The Eagle in the Sand. Simon Scarrow

After reading some the negative reviews I decided to risk reading Eagles in the Sand because I had enjoyed the past books in the series so much. Well what did I find? For one, I came away with the impression that the negative reviewers never really read the book with care and attention. One refers to "bildings" made of wood, well they weren't made of wood but the roofs would be as in most Roman forts and in this case it was the living quarters which had wooden roof components. It was not as if wood appeared from nowhere after all Lebanon, which would not be too far away for the Romans, was famous for its trees. As for Christian references Scarrow never uses the traditional names as they exist in the Bible and indeed those who believe that Jesus is being discussed might look more closely at the details and realize that the character which they thought was Jesus may not be him after all. Admittedly the names are similar but the option is open that this "Christian group" which are never called Christians was just one of many factions making up the Palestine region. Scarrow does a wonderful job characterizing the fragmentation and feuds which existed at that time and still do. For those who are interested our heroes visit the mysterious city of Petra which was an unexpected pleasure. As for the same old scenes with just a little desert added, I a least found the conflict at the Temple in Jerusalem and with Bannus quite different with the story filled with plentiful twists and turns. You will NOT be disappointed with this book and in fact the greatest displeasure I felt upon reading it was the realization that I had come to the last page. One final note, I am a college level history instructor who teaches military history and I have found Scarrow's work refreshing and reasonably accurate and a true pleasure to read. Enjoy!

I have read every book in Simon Scarrow's Eagle series. I am surprised at some of the negative reviews on this particular title. This book is every bit as good as the 6 previous in the series. Macro and Cato continue to find themselves in impossible situations while serving Rome and Narcissus but manage to get through with luck, bravery, and skill. This book is a bit more complicated on the political front because it is set in the Middle East. I believe some people are upset about the references to Christianity in this title, but they need to remember that the author is writing from the viewpoint of Romans who were not Christian. You are seeing the typical Roman reaction to what appears to be just another religion of many in the area at the time. The author has done a fine job with this book and I can't wait for the next one to come out.

Having just finished reading the latest in the legion series ( book 7) in paperback, in my opinion it is a worthy addition to what I feel is an excellent series of books. The books moves a different pace to the others but is no less gripping from the first page, as the author sets out in detail the new lands and cultures which his protagonists find themselves facing, and as he develops their characters further. Although this novel stands on its own, I suspect it is is probably a stepping stone and an introduction for the novels to come, to this fascinating land and period on history. Another excellent novel, well researched and written.

I was quite surprised by the plot of this latest of the series of adventures of Cato and Macro. Today, nearly twenty centuries later we tend to ignore the events between the Crucifiction and the Destruction of the Temple. Scarrow takes us to the Dead Sea exactly in the middle of that period, and tells us of what concerned the contemporary Romans, the Judeans, the Syrians, the Nubuteans, The Ideumeans, and the Parthians. The last thing on any of their minds, an obscure member of the endless chain of local prophets known as Mesiahs, enters the story only as part of the background for a group who both suffer under Roman imperial mismanagement and also help the Romans to defeat an agent of a common enemy. Historical figures who tower over their contemporaries in histories written long after their time on earth are prominent in this novel only as background to the solution of a problem assigned by the Emperor Claudius secretary, Narcissus, to Macro and Cato. Simon Scarrow has in this novel set his characters on a path that will take him a lifetime to traverse. One day, certainly, Cato and Vespasian, and I hope Macro, will serve together at the siege of Jotapata, the prelude to the conquest of Judea and the ultimate destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Simon Scarrow is the best of contemporary writers at recreating the daily life of the ancient Roman world. This novel is just further proof of that.

After a brief sojourn into the eighteenth century with the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon, Simon Scarrow is back to sorting out the problems of the Roman Empire with his two lead characters Cato and Macro. Cato was once Optio (something like the equivalent of a sergeant) to the Centurion macro, but they are now both centurions and have been through many encounters together. This has made them the closest of friends. Friendship that only standing side by side in battle can mould. Each would happily die for the other, though neither would admit it. Both men have been sent on a mission to the Roman frontier, where trouble is brewing and the for once the troops seem to be in disarray. When they arrive a local revolt is beginning to grow in scale, with a local tribesman preaching violence and death against Rome Macro and Cato must use their knowledge and expertise as centurions to stamp out the corruption in the cohort and get the men back to being a unified fighting force before the East Provinces are lost forever I will read anything and everything about the Roman legions, be it fact or fiction so these books are like manna from heaven for me. Simon Scarrow's books are very authentic and an extremely enjoyable read.