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Summary: Gates of Fire
Review: Since reading this book, I'm obsessed with the battle at Thermopylae. Simply a great book.
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Summary: Masterful Account
Review: Steven Pressfield has provided readers with an enthrally and inspiring account of a battle that took place over 2000 years ago. He shows great skill in bringing the events and characters to life with vitality. I found it to remind me of my favorite author-James Michener. While not as sweeping and far reaching as a Michener saga, this book transport the reader to ancient Greece and tales the story of how a small group of Spartan warriors sacrifice all but honor in defense of home and family. Mr. Pressfields research and story telling abilities are top notch. I am anxiously looking forward to the release of his next historical novel set to come out in April,2000.
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Summary: Wow! The Best Historical Fiction I have Read in a Long Time!
Review: This book is something else. Anyone who enjoys history coming to life will love this book. Our culture today would be so different had the Persians defeated the Greeks. This read will not disappoing you.
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Summary: One of the best I've read
Review: What is amazing about this book is that before you even get started you know they are all going to die. However, knowing that still does not prepare you for the brutal ending to this story. The author does such a wonderful job developing the characters that long before they are preparing for their inevitable death in the final battle, the reader feels as though he has grown up with all of the Spartan warriors. Very well written yet surprising how this book has stayed relatively anonymous...Wouldn't this make a great movie?
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Summary: If you love history and/or historical fiction...
Review: ...this is a great book to read, even if the time period isn't your favorite historical period. It's written from an interesting perspective and in such detail that it makes you wonder how much of it could actually have been true. It is certainly easy to imagine the scenes the author describes. The depiction of this type of excruciating warfare was simply fascinating. My only disappointment is that the end didn't go into further detail about the Spartans' "comeback"--or perhaps that would be a sequel?
Rating:
Summary: Gates of Fire
Review: This is the best piece of historical fiction I've read yet! Indepth character development makes you feel every spear thrust, brother lost, and bloody day won. The seven days held at the Hot Gates whizzed by as I drank page by page into the wee hours of the morning.A definite must read for any soldier or student of military history. Inspiring!
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Summary: epic and moving even for the modern hoplite.
Review: With a wealth of experience as a former special forces soldier and then a housing cop I found the telling of this soldier's tale outstanding. About a dozen of us actually own our own Hoplite panoply. We drill and spend our weekends as the ancient hoplites did. Every ounce of this novel rings true to what it's like to live and wage war in this gear. Spartan training had to be that rigorous to endure wearing 70 pounds of bronze for even a day. The small foibles of this novel are easy to ignore as the content of it is so engaging. Making as heroic a stand as the three hundred did at Thermopylae is not unknown to mankind in war. But let us not forget, this battle was the first of this kind. There are many dozens of particularly moving parts in this book that will remain with you in their imagery long after you have finished it. This battle has for 2500 years begged a good retelling, and it has found it's voice in "gates of fire". Today the pass doesn't resemble at all the pass in 480BC. It is however easy to imagine looking out across the plain and the stones there, smelling the sulphur springs the pass as it once was. Reading this book spares you the trip, as it comes to life in this novel. If they ever make this into a film, which would be a great injustice if they don't, we would lend our hoplons to the front ranks of this battle just to live it as it was. In reading this novel it would appear Mr. Pressfield seems to have spent as many weekends in my Hoplite armor as I have. He captured the Spartan culture nearly perfectly, for it was the women who would address their husbands and sons when they said "come back with your shield, or on it".
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Summary: History lives
Review: Just finished this book on the recommendation of a friend. Was skeptical at first and found the early going a bit tough but quickly got consumed in the education about Spartan and Greek culture. The payoff is the final third of the book, which is mind-blowing. If you like this genre, check out Killer Angels, the historical novel about Gettysburg.
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Summary: Powerful, suspenseful novel. A sheer joy to read
Review: This is an amazing book. Rarely have I cared more for the charachters of a book. An incredible profile of courage, honor and the power in sticking to ones beliefs. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Pedestrian
Review: Author has researched and imagined his topic well. I could have learned a lot. The situations are interesting, but characterization is regretfully superficial and the writing dull rather than vibrant or evocative. I gave up after a few chapters and donated the book to my local library. Young people might still enjoy it.
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