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PeteZahut
Single Cell Organism
2 Posts |
 Posted - 11 September 2009 : 3:25:06 PM
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I could be wrong, but for me, I have it in my mind that one of (if not both) of Cato and Macro will be there when Vitellius gets killed in the year of the four emperors. Paving the way for Vespasian.
Of course, this may not happen at all. |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 11 September 2009 : 4:50:00 PM
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i think you may well be right...but will they both be on the same side?
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Peter
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 11 September 2009 : 4:56:14 PM
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Its a tricky one, but good officers always listen to their noncoms & Cato will be an excellent officer. Macro is exceptional, so he isn't going to be questioning Cato's authority in front of the troops, he knows that doesn't help anyone.
So ruffle his feathers maybe, but Macro has come to see that Cato is the real deal. Plus Macro, as a professional, knows his own limits & does not have delusions of grandeur. So i can't see this causing friction between them, if anything, i think Macro might quite proud of Cato.
The thing about natural leaders like Cato, people just follow them without question, often before they realize they are being lead, acceptance to it happens naturally.
I wouldn't worry about Macro, where ever he is there is gona be fire works, its in the make up of the man.
Peter
Per mare per tarrum
Illegitimis nil carborundum |
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Peter
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 11 September 2009 : 6:38:27 PM
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Hi Pete, was thinking the same thing!
In the 'year of four emperors' there's bound to be some twists & turns. Vitellius getting slotted is gona be the high light!
How do I get my hands on the extra story, its not in my copy!!
Peter
Per mare per tarrum
Illegitimis nil carborundum |
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Peter
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 11 September 2009 : 7:33:21 PM
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Yeh Permenion, don't even want to think about Cato & Macro on different sides. But in Rome, with divided loyalties & politics, you just never know. Anything could happen!
But some how, I hope Vespasian will come to rescue, cos he becomes Nero's best buddy for a time (before being sent to Coventry for nodding during one of nero's doggy concerts)& I'm sure he want his boys back, they owe him after all.
Peter
Per mare per tarrum
Illegitimis nil carborundum |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 11 September 2009 : 8:53:26 PM
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Peter, go on ebay and buy a waterstone copy with the extra story.
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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rfc5stars
Single Cell Organism
3 Posts |
Posted - 11 September 2009 : 10:28:45 PM
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I felt it lacked something, I really cant put my finger on it though, i enjoyed it and could hardly put it down and was pretty gutted when it ended, i think we could have had a bit more but Simon clearly wants another book out of Ajax and who can blame him really.
Rather P*ssed off to find i missed out on a short story, is it in the similar vail to the young Marco ? |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 11 September 2009 : 11:46:18 PM
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Hi RFC its a young Cato story, if you pick up one of the waterstones 1st editions its in there, if you cant find one in waterstones then look on ebay.
otherwise you will have to hope we can talk simon into releasing an anthology on short stories
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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rfc5stars
Single Cell Organism
3 Posts |
Posted - 12 September 2009 : 2:59:06 PM
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Thats a bit dissapointing i was hoping it would be more snippets of young Marco as i think their is a good deal more to the tale.
Gotta say im not a fan of the forum structure its really basic and not that user freindly  |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 12 September 2009 : 5:43:10 PM
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Have to ask...how is it not user friendly?
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Ankhsy
Homosapien
United Kingdom
7861 Posts |
Posted - 13 September 2009 : 6:54:22 PM
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Apart from the times when pages take forever to load, its not that bad.
Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus. |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 13 September 2009 : 7:06:25 PM
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yes but thats the same for all types of forums
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Peter
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 13 September 2009 : 9:25:28 PM
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How many short books are there, I've not had the pleasure of any yet!
Can't see the issue with this forum? there's some great idea's being shared, I don't get 'not user friendly', what's that about?
Peter
Per mare per tarrum
Illegitimis nil carborundum |
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Ankhsy
Homosapien
United Kingdom
7861 Posts |
Posted - 13 September 2009 : 10:16:40 PM
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Hmmm, I wonder if he's run into Raptor yet?
Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus. |
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the_labrat
Single Cell Organism
Ireland
3 Posts |
Posted - 14 September 2009 : 01:20:57 AM
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I enjoyed the book. I read it in a day. it was good fun, and different. I enjoy how every book always shows a different side of the roman empire. But some things were missing.
Unlike the other people here, i've no problem with macro. or julia. heck, even Sharpe had his lovers. But my issue was with Cato oddly enough. I always liked him as the self consious young officer drying his damndest to please macro, and just do the right thing, but that did not fully come across for me. He was far less of the kind-of bumbling, self conscious but charming and smart officer and more of the arrogant pompous roman as the book got on. I know he had his reasons, but i thought he came across very unsympathetically. i figured he needed a good kick up the arse.
that said, dont get me wrong. I enjoyed the book, and im eagerly waiting the next one. Im glad the lads finally have an enemy, and im looking forward to the lads getting back to the fighting, and back to the legions. they've been out in the cold for a bit too long now, methinks... |
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Peter
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 15 September 2009 : 6:47:51 PM
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Hmmm, not had the pleasure yet.
But going by the name raptor, could a fun day out!
Peter
Per mare per tarrum
Illegitimis nil carborundum |
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Fast Paul
Ape
United Kingdom
1006 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2009 : 4:06:35 PM
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Not sure where to start here but having just finished The Gladiator I`ve left it a few days to get my thoughts straight before posting. Firstly, I agree with Parms first statement at the beginning of this thread, but for me it was slightly more than that....it felt rushed to me, the writing, not up to Simons extremely high standards. (Ducks and runs for cover...)
OK I`ll pop my head back over the parapet and explain myself. When you buy a novel by Simon you get a great story line and very tight, sharp writing. Nothing wrong with the story line for me, infact another bloody good one as usual, but from towards the middle of the book onwards I thought the writing was rushed, and not up to previous standards. Was there a deadline to be hit that acounts for this? Pressure from the publishers? Was it just me?
I`m a big fan of the series and not knocking it, merely telling it like I see it. I certainly couldn`t do what Simon does and I appreciate the skill, verve and dedication it takes to write a thrilling best seller, but opinions are what its all about on a forum and thats my two pennies worth. (probably over valued an` all!)
OK....I`m off to fill some sand bags and take cover from all the flack this is gonna get from devotes. (Plonks on skid lid!)
It`s true that opposite`s attract!
Thats why your surrounded by beautiful, intelligent, happy people! |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2009 : 4:15:30 PM
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just come and join me on the naughty step mate!
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Ankhsy
Homosapien
United Kingdom
7861 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2009 : 5:07:13 PM
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That makes three of us.
Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus. |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2009 : 7:12:34 PM
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M&M anyone?
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Fast Paul
Ape
United Kingdom
1006 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2009 : 7:40:55 PM
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...got any of them blue ones?......used to get a clout of me mum after a few of them as well!
It`s true that opposite`s attract!
Thats why your surrounded by beautiful, intelligent, happy people! |
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WarrenH
Homosapien
United Kingdom
2020 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2009 : 10:24:09 PM
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Got it read it enjoyed it.
Cato has grown up, Macro has done his bit, even early on in the books, Marco listend to what Cato had to say and implemented it! The way is open for the Cato and Marco to drive forward and become more and more part of the upper echelons in the Roman world. The trick now is to keep it as real as is possible without loosing the plot so to speak.
Thanks Simon. I am looking forward to the next one... that is been typed in the "shed".... LOL
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Edited by - WarrenH on 08 October 2009 3:47:14 PM |
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John Prigent
Homosapien
United Kingdom
8794 Posts |
Posted - 08 October 2009 : 09:02:22 AM
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Who's this Marco we all keep reading about?
Cheers
John
Sum, ergo cogito |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 08 October 2009 : 11:11:59 AM
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He is from the Boy band eagles, simon is really going main stream now, the boy band are touring Rome doing gigs and pulling girls and getting into bother...LOL!!
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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John Prigent
Homosapien
United Kingdom
8794 Posts |
Posted - 08 October 2009 : 12:28:58 PM
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Cheers
John
Sum, ergo cogito |
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ToxicJR
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
Posted - 08 October 2009 : 6:56:42 PM
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Well after roaming round ASDA with my girlfriend waiting for some shopping to get done, i noticed this book and had never heard of "the Scarrow brothers." and being a lover of Conn Iggulden books and Bernard Cornwell i thought it should be epic...
I am going to ignore all the comments above as after reading Gladiator i found out its the latest in a series! so i dont wanna know any details!!!!
But all in all i loved this book and thought it was a damn good read and have ordered "Under the Eagle."
Made travelling around everywhere much more immense when you have ALOT of train journies ;)
Madness is a gift that has been given to me |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 08 October 2009 : 7:30:32 PM
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welcome , you have a lot of fun and stories ahead of you
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Scout13
Single Cell Organism
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 09 October 2009 : 02:55:09 AM
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Finished Gladiator!!
I loved the book, it had me on the edge of my seat more I think, then any of the other 8. I do agree with a few that Julia seemed to have lost a tad bit of that "take no shit attitude" I was a little disappointed in her father for ordering her to leave and Macro for saying yes to take her. But, those incidents led to great suspense, wondering if one of them or both would die. Deep down I think I knew that Simon could not kill off Macro, at least not in the near future, and bite my tongue for even saying it, but I really was guessing hard at that point. I thought that Ajax might get away with both as hostages, I was not sure about much until the very end, which kept the suspense at a peak during the last third of the book.
I went for a loop with the Cato over Macro, Prefect thing before they sailed. that one cought me by surprise, big time!! did not see that one coming.
I did really want to see Macro or Cato just pull the eyes right out of Ajax. I really loved to hate him!
All in all, another winner, a little different, but I liked the change. I would love to see them back with the legions. But I wonder how that would play out, if the Emperor makes Cato a perm. Prefect?? Macro would be quite the Jr. Officer, would he not?? |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 09 October 2009 : 10:51:32 AM
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you knw what i miss...the evil back stabbing actions of vitellius..a viper in the camp, it adds spice to the book, knowing that there is someone on your own side about to screw you at any point...it really added to the suspense
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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ToxicJR
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
Posted - 09 October 2009 : 12:33:33 PM
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Your descriptions on previous characters are making me even more excited about getting the other books! A good backstabber for me has to be the Priest and brothers in Cornwell's Azincourt.
Madness is a gift that has been given to me |
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