- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Harper (6 July 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007304471
- ISBN-13: 978-0007304479
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
Masters of the Sea - Ship of Rome (Masters of the Sea 1)
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Product Description
Review
‘Strong characters, excellent action, SHIP OF ROME builds to a suberb climax’
CONN IGGULDEN
‘Peopled with characters both fictional and historical, this debut novel - the first in the Masters Of The Sea series - gives a fascinating and evocative insight into the high politics and military life of the times’
Daily Mail
‘This is a seriously entertaining book for anyone who enjoys stirring descriptions of ancient warfare. You can almost taste the salt, see the blood and hear the shouts and screams…John Stack is to be welcomed into the ranks of first-rate historical writers’
Tuam Herald
‘Crank up the testosterone, this one’s a fighter!’
U Magazine Ireland
Product Description
Against a backdrop of the clash of the Roman and Carthaginian empires, the battle for sovreignity takes place on the high seas
This exciting new series from a first time novelist stars an outsider - a Greek master mariner - as the hero, and the story is set against the backdrop of a clash of empires Roman and Carthaginian.
Ship of Rome is set in the earlier period of Rome when the empire was not nearly as well established and when the Romans were challenged for their control of Southern Italy and Sicily by the powerful trading nation of Carthage. The Carthaginians have the advantage in their control of the seas by their impressive navy while the Romans had few shipped and even fewer seagoing fighting captains.
Atticus, son of a modest fishing family starts as the captain of a small ship protecting the harbours and shores of Southern Italy from pirates. Surprised by a large Carthaginian fleet, he creates a brilliant victory and alerts the Roman legions nearby. His success results in his being instrumental in the creation of a Roman navy. However, because he is from a Greek colony, Atticus is often made to feel inferior - a second class citizen. He has a complex relationship with the Roman legionaries aboard his ship, and with the Senators who control operations.
The story is told from the point of view of several characters, both real and fictional, Roman and Carthaginian, politician and sailor. Though both are mighty Empires, the ambitions and ethos of Rome and Carthage are completely different and fascinating. The Sea battles are magnificent, the detail of the ships, the tactics and strategies, and the descriptions of life on board are completely convincing and very interesting.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Lets start with the positive elements. They are a few. This is a first novel and, despite its serious flaws, it is an exciting read. The topic chosen by the author is somewhat original: the First Punic War (264-241 BC, the Roman Republic versus Carthage), with a strong emphasis on naval warfare. Another caveat: historical sources are either Roman or Greek, meaning they are biaised. There aren't any Carthagenian sources simply because the Romans obliterated Carthage and its civilisation when they finally conquered the city in 146 BC, meaning that any author will have difficulties when trying to describe elements related to Carthage. However, the book could have been much better. As others has mentioned, it associates carboard characterization and atrocious research (or no research at all?). The book is supposed to be, after all, a work of HISTORICAL fiction. The author should be expected to get his facts right and to have done his research properly. He obviously has not been bothered to do so, neither has he properly checked the consistency of the story. A few examples:
1) Rowers in triremes or quinqueremes (trieres and penteres, for the Greeks) were NOT slaves in Antiquity and were NOT chained, contrary to what Holywood's Ben Hur (and the author of this book) state
2) The port of Broelium is pure invention and, throughout Antiquity and the Middle Ages, fleets of war galleys were rather inefficent at conducting blockades, if only because they had very little storage capacity and needed to put in every 24 or (at most) 48 hours to replenish their reserves of fresh water. This also means that they rarely were capable (and even more rarely wanted) to sail by night
3) Contrary to what is suggested, there is little tide in the Mediterranean...
4) While Rome did build its first fleet of fives to fight against Carthage, the story about a captured Carthagenian five serving as a model is unlikely to be true, altough it is related by Polybios. Fives had been built more then 130 years before by Syracuse and had become the main warship in the East after the death of Alexander. In addition, relations between Rome and Carthage had become increasingly tense in the years prior to 264 BC, so that it is more than likely than Rome's effort to build up its fleet began in fact before the war started and was carried out over a number of years before it had enough fives to confront Carthage on the sea.
5) The story is a bit too one-sided, with the Romans appearing as the "goodies" and the Carthaginians as the "badies", despite a few shady characters in both camps. In fact, Carthage and Rome had been allied against Pyrrhos, King of Epiros, a few years before and Rome used a pretext to start the war because of its ambition to conquer Sicily.
A pity and a shame. It could have been a superb read if the author had been less slopy. I'll nevertheless read the next one, hoping that some of these flaws get corrected.
1) Rowers in triremes or quinqueremes (trieres and penteres, for the Greeks) were NOT slaves in Antiquity and were NOT chained, contrary to what Holywood's Ben Hur (and the author of this book) state
2) The port of Broelium is pure invention and, throughout Antiquity and the Middle Ages, fleets of war galleys were rather inefficent at conducting blockades, if only because they had very little storage capacity and needed to put in every 24 or (at most) 48 hours to replenish their reserves of fresh water. This also means that they rarely were capable (and even more rarely wanted) to sail by night
3) Contrary to what is suggested, there is little tide in the Mediterranean...
4) While Rome did build its first fleet of fives to fight against Carthage, the story about a captured Carthagenian five serving as a model is unlikely to be true, altough it is related by Polybios. Fives had been built more then 130 years before by Syracuse and had become the main warship in the East after the death of Alexander. In addition, relations between Rome and Carthage had become increasingly tense in the years prior to 264 BC, so that it is more than likely than Rome's effort to build up its fleet began in fact before the war started and was carried out over a number of years before it had enough fives to confront Carthage on the sea.
5) The story is a bit too one-sided, with the Romans appearing as the "goodies" and the Carthaginians as the "badies", despite a few shady characters in both camps. In fact, Carthage and Rome had been allied against Pyrrhos, King of Epiros, a few years before and Rome used a pretext to start the war because of its ambition to conquer Sicily.
A pity and a shame. It could have been a superb read if the author had been less slopy. I'll nevertheless read the next one, hoping that some of these flaws get corrected.
40 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a huge fan of historical fiction, with Iggulden, Scarrow, Cornwell and Manfredi amongst my favourites, I am always on the lookout for new authors. For me, I think Stack may just be a new one for the list. It must be hard at the moment to jump on the bandwagon without doing the same as everyone else, but I think he has managed it. Stack has gone for an earlier period in Roman history in the first Punic war, where Rome was in its infancy rather than the typical Caesar onwards tradition that most people are familiar with. This for me is especially fascinating as they are not the all conquering power in Europe, but just an up and coming force. In addition to this, he goes for the sea angle instead of the legions that most other do. This gives a whole new direction that feels fresh. Mix the facts with the usual fictional characters, battles & love interests and you have a sure fire winner. The fact that his writing is excellent and you really immerse yourself into the book adds to the experience. Shame I am going to have to wait quite some time for the follow up I guess. Highly recommended!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was a fair bit disappointed with this book to be honest. It faults were :-
Terrible characterisation. The two heroes Atticus and Septimus were completely interchangable, their personalities identical, which was to say devoid of any! Gisco the Carthaginian leader was a complete pantomime baddie I was expecting him to twirl his tache and go 'Mwaahhaaha!' and rush off to tie a few young girls to some railway tracks.
The Romance was clumsy. two people who we are told have met a couple of times suddenly seem madly in love. No dialogue, no sexual tension and no previous indication they were even interested in each other.
Then the turning point of the book. The invention of the 'Corvus' we are expected to believe that all the combined might of Rome's engineers were unable to think of a drop down ramp to allow soldiers to board their enemies ship. No it took a lowley sea Captain to think of it when he saw one used on a transport ship to disembark troops into port! so they couldn't even invent it even though they pretty much already had it?! amazing they went on to build all those bridges, aquaducts, the Colosseum, Hadrians wall...enough already
On the positive side. It was great that a Roman book did not feature either Julius Caesar or the dying final days of the empire or even a besieged legion. No the story was set refreshingly early in the days of the Empire and featured the start of the Punic war. But this story does not do well when measured against Scarrow, Sidebottem or Iggulden, in fact if it was a Gladiatorial bout I think Stack would quickly be face down in the sand!
Still there seems to be an insatiable demand for Roman themed books so if you need something to keep you going till the next Blockbuster from any of the above this may do a job.
Terrible characterisation. The two heroes Atticus and Septimus were completely interchangable, their personalities identical, which was to say devoid of any! Gisco the Carthaginian leader was a complete pantomime baddie I was expecting him to twirl his tache and go 'Mwaahhaaha!' and rush off to tie a few young girls to some railway tracks.
The Romance was clumsy. two people who we are told have met a couple of times suddenly seem madly in love. No dialogue, no sexual tension and no previous indication they were even interested in each other.
Then the turning point of the book. The invention of the 'Corvus' we are expected to believe that all the combined might of Rome's engineers were unable to think of a drop down ramp to allow soldiers to board their enemies ship. No it took a lowley sea Captain to think of it when he saw one used on a transport ship to disembark troops into port! so they couldn't even invent it even though they pretty much already had it?! amazing they went on to build all those bridges, aquaducts, the Colosseum, Hadrians wall...enough already
On the positive side. It was great that a Roman book did not feature either Julius Caesar or the dying final days of the empire or even a besieged legion. No the story was set refreshingly early in the days of the Empire and featured the start of the Punic war. But this story does not do well when measured against Scarrow, Sidebottem or Iggulden, in fact if it was a Gladiatorial bout I think Stack would quickly be face down in the sand!
Still there seems to be an insatiable demand for Roman themed books so if you need something to keep you going till the next Blockbuster from any of the above this may do a job.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good subject, poor execution
The idea of exploring the Roman navy is worthwhile, and the creation of that navy is obviously a good place to start - on an unfamiliar element, facing an expert and equally strong... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Stephen Wortley
Cometh the hour...
Sea captain Atticus seizes the initiative when the emerging Roman navy is under enemy attack, providing crucial support to a powerful member of the Senate. Read more
Published 5 months ago by JoTownhead
Masters of Rome - Ship of Rome
A good first novel & it's nice to know that he used the term 'Legionaries' rather than making the mistake that so many writers make by using the term 'Legionairs' - which I think... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dr. G
Swords & Sandals Ahoy
This is a very enjoyable read. It is based on real events in the war at sea between Rome and Carthage during a critical period early in the conflict. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Lee Hanley
roman action heroes
good read and well researched tale of a action filled historical period the 1st punic war at sea only criticism many of the hannos and hamilicars combined for artistic... Read more
Published 8 months ago by mark1000
Excellent opener for the ' Masters of the Seas' series
This first in the series of novels set against the background of the Punic wars certainly leaves you looking forward to the sequel(s). Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mike Mac
Solid Roman historical fiction
Not much I cannot say that hasn't been written in the previous views.
I feel that some were a little bit harsh. Read more
I feel that some were a little bit harsh. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dave_In_Asia
ok
not the best historical novel ive ever read but not the worst either and it made for an entertaining enough read. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. S. J. Macdonald
An Exciting Romp
I can't comment on the historical inaccuracies pointed out by other reviewers of this book, but they didn't affect my enjoyment of this exciting adventure. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Ross Maynard
Gripping Read
Why did I manage to miss this book when it was first released.Excellent story line and easy to follow plot from beginning to end.
Published 13 months ago by Mr. E. Simpson
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