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The Druid King
Vercingetorix, the great Gallic warrior, was both a man of history and a man of myth. Druid King of Gaul, King of One Hundred Battles, he was among Julius Caesar’s greatest opponents; his eventual defeat at Caesar’s hands was said to prove Caesar’s unstoppable power. Yet Vercingetorix has remained, to this day, a French national hero. And now he is the heart and soul of this enthralling and evocative historical novel.
Witness to his father’s harrowing death, Vercingetorix spends years deep in the forest living with the druids. Although they raise him as one of their own, his father’s honor and the looming shadow of Rome force him to become a warrior. After an ill-fated alliance with Caesar, he gathers the tribes of Gaul against law and custom into a single army, ragtag but determined to face down the might of the Romans.
This dramatic and momentous life, played against a brilliantly created background of the disparate worlds of Gallic and Roman soldiers, is riveting. The final battle that pits Vercingetorix’s will against Caesar’s own rounds out a novel that richly traces the arc of a hero’s life and the origin of a legend.
Witness to his father’s harrowing death, Vercingetorix spends years deep in the forest living with the druids. Although they raise him as one of their own, his father’s honor and the looming shadow of Rome force him to become a warrior. After an ill-fated alliance with Caesar, he gathers the tribes of Gaul against law and custom into a single army, ragtag but determined to face down the might of the Romans.
This dramatic and momentous life, played against a brilliantly created background of the disparate worlds of Gallic and Roman soldiers, is riveting. The final battle that pits Vercingetorix’s will against Caesar’s own rounds out a novel that richly traces the arc of a hero’s life and the origin of a legend.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2003
22 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Norman Spinrad
366 books217 followersBorn in New York in 1940, Norman Spinrad is an acclaimed SF writer.
Norman Spinrad, born in New York City, is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. In 1957 he entered City College of New York and graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree as a pre-law major. In 1966 he moved to San Francisco, then to Los Angeles, and now lives in Paris. He married fellow novelist N. Lee Wood in 1990; they divorced in 2005. They had no children. Spinrad served as President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) from 1980 to 1982 and again from 2001 to 2002.
Norman Spinrad, born in New York City, is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. In 1957 he entered City College of New York and graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree as a pre-law major. In 1966 he moved to San Francisco, then to Los Angeles, and now lives in Paris. He married fellow novelist N. Lee Wood in 1990; they divorced in 2005. They had no children. Spinrad served as President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) from 1980 to 1982 and again from 2001 to 2002.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 11, 2014
Having read recently three of the Marius' mules / SJA Turney series of books on Caesar in Gaul, I wanted to read a novel about a warrior from the "other side". I enjoyed this one, the story of Vercingetorix, leader of the Averni tribe. As a boy he watches the horrific death of his father, is reared by the druids, and has a hallucinogenic Vision showing him his destiny and that of the Gallic peoples. In his Vision, he sees a statue of himself; to this day he is a French national hero. In the author's conception he has much druid knowledge, besides being a fighter. The story tells of his friendship with Caesar for awhile until Caesar's British invasion [which didn't last]; Caesar's deceit and manipulation turn him into Caesar's implacable enemy. From then on, he struggles against the Romans, uniting the Gaulish tribes. The novel culminates in the battle of Gergovia, siege and burning of Bourges and final defeat at Alesia. These three battles were well done and very exciting. At Alesia, Caesar's military engineer comes up with an ingenious solution: circumvallation. Details of this battle were so vivid, I wouldn't be surprised if the author used Caesar's own writings.
There were elements of fantasy, which I had to get used to. Caesar, in his falling-sickness seizures, would have visions; also Vercingetorix would have visions or dreams. Vercingetorix was fully fleshed out and sympathetic. Caesar was also a complete person, fitting our concept of him. All the other characters didn't really have personalities; they were there, it seemed to me, only as a background or sounding board to Vercingetorix or Caesar. The writing style was strange; there was a lot of surrealism and the author used certain phrases over and over, such as, 'the jaws of death'. There were maps on the endpapers but no notes or bibliographies, so I am assuming the history was not terribly accurate, except for the most important incidents. When I guessed that might be the case, I read the novel just as a very good story. I liked the military strategies presented by both the Gauls and the Romans, with each side trying to outguess the other: what the other side likely would or would not do. I liked Caesar's march across the Alps in the winter to get to Gaul to surprise the Gauls. I am sure druid rituals were pretty much the ideas of the author, since we don't know much about the druids. The relationships with the two women characters were odd, to say the least. I recommend this novel, but maybe the history should be taken with a grain of salt...
There were elements of fantasy, which I had to get used to. Caesar, in his falling-sickness seizures, would have visions; also Vercingetorix would have visions or dreams. Vercingetorix was fully fleshed out and sympathetic. Caesar was also a complete person, fitting our concept of him. All the other characters didn't really have personalities; they were there, it seemed to me, only as a background or sounding board to Vercingetorix or Caesar. The writing style was strange; there was a lot of surrealism and the author used certain phrases over and over, such as, 'the jaws of death'. There were maps on the endpapers but no notes or bibliographies, so I am assuming the history was not terribly accurate, except for the most important incidents. When I guessed that might be the case, I read the novel just as a very good story. I liked the military strategies presented by both the Gauls and the Romans, with each side trying to outguess the other: what the other side likely would or would not do. I liked Caesar's march across the Alps in the winter to get to Gaul to surprise the Gauls. I am sure druid rituals were pretty much the ideas of the author, since we don't know much about the druids. The relationships with the two women characters were odd, to say the least. I recommend this novel, but maybe the history should be taken with a grain of salt...
February 12, 2008
I hereby propose a comprehensive act of Congress prohibiting fantasy authors from writing sex scenes.
Otherwise, the Druid King is pretty well written, just somewhat...trashy? The story is compelling enough (after all, the story of Caeser's conquest of Gaul has been passed for longer than the Bible), but the added psychotropic mushrooms and predestination don't really add too much to the story. Something about the crushing weight of Destiny diminishes, rather than enhances the legend of Vercingetorix.
I'm almost tempted to bump it to three stars because it kept me up reading until the wee hours of the morning, but I think that's largely a result of the fact that I can't resist swords and sorcery, no matter what the quality (except Xanth: Piers Anthony need not apply).
Otherwise, the Druid King is pretty well written, just somewhat...trashy? The story is compelling enough (after all, the story of Caeser's conquest of Gaul has been passed for longer than the Bible), but the added psychotropic mushrooms and predestination don't really add too much to the story. Something about the crushing weight of Destiny diminishes, rather than enhances the legend of Vercingetorix.
I'm almost tempted to bump it to three stars because it kept me up reading until the wee hours of the morning, but I think that's largely a result of the fact that I can't resist swords and sorcery, no matter what the quality (except Xanth: Piers Anthony need not apply).
November 6, 2016
-La otra cara de La Guerra de las Galias.-
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Vercingetórix es un joven galo que crece en su sociedad sin sospechar la importancia que tendrá después de que Julio César, objeto de rumores en Roma sobre malversación de fondos públicos, pida el proconsulado de la Galia Cisalpina y lo obtenga, junto al de la Narbonense.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Vercingetórix es un joven galo que crece en su sociedad sin sospechar la importancia que tendrá después de que Julio César, objeto de rumores en Roma sobre malversación de fondos públicos, pida el proconsulado de la Galia Cisalpina y lo obtenga, junto al de la Narbonense.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
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March 2, 2013Have you ever read a book that the story line is pretty good, but you figure a lot fewer words could have been used, and the author probably has a "word a day" calendar, and you can pick out the word for the day in any chapter? Well, this is one of those books.
It was a good story overall, but too many words. I know that may sound weird, given that it is a BOOK, but sometimes it just went on and on and on and on and on and on for no apparent reason. And I was afraid poor Vercingetorix was going to die a virgin!
It was a good story overall, but too many words. I know that may sound weird, given that it is a BOOK, but sometimes it just went on and on and on and on and on and on for no apparent reason. And I was afraid poor Vercingetorix was going to die a virgin!
August 11, 2018
Vasat bir dönem dizisi gibi...
February 10, 2012
Splendid Detour by Spinrad into Historical Fiction
Norman Spinrad makes a fine debut in historical fiction, with occasional lapses into fantasy, in this riveting tale about the legendary Celtic chieftain Vercingetorix, the leader of Gallic resistance against Roman legions commanded by Gaius Julius Caesar. Spinrad does an excellent job in describing Druid religious rites, and the profound influence they play on the thoughts and actions of Vercingetorix. He also provides us with mesmerizing descriptions of Gallic leaders and of Caesar and his generals. I thought I could see and smell the Gallic towns and their people, as well as the bloody battlegrounds of the Gauls and their Roman invaders. Without question, Spinrad's sympathies lie with Vercingetorix and his relationship with the woman warrior Rhia and Marah, his potential queen of a unified Gallic state. Although this isn't Spinrad's best work of fiction, it is still among his finest novels, rich in the vivid detail and lyrical prose that he is noted for in his science fiction.
(Reposted from my 2004 Amazon review.)
Norman Spinrad makes a fine debut in historical fiction, with occasional lapses into fantasy, in this riveting tale about the legendary Celtic chieftain Vercingetorix, the leader of Gallic resistance against Roman legions commanded by Gaius Julius Caesar. Spinrad does an excellent job in describing Druid religious rites, and the profound influence they play on the thoughts and actions of Vercingetorix. He also provides us with mesmerizing descriptions of Gallic leaders and of Caesar and his generals. I thought I could see and smell the Gallic towns and their people, as well as the bloody battlegrounds of the Gauls and their Roman invaders. Without question, Spinrad's sympathies lie with Vercingetorix and his relationship with the woman warrior Rhia and Marah, his potential queen of a unified Gallic state. Although this isn't Spinrad's best work of fiction, it is still among his finest novels, rich in the vivid detail and lyrical prose that he is noted for in his science fiction.
(Reposted from my 2004 Amazon review.)
July 4, 2016
I hated this book so much I can't even articulate it yet. So many things to be irritated by; where to start?
April 25, 2020
Mix of historical fiction and fantasy as Vercingetorix goes up against the Roman legions of Caesar.
As the tribes of Gaul are split into disparate groups, Vercingetorix tries to unify them to fight against the invading Romans.
Lots of portents and visions as he learns the ways of the druids to guide his people, and also learns from Caesar how to wage a war.
The story flows quite well from one scene to another, but some of the characters could use more fleshing out. One of them always shouts they should go heroically to meet the armies of Rome and another says they should wait and see, while Vercingetorix tries to find a middle ground.
The Romans are done similarly, while a younger Brutus is there for Caesar to explain his plans to.
As the tribes of Gaul are split into disparate groups, Vercingetorix tries to unify them to fight against the invading Romans.
Lots of portents and visions as he learns the ways of the druids to guide his people, and also learns from Caesar how to wage a war.
The story flows quite well from one scene to another, but some of the characters could use more fleshing out. One of them always shouts they should go heroically to meet the armies of Rome and another says they should wait and see, while Vercingetorix tries to find a middle ground.
The Romans are done similarly, while a younger Brutus is there for Caesar to explain his plans to.
April 28, 2019
Honestly? A slog. It's not poorly written, but the pacing and the take on historical figures I've read about in so many other books (history and fiction) doesn't quite ring right, so I struggled my way through the entire thing, after years of not making it past the first chapter.
Your mileage may vary.
Your mileage may vary.
January 25, 2019
EXCELLENT STORY!
The writing and the story make it a simple task to be part of the story. I had NO problem seeing the story in my mind while I was reading it.
The writing and the story make it a simple task to be part of the story. I had NO problem seeing the story in my mind while I was reading it.
March 30, 2019
Meh. Seemed like a lot of characters with names starting wit ‘G’. A bit plodding for my taste.
January 8, 2023
Novel of Vercingetorix and Caesar. I couldn't finish it -- I prefer at least some historical accuracy in my historical fiction.
January 24, 2024
Badly researched, including treating 1 CE Celtic Society as a Feudal system.
April 3, 2025
Decent tale, a bit laborious.
September 26, 2019
This is one of my favorites. I'm not sure just why but it does speak to me in some way. Stellar writer!
February 18, 2025
Cracking yarn loosely based on real events, marred by the author's inability to spell correctly or observe good grammar. Also, his tense is all over the place, which is a pity, it would have earned the extra star if it weren't for the inaccuracies.
June 29, 2012
I guess with historical fiction the trap is that the fictionalization is locked into the hard framework of history, thereby limiting the possible flow and spontaneity of the novel. It's certainly true with this book, where terrible events happen which any real person would avoid, and characters are held forth to awful fates by allegiance to their own visions. This aspect makes the plot seem mechanical, and inevitable. It doesn't help that peripheral characters are not well developed enough to dispel their appearing to be convenient props. Well, for someone who has no prior knowledge of the time period, save for reading Shakespeare's Julius Caeser, the story is interesting to read, but lacks the poetic embellishments of a drama to dress it up. This is swords and storytelling, with cleverly depicted battle scenes which lend a lot of appreciation to the Roman war machine. Caesar and Vercingetorix come across as two sides of a flipped coin, while the world spins in the background, inconsequentially.
October 6, 2013
Spinrad is one of my favorite writers. There is just something about his style I love. No surprise then that I thought this was a great book.
It's not his usual sci-fi, but a detour into the world of Julius Caesar vs. Gaul. Yes, historical fiction, but much closer to Terry Brooks than Dorris Kearns Godwin. I don't know how much is true. Personally, I don't care. I read for a great story, and I got it.
It's Spinrad, so there's gratuitous sex and drugs thrown in (real life itself is not without sex and drugs, I am told), but he does it a bit different than what I expected. Not so much drugs as much as druid mysticism, and the sex ties into that as well.
Anyway, if you like Spinrad, I think it's definitely worth picking up. If you're new to Spinrad, I recommend giving it a shot, but treat it as fiction. I'm not even really a fan of fantasy books, but I loved it.
It would make a great movie. Memorable scenes. Memorable characters. A great plot
It's not his usual sci-fi, but a detour into the world of Julius Caesar vs. Gaul. Yes, historical fiction, but much closer to Terry Brooks than Dorris Kearns Godwin. I don't know how much is true. Personally, I don't care. I read for a great story, and I got it.
It's Spinrad, so there's gratuitous sex and drugs thrown in (real life itself is not without sex and drugs, I am told), but he does it a bit different than what I expected. Not so much drugs as much as druid mysticism, and the sex ties into that as well.
Anyway, if you like Spinrad, I think it's definitely worth picking up. If you're new to Spinrad, I recommend giving it a shot, but treat it as fiction. I'm not even really a fan of fantasy books, but I loved it.
It would make a great movie. Memorable scenes. Memorable characters. A great plot
January 1, 2015
Well done novel about possibly Caesar's greatest foe?
This novel takes a smart move in not just telling us of Caesar and his march through Gaul which made his name famous, but mostly about Vercingetorix, the leader of the peoples he eventually vanquished, this novel shows the lengths Caesar had to go to defeat him in open battle and how even then all was close, Vercingetorix had more men but much less disciplined, how he used guerrilla tactics and how he ran Caesar close, he still with this force nearly defeated Caesar, great read for anyone interested in Roman wars and especially Caesar
This novel takes a smart move in not just telling us of Caesar and his march through Gaul which made his name famous, but mostly about Vercingetorix, the leader of the peoples he eventually vanquished, this novel shows the lengths Caesar had to go to defeat him in open battle and how even then all was close, Vercingetorix had more men but much less disciplined, how he used guerrilla tactics and how he ran Caesar close, he still with this force nearly defeated Caesar, great read for anyone interested in Roman wars and especially Caesar
July 22, 2015
This was an ok book. Well crafted, interesting, a unique representation of the events. So far as I know, the narrative is compatible with Caesar's representation of the course of events. The battle scenes are over-the-top exciting in a cinematic way. My main impression was that this is heroic fantasy without the fantasy. Actual magic was replaced by a vague mysticism. An awful lot of the narrative revolves around Vercingetorix's repressed sexuality. It's a page-turner, and I'm glad I read it, but it is not a book I will ever own.
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October 21, 2007http://nhw.livejournal.com/857436.html[return][return]The story of Vercingetorix vs Julius Caesar, not really successful because Spinrad can't quite make up his mind whether it is fantasy or not, and whether it is for adults or young adults.
June 10, 2018
DNF at about 70%.
Honestly, I read this so long ago that I can't remember the exact reasons, just that the plot seemed to become more ridiculous with each chapter and that I completely lost interest in the last quarter.
I have no intention of ever picking this up again.
Honestly, I read this so long ago that I can't remember the exact reasons, just that the plot seemed to become more ridiculous with each chapter and that I completely lost interest in the last quarter.
I have no intention of ever picking this up again.
December 17, 2009
Read my review at our website: Read All Over
June 3, 2010
It was such a waste of my life to try and read this book, the characters were awful and the plot was pretty dull.
August 6, 2011
Beautifully written. Great historical fiction that has you wondering if it actually happened.
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August 19, 2011An excellent read
June 21, 2012
No good at all, utterly failed to engage me.
June 14, 2012
so far it has been lacking a bit, i've found it a bit hard to get into the book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews