Gaius in their midst.
I didn’t particularly like the main character, Praetor Gaius Marcellinus. He’s very determined to learn these people the Roman ways, but sometimes this was, in my opinion, very demeaning towards the people he’s now living with. Some of the improvements he brings to their civilisation are useful, especially with the threats they are facing, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the Cahokians from time to time. It’s a bit sad this guy has to teach them how to live their lives and how to go to war or organize their defences, while they have shown before that they are very capable of finding solutions and defending themselves.
Sadly, Gaius was the only character where we got an in-depth view into his feelings, his evolution throughout the story and his person. I would have liked to get a bit more of that from the other characters in the book, certainly because at first glance they are very interesting people.
I was, however, pleasantly surprised we learned a lot about a new civilisation and that the focus wasn’t on the Roman Empire itself. If you know me a little bit, you’ll know that I went online and researched a bit. I was quite surprised to find that the location described actually exists and the spin the author gave to the mysteries about the place and the people that lived there was great and very imaginative.
Readers that were expecting strategic fights, blood and gore won’t be disappointed either, because there is enough of that going on in the book. These fights get the adrenaline pumping again after the pace in the book has slowed down a bit and make for a great dynamic in the story. Like I hinted at with the ‘strategic fights’, there’s a lot of talk about strategy, which was right up my alley.
All in all, ‘Clash of Eagles’ was a very entertaining book that give a twist to our history and an explanation to one of our unsolved mysteries. Action-packed, imaginative, well written and quite fresh, though with a few minor hick-ups, this book kept me flipping the pages. I am curious to find out what we will discover in the two books following this one that will explore this alternate history further.
March 20, 2017
The Romans meet the Cahokian mound builders, in a particularly imaginative alternate history. (Where do authors get their ideas? I ask myself that roughly as often as any non-author, probably.)
It’s 1218 AD, according to the calendar of the Christ-Risen. It’s 1,972 years since Rome was founded. In this world, it never fell. The Roman Empire today controls everything from the Norsemen of Scandinavia to Britain to all of Europe, then south to Sub-Saharan Africa and all the way east to the Ganges River. So. That’s Rome.
Rome’s having trouble expanding eastward, though, what with the Mongols and Turks. So isn’t it lucky they’ve discovered a new continent? New Hesperia promises new lands and heaps of gold. What Roman Emperor could resist? So here’s the 33rd Legion, under the command of Gaius Marcellinus, landing in the bay called Chesapica and marching west, west, ever west, cutting their arrow-straight road through the endless forest and building a small town every evening. The Iroqua pick off the odd Roman soldier, but mostly just stay out of their way.
And then there’s Cahokia. You know, there’s no proof the Cahokians didn’t have hang-gliders. No one actually knows much about the Cahokians or the mound-builder society in general, and after all the components of hang-gliders wouldn’t last terribly well.
Well, Alan Smale had to do something to make the Cahokians a match for a Roman legion, right? And he might as well pick something really fun while he was at it, right? So, hang-gliders. Also another little innovation that I don’t want to give away, but that plausibly allows the Cahokians to defeat the Romans in double quick time during their first meeting.
Now, since I grew up in St Louis, I’m pretty familiar with Cahokia. I don’t know how many school trips took us out there, but more than a couple. I’m really pleased to see Cahokia front-and-center in an alternate history, because it was quite something. The city and immediate environs probably had a population of 20,000 or so, which is certainly not peanuts. The biggest mound is 1000 square feet at the base and 100 feet high, overlooking a carefully leveled grand plaza of about 50 acres, the whole surrounded by a two-mile palisade. Smale includes appendices about this stuff for the interested reader, so I didn’t have to stop and look up the numbers for any of that.
But this isn’t a history. It’s a historical novel, with plenty of action and lots of great characters, starting with Marcellinus. Now, I do think possibly Marcellinus is a little too good to be true. Still, I had no trouble rooting for him as the story unrolled. He (and the Cahokians, once he’s drawn into their society) certainly have major obstacles to overcome. Even with all Marcellinus can teach the Cahokians about metallurgy and tactics, they don’t have everything their own way. In fact, let me just mention, Marcellinus in particular is in kind of a tight spot at the end of this book. It’s not quite a cliffhanger of an ending, but it leans that way.
On the other hand, the second book, Eagle in Exile came out in 2016 and the third is due out in 2017, so if you've got a deep need to go on with the series right away, no problem.
If you’re a fan of alternate history, or if you like historicals generally, you really should give this one a try. The writing is good, the characterization is good, the setting is fabulous, and while I wouldn’t believe in just every detail about the hang-gliders without running them past somebody better at physics than I am, they are a wildly entertaining worldbuilding item. I won’t be waiting long before starting the second book, and I’m sure I’ll be waiting impatiently for the third.
It’s 1218 AD, according to the calendar of the Christ-Risen. It’s 1,972 years since Rome was founded. In this world, it never fell. The Roman Empire today controls everything from the Norsemen of Scandinavia to Britain to all of Europe, then south to Sub-Saharan Africa and all the way east to the Ganges River. So. That’s Rome.
Rome’s having trouble expanding eastward, though, what with the Mongols and Turks. So isn’t it lucky they’ve discovered a new continent? New Hesperia promises new lands and heaps of gold. What Roman Emperor could resist? So here’s the 33rd Legion, under the command of Gaius Marcellinus, landing in the bay called Chesapica and marching west, west, ever west, cutting their arrow-straight road through the endless forest and building a small town every evening. The Iroqua pick off the odd Roman soldier, but mostly just stay out of their way.
And then there’s Cahokia. You know, there’s no proof the Cahokians didn’t have hang-gliders. No one actually knows much about the Cahokians or the mound-builder society in general, and after all the components of hang-gliders wouldn’t last terribly well.
Well, Alan Smale had to do something to make the Cahokians a match for a Roman legion, right? And he might as well pick something really fun while he was at it, right? So, hang-gliders. Also another little innovation that I don’t want to give away, but that plausibly allows the Cahokians to defeat the Romans in double quick time during their first meeting.
Now, since I grew up in St Louis, I’m pretty familiar with Cahokia. I don’t know how many school trips took us out there, but more than a couple. I’m really pleased to see Cahokia front-and-center in an alternate history, because it was quite something. The city and immediate environs probably had a population of 20,000 or so, which is certainly not peanuts. The biggest mound is 1000 square feet at the base and 100 feet high, overlooking a carefully leveled grand plaza of about 50 acres, the whole surrounded by a two-mile palisade. Smale includes appendices about this stuff for the interested reader, so I didn’t have to stop and look up the numbers for any of that.
But this isn’t a history. It’s a historical novel, with plenty of action and lots of great characters, starting with Marcellinus. Now, I do think possibly Marcellinus is a little too good to be true. Still, I had no trouble rooting for him as the story unrolled. He (and the Cahokians, once he’s drawn into their society) certainly have major obstacles to overcome. Even with all Marcellinus can teach the Cahokians about metallurgy and tactics, they don’t have everything their own way. In fact, let me just mention, Marcellinus in particular is in kind of a tight spot at the end of this book. It’s not quite a cliffhanger of an ending, but it leans that way.
On the other hand, the second book, Eagle in Exile came out in 2016 and the third is due out in 2017, so if you've got a deep need to go on with the series right away, no problem.
If you’re a fan of alternate history, or if you like historicals generally, you really should give this one a try. The writing is good, the characterization is good, the setting is fabulous, and while I wouldn’t believe in just every detail about the hang-gliders without running them past somebody better at physics than I am, they are a wildly entertaining worldbuilding item. I won’t be waiting long before starting the second book, and I’m sure I’ll be waiting impatiently for the third.
Read
April 6, 2015Why would the Mississippian mound-builders of pre-Columbian America create their towering earthworks? For launching hang-gliders, of course. And speaking of Columbus … forget him. If he got born at all it was under the rule of the Pax Romana because, contrary to the history you’ve read, in 211 CE the Roman co-emperor Geta was not assassinated. Geta eliminated his evil brother Caracalla and instituted reforms that prevented the Crisis of the Third Century. Which leads inevitably to the Roman invasion of America in the year 1218.
Astrophysicist Alan Smale (who must work for NASA in his spare time, considering the volume of fiction he publishes) is at his best when describing technology, both real and imagined. I liked his battles, too. This is swash-buckling, “hard SF” sword and sandal alternate history and a lot of fun.
From page 212:
“What Marcellinus needed first and foremost was good axes. And because iron was so hard to work into steel, he turned to the idea of making bronze. Certainsly there was no shortage of copper; the women wore disks of it in their ears, and the men around their necks. In the ceremonies Marcellinus mostly avoided, he had seen dancers wearing large beaten sheets of the metal. It came from the Great Lakes, far to the northeast of Cahokia, mined there in its natural form and shaped using cold hammering rather than smelting.
“He already had tin. Tin was light and flexible and abundant in Europa; most of the Legion’s pans and cooking utensils had been made of it. Eventually he would need a local supply, but for the time being he mined his own carts and came up with thousands of tin pans, dishes, and spoons. It became another game for the endlessly useful children of Cahokia to ransack the Roman wagon train and separate out the tin.
“Bronze could be made at a much lower furnace temperature than steel. For steel getting exactly the right measure of charcoal and air into the mix was crucial, but for bronze the proportions were more forgiving - one part tin to nine parts copper, a bit of care with the melting and mixing, and that was all there was to it. Before midwinter Marcellinus was turning out bronze ax heads and hoe blades by the score.”
Astrophysicist Alan Smale (who must work for NASA in his spare time, considering the volume of fiction he publishes) is at his best when describing technology, both real and imagined. I liked his battles, too. This is swash-buckling, “hard SF” sword and sandal alternate history and a lot of fun.
From page 212:
“What Marcellinus needed first and foremost was good axes. And because iron was so hard to work into steel, he turned to the idea of making bronze. Certainsly there was no shortage of copper; the women wore disks of it in their ears, and the men around their necks. In the ceremonies Marcellinus mostly avoided, he had seen dancers wearing large beaten sheets of the metal. It came from the Great Lakes, far to the northeast of Cahokia, mined there in its natural form and shaped using cold hammering rather than smelting.
“He already had tin. Tin was light and flexible and abundant in Europa; most of the Legion’s pans and cooking utensils had been made of it. Eventually he would need a local supply, but for the time being he mined his own carts and came up with thousands of tin pans, dishes, and spoons. It became another game for the endlessly useful children of Cahokia to ransack the Roman wagon train and separate out the tin.
“Bronze could be made at a much lower furnace temperature than steel. For steel getting exactly the right measure of charcoal and air into the mix was crucial, but for bronze the proportions were more forgiving - one part tin to nine parts copper, a bit of care with the melting and mixing, and that was all there was to it. Before midwinter Marcellinus was turning out bronze ax heads and hoe blades by the score.”
February 14, 2016
I loved this book. It's not often that I delve into historical fiction, but this is the type of book that makes me want to more often. Living near the area the story took place, I'm familiar with stories of the area. I've never gone to visit the mounds, but street reading this book I need to!
The Roman Empire never fell, and as the greedy bastards that they were, the mention of a new land with cities of gold were enough to send them across uncharted waters. Separated by thousands of miles of water, trekking across miles of wilderness while slowly having their numbers diminished by the natives, they are finally between a rock and a hard place.
Winter is getting near, supplies won't sustain them through the cold months, and they find themselves outside a great city with thousands of people. As any good Roman would do, Gaius Marcellinus prepares his army to fight. What chance does a group of natives, no matter their numbers, with stone weapons have against the might of Roman steel and discipline while fighting on a field of battle?
The Roman Empire never fell, and as the greedy bastards that they were, the mention of a new land with cities of gold were enough to send them across uncharted waters. Separated by thousands of miles of water, trekking across miles of wilderness while slowly having their numbers diminished by the natives, they are finally between a rock and a hard place.
Winter is getting near, supplies won't sustain them through the cold months, and they find themselves outside a great city with thousands of people. As any good Roman would do, Gaius Marcellinus prepares his army to fight. What chance does a group of natives, no matter their numbers, with stone weapons have against the might of Roman steel and discipline while fighting on a field of battle?
May 20, 2015
3.5 stars
This is an alternate history: the Roman Empire didn't fall and is now set on conquering North America. I like the idea, but I thought the execution was not as good as it could have been. It was interesting and entertaining, though, so not bad.
The book was really slow at the beginning for me: too much terminology relating to military hierarchy, weapons, formations, etc., but I hung in there and it finally picked up. There were lots of action-packed battle scenes for those who like that (I do), but I preferred the cross-cultural exchanges between the Native Americans and the Romans. Well, the one Roman. However, there wasn't much character development (except for that one Roman). I would have liked getting to know more than just the one character.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC of this book.
This is an alternate history: the Roman Empire didn't fall and is now set on conquering North America. I like the idea, but I thought the execution was not as good as it could have been. It was interesting and entertaining, though, so not bad.
The book was really slow at the beginning for me: too much terminology relating to military hierarchy, weapons, formations, etc., but I hung in there and it finally picked up. There were lots of action-packed battle scenes for those who like that (I do), but I preferred the cross-cultural exchanges between the Native Americans and the Romans. Well, the one Roman. However, there wasn't much character development (except for that one Roman). I would have liked getting to know more than just the one character.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC of this book.
Read
January 19, 2015Received this via Goodreads First Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
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Very interesting concept and the writing was good but I couldn't connect with it.. not a bad book, just not for me I guess:(
Go ahead if you are still curious, you may like it better than me
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Very interesting concept and the writing was good but I couldn't connect with it.. not a bad book, just not for me I guess:(
Go ahead if you are still curious, you may like it better than me
will-not-finish
July 29, 2015I read books for the writing or characters (or both) and this book was lacking on both aspects. I have better things to read.
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March 14, 2019***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
When I picked up Clash of Eagles, I thought the idea had merit. The Roman Empire remained strong and alive past its original fall and finally managed to work its way over to the North American continent. Just like the Europeans from our history, they encountered the Native Americans who vehemently protected their native land from foreign invaders. Basically: Romans vs. Indians. Since the timeframe for this book was a few centuries after the original fall of Rome, I was expecting a bit more in terms of this alternate history but was ultimately disappointed with the result.
While a lot can change in a few hundred years, the Romans remained mostly the same. Sure, the Native Americans had some impressive new technology, but then the narrative felt pretty one-sided. Since the book focused on the advancing Roman troops, I had trouble latching on to the main character for the first 20% of this book, because none of them stood out. Once one was forcefully given to me, I realized that this book was basically going to be another version of Dances with Wolves (1990) or Avatar (2009). Consequently, that’s when I dreaded having to read this book.
I read a few chapters into Part 2, but then flipped ahead and saw that the three parts of this book covered 25%, 50%, and 25% of the narrative, respectively. This told me the book probably didn’t start in the right place, or at least spent too much time setting up something that ultimately didn’t matter. Maybe this book doesn’t turn into a Dances with Wolves clone, but spending so much of having to decode the Latin and Native American lingo turned off my interest by the time I made it 25% of the way through. I usually finish most books I start, but I didn’t want to force myself through this one.
An interesting concept that fails to execute fast enough, I cannot give Clash of Eagles a rating.
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
When I picked up Clash of Eagles, I thought the idea had merit. The Roman Empire remained strong and alive past its original fall and finally managed to work its way over to the North American continent. Just like the Europeans from our history, they encountered the Native Americans who vehemently protected their native land from foreign invaders. Basically: Romans vs. Indians. Since the timeframe for this book was a few centuries after the original fall of Rome, I was expecting a bit more in terms of this alternate history but was ultimately disappointed with the result.
While a lot can change in a few hundred years, the Romans remained mostly the same. Sure, the Native Americans had some impressive new technology, but then the narrative felt pretty one-sided. Since the book focused on the advancing Roman troops, I had trouble latching on to the main character for the first 20% of this book, because none of them stood out. Once one was forcefully given to me, I realized that this book was basically going to be another version of Dances with Wolves (1990) or Avatar (2009). Consequently, that’s when I dreaded having to read this book.
I read a few chapters into Part 2, but then flipped ahead and saw that the three parts of this book covered 25%, 50%, and 25% of the narrative, respectively. This told me the book probably didn’t start in the right place, or at least spent too much time setting up something that ultimately didn’t matter. Maybe this book doesn’t turn into a Dances with Wolves clone, but spending so much of having to decode the Latin and Native American lingo turned off my interest by the time I made it 25% of the way through. I usually finish most books I start, but I didn’t want to force myself through this one.
An interesting concept that fails to execute fast enough, I cannot give Clash of Eagles a rating.
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
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