I won my copy of this book free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

I was not sure what to expect from this book, since the blurb on the giveaway listing didn't say much, but I am glad I entered the contest for this book. This book reminds me of movies like The Gladiator, historical fiction about battles and heroes from classical times. The story is engaging and Smale does a good job of orienting his readers to the time and place of his story without straying too far from historical accuracy, and also without turning his novel into a history textbook. This would be a fun novel (and series, though I've only read book#1 and can't speak to the rest) to read while studying Classical Roman history, to bring that era to life in a way history books can't. ( )

The premise is interesting and the author does a good job of presenting the native cultures with the respect and awe they deserve. However I found the amount of violence and the graphic way it was presented at times overwhelmed what should have been the main story.

I really appreciated the conclusion of the book (which I won't explain as it would be a spoiler). ( )

I won my copy of this book free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

I was not sure what to expect from this book, since the blurb on the giveaway listing didn't say much, but I am glad I entered the contest for this book. This book reminds me of movies like The Gladiator, historical fiction about battles and heroes from classical times. The story is engaging and Smale does a good job of orienting his readers to the time and place of his story without straying too far from historical accuracy, and also without turning his novel into a history textbook. This would be a fun novel (and series, though I've only read book#1 and can't speak to the rest) to read while studying Classical Roman history, to bring that era to life in a way history books can't. ( )

Usually when I give a book three stars it's because I mean that it's a solid effort. Other times I really do mean that it was worth reading once and it was only okay, as is the case this time. To a large degree this tale of a Rome that achieved a constitutional order after the reign of Septimius Severus that allowed it to survive to encounter Meso-America in it's prime is just okay and my major problem is that I really didn't find myself believing in this Roman order enough to suspend disbelief; never mind how Smale handles the Meso-American peoples. Apart from that I found that this novel only occasionally rose above the conventional places where you might go with this situation. What redeems it in part is that I basically liked Smale's Roman officer protagonist and that the climax of this book takes seriously how disruptive Roman culture and technology would be to Meso-America. However, I'm not sure I care enough to read two more books. ( )

The main issue I had with Alan Smale's alternate-history tale of Roman legions battling their way across pre-Colombian North America is that, quite frankly, I've read or watched it so many times before. Alternate history as a genre seems to be in love with the idea of a Rome that never fell. And the plot itself is the same rehashed White-Savior story that was old in Avatar—only Avatar and The Last Samurai did a better job of it, because at least the damaged veteran was portrayed as actually damaged, whether with PTSD or career-ending injuries. Both Avatar's Jake and The Last Samurai's Nathan had somewhat plausible reason to forsake their own and reinvent themselves in a new culture. In Clash of Eagles, Marcellinus turns and becomes complacent among his captors so quickly that I lost all interest in him as a character. If there had been more complication and inner conflict on his part, I would have found it easier to invest in his story. As it was, I found him simply despicable. I have no motivation to continue on to the second book of this series—though the story in this first novel is by no means complete. In fact, the ending is so abrupt that it feels as if Smale just decided to stop writing at that point, regardless of whether anything was resolved.

I received a free review copy of this book from NetGalley. ( )

I really wanted to like this book. The basic concept of a surviving Roman empire reaching the Americas and interacting with the natives, in this case the Mississippian Mound-Builders of Cahokia, has lots of potential.

Unfortunately, alternate histories live or die on their plausibility, and while the basic idea can certainly be made plausible, that's as far as this book goes. I can accept the Roman empire in AD 1218 (though I'm not sure how Geta defeating Caracalla as the point of divergence would be enough to get there), but I have very large problems with an empire that stretches from the North Sea to the Indus. I see no way for the empire to hold together when the speed of communication is limited to horse and ship. And this despite the fact that things seem to be rather unstable politically, with the 41-year old protagonist having lived under 6 emperors and served under 4 in the previous 25 years. And despite this stability, there are Saxons in Britain and Magyars in whatever they call Hungary. Plus Christianity is just another acceptable cult right next to Mithraism and the usual Roman gods.

At that point I was annoyed, but willing to live with it. Then we encountered the Native Americans. The Iroquois (or Iroqua as the Romans have it) come off as the worst sort of 19th century stereotype of a Plains tribe (not to mention being a good 200 years too early), torturing prisoners to death, scalping those they slay in combat, etc. And then we find out they have hang gliders. Hang gliders from which they can use their bows. The Cahokians even have 12-man catapult-launched gliders and Greek fire.

I almost gave up, but the story was well enough written that I stuck with it. I was prepared to give it 2.5 stars and wish that Smale had filed off the serial numbers and set this in a purely fantasy world (like John Hornor Jacobs in The Incredibles for example).

And then came the final section of the book, which pulled me in completely and made me tear through the last 50 or 60 pages. He took the story in an unexpected direction and the ending is rather a downer, more in line what one might expect from the second book of a trilogy, not the first, but it was very strong. Strong enough to bring the whole thing back up to average and make it likely that I'll read the rest of the books when they come out.

I still wish he'd written this as a pure fantasy, though. ( )

I won this book from Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

This novel seems to totally misunderstand the concept of an alternate reality book. The great Roman Empire has not fallen and many years down the road Rome has decided to expand westward. A legion is sent to what we know as the Americas on a recon mission looking for gold.

What ensues is a Dances With Wolves -- Roman style. The protagonist is spared his life, adapts to the local native tribe's way of life, teaches them some new things and, well I don't want to give any spoilers away. And that's basically it. Since the story focuses on Marcellinus Gaius as an individual, you aren't swept away into what is an obviously different history than what we know. Aside from some Roman names thrown in and the occasional mention of past wars this novel could be set at any time period in history.

This is book one, so character development is truly in its early stage. As mentioned Marcellinus is the protagonist but the supporting characters are still in their infancy and will maybe develop more in subsequent books.

Overall I was disappointed with this novel. ( )

Alternate history in which Roman Empire endures to 1200s, Christianity is a minor religion and a legion is sent to search for gold in New Hesperia (North America). The legion is destroyed by a mound building culture that has invented gliders and independently developed Greek Fire. The one survivor trains their warriors in roman tactics to use against the Iroquois. Since it is part of a planned trilogy the ending leaves many stray threads. ( )

The author has created a terse tour-de-force by combining factual history of Native Americans and roman legionnaire technology forging a compelling alternative historical narrative. Gaius Marcellinus Praetor of the XXXIII Hesperia Roman Legion leads his troops into the forests of New Hesperia searching for gold for the Imperium. The Legion, harassed and hungry, halts by the villages of the Cahokian Nation. Foolishly they attack and are decimated; Gaius is its sole survivor. The Roman Standard with its eagle on top becomes a trophy for the tribe. He is allowed to live in order to teach Roman military technology. A horrible slaughter ensues through stealth by the Iroquois who sneak into the village As the Cahokian natives fight back, they push on to the river to be met by Norse warships manned by the fierce Iroquois. In the end the Cahokians force a retreat. In the melee the chief’s son is crippled. The chief blames the war machines and Gauis’ Roman technology for exacerbating an already volatile situation. Gaius is demoted and left to gather and burn the dead while the Chief proceeds to seek revenge accompanied by the bird-woman Sisika. The is a spellbinding read that will engage you to the very end. ( )

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

When I was a kid, I used to love watching old Roman movies. These were big epic stories about both the struggles of trying to civilize the world, a world which often did not want the civilization efforts, and the moral turmoil within the Roman Empire itself. Clash of Eagles reminds me of these movies because it is epic in style and addresses many of the same issues.

The beginning is almost too typical in the way the Romans work, and how they interact with those not of Rome both in the ranks and outside of them. That isn’t to say it’s poorly written by a long stretch. I found the characterization both of Gaius Publius Marcellinus and of his troops wonderful from the start. The tension between auxiliary and citizen troops is well-written while I marked one action scene as excellent because it focused on what happen before and after but the actual action was swift and decisive. No long drawn out descriptions of what must have taken seconds to do.

Clearly I was enjoying the book, but in the back of my mind were grumbles at the portrayal of those native to the Americas (where this alternate history has Gaius undertaking his expedition). Imagine my surprise, then, when the book turns on its head (avoiding spoilers), and reveals the typical, and false, ideas about other cultures to be character, not author, beliefs.

With the one exception of what I believe is too much focus on scalping where it’s been largely shown to be a rare event until European intervention, Clash of Eagles offers a full-featured and complex journey of one Roman military leader’s transition from preconception to understanding.

The book feels historically accurate in that the deviations from what is known still fall within the technological and social levels of the portrayed cultures. In the back is an appendix describing the specific changes and why, but as a reader, I was never thrown out of the story by something that felt impossible or even improbable based on the presented cultures.

And the cultural complexity, though firmly grounded in what archeological evidence has been discovered of the peoples included, is lovingly introduced in dribbles that fit with the story. We, the readers, have the perfect narrator in Gaius because he discovers much alongside us.

Again without spoilers, I was disappointed in how this book ends but let me clarify: What happens matches the culture and circumstances well. It is a little short-sighted, but at the same time, it is the kind of decisions people will make, especially these people. The good news is this begins a series, so it’s not the final moment. I can still have hope. It is not a failed end by any means, bringing a satisfying conclusion to the part we have just experienced. I just had hoped for a different answer, and still hold out for that hope.

You probably guessed I intend to continue with the series. It is a compelling, complex narrative, with well-drawn cultures and individuals. How could I not?

P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review. ( )

Why would the Mississippian mound-builders of pre-Columbian America create their towering earthworks? For launching hang-gliders, of course. And speaking of Columbus … forget him. If he got born at all it was under the rule of the Pax Romana because, contrary to the history you’ve read, in 211 CE the Roman co-emperor Geta was not assassinated. Geta eliminated his evil brother Caracalla and instituted reforms that prevented the Crisis of the Third Century. Which leads inevitably to the Roman invasion of America in the year 1218.

Astrophysicist Alan Smale (who must work for NASA in his spare time, considering the volume of fiction he publishes) is at his best when describing technology, both real and imagined. I liked his battles, too. This is swash-buckling, “hard SF” sword and sandal alternate history that is a lot of fun.

From page 212:
“What Marcellinus needed first and foremost was good axes. And because iron was so hard to work into steel, he turned to the idea of making bronze. Certainsly there was no shortage of copper; the women wore disks of it in their ears, and the men around their necks. In the ceremonies Marcellinus mostly avoided, he had seen dancers wearing large beaten sheets of the metal. It came from the Great Lakes, far to the northeast of Cahokia, mined there in its natural form and shaped using cold hammering rather than smelting.
“He already had tin. Tin was light and flexible and abundant in Europa; most of the Legion’s pans and cooking utensils had been made of it. Eventually he would need a local supply, but for the time being he mined his own carts and came up with thousands of tin pans, dishes, and spoons. It became another game for the endlessly useful children of Cahokia to ransack the Roman wagon train and separate out the tin.
“Bronze could be made at a much lower furnace temperature than steel. For steel getting exactly the right measure of charcoal and air into the mix was crucial, but for bronze the proportions were more forgiving - one part tin to nine parts copper, a bit of care with the melting and mixing, and that was all there was to it. Before midwinter Marcellinus was turning out bronze ax heads and hoe blades by the score.”

Roman Empire Meets Unsettled North America.

"Clash of Eagles" is an interesting take on the tale of a fish-out-of-water. Take the Roman Empire; extend its' dominance into the 1300s; run them into an unexplored North American wonderland; collide with native american civilizations...and BAM, you've got a pretty good concept for a solid story.

After seizing treasure on board Viking ships, a future emperor Hadrianus sends the 33rd legion, led by Gaius Publius Marcellinus, to 'Nova Hesperia' (New Western Land), to explore the land and find gold. Landing at Chesapica, the Romans march west, bent on finding gold, and expanding the empire.

The book succeeds though the first 15% at exposing a realistic scenario of the Romans marching across an undiscovered country. Without exposing any key plot points, Smale does a nice job building Marcellinus' relationships with the Cahokian tribe he ends up living with. And here we have the fish-out-of-water.

The book fails to get into why the Romans survived and what tidbits in history were changed due to this key factor. Once Marcellinus settles into his new home, aside from some technological and militaristic nuggets, there's very little that's alternate history.

The story is heavy on action and moderate on the development of the characters. Though definitely sets up what could make for a quality series.

I received this book free through Net Gallery. ( )

I picked up this book because it interested me and I like to watch television shows on this type of genre. In the beginning I was enthralled by the story and what was happening. Yet I then became distracted and put the book down. In fact, I stopped at chapter 6 and did not come back to the book for a while. If it was not because of my interest and the fact that I wanted to give this book once more chance then I would have stopped.

Marcellinus did nothing for me in the beginning. It took a while for me to warm up to him. If it was not for the story itself and the other characters and Marcellinus interaction with the land then I would have stopped reading.

Also, I can admire the author's expanded vocabulary but I could have done without the big words like "ignominiously" and "contemptuous". They did not really add to the story other than to just seem like the author was showing off. Overall, a slow start but it does pick up as the story progresses. ( )

Smale’s debut novel falls short of practicing the true alternate history faith yet has enough imagination and realism to recommend it.

In the year 1218, the Roman Empire has survived. Its Western European provinces has remained. It has expanded into Viking lands. There, after intercepting a Viking pirate ship returning from Vinlandia, Rome has made a welcome discovery: gold idols in the ships hold. Imperator Hadrianus III senses a new source of revenue in Nova Hesperia, as they dub North America. The Emperor needs revenue to buy influence and popularity, and he needs those to push the frontiers of the Empire to encircle the world.

So our hero, Praetor Marcellinus, is ordered to take his 33rd Legion to conquer Nova Hesperia. And there, in a confrontation with the mound-building Cahokians, that legion is wiped out, and Marcellinus becomes a prisoner in Cahokia, an ancient and once quite real city near modern day St. Louis.

The book’s plot surprised me enough that I will be vague about it. I thought Smale’s characterization, particularly how Marcellinus reconciles his actions in Cahokia with his belief that Romans will again return to Nova Hesperia, well done. Smale avoids romantic clichés in Marcellinus’ relationship with Sintikala, a woman who leads an important group in Cahokia.

The warfare in this novel – and there’s plenty – is realistic and interesting enough that I would not be surprised if it eventually inspires a wargame. The book is also supplied with maps. Smale also throws in a glossary of Roman military terms and an explanation of the Cahokian calendar.

The attitudes and brutality of the two civilizations seem historically accurate and not altered for modern sensibilities.

So what do I mean by it failing in the true alternate history faith?

First, Smale doesn’t provide any specific event that diverted events from those of our timeline. The Roman Empire’s trauma of the third century AD is avoided, but we don’t know how.

Second, Smale knowingly postulates a certain advanced piece of technology for the Cahokians that they never possessed in history.

Also, for a book that acknowledges Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel, there is no mention of disease exchange between old and new worlds.

And Smale also plays with an unhistorical notion – and modern cliché – the Warrior Babe. Though he doesn’t go all the way with it which is a blessing.

But the cultural collision Smale builds a story around is very uncommon – I’m aware of no other Romans vs. Cahokian tales. His plot is surprising. His afterword promises to open up the North American setting in future volumes of the Hesperian Trilogy, so I’m onboard for the next book in the series. ( )

If you like alternate history, here is a new first novel for you. (Smale has written short fiction previously.) It is the first volume of a trilogy.
In Smale’s novel, the Roman Empire never fell. It is the 13th century AD, and a Roman legion (the Fighting XXXIIIrd) is dispatched to newly discovered North America. The conquest goes well, until the Legion encounters the Cahokian civilization – the Mound Builders – of the Mississippi Valley. For one thing, the Cahokians have gliders. If you’ve ever wondered what tactics a legion would use against air attack, Smale has the answer.
The story is told from the point of view of the Roman praetor, unlike the multiple points of view used by Harry Turtledove, for example. I like that technique, but Smale’s approach works here. You will be alternately befuddled and enlightened along with Marcellinus.
The Late Late Roman Empire depicted here is a logical extrapolation from what really happened. Like most people, I was only vaguely aware of the Mound Builder civilization. Smale has appendices and a bibliography that helps to separate fact from fiction, and will leaving you knowing more about the real history of North America.
Smale works for NASA, and is a real rocket scientist. ( )