Book Description
Bestselling novelist Margaret George brings to life the glittering kingdom of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, in this luch, sweeping, and richly detailed saga. Told in Cleopatra's own voice, this is a mesmerizing tale of ambition, passion, and betrayl, which begins when the twenty-year-old queen seeks out the most powerful man in the world, Julius Caesar, and does not end until, having survived the assassination of Caesar and the defeat of the second man she loves, Marc Antony, she plots her own death rather than be paraded in triumph through the streets of Rome.Most of all, in its richness and authenticity, it is an irresistible story that reveals why Margaret George's work has been widely acclaimed as "the best kind of historical novel, one the reader can't wait to get lost in." (San Francisco Chronicle).
Customer Reviews:
BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!.......2007-10-09
I am an avid reader with a bordering obsession in Egyptology....Hands down my Favorite book of all time. A trully gifted Author, who's done her homework.. I could swear to you, I saw the world through Cleopatra's eyes while reading this Unbelievably DETAILED Novel....COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!!!!!!!! A Must !!!
History comes alive.......2007-08-27
The Memoirs of Cleopatra is a mammoth novel, both in size and scope. Crammed full of historical events, real-life characters and period detail, it breathes new life into the familiar story of the fabled Queen of Egypt.
The book revolves around a triumvirate of finely crafted characters: the ambitious Cleopatra, the aloof Caesar, and the vacillating Antony. While the tale occasionally bogs down under its sheer weight--I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep track of all the characters--it is nonetheless a riveting read.
Margaret George is a fine writer, skillfully depicting epic battles, palace intrigues, and tender intimacies. At times, as Cleopatra reflects upon her life or upon human nature, George's prose is profound and takes on the beauty of poetry.
I think this book would appeal to just about anyone who likes historical fiction. Don't let its size intimidate you.
Best Historical Novel EVER!!!!!!.......2007-08-16
"Memoirs of Cleopatra", by Margaret George, was by far one of the best books I have ever read, and I love books. I was constantly in emotional turmoil along with the character as she made her way through life. George has a great gift for making situations seem real. I felt as if I were actually in the room with Cleopatra as she held meetings, walked the palace, and best of all, had her intimate moments with the two great loves of her life, Ceasar and Marc Antony. I could hardly put the book down as I was enthralled by every detail. I even cried at the inevitable ending (I rarely cry from books), which I knew was coming and almomst dreaded it knowing the book would soon thereafter come to an end.
George really researched her facts well and made them seem as if everything actually happened, even the unknown gaps in Cleopatra's life. I learned a great deal and would never have learned so much from reading a textbook, simply because I would have fallen asleep. With this, I was constantly enthralled and was thinking about it even at work. I wanted to continually read it until I could read no more!
One note, I have read her other two books when I was younger, and, after reading this book at an older age, I feel as if these books would be best suited for older teens and up. The content is very saturated with facts and details that a younger reading may become lost with, let alone the love scenes may be a bit too much for young teens.
Overall, wonderful book by a wonderful author! I am currently re-reading "Henry VIII" and it is amazing!
Loved It.......2007-08-15
This 960 page book is truly outstanding. I have loved Cleopatra from the first time I read about her in grade school. This book gives you tons of visual images through the words of the author and a list of fact-checking sources in the back of the book (something very important to me).It is heart-breaking at times and even though most people know the way she died, it's still with dread that you turn those last few pages. But it's hard not to be in awe of Margaret for doing such a fantastic job. I highly recommend this book.
Intriguing Book.......2007-07-17
At first I was intimidated by the length of the book. I got past that once I opened it, it was a little long winded in the beginning but I somehow couldn't put it down and by the end was wishing it had a sequel.
Book Description
The final book in her series about the men who established Rome of the Emperors, The October Horse features Gaius Julius Caesar at the height of his stupendous career. When he becomes embroiled in a civil war between Egypt's King Ptolemy and Queen Cleopatra, he finds himself torn between the fascinations of a remarkable woman and his duty as a Roman. Though he must leave Cleopatra, she remains a force in his life as a lover and as the mother of his only son, who can never inherit Caesar's Roman mantle, and therefore cannot solve his father's greatest dilemma -- who will be Caesar's Roman heir?
A hero to all of Rome except to those among his colleagues who see his dictatorial powers as threats to the democratic system they prize so highly, Caesar is determined not to be worshiped as a god or crowned king. Swearing to bring him down, Caesar's enemies masquerade as friends and loyal supporters while they plot to destroy him. Caesar must die, they decide, for only when he is dead will Rome return to her old republican self.
Packed with battles, intrigue, love affairs, and murders, The October Horse hurtles toward the assassination, and onto the dangerous consequences of that act -- in which the very fate of Rome is at stake.
Download Description
"In her new book about the men who were instrumental in establishing the Rome of the Emperors, Colleen McCullough tells the story of a famous love affair and a man whose sheer ability could lead to only one end -- assassination. As The October Horse begins, Gaius Julius Caesar is at the height of his stupendous career. When he becomes embroiled in a civil war between Egypt's King Ptolemy and Queen Cleopatra, he finds himself torn between the fascinations of a remarkable woman and his duty as a Roman. Though he must leave Cleopatra, she remains a force in his life as a lover and as the mother of his only son, who can never inherit Caesar's Roman mantle, and therefore cannot solve his father's greatest dilemma -- who will be Caesar's Roman heir? A hero to all of Rome except to those among his colleagues who see his dictatorial powers as threats to the democratic system they prize so highly, Caesar is determined not to be worshiped as a god or crowned king, but his unique situation conspires to make it seem otherwise. Swearing to bring him down, Caesar's enemies masquerade as friends and loyal supporters while they plot to destroy him. Among them are his cousin and Master of the Horse, Mark Antony, feral and avaricious, priapic and impulsive; Gaius Trebonius, the nobody, who owes him everything; Gaius Cassius, eaten by jealousy; and the two Brutuses, his cousin Decimus, and Marcus, the son of his mistress Servilia, sad victim of his mother and of his uncle Cato, whose daughter he marries. All are in Caesar's debt, all have been raised to high positions, all are outraged by Caesar's autocracy. Caesar must die, they decide, for only when he is dead will Rome return to her old ways, her old republican self.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting and Absorbing .......2007-07-22
The October Horse is an interesting and absorbing book. I found myself engrossed in this well-crafted story. My only complaint is I expected to find a bit more of Cleopatra in the book. This novel made me even more curious about ancient Rome and get my hands on as many books related to the subject as possible.
how to decide a favorite?.......2007-07-06
This is the last book of the Masters of Rome series, and maybe the best, but it is so hard to decide. They are all exceptional and I strongly advise reading them from the first through to the last. I was lucky enough to have all of them on hand before beginning and went right through all 6 of them. What a treat!
But this last is probably my favorite for the way it brings Julius Caesar to life, from the most important and productive stages of his life, through the tragedy of his assasination and wrapping up the events immediately following the assasination: Antony and Cleopatra and the rise of Octavian/Augustus. I wanted the history to continue, but as Ms. McCullough writes in her author's notes, she had to stop somewhere or she would keep on forever!
I followed up this series by reading the recent biography by Adrian Goldsworthy called "Caesar". Another great book for anyone interested in a strict historical biography. Reading "Caesar", I was constantly amazed at the historical accuracy of Ms. McCullough's stories. She stayed with the truth while fleshing out the characters and bringing them to life. Mr. Goldsworthy makes positive mention of the Masters of Rome series in his epilogue, high praise indeed from an expert, scholarly historian of Ancient Rome. I found it a great treat to have read this series before tackling the long, dry biography. The memory of McCullough's wonderful books brought the real history to life!
Great Finish To An Outstanding Series.......2007-04-25
I'm a huge Julius Caesar fan, and have been ever since I first discovered him when I was in the seventh grade. The man was a true superstar. One of the most brilliant figures in history. Not only one of the greatest military leaders who ever lived, but also a consummate politician, gifted public speaker, and one of the greatest writers of latin prose ever. He excelled at everything he did. McCullough does an excellent job of portraying Caesar, and the other prominent players from the period of the decaying Roman Republic, in a way that makes their personalities and actions real and understandable. And they are all here: Cicero, Cato, Brutus, Cassius, Octavian, Labienus, Mark Antony, Cleopatra and all the rest. Caesar, however, is the star.
The writing is very good and McCullough's command of the actual history of the period is impeccable. She provides maps to help illustrate events. She has even sketched busts of the main characters which are, as far as possible, true to existing portraiture. She even explains her reasons for choices she makes in situations where the record is ambiguous or unclear. Her characters ring true. It's fiction because she invents conversations and conjures up personal incidents, but it is thoroughly researched and McCullough has full command of the factual material she is covering.
Sometimes, the writing is almost too real. As I approached Caesar's assassination, I knew perfectly well what was coming. Despite that knowledge, however, I found the hair on the back of my neck standing up straight as that brutal and tragic scene unfolded.
THE OCTOBER HORSE is the sixth and, regrettably, final book in McCullough's series about the life of Caesar and the collapse of the Roman Republic. The series is a long one, but it's well worth reading in it's entirety. It relates real events of genuinely epic proportions, and it is superbly done. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone. It is at least as entertaining as any fiction you'll ever read. Ten stars if I could give them.
Very good book.......2007-03-09
This is a very readable account of a period in history which has not been well doncumented in literature [other than glamorous and untrue accounts of Cleopatra]. It is well written with just the right amount of dramatic action involved in what could have been a dusty history. It is a good value at the price and a book that one will read again and again.
Historical fiction that reads as if history is happening.......2006-12-10
In the culminating novel of her series depicting the collapse of the Roman Republic, Colleen McCullough details the events from the end of the war between Gaius Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, through Caesar's defeating all other opposition, to his own assassination in Rome in 45 BC, to the battles of Philippi that ended the first phase of the civil wars and set the stage for the rise of Augustus and the Empire. "A kingdom for a stage, princes to act, and monarchs to behold the swelling scene" as Shakespeare said in a different context...
As with its predecessors starting with "The First Man in Rome", McCullough's novel is exquisitely detailed, little pieces of everyday Roman life falling into place with the larger scenes to move the plot forward; likewise, the action happens so convincingly that the reader can believe it is happening as it is being read- so that even though we all know Caesar died on that fateful Ides of March in 45 BC, the narration can keep us hoping something will change, something will intervene.
If this tale and its predecessors have a fault, it is that Caesar doesn't have one. It's clear, starting three volumes back with "Fortune's Favorites" that McCullough is an unabashed Caesar-fancier, and the books from that point on are definitely biased in his direction. While Cato, Caesar's perpetual adversary, has a reputation for incorruptibility but is portrayed as narrow, inflexible, small-minded and unyielding, many of the same charges could be laid at Caesar's door - except that he is the hero of the story, so what are faults in Cato's case are strengths or virtues for Caesar. Which doesn't make the story any less fun to read. Caesar was one of the seminal political figures of his age as well as one of the great military minds, and anything that brings him into a closer perspective is worth reading.
Book Description
Colleen McCullough's track record in publishing reads like Caesar's triumphs in battlewide-ranging in scope, masterful in style, unequaled in achievement. From her almost twelve-million-copy-selling Thorn Birds through her four novels in the Masters of Rome series, McCullough has never faltered.
Here she turns her attentions to Caesar's conquest of Gaul and to his momentous decision at the river Rubicon to claim his place in the government of Rome. At a time that preceded the technology of any firearm, when military acumen, strategy, and leadership were all, it was Caesar's genius that prevailed, over and over. What Caesar accomplished in Gaul is the stuff of historical epic, of military academies, and of this novel. He was utterly awesome. Yet history forgets that Caesar was also a man, not immune to the human condition. He succeeded brilliantly, but he also suffered great personal grief and disappointment. It is the full portrait of Caesar, a man destined to inspire an empire, that Colleen McCullough paints here--faithfully, magnificently, and in radiant light.
"McCullough is on fire.... Caesar is one of her strongest and most fascinating characters."San Francisco Chronicle
Customer Reviews:
More of the same.......2006-09-23
If you're familiar with McCullough's books, than you know what to expect. "Caeser" has the same qualities and faults of her other works. If this is your first McCullough "Roman" novel, then be warned: she seems to receive praise beyond her due.
As always, the research involved is impressive but the writing can be weak. What bothered me about this particular volume was the flatness of the characters. Caesar is (as one can guess from the title) the object of attention and he is perfect beyond believability: a towering genius awash in a sea of incompetence and stupidity. Only Caeser can do anything right. He sees all, knows all, and can second-guess every maneuver of every enemy. Hero worship doesn't make for good reading.
I was especially disappointed by the handling of Vercingetorix (I actually bought the book to read about him, not Caeser). He has the potential to be made into such an interesting character but, alas, McCullough simple uses him as a shabby mirror to reflect Caeser's perfection. Vercingetorix is portrayed as a foolish hothead; a rabid Gallic nationalist with little else to him. Even Vercingetorix begins to take on sycophantic tendencies as he comes to worship Caeser.
The only reason I give this three stars is because the writing has improved from the Soap/Toga Opera that was "Fortune's Favorites" (I didn't even bother with "Caeser's Women). This will probably be the last McCullough book I ever read.
Not my favorite McCullough book in the series.......2006-05-30
I didn't find this as interesting as The First Man in Rome. That's probably because of the subject matter. I love historical fiction, but I prefer it to be more on the lifestyle side than the battle side and since this book concentrated on that part of Caesar's life where he became the Caesar then it is heavily weighted toward the telling of battles and history of war.
But don't get me wrong, the book still paints such a vivid picture of Rome and Roman times that it's a good read.
My star ratings:
One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five stars - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.
Caesar: A Complex Perfectionist.......2006-01-12
Colleen McCullough's Master of Rome series, includes 6 books, with Caesar being the fifth in the series. Her work can truthfully be called epic, both in scope and historical accuracy. What McCullough has done, is to create out of the dry and often boring tomes about Caesar and the attendant fall of the Republic, a vivid, absorbing and highly entertaining set of books.
The settings span Rome, Germany, Gaul of the Long Hairs and what was known as Africa Province, which included Egypt. The hand drawn maps included in each book, aid the reader in placing the action and locations of the known parts of the countries, either under Roman rule or at war during this turbulent part of Roman history.
The characters, who for the most part are genuine historical figures, spring to life, under McCullough's deft hand.
Gaius Julius Caesar: A man in his prime and at the peak of his powers. He is a perfectionist, who values his dignitas more than life itself. A superb general, wily politician and possessed of a mind bordering on genius, Caesar is hated by a small group-the Boni (good men) for all of his vast abilities. Continually impeded and frustrated by them, he is finally forced to do the unthinkable-cross the Rubicon, and enter Roman lands with military force.
Pompeius: Allied once to Caesar, by marriage to Caesar's beloved daughter Julia, he has become enmeshed in the Boni's plotting to bring Caesar down. Arrogant, selfish, cunning and jealous of Caesar's outstanding successes in the conquering of Gaul, he obtains a Consultatum Ultimatum, which was as close to Dictator as a Picentine upstart was going to get.
Marcus Portius Cato: A moral man, so filled with fears, phobias and a strident hate for Caesar, he continues to obstruct him in everything he does. McCullough's thorough and deep portrait of Cato, shows her continuing refusal to take the easy way out and paint her antagonist in monochromatic shades.
Quintus Cicero: Younger brother of the famed orator Cicero, Caesars ally and beloved friend. Throughout the long grueling campaign in Gaul, Quintus Cicero grows to love, respect and admire his general. His loyalty in the face of his wife Terentia's and his famed elder brother's hatred of Caesar, is simply awesome.
Marcus Antonius: Marcus is a very shallow seeming and pleasure loving man, perhaps a bit too fond of wine. Yet when ordered to accompany Caesar to Gaul, he shows the inner strength and discipline to carry himself well in battle.
Brutus: His heart shattered by Caesar when his betrothal to Julia was broken, is a weak and ineffectual man. Cowed from a very young age by Servillia, his mother, who is Caesar's lover, he is a lost soul. Forbidden by Servillia when young, from seeing his Uncle Cato, when finally freed by the breaking of his engagement, he begins a long slide into destruction amongst the Boni. He is his Uncle Cato's man to the bitter end.
There is something for everyone in the book: politics, greed, ambition, military tactics that are nothing short of amazing, and underneath all, the relentless driving nature of the man called Caesar. The irony here is of a man who wanted so badly to be given his due, who wanted to work with, not against his opponents, who refused to repeat the proscriptions and murder done by his predecessors, and yet received nothing but opprobrium and hate for his pains.
McCullough demonstrates a keen understanding of human nature, and how often we seek to destroy the truly excellent men of our times, yet celebrate the villains. Her scholarship and research on the Roman military and its tactics shows throughout the series, but particularly in Caesar.
This is McCullough's Magnum Opus, and she should be lauded for bringing history to life, in a way that very very few are able to do. If you want a true appreciation of the work and care that went into creating the Master's Of Rome series, start with the first book: First Man In Rome, and read them all. I promise you, it's time well spent, and makes for simply wonderful reading.
Difficult, awkward style, but good storytelling.......2005-12-29
This is the fifth in a series of books that is both engrossing and sometimes...a trial of my patience.
Let me begin by saying that, as far as the political implications of the story in the context of today's world, or the accuracy of the historical minutiae, or the artistic greatness of the book, I will make no comments at all. I didn't read these books for any of those reasons. I read them simply for fun. When and where they were fun to read, I was satisfied. Nor did I expect to find fully fleshed-out, believable, or (I say this with a scoff), "accurate" characters. We know so very little about what ANY of these people were really like that (if you ask me) no one knows just what kind of a man Caesar or Antony or Pompey was. And considering the number of characters in each book, it would be foolish to expect that more than a handful of them would become more than stage props.
So far, I've read "First Man in Rome," "The Grass Crown," and "Caesar." I read "First Man" and then "Caesar" and I'm glad I did, or I might have quit. Because "The Grass Crown" has been the weakest so far.
The reason is that, although McCullough is for the most part an excellent storyteller, her style of writing can be difficult, even downright annoying. For instance, her characters are constantly grinning. Grinning, grinning, grinning. It's a word she uses so much that you can't help but stumble on it every time you see it (and this can be several times in a given page).
A good author should rarely, if ever, need to describe a character's expression, especially, as is usually the case in these books, the grin occurs as part of a dialogue. If the dialogue itself doesn't tell the reader what the speaker's expression would be, then the dialogue should be rewritten. (It seems hard to believe that an author with as much experience as McCullough would not recognize this. That leads me to wonder whether these books were edited, or whether we're reading what amount to rough drafts.)
She has other quirks. She feels compelled to describe characters' teeth, and they're always either dazzlingly white, or large and yellow. Eyes are always "luminous." This is especially true if a character is described as otherwise homely. She frequently goes even further to describe flecks of yellow in green eyes, or--another favorite--blue eyes that are ringed with a darker blue it's almost black.
My thoughts on this kind of detail are that you shouldn't harp on a particular character's appearance in detail unless it's important to the story or the theme. Yes, we need to know what Cato looked like. His very appearance reflects his personality. But when every single one of the countless characters are templated with either great or rotten teeth, and large, luminous eyes, the detail becomes a meaningless blur.
There are many other examples I could cite of the author's bad habits, but rather than dump out all of my pet peeves, I'll let these few examples suffice.
These little tics of the writer don't destroy the narrative, but they damage the flow and rhythm. There are times when I'm tempted to start skipping ahead, because between all of the grinning and the bad teeth and the flecked eyes, I lose my train of thought.
There are the other, usual problems associated with historical fiction. Long stretches of the book are really just historical exposition thinly concealed as dialogue. Such as, "As you know, Claudius, the Romans expelled the kings in blah blah blah." It's unavoidable for an author who expects a publisher to present a book to a mass audience. In general, McCullough handles these expositions fairly well, not going into too much dry detail, or too much at one time.
Overall, this book fares better than the other two I've read. In the first two, perhaps McCullough hadn't yet fully found her way; or maybe it's just that she had what were really a bunch of different stories to tell, so none of them really shined. Here, the focus is primarily on Caesar, and primarily on his campaigns in Gaul, and later fighting against Pompey. McCullough is at her very best here, and she brushes with storytelling greatness. The style continues to stumble, but the narrative of just how Caesar pacified Gaul is mostly excellent. There are a few times when, after exhaustive detail, the author sort of waves a magic wand and says, "And then this whole other large region was conquered, yada yada." But I have a far, far better understanding of what happened in Gaul than I did before reading the book. And the handful of illustrations were flawlessly done. (Whether they're historically accurate is another matter. They fit the story told by McCullough perfectly.)
One other minor quibble is that the maps McCullough provides are excellent, but especially in the paperback editions, the text is so tiny that even a magnifying glass barely makes it readable. Frustrating! And large parts of the maps disappear in the page gutters. Even in the hardbound editions, the text is far too small; the mapmaker clearly didn't think about what size the maps would be in the final printed edition, or the effect of the gutters. But then, the text of the book itself is so small in the paperbacks that I've decided that the ones I like will be replaced by hardbound editions.
It's a shame that this book, and the others in the series, didn't get better attention from an editor. The publishing world today tends to make editing an afterthought, or it's left up to the author. Few authors can serve as their own editor, so I'm not being unduly harsh on McCullough. She wrote a good 5000 pages for this series of books. It would be a bit much to expect her to have fully edited them all as well. So the quirks and tics in her style I pin on the publisher. And if someone else did edit these books...he needs to go back to editing school.
To Cross or Not to Cross that is the Question........2005-12-26
Ms McCullough has done a deep historical research in order to write her "Roman Saga" started with "The First Man in Rome" (1990), continued with "The Grass Crown" (1991), "Fortune's Favorites" (1993), "Caesar's Women" (1995) and "Caesar" (1999).
She delivers an accurate picture of the late Roman Republic, bringing to life historically characters with amazing detail.
The author follows and reveals step by step all the intricacies of that rich and complex era.
Does this mean that the book is boring? By no means, Ms McCullough is able to show daily life, dressing, feeding, religious rituals, political and social structures in a magnificent fresco and at the same time construct an engaging story that will trap the reader for hours.
The present volume starts in the year 54 BC when Caesar is in Britain and receives notice of the death of his daughter Julia. Immediately his friendship with Pompeius Magnus starts to deteriorate. The Boni jump to the golden opportunity of enrolling Pompeius and turn him against Julius Caesar.
The author follows the great Gaul Revolt and the Civil War that erupted against Caesar's will.
There are also vivid descriptions of Clodius murder, Curio's allegiance to Caesar, Octavius drawing Caesar's attention and the start of Marc Anthony's ascent.
Last but not least the author has drawn beautiful busts of the main characters; detailed maps of different ancient scenarios where action takes place and very complete glossary.
I advise reading the first volumes of the series, but even if you don't do it, you may start here and consider it as a standalone volume.
I strongly recommend this book to any serious history aficionado!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Average customer rating:
- Very good magazine!
- Another "trouble in the village" episode
- Asterix and Caesar's Gift
- Caesar sets a cat among the pigeons...
- Not the best...
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Asterix and Caesar's Gift (Asterix)
Rene Goscinny
Manufacturer: Orion
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ASIN: 075286646X |
Book Description
When Caesar offers a gift, be suspicious...very suspicious. Upon his release from the Roman Army, Tremensdelirius gets the deed to Asterix's little Gaulish village. But he swaps it for a drink in the tavern--and soon the owner and his family are off to claim their prize. What's going to happen? Surprisingly, Asterix has a different view of the situation than his friends.
Customer Reviews:
Very good magazine!.......2007-05-14
One of those adventures you enjoy reading, fun for any kid or adult.
Another "trouble in the village" episode.......2007-03-05
Rene Goscinny, Asterix and Caesar's Gift (Dargaud, 1972)
Caesar deeds our favorite Gaulish village to a retiring drunkard of a soldier, who trades it to a Lutetian for a meal and an amphora. Said Lutetian goes to said village and sets himself up as the new leader. Tension abounds. I'm fondest of Goscinny when he's doing this sort of thing-- looking at the way civilization breaks down when outside influences appear (viz. Asterix and the Roman Agent), especially given Uderzo's rather stereotypical drawing style when it comes to certain ethnic minorities that pop up now and again... ***
Asterix and Caesar's Gift.......2007-02-05
"Asterix and Caesar's Gift" (1974) is Asterix #21 It's fairly good. Worth a look for fans of characters in the village like Geriatrix and Vitalstatistix.
Julius Caesar gives his troops a plot of land if they give 20 years of work to his army. Julius has overheard that one man up for retirement doesn't like him, so Julius gives him a deed to land he hasn't conquered yet, Vitalstatistix's Gaulish village. Man can't be bothered going all the way up to the corner of Gaul, so he sells his plot for some beer to a tavern keeper, who goes with his family to claim the village. Challenges and chaos follow in the village...
Caesar sets a cat among the pigeons..........2002-12-30
After a drunken Legionnaire is heard making insulting remarks about Julius Caesar, Caesar decides to give him a present-which he in turn sells to a Gaullish Innkeeper for a meal and some drinks.
The innkeeper, Orthopaedix, comes to the village, we know so well, with his wife and daughter, setting in chain a breakdown of cohesion there, as a dispute over the Chieftainship of the village, Obelix falling in love, and the refusal of Druid Getafix to make magic potion makes for another rollicking Asterix adventure.
Once more, a lot of fun.
Not the best..........2001-01-20
Well, its Asterix, so of course its wonderful. It certainly is not the best one, though. Rome has a new tack for conquering the village, one that causes even more dissension then usual. The addition of a rather annoying girl who seems to wrap all of the men around her finger is a sorry newcomer who just doesnt live up to the normally delightful characters. Of course it has all of the elements that make Astrix wonderful, and it is true no collection would be complete without it.
Average customer rating:
- Forget these new Myth books
- Something's mything
- New format
- Wait!
- Back to the Drawing Board
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Myth-Told Tales
Robert Asprin , and
Jody Lynn Nye
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Myth-Gotten Gains (Myth Adventures)
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Myth Alliances (Myth Adventures)
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Class Dis-Mythed (Myth Adventures)
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Myth-Taken Identity (Myth Adventures series)
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Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. (Robert Asprin's Myth)
ASIN: 0441014860 |
Product Description
Juvenile Delinquency
Customer Reviews:
Forget these new Myth books.......2007-05-17
These new Myth books are pure garbage. Readers are better off reading the original series and completly disregard these co-authored pap.
Something's mything.......2007-04-11
Asprin, now with a co-author, presents a set of short stories set in the world of "Another Fine Myth." Skeeve, the central character of the early books in this series, is absent from all but a few of these shorts. Instead most of the stories are told first-person by one of the other characters, including Ahhz the Pervect (that's -ect, not -ert) and even Gleep. The stories are all amusing, and I found Nye's collaboration with Asprin to be quite seamless.
The freshness seems to be off the almost-30-year-old series, though. The stories are all amusing enough individually, but something seemed missing as I read them. I finally realized that the authors had gone just a little too far into their made-up world, and assumed that the reader was just as familiar with the settings and characters as they are. In order to get the humor fully, the reader needs to remember a lot that was laid out in previous volumes, particulary the development of the characters. As a result, it's not particularly friendly to the first-time reader or to the reader, like me, who last read one of these books at least a decade ago.
I recommend this to any fan who wants to return to Klah and all the other dimensions of this magical world. Readers unfamiliar with the series should begin at the beginning, though.
//wiredweird
New format.......2007-04-10
With this induction into the Myth series, the author/s have changed into a short story compilation rather than a long story. There's really not much difference between the short story format and the longer single story format style of book except the short stories are "the-quick-story-to-solve-the-mystery" rather than the longer "could-have-been-30-pages-but-here's-some-fluff-filler-material-that-really-has-no-importance-or-bearing-on-the-actual-story". Asprin started doing this in the later Myth books and it was discouraging to read them for that reason. However, being a fairly loyal reader, I still read them. I missed getting the "Class Dis-mythed" book but this one is definitely better than the two-books-ago one I read. While I am a fan of the series, maybe I'm just getting too old for them to fully enjoy them. As short stories, certainly worth checking out for stories from different characters. As always, the stories are told from first person. Here's the rundown:
1. Bunny has to enter a beauty contest and needs Skeeve's help.
2. Massha and General Badaxe wedding with trouble amiss.
3. Side adventure starring Pookie and Spyder.
4. Chumley, Tananda, and Guido must stop some racketeering at the Bazaar of Deva.
5. Aahz, Nunzio, and Gleep have to help out a princess-fox hunt.
6. Gleep's first person story of ongoing robberies at the King-Mart.
7. Aahz & Skeeve are whisked to Dreamland.
8. Tananda is actually on an assassination contract.
9. And Skeeve considers coming out of retirement when his unicorn Buttercup gets depressed. (pretty blatant political commentary here)
Overall, enjoyable but forced. Again, maybe I'm just getting too old to fully enjoy them anymore. Worth reading for the loyal fan and if you prefer short stories. These were all more direct and to the point mysteries ranging from 15-30 pages a chapter.
Wait! .......2006-07-03
I haven't gotten this book yet! I have Myth Alliances --
Back to the Drawing Board.......2005-03-10
The first four books contained a solid, workable formula. Two characters we genuinely cared about. I miss them, and I want more of them. Everyone I've ever talked to about the MYTH books feels the same. Secondary characters like Guido, Nunzio and Spyder, while they get a lot of play these days, just aren't grabbing us the way Aahz and Skeeve used to. They're one trick ponies, and the trick's been drilled to death, whereas I don't think the possibilities of the original characters have begun to exhaust themselves yet.
There's still potential here, but I can't help wishing a really decent editor would analyze this and come to the same conclusions the fans have.
Book Description
In 48 B.C., Roman generals Caesar and Pompey have long engaged in a battle to rule the world. Now, as Pompey plots a reckless stand on the banks of the Nile, Gordianus the Finder-who has brought his wife Bethesda to the river seeking a cure for her in its sacred waters-finds himself suddenly at the heart of a series of treacherous and history-altering events.While Caesar and Cleopatra embark on a legendary romance, Egypt remains ravaged by the brutal contest between the Queen and her brother King Ptolemy. Worst of all for Gordianus, his once-disowned son and Caesar's right-hand man, stands falsely accused of murder. Caesar's judgment will decide Meto's fate, and it is up to Gordianus to somehow overcome colossal malevolent forces to reveal the carefully obscured truth and spare his son's life.
Customer Reviews:
Pleased to be reacquainted with this great writer.......2006-12-23
The last time I read a book by Steven Saylor was "Venus Throw" in the mid 1990's. Saylor's books are easy to read and very entertaining.
Writing about ancient Egypt is always fascinating, and even more when Cleopatra and Julius Caesar are part of the plot. Saylor describes Cleopatra in such a convincing way that it would make any man straight.
Gordianus the Finder, the main character, is especially charismatic. The story is told by the same character, always in the first person, so the book takes a personal, intimate tone from the beginning to the end. The plot intensifies when Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy throw a dinner party to honor Caesar. Caesar's judgment takes place in the midst of the festivities and still entangled in this irresistible love triangle!
Leave it to Saylor to make an indirect reference to Harmodias and Aristogiton. I think he's one of the few authors who make reference to all the famous male couples in history.
(I think he mentioned Alexander and Hephaistion in another book, but can't remember which one).
The beginning of chapter XXXI is a good example of Saylor style. Gordianus complaints to Cleopatra about the stench of the Nile River:
"There's nothing beautiful about the Nile. It's fetid, smelly, dark and dank! The Nile brings death!"
And Cleopatra replies:
"Yet it brings life! Some men make the same complaints about the sacred delta between a woman's legs. And yet, from that place comes new life. Silly men, turning up your noses at the slippery fluids and strong odors of fertility!
You'd rather play with your hard, shiny swords and spears, and watch the blood spurt from each other's wounds!"
I laughed when I read that passage. Sexuality expressed so bluntly and so subtle at the same time.
Finally, I would like to say that it Saylor is an exceptional writer, and I am looking forward to read "Roma."
Saylor's best in the Roma Sub Rosa series!.......2006-11-06
Having read most of Saylor's novels in this series, and being a die-hard romantic, I was left biting my nails after finishing "A Mist of Prophecies," and needed to find out what happens to Gordianus the Finder's dearly beloved wife, and will she find in Egypt the life-saving cure she is seeking ... or I shall be aflicted with agita for years to come. So,I was glad to get this one into my eager little hands.
Without further ado, and getting into long descriptions of the plot since others here have already done so, let me only blare my opinion to all and sundry:
The Judgment of Ceasar is Steven Saylot's BEST novel in the Roma Subrosa Series!
Engaging and Thoughtful "Roman des Romans".......2006-06-28
I very much liked Steven Saylor's writing - the initial chapter
describing an encounter with a storm at sea off Alexandria
gripped me, and provoked my own visual images, much more
effectively than most such descriptive writing does in
adulthood. There are a number of books, indeed series,
that put detective stories in a Roman setting, and the
overall standard is quite strong. This one however is
a bit ahead of the pack in terms of unquestionable, although
not slavishly used, scholarly background, and emotional insight.
I will immediately look for other titles by the same author,
who was unknown to me before this book. For those who have
seen the excellent HBO series "Rome", you will wonder if the
writers on that series had read this book - although I am
suggesting inspiration not plagiarism, and I am not sure
the date of publication would have made it possible for
there to be any cross-fertilization. However the book
does focus on the same period as Rome Series 1, and the
same struggle between Pompey and Caesar as a plot driver.
The long and winding road.......2006-05-04
Together with his characters, Saylor has developped, and remarkably so. Clearly, his style has become very fluent, almost easy, particularly when compared to the elaborate academic prose marking the first ones.
There is little mystery by now, if there ever was much of it in the series, which is fair enough. The author decides how to write the novel after all. I like him being engaged in the matter of bringing antiquity to a wide audience.
In this last novel, I found two matters most disturbing: Gordianus has now almost taken over the role of a court joker. It is too far fetched that he would be able to meet that many prominent figures at such ease and candour. Had he indeed spoken as he is pictured as having done e.g. to the Egyptian royals, I sincerely doubt he would have survived for very long. I don't really think they would have bothered to listen. Moreover, I have great difficulties in seeing a Roman pater familias as such an idealised, very "US-American WASP head of family" (used in a non-derogatory sense here). Ever forgiving, fully accepting unruly slaves, and adultery, and renouncing his disowning Meto all appear as highly anachronistic notions. I have to agree with Ilse Frederiksen, it is so 1950s.
Still, since the historical novel almost is anachronistic by definition, I shouldn't blame Saylor too much, perhaps.
From my point of view, it's just tedious, though.
Cleopatra, Caesar and Gordianus: a fun threesome.......2006-04-10
'The Judgment of Caesar' is the latest of many historical novels by Steven Saylor involving his ancient Roman sleuth, Gordianus. By now we know Gordianus quite well, and now we are entertained by having Gordianus caught up in mischief, mayhem and murder in ancient Alexandria. Emperor Caesar also has issues with a sibling rivalry between Cleopatra and her younger brother. Caesar ultimately decides which of the siblings would actually rule Eygpt. While we all know the outcome I found the entire story to be very engaging. Saylor does a great job weaving in Gordianus, thus seamlessly blending in fiction into the non-fiction.
My only complaint with the story is the "cutesiness" of Gordianus and his family. Earlier Saylor novels portrayed the family as individuals with backbone. However they now have gone spineless and syrupy sweet. I suggest Saylor goes back to his old ways.
Bottom line: a fast, fun and educational read. Recommended.
Book Description
Drawing on such unique sources as Thornton Wilder's unpublished letters, journals, and selections from the extensive annotations Wilder made years later in the margins of the book, Tappan Wilder's Afterword adds a special dimension to the reissue of this internationally acclaimed novel.
The Ides of March, first published in 1948, is a brilliant epistolary novel set in Julius Caesar's Rome. Thornton Wilder called it "a fantasia on certain events and persons of the last days of the Roman republic." Through vividly imagined letters and documents, Wilder brings to life a dramatic period of world history and one of history's most magnetic, elusive personalities.
In this inventive narrative, the Caesar of history becomes Caesar the human being. Wilder also resurrects the controversial figures surrounding Caesar -- Cleopatra, Catullus, Cicero, and others. All Rome comes crowding through these pages -- the Rome of villas and slums, beautiful women and brawling youths, spies and assassins.
Customer Reviews:
Caesar's last months.......2006-11-27
The structure of this novel, made up of letters written by different persons, allows us to examine Julius Caesar from multiple points of view. Undoubtedly a man of enormous energy, ambition, intelligence and the will to exercise power, Caesar is different things to different observers. Dictator, traitor, military genius, great politician, depraved soul. Who exactly is Caesar? Through family and political gossip, a tight web is being formed around this titan of history, until the final stabbing in the Senate. A fascinating counterfactual question is: What would have happened had Caesar survived the attack? But he didn't and civil war ensued, ending with the death of the Roman Republic and the beginning of Empire. Some of the best parts of the novel are Caesar's own letters, especially those adressed to Lucius Mamillius Turrinus, where Caesar develops his views on politics, power, and government, as observed by a natural born leader, a ruler of soldiers and politicians; a vain and authoritarian man, but also extremely conscious of his mortal human nature -he was exasperated by omens and superstition- as well as of the immense responsaibility that power brings upon rulers. Jumping in time, this novel takes us by the hand towards the tragic end of one of the most important and enigmatic characters of history.
Fascinating novel about Caesar.......2006-07-17
This excellent novel, Wilder's masterpiece, is set during the last 17 years in the life of Julius Caesar in Rome. In it he attempts to answer the following: "What sort of person was Caesar and why was he assassinated?" Told mainly through letters and documents of people who knew him, from the famous - Cleopatra, Catallus, Cicero, Brutus - to the lesser known - Cytheris, an actress; Turrinus, a friend; Cornelius Nepos, a political observer - and including such sources as Caesar's commonplace book and journal, broadsides, and various official memoranda, Wilder creates a brilliant picture of the man and the people who surround him. We learn of Caesar's great love for Rome, but his disdain for those who populate her. In a magnificent observation by his physician Sosthenes, he says, "Caesar does not love, nor does he inspire love. He diffuses an equable glow of ordered good will, a passionless energy that creates without fever, and which expands itself without self-examination or self-doubt....I could not love him and I never leave his presence without relief." Those few sentences speak volumes. We see in Caesar's own (private) letters how different the public figure (lofty, dictatorial, the great warrior) is from the private man (amused by human folly, lonely, sensitive to those who have been injured by life's cruelties). Yet the book is not just a history lesson, despite its appearance, but a moving novel that builds masterfully to a stunning climax on the Ides of March with his murder. The book is truly magnificent, filled with much insight into human motivation and observation. Definitely worth looking into.
A 1950's Book, set in 44 BC, and perfect for 2006.......2006-02-21
The year? 44BC. The secret police are rifling through an artist's dresser. An emperor's mistress from the Middle East has come to pay him a visit in Rome. Soldiers are mobilizing for another assault on Persia. Senators are plotting against Caesar. His scatterbrained wife is worried about dresses while the great Cleopatra plays her for a fool. Poetry, assaults, poisonings, decadant parties, price fixing, and intregue. We all already know about ancient Rome. The question is, how could Thornton Wilder predict 2006. Ah, the more things change... the more they stay the same. What a fun read for the average guy, like me!
A unique historical novel of the last year of Julis Caesar.......2004-03-26
I think most people know the story of Julius Caesar's death: stabbed 23 times on March 15th during a session of the Senate. What Thornton Wilder has done with his novel is to give the reader a glimpse in to the human side of Caesar, through journal entries and correspondence from him and those surrounding him. We learn of the statesman, who tries his best to govern his people; of his "divinity" and his tolerance of the belief in gods and goddesses; of the family man living in a tepid marriage with his wife Pompeia; and of his attraction to intellectuals, whether if be the poet Catullus, whose poetry he highly regards even if it mocks him, and the beautfiul Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, whom he considers almost an equal in terms of ability to rule. Wilder also lets us in on public opinion concerning the Dictator, as Caesar was also known, through intercepted correspondence of Clodia Pulcher and others. Caesar becomes more of a human figure in the hands of Wilder. He has his foibles and his share of indecisions, just like any other person. He also tries to do what he believes to be the right thing in terms of treating others. A unique historical novel.
A different historical novel.......2003-01-25
Contrary to what we could think, this novel is not dedicated to Julius Caesar's death, as Shakespeare did in his tragedy. It does not talk about his life, either. It just tells us about his last eight months.
He does it with a tecnique different from tradicional historical novel from the XIXth century and it's different, too, from the pseudo-memories, which is the favourite form of historical novel in the XXth century. Thornton Wilder prefers to juxtapose in four books a series of documents from different sources: letters, political pamphlets, inscriptions, poetry... He does not follow a chronological order but, as a kind of consecutive focusing, each book starts before and ends later than the previous one. And the very core, the central point, is September 45 BC, when an attempt against Julius Caesar's life was made. This way of telling the story is very pleasant but it asks a little effort from the reader to organize those materials in his mind.
Anyway, Thornton Wilder is not strictly historical, and he tells us beforehand. Some events happened years before 45 or 44, some characters were already dead. I think he does not really want to talk about Caesar or his time. He prefers to talk about loneliness: of a ruler that can trust no one, of man in front os his own mortality, of the absence of gods (lived not dramatically but with no consequence, either).
In the last part of the book I think he tells exactly what he's worried about: the mistery of life is very huge. It's so big that we have not a definitive idea about it, is life good or bad? tidy or chaotic? To sum it up, has it got any sense at all?
It looks as if Caesar was only worried about posthumous glory, the way future generations were going to remember him. It sounds a very poor reward, but it is more that what the majority of us will achieve.
I liked some femenine portrays in this book. Not Cleopatra or Clodia Pulcher, the first one is a mistery in herself (a Greek princess in an Egyptian kingdom), the second one so evilishly depicted by Catullus poetry that we could never get what she really was. The great women are the Roman matrons, the ones that had such a big influence in the Roman Republic, and the respect towards them as the real shadow cabinet.
Why should anyone read this book? Because it's very entertaining and you could learn some philosophy and a little bit (not too much, really) history.
Book Description
Rome's Vengeance
In the year A.D. 9, three Roman Legions under Quintilius Varus were betrayed by the Germanic war chief, Arminius, and then destroyed in the forest known as Teutoburger Wald. Six years later, Rome is finally ready to unleash Her vengeance on the barbarians. The Emperor Tiberius has sent Germanicus Caesar, his adopted son, into Germania with an army of 40,000 legionaries. They come not on a mission of conquest, but one of annihilation. With them is a young Legionary named Artorius. For him, the war is a personal vendetta-a chance to avenge his brother, who was killed in Teutoburger Wald.
In Germania, Arminius knows the Romans are coming. He realizes that the only way to fight the Romans is through deceit, cunning, and plenty of well-placed brute force. In truth, he is leery of Germanicus, knowing that he was trained to be a master of war by the Emperor himself.
The entire Roman Empire held its breath as Germanicus and Arminius faced each other in what would become the most brutal and savage campaign the world had seen in a generation; a campaign that could only end in a holocaust of fire and blood.
Customer Reviews:
Written by a Professional Soldier about Ancient Professional Soldiers.......2007-09-23
I'll be blunt; I loved this book. James Mace can write and he knows how to tell an accurate fictional story of a soldier in the world's first professional standing army.
Mace has done his research as well as consulting with professional historical re-enactors such as the United Kingdom's Ermine Street Guard and Legio VI Ferrata based out of South Carolina.
The basis of this story in based on the actual campaigns of Germanicus as written by Tacitus. In addition, he is one of the first writers to perhaps accurately portray the Emperor Tiberius in a much more positive light than generally accepted.
Mace's own personal experiences as a combat vet and professional soldier allows for a great real feel into his combat sequences as well as the day to day routine that all professional soldiers face.
If you liked Simon Scarow's Eagles series or Altimari, you will love this book.
Good Yarn; Lousy Editing.......2007-07-24
This gets three stars; it is a good story that deserves better; but there are problems.
What the book lacked was a good proof-reader/editor. Throughout, it contains numerous basic grammer school errors that detracted from the tale: "site" when the proper word is "sight"; "route" when the author meant "rout" (Chapter 22); "waive" instead of "wave". And measurements in meters--in ancient Rome? Never! (The metric system was a product of the French Revolution.) The words "soldier" and "legionary" should not be capitalized. Unfortunately, none of these can be written off as typos--they occurred consistently throughout the book.
It is really too bad, because it IS a good story, but these irritating mistakes were simply too distracting to ignore.
Brief overview of a soldier of Rome.......2007-07-07
Soldier of Rome: The Legionary: A novel of the Twentieth Legion during the campaigns of Germanicus CaesarNot written in a coherent fashion but rather rambling.It loses its way in time & space.Readers will feel a little of the training & warfare of the era.Poorly proof read with many errors.
best legionary .......2007-06-08
This is the best book that I have ever read about the legions of Rome. The story of a legionary, followed through his training and his participation in actual battles, was very authentic. I am a Roman Historian and most books follow the Generals..... this follows the followers.... I would highly recommend it.
Pure Testosterone!.......2007-02-14
I was originally drawn to this book for its historical perspective but once I started turning the pages I literally did not want to stop until I was finished. The descriptive ability of this author in regards to the trials and tribulations of the main character and his quest to "do his duty" is simply perfection. I felt as if I was engaging in training combat in the beginning and I felt the adrenalin surge hit me when the opposing armies clashed for the climax. For 300 plus pages I was a Legionary! The love of one's country and willingness to die defending your beliefs is the hidden current in this book and as each new paragraph exploded from the pages, it reminded me once again what it means to be an American.
Book Description
Hundreds of years ago, the Five Lands joined together to end the tyranny of Mordath. Now a mysterious force has brought him back from the dead, this time with magic powers. With a troll army at his back, Mordath soon puts the Five Lands under his heel. He is the unchallenged master of the world. Only one woman has eluded his iron grip. And with that one woman rests the sole hope of ending Mordath's reign of terror. Sojourn is the story of Arwyn, a woman whose quest for vengeance began in the fires that engulfed her city. Arwyn's one aim is to slay Mordath, but to do that she must first find the weapon that can kill a man who is already dead. One of CrossGen's most popular titles, SOJOURN takes a fresh approach to classic fantasy themes using some of the best artwork in comics today.
Customer Reviews:
Starts off well..........2004-09-26
I decided to check this series out after seeing an ad in a book club magazine. While I agree the artwork was for the most part well done I did have a few problems especially when I got to books 2 & 3.
~The epic items to recall an ancient hero as the background I think is fairly well written along with the mysterious sorceress as both a goad and irritation. However the subplots tend to distract from this without really adding anything but page count. Also rather annoying is that instead of following clues or ancient stories the main characters continue to practically stumble onto the missing pieces.
~Yes, the supermodel fantasy heroine gets old. Overlook that she is/was an archer, scout, and a swordswoman yet has extremely slender, shapely arms. And of course there aren't much any ordinary looking women elsewhere. Is this set on a California beach?
~I thought the initial storyline with the trolls was good, and a nice break from the typical Middle Earth/Shannara models. Then in the later books the writers can't seem to decide how to continue them. Horses don't seem to mind being ridden by them for some reason. Oddly, trolls also find females of other species attractive and seem to be able to have relations with them.
~A dragon. Sadly, pretty rare to have fantasy without them. And of course both female, shapechanging, and guarding the one item that can harm her.
~The 'angel' people. We see them in book 1 and then later in a culture lifted almost straight from Egypt but to be honest while nice to look at angels are about as much fluff as dragons.
If you want to just lay back and read a fantasy novel in TPB format it isn't all that bad. If you're looking for more than window dressing though you might want to pass on these.
A little disappointing.......2004-04-23
I don't mean to sound picky (I seem to be one of few reviewers that didn't love this graphic novel), but after reading "Ruse" I found "Sojourn" to be rather disappointing. But before I get into the critical side of things, let's start with the plot.
Four of the provinces known collectivly as "The Five Lands" were once ruled by the evil warlord Mordath and his army of orc-lookalike trolls. He was working on taking over the fifth and final land before a rebellion leader with a magic bow by the name of Ayden destroyed him. Now a devotee has resurrected the evil Mordath, who now has control over ALL the Five Lands. Enter Arwyn(Hmm...This name sounds familiar), a female archer who's more than just a little...well endowed(more about this later). She's recently lost her husband, daughter and village to Mordath and vows to kill him. After being captured by the man she set out to kill, she attempts escape with a fellow inmate, Gareth. After a strange rescue she discovers that she is destined to go on a quest that may save the Five Lands from its current state.
So, I promised you critical bits and I'm not one to leave such promises unfulfilled. Here goes:
In the artwork department: It seems that penciller Greg Land, who's responsible, for the most part, for the look of the characters, believes it's more important to make Arwyn(and most of his other female characters for that matter) into a medieval supermodel, instead of creating a stronger-looking female character. I understand that the whole "tortured beauty" thing is cool, but do her clothes really need to look that tight? Also, Land seems to have a problem sticking with one time period. All the main characters look like something out of Middle Earth, but there are parts where the dwellings, as well as the people, look victorian, or even modern. There are a few problems with consistency in the characters' looks, too, but these are really only minor problems that pop up once or twice.
As for story: Ron Marz's narratives, as well as his dialogue, are for the most part very witty and fun to read. However, his plots seem to be a little too thin on occasion, and the reader sometimes gets the idea that he wants to skip the explanations and get straight to the action so that Land gets to draw gory battle scenes(oh! I almost forgot to mention; there's quite a bit of blood and gore in this, but kudos to both Marz and Land for it not being overdone. It's just the right amount).
In conclusion: I'll probably continue to read "Sojourn", because for all its flaws, it's a pretty engaging, not to mention quick, read. But this graphic novel is not without its problems, problems that could be easily fixed with a little more character development and less excuses to show a small bit of skin.
Strong Graphic Novel!.......2004-02-20
A strong story, excellent characterizations and drop-dead beautiful art are highlights for this strong graphic novel, first in a series. Although the story seems familiar, Marz's offbeat touches give it new life while artist Greg Land makes a name for himself as someone to follow whatever story he decides to draw. Good novel for female teens or anybody who loves a good story.
Excellent Fantasy Novel!.......2003-06-17
First and foremost, the artwork of this book is fantastic -- some of the best I've ever seen in a comic book! This is true of nearly all the CrossGen Entertainment series. You might be tempted to thnk this series in "Xena" meets "Lord of the Rings," and while it has some of those elements, it is so much more. The storytelling is top notch and doesn't let up. A great addition to any fantasy collection.
Entertaining Read.......2003-03-09
My husband bought me From The Ashes and The Dragon's Tale. I read both in two days. I can't wait for the next book. Very entertaining and adventurous. Loved them both. My husband is reading them now and likes them. We are going to pass them on to friends.
Average customer rating:
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Julius Caesar (Picture This! Shakespeare)
Christina Lacie
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Julius Caesar Teacher's Manual (Picture This! Shakespeare)
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Hamlet (Picture This! Shakespeare)
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Romeo and Juliet (Picture This! Shakespeare)
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (Teacher's Resource Book) (Picture This! Shakespeare) (Picture This! Shakespeare)
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King Lear (Graphic Shakespeare) (Shakespeare Graphic Library)
ASIN: 0764132792 |
Book Description
Julius Caesar, the Shakespearean drama that is in the curriculum of virtually every high school in the country, is the latest offering in Barron's Picture This! Shakespeare series. Each title in this series offers a highly original introduction to a Shakespeare play, presenting it as a graphic-novel-style picture story, supplemented with substantial excerpts from Shakespeare's original dialogue. Students will also find thumbnail sketches of the play's main characters, and a succinct story summary that explains the play's main themes and meanings. Many students who are daunted by the difficulty of reading Shakespeare's dramas in their original form have found titles in this series to be an important first step in appreciating these universally recognized masterpieces of English literature. Supplementing every Picture This! Shakespeare title is a teacher's guide that suggests topics for classroom discussion and provides enlightening activities that fulfill the needs of a multi-skill-level classroom environment.
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