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Product Reviews:
Rubicon: A Novel of Ancient Rome (Novels of Ancient Rome) |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Rome Panics - - Civil War
Comments: In Rubicon, Steven Saylor reveals the diversity of his tales of Gordianus. From the clever investigations of Roman Blood, through the psychological thriller of Catilina's Riddle, to the political struggle of Murder on the Appian Way, Saylor writes "novels of Ancient Rome (not just detective stories). Rubicon presents a different puzzle.
Rubicon is a story with many levels: the military struggle between Caesar and Pompey, the strife between Pompey and Gordianus concerning the death of Numerius Pompey, the tension in Gordianus' family over the drafting of Davus and the long absence of Gordianus, and the struggle with Tiro during the long trip through Italy. Although the main plot appears to be the search for the killer of Numerius Pompey, it is the characters and their struggles that enhance this book.
Rubicon has strong characterization. Pompey is a strong leader who is impatient, proud, and stubborn. Pompey seems to live off the reputation of earlier campaigns. Caesar appears alalmost all infallible. He is a dynamic leader with the unquestioned loyalty of this troops. His army is so disciplined that e1of his more than thirty8thousand soldiers knows his job and does it without being told. Caesar is also human. He is generous with his friends and shows mercy to his enemies. Tiro, who in earlier stories was the cautious slave of Cicero, has grown into a confident and driven freedman. He often masquerades as Soscarides, a traveling philosopher.
The details of the military campaigns are impressive. The battle scenes are realistic. As a former military engineer I marveled at the accomplishments of Vitruvius, Caesar's military engineer, who builds blockades and battle towers in the bay. Although actually floating on the water these devices are stable, unyielding as barricades, and effective fighting platforms.
Rubicon is a masterful novel. It is accurate history and vivid description. If you like history, if you enjoy suspense, if you revel in visualizing humanity in realistic situations, you must read this.
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Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: A Great Read
Comments: All of Saylor's books are really great reads. They are set in ancient Rome and are written so as to make the reader feel that they are in ancient Rome. It's as if you can even smell the air in the markets. Saylor is really a scholar of Ancient Rome, however also an excellent story teller. I highly endorse. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Evocative and shocking!!
Comments: Saylor never disappoints, and his Roma Sub Rosa series never fails to surprise. I absolutely love this series, and this book is probably the almost all shocking so far. We get to see a side of Gordianus that we've never seen before, as well as Saylor's viewpoint of what happened when Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and placed Rome into civil war. Gordianus is drawn into the interior politics when a relative of Pompey is murdered in his own garden. Pompey charges him with finding out who the killer was, and while Gordianus is searching we find that the man who was killed was a spy as well as a blackmailer. Gordianus goes into Southern Italy after Pompey and the hostage that Pompey has taken. We see the battle of Brundisiam as it happened. Saylor puts us front and centre in that as well as showing a honestly dark side of steady and honest Gordianus. this series is not be missed. |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: great Fun; great History
Comments: This book is great fun for anyone who has the slightest interest in Ancient Rome. The focus is on Julius Caesar and Pompey as seen through the eyes of a middle aged Roman of the Plebian class.
The politics are interesting as is the personal story of Gordianus the Finder. He is a kind of private detective however they do not have that term at that time.
All the books in this series are great and you do not have to have a lifetime commitment to Roman history. Anyone can pick it up, enjoy it, and perhap learn a bit about the past. however this is not a didactic tome in any way. It is a great story and that is always fun. |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: Is Gordianus's son Caesar's lover?
Comments: Steven Saylor keeps surprising me. This sixth novel in the sub rosa mystery series is somewhat different from the previous volumes. In RUBICON Saylor seems determined to keep things moving. The emphasis this time is on the mystery, and an unconventional mystery it is. A young man has been garroted in Gordianus's garden and there is no way anyone could have gotten over the wall, committed the murder and then climbed back over the wall within only a few minutes. There are no suspects. The victim's cousin just happens to be Pompey, who commands Gordianus to find the murderer or else. He takes Gordianus's son-in-law as a hostage as he prepares for battle with Caesar. On top of this, Gordianus keeps hearing gossip that his son Meto is the bed partner of Julius Caesar. Gordianus suspects that it may be true. There are other rumors of a secret conspiracy against Caesar's life. Blackmail is featured heavily in this story. This story has several disturbing elements. however there are also the fascinating tidbits like how the Romans performed abortions and some of the ingenious ways they hid and passed secret messages. All in all, this was a entertaining reading experience. And I certainly did not guess who the killer was.
Probably the major overhanging argument of this novel is "when is killing justified?" I'd like to write more about this, however it would necessitate spoilers. This is an interesting and entertaining novel. It could probably be enjoyed without reading the others 1st, however if you are already familiar with the characters it will mean a lot more to you. |
