Steven SaylorRezensionen

The Seven Wonders by Steven Saylor This was the story of Gordianus, who is just 17 and Antipater of Sidon, the world's "greatest poet" (a real historical personage), Gordianus' teacher. For reasons we don't find out until the last chapter, Antipater faked his own death and with Gordianus traveled to some ancient wonders, solving crimes along the way. The problem being for me, that several of the "mysteries" were based on Greek myths, of which I had no knowledge, so the intricate details of the crime and its subsequent resolution made no sense. I almost DNF'd this book, but I persevered. 321 pages

This story is set at the death of the Roman Republic, and the start of the civil wars from which the Empire emerged. Saylor eschews political analysis or a detailed retelling of the major historical events. Instead he develops a storyline that does bring Gordianus in contact with the famous (Pompeius, Caesar, and Cicero) but still retains a personal and intimate character.

It is well done. Arguably that plot is somewhat contrived and implausible, and serves to create dramatic scenes far more than the puzzle of a whodunnit. As to the murder at the center of the personal story, it is fairly obvious who did it, if you think logically. Saylor as usual tries to hide the truth in plain sight. The resolution is too heart-wrenching to be entirely satisfactory, but fits the author’s development of a complex dynamic between Gordianus and Meto, which spans several books.

There are too many implausibilities to make this a great story, but it is a fun book if you have any interest in Roman history.

Young Gordianus is sent on a tour of the Seven Wonders with his former tutor, the Greek poet Antipater. But Antipater fakes his death and is traveling under a false name. The pair meet adventures and mysteries at each stop, mysteries that Gordianus seems to have a talent for solving.

Imperio
Steven Saylor
Publicado: 2010 | 507 páginas
Novela Histórico
Serie: Las novelas de Roma #2

Steven Saylor retoma la historia donde la dejó en Roma novela de la que se han vendido más de 20.000 ejemplares. Las sucesivas generaciones de la familia Pinario vuelven a ser testigos y protagonistas de uno de los momentos más brillantes de la Antigüedad: el esplendor del mundo romano, desde el reinado de Augusto hasta la caída del Imperio. De esta manera, sufren en sus propias carnes las maquinaciones de Tiberio, la locura de Calígula y la decadencia de Nerón, y disfrutan de la era dorada de Trajano y Adriano. Sin ser ajenos a los momentos más dramáticos de la ciudad: el terrible incendio que la destruyó en el año 64, la persecución contra los cristianos llevada a cabo por Nerón o los sangrientos juegos de gladiadores en el Coliseo…

This book took forever to get going. If it wasn't for the setting I am not sure I would have finished it. The mystery didn't really capture me.

My least favorite of the Gordianus books so far. I really felt like I was plodding through it. I still enjoyed but I think that it was a just barely enjoyed it. I thought the first two books were plotted tighter with a more engaging central mystery. I will still be buying the 4th book but I hope that it returns to a faster pace.

This is an enjoyable story set in the context of an important historical event, as most of Saylor's books are. In this case the context, although kept at some distance, consists of the slave rebellion of Spartacus and the rise to prominence of Marcus Crassus.

The author is a classist who loves to give his readers a view of the Roman world. This is an important quality of the books but it also becomes a bit of weakness, as the protagonist Gordianus becomes more a wandering witness, a historical travel guide, than someone whose actions propel the story forward. In fact Gordianus blunders about quite a bit while he guides us through a long series of interesting locations and events (a trireme, an underground temple, a private bathhouse, a temporary arena, a funeral, a seashore cave, and a rich villa, in no particular order). It is all fun and the scenery is great, but the scenery can overwhelm the story.

The ending is a bit unsatisfactory to me. The denouement of the plot is presented in conversation by Marcus Crassus, while the culprit vanishes from the scene into a closed room (and a violent death). I think this comes about because, in defiance of the conventions of the genre, the criminal turns out to be a fundamentally uninteresting person.

Thoroughly researched, but painfully stretched narration. I read Steven Saylor's other book, The Catalina's Riddle, and I absolutely loved it. In comparison, I should say, I'm disappointed with this book.

I love history, and Roman history is a favorite subject of mine. It has always seemed very similar to the modern day United States to me (and remember, Rome fell). This book gives you a history of Roman culture, historical characters, and an interesting mystery as well! Saylor has done his research, and it shows. Set in the Rome of 80 B.C.E, so Rome is still a republic. The main character, Gordianus the Finder, is Sam Spade with a toga. The characters, actual or created, are realistic and interesting. it is a good historical novel as well as a very good mystery. It shows the wealthy upper class of Rome, as well as the seamy side (sometimes the same, just like things are today!). On to book number 2 in the series!

A collection of stories written as a prequel to the first Finder book. Not the best ever written, but not bad.

Easy to read short stories with Gordanius solving various mysteries. Some of the mysteries are easily solved; others not. This was a pleasant departure from the regular Finder novels, sort of like a palate cleanser. A lot of Roman culture is contained in each story, which I really enjoyed.

Caesar and Cleopatra, intrigue and loss....another good Saylor outing! Bethesda disappears early on in the book, as they journey to Alexandria in hopes of curing her mystery ailment....and I spent the whole novel wondering if she was dead or not. Fear no spoiler here; read this book yourself.

Middle of the road read, the 12th in the Gordanius series....I didn't feel a lot of suspense, just felt like the characters were doing the same old thing. I'm eagerly anticipating the Roma Sub Rosa #0, the prequel to it all, out now...or soon, anyway :)

I skipped a few books from this series since it seemed to be dragging just a bit, and that may have done the trick. This seems like the old Gordanius stories I remember...but with a undercurrent of melancholy. I'll definitely be going to the library to read #10 to see if Bathsheba gets well.

ugh. NO STARS.....too boring, too many politics. Hopefully the 6th in the series will be better. This book got a lot of skimming.

A slow starter but finished strong. Saylor brings his characters to life, whether they are actual historical figures (Catalina) or products of his imagination (Gordanius). I just wish the books didn't have so much time in between stories...this one took place about 10 years after book #2. I'd like to see it year by year, as Gordanius is 47 years old in this one. He's getting OLD!

Just as good as Roma, the first one in this two book series. Historically accurate, thrilling, and memorable fictional characters.

Much better than the first Gordanius novel, this book takes us inside Crassus' villa and makes us root for his slaves. The mystery was well thought out; I could not figure it out before it came to the conclusion, which is a good thing. I have read some reviews that found the presence of Eco annoying, but I enjoyed Gordanius having a sidekick.
I'll be looking forward to the 3rd book in this series.

A collection of short stories with simple, but well constructed plots, written in a entertaining style. I found this to be excellent travel reading. The characters of course lack the depth that they get in one of the longer books, they are quickly sketched. But they are believable.

In 46 BC, while Julius Caesar is preparing a number of triumphs in honor of his military victories, his wife Calpurnia summons Gordianus the Finder to investigate the possibility that Caesar is in mortal danger from persons unknown; her seer has said this is the case and the first investigator that she hired has been murdered, evidently proof of the danger. Gordianus, now aged 65, at first demurs as he is more or less retired, but when he discovers that the earlier investigator was none other than his friend Hieronymus the Scapegoat of Massilia, he feels duty-bound to find out who killed him. But danger lurks in more than one corner of the vast city of Rome, and Caesar is by no means the only target…. One thing that I love about Steven Saylor’s sub Rosa series, of which this is the tenth novel, is how the author manages to combine lively and occasionally raucous depictions of life in ancient Rome with meticulous scholarship, drawing on contemporary sources to incorporate specific real-life incidents into his story. He also provides us with an author’s note detailing his research, something that the historian in me appreciates. That said, the true joy of these books is the full humanity with which he imbues his characters (both real and fictional) and the way in which he brings that ancient time to vibrant life. It is probably best to read these books in order, just in terms of keeping historical events in perspective, but it isn’t absolutely necessary to do so; recommended!

Gordianus the Finder is pleased when an old acquaintance from his travels to Alexandria, Dio the philosopher, arrives at his house, although astounded by the fact that Dio is dressed as a woman and accompanied by a eunuch priest of the Goddess Cybele. Dio, it seems, was part of a delegation of Egyptians sent to Rome to beg the Senators to stay out of Egyptian politics, but almost all of his compatriots have either been killed or scared off and Dio asks for Gordianus’s help to, most immediately, stay alive. Alas, Gordianus has no help to offer and sure enough, Dio is murdered that very night. This situation causes a guilt-filled Gordianus to do what he does best - hunt for the truth with respect to Dio’s murder, but what he finds may not be to his liking…. I read Steven Saylor’s sub Roma series starting in the 1990s, but missed a couple of books along the way, including this one. I’ve always enjoyed Mr. Saylor’s writing, infused as it is with accurate and lively details of life in Ancient Rome (in this case, 56 BCE), and the way in which he weaves the fictional lives of his main characters into real-life events and people of that time and place. One is reminded, too, of just how raucous Roman life was, and how very ribald! The whole series is recommended, of course.½

Nada es lo que parece a primera vista en el segundo caso de la serie de misterio de la antigua Roma.
La desconsolada viuda del poderoso Marco Craso, el hombre más rico de Roma, desciende al barrio más impresentable de Roma para que el ahora famoso y sagaz detective Gordiano el Sabueso investigue un extraño crimen cometido en una de las villas de su difunto esposo. Pero nada es lo que parece.

Corre el año 48 a.C. Y Julio César se halla involucrado en las querellas dinásticas entre Ptolomeo y Cleopatra, hermanos rivales por el trono de Egipto, mientras sostiene un apasionado romance con la reina del Nilo. César continúa enfrentado políticamente con el general Pompeyo, quien a su vez planea un violento ataque a ese reino. Allí también se encuentran Gordianus, el detective romano, con su esposa Bethesda, quien padece una enfermedad y espera curarse en ls aguas del río sagrado.

El Imperio se tambalea bajo la presión de la guerra civil entre Julio César y Pompeyo, mientras el detective Gordiano investiga el asesinato de la joven y hermosa adivina Casandra. Gordiano descubrirá una conspiración en la que están implicadas algunas de las damas más poderosas de la ciudad. Personajes como el propio César, Cicerón o Marco Antonio y escenarios como Roma, Alejandría o Egipto nos acompañan en una apasionante historia que podría haber cambiado el destino de Roma.

"Alea jacta est.". César ha cruzado el Rubicón, el pequeño río que separa la provincia gala de la península itálica, y se dirige con sus ejércitos hacia Roma, donde su rival, Pompeyo, está a punto de abandonar la ciudad y dejar a los romanos sin protección ni gobierno. En medio de la creciente confusión, uno de los primos favoritos de Pompeyo aparece muerto en el jardín de Gordiano el Sabueso, el más célebre investigador de Roma, quie´n no tendrá otra opción de hacerse cargo de unos de los casos más difíciles y comprometidos de su carrera. Gran conocedor de la naturaleza humana y peculiar páter familias -sus hijos adoptados y esclavos manumisos retratan a un hombre indiferente a los valores tradicionales-, no hay rincón de la ciudad eterna que se resista a la mirada indagadora de Gordiano. Sin embargo, a sus sesenta y un años, en un clima de guerra civil enrarecido por la volatilidad de las alianzas políticas, Gordiano deberá hacer acopio de todas sus fuerzas y demostrar que no ha perdidoni un ápice de su renombrada inteligencia.