Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

This is the discussion thread for the September Group Read of Gordon Doherty's Strategos: Born in the Borderlands.

When the falcon has flown, the mountain lion will charge from the east, and all Byzantium will quake. Only one man can save the empire . . . the Haga!

1046 AD. The Byzantine Empire teeters on full-blown war with the Seljuk Sultanate. In the borderlands of Eastern Anatolia, a land riven with bloodshed and doubt, young Apion's life is shattered in one swift and brutal Seljuk night raid. Only the benevolence of Mansur, a Seljuk farmer, offers him a second chance of happiness.

Yet a hunger for revenge burns in Apion's soul, and he is drawn down a dark path that leads him right into the heart of a conflict that will echo through the ages.

I'll be reading both group reads in September. I may start with the other group read and let Darcy lead you all out onto the racetrack come September. :-)
I'll lead out the racegoers on the Medieval read.

Looking forward to hearing what others think of this book. I've read both Strategos 1 & 2...excellent writing by Mr Doherty.

We will be lucky enough to have the author along on the discussion. And we'll be doing an interview on the group blog as well, so lots of nice author interaction on this group read. :)

I'll try and find time to join in with this. I have a load of histfic books to read, but I'm a fan of Gordon's writing and it would be nice to join in.

Terri wrote: "I'll be reading both group reads in September. I may start with the other group read and let Darcy lead you all out onto the racetrack come September. :-)
"

Like a horse with a burr in its saddle.

Darcy wrote: "
"Like a horse with a burr..."

And that burr would be too many books so little time?

I don't know if anyone else will get this but......For some reason every time I say Strategos, I have the deep voice from the God of War video games saying it...only instead of *deep voice* Kratos! I am saying Strategos. I actually kinda like it since they are my favourite games.
The brain works in mysterious ways.

Terri wrote: "I don't know if anyone else will get this but......For some reason every time I say Strategos, I have the deep voice from the God of War video games saying it...only instead of *deep voice* Kratos!..."

I do the same myself. And it's got to be with a hard g as well :)

Terri wrote: "Darcy wrote: "
"Like a horse with a burr..."

And that burr would be too many books so little time?"

Yes, a relatively common breed I would venture.

P.S. I can't speak to the games, I'm not a playa. lol

Terri wrote: "... For some reason every time I say Strategos, I have the deep voice from the God of War video games saying it...only instead of *deep voice* Kratos! I am saying Strategos. I actually kinda like it since they are my favourite games. ..."

Did you play God of War? I never finished the 3rd one because my fingers could not keep up with all the buttons pounding anymore.

And this one a compliment for Gordon Doherty, that cover of Strategos: Born in the Borderlands is very beautiful, I wish I bought the print version instead of the digital one.

Lia wrote: "And this one a compliment for Gordon Doherty, that cover of Strategos: Born in the Borderlands is very beautiful, I wish I bought the print version instead of the digital one.

[bookcover:Strategos..."

Thanks Lia - I hope the story is as enjoyable as the cover for you!
The design actually started out as a pencil etching by my (not very artistic) hand, then the chaps at GB Print turned it into such an eye-catching end product.

So do you all wait until September 1st to start reading, or do you begin whenever you're ready? Just so I know when to start getting nervous...

Some may start it early but most will wait till september as they have other books to read.

Mark wrote: "Some may start it early but most will wait till september as they have other books to read."
Ah, yes, tell me about it. I suffer from TBR-list angst.

Just got to hang on in there. Lols

Good things happen to them who wait.

If I start early I don't even admit it.

Lia wrote: "Terri wrote: "... For some reason every time I say Strategos, I have the deep voice from the God of War video games saying it...only instead of *deep voice* Kratos! I am saying Strategos. I actuall..."

GoW was the ONLY game I ever play. Of course I am done them now so no longer play. But my fondness never wavered.
:)

Lia wrote: "And this one a compliment for Gordon Doherty, that cover of Strategos: Born in the Borderlands is very beautiful, I wish I bought the print version instead of the digital one...."



I'm nutty for the next cover. Book Two Strategos: Rise of the Golden Heart.

There is no other cover like that right now and breaks the mold of the guy standing in period costume covers that frequent the genre.
I loves me a good cover, and that is my favourite this year - don't get a swelled ego now, Gordon.

The cover on 2nd book looks very artistic indeed. [Thumbs Up]

Gordon wrote: "So do you all wait until September 1st to start reading, or do you begin whenever you're ready? Just so I know when to start getting nervous..."

Alas, I am so far behind that I may skip over the August read, pick up this one with the group, then tackle the August read in October....

But no posting before Sept. 1, I promise.

I am a relatively new member, but I don't think Terri has yet permitted the barbecuing of any author kind enough to participate in the discussions. But just in case, you may want to keep a stock of mead ready to placate the advancing hordes. ;-)

C.P. wrote: "Gordon wrote: "So do you all wait until September 1st to start reading, or do you begin whenever you're ready? Just so I know when to start getting nervous..."

Alas, I am so far behind that I may ..."
Since I have already read the book can I start bbqing Gordon early? :-) Cheers mate.

C.P. wrote: ". I am a relatively new member, but I don't think Terri has yet permitted the barbecuing of any author kind enough to participate in the discussions. But just in case, you may want to keep a stock of mead ready to placate the advancing hordes. ;-) ..."

Lol! No, we must not barbecue our authors. :-)
I always let them know to expect negative feedback as well as positive. But I assure them, and say to members, don't be disrespectful when leaving any negative feedback. We will always defend our members right to express their opinion, negative or positive, we just ask that....welll.......we ask this.....

Say what you mean, don't say it mean.

Terri wrote: "C.P. wrote: ". I am a relatively new member, but I don't think Terri has yet permitted the barbecuing of any author kind enough to participate in the discussions. But just in case, you may want to ..."

Bit of bbq sauce, a sprinkle of herbs...lovely!

In all seriousness, I do fully expect that some of you will like Strategos and some won't. It would be a strange and rather dull world if we all thought alike. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts, and my fridge is stocked high with mead...as always!

Bit of bbq sauce, a sprinkle of herbs...lovely!

I will come to your defense when necessary :-)

I'm in for this read.

Three days until delivery!

Gordon wrote: " . It would be a strange and rather dull world if we all thought alike. ...."

Precisely.

Gordon wrote: "My fridge is stocked high with mead...as always."

Sounds like we'll be having the after-book party at Gordon's house.... ;-)

Look forward to starting the book.

Right, now that I've finished all the books I'd planned to read in August, I'll be starting this tonight.

I'm still waiting for my copy to come in the mail. I imagine it will only be a few more days.

I'm really impressed by the quality of the print, but does everyone else seemingly have a 0.5point extra gap between each paragraph?

Do you mean quality of the printing? Do you have paper or digital, Nick?

It's paper back.

Cool. I will let you know if mine has a similar formatting when it arrives.

Only two formats are available, paperback and eBook. Apologies for the paragraph spacing - it is there in all editions.

I've got the kindle edition. I actually like the spacing. Makes it easier on the eye. Less crammed in!

Gordon wrote: "Only two formats are available, paperback and eBook. Apologies for the paragraph spacing - it is there in all editions."

Hi Gordon,
Is it a formatting the publishing program has for all their books?

Gordon wrote: "Only two formats are available, paperback and eBook. Apologies for the paragraph spacing - it is there in all editions."

At first it distracted me, made my eye skip after every paragraph, but by the time the prologue was finished I was used to it!

I was just curious if I'd perhaps ordered a large print or something without knowing.

I agree with Troy about the spacing in general though.

Message to members

There was going to be an interview with Gordon posted to the group's blog before this group read started.
But because things got hectic for me this month I did not get the interview questions to Gordon early enough.

There is still an interview happening though. It will be posted to the Blog around the 4th of September. I will let everyone know when it is up.

The formatting is down to yours truly :)
I thought it was easier on the eye, but then a few folk pointed out that it was non-standard. Hope it doesn't affect the read too much.

Everything started out as non-standard at some point. You might be starting a new trend.....you never know! :)

These Scots. So rebellious. :D

If by non-standard formatting, do you mean double spacing between paragraphs like in the amazon sample? I don't think that set-up would be any problem, no more so than standard formatting.

Oh dear - what have I done? :)

I've started a debate on line-spacing... sorry!

Goodness, I just asked a simple yes or no question; I didn't mean to start a debate.

Nick wrote: "Oh dear - what have I done? :)

I've started a debate on line-spacing... sorry!"

After you mentioned it, I noticed it in Gordon's sequel.

Jane wrote: "If by non-standard formatting, do you mean double spacing between paragraphs like in the amazon sample? I don't think that set-up would be any problem, no more so than standard formatting."

It'll bug me. lol. I don't like avant garde formatting. :)

(I promise I won't say so in my review though Gordon!)

Good news! Gordon found a moment in his busy schedule to get the interview back to me after all. Thanks Gordon!!

I will be posting it to the blog today and will post a link there when it is up. It is an enjoyable interview. I am sure it will pump you up even more to read the book..or to read the author for the first time.