Dawn of Empire [Mass Market Paperback]

Sam Barone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2007

Three thousand years before the birth of Christ. An epic conflict is about to begin. The price of victory? Civilization. The price of defeat, a return to the dark ages. The hopes of civilization rest on one man's shoulders: Eskkar, once a barbarian, now a warrior in charge of defending a small town which lies in the path of a vast barbarian war party. The last time the invaders came to Orak, they spared no one and the tiny candle of trade and agriculture that had begun there, the first in all of human history, was extinguished. But Eskkar and Trella, the beautiful slave girl he has been given by the grateful townsfolk, and the raggle-taggle army he has inherited are not going to flee. They will fight against the overwhelming odds with foolhardy bravery, subtle ingenuity and the last drop of their blood. On this tiny band the lathe of history will turn: victory or darkness?

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Former software designer Barone sets his entertaining debut novel in Mesopotamia at the dawn of civilization. The nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes, who in 2500 B.C.E. still dominate the fertile valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, are agitated at encroaching gentrification. Barbarian chieftain Thutmose-sin announces that Orak, the agricultural "great village" of 2,000 people nestled along the banks of the Tigris, "defies our way of life" and must be destroyed. Instead of fleeing the fearsome barbarian warriors who have never been defeated by "dirt eaters," the citizens of Orak stay and fight. They're led by a former barbarian, Eskkar, and his young slave mistress, Trella, who is wise beyond her years and station. The apocalyptic battle that ensues will determine which culture—that of the nomad or the villager—will prevail. Barone's characters are engaging enough, if not fully realized, and the action is fast-paced, if sometimes predictable. The combat scenes, gritty and bloody, are especially vivid. Equal parts history lesson, love story and war saga, Barone's first historical will have readers turning pages. (On sale Aug. 29)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“[A] compelling first novel ...Readers will find it hard to put down this dramatic tale of conflict.” (Library Journal )

“Equal parts history lesson, love story and war saga, Barone’s first historical will have readers turning pages.” (Publishers Weekly )

“[W]ell-crafted...a Bronze Age historical romance with brains as well as brawn, ripe for a sequel.” (Kirkus Reviews )

“Beautifully imagined and researched adventure, with terrific action!” (Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author )

“If Bernard Cornwell and Diana Gabaldon decided to collaborate on a novel, the result would be something like this.” (Arizona Republic )

“[A] wonderful book! Big, passionate, powerful, epic...sheer story-telling prowess. I couldn’t put it down!” (--John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of THE HUNT CLUB )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Harper (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060892455
• ISBN-13: 978-0060892456
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #702,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great History and Great Story, March 27, 2007

By 

Water Walker - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dawn of Empire: A Novel (Hardcover)

Great story. This was one of those books where you cant wait to have time to keep reading more. I just finished this novel and I am gonna pass the book on to a friend who I have already talked it up to. Ive been reading mostly historical fiction lately: Manfredi, Pressfield, Ford. When I saw this novel was about ancient Mesopotamia I bought it because I think that time period is very interesting, and the authors basic plot only made it more so. I wasnt disappointed in what I found. Plenty of action, intrigue and great characters, details on what life may have been like at that time, plus some intelligent ideas on what it takes to be a good leader and motivator of people. I also thought this book was well researched, though I think the author obviously had to stretch or guess on some things since there isnt much recorded history from that far back in time. The real work here for the author was in tying all the pieces together to create a believable setting and plot, while still writing a good story that kept the readers attention. I think he succeeded at it. One way I judge a book is how long it takes me to go back to it once I put it down. A book that I dont go back to quickly when I have the chance, or that I dont have that urge in the back of my mind to make time for, fails. This book I did have that urge to go back to, and I found myself making time to finish. That to me is a successful story.

Trella was really a surprise. My girlfriend has no interest in books like this, but I am trying to get her to read it because I think she would like that character very much and Id like it if we had something more to talk about. In some ways she kinda stole the show in parts but in a good way. I liked how her characters beauty was more her intelligence than her body and how that was what impressed those around her. She didnt pull a Cleopatra by trying to seduce people to manipulate them which was what I would have expected. She was a strong character without behaving in a masculine or trampy way. As a nobleman's daughter in Sumeria, her father had taught her how to be an intelligent wife to a chieftain and her relationship with Eskkar gave her the chance to put these lessons to good use, even if the death of her family had led to her being made a slave just before they met. Eskkar was already a natural warrior and leader, but she gave him the extra insight he needed to truly grow into his role.

I liked it that the author spent a good amount of time detailing the defenders planning. This made me get more into the story because instead of just writing about them building a wall, he went into the thoughts behind their plans. Those who read military history would recognize many of the basic leadership and strategy ideas the author went into, and he connected them together in the right way. These people are in the early bronze age so they didnt know all of the answers already, instead they were learning as they went. So its mostly them using their common sense to apply things they had already learned in new ways to build a defense that hadnt really been attempted before. Different minds and talents who mostly had nothing to do with war being turned to a new idea and working together to solve the problem. The author also made good use of these conversations to not only detail plans for the city and its defense, but also explain aspects of life during that timeperiod. A much smoother blending of story and facts than some writers take.

The last like hundred and fifty pages of the book is the siege. Not nonstop fighting which would be crazy, but the assaults on the walls mixed with the drama of waiting between attacks, preparing for the next assault and dealing with plots and betrayal within the city itself. A lot happens in this story. This novel isnt dry historical fiction, it has the qualities of an adventure.

Someone made a comment about the book being too long. I think thats just a matter of opinion. I like long books and long movies, so long as the story keeps my attention. So I didnt have a problem with the length of the novel, but I know other people may feel differently. This book is near 500 pages long. Ive read 250 page books that have felt much longer than this one, all because the story wasnt written well and didnt move. For me the length of a book is how long it takes me to read it, and if reading it is enjoyment or a job Im trying to get done with. Reading this didnt feel like a chore.

I was almost turned off to the book by the negative post a reviewer made here which says the book's history lacked evidence of research. I saw the book's author had replied to him here which surprised me so I read more about it here and then on my own. I looked up the things that he complained about in an online encyclopedia and some books I have. Whats wrong is that the reviewer only read 3 chapters of the book which is like 50 pages. He makes assumptions based on the little he read and he is way off. Some of what he says is actually historically incorrect, but the rest is just his confusion since he didnt read the book.

I took the time to look up the details about what he said so I want to write something about that here since it might help others. The information is easy to find and prove on the internet even. 1- There is nothing wrong with the horsemen having lances or the author calling them that. A lance is just another word for a spear type weapon used by someone on a horse. They have been used since people first rode horses and were probably the first weapons used from horseback. 2- There were nomadic tribes who were both herders and raiders way before the Huns and Mongols, and I dont know why he is confusing the nomads in the book with them anyway. Its like comparing a single apple to a whole huge orange grove. Mongol-type raiders are way later and much different. 3- The nomads in the novel didnt survive totally on plunder. They were hunters, herders, and raiders, just like many tribesmen in history. 4- Early swords date to ancient Sumeria which is just south of the book's city, and the ones mentioned in the story werent the main weapons used anyway. It was bows and spears, and rocks from the walls. 5- Trella wasnt born a slave, she was free through her childhood and was educated during that time. She was born to an important family and educated fittingly. 6- Cunieform writing existed in ancient Sumeria at this time, and this is where Trella was born and raised.

Another reviewer said this was the kinda tale that makes you want to go learn more about the peoples that inspired the book. Hes right, thats just what I did. Lot of interesting things Im finding out but this isnt the place for that.

This was a much better told story than a lot of the historical fiction I have read, which usually turns out dry and unevenly paced. Not all historians are good story tellers, no matter how much they know about their subject. Its not the absolute best book Ive ever read in my entire life, but I liked it very much and I would definitely recommend it. I wish other authors would try writing about very early time periods like this one too.

Publishers Weekly has the date wrong. The story starts at 3,158 BC, not 2,500 BC.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile historical fiction...., January 3, 2007

By 

Jack V. Conway Jr. (Grand Rapids, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dawn of Empire: A Novel (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. I stumbled on it at the bookstore and bought it after reading the jacket. The author hooked me into the lead character (Eskkar) and the reader gets to see his progression from just a warrior who puts his trust in brute force to a leader of a future city who puts his trust in intellect and wisdom. One of the more interesting parts is learning (along with Eskkar) about the "glue" of civilization - namely agriculture and how everything in civilization springs from surplus food supplies: math, writing, money, and trade. Moreover, the author shows how so little has changed across the many centuries with political maneuvering and literal back-stabbing.

The lead-up to the battle with the barbarians is very exciting and while the outcome is somewhat predictable the means to that end are not - in fact, I couldn't put the book down as the final battle materialized.

One can see how these types of warring themes undoubtedly occurred in ancient agricultural-based communities with their nomadic neighbors and unlike a boring documentary on the History Channel the author makes learning about the rise of walled cities time well spent.

Isn't it so true that the the ability to survive as a people or a nation is essentially decided by how efficiently you can kill those that threaten you and your way of life?

Well done.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow. Just Wow., October 16, 2006

By 

Robin Stears - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dawn of Empire: A Novel (Hardcover)

What an awesome book! I lost quite a few hours of sleep staying up late to read this book--truly couldn't put it down. Supposedly, there's a sequel in the works. It won't be released soon enough for me. In fact, the minute I finished this book, I started reading it again.

The struggle of two disparate cultures, both trying to survive, is shown through the eyes of the two leaders. Thutmose-sin is the leader of the barbarians--ruthless, arrogant, and born to lead. Then there's Eskkar, himself a barbarian, a lowly soldier in the village of Orak. With the barbarians about to attack the village, Eskkar the quintessential anti-hero, with the help of his slave/wife Trella--herself raised to be a leader--rallies the villagers in an attempt to thwart the attack. They build a wall, the first walled city.

Of course, they succeed. Come on, if you studied ancient history at all, you know that. Even if you didn't, duh. Unlike the Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel, which I also loved, this book didn't ramble on and on for pages about native flora and the sex life of the mammoth. It had lots of well-researched details about construction techniques, tribal customs, farming, weapons, and the day-to-day life of that era, but it was never boring. Even knowing the people of Orak would eventually win, I couldn't stop turning the pages to see how they did it.

I completely neglected my house, my work, and my family to read this book. It took me two days to read it, and it's close to 500 pages, not counting all the historical notes at the end. I haven't finished a book that fast since The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. Guys will love this book--it's gory and full of action. Girls will love this book, too, for the love story between Eskkar and Trella. She's the real hero of the story! Either way--action or romance--this was a wonderful book.