05-26-2007, 08:42 AM
Jim, in response to your request for examples and more guidance:
Ancient Warfare is quite a new area for Pen & Sword, so there are not that many existing examples to point to, but they are keen to expand into this area. That's what I am now there for. We published Brian Carey's Ancient Warfare last year and we have a new book from him coming on Zama (although it actually gives a good overview of all three Punic Wars) in a few months. There will also be books on Alesia and Carrhae later this year. These were commissioned by my colleague before I took over and they look great (I am editing the first of these right now). I didn't want to give away too much about what I have commissioned in the few months I have been here so far - publishers are terrible copy-cats - but the subjects include Alexander's Army. Hellenistic battles, the wars of the Alexander's successors, Belisarius, Thracian warfare, Mithridates the Great, Carthaginian armies and I am just commissioning the first couple of titles in a new series on Rome's conquests.
The usual P&S format is heavily text-led - about 70,000 words or more, but not usually so heavily illustrated as the Osprey or the legendary Motnvert books (which I keep hearing about but have not yet been able to get my hands on). Nothing is set in stone though. I want to get a lot of tactical maps and diagrams in where possible.
There are no right or wrong answers, I'm just trying to get a handle on what it is that my fellow ancient warfare nuts want it terms of subject areas. If I say I don't think something is impractical (or don't answer each suggestion) please don't take it personally. I really appreciate the input and I'm amazed by the response so far.
Phil
Ancient Warfare is quite a new area for Pen & Sword, so there are not that many existing examples to point to, but they are keen to expand into this area. That's what I am now there for. We published Brian Carey's Ancient Warfare last year and we have a new book from him coming on Zama (although it actually gives a good overview of all three Punic Wars) in a few months. There will also be books on Alesia and Carrhae later this year. These were commissioned by my colleague before I took over and they look great (I am editing the first of these right now). I didn't want to give away too much about what I have commissioned in the few months I have been here so far - publishers are terrible copy-cats - but the subjects include Alexander's Army. Hellenistic battles, the wars of the Alexander's successors, Belisarius, Thracian warfare, Mithridates the Great, Carthaginian armies and I am just commissioning the first couple of titles in a new series on Rome's conquests.
The usual P&S format is heavily text-led - about 70,000 words or more, but not usually so heavily illustrated as the Osprey or the legendary Motnvert books (which I keep hearing about but have not yet been able to get my hands on). Nothing is set in stone though. I want to get a lot of tactical maps and diagrams in where possible.
There are no right or wrong answers, I'm just trying to get a handle on what it is that my fellow ancient warfare nuts want it terms of subject areas. If I say I don't think something is impractical (or don't answer each suggestion) please don't take it personally. I really appreciate the input and I'm amazed by the response so far.
Phil
