- Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Baen Books; Reprint edition (1 Aug 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0671318330
- ISBN-13: 978-0671318338
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 10.7 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 901,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Gaius Vibulenus wore a white horsehair crest to mark him as a tribune. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Gaius Vibulenus wore a white horsehair crest to mark him as a tribune. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have just finished rereading this book and found it as enjoyable the second time around. The premise that an advanced alien empire has a number of "trade guilds" which solve their problems militarily within the limits of the civilization which they deal is novel and a clever angle.
A roman army is purchased from earth after its defeat by a trade guild looking for soldiers to be used in 'negotiations' with cultures of a similar level of military.
The author does a very good job of describing the military positioning and battles between the Roman legion and their various opponents. At the same time you are shown the aliens view of the troops as nothing more than 'useful' assets to be used when needed.
A good book to read, if you enjoy military sci-fi, with a completely new idea at its heart.
I also agree with another poster that the new cover does nothing for this book. I have the older version which actually made me want to buy the book off the shelf!!
A roman army is purchased from earth after its defeat by a trade guild looking for soldiers to be used in 'negotiations' with cultures of a similar level of military.
The author does a very good job of describing the military positioning and battles between the Roman legion and their various opponents. At the same time you are shown the aliens view of the troops as nothing more than 'useful' assets to be used when needed.
A good book to read, if you enjoy military sci-fi, with a completely new idea at its heart.
I also agree with another poster that the new cover does nothing for this book. I have the older version which actually made me want to buy the book off the shelf!!
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I first read this book some years ago and it stuck in my mind.The premise is great:that defeated Roman soldiers are taken to fight for 'a trading guild of the Federation' on planets where the technology of war is limited.They are valuable slaves kept young by advanced technology and develop into an army of veterans, using Roman organisation and discipline against alien barbarians.I loved the military detail and the neatness of the plot. It is a much classier book than the cover suggests.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
14 reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Good Mix of Combat, Science Fiction, and History
23 July 2002
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although I've been a fan of military science fiction books for a while, this was my first introduction of David Drake. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed. Other people have already done a great job of covering the plot, so I won't bore you by going over it again. However, I would like to point out that this book is not a collection of short stories. The book has several independent military campaigns in it, but they involve the same people and are interconnected. Also, while this book was written several years ago (mid-80's, I think), it doesn't feel dated they way many books from that era do.
The characters have a lot of dimension to them and they react in very human ways to the situations that they face. They also grow over the course of the book. I often found myself wondering how I would react if I was in their place.
Unfortunately, there is nothing in this book that you can point at and think "Wow, everyone should read this book!" There really are no grand or unique ideas presented; however, if you're looking to kill some time, this is a fine book to pick up. This would also be a good book to get someone interested in the Roman Empire, military fiction, or science fiction. Cheers!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Romans among the stars.
17 July 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I've always believed that some of David Drake's best works are his novels mixing science fiction and the Roman Empire. Having been a Roman history buff for as long as I can remember one could argue that I'm rather biased, but in my opinion Ranks of Bronze rates up there with another of his Roman novel's, Birds of Prey. Ranks of Bronze takes it's inspiration from an actual battle that occurred in the year 53 B.C. Marcus Crassus - one of the three members of the first triumvite along with Ceaser and Pompey - led a Roman army into Parthia ( modern Iran ) to take care of the Parthian empire once and for all. Instead his army was defeated and Crassus was killed. What we do know is that some ten thousand legionaires survived and were either sold into slavery to owners as far away as China and India or the Parthians put them to work as slave soldiers setteling frontier land within the Pathian Empire,just like the British did in Austraila. David Drake has the survivors being sold to aliens - in disguise - who work for a star spanning commercial league. Rather like the organization that was attacking Naboo in The Phanthom Menace. The League isn't allowed to use modern weaponry against primitives who refuse to deal with them. I gather the rules are put down by an organiztion similar to our U.N. So in order to stay out of trouble the aliens buy the Roman legionaries and put them to work fighting their wars. The clincher is that excluding total destruction of the brain the aliens can ressurect the dead soldiers, even if they are decapitated. The main character is a young tribune who eventually rises to command of the legion and the realization that their masters aren't Human. The battles are graphic, but show some serious research on Drake's part. The book gives a nod to the Human ability to overcome obstacles by brain power and nothing else. It's also an intersting contrast of Iron Age soldiers living among advanced technology. I don't want to spoil the ending, but suffice to say you will be kept on the edge of your seat.To paraphrase the previous review, Don't mess with the Romans.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
From one of Drake's fans
26 Feb 2006
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Consider the title a disclaimer. I'm the guy that started the yahoo group that is referenced on his web site. Ok? But I wanted to reply to a couple of the issues raised in other reviews.
How do you define military sci-fi if taking one of the greatest war machines of the historical era and transplanting it into a science fiction universe does not qualify? This is a story about a group of Roman soldiers, and the tribune who ends up commanding them as they travel through the galaxy, serving unworthy masters, and what they do about it. Statements suggesting that it is a set of loosely connected stories are made by people who haven't read the book.
Drake considers this one of his more artistically successful stories, and suggests that it sold well too. Jim Baen wanted a sequel so much that he got Drake to agree to one of those shared universe anthologies, and the sequel is more fun that it is legal to have in most states. Luckily, I live in Nevada, where the only thing that is illegal is being a non-smoker.
If you like military science fiction, by a man who has been on the sharp end and mostly came back to tell us about it, get to know Drake.
As for space opera? Try his Leary/Mundy books.
How do you define military sci-fi if taking one of the greatest war machines of the historical era and transplanting it into a science fiction universe does not qualify? This is a story about a group of Roman soldiers, and the tribune who ends up commanding them as they travel through the galaxy, serving unworthy masters, and what they do about it. Statements suggesting that it is a set of loosely connected stories are made by people who haven't read the book.
Drake considers this one of his more artistically successful stories, and suggests that it sold well too. Jim Baen wanted a sequel so much that he got Drake to agree to one of those shared universe anthologies, and the sequel is more fun that it is legal to have in most states. Luckily, I live in Nevada, where the only thing that is illegal is being a non-smoker.
If you like military science fiction, by a man who has been on the sharp end and mostly came back to tell us about it, get to know Drake.
As for space opera? Try his Leary/Mundy books.
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