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Arturo Sandus #3
Getting Fired Up
Arturo Sandus, Federation Space Captain is a long, long way from home, but he is building a new home in Britannia of the early 5th Century. His plan to industrialize a moribund northern part of the dying Roman Empire is progressing but not without issues.
His memory and lack of knowledge is proving troublesome. Just how do you make electricity?
The neighbours are even more troublesome, wanting to invade and get into that rape and pillage stuff.
The Christians are revolting, literally, at least some of them, while others are quite friendly.
Romance rears its head but what about the wife he has 5,000 light years away and 5,000 years in the future?
And every second person wants to know when he's going to invade the Empire proper and make himself Emperor. What the?
But Arturo presses on with his New Roman Republic despite everything thrown in his way...
His memory and lack of knowledge is proving troublesome. Just how do you make electricity?
The neighbours are even more troublesome, wanting to invade and get into that rape and pillage stuff.
The Christians are revolting, literally, at least some of them, while others are quite friendly.
Romance rears its head but what about the wife he has 5,000 light years away and 5,000 years in the future?
And every second person wants to know when he's going to invade the Empire proper and make himself Emperor. What the?
But Arturo presses on with his New Roman Republic despite everything thrown in his way...
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2020
296 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Peter Rhodan
35 books67 followersI grew up in Sydney Australia but have lived on the Gold Coast, Australia for over thirty years. I have been many things over my life, courier driver, retail sales assistant, casino croupier, small business owner, a bankrupt former small business owner, a graphic designer, poker tournament operator and most recently an Uber driver.
I have a marvellous wife and two great kids (both adults now) plus a border collie cross dog who thinks she's a human.
I have always liked science fiction books, especially gung-ho space opera, time travel and alternate history genres. The first fiction book I read that I liked was Eagle of the Ninth and fist Science Fiction book I read and liked was Foundation by Asimov.
My favourite authors, at the moment, are David Weber, Lois McMaster Bujold, Christopher Nuttall and Pam Uphoff. Weber writes the best space opera while Bujold is simply the best writer and Miles Vorkisgan an amazing character. Chris Nuttall rarely writes anything that is only so-so and his Schooled in Magic books are the best magic school series I have read so far. Pam Uphoff writes primarily a cross dimensional series called the Wine of the Gods with the Directorate stories offshoot. These are delightful, entertaining and often thought provoking books that I love.
Chris Nuttall and Pam Uphoff inspired me to "have a go mate" and so I have.
My first novel is On the Rocks, the first story of Arturo Sandus (Sanders) and his adventures as a Space Ship captain marooned on a primitive swords and sandals era planet. Sort of...
I have a marvellous wife and two great kids (both adults now) plus a border collie cross dog who thinks she's a human.
I have always liked science fiction books, especially gung-ho space opera, time travel and alternate history genres. The first fiction book I read that I liked was Eagle of the Ninth and fist Science Fiction book I read and liked was Foundation by Asimov.
My favourite authors, at the moment, are David Weber, Lois McMaster Bujold, Christopher Nuttall and Pam Uphoff. Weber writes the best space opera while Bujold is simply the best writer and Miles Vorkisgan an amazing character. Chris Nuttall rarely writes anything that is only so-so and his Schooled in Magic books are the best magic school series I have read so far. Pam Uphoff writes primarily a cross dimensional series called the Wine of the Gods with the Directorate stories offshoot. These are delightful, entertaining and often thought provoking books that I love.
Chris Nuttall and Pam Uphoff inspired me to "have a go mate" and so I have.
My first novel is On the Rocks, the first story of Arturo Sandus (Sanders) and his adventures as a Space Ship captain marooned on a primitive swords and sandals era planet. Sort of...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 27, 2020
Who edits these Kindle books? Whoever it is needs to understand the Spell Check is his friend!!
The series has some intriguing questions & that part of these novels is interesting.
However is this a novel about time travel or a polemic for women to serve in the Roman legions. Must we poor readers be forced to read the author's PC viewpoints on females in society, either now or in Late Antiquity.
Historical fiction requires some connection to realility to be successful, women in the legions using melee weapons is nonsense, & doesn't improve the story.
The authors constant assertion that Late Antiquity was misogynistic is a stretch, misogyny is in the eye of the beholder, a simple reading of the soures & modern scholars will show that, 21st Century it ain't but hell on Earth for the ladies it wasn't.
Societies that are truly misogynistic are either the cultures of barbarians or those societies that sequester their women.
Now I will make some criticism of the authors anti-relgious bigotry which is tiresome & totally unhistorical. Being somewhat anchored in historical realility is necessary in my view & our author has lost it, in the 5th Century the only thing that functioned in the Western Empire was the Catholic Church, having lost sight of that the novel is bereft of historical verisimilitude.
One last point, all this "equal rights for women" stuff our author rabbits on about is firmly based in Christ's teachings in the New Testement, & enlarged on by St Paul. This is the sort of ignorance shown by the author that makes this novel a three star read at best.
The series has some intriguing questions & that part of these novels is interesting.
However is this a novel about time travel or a polemic for women to serve in the Roman legions. Must we poor readers be forced to read the author's PC viewpoints on females in society, either now or in Late Antiquity.
Historical fiction requires some connection to realility to be successful, women in the legions using melee weapons is nonsense, & doesn't improve the story.
The authors constant assertion that Late Antiquity was misogynistic is a stretch, misogyny is in the eye of the beholder, a simple reading of the soures & modern scholars will show that, 21st Century it ain't but hell on Earth for the ladies it wasn't.
Societies that are truly misogynistic are either the cultures of barbarians or those societies that sequester their women.
Now I will make some criticism of the authors anti-relgious bigotry which is tiresome & totally unhistorical. Being somewhat anchored in historical realility is necessary in my view & our author has lost it, in the 5th Century the only thing that functioned in the Western Empire was the Catholic Church, having lost sight of that the novel is bereft of historical verisimilitude.
One last point, all this "equal rights for women" stuff our author rabbits on about is firmly based in Christ's teachings in the New Testement, & enlarged on by St Paul. This is the sort of ignorance shown by the author that makes this novel a three star read at best.
December 29, 2021
An enjoyable read.
November 15, 2022
3.75 stars really. Good story with moderate issues.
This is the third book in the series and call it does a great job progress in the story forward there are issues that need to be addressed. First let me get it out of the way it’s a good story the MC is good decide characters are good and the premise overall around the story is a good premise. solid foundation you can easily expand on. no the first two books in the series I give 1.5 stars each. They each had their own problems but following them was easier than this book. here is where the problem yet this book really expands the territory covered and when you start expanding territory covered and mentioning so many cities so many towns so many places One thing you need is a map. I’ve read other books like this before and when they really expand got into so many territories with so many different names the author introduced a map. Anytime a new chapter came up and they really blew it out with all new territories that had to be talked about there was a map at the beginning of the chapter. this series actually needs a map at the beginning of the book so I can just get a better lay of the land I mean we have so many towns so many railroads connecting from place to place you need to be able to see it the author understands where everything is in position wise can dictate what’s going to come and why things transpired but as a leader it’s not always that easy for us to know this is where this town is this is where this railroad line goes so we need a map. No somethings in this book was fairly obvious you could tell where a plot lines were going to go that’s not bad necessarily the problem is how you get there. I won’t spoil it in this paragraph I will mention it in the next paragraph but if you’re going to have a major plot point you have to do it the right way this wasn’t done the right way it was nearly perfect but it messed up at one particular point. I know why the author did what they did but they should’ve gone about it a different way. One final note do you have to be careful what you dictate to the reader look at the title page of the book you’ll see a canon so most of us are thinking there’s going to be a Canon in this book and there was but that didn’t happen until much later into the book I think it would’ve been more appropriate to dictate to us something different. Yes firearms are introduced in this book but it took so long to get them introduced perhaps rightfully so you should not have probably shown us that on the main page. That’s a small criticism some may not agree with it but to me I think a different picture should’ve been presented to the reader.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Now here’s the spoiler the main character‘s best friend dies in this book. I understand why that person was killed off it was actually to make room for his future wife. It allows her to take on a particular roller directly at his side. The thing is you’ve killed off a character that really could’ve been use more purposefully in the book. Well I felt no connection necessarily to this character I also felt that he shouldn’t have been killed off he should’ve been moved to a different position. In fact if you were going to kill someone else you should’ve killed the father in law of the deceased character it would’ve had the same effect of moving the original character who died to a new position taking over the father-in-law‘s intelligence gathering position but you would’ve kept a character that was vital to the MC. I realize you had to make sure the wife was going to be directly beside her husband but you didn’t have to kill the person who was normally by his side to get her there. He just needed to move him into a new position. In fact having him in this new position could’ve shown these talents The author consistently highlighted he possessed.
One of the spoiler it really doesn’t make sense for this ship to be visible at the bottom of a lake and no one has gone to look at it that just seems foolish by now. I think the author is just stretching it but not getting it over with and having the thing called out of the water and dragged away. You telling me none of his men have said I wonder why he keeps going out there I’m going to go look when he’s not here. It just makes no sense. You mean to tell me no citizen has walked by this lake saw this huge object down there and wondered what is it and look like. Again it just doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Well I believe all that is true it’s still a good book. It just really does need a map my goodness.
This is the third book in the series and call it does a great job progress in the story forward there are issues that need to be addressed. First let me get it out of the way it’s a good story the MC is good decide characters are good and the premise overall around the story is a good premise. solid foundation you can easily expand on. no the first two books in the series I give 1.5 stars each. They each had their own problems but following them was easier than this book. here is where the problem yet this book really expands the territory covered and when you start expanding territory covered and mentioning so many cities so many towns so many places One thing you need is a map. I’ve read other books like this before and when they really expand got into so many territories with so many different names the author introduced a map. Anytime a new chapter came up and they really blew it out with all new territories that had to be talked about there was a map at the beginning of the chapter. this series actually needs a map at the beginning of the book so I can just get a better lay of the land I mean we have so many towns so many railroads connecting from place to place you need to be able to see it the author understands where everything is in position wise can dictate what’s going to come and why things transpired but as a leader it’s not always that easy for us to know this is where this town is this is where this railroad line goes so we need a map. No somethings in this book was fairly obvious you could tell where a plot lines were going to go that’s not bad necessarily the problem is how you get there. I won’t spoil it in this paragraph I will mention it in the next paragraph but if you’re going to have a major plot point you have to do it the right way this wasn’t done the right way it was nearly perfect but it messed up at one particular point. I know why the author did what they did but they should’ve gone about it a different way. One final note do you have to be careful what you dictate to the reader look at the title page of the book you’ll see a canon so most of us are thinking there’s going to be a Canon in this book and there was but that didn’t happen until much later into the book I think it would’ve been more appropriate to dictate to us something different. Yes firearms are introduced in this book but it took so long to get them introduced perhaps rightfully so you should not have probably shown us that on the main page. That’s a small criticism some may not agree with it but to me I think a different picture should’ve been presented to the reader.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Now here’s the spoiler the main character‘s best friend dies in this book. I understand why that person was killed off it was actually to make room for his future wife. It allows her to take on a particular roller directly at his side. The thing is you’ve killed off a character that really could’ve been use more purposefully in the book. Well I felt no connection necessarily to this character I also felt that he shouldn’t have been killed off he should’ve been moved to a different position. In fact if you were going to kill someone else you should’ve killed the father in law of the deceased character it would’ve had the same effect of moving the original character who died to a new position taking over the father-in-law‘s intelligence gathering position but you would’ve kept a character that was vital to the MC. I realize you had to make sure the wife was going to be directly beside her husband but you didn’t have to kill the person who was normally by his side to get her there. He just needed to move him into a new position. In fact having him in this new position could’ve shown these talents The author consistently highlighted he possessed.
One of the spoiler it really doesn’t make sense for this ship to be visible at the bottom of a lake and no one has gone to look at it that just seems foolish by now. I think the author is just stretching it but not getting it over with and having the thing called out of the water and dragged away. You telling me none of his men have said I wonder why he keeps going out there I’m going to go look when he’s not here. It just makes no sense. You mean to tell me no citizen has walked by this lake saw this huge object down there and wondered what is it and look like. Again it just doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Well I believe all that is true it’s still a good book. It just really does need a map my goodness.
October 9, 2020
The best time displacement series I have read since The Ring of Fire
This is a very readable imagining of how an individual from the future impacts a preindustrial society. Arturo Sandus, a star ship captain from 5000 years in the future is marooned on Earth in about the year 500. The Roman Empire is badly crumbled and pretty much given up on it’s British colony. Sandus decides to revive the Roman Republic and accelerate the industrial revolution in the small hope of possibly finding a way home - or at least living in a style with comfort more like what he is used to, for his remaining 200 or so years he may live. That is assuming he can survive the battles and assassination attempts !
This is a very readable imagining of how an individual from the future impacts a preindustrial society. Arturo Sandus, a star ship captain from 5000 years in the future is marooned on Earth in about the year 500. The Roman Empire is badly crumbled and pretty much given up on it’s British colony. Sandus decides to revive the Roman Republic and accelerate the industrial revolution in the small hope of possibly finding a way home - or at least living in a style with comfort more like what he is used to, for his remaining 200 or so years he may live. That is assuming he can survive the battles and assassination attempts !
October 24, 2020
Great Read, Great Series
Arturo continues to introduce technology to Britain. The economy of the North is booming and spreading quickly to the South. Modern military strategy boosts Autro's supremacy over enemy armies. Not everyone is thrilled with Autro's leadership as evidenced by assassination attempts. However, his faithful "Ninja" bodyguards prove effective. His quandary with his feelings for Princess Morgahanna are resolved. Barbarian raiders from the continent annoy the New Republic. Austria's response is to defeat a much larger army and restore a province to Roman control. I like the action, humor, romance, civilization building, and time travel paradox. I look forward to the next book.
Arturo continues to introduce technology to Britain. The economy of the North is booming and spreading quickly to the South. Modern military strategy boosts Autro's supremacy over enemy armies. Not everyone is thrilled with Autro's leadership as evidenced by assassination attempts. However, his faithful "Ninja" bodyguards prove effective. His quandary with his feelings for Princess Morgahanna are resolved. Barbarian raiders from the continent annoy the New Republic. Austria's response is to defeat a much larger army and restore a province to Roman control. I like the action, humor, romance, civilization building, and time travel paradox. I look forward to the next book.
September 3, 2022
Rhodan, Peter. Getting Fired Up. Arturo Sandus No.3. Kindle, 2020.
One-time starship commander Arturo Sandus works hard to remember his college chemistry and military history. He may not remember the proportions of sulfur to potassium nitrate in gunpowder, but once he tells someone he needs the ingredients, it is just a matter of experimenting to get the right mix. His New Roman Republic soon has the tools it needs to consolidate its power in the British Isles. The Scots barbarians are still troublesome, and the Christians in London don’t like the Republic’s policy of religious tolerance. But the steel and steam economy is encouraging population growth, and his practical treatment of POWs is increasing the size and efficiency of his troops. 3.5 stars.
One-time starship commander Arturo Sandus works hard to remember his college chemistry and military history. He may not remember the proportions of sulfur to potassium nitrate in gunpowder, but once he tells someone he needs the ingredients, it is just a matter of experimenting to get the right mix. His New Roman Republic soon has the tools it needs to consolidate its power in the British Isles. The Scots barbarians are still troublesome, and the Christians in London don’t like the Republic’s policy of religious tolerance. But the steel and steam economy is encouraging population growth, and his practical treatment of POWs is increasing the size and efficiency of his troops. 3.5 stars.
April 15, 2021
Don't bother if you prefer character driven books
Book one was fantastic. But by the end of book two there were huge sections of the book that were just lists of events. This book was 70 percent lists of events and world development. 20 percent descriptions of battles and only 10 percent had anything at all to do with ANY individual character, let alone the ostensible main character. Boring as hell most of it. Still, the first book was really, really good. So I'm going to give this series one more shot and try the next book.
Book one was fantastic. But by the end of book two there were huge sections of the book that were just lists of events. This book was 70 percent lists of events and world development. 20 percent descriptions of battles and only 10 percent had anything at all to do with ANY individual character, let alone the ostensible main character. Boring as hell most of it. Still, the first book was really, really good. So I'm going to give this series one more shot and try the next book.
April 16, 2021
detailed planning shows result
the plotting is excellent here. I enjoyed the story, but get bogged down with the numbers of the various units and shuffling of officers. I longed for a map showing the city names and rivers to help visualize where they were in relation to modern locations. I am very vague on where the barbarians lived. an opportunity for a detailed recount of weddings at the time would have been interesting. what are they going to do with all the widows and children? It needs more people stories and less battle details.
the plotting is excellent here. I enjoyed the story, but get bogged down with the numbers of the various units and shuffling of officers. I longed for a map showing the city names and rivers to help visualize where they were in relation to modern locations. I am very vague on where the barbarians lived. an opportunity for a detailed recount of weddings at the time would have been interesting. what are they going to do with all the widows and children? It needs more people stories and less battle details.
September 16, 2021
This series breezed over things like defeating 35k germans but spends half the book teaching feminism to tribesmen
Mc is becoming aggressively uninteresting and little to no world building takes place. Technology developments occurr off screen now and are conveniently introduced. Characters have next to no characters devlopment. Great swaths of the book are devoted to stating Roman towns in Britain and rail lines. Other swaths are about feminism. A couple of chapters are about boats and murdering 35k germans with cannons. Thats about it. 3/10 fun level.
Mc is becoming aggressively uninteresting and little to no world building takes place. Technology developments occurr off screen now and are conveniently introduced. Characters have next to no characters devlopment. Great swaths of the book are devoted to stating Roman towns in Britain and rail lines. Other swaths are about feminism. A couple of chapters are about boats and murdering 35k germans with cannons. Thats about it. 3/10 fun level.
June 22, 2022
To fast, to easy
I have tried to take these stories at face value but with this novel it is becoming ever harder to "willingly suspend my disbelief". Simply put the pace of growth and change is becoming increasingly hard to just gloss over as background to the story. If everything has advanced this far this fast then salvaging his wrecked shuttle should be his top priority as only the gold and scrap value of the battle armor could explain how so much money is available for investment. Yet salvaging the shuttle completely is put off into the indistinct future.
I have tried to take these stories at face value but with this novel it is becoming ever harder to "willingly suspend my disbelief". Simply put the pace of growth and change is becoming increasingly hard to just gloss over as background to the story. If everything has advanced this far this fast then salvaging his wrecked shuttle should be his top priority as only the gold and scrap value of the battle armor could explain how so much money is available for investment. Yet salvaging the shuttle completely is put off into the indistinct future.
November 15, 2020
Excellent read could not put down!
Interesting alternative historical narrative. Engaging read with action and political intrigue. Author is well informed about the historical period he writes about making the book difficult to put down. Looking forward to the next installment of the series.
Interesting alternative historical narrative. Engaging read with action and political intrigue. Author is well informed about the historical period he writes about making the book difficult to put down. Looking forward to the next installment of the series.
January 10, 2021
Bigotry is a bad thing
I know its not supposed to be actual fact based history. But the a historical nature of what kind people these Christians makes clear that this book is more about the writers hatred of one group of people than telling a good story. Hatred is never pretty and it makes hard to enjoy this book
I know its not supposed to be actual fact based history. But the a historical nature of what kind people these Christians makes clear that this book is more about the writers hatred of one group of people than telling a good story. Hatred is never pretty and it makes hard to enjoy this book
January 12, 2021
Another jump in technology.
The series progress pretty much on the same even rhythm as the previous book, meaning there are few surprises overall, all announced well in advance. This make the book less urgent, less thrilling than you'd have expected. It's a clean, but very orthodox take on the theme.
The series progress pretty much on the same even rhythm as the previous book, meaning there are few surprises overall, all announced well in advance. This make the book less urgent, less thrilling than you'd have expected. It's a clean, but very orthodox take on the theme.
September 9, 2020
Best book in series so far
An engaging tale that moves along quickly with developments both personal and technical happening slightly quicker than in earlier books.Looking forward to more books from this pleasing series
An engaging tale that moves along quickly with developments both personal and technical happening slightly quicker than in earlier books.Looking forward to more books from this pleasing series
October 20, 2020
A Great Time Travel, Military, Space Story With a Little History Added
I thought the author did a great job of entertaining I little roman history Into a Entertaining to!e travel story. Peter Rhodan has join my list of authors whom I have to read their new book
I thought the author did a great job of entertaining I little roman history Into a Entertaining to!e travel story. Peter Rhodan has join my list of authors whom I have to read their new book
November 13, 2020
Good tale
Excellent story line. Occasionally, he gets bogged down in some of descriptions, but overall excellent writing. Could use a bit of editing. I’m looking forward to book 4
Excellent story line. Occasionally, he gets bogged down in some of descriptions, but overall excellent writing. Could use a bit of editing. I’m looking forward to book 4
December 28, 2020
I love this series!
Well written, I love Piperish type novels! Fun story, I love the technological advances that are introduced, the battle sequences are brilliant! I'm ready for the fourth novel!
Well written, I love Piperish type novels! Fun story, I love the technological advances that are introduced, the battle sequences are brilliant! I'm ready for the fourth novel!
February 2, 2021
While entertaining it was not deep in character development. The main stars are the battle descriptions and they are biggest part of the book. Even with these shortcomings the book is very readable and good brain candy.
May 2, 2021
Overall a very good story with well developed characters so I will continue with the series. The one flaw, and it's a big one for me, are the many errors in spelling and sentence structure which if read as printed would make it difficult to understand. The author just needs a good proof reader.
June 11, 2021
Theoretical History
An excellent mix of actual history and theoretical physics combined with a good quantity of fiction and drama. Very entertaining for anyone with a vivid sense of immagination.
An excellent mix of actual history and theoretical physics combined with a good quantity of fiction and drama. Very entertaining for anyone with a vivid sense of immagination.
January 22, 2022
This seemed like a fun idea, but. . .
It is just far, far to dry. The pacing is very bad giving absolutely no sense of the passage of time. It is a boring read, but it has very interesting content. That is why all of these have been three star reviews.
It is just far, far to dry. The pacing is very bad giving absolutely no sense of the passage of time. It is a boring read, but it has very interesting content. That is why all of these have been three star reviews.
June 8, 2022
Now we are getting started.
We are starting to get the snowball effect. With each new win and added inventions, more people get ideas. The characters are evolving and the plot lines a little more deeper.
We are starting to get the snowball effect. With each new win and added inventions, more people get ideas. The characters are evolving and the plot lines a little more deeper.
November 7, 2022
Moving right along!
I love the idea of introducing advancements in technology to an ancient culture! This book was great, with fewer grammatical errors than the first two books. Could use a few more commas - a lot more. Other than that, this is a really great story!
I love the idea of introducing advancements in technology to an ancient culture! This book was great, with fewer grammatical errors than the first two books. Could use a few more commas - a lot more. Other than that, this is a really great story!
September 4, 2020
Good series
This is an interesting series that I really like and look forward to reading the next in the series would recommend it to all history buffs
This is an interesting series that I really like and look forward to reading the next in the series would recommend it to all history buffs
September 5, 2020
Great book
This was a very good book the author did a good job. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
This was a very good book the author did a good job. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
October 20, 2020
Great fun
I’ve been enjoying the series immensely. If you like alternative history fiction I highly recommend this book to any aficionados.
I’ve been enjoying the series immensely. If you like alternative history fiction I highly recommend this book to any aficionados.
December 21, 2020
Great series
This is a good book. You shouldy read it. I like the story. The characters are fun. The book is a good read. i enjoyed it alot.. Download or buy it today. why not?
This is a good book. You shouldy read it. I like the story. The characters are fun. The book is a good read. i enjoyed it alot.. Download or buy it today. why not?
December 28, 2020
Great characters and plot
I can't speak as to the historical accuracy, but I found the background interesting. The editing on this book is much better than its predecessors.
I can't speak as to the historical accuracy, but I found the background interesting. The editing on this book is much better than its predecessors.
March 13, 2021
Nice read
Nice addition if sometimes tedious. Could be written with more emotional investment. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series
Nice addition if sometimes tedious. Could be written with more emotional investment. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series
May 7, 2021
Great Read
I have this series very interesting. The blend of time travel, military action, and Roman history makes for a wonderful story line.
I have this series very interesting. The blend of time travel, military action, and Roman history makes for a wonderful story line.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews