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thlewis28
Invertebrate
USA
61 Posts |
 Posted - 06 December 2005 : 3:18:43 PM
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Someone on the board mentioned "Gates of Fire " by Steven Pressfield. I picked it up a few days ago and just finished reading it. It's really a great read. I think I'm going to run out today and get some more of Pressfields books. My only complaint and I don't know if I would call it a complaint is I had to read with a pen and paper at my side to right down all the words I needed to look up after each chapter. I don't just mean the Greek words either. I just didn't find him as easy to read as Simon or a lot of other authors for that matter. I do my fair share of reading and I have a decent vocabulary. At least I think I do. I'm wondering if anyone else read "Gates of Fire" and what they thought?
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 06 December 2005 : 3:50:06 PM
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i would avoid the last amazon...well its up to you diferent tastes and all that!! but i got really bpred with that one....some of his others are good but Gates of Fire was his best!!
Paul Doherty is a good read his books are like detective novels set in Alexander the greats time.
Or
Manfredi: he has done some really good stuff.
or
Dare i say Conn iggulden...well worth a read!!
or
Steven Saylor the roma sub rosa series!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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thlewis28
Invertebrate
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 07 December 2005 : 01:52:12 AM
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Thanks Parmenion, I think my next book will be Eagle in the Snow. Then I'll jump on to some of the Authors you mentioned. I want to stay away from the detective stuff, that doesn't do it for me.
I was looking over Gates of Fire and I think saying that his vocabulary or choice of words made for hard reading was incorrect. I think it was his way of telling the story. At times it's reminded me of reading Homer or something like that. I guess that was the effect he was trying to achieve. He was successful, I can usually read while my wife is watching TV in the same Rome but I need to have all my attention on Gates of Fire or I would miss something. |
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Justin Coles
Small mammal
United Kingdom
574 Posts |
Posted - 07 December 2005 : 12:09:47 PM
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If you enjoyed 'Gates of Fire', you may wish to read 'Tides of War' also by Pressfield. it's about the life of Alcibiades, a fantastic commander who was never defeated, on land or at sea. He was an Athenian, who went over to the Spartans.
If you enjoy Hellenistic history retold then another book I would recommend is 'The Ten Thousand' the story of Xenophon by Michael Curtis Ford.
Enjoy. - ps. when you read eagle in the snow, don't be put off by the first 100 pages or so - the last 100 are well worth the wait! |
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thlewis28
Invertebrate
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 07 December 2005 : 12:18:03 PM
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| I didn't know I enjoyed hellenistic History till I read 'Gates of Fire' I was looking at the 'The Ten Thousand', after reading about 'Gates of Fire'I don't know if I wantt to read about the greeks losing a battle then suffering all the way back home. I'm rather fond of this guys. I might find that annoying. |
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Justin Coles
Small mammal
United Kingdom
574 Posts |
Posted - 07 December 2005 : 12:29:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by thlewis28
I didn't know I enjoyed hellenistic History till I read 'Gates of Fire' I was looking at the 'The Ten Thousand', after reading about 'Gates of Fire'I don't know if I wantt to read about the greeks losing a battle then suffering all the way back home. I'm rather fond of this guys. I might find that annoying.
Essential reading - trust me. Slow, yet satisfying when completed. |
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thlewis28
Invertebrate
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 07 December 2005 : 12:32:47 PM
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Thanks Justin, I'll order it today and add it to my pile of books.
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Spartan
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
141 Posts |
Posted - 12 December 2006 : 9:45:01 PM
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Reading it now, I agree, some of the vocab in it is quite adept and advanced, but am only 14, so gimme a break!
"We Spartans will fight, wether reinforcments arrive or not. From this wall we do not
retreat." Leonidas Spartan King and Commander At the battle of Thermopylae where 300 Spartans
made there last stand against over 1,000,000 Persians and fought them off for 7 whole days. |
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The Delayer
Dinosaur
United Kingdom
216 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2006 : 10:21:59 AM
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| Argubly his best book since Gates of Fire is Afghan War about a couple of soldiers in Alexanders Army when he is in Afghanistan that is worth a read but its not out here yet so best bet is Amazon. |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2006 : 1:16:00 PM
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I enjoyed that, I gave my copy to Simon and Alex to read...hey guys did you read it? what did you think?
Centurion Parmenion
 LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Spartan
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
141 Posts |
Posted - 23 December 2006 : 11:53:30 AM
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Just finished it. Brilliant book, i found the end slightly confusing though...
"We Spartans will fight, wether reinforcments arrive or not. From this wall we do not
retreat." Leonidas Spartan King and Commander At the battle of Thermopylae where 300 Spartans
made there last stand against over 1,000,000 Persians and fought them off for 7 whole days. |
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Laidback
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
170 Posts |
Posted - 02 January 2007 : 4:51:55 PM
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I started reading this ages ago and never got into it. Its been sitting in my locker at work for the last year as a reserve book in case i'm left with nothing to read one day. I'd almost forgotten about it.............. With all the recommendations I guess i'll have to give it another go.
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Laidback
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
170 Posts |
Posted - 06 March 2007 : 7:30:19 PM
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I did get round to reading this eventually a month or so ago, and some comments on the thread about Frank Millers 300 in the film section reminded me about this thread.
Now the question i have is this ........................... Am i the only person in the world that didn't particularly enjoy this book? |
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6629 Posts |
Posted - 06 March 2007 : 9:52:24 PM
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I started , but couldn't get my head round pressfields style so its on my to read pile. so your not along Laidback.
_____________________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
http://andycanty.blogspot.com/ |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 06 March 2007 : 10:05:27 PM
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its a tough read at times but very vivid and really lifelike
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Laidback
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
170 Posts |
Posted - 09 March 2007 : 4:38:39 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by AndyCanty
I started , but couldn't get my head round pressfields style so its on my to read pile. so your not along Laidback.
Thank God for that Andy ..............everytime i've seen a review or read anyone commenting on the book they have raved about it.................. It was starting to feel a bit lonely being the only person who wasn't blown away by it.  |
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6629 Posts |
Posted - 09 March 2007 : 8:34:20 PM
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lol, I think the reviews you saw where probably people who have only read the synopsis (except Ankhsy and Parm), and probably get paid for them too.
_____________________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
http://andycanty.blogspot.com/ |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 10 March 2007 : 07:37:16 AM
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...tsk tsk tsk....poor poor boys who will never know the joy of this book!! LOL
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6629 Posts |
Posted - 10 March 2007 : 09:04:11 AM
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i will read it, just too many other good books to read, and some of us actually sleep all night, so that eats into our reading time...hehe
_____________________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
http://andycanty.blogspot.com/ |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 10 March 2007 : 7:05:52 PM
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sleep is for wimps
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6629 Posts |
Posted - 10 March 2007 : 8:43:25 PM
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LOL, ahh but i love my sleep! best part of the day!
_____________________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
http://andycanty.blogspot.com/ |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 10 March 2007 : 10:25:24 PM
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i bet your already snoring out the zzzzzzzzzzzzzz while im typing this...LOL
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6629 Posts |
Posted - 11 March 2007 : 10:50:21 AM
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Erm actually yes i was, but that was becuase i had to get the wife up at 5.30am so she could go away for a few days to Harrogate, for a bridal buyers fair.
so i'm stuck with the kids for a few days....ho hum!
_____________________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
http://andycanty.blogspot.com/ |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 11 March 2007 : 5:01:26 PM
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LOL....old man!!
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6629 Posts |
Posted - 12 March 2007 : 12:02:29 AM
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cheers mate! pot kettle black springs to mind 
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If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
http://andycanty.blogspot.com/ |
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Laidback
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
170 Posts |
Posted - 16 March 2007 : 10:28:54 PM
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I just gave this to a guy at work that i swop books with and he's loving it ....................... looks like its just Andy and me then  |
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RogerGassett
Single Cell Organism
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2007 : 11:28:40 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by thlewis28
Someone on the board mentioned "Gates of Fire " by Steven Pressfield. I picked it up a few days ago and just finished reading it. It's really a great read. I think I'm going to run out today and get some more of Pressfields books. My only complaint and I don't know if I would call it a complaint is I had to read with a pen and paper at my side to right down all the words I needed to look up after each chapter. I don't just mean the Greek words either. I just didn't find him as easy to read as Simon or a lot of other authors for that matter. I do my fair share of reading and I have a decent vocabulary. At least I think I do. I'm wondering if anyone else read "Gates of Fire" and what they thought?
I agree with you about the pen and paper thing. I do my fair share of reading also....but some of the vocab was killer - same with The Last of the Amazons was ok, started Tides of War but again the vocab was killer so i took a break from pressfield, and read books 2-4 of the eagle series and The Last King and Gods and legions by M.C. Ford - those are good
"IT IS BETTER TO LIVE ONE DAY LIKE A LION THAN A HUNDRED YEARS LIKE A SHEEP |
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Morwain
Single Cell Organism
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 03 April 2008 : 08:12:05 AM
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I read it for a class and it was really good but, I was glad to have a teacher and the rest of the class to discuss it with which was fun. In the same class was where I was introduced to Under the Eagle where it was another book we read. It was called War in Literture and it fun to read both Gates of Fire, Under the Eagle, The Aenid and The Illiad all together.
"Diomedes: the greatest hero you've never heard of"-S.H.
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 03 April 2008 : 09:28:18 AM
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damn we never got to read stuff like that at school...lucky git
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Morwain
Single Cell Organism
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 06 April 2008 : 06:10:54 AM
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Yeah one of the english teachers is a ancient history nut he started the class up.
"Diomedes: the greatest hero you've never heard of"-S.H.
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 06 April 2008 : 7:23:24 PM
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treasure that teacher and dont let anyone mess up his lessons...you lucky sod.
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Gates of Fire
