Ping: History buffs
 

Has anyone ever read anything by Michael Curtis Ford, specifically books by THIS author?

Also, can anyone recommend some good historical fiction books in the same vein? Thanks!

The Way Of The Gladiator by Daniel P. Mannix

More of a synopsis of the Gladiator Games, yet, a lot of stuff is done as historical fiction. One of my favorites.

I know H Turtledove is an historical fiction writer. Not from that period, but historical fiction nonetheless.

hxxp://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3DHarry%252520Turtledove%26store-name%3Dbooks/103-0595099-0259049

When it comes to historical fiction, Gore Vidal may be the best known author...

He is an actual historian, and some of his fellow historians have been critical of his entering the fictional world...but his books follow along historical lines, what he does is typically create dialogue between characters that would seem to fit along the correct lines, but that can't be cited or shown to be necessarily true...he writes on American history...not sure if that's your cup of tea...

Kevin

Thanks, guys.

Bonegavel- Turtledove is more of an alternate historian than a historical fiction writer, but I do like his stuff.

kserra- I've never read Vidal, although I know he been around forever. Was there a particular book of his that you enjoyed more than the others?

indoorsoccersim- I'll have to check that one out! I enjoy movies about gladiators, so why not a book? :D

Not really my period. All I have read is some fluff by Keegan, and the obligatory Homer, Virgil, Caesar, and Xenophon. Most of it would be considered non-fiction.

Sachmo, try Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. It is an outstanding historical fiction portrayal of the Spartans at Thermopylae.

I'd also recommend Caesar by Colleen McCullough.

I just started reading this. So far it's pretty good. I also have Tides of War by Pressfield, but have not read it yet. I tend to like alternate history more than pure history (mainly because I'm very picky about facts. I cringed when Moulder on X-Files brought up the Corioles Effect and the way water goes down a drain. I know, like they ever try to be factually correct, but that one, plus several others that have popped up in the episodes I have seen, really irked me. Anyway, that's why I prefer alternate history. :D)

Already on my wish list, coug! Thanks!

Fritz- thanks for the tips. Which Keegan are you refering to? The Face of Battle? I really enjoy his work. The Price of Admiralty was excellent.

Up through 93, I had read all of his major work, and much of his lesser known stuff. I like his easy style, and the reading is good for the enthusiast, but his lack of notation decreases the value to serious students.

Both the books you mention are good, but I am probably thinking of Mask of Command.

As far as historical fiction goes, the "Three Kingdoms" saga by Lou Guanzhong is great. It's based on real people and real events in 2nd and 3rd century China. Also the basis for the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" cash cow of games by Koei.

For another pretty interesting read try this

What If?: The World's Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been


This is one of the best essay type reads I have ever had, as it argues and brings to light a lot of things if certain events would have just moved one way or the other.

And you don't even have to go out and buy it.

hxxp://www.threekingdoms.com/

dola,

There was also a "sequal" to What If? titled, predictably, What if? 2

you might want to give Timeline by Michael Crichton a try. It's not strictly historical fiction but a large portion of the novel is historical fiction. Takes place in the 1400's or so if i recall correctly

You might enjoy the Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte, the first book is The Skystone. Basically it's an interpretation of the Arthurian mythos based on a lot of Roman influences. I don't read a lot of historical fiction (I tend to stick to straight history) but I thought that series was pretty good.

I just read this a couple months ago. Pretty good read, and I picked it up from the bargain bin at Borders for five bucks. Not a bad value at all.

Thanks, guys! I saw that What if? 2, but haven't picked it up yet.

I've liked several of Vidal's books..."1876" was the most recent I read (about 5 years ago) and I enjoyed that...it was a huge year in American history, the end of Reconstruction, the controversial election of that year, perhaps the beginning of the Gilded Age...

Another book I enjoyed quite a bit was "The Children's War"...can't recall who the author was, though I know it's a woman and this was her first book...basic story is that the Germans won WW2, controlled Europe, and a conflict is brewing against the Americans...good read, it's a large book, but it is a fast read...

I highly recommend "Almost History"...it's not a story, but rather documents and speeches that never took place but nearly did...included are Ike's speech regarding the failure of D-Day, Nixon reporting that the astronauts were lost in space, etc...filled with a lot of great little stories...



Kevin

In terms of Vidal, I always thought Lincoln was the best and Burr was pretty god too. Another author that is pretty good is Margaret George. I really liked Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles.

Yup, I would concur with ntndeacon's recommendation of Vidal's Lincoln and Burr.

I really enjoyed Lincoln as well...haven't read Burr yet...