Steven Pressfield's "Virtues of War" Novel

[Thalestris]

Greetings,Would anyone here be familiar with Pressfield's novel, "Virtues of War"? I believe it will be available in three months, but does anyone know the style, thematic approach, or angle in which Pressfield wrote in *Alexander's voice*! It is a narrative.

[xxx]

Check out his website and the excerpts here:http://www.stevenpressfield.com/books/v ... rptGeneral Consensus - pretty bad based on the excerpts.

[rjstewart72]

just received the advanced reading copy of this book. will post more after having read a few chapters.

[jan]

Hi, One nice thing about Steve is that he provides a space for messages and responds to his mail. I notice that Tre has provided a link. In his interview page, he explains why it is that he chooses to write this book in the first person voice. I asked him why he had decided to use Alexander as his choice for a narrative voice, and he told me that he wanted the experience of writing in a person's minder greater than his own. Interesting, hm? He discussed virtures of war in Gates of Fire, so I imagine that this book is an enlargement on that theme.And advance copies are supposed to be available on ebay.

[ruthaki]

I was given an advance reading copy for my birthday and i'm almost finished reading it. I was waiting to comment or write a review til I was done, but I can tell you that I am totally captivated. It's an amazing book and brilliant writing. His explanations (in Alexander's voice) of battle strategies etc are so fantastic that you can't stop turning the pages. I am truly impressed. This book, to me, is a treasure!

[yiannis]

There're mixed critiques on Pressfield's books. But what seems to be a common line is that he was never able to repeat the success (both literarily as well as commercially) of the "Gates of Fire".
I have also read "Tides of War" but haven't felt shivers down my spine like I did with the Gates.I'll also buy "The Virtues of War" and see what happens...

[marcus]

I think Ruth is the first person to have had a positive thing to say about the book. However, she is also the only one, I think, who has had more to go on than the excerpts on Pressfield's website.I wasn't greatly enthused by the excerpts; however, I shall of course buy the book and read it ... and to be fair to Pressfield, I've enjoyed two out the three books of his that I've read so far (and I didn't exactly *not* enjoy "Tides...", it's just that I thought he could have done so much better had he not tried to be so clever!).All the bestMarcus

[ruthaki]

I haven't read Pressfields other books but I definitely intend to do so. I am already planning to re-read "Virtues of War" it is so compelling (to me, anyway). And yesterday I emailed the author and immediately got a very nice reply. What a thrill! Just what I needed in a moment of discouragement over my own work!

[marcus]

Hi Ruth,Well, it's definitely worth reading "Gates of Fire". "Last of the Amazons" is quite fun, although not as good. And don't bother with "Tides of War" unless you can't find something else to read.(I've never read "The Legend of Bagger Vance", by the way, so have no idea whether it's any good. Haven't seen the film, either).All the bestMarcus

[jan]

Hi Ruthaki,Surely good to hear such good things about this book. How lucky you have an advance copy and can tell us about it. Thanks so much.

[ruthaki]

Tonight I was reading the passages about the Battle of Gaugamela and it was absolutely breath-taking. So visual! I felt I was right in the midst of the battle!

[yiannis]

Indeed he has a gift in animating battle scenes. Those who have read "Gates of Fire" must have felt it.
Can't wait to read his Alexander book...