Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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Iron and Rust
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MAY 2015 (Group Read 1): Iron and Rust by Harry Sidebottom
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Dawn
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Apr 20, 2015 09:23AM
This is the thread for the Ancient Group Read of
Iron and Rust by Harry Sidebottom
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Wow, this is a first for me, I've already read both selections - recently
I'm planning to reread, but I will be reading the loser in the medieval + category.
I was going to read this but I've realized that neither of my libraries has it. So I'll be going with the loser this month.
Dawn wrote: "I was going to read this but I've realized that neither of my libraries has it. So I'll be going with the loser this month."Dawn, I had to buy it. My library didn't have it either. In fact it has nothing by Mr. Sidebottom.
I just bought a stack of books that I haven't even opened the covers of yet so I'm going to abstain and leave it for a future date, no matter how tempting...
Think I will re-read STORMBIRD. Happy hit a bit of good luck!
Dawn wrote: "Time to take on some losers then!"plus make get my thoughts typed up :)
Linda wrote: "Think I will re-read STORMBIRD. Happy hit a bit of good luck!"Well, with a name like happy....
In some psychological publication, I read that you are your name ( which is why you should never name a boy 'Sue.') .
I love that song, but I want you to know that I hate mornings, so it didn't work with me!
I should have kept quiet! Lol
I WANT to try this one. I have never tried a Sidebottom book before. Time may be an issue though.
I didn't think it was his best - too many plot lines going on that aren't really resolved. That might be why it's a purposed trilogy :)
ahhh. I see. :)
happy wrote: "I didn't think it was his best - too many plot lines going on that aren't really resolved. That might be why it's a purposed trilogy :)"I thought it fine for a vol. 1 of a trilogy. In a vol. 1 I don't think everything has to be tied up neatly.
I thought it could have been more tightly focused, for me it got a little challenging keeping track of where who was doing what to whom :)
happy wrote: "I thought it could have been more tightly focused, for me it got a little challenging keeping track of where who was doing what to whom :)"I'll look for what you're saying while I reread. I had no trouble following what I considered the four plotlines.
Going to give it a try. Library had it.
Jane wrote: "happy wrote: "I thought it could have been more tightly focused, for me it got a little challenging keeping track of where who was doing what to whom :)"I'll look for what you're saying while I r..."
Don't get me wrong - I still liked it - I 4 starred it, but it was definately read like a first novel in a series
I've restarted it -- 5 chapters in -- those Lists of Characters ARE a help, aren't they? And I didn't remember the chapter headings: time and place, so you'd know which plotline you're dealing with.
Like it so far (Ch.6) but the names just keep on coming!! Can't wait to see if there's a Bobbinus!
Dawn wrote: "We wanna know if there is!"Ok then...but wouldn't that be a "spoiler"? LOL
Bobby wrote: "Dawn wrote: "We wanna know if there is!"Ok then...but wouldn't that be a "spoiler"? LOL"
*nods* and double-times it out of the room
I've started reading it today and am about 1/3 in now. So far I'm very surprised, this looks much more detailed and informative than I've expected. I love epic books, and here we have many viewpoints and lots of characters. (I'm afraid no Bobbinus, though :) ). The maps prove very handy, too. And it's going to be a tetralogy, so there should be enough place for all of these characters to have their place in the story. I'm glad that I bought it (there was no copy in the library).
Teanka wrote: "I've started reading it today and am about 1/3 in now. So far I'm very surprised, this looks much more detailed and informative than I've expected. I love epic books, and here we have many viewpoin..."Does the book have a character list in the front? I am an older person who can't keep track of lots and lots of characters; my memory lets me down.
Laureen wrote: "Teanka wrote: "I've started reading it today and am about 1/3 in now. So far I'm very surprised, this looks much more detailed and informative than I've expected. I love epic books, and here we hav..."@Laureen: There is a Cast of Main Characters at the front, right after the maps, [unpaged], with a comprehensive List of Characters pp. 391-404 in my copy.
Just finished and really enjoyed it once I was able to follow(with some degree of success)the deluge of names! The battle scenes are top-notch and the treachery is unbelievably described and plotted. Never did find Bobbinus but there was Balbinus...a real slovenly, loser of a guy. Look forward to the next book in the series. I think it comes out this month.
Bobby wrote: "Just finished and really enjoyed it once I was able to follow(with some degree of success)the deluge of names! The battle scenes are top-notch and the treachery is unbelievably described and plotte..."Thanks, Bobby, good to know.
Really enjoyed this once I abandoned trying to remember all the characters and just followed the plot lines. Great battle scenes and I liked the sneaky plotting too. It did end really abruptly - obviously to be carried on in the rest of the series but I wanted to read more now!!!
That was my main problem with it - Prof Sidebottom doesn't end it well. Definately a first book of a series and not a stand alone
My problem was mostly with the number of characters. There were far too many, or else the book was too short to contain them all. For many of them there was no character development. For example, in the beginning I was very interested in Pupienus, the praefectus urbanus of Rome and I thought we might get a lot of political intrigue and a description of what's hapening in the Senate through him. But in the end there were just a couple of entries more concerning this character, and when major events concerning him/ his family happen, we learn about them through a third party description. So why bother introducing him as a protagonist in the first place?Also, there were too many names mentioned in the novel of people who never appeared in the story at all and were also irrelevant. I kept a list of them at least to a certain point which is why it took me long to finish reading this novel :). But despite these flaws, I will read the second volume with interest once its price gets normal.
I finished this one recently and... eh. Other than the number of characters I don't have too many proper objections but it is just so very Roman Historical Fiction. It wasn't even about a set of events that I'm particularly familiar with, but the use of tropes and themes really gave me the impression that there was nothing new to see here.
Roman historical fiction is my favourite so no objections from me :) And nothing new to see is required.
I support Teanka's comment on there being too many characters and not enough character development. It didn't help that I read this book in intervals separated by work commitments, so I easily lost track of characters. I have yet to write a review, but I feel the author has written fictionalised history here, not historical fiction. He is trying to cover too much ground too fast. I read up a little bit of the background to this period of Roman history, so I can see why the author is introducing characters like Pupienus and Gordian. They will turn up in future books. The potential story lines are terrific - plenty of plotting, rebellion, shifting alliances, treachery etc - It could be way superior to "Game of Thrones." But it needs to be written over a series of about ten books rather than three, allowing time for both situations and characters to develop fully.
But I will be reading the next books, if only out of inquisitiveness.
Oh yes, I know why he introduced Pupienus and Gordian. But he should have written more chapters about Pupienus which seems a wasted opportunity. Gordian is one of the few characters who got enough attention, at least in my opinion.
Jerry wrote: "I support Teanka's comment on there being too many characters and not enough character development. It didn't help that I read this book in intervals separated by work commitments, so I easily lost..."Oh good grief--you are suggesting 10 books? I think that would bore me. I'm glad he is writing it in a smaller number as he is. I'm making my way through Book 2. I think the whole story will be way superior to Game of Thrones!
Bobby wrote: "Just finished and really enjoyed it once I was able to follow(with some degree of success)the deluge of names! The battle scenes are top-notch and the treachery is unbelievably described and plotte..."Balbinus WAS a slob, wasn't he? He's more so in Book 2.
my library just got this one, so I shall start reading it soon
wow, chapter 7 already. I am getting into this read.
