Fire in the East - Warrior of Rome

By: Harry Sidebottom

Narrated by: Nick Boulton

Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

AD 255; the Roman Imperium is stretched to breaking point, its authority and might challenged throughout the territories and along every border. Yet the most lethal threat lurks far to the east in Persia, where the massing forces of the Sassanid Empire loom with fiery menace.

The far-flung and isolated citadel of Arete faces out across the wasteland, awaiting the inevitable invasion. One man is sent to marshal the defences of this lonely city; one man to shore up the crumbling walls of a once indomitable symbol of Roman power; a man whose name itself means war, a man called Ballista.

Alone, Ballista is called to muster the forces and the courage to stand first and to stand hard against the greatest enemy ever to confront the Imperium.

©2008 Dr Harry Sidebottom (P)2008 WF Howes Ltd

Excellent

Historic knowledge and suspense - tragic hero - very well written and read! Some of the best in the genre I've ever come across.

Fire in the East

Excellent listen. Nick Boulton's character accents and dramatic reading are topnotch. I felt like I was listening to an ancient recording. I love historical fiction and although this book was no Pressfield novel it was still an outstanding first novel for Sidebottom. I am looking forward to King of Kings. You can't go wrong with a main character that is a German-Roman General and believes in the Norse Gods. Awesome! Where's my gladius, or better yet, my war axe?!

Lots of action and holds your attention

What did you love best about Fire in the East - Warrior of Rome?

I love this era and the fact it has so much action. I wasn't bored at all

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

yes, there's a lot of action and progression in the book to keep you hooked

Which scene was your favorite?

I don't recall my favorite

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Packed With Action

This is a great read or listen. If you like ancient warfare with plenty of action, download this. You will not be dissapointed.

Maps and appendix please

This book apparently contains a helpful appendix supplementing the characters, history, with maps. This is not the only audio book that would be enhanced significantly if Audible would make such supplementary info available with a pdf. In the past, I've usually been able to find some of this stuff at authors web pages, but not this time. So rather than review the incomplete book (which I really haven't finished), let me just warn others that it is challenging to keep all of the characters and locales herein straight without a program. I nevertheless found the main character engaging, and the plot lines including a cadre of spies and the prospect of religious war on the part of the Persians in the 3rd century interesting.

One of the Best books out!!!!!

The story is very good, keeps you on the edge of your seat !!!!!

Great Story, Well Read

Author Harry Sidebottom is new to me, but I'd sure like to get into something else he's written. Good story, good history, and great book. Can we get more from him?

Very exciting

This is a very exciting work. I highly recommend it.

The book concerns the defense of the eastern border of the Roman Empire against attack by its neighbor, the Sassanid Empire, focusing on one particular city. The narration adds to the enjoyment.

The main character, Ballista, is well drawn. And, I was left wishing I knew more about some of the minor characters, in particular, Ballista's Greek secretary.

But the real excitement for me was in the battle scenes and preparations. I was so drawn into the story that I began conceiving my own ideas for defense to the extent of wishing I could suggest improvements in weapon design.

There is another work in the series, Warrior of Rome, King of Kings. I certainly hope that Audible makes it available.

Never a dull moment

I love the classical period and go out of my way to find books on the period. However, it does not happen very offen where you get fast paced action along with historical accuracy. This book does a good job at both - probably because Dr. Sidebottom (I love the name) is a classical professor who makes sure that his level of historical accuracy and faithfulness to what we know of the realities during the period are true. It's brutality, gritty language, the various peoples and religions coming into conflict during a period of turmoil in the latter Roman Empire, all add up to make one hell of a ride! The author all so develops his characters with interesting personalities, there not cardboard cutouts, you care what happens to them. Nick Boulton's narration is excellent, especially the Latin (Roman) and Sassanian (Persian)names and terms. He also keeps the tension at just the right level, its hard to lose interest.

Slow start...

I found myself thrown into a world that the author did little to prepare the reader for. Almost nothing of who the main character Ballista was or why he is considered a barbarian. It's clear that the author knows a lot about Roman civilization however they seem to come up as asides instead of as part of the story. For example, at one part of the story Ballista invites his guests up to his Palace to partake in some figs and nuts. However in natural conversation it would be more normal if he had simply asked his guests to come up to his Palace to have some food.

That said after a while I did become somewhat engrossed in book though and more involved in the characters storyline and it was enjoyable.