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Scarrows Eagle in the Sand
#1
Just took delivery of the latest adventure of Macro and Cato. This time in Jordan.
Quod imperatum fuerit facimus et ad omnem tesseram parati erimus
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#2
Mine is on its way. Got a nice reminder from Amazon.co.uk a couple days ago, just when I was wondering when it would be published. Ordered it immediately and got word it dispatched today and I should have it by mid week or so next week.

Quinton/Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
Quinton Johansen
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
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#3
I'm just reading "The Eagle's Prophecy" and had but "Eagle in the Sand" on my wish list with Amazon but will wait until it comes out as a paper back since I got all others as a paper back.

But I just loves this series. They are really one of my favorite books. Big Grin
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#4
I read it in one sitting, about 2 hours....

not the best of series. But I don't mind predictable military adventure fiction.

The desert is the desert, if you have been there, you understand, if not, I am not sure anyone can make you 'feel' it. I've never been to Petra, didn't get much of a feel for it here, I guess I should go rent that Indiana Jones movie. I guess I would like more description and word pictures of this wonder.

The book was rather timely, as we watch the current conflict in Lebanon and Gaza. (Stopping before I say something political here).

I was Not happy Sad with the whole Dan Brown style (slap the Christian readers in the face) stuff. Didn't need it, didn't help the story, helped me decide to put future Scarrow books lower on my priority list when shopping. Other people may enjoy it.

The battles, almost as interesting as the first book. The characters... if you haven't read the series, you need to NOT start with this book. The book assumes you already know and like the main characters.

At least this book was a great excuse for the author to get some time in Jordan. I am, even more than before, planning to vacation there as soon as I can.

:lol:
3 stars for this book. (-1 for Dan Brown theme)
Caius Fabius Maior
Charles Foxtrot
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#5
You're right about not having read the preceeding books. I wonder if a person new to the series would pick up on the characters. That sort of gets skipped over, but I don't think in JMRoberts or Lindsey Davis that they get a lot of character development either in the later books.

Still, I liked this one, with plenty of action and intrigue. I was sorry to get to the end of the book. They always seem too short.

I am not offended by the Dan Brown-ish references; it was a plot twist that worked into the main theme. Maybe a little too "au courant", but he does mention another reference to back it up. I am not sure if Scarrow, now that he's into the 7th book in the series, is starting to add in themes that he can bring up in later books for additional plot twists.

I would give it four out of five because it seems to be an intermediate act that is dependent upon the next book to resolve.
Richard Campbell
Legio XX - Alexandria, Virginia
RAT member #6?
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#6
here's a side question?
Where did all the wood for the fires in the camp come from? I have lived in the desert, (not that one). Most things seem to be built with dirt/adobe/mud/rock. Some how I don't have a feel for Roman wooden prefab barracks being dragged through the desert, let alone the hermit communities having thatched roofs or something. However, still it is a fun read.
I actually liked the 9 books by Caroline Lawrence as well, even though they are for kids and don't have military subjects.

I just didn't think the Dan Brownish plot twist was necessary, it could have been done without that connection. We'll see where it leads, but, I won't order the next one from the UK, I'll just wait for it to get published here. (Now if someone wants to send me a present...) Big Grin
Caius Fabius Maior
Charles Foxtrot
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#7
Hi Caius, sorry that you thought the book was anti-Christian. I'd like to know why you might think that, given that I made no conscious attempt to slap christians. Dan Brown? You mean the grandson bit? Possibly, but the trouble is that anyone who who writes anything about the early days of the movement is in for that accusation these days.

On the firewood front, I noticed that some of the Bedu in Jordan gathered scrub-wood and carried it with them into the desert. They also used dung as a fuel. If you've been in the desert in that area you'll know how nippy it can get at night and how much a fire is needed to appreciate the efforts people will go to ensure a supply.

As for presumption of familiarity with characters, well I think by the seventh book in any series you'll find the same applies. I do make an effort to bring readers up to speed on who is who out of recognition of the fact that I may be writing for a first-timer.

Still, glad that you enjoyed it. You might find it difficult to buy the next in the US since St Martins will only be publishing up to the sixth book at the moment. You might be interested to know that The Eagle in the Sand was supposed to be the fifth book in the series, but once St Martins Press got wind of the plot they refused to print it for fear of the reaction amongst christian and pro-Israeli lobbies in the US. I found that hard to believe at the time, but given what I have read about what is happening by way of censorship on US campuses I am not surprised. Still, it's the book I wanted to write and it's out there now. If you haven't read it yet, do please track down the fabulous book on the era by Neil Faulkner - Apocalypse.
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#8
I once gave students the option of discussing the accuracy of Simon's presentation of the Roman army in The Eagle's Conquest as one of their course assignments :lol:

Sadly only one student chose to do it (unadventurous lot!).
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#9
No problem for me Simon, I didn't think the themes were that controversial in the book. I can't see why the publisher got squeemish. But I have your books on pre-order at Amazon.UK. I recommend them to everyone.

BTW Caius, I can almost see Cato being set up for a confrontation later and possible conversion to Christianity. Or a task by Narcissus to go investigate these Christians in Italy.

I really like Carolyn Lawrence's books; she does not shirk the harshness and brutality of the ancient world either, rather treating it as expected and something you cannot do anything about. I think at one point I even got her to visit RAT. Those too are on my pre-order list.
Richard Campbell
Legio XX - Alexandria, Virginia
RAT member #6?
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#10
I was not upset by the christian references in the book but then I am a liberal christian. Sometimes when I have to try and put on my ist cent personna it is quite revelatory to realise we would be contemporaries of Paul & co . Indeed that legionnaries of the xxth billeted in Rome in 69 may well have come across early christians; they could have been some of the earliest believers in Brittania.

It took me a month to read as I had to return it due to missing 40 Pages.

I too would have liked it to have been a bit longer. Nevertheless it was enjoyable with some excellent battles. Life would not be the same without August Macro and Cato.
Quod imperatum fuerit facimus et ad omnem tesseram parati erimus
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#11
Quote:On the firewood front, I noticed that some of the Bedu in Jordan gathered scrub-wood and carried it with them into the desert.

I once had tea with a desert policeman whilst parked-up, sheltering from the midday heat under a Hejjaz railway bridge when surveying one of the southern desert forts (Kithara) just outside Aqaba (the railway sliced right through the fort). Apart from his silver dagger and scarlet cloak, his camel also carried a stock of kindling to go with the teapot and tea. He didn't speak any English, we no Arabic, but a good time was had by all.

Quote:Where did all the wood for the fires in the camp come from? I have lived in the desert, (not that one). Most things seem to be built with dirt/adobe/mud/rock.

The deserts in Jordan are surprisingly varied (there are boulder, chert, and saltpan within a short distance at some places), often flooded in winter because of the rain (read Lawrence's miserable account of being at Azraq in winter time in Seven Pillars) and there are lush forests not too far away in many cases. Vegetation does tend to spring rapidly into existence in the rainy season and then die back, leaving lots of usable scrub.

Mike Bishop
You know my method. It is founded upon the observance of trifles

Blogging, tweeting, and mapping Hadrian\'s Wall... because it\'s there
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#12
Simon,

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading the new book- even the "forget your scale armour in this heat- try this linothorax on" bit!

And as someone who used to live in the Middle East , it can get very cold at night! I found that the guys living in the desert (whether we shared a common language or not) to be some of the most hospitable and friendly people I have ever met. And the silver daggers (apart from the 90 degree curve in the blade) seemed somehow familiar.... Big Grin ? It would be fascinating to get an Omani or Jordanian silver worker who makes these khunjars to try his hand at a pugio replica.....one day, perhaps!
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#13
There's a scary berkasovo-thingy on the cover of Simon Scarrow's book 'the Eagle's Conquest'..
[Image: 0747266301.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V65563427_.jpg]
A weird eagle decoration, well.. But the nasal and neck guard have become impossibly big! Confusedhock:
Robert Vermaat
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FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
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#14
Well, I did enjoy it, and I really liked the fact that Cato and Macro were assigned to a Auxiliary Cohort

I am a fan of Scarrow.

I am curious though as to if there were any historical references that were referred to might give some illumination as to how and why Miriam, Symeon, Bannus, and Yusef were portrayed as they were, since it differs from everything that I was brought up to believe.

v/r
Mike
Mike Daniels
a.k.a

Titus Minicius Parthicus

Legio VI FFC.


If not me...who?

If not now...when?
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#15
Quote:A weird eagle decoration,
O boy, that looks suspiciously like the silk screened eagles in HBO's Rome.
Richard Campbell
Legio XX - Alexandria, Virginia
RAT member #6?
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