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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great mystery--wonderful writing, April 15, 2008
This review is from: The Fire Waker: An Aelius Spartianus Mystery (Aelius Spartianus Mysteries) (Hardcover)
"The Fire Waker" is the second novel by author Ben Pastor in the Aelius Spartanius detective series and it is a every bit as good as its precedessor, "The Water Thief." The story is set at the end of the 3rd Century AD when the Roman Empire is experiencing the strains of overextension, changing demographics and sectarian foment. It is less Roman as a state and more cosmopolitan.
The book's protagonist, Aelius Spartanius, is an army officer/historian of Pannonian/Hungarian origins, who works as a special agent for the Emperor Diocletian, who himself lives in semi-retirement in Greece and Croatia and plans soon to abdicate his throne. Spartanius is sent west as envoy to Diocletian's co-emperor, to report on economic and political conditions and secondarily, to check into rumors of the resurrection by a Christian holy man that threatens to deepen a mounting crisis between the Roman authorities and growing Christian church. When Spartanius arrives at the scene of the reported resurrection, he learns that the "raised" man has died again and this time it is clearly permanent. The story moves on to Mediolanum (Milan) where he attempts to hand over a message from his imperial patron, but is rebuffed and winds up in continuing peril from local authorities for reasons not clear to him. What does become clearer as events unroll--including a second set of deaths--is that there is a common thread that originates with the conflict between Christian communities and Roman officialdom.
Author Pastor brings a raft of wonderful characters to this story, starting with the principled and thoughtful antagonist, Spartanius, but also including: the enigmatic patrician, Decimus Curius; the scheming, larger than life Helena, mother of emperor wannabe Constantine; the various members of the Spartanius family; and many more. Whether primary or secondary to the novel, they are all wonderfully and fully described players here.
All in all, this a beautifully researched and written book, complex and rich in plot and detail, that will please both mystery fans and readers with an interest in classical history. There is not a false note in any of Pastor's writing and the end of the story leaves the reader wanting more from Spartanius and his accompanying characters.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Complex politics but a great protagonist in this Roman historical, May 27, 2008
This review is from: The Fire Waker: An Aelius Spartianus Mystery (Aelius Spartianus Mysteries) (Hardcover)
It's 304 C.E. The Roman Emperor Diocletian's official historian, his eyes and ears in the far-flung corners of the divided empire, and a fierce soldier, Aelius Spartianus is carrying messages for Diocletian when he receives word from his friend and erstwhile enemy, the Jew Baruch ben Matthias, of a miracle.
A Christian brick maker has died and been resurrected by a Christian holy man. As Christians are being thrown to bears and lions in some parts of the empire, this is worth looking into. But when Aelius goes to investigate, the brick maker is dead again, murdered this time.
Continuing on his way to deliver a message to the Emperor Maximium (the empire is under divided rule and the emperors Maximium and Constantius are scheduled to abdicate), Aelius soon finds himself tangled in another murder. A judge, this time, one who had been lenient with Christians, killed in a little-used public bath.
There are a number of suspects, but before Aelius can sort them out, the bath's Christian slaves have been arrested, Aelius is attacked in a public inn, and a rich and sinister Roman soldier-politician has taken an interest in him.
The Roman politics are hopelessly complicated but the setting is richly populated with plebes, slaves, soldiers and aristocrats, with their respective garb, food, positions and abodes. Pastor brings alive the times, giving the plight of women a prominent place in the story and in Aelius' mind. Aelius is an engaging, resourceful, dogged and principled character and readers will hope he has a long and adventurous life.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Several steps above, June 7, 2009
This review is from: The Fire Waker: An Aelius Spartianus Mystery (Aelius Spartianus Mysteries) (Hardcover)
The level of knowledge and writing here is way above the norm, with only Saylor and Davis in competition. Pastor is deliberately less of a popular stylist. Roman-born, her complex English is superb, with only very occasional flubs. It is phenomenally readable, with a different rhythm and cadence that deepens the tale. Though it will take the first couple of chapters to acclimate to her style.
The only changes I would like to see are to accomodate non-European readers. First, a bit more context - how many of us are that familiar with the Roman tetrarchs and their various honorifics, which are scattered loosely, unlinked to names? And as Ms. Pastor's sense of authenticity has her narrative stay with the many ancient geographical place names involved, this series is definitely a prime candidate for maps, despite the glossaries.
Otherwise, a really stimulating new find. Tremendously enjoyable. In the top three (see above) of ancient-Roman-mystery writers. Treat yourself if you haven't already.
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