Empire of Ashes by Nicholas Nicastro

[jan]

Has anyone read the Penguin novel about Alexander, written by Nicholas Nicastro? I found a copy of it yesterday, perused it a bit, got upset by his version of the Gordian Knot, and then read a few more pages only to decide not to buy it yet. Do anyone of you know this book? Thanks. The title is Empire of Ashes, costs only 7.99, available at Border's new store in Scottsdale, Arizona.

[marcus]

It's not a very good book, Jan. I picked up a copy very cheaply, and was pleased that I didn't spend more.I have to say that there are bits of the book that aren't bad. Nicastro has a couple of interesting ideas, but doesn't carry them through very well (in fact, he doesn't carry them through, full stop).In short, most disappointing, and not worth the money.ATBMarcus

[marcus]

It's not a very good book, Jan. I picked up a copy very cheaply, and was pleased that I didn't spend more.I have to say that there are bits of the book that aren't bad. Nicastro has a couple of interesting ideas, but doesn't carry them through very well (in fact, he doesn't carry them through, full stop).In short, most disappointing, and not worth the money.ATBMarcus

[jan]

Hi Marcus, Should I just steal it?

[jan]

Hi Marcus, Should I just steal it?

[jan]

Sorry, Marcus, for being so cryptic. I did steal it already and am reading it...like Katie Holmes says in either Hello or O.k., occasionally you have to steal a muffin.

[jan]

Sorry, Marcus, for being so cryptic. I did steal it already and am reading it...like Katie Holmes says in either Hello or O.k., occasionally you have to steal a muffin.

[Athanasios]

Jan,I am very intrigued to know what upset you about his thoughts of events concerning the Gordion Knot? I have not read the book but am VERY interested in this event...As far as I am aware there are two schools of thought, one, the knot was cut and two, it was untied by the removal of the pin. I opt for the former - it ties in with his personality, but also, Alexander may not have known how the know was tied, but if it was simply a matter of removing the pin, surely the locals who would have been familiar with this knot (many believe to be a version of the Turk's Knot), it could have been loosened by anybody...Unless becoming ruler of the known world was not so appealing to the Phrygians!Regards,
AthaRegards,
Atha

[Athanasios]

Jan,I am very intrigued to know what upset you about his thoughts of events concerning the Gordion Knot? I have not read the book but am VERY interested in this event...As far as I am aware there are two schools of thought, one, the knot was cut and two, it was untied by the removal of the pin. I opt for the former - it ties in with his personality, but also, Alexander may not have known how the know was tied, but if it was simply a matter of removing the pin, surely the locals who would have been familiar with this knot (many believe to be a version of the Turk's Knot), it could have been loosened by anybody...Unless becoming ruler of the known world was not so appealing to the Phrygians!Regards,
AthaRegards,
Atha

[jan]

Hello Atha,I am reading this book through from first to finish, and am nearly at the end. The Gordion Knot unfortunately is mild stuff in comparison to the rest of the "poisoned pen" approach to a fictional piece on Alexander. I had been thumbing through the book first to see if I would want to purchase it, and the paragraphs about the Gordion Knot and another about Diogenes so offended my sensibilities that I decided not to buy the book. And then I found a one-liner which proved to me that this author had been reading my posts at another discussion group as he quotes something I had said about Alexander in describing another character, so I simply walked out with the book in hand realizing that I am being used without my permission.So I have nearly completed the book. It is one of those type of books that if one says "don't bother to read it, everyone will attempt to read it" and I find the author's point of view rather interesting in many ways, but totally flawed and obviously one of the antiAlexander authors of the world.I have found several paragraphs that seem to me to be pointing a finger at me personally as I can always tell when my own words are flung back in my face. So I have been keeping a running score by using marker pen and highlighting the areas where I know it is intended for me to understand this point of view.It has been making me laugh more than anything else, as I realize now how real hostility there is towards Alexander, and it made me very happy to have had my own personalized experience in discovering memories that would give me a sense of the real truth. I just finished reading the decision about the Brandichae group, and got an insight as a result as to why it is that Alexander decimated the entire group. So it is a prodding type of book that helps me to better understand some of Alexander's actions that cause problems for other people. It would be an interesting book to debate but his coarse vulgarity and his contempt for Alexander is like a fingernail scratching a chalkboard in many ways. He is very despicably annoying in his perverted way.However, he does do the one thing I like most which is to be so implausible that nobody could ever believe a word of it, and it is a reminder that this is just one more "one man's opinion". Very salty in many ways, and possibly tempting me to write my own rebuttal, or wait for others who may be so challenged. As you know, I love a challenge!

[jan]

Hello Atha,I am reading this book through from first to finish, and am nearly at the end. The Gordion Knot unfortunately is mild stuff in comparison to the rest of the "poisoned pen" approach to a fictional piece on Alexander. I had been thumbing through the book first to see if I would want to purchase it, and the paragraphs about the Gordion Knot and another about Diogenes so offended my sensibilities that I decided not to buy the book. And then I found a one-liner which proved to me that this author had been reading my posts at another discussion group as he quotes something I had said about Alexander in describing another character, so I simply walked out with the book in hand realizing that I am being used without my permission.So I have nearly completed the book. It is one of those type of books that if one says "don't bother to read it, everyone will attempt to read it" and I find the author's point of view rather interesting in many ways, but totally flawed and obviously one of the antiAlexander authors of the world.I have found several paragraphs that seem to me to be pointing a finger at me personally as I can always tell when my own words are flung back in my face. So I have been keeping a running score by using marker pen and highlighting the areas where I know it is intended for me to understand this point of view.It has been making me laugh more than anything else, as I realize now how real hostility there is towards Alexander, and it made me very happy to have had my own personalized experience in discovering memories that would give me a sense of the real truth. I just finished reading the decision about the Brandichae group, and got an insight as a result as to why it is that Alexander decimated the entire group. So it is a prodding type of book that helps me to better understand some of Alexander's actions that cause problems for other people. It would be an interesting book to debate but his coarse vulgarity and his contempt for Alexander is like a fingernail scratching a chalkboard in many ways. He is very despicably annoying in his perverted way.However, he does do the one thing I like most which is to be so implausible that nobody could ever believe a word of it, and it is a reminder that this is just one more "one man's opinion". Very salty in many ways, and possibly tempting me to write my own rebuttal, or wait for others who may be so challenged. As you know, I love a challenge!

[Athanasios]

Jan,You should have mentioned all this before you made reference to having stolen the book - now I am totally understanding!Please, do keep me informed as and when you decide to approach him on the special references he has made to your text.I know what you mean about having to read something that isn't worth it. I went and bought Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. OK, it wasn't a disaster and well done on picking a universal theme and having a reasonal plot, with suspense. However, as far as writing style goes, it was, for me, very disappointing. I felt that I was reading a script for a Hollywood movie rather than a book. I mean, imagine how much more creative you can be with the written word...However, I am sure that he has more intellect than that and probably wrote middle brow to appeal to the masses.Regards,
Atha

[Athanasios]

Jan,You should have mentioned all this before you made reference to having stolen the book - now I am totally understanding!Please, do keep me informed as and when you decide to approach him on the special references he has made to your text.I know what you mean about having to read something that isn't worth it. I went and bought Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. OK, it wasn't a disaster and well done on picking a universal theme and having a reasonal plot, with suspense. However, as far as writing style goes, it was, for me, very disappointing. I felt that I was reading a script for a Hollywood movie rather than a book. I mean, imagine how much more creative you can be with the written word...However, I am sure that he has more intellect than that and probably wrote middle brow to appeal to the masses.Regards,
Atha

[jan]

The DaVinci Code is set to be released in 2006 as some ads are already appearing on movie screens now.So you are probably quite correct about the author's having written it for movie rights.I liked the book Angels and Demons much better as it was much more tantalizing to me. It takes place in Rome and the Vatican, and has a much more sinister plot. Very intriguing.

[jan]

The DaVinci Code is set to be released in 2006 as some ads are already appearing on movie screens now.So you are probably quite correct about the author's having written it for movie rights.I liked the book Angels and Demons much better as it was much more tantalizing to me. It takes place in Rome and the Vatican, and has a much more sinister plot. Very intriguing.