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Earth Legions #1
Ranks of Bronze
Captured by aliens at the Carrhae disaster, the legendary legions of Rome are forced to battle barbarian armies throughout the galaxy until, after two thousand years, they set out to achieve their freedom from their captors. Reprint.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1986
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About the author
David Drake
306 books886 followersDavid Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the major authors of the military science fiction genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 16, 2016
Ranks of Bronze is a military science fiction story with much emphasis on the “military” aspect. It features soldiers from ancient Rome who have been recruited by an odd commander to fight various odd enemies, which they’re transported to via odd methods while enjoying odd forms of recuperation and entertainment between battles. The characters don’t really understand what’s going on, but it’s easy enough for the reader to extrapolate given the knowledge that this is a science fiction book.
The story started out very sloooow for me. We enter the story at the beginning of long battle scene, featuring characters that didn’t seem very interesting to me, and without anything else besides the battle to really draw me into the story. Things became a little more interesting as the story progressed, but it definitely wasn’t a page-turner for me. I struggled through the first half and considered giving up a few times, but I did become quite a bit more engaged in the second half.
I’ve enjoyed military science fiction before, including the Belisarius series which was set in a similar time period and was co-written by the author of this book. I loved that series, actually, even though it was arguably heavier on the military aspect than this book was. I think the difference was that the Belisarius series had characters who I found more likable, plus a lot more humor. The military portions of the Belisarius series focused on more interesting strategies and had great interaction between the characters. The characters in this book were ok, but I never got that attached.
We’re given a more-or-less complete story, but the way things were left at the end seemed to set up a far more interesting story that tempted me to continue on with the series. However, I wasn’t sure I really wanted to read more books written in the same style as this one. In trying to make up my mind, I read the synopses for the other two books in the series and it doesn’t seem like they continue the story in the way I expected. That helped me make up my mind to stop with this book, although I was leaning toward that decision anyway.
The story started out very sloooow for me. We enter the story at the beginning of long battle scene, featuring characters that didn’t seem very interesting to me, and without anything else besides the battle to really draw me into the story. Things became a little more interesting as the story progressed, but it definitely wasn’t a page-turner for me. I struggled through the first half and considered giving up a few times, but I did become quite a bit more engaged in the second half.
I’ve enjoyed military science fiction before, including the Belisarius series which was set in a similar time period and was co-written by the author of this book. I loved that series, actually, even though it was arguably heavier on the military aspect than this book was. I think the difference was that the Belisarius series had characters who I found more likable, plus a lot more humor. The military portions of the Belisarius series focused on more interesting strategies and had great interaction between the characters. The characters in this book were ok, but I never got that attached.
We’re given a more-or-less complete story, but the way things were left at the end seemed to set up a far more interesting story that tempted me to continue on with the series. However, I wasn’t sure I really wanted to read more books written in the same style as this one. In trying to make up my mind, I read the synopses for the other two books in the series and it doesn’t seem like they continue the story in the way I expected. That helped me make up my mind to stop with this book, although I was leaning toward that decision anyway.
February 28, 2015
So I chose to read this book, because it was listed as first in the series of which The Excalibur Alternative is the third. The Excalibur Alternative is a stand alone book; it didn't require reading this one to understand it. Which is a good thing. The sad thing, however, is that it required reading The Excalibur Alternative to understand this book.
This book has no introduction, no lead-up to the action. It doesn't explain how the situation it starts with occurred or even what the situation is that the main character has found himself in. Instead, it plunges right into a generic battle scene, one heavy with description and low on understandable content. This book is exactly the bad example that I meant when I said in my review of The Excalibur Alternative that David Weber can write battle scenes in a way that few others can. Most battle scenes in books are written like the one in this one. Poorly. You try to picture what's going on, but it's difficult and you mostly have to skim for the bits that make sense and drive the action. It's just sloppy writing, especially when you have the work of a master of the art, like David Weber to compare it with.
From that battle scene, we clumsily find ourselves introduced to the world of the trading guild that has (though it's not explicitly stated) kidnapped these Romans and their cruelty. After more battles, and some blunders on the guild's side that are unforgivably stupid -- the commander of the ship witnesses the battles in person without any advanced shields and they set an animal to keep the Romans out of the secure parts of the ship rather than the advanced shield they'd demonstrated earlier in the book.
Poorly organized, difficult to follow and with a plot line that made me feel monkeys could have worked their way out, just not a good book.
This book has no introduction, no lead-up to the action. It doesn't explain how the situation it starts with occurred or even what the situation is that the main character has found himself in. Instead, it plunges right into a generic battle scene, one heavy with description and low on understandable content. This book is exactly the bad example that I meant when I said in my review of The Excalibur Alternative that David Weber can write battle scenes in a way that few others can. Most battle scenes in books are written like the one in this one. Poorly. You try to picture what's going on, but it's difficult and you mostly have to skim for the bits that make sense and drive the action. It's just sloppy writing, especially when you have the work of a master of the art, like David Weber to compare it with.
From that battle scene, we clumsily find ourselves introduced to the world of the trading guild that has (though it's not explicitly stated) kidnapped these Romans and their cruelty. After more battles, and some blunders on the guild's side that are unforgivably stupid -- the commander of the ship witnesses the battles in person without any advanced shields and they set an animal to keep the Romans out of the secure parts of the ship rather than the advanced shield they'd demonstrated earlier in the book.
Poorly organized, difficult to follow and with a plot line that made me feel monkeys could have worked their way out, just not a good book.
July 14, 2015
Drake is at his best, I believe, when he lets his passion for Roman history and human spirit take over and writes a tale of good-versus-evil conflict. It's a combination of themes he's revisited frequently in his work, and, even though you know from the start that you can't keep a good Legionnaire down, it's always an exciting and entertaining experience to read. Ranks of Bronze is among his best.
December 6, 2017
It is rarely I don't finish a book. I carefully select what I read, based on premise, reputation of the author and current state of mind. Ratings don't really matter, there's good books with bad ratings just as there's horrible books with glorious ratings and movie contracts.
Even if I don't really connect to a book I finish it, if just to find out how it ends.
Not in this case. I'm still curious on how the story ends, but I just can't take the writing style anymore. The battle scenes are unnecessarily confusing and erratic and very generic. The storyline is non-existent and the characters are so distant and one-dimensional that Drake rightfully interchanges names and ranks at random.
And the writing is terrible. Details, settings and backgrounds are rarely provided, which may be an effort to illustrate how the enormous amount of battles the Romans supposedly fight intermingle in their minds or become irrelevant. On the reader though, it's torture. Imagine a Roman legion fighting shadows in the dark.
I'm not a native speaker and don't really speak the lingo all that well, but it seems to me that many sentences are warped out of order, what should be in the first half ends up in the second and vice versa. Irritating.
I started reading the book because of a short story by S.M. Stirling from the anthology "Foreign Legions". Now there's how this book should be written! Gripping battle scenes, characters you very easily connect to, though it's only a short story, and clean and experienced writing.
Maybe I'll someday read the unconnected book by David Weber that takes place in this universe, but at the moment I'm too put off.
Even if I don't really connect to a book I finish it, if just to find out how it ends.
Not in this case. I'm still curious on how the story ends, but I just can't take the writing style anymore. The battle scenes are unnecessarily confusing and erratic and very generic. The storyline is non-existent and the characters are so distant and one-dimensional that Drake rightfully interchanges names and ranks at random.
And the writing is terrible. Details, settings and backgrounds are rarely provided, which may be an effort to illustrate how the enormous amount of battles the Romans supposedly fight intermingle in their minds or become irrelevant. On the reader though, it's torture. Imagine a Roman legion fighting shadows in the dark.
I'm not a native speaker and don't really speak the lingo all that well, but it seems to me that many sentences are warped out of order, what should be in the first half ends up in the second and vice versa. Irritating.
I started reading the book because of a short story by S.M. Stirling from the anthology "Foreign Legions". Now there's how this book should be written! Gripping battle scenes, characters you very easily connect to, though it's only a short story, and clean and experienced writing.
Maybe I'll someday read the unconnected book by David Weber that takes place in this universe, but at the moment I'm too put off.
July 5, 2019
An interesting premise -- A Roman legion is kidnapped by high-tech aliens whose rules often require low-tech warfare. Only three of the characters are developed well, as if all of Drake's character development was concentrated on the main players. The plot, though engaging enough, did not always feel like one unified story. In particular, the climax came with little from earlier in the book to lead to it; there were suggestions that the Romans would like to take such actions, but not even many of those, and certainly no advanced planning, not even the merest "What would it take ...?" questions. The big strength of the book is the writing about battles, which gives the reader not only a description of the events, but expresses the pains, fatigue, fears, and determination of the soldiers.
August 19, 2025
You can see some good things here. Parts that aren’t set in battles are pretty entertaining. But the battles are so dull and go on forever. They also basically lack any tension because it seems like anyone who gets hurt or killed can just be resuscitated.
It’s also an interesting question of what’s fair to accept as a premise. The idea of capturing Romans and making them fight is fine. But the notion that this super advanced society is using them because of some kind of trading society rules kind of strains credulity. What are these super advanced societies trading with these less advanced ones for? Why are they obeying what we larger order there is which you don’t see ever explained. You just have to accept some things based upon the premises the author sets out. But I’m not sure they actually make sense here.
It’s also an interesting question of what’s fair to accept as a premise. The idea of capturing Romans and making them fight is fine. But the notion that this super advanced society is using them because of some kind of trading society rules kind of strains credulity. What are these super advanced societies trading with these less advanced ones for? Why are they obeying what we larger order there is which you don’t see ever explained. You just have to accept some things based upon the premises the author sets out. But I’m not sure they actually make sense here.
September 10, 2019
I’m not usually a fan of military sci-fi, but the premise here of Roman legionaries v. aliens! intrigued me, and I picked it up.
Unfortunately, it still was very much a military sci-fi book, i.e., lots and lots of battle scenes and self-righteousness, so I wasn’t really drawn in.
Also, I think this might work better on film to just show everything, because as written we get all this alien tech translated to be written as seen through the eyes of someone from ancient Rome, that the reader than has to translate into understandable sci-fi, and the double translation was giving me a headache.
Unfortunately, it still was very much a military sci-fi book, i.e., lots and lots of battle scenes and self-righteousness, so I wasn’t really drawn in.
Also, I think this might work better on film to just show everything, because as written we get all this alien tech translated to be written as seen through the eyes of someone from ancient Rome, that the reader than has to translate into understandable sci-fi, and the double translation was giving me a headache.
December 23, 2021
quite entertaining, i read it very quickly since it's also short. i was almost never bored or tired of the action scenes, which is surprising because they are most of the book and looking back they don't seem specially remarkable. i wish it had a bit less forcus on the action and more on the rest, but i still enjoyed it. This one has decent subplots and characters but i don't think they get used as well as they could have, as opposed to The High Crusade which is comparable and does that part better. It's a good book if you are into the militaristic focus it has but otherwise maybe not worth it
December 11, 2020
This book has a slow start and gets better as it goes along. Please be patient in the first story/battle as the book does get a lot better than that. The complaint I read in these reviews of not understanding the whole battle is true but off track. You do not need to understand the entire battle. The focus is on one person and his experiences and that means sections of battles. My real rating is about 3 1/2. This book is better than 3 and not as good as 4.
January 6, 2024
Nice, easy sci fi. What if Romans were captured to fight for aliens? Not Earth bound invaders but actual aliens?
I can't recall what the Lost Roman Legion was but this may be it. The only issue I had was the choppiness of the writing sometimes and the confusion that naturally occurs in battles.
I like the character development, of professional soldiers growing through battles and hard work.
Nice escapist read
I can't recall what the Lost Roman Legion was but this may be it. The only issue I had was the choppiness of the writing sometimes and the confusion that naturally occurs in battles.
I like the character development, of professional soldiers growing through battles and hard work.
Nice escapist read
October 27, 2017
I love Roman history and I love science fiction, this could go good or bad ... it went quite well! Drake does a pretty good job putting you into the minds of those ancient Romans. While it can be confusing in the first battle, you are eventually eased into the situations the soldiers have been thrust into. It's a fun read.
December 15, 2018
A solid little "lost legion" story with a high-tech, galactic civilization twist. It's also a good reminder that cultural differences and lower technology level do not make others "animals." (Although, the book would be stronger if the aliens didn't think exactly the way we do.) Still, this is a fun light read, if you like military sf.
July 4, 2018
I picked this up at a used book store, hoping it was a book I dimly remembered reading in middle school. It was not that book, but it was pretty entertaining nevertheless. Not sure if I will pick up the others - but it was fun to read this Roman / sci-fi mashup.
abandoned
January 22, 2022Why I didn't finish this: I've liked Drake's work before, but I just could not get into this. I shouldn't be bored by your battle scenes, and I shouldn't be rolling my eyes at your characters.
Want to read
July 23, 2024Chapter 57: “Those of you who have spent and fought before the victory are not equal: those stand higher in rank than the ones who spent and fought later on. God has promised each one the very finest. God is informed about whatever you do.”
Read
August 29, 2017Interesting mix of sci-fi and Roman military history
March 2, 2018
Another Hit
May 23, 2018
I never was drawn very far into this novel. I did finish it, but wasn't very satisfied. The ending did leave me wondering what would occur next, though, so I decided to read the second one.
July 27, 2018
Classic Drake
A wonderful book, putting the reader into the life of a Roman legion in a setting that is both fantastic and believable.
A wonderful book, putting the reader into the life of a Roman legion in a setting that is both fantastic and believable.
January 5, 2019
First Drake novel I've read. The writing was poor. Difficult to visualize what is taking place most of the time.
January 21, 2019
A very cringy yesteryear sci-fi novel.
February 15, 2022
An excellent sci-fy book! The story and the action is fast paced and sure to grab your attention. Do not miss this one!
November 11, 2023
Interesting concept, but didn't care about any of the char, and not much of a story happening 1/3 of the way through the book, just battle after virtual battle after battle
June 24, 2025
Ridiculous in a pretty fun way, but feels padded despite its short length. Shoulda been a novella.
May 5, 2011
I've always believed that some of David Drake's best works are his novels mixing science fiction and the Roman Empire. Having been a Roman history buff for as long as I can remember one could argue that I'm rather biased. However in my opinion Ranks of Bronze rates up there with another of his Roman novel's, Birds of Prey. I don't read Drake books like I used to. Way back in high school and college (eighties) I read his novels almost religiously. But as I've gotten older I've drifted away from Science Fiction in general. A few weeks ago I decided to read one the few copies of Drake's novels that I still have in my library. Ranks of Bronze has held up well in my opinion.
Ranks of Bronze takes it's inspiration from an actual battle that occurred in the year 53 B.C. Marcus Crassus - one of the three members of the first triumvite along with Ceaser and Pompey - led a Roman army into Parthia ( modern Iran ) to take care of the Parthian Empire once and for all.
As luck would have it his army was defeated and Crassus was killed. History tells us that (possibly) ten thousand legionaires survived and were either sold into slavery to owners as far away as China and India or the Parthians put them to work as slave soldiers pacifying frontier lands within the Pathian Empire.
David Drake has the survivors being sold to aliens - in disguise - who work for a star spanning commercial league. Rather like the organization that was attacking Naboo in The Phanthom Menace. The League isn't allowed to use modern weaponry against primitives who refuse to deal with them. I gather the rules are put down by an organiztion similar to our U.N. In order to stay out of trouble the aliens buy the Roman legionaries and put them to work fighting their wars.
The clincher is ,excluding total destruction of the brain, the aliens can ressurect the dead soldiers, even if they are decapitated. The main character is a young tribune who eventually rises to command of the legion and the realization that the masters aren't Human. The battles are graphic, but show some research on Drake's part. The book gives a nod to the Human ability to overcome obstacles by brain power and nothing else. It's also an intersting contrast of Iron Age soldiers living among advanced technology. I don't want to spoil the ending, but suffice to say you will be kept on the edge of your seat. It's a good summertime read while at the beack or camping.
Ranks of Bronze takes it's inspiration from an actual battle that occurred in the year 53 B.C. Marcus Crassus - one of the three members of the first triumvite along with Ceaser and Pompey - led a Roman army into Parthia ( modern Iran ) to take care of the Parthian Empire once and for all.
As luck would have it his army was defeated and Crassus was killed. History tells us that (possibly) ten thousand legionaires survived and were either sold into slavery to owners as far away as China and India or the Parthians put them to work as slave soldiers pacifying frontier lands within the Pathian Empire.
David Drake has the survivors being sold to aliens - in disguise - who work for a star spanning commercial league. Rather like the organization that was attacking Naboo in The Phanthom Menace. The League isn't allowed to use modern weaponry against primitives who refuse to deal with them. I gather the rules are put down by an organiztion similar to our U.N. In order to stay out of trouble the aliens buy the Roman legionaries and put them to work fighting their wars.
The clincher is ,excluding total destruction of the brain, the aliens can ressurect the dead soldiers, even if they are decapitated. The main character is a young tribune who eventually rises to command of the legion and the realization that the masters aren't Human. The battles are graphic, but show some research on Drake's part. The book gives a nod to the Human ability to overcome obstacles by brain power and nothing else. It's also an intersting contrast of Iron Age soldiers living among advanced technology. I don't want to spoil the ending, but suffice to say you will be kept on the edge of your seat. It's a good summertime read while at the beack or camping.
May 28, 2013
This is a 3 star book with a bonus star for a fun concept. Ive heard tell this was based on a short story on the same subject, and that makes a lot of sense considering how much fat there is to cut here. Anywho, Romans get abducted by aliens to fight in low tech wars on undeveloped planets to secure trade rights due to space legislation against just firebombing the locals to paste and taking all there things. So a flimsy pretext to have centurions and the like, on some crazy planet somewhere and stabbing alien versions of barbarians. Solid.
This is one of the many sci fi story's out there that deals with the basic war is hell theme but then cranks that dial up to 11 because fuck you, this is space war. Due to the wonders of future science all the legionnaires are near immortal being both unable to age and capable of being regenerated even from death providing the brain remains intact. So the bulk of the book features the legion fighting in countless wars with everyone growing increasingly miserable and crazy as the years go by.
The ending feels a bit tacked on leaving me to wonder if it was ever a part of the original short story, but it serves to wrap everything up nice and tidy in a bleak and bloody little package that at least fits the tone of the book.
This is one of the many sci fi story's out there that deals with the basic war is hell theme but then cranks that dial up to 11 because fuck you, this is space war. Due to the wonders of future science all the legionnaires are near immortal being both unable to age and capable of being regenerated even from death providing the brain remains intact. So the bulk of the book features the legion fighting in countless wars with everyone growing increasingly miserable and crazy as the years go by.
The ending feels a bit tacked on leaving me to wonder if it was ever a part of the original short story, but it serves to wrap everything up nice and tidy in a bleak and bloody little package that at least fits the tone of the book.
March 2, 2014
The Aliens Were Looking For a Few Good Fighters, Warriors Who Could Be Brave Without Blasters, and Content With Shields of Bronze ... What They Got Were Romans ... Gaius Vibulenas: From a raw kid, he became an accomplished soldier-and a leader of men. Quartilla: She was everything a man could want-you would never guess she wasn't human. Pompilius Niger: He learned young that the worst dangers a soldier faces come from those who give him his orders. Clodius Afer: A veteran, he didn't ask questions-until his alien masters forced the answers on him. The aliens knew that in these primitives they possessed the finest low-tech soldiers in the galaxy. What they did not understand was the madness of enslaving a Roman legion and leaving them with swords in their hands.
January 23, 2013
I love the premise, but the execution is lacking. There isn't really a lot of character development...some is attempted, but the characters themselves feel really hard to connect to, which hampers things. The book would be better if it were 25-50% longer, with almost all the extra time spent in the ship or explaining how the Federation / trading syndicate works. This could patch up the book's two truck-sized plot holes: A) why are these aliens bothering to use legionnaires at all, and why haven't they taken over Earth to just keep kidnapping more if they're so good, and B) what is it with Falco?
August 11, 2022
A Roman legion loses a battle and is sold into slavery to aliens. The aliens run a trading business and are perfectly happy to use violence to open new markets. The alien government has ruled, however, that only troops of equivalent technological development can be used in such matters, hence the purchase of Romans.
I enjoyed this book but I’m a bit of pushover for stories blending the ancient and new. I can definitely see why someone would rate this book lower- the story telling isn’t very inspired and the ending lacks resolution. Still, for me this was an enjoyable read, so much so that less than 4 stars won’t do.
I enjoyed this book but I’m a bit of pushover for stories blending the ancient and new. I can definitely see why someone would rate this book lower- the story telling isn’t very inspired and the ending lacks resolution. Still, for me this was an enjoyable read, so much so that less than 4 stars won’t do.
Read
July 18, 2017The basic premise is fun. The development of the characters is a little off, but works well enough. The battles described in this book would really lend themselves quite well to tabletop scifi/fantasy mash-up battles using miniatures. It was tough (also perhaps a little unfair) to read this book after just reading the first couple of Harry Turtledove's Videssos Cycle, which has tons of excellent historical detail...which made Drake's work feel a lot lighter, almost pulp-level in its sparseness.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews