Comments on: Review: Warrior Prince by J P Bowie

By: vashtan

vashtan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:24:58 +0000

@Ken: jeez, like he couldn’t afford a speech therapist (or whatever the word is in English). But I’ve learnt to stay away from the vodka when I review. AS TEMPTING AS IT IS.

By: Ken Craigside

Ken Craigside — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:04:32 +0000

Vashtan, your drinking comment reminded me of a game that Princeton boys were reputed to have played whenever George W. Bush gave a speech. They drank a shot each time he misspronounced nuclear as “nucular.” I remember one of his speeches when I was sure that the poor boys must have ended up in the hospital.

By: Vashtan

Vashtan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:47:08 +0000

Thanks for digging out the number. I knew 20 years for Roman citizens, but auxiliaries… less sure about their organization here.

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:27:37 +0000

Ah, right. Yes, auxiliaries were treated differently – good job it was late Republic and not Empire as advertised, auxiliaries had to do 25 years by then!

By: vashtan

vashtan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:37:13 +0000

@Kate: It’s a bit more complicated – Lucius isn’t really a Roman citizen, so that would make him an auxiliary soldier (or do I remember wrong)? And I read that auxiliaries are serving for around 6 years in the time of the servile wars (late Roman Republic).

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:02:05 +0000

Regarding the hero’s term in the legions, after Marius’ army reforms the standard length of service was 20 years. It *could* vary, depending on circumstance, but that was more due to the fact that armies were loyal to a specific general (Marius, Sulla, Caesar, Crassus, Pompey) rather than from any personal decision the individual soldier might make. So there were ‘down times’ when soldiers would go home, but they were still enlisted men and were on call.

By: vashtan

vashtan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:44:54 +0000

Thank you! And that makes me feel like *I*’m not alone. The book did very little to me, but I tried extra- hard to be fair.

By: Yach

Yach — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:23:03 +0000

Great, interesting review as always Vash. I truly enjoy reading your thoughts, since you go straight to the point and don’t try to paint a pretty picture when there is not enough paint to paint it with. (If you get what I mean, heh.)

I have read this book a good while ago, and I know what you mean by “oh dear, still X pages left”. I know some people would enjoy this kind of writing style, but it was not for me. Like you, I prefer the more realistic touch.

Also, as much as I tried to get into this book, the plot and characters unfortunately did nothing for me. I hate soap, and this was soap. Hence why I am glad to see a review like this. Makes me feel like I’m not alone with my thoughts.