A Rooster for Asklepios: A Slave's Story, Book 1

A Slave's Story #1

by Christopher D. Stanley

A slave without a past. A master without a future. A journey of discovery that will forever change the lives of both men. The ancient world comes alive in this vivid and engaging trilogy by an expert on Roman social history.

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AUDIOBOOK NOW AVAILABLE ON AUDIBLE!

What if you suddenly discovered that you were not who you thought you were—that your true family history had been hidden from you since birth? What if the truth about your origins would cause others to despise you? What if the man who had arranged the deception was seriously ill and needed your help? What if you were a slave and that man held your life in his hands—and you his? These are some of the questions explored in the first two volumes of the new historical trilogy, A Slave’s Story.

The story centers on a slave named Marcus who manages the business affairs of a wealthy Roman citizen in central Asia Minor in the first century AD. The first volume, A Rooster for Asklepios, narrates his eventful journey to a famous healing center in western Turkey in response to a dream in which the god Asklepios appears to promise that his master will be cured there of a nagging illness. The second volume, A Bull for Pluto, relates the aftermath of this journey as Marcus struggles with newly revealed secrets about his ancestry and his master comes to terms with his mortality.

Along the way, both men encounter people and ideas that undermine everything that they have ever believed about themselves, one another, and the world around them. Societal norms are challenged, personal loyalties tested, and identities transformed in this engaging story that brings to life a unique corner of the Roman world that has been neglected by previous storytellers.


Who Will Like This Book?

*Readers who enjoy complex stories about flawed characters, epic journeys, and characters who struggle with their identities and commitments, including their views of religion

*Readers who appreciate richly detailed and historically accurate accounts of daily life in the past

*Readers who want to know more about the social and religious world of early Judaism and Christianity (including Roman religion and anti-semitism); how Greeks and Romans dealt with sickness and healing (medicine, miracle, and magic); and what life was like at specific Roman archaeological sites in Turkey (Ephesus, Pergamum, Hierapolis, Antioch, etc.).

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religion

526 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2020

About the author

Christopher D. Stanley recently retired as a Professor in the Department of Theology and Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure University in western New York, where he taught courses in biblical studies and courses that explore the role of religion in contemporary society.

Dr. Stanley has written widely in the field of biblical studies, including three authored books, three edited books, and dozens of articles in leading international journals. He has presented papers and given lectures at conferences, universities, seminaries, and churches around the world, including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Austria, Romania, England, Scotland, Ireland, and India. He is a member of the Studiorum Societas Novi Testamenti (SNTS), an elite international organization of New Testament scholars, and served as the founding chair for two ongoing sections of the Society of Biblical Literature.

In recent years Dr. Stanley has expanded his repertoire into historical fiction, publishing the first two novels in a trilogy called "A Slave's Story" that takes readers into a neglected corner of the Roman world, first-century Asia Minor. The novels, titled A Rooster for Asklepios and A Bull for Pluto, are available on Amazon.com along with several of his academic books. To learn more about the novels, visit his Website for the series, http://aslavesstory.com .

Reviews

[Vicky "phenkos" · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the main problem here is genre. Christopher D. Stanley has done meticulous research on the topic of Asia Minor in first century A.D. and this attention to detail comes across very clearly. The problem is that this book is intended to be read as a piece of fiction, and here things get a little more complicated.

This is the story of Marcus, slave to Lucius Coelius Felix, a minor aristocrat from Antioch. The story begins with Marcus rising after a night of sex with the slave Selena to attend to the household duties he is entrusted with: prepare the family shrine for the early morning ritual and later be present at his master's dealings with his business clients, keep notes and do the accounts. Marcus is an unusual slave as Lucius is an unusual master; he not only knows his "letters and numbers" but is reliable and intelligent and knows how to cater for his master's every need. Similarly, Lucius recognises Marcus' worth and treats him better than a slave might expect.

Lucius himself has a mysterious illness in the abdominal area which neither physicians nor the gods of healing can cure. The illness causes Lucius enormous embarrassment as it leads to frequent bouts of diarrhoea and incontinence. When the local physician who has tried every single cure in the book raises his hands up, Lucius is persuaded to go to Asklepios' temple in Pergamon to request the god's help. The trip itself is long and trying; although Roman rule is firmly established in the area and there are no bandits roaming the countryside, it is still extremely tiring as it is undertaken in carriages drawn by mules over sometimes mountainous terrain. And of course the travellers have to find accommodation along the way, which is sometimes arranged with local aristocrats as per the Roman habit, sometimes at local inns and sometimes in tents in the open air.

I learnt A LOT readng this book. One thing that struck me was how similar Roman religious customs were to early Christian customs. The early morning ritual, for example, is described as a series of prayers and incantations spoken in a droning voice, not unlike how even contemporary Christian prayers, at least of the Orthodox tradition, are performed. Even the content of the prayers struck me as similar to Christian prayers, such as for example, "Our Father in Heaven". Early Christians are indeed mentioned in the book, as are Jews (both as persecuted minorities), although they are not centre-stage in the story. The structure of the local civil administration and the connections between politics and trade are laid out very clearly and informatively.

But of course, the main focus is on the lives of slaves. Through Marcus who is, as we saw, somewhat privileged, we get to know about other kinds of slaves, farm slaves, market slaves, women slaves and maids, people less fortunate than Marcus, who still had to put up with sometimes inhumane owners. The only consolation for them was their firm belief that slavery is their allotted station in life, that it was the will of the gods, and therefore it wouldn't make sense to complain because that's how goddess Fortuna had arranged things.

The downside of the book, and the reason for my three-star rating, is that as a novel it lacks drama. There are too many details about everyday life and about Marcus' actions that do not carry the plot forward. As readers, we don't need to know that Marcus fell asleep and neglected to attend his master's son's races but found out the outcome from a passer-by UNLESS it has a dramatic implication (e.g. the passer-by lied to him and as a result Marcus got the events wrong). The inclusion of too many side stories like this makes this book quite frustrating. In fact, I think the services of an old-school editor with a razor-sharp knife would have helped here. Cutting down the word count from over 500 pages to about half that might have produced a winning story. All the elements are there: some very strong and likeable characters (although the female characters are less well-developed than the male ones), an attractive setting; thorough knowledge of the relevant period. What this book really needed was sharpening of its dramatic elements.

People with an interest in the Roman era and the ancient world will enjoy it as it is. It's a bit of a shame, though, that the book is unlikely to have much success beyond a limited audience.

Thank you to Netgalley and NFB publishing for an advance copy.

[Martin, I stand with ISRAEL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very, very, very slow.

The author was trying to portray what life was like for a Roman , free man or slave. I can appreciate the effort. He obviously researched this subject thoroughly.

However, the story really left a lot to be desired.

Lucius Colius Felix is the Roman aristocrat in the story. He lives in Antioch in the Roman Empire. He is a widower and takes a slave to be his wife. He is and elderly gentleman with one son.

The main issue with Lucius is that he has an illness. The book every few pages talks about his mysterious illness. Lucius will all of a sudden have sharp pain in his stomach. A few seconds later a black tarry, bloody diarrhea spurts out of him. It produces a strong pungent Odor and usually stains his toga. The “physicians” in Antioch can’t help him so they urge him to travel to Pergamon.

On a personal note, I had to take some Pepto-Bismol after reading about Lucius’s medical condition. The author describes the illness in such agonizing detail, that it made me sick to my stomach.

Asklepios is the god of healing. He has a great temple in Pergamon. Also. Physicians with great skill are associated with the temple and reside nearby. Lucius, hoping to get cured, travels to Pergamon.

The other main character is Lucius’s slave Marcus. He is educated and handles all his master’s finances. He is an obedient slave and serves his master well. Later on in the story he finds out his mother was a Jew.

Long story short Lucius finds out he has cancer and is going to die. He feels his gods and physicians abandon him.

As a side note Lucius doesn’t like Jews, but stays in Jews houses on his way to Pergamon. 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️. I don’t get it. I am sure the author is going somewhere with this in book two. One which I won’t read.

I read 521 pages to tell you this exciting story and rated the book 2 stars.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the last few years, the genre of “scholarly novel” has become popular. By scholarly novel, I mean a serious scholar writes a story in a particular context in order to illustrate some aspect of biblical culture. IVP Academic published several short stories in their “Week in the Life” series. For example, David deSilva’s A Week in the Life of Ephesus (2020) or Holly Beers, A Day in the Life a Greco-Roman Woman (2019). Ben Witherington wrote a novel on Priscilla (IVP 2018) and Paula Gooder wrote an excellent novel about Phoebe (IVP 2018). These kinds of books are very popular; The first edition of Bruce Longenecker’s Lost Letters of Pergamum (Baker 2016) was a popular textbook and sold over 30,000 copies! The scholarly novel is not new; Paul L. Maier’s “documentary novel” Flames of Rome (Doubleday, 1981; Kregel 1991) is an example of a scholar creating a story from their academic research.

There are others, but perhaps the best example of this kind of historical novel is James Michener’s The Source (1965). I often recommend this book to people traveling to Israel with me in order to orient them to the history and culture they will experience in Israel.

Christopher Stanley’s A Slave’s Story is like these scholarly novels, but is quite different. Like these novels, Stanley draws on his thirty years of academic experience both writing and editing academic books and articles as well as extensive, on-site research into the locations described in the books. But Stanley’s book is far more detailed than the Week in the Life series or even the popular Lost Letters of Pergamum. The first volume of the series is over 500 pages long with no illustrations or sidebars. This is in every sense of the word a historical novel.

Stanley made considerable effort to ensure the historical and cultural accuracy of every detail in his novels. This included careful on-site research at most of the places mentioned in the books. I exchanged several emails with Stanley this summer before I read the first novel. He explained the extent of his research for the Pergamon Asklepion as an example of his methods. Most of Asklepion open to visitors is from the second century CE or later. Stanley was not content to visit the tourist site and use that as a background for his novel. He read through the five-volume German archaeological report on the site in order to describe the Asklepion as it would have appeared in the mid-first century. To be clear, this is a novel and Stanley uses some artistic license and imagination, but his imagination is at least plausible regarding the archaeology of first century Pergamum.

One thing I appreciate out the story told in these novels is that early Christians like Paul or the other apostles do not appear in person in the books. There are a few characters that mention Paul as a controversial person, but this is not an overt attempt to tell the story of Paul’s mission or even Christian origins. Stanley’s emphasis is on the pervasive role of Roman religion in the world of the first century.

From the very first pages of A Rooster for Asklepios, Stanley describes household worship and Roman worship and devotion to their gods. His goal for the trilogy is to expose readers to ancient worldviews and realities of life for ordinary people in ancient Greco-Roman society and not to create an evangelistic Christian story. In the course of the novel, the reader encounters more Jews than Christians. Stanley describes Jewish attitudes toward Roman religious practice and shows how alien the Diaspora Jews would have seemed to their Roman neighbors.

The plot of A Rooster for Asklepios follows a slave named Marcus, a household manager for a wealthy Roman citizen, Lucius Coelius Felix. The book begins in Pisidian Antioch with the announcement Claudius has ascended to heaven (i.e., died) and the new Emperor Nero has taken the throne. This dates the beginning of the story to October 13, in A.D. 54. Lucius suffers with some sort of debilitating stomach ailment. He attempts to find relief through a local doctor and the local temple of Asklepios. After bringing a rooster to offer as a sacrifice, he is permitted to sleep the Temple and is told a by a priest the god wants him to travel to Pergamum and visit the Asklepion. The bulk of the novel narrates this eventful journey via Ephesus to the famous healing center at Pergamum.

There are several memorable sub-plots which illustrate aspects of the Roman world of the first century. First, Lucius’s son competes in the local games honoring Men Askaenos.  Men is the moon god, and the name Men Askaenos is the version of the god worshiped in Pisidian Antioch. Stanley’s detailed description of the way a Roman citizen was expected to take part in the festival illustrates how important local gods were to a community. It is virtually impossible for Lucious not to attend the festival and be an excellent host for other wealthy Roman citizens. As I read this section of the novel, I could not help but relate this to Paul’s letters to the Corinthians and the struggle that congregation faced as residents of a Greco-Roman city like Corinth. In addition, the descriptions of the games themselves clear up many misconceptions of how athletes competed in the ancient world, including unfair play and cheating.

A second important feature of the book is Stanley’s descriptions of travel in the bid-first century A.D.  To travel from Pisidian Antioch to Ephesus and then on to Pergamum not only too a great deal of time, but a great deal of planning. Lucius must prepare not only a wagon in which he and his wife can travel comfortably, but also a second wagon to bring food and wine, money and even camping supplies. Before leaving his home, Lucius collects letters of introduction to people of proper status along the way who might open their homes to him and his entourage. An important Roman citizen like Lucius would not stay in the typical roadside inn! It is hard not to read the travel sections of the book without thinking about Paul’s travels along similar roads. Did Paul have letters of recommendation to open doors to homes as he traveled? Would Paul have an entourage similar to Lucius? This may explain why he traveled with so many people, there was safety in numbers (and more people to handle the baggage).

A third feature I found important is Stanley’s description of the Asklepion. In some respects, an Asklepion is like a medical clinic. A wealthy, sick person like Lucius has access to the best physicians while living at the Asklepion.  However, these medical skills are combined with worship of Asklepios and quite a bit of showmanship. Stanley vividly describes the first-century state-of-the-art medical procedures, but also the aspects of the Asklepion which are more like a mystery cult. When Lucius finally has the chance to sleep inside the temple and perhaps receive a dream from the god, the slave Marcus witnesses how the priests manipulate the sick into thinking they have had encounters with the god in their dreams.

I will not spoil the plot too much, but since the second book brings Lucius and Marcus to healing waters of Hierapolis, things do not go as planned at the Asklepion. The god is not quite the savior Lucius was expecting.

There is a second book in the series, A Bull for Pluto, in June. Leaving Pergamum, Lucius and Marcus travel to Hierapolis on their home to visit the healing waters of the city and the mysterious Temple of Pluto. (I will post a review when I finish reading it.) Stanley says the first two books come to a satisfactory conclusion and can be read as together without waiting for the third planned volume.

Stanley maintains a website for A Slave’s Story with plot summaries and a generous five-chapter sample of both books. More important, the website has links to background material relating to the locations described in the novels. Under resources there are links to images, maps, blogs and other items of interest conveniently organized by the sections of the book. This site addresses one frustration for me as I read the novels. I wanted more documentation! Several times I wanted to check the footnotes to see what primary sources Stanley followed for a particular practice. Most readers will want to browse this site as they read the novels.

Conclusion. Although this is a challenging book compared to other recent scholarly novels for the New Testament, it is one of the best. Stanley has created an interesting plotline which is rich in details illustrating the Greco-Roman world of mid-first century Asia Minor. I highly recommend this book for people who are planning on visiting Turkey since most of the “Seven Churches” tours or Pauline Missionary Journeys tours include Pergamum and Ephesus. Like The Source, Christopher Stanley’s A Slave Story offers modern readers a detailed and accurate presentation of the culture and worldview of the Greco-Roman world.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
I enjoyed much of this novel, especially the slave’s POV. Marcus’ narration draws a wonderfully detailed picture of Roman life: culture, food, politics, science, morals. I also enjoyed his observations of the larger world as they traveled. However, I grew weary of the repetitious details by the end.

[Linnea Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Rooster for Asklepios by Christopher D. Stanley is a historical fiction novel about a Roman aristocrat, Lucius Coelius Felix, and his educated slave, Marcus, in the backdrop of mid-1st century Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Despite their differences in status—master and slave—Lucius and Marcus both aspire to rise as they navigate through the changing political, religious, and cultural climates in their times. Recently widowed, Lucius finds his duties as both an agoranomos (city administrator with control of the marketplace) and partner in a luxury goods business overwhelming and thus depends on Marcus to help him keep accurate accounts and record all meetings. Just as his fortune seems to be rising, Lucius begins to suffer from an abdominal illness that at times incapacitates him. He relies heavily on Marcus to assist him in both his personal and business needs. To show his gratitude, Lucius helps Marcus set up a rudimentary business in the marketplace. As Lucius's health deteriorates, he faces further challenges with the misconduct of his son and the discovery that his business partner secretly practices Judaism, a religion frowned upon by Roman aristocrats. After losing his civil position, he finds comfort in the arms of a female slave, Selena, and shocks everyone when he announces that he is going to free and marry her. As his maladies worsen, Lucius seeks relief through a local physician. After bringing a rooster to offer as a sacrifice, Lucius sleeps in the local temple of Asklepios (god of healing). There, he is told by a priest that the healing God wants him to travel to Pergamum and visit his temple there. He decides to embark on hundreds of miles journey with Marcus and his newly pregnant wife across western Asia Minor to the sanctuary at Pergamon to be cured by Asklepios. Both the lives of Lucius and Marcus are transformed as they meet new people in various cities and are introduced to new philosophical and religious beliefs.

Author Christopher D. Stanley has the keen eye of a historian as he weaves the ancient story into the rich tapestry of everyday life and rituals performed by Roman aristocrats in their homes and in temples. The author remains true to actual historical accounts based on his impeccable research. It felt as though I was being led by a tour guide through all of the individual streets, houses, and public buildings as Lucius's entourage visits each city. It was interesting to learn about the extensive planning that a traveler must do to journey long distances back then. If possible, travelers arranged to lodge in households of friends or business acquaintances rather than stay in hostels or inns. Contrasts among various religions (pagan, Judaism, and Christianity) are explored, and rituals at temples are vividly described as Lucius seeks treatment. Also, it's fascinating to learn how medicine was practiced at a time in which the Hippocratic Oath was adopted.  

The story is primarily told from Marcus's point of view, although other perspectives are interjected throughout the story. The characters are most engaging when they face universal issues such as Lucius's conflicts with his son who'd rather compete in local games than learn the family business. Both Lucius and Marcus must come to grips with their prejudices and open their minds to other beliefs and cultures. Admittedly, I prefer more action in a historical fiction novel and felt the story was too slow-paced, at times, with inordinate historical detail. However, it is highly recommended for readers who enjoy reading a challenging book that explores the philosophies and the beliefs of various cultures in ancient civilizations and that pulls you into the everyday life of a person in the ancient Greco-Roman world.

[Carl G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A True-to-Life Historical Novel Set in the First Century Asia Minor

Because of the length of Stanley's novel, 520 pages, I felt I had the time and luxury to became deeply immersed in the world of first century Asia Minor. In preparation for leading groups to this area of the world (modern Turkey) I have read quite a few of the textbooks on the history, geography, and culture of this area and period and I appreciated how Stanley artfully wove all of these topics into his narrative.

I particularly appreciated his informative descriptions of the festival and sacrifices associated with deities such as Apollo, Artemis, Asclepius, and Mên. As well as the "roles" of these deities in the lives of Romans came to life!

The two main characters in the novel are Marcus, a slave, and his master Lucius—an elite patrician from the Roman Colony of Antioch near Pisidia (a city visited by the biblical Apostle Paul at least three times and the home of his assistant Timothy). Life in an elite household was vividly described as was the interplay of various social groups, including blood relatives, clients, and slaves. The importance of household deities was described in detail—a topic that is important, but often not extensively treated in textbooks.

The travels of Lucius and Marcus and their small party from Antioch near Pisidia to the healing center at Pergamum forms a spine of the novel. As they journey, major cities such as Apamea, Laodicea, Magnesia, Claros, Ephesus, and Smyrna are visited. I have visited all of these places and Stanley's descriptions are accurate and bring them to life!

His treatment of the complex relationship between Romans and Jews is extensive and insightful. At the time of the setting of the novel, Christianity was not prominent in the Roman world, yet we get a fleeting glimpse of one slave who was a Christian and a hint of a riot in Ephesus associated with a Christian named Paulus (Acts 19:23-41).

For me, reading the novel was an in-depth moving experience as I became immersed in the Roman World of the middle of the first century AD. The book is highly recommended!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start, the history here is, of course, excellent. The fact that the author studies this period shines through. It also shows that he finds the period so fascinating that an everyday slice-of-life story works to showcase the places and people he adores. If you like Pillars of the Earth, etc for the period ambiance, this does that for the Roman empire's eastern colonies. With special focus on Jews in the Roman community.

All that said, for me it was a slog. It is a very slooooooow read. There is not much of a climax. The narrator, Marcus, seems to change unnaturally and without explanation in parts of the book. I understand that these issues may improve in the second book, but I personally wont be going there. I could see assigning an excerpt in a very specific context as readable and engaging. I do study ancient plagues after all. Otherwise the investment to payoff ratio just wasnt here for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Christopher Stanley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Billy Meyer]

A Rooster for Asklepios Review
Imagine a road trip across Roman-occupied central Anatolia from Antioch near Pisidia in Galatia to Pergamum in Asia. The main characters of this epic trip are Lucius, his free-woman wife Selena and their slaves Marcus, Melita, Eutychus and Syrus. On the way, we meet a trio of obnoxious Roman aristocrats called Caristanius, wealthy Romano- Judean merchants Theodorus, Gallianus and Valerius, and a Britannian slave Rufus and his Greek sidekick Euphronius. From this cast and others, Christopher Stanley weaves a portrait of a society he has studied as a scholar of classical Greco-Roman medicine and healing. The world of ancient healing sites is built from an imaginative reconstruction of archaeological work across modern Turkey, especially on the sanctuaries of Asklepios and the Phrygian moon-god Mên.
The result is a vivid portrait of first-century medicine for complaints of the gut, close to my heart as a 55-year-old man currently obsessed with diet, nutrition and food sensitivities. The dietary prescriptions of the physicians Heraclion and Theodorus held some personal interest, but the description of the radical purging of the bowels Lucius endures at the Asklepion in Pergamum is the stuff of nightmares. The religious language and the rituals at the sanctuaries are reminiscent of faith healing centres through the ages. The shenanigans of the temple functionaries are also familiar territory.
This fun side of the book is interesting for a bible and history nerd such as I am. But a more general reader may struggle with the weight of the historical and cultural exposition. The thoughts of Marcus, the hero of the slave story, dominate the telling of the narrative rather than ideas emerging, as shown by conversations and dialogue between characters. Although the relationships of master and enslaved between Lucius and Marcus are usually well drawn, in this first volume, the main tension is Marcus worrying when Lucius will have a bowel movement in an embarrassingly inappropriate setting. However, an incident in the house of one of the obnoxious Caristanii proves a fulcrum to the novel. Marcus takes an opportunity to spend the night with a female slave Mina, to whom he has taken a shine. (I found the incident existentially true for enslaved people who have to grab pleasure and intimacy as they can.) The next morning, there is a confrontation with Caristanius and his odious steward, who attempt to entrap Lucius into torturing Marcus to avoid embarrassment in front of his host. Lucius’s reaction to this challenge endeared him to me and sold me on this story in the end. So now I want to follow Marcus and Lucius on the next leg of their road trip in A Bull for Pluto.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"The lot of slaves is a sorry one."
If you are looking for a book with lots of military action, or a personable semi comedic detective story, or political battling on the steps of Rome's Senate, This is not the book for you. But if it is the daily lives of the citizens, within the household and outside in the provinces, the customs, in fighting, ambitions, travel, medicine, competitive games, religion and so much more, this book will delight. The story is simple: a wealthy aristocratic Roman citizen living in a central Turkish Roman colony, falls seriously ill and travels with his wife, Selina, and Marcus, his trusted secretary slave, hundreds of miles to Pergamonin in search of a cure. Though we are separated from the protagonists by almost two thousand years, the people are still very real, essentially similar to us today and it is easy for the reader to be absorbed into the time and place, beliefs, hopes and fears, mostly viewed from the point of view of a fortunate slave.

This is a long book, some twenty two hours in length, so it needs a good narrator to succeed. Keith Edward Gerhard is good, with well modulated speech, good pacing and clear pauses in the text where required - no merging into the next unrelated paragraph, or even chapter, without a break which, sad!y, does sometimes happen. So, a nice presentation plus well differentiated voices for all of the characters when in conversation: an excellent performance. However, for this reader it was overly fast for comfortable listening but playback at 0.9 instantly resolved that small difficulty (even increasing the story length by an extra couple of hours).

A Rooster for Asklepios is a book to curl oneself into, to savour and live within. It is so packed with detail it could become tedious, but instead it brings everything into glorious life. I was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy by the rights holder, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. Not for someone wanting a fast paced action romp, But for the enjoyment of immersion in a time long past, with strong characters brought to life again, and a plausible story with a hint of mystery, this book is highly recommended. A second book, A Bull for Pluto, follows and I look forward to it with impatience

[Todd Bolen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re interested in becoming immersed in the first-century Roman world in an entertaining work of historical fiction, I highly recommend this book. I found this to be the perfect combination of instruction and pleasure, and it pulled together for me so many details I have learned in classes, research, and travel.
Most importantly, I always felt that I could trust the author’s research. Sometimes his descriptions confirmed what I knew, but he usually delved much more deeply than I ever have, and I thoroughly enjoyed soaking it in.

The story follows a master and his slave as they travel from their home in Pisidian Antioch to seek healing from the god Asklepios in Pergamum. The story always kept moving, and yet at the same time, I felt that the author was sneaking in some fascinating historical details on nearly every page. I constantly marveled at how much first-century ground he covered, and I wonder how much could be left for his second and third works of the trilogy.

Certain subjects were familiar to me, but they struck home in new ways. For instance, when you’re immersed in the life of a couple of Gentile characters, their point of view about how the “Jews undermine the unity of the city” made more sense than it ever had before. Because I usually come at matters from a Jewish or Christian perspective, I have failed to appreciate how distinctly odd Jews and Christians were in pagan cities.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the Roman world in which Paul traveled and the early church grew. The book barely touches on the early church, but you’ll understand the New Testament better if you experience its world. Once again, this journey was so greatly enhanced by my confidence in the author’s decades of research on the social world of Greco-Roman antiquity and his “obsessive concern for accuracy.”

Because the book is set in modern-day Turkey, I think that those who have traveled to these places would especially enjoy it. I would be happy recommending or requiring this for a group traveling to Turkey/Greece/Rome as well as for courses in the New Testament, early Judaism, and the Greco-Roman world.

[Shreya Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about Marcus and Lucius, the former being a slave in the latter's family. It takes place in the 1st century AD during the early reign of Roman Emperor Nero. Marcus was a very close aid to Lucius and helps in managing the business run by him. Lucius's wife died due to a disease and since then he became resentful towards physicians. But Lucius started suffering from a stomach illness whose severity was increasing. He became so ill that he was unable to do daily affairs. One day Lucius saw a dream where Asklepios(God of healing) seems to summon him to a temple in Pergamon(city of healing) in Turkey for his treatment. This dream leads to a journey by Lucius and Marcus in hope of saving the former. What will be this journey's outcome? Will Lucius be saved? How will this journey change Marcus?

One of the best aspect of this book is the way the author has maintained the historical accuracy. The rituals, customs and culture followed by the people of that era are portrayed beautifully. The author has kept in mind that since the book takes the reader on a journey from central to western Turkey, the customs, environment and the social behaviour of people changes from place to place. There is a great amount of detailing and research done while writing this book. You can find traces of people practicing Christianity and Judaism as it was just the beginning period of these religion.

⌛The relation between Lucius and Marcus is one of the key points in the plot.In exception to the norms and customs prevalent during that era, Lucius was of modern thinking and never ill-treated any of his slave, even marrying one. If you want to learn about the cultures in Roman era, but not through a textbook, then this book is a must read for you.I always find this to be a better way to learn about past since it encaptures your interest towards it.Since I am an avid fan of various cultures and mythologies, I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended..

[Sabhyata Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A slave without past, a master without future. A journey that will forever change their lives".

The story revolves around Marcus the slave and Lucius his master.
* Lucius was recently widowed, he was having a vast business and administration to handle, for which he was dependent on Marcus's help.
*Soon after, Lucius started facing some abdominal illness, and further as his condition deteriorated, difficulties arose in business as well as family.
*Although Lucius, after somewhile got attached to one of his slave Selena and got married to her.
*Lucius used to sleep in temple of Asklepios (god of heeling). There was a priest who told him, that Asklepios wants him to visit his temple miles apart.
*Lucius and Marcus lives had changed a lot along the whole journey as they met several new faces and cities.
MY INSIGHTS
*The book holds up an appreciable detail of Greco-roman world about their social and religious perspectives, which was certainly about Judaism and Christianity.
*The book has deep analysis on how they used to deal with sickness and healing.
*There was expanded literature about so many archaeological sites, which was quite impressive.
*There was a great touch of relationship, certainly, friendship and family which had a deep essence and impacted importance for it .
How society controls most of our roles.
* I think the story was really slow paced, every scene inside it was very detailed.
*I must say that author has a great knowledge about Roman World which particularly can be seen in through ages historically . It was a well researched book that can really make you travel past world particularly along the history, THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
Recommendation
I'll recommend this book to historians, who would love to unearth social and religious knowleadge of history and the journey of Roman Empire.

[Senem Öcal · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Turkish reader, I enjoyed reading this book very much. The book has a feature that relaxes the mind while reading. The narration is so clear, including the preface. Giving the reader some information before reading the novel is illuminating. At the same time, it motivates the reader to read faster. The narration is fluent and relaxing. Undoubtedly, the author makes the reader feel that he has a strong background. The elegant touches in his descriptions are perfect. It is my favorite style.

"Their steep, craggy flanks contrasted sharply with the gentle green slopes that filled the northern horizon around Antioch."

"The garden was lush yet well-tended, while the handsome agricultural vignettes that had been painted onto the walls of the dining room gave the illusion that the diners were resting in the very heart of the garden."

The book also excites the reader with interesting information.

"Avoid wines produced near the coast, since they contain a great deal of sea water that can upset the stomach.”

If you are interested in the early Roman world, "A Rooster for Asklepios by Christopher D. Stanley" is the right address. I feel that this valuable work which is related to the feature of historical fantasy fiction is available for cinema. Congratulations!

[Whispering Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word - WOW! This book is utterly mesmerising. Christopher D. Stanley really knows how to enthral his readers. This novel is so rich in historical detail that I felt immersed in the history of this period.

Marcus, the main character in this novel, is a devoted slave of Lucius Coelius Felix. Lucius has a mysterious stomach complaint, and this novel explores his bid to get to the bottom of the illness and find a cure. I thought it was fascinating how disease and illness were treated during this era, and Stanley has shone a light on the superstition and, dare I say the word, the charlatans who promised miracles, but instead took advantage of those in a vulnerable position.

I really enjoyed following Marcus' story. Despite him being a slave, he is an educated one and is given a great deal of responsibility. There also seemed to be a genuine affection between Marcus and his master.

I thought this book was really fascinating, and it will appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction set in the ancient world.

[Michel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of research has been put in this book that gives the reader a fair impression of what things looked like in the first century AD, including:
- master/slave relationships
- Roman aristocracy
- interaction between Roman/Greek/Jewish/Christian cultures
- Jewish culture in the midst of a pagan society
- Roman/Greek religion, temples, rituals, and sacrifices
- patronage/clientage

The plot is nice but very slow in its development. The author could have reduced the number of pages by at least 20-30% in order to reach the same effect.

I scarcely believe that a trip from Antioch through Pergamum could have been so uneventful in these days and I wish the author had significantly cut most descriptions of the traveling. Finally, the inclusion of a few intimate details is annoying and unnecessary.

[Jonathan Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, especially Biblical era novels. The story is well told. The details are well done. The character are fully fleshed out. But the story progresses very slowly. I am willing to bet this author reads a lot of Tolkien. I am all for details, but Stanley goes a little over board. As long as the book was, I am surprised he did not wrap up the main drama within the book. I don't know why is will take two more books to wrap it up and I don't know if I want to invest in two more ~500 page books when my list is already lengthy. We will have to see...

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A forgotten time

A story about a slave and his master. Marcus, a devoted and trusted slave in the house of Lucius. Lucius, a widowed father, has increasingly more painful gut problems. He seeks help from local physicians with no results. This takes them on a trip to another town far away. While there, Marcus makes new friends that help him settle a score with another slave. Lucius does everything that he is asked to do to get assistance in healing his body. Has he done enough? Or has he done too much?

#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Nora Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story

I accidentally read the second book first but I was able to refer back to it when I needed to. A most thorough and informative read and most definitely as engaging as the other book (A Bull for Pluto). Life was so very difficult for people in this time period, and the author successfully conveys that within. I highly recommend this book to all interested in the era. Well done!

[Joy Penner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, though a bit long. A fascinating look into the life and times of first century aristocrats and slaves. If you are someone who reads the Bible, it helps to expand knowledge of what life was like and brings new understanding and meaning to what is being read. Looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.

[Theo Faurez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting ! One of the best historical fictions stories I've read. The characters are alive, authentic, and their life stories have become a part of mine. I want to know what happens next, if their dreams are going to come true, or if tragedy awaits. Need the second book !

[Jezza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this book, the historical details are amazing, really transports you into the world of the time. Although told from the 3rd person you really connect to the thoughts and feelings of the slave Marcus and I can't wait to follow the story in the next books.

[Makoto Miharu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully vivid and detailed description of what it was like to live and travel in the Roman province. Definitely worth reading if you want to know more about that period, but don't expect much of the plot or characters.

[Audrey Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes place in Asia Minor (present day Turkey) in the early months of the reign of Nero as Roman Emperor, so about 54 AD. But the story doesn't involve Nero or any dramatic historical events. Instead, the point-of-view character is Marcus, a young man who is a slave owned by a minor aristocrat, Lucius Coelius Felix. He is a fortunate slave in that his master treats him well. Because Marcus can read and calculate, he is responsible for helping Lucius with his business affairs. He is acutely aware of his low status even while functioning successfully in his role.
But the main concern of this book is a journey the pair make to a shrine of Asklepios near Pergamon, where Lucius hopes to find healing from a persistent illness. The illness is debilitating and occasionally embarrassing; as a result the reader is often exposed to mentions of toilets, latrines, and the plumbing arrangements of the era. The pace of the book is leisurely, with many details about how things are done in Lucius's household, and the logistics of a long journey by carriage and a wagon, both pulled by pairs of mules. One thing that emerges is the vital importance of slaves to the economy of the time. They performed all of the manual labour and a large number of administrative tasks, accepting their slave status as their lot in life, while dreaming of the slim possibility that a benevolent master might grant them the status of freedman.
Another revelation is the role of sacrificial animals. Lucius and Marcus visit a large number of temples of various gods and goddesses, and every time contribute at least one live animal to gain the deity's favour. The creatures are immediately slaughtered and cooked, thus providing meat for those attending the temple. There is a whole economy around sacrificial animals that is taken for granted by the characters, but certainly was a revelation to me.
Indeed, the subject of religion plays an important role in the story. A number of the supporting characters are Jews, and their place in the Roman world is woven into the plot. Christianity is also touched upon, as a peculiar new cult that may cause trouble to established faiths.
Altogether, this book is both educational and interesting. The author's expertise in the history of the time is clearly evident. There is little dramatic action, but the way the two main characters deal with a variety of challenges is engaging. I found myself hoping for the best for them, and fearing the worst. I came away from the book having learned about a time and place I knew nothing about before reading it, and hope to read the second book in the series at some point.