Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Steven Pressfield is one of my favourite authors.
His Gates of Fire is a work of brilliance, in my opinion.

His books relevant to this era of history are;




Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae


The Afghan Campaign


Last of the Amazons


The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great


Tides of War: A Novel of Alcibiades and the Peloponnesian War

Good stuff. I've read a couple of his books, Gates of Fire and Tides of War in the late 90's/early 2000s ... excellent work. I am planning to re-read those books ... maybe have a bit of a Pressfield marathon >8)

ib.

Pressfield marathon sounds like good fun.

I have read The Virtues of War and The Afghan war. I too plan on rereads because I read them too long ago to give them honest reviews. And because this is one of my favourite authors I want to to that. I don't mind leaving reviews for books I read decades ago if they aren't massive faves of mine.

that's why I am also going to do a reread of Men of Bronze by Scott Oden. To give a fair and honest review now that I am active on GR a lot more.

Terri wrote: "Pressfield marathon sounds like good fun.

I have read The Virtues of War and The Afghan war. I too plan on rereads because I read them too long ago to give them honest reviews. And because this is..."

Really, I hold GR responsible ... it's at least a decade too late to the scene >8)

ib.

Lol. Yep. :-)

The only one of his that I have read is Gates of Fire. It was masterful.
One of the very few books I have read more than once.
One of five I have read three times.

It certainly is masterful. Sometimes the jumping backwards and forwards and around the place annoyed me. Not enough to dislike it though. It was still a 5star book for me. Heartwrenching in the end, even though we all know what happens to the Spartans in the end without reading the book.
Expecting it. Knowing it is coming doesn't make it any easier.

historical fiction is my go to genre pressfield,top of the pack.followed by shaara,scarrow,iggulden,m.c.ford.always looking for more.one book i would highly rec would be Pride of Carthagebest,and only,book i have read about Hannibal.actually,3 times.

Wow you read Pride of Carthage 3 times?
I would maybe read it again...if there weren't a million books I want to read first before I start doing too many rereads. lol.

alright,il bite.whats the first of amillion that you must read first?

No need to bite. No lure here. I just mean I have so many books unread that I want to get to (feels like millions) that I can't do many rereads.
Once or twice a year maybe I'll reread a book. Some years, no rereads at all.

Gates of Fire is a superlative book. It helped to encourage me into writing HF. I was ecstatic, therefore, when Mr Pressfield was generous enough to give me a knockout quote for the cover of Spartacus. *Still can't quite believe it. Grins like an idiot.*

I SAW this quote yesterday on your book, Ben! I actually thought that that must be quite a special high for a hf author. No wonder you can't stop grinning. Lol. :-)

One of my faves too. A very special book.

@ Ben, that quote from Pressfield was the clincher for me. I'll be reading it in the next couple of weeks. I can't wait.

We always forget to mention one of Pressfield's most famous books, although maybe it is famed due to the movie than it being an actual book.
I have not read it. Have seen the movie.


The Legend of Bagger Vance: A Novel of Golf & the Game of Life

The film is pretty close to the book. If you like American Feelgood, go for it. Kind of like Larry McMurtry without the dips into Really Bad Things happening, but pleasant enough.

Yeah, I didn't mind the movie either. Not a favourite, but not bad.

Fans of Steven Pressfield.
You will be pleased to see that Gates of Fire won our group read poll and will be our December 'Ancient' group Read book.
All are welcome to join in on the discussion thread during the read, even if you have read the book before.
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

by Steven Pressfield

Gates of Fire is one of my all time favorite historical books. I stumbled on it in an endcap at a military base library and gave it a shot since I did know anything about the Spartans at the time. I'm glad I did since it turned out to be and absolutely amazing book and got me hooked into historical fiction as a whole. I just picked up another copy of the book from our used bookstore when it was clearances down to $.50 and couldn't pass it up. Such a good novel. :)

Such a good novel indeed. One of the 'must reads' of this genre.

I just started and wondered what other readers thought of it. Is this one of Pressfield's better books?

Sandra wrote: "I just started and wondered what other readers thought of it. Is this one of Pressfield's better books?"

Depends on what you're seeking. Gates of Fire is more epic, with heroic language and things like that (although there is a great deal of reality, too). Afgan Campaign is a bit of an opposite. The main character expects heroic war efforts and finds harsh reality, full of futile death and lack of ethical dimension. Both the books are strong, I think I preferred Afgan Campaign more. But I think I am in minority ;).

I read Gates of Fire last year and was not that impressed by it at all. I realise that this probably puts me in the minority here but that was my opinion when I finished the book and left on the bookshelf in my hotel in Turkey.

mixal wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I just started and wondered what other readers thought of it. Is this one of Pressfield's better books?"

Depends on what you're seeking. Gates ..."

Mixal, I'm with you. I prefer the more thoughtful book--Afghan Campaign. Some of it still sticks in my mind. Gates of Fire is a more typical action/adventure, although it's good if that is what you're looking for.

I listened to the audio version of Gates of Fire which was read by Derek Jacobi. Even though it was slightly abridged, it was wonderful. A good reader can do amazing things with a story. My husband read the book, as well as listened to it, and loved both version.

I've read three Pressfield novels: Gates of Fire, Virtues of War, and Killing Rommel. I thoroughly enjoyed each one. Gates of Fire is one of my favorite all time books, but I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone. I'll be getting to Afghan Campaign and Tides of War before long I hope.

Justin wrote: "I've read three Pressfield novels: Gates of Fire, Virtues of War, and Killing Rommel. I thoroughly enjoyed each one. Gates of Fire is one of my favorite all time books, but I can see how it wouldn'..."

My four Pressfield's I've read so far are: in order of how much I liked them:

Afghan Campaign, Gates of Fire, Tides of War and, not so much--Virtues of War. Killing Rommel is a someday book right now.

Just out of curiosity I figured out the ratings that the group has given Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae so far. I am afraid you are correct about being in the minority Peter but not everyone loved it, so you're not alone.

5 star - 49
4 star - 24
3 star - 11
2 star - 2
1 star - 1

I am one of those in the 5 star category. :)

Don't worry Peter, being in the minority here doesn't mean that your voice is less important. All opinions are valued equally.

If we didn't have some dissent and differences here I wouldn't be showing up! :) I'm here to get exposed to new ideas and new books, not wallow in an echo chamber. So I'm grateful.

I hate that scene. Where everyone agrees with each other and you know there are people not speaking up or not speaking their mind. So I'm grateful too.

Well thanks to everyone for supporting the dissenter. I did not want to be just a spoiler, I have my own reasons for not liking Gates of Fire and I accept that they are purely mine.

That said, I have not been turned off trying another of Steven Pressfield's novels, especially after reading the comments here.

Yes, Peter, try others at some point. I've found his writing uneven, so there's probably something for everyone.

I appreciate how everyone here has accepted me, along with my eccentric tastes in books. I'm sometimes in the minority, too.

Jane wrote: "Yes, Peter, try others at some point. I've found his writing uneven, so there's probably something for everyone.

I appreciate how everyone here has accepted me, along with my eccentric tastes in ..."

Jane, I don't think you are eccentric. I like your taste in books!

Thanks, Eileen.

We love variety around here. Eccentric tastes, unique views or the mainstream....all accepted!! Even Jane. :)

Thanks, Dawn.

Jane has steered me right a couple of times now.

See Jane - if you are eccentric, you've come to the right place!

Justin wrote: "Jane has steered me right a couple of times now."

I'm pretty sure I've gotten a few good ideas from Jane as well.
I get too many ideas from too many people, that's why my TBR has made it over 1000. Still haven't quite made it to a Pressfield book though. (Just so this looks like we're on topic)! :)

Goodness, my tbr's pretty sick then; only 300+. :)

I've gotten many good ideas from Jane. I'm reading one right now. And to follow Dawn's example of staying on topic....I recently received The Afghan Campaign in the mail. Another one recommended by Jane that I plan on reading soon.:)

Peter wrote: "Well thanks to everyone for supporting the dissenter. I did not want to be just a spoiler, I have my own reasons for not liking Gates of Fire and I accept that they are purely mine.

That said, I h..."

I have The Afghan Campaign teed up to put in a group read poll for early 2014. I nearly put it in this months Polls, but went with Christian Cameron's Alexander story instead, God of War.
So maybe you can experience the Afghan Campaign with some of us others. :) (if it wins the poll that is)

Justin wrote: "Jane has steered me right a couple of times now."

Me too.

Terri wrote: "I have The Afghan Campaign teed up to put in a group read poll for early 2014..."

I can't wait to vote for it!

Justin wrote: "Terri wrote: "I have The Afghan Campaign teed up to put in a group read poll for early 2014..."

I can't wait to vote for it!"

Same here. I going to put it on hold & see if it wins the poll.

Justin wrote: "Terri wrote: "I have The Afghan Campaign teed up to put in a group read poll for early 2014..."

I can't wait to vote for it!"

Even if it loses, I might reread; it's that good.

I've owned it (picked up a used hard cover at a local bookstore) for several months now, so the group read will be a good excuse to finally get to it.

I'll have to get it from the library again.

It will be in the January or February Poll. Depending on what wins this current poll. As I don't want to follow up with another Alexander book if Christian Cameron's book wins the December Polls.
So Jan or Feb. Pencil it into your voting schedule. :)