Prince of Sparta [Paperback]

Jerry Pournelle (Author), S.M. Stirling (Author), Stephen Hickman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1993

Defeated before, the Earth-backed Helot terrorist hordes renew their assault on the legitimate government of Sparta. And if they again face defeat, this time they have a doomsday card to play!

Product Details

• Paperback: 383 pages
• Publisher: Baen (March 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671721585
• ISBN-13: 978-0671721589
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,287,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write science fact and fiction. Themes range from trivial amusements to how to save the world. In 1980 I predicted that by the year 2000 anyone in Western Civilization would be able to get the answer to any question that can be answered; that happened a bit faster than I thought it would. My column in BYTE is the longest running column in the computer industry.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the best in military science fiction., June 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Prince of Sparta (Paperback)

This book exemplifies the best characteristics in military science fiction. A severe problem with some military science fiction stems from the tendency to favor military techno-details over any other factors in story telling such as plot, characterization, and internal coherence. The best of the writers working in the military sci fi sub genre write good stories whether they are military in flavor or not. Robert Heinlein, David Drake, S.M. Stirling, H. Beam Piper, Keith Laumer, and Jerry Pournelle have written good stories that someone can sit up nights finishing, that have characters that we become interested in as to their actions and fates, and that are, for the most part, correct and cohesive in details. What is the ultimate test of good military sci fi? If any person in high school or college can read the book with the same interest (horrified or morbid as it may be) as a veteran of military service (Maybe I should have included, Tom Clancy's more recent offerings as military sci fi, but not necessarily good military sci fi stories). Prince of Sparta, with a cast of characters ranging from opposing political leaders to the Legion commanders and the working rank and file of the Legion, Royal Spartan Infantry, and Helots to the cameo glimpses of ordinary citizens, works as a story. The characters of Prince Lysander, Maj. Generals Owensford and Slater, Caldwell Whitlock, Skida Thibodeau, Dion Croser, Geoffrey Niles, Sergeant Miscowsky, Cornet Talkins, Juanita Fuller, Von Reuther, Major Sastri, and others are, if a bit stereotyped, what makes reading this book interesting. The actions and interactions of these characters under well plotted and well written stress situations mirror sadly that of what real people have done in real life. To enjoy this book, which is the third or fourth in a slowly more cohesive series and which is the best of them so far in reading enjoyment, you need not be a right wing conservative or interested in the military though enough details historical and technical are given for extra interest. You just have to enjoy a good adventure story that has tension and action in plenty.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Is this all?, December 1, 2003

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Prince of Sparta (Paperback)

Not bad. It is not just a purely war story. There is extra flesh on those bones, where we have a good description of the social struggles that parallel and drive the armed conflict. Some of the characters may indeed seem more real than others. It may well be that the authors spent more time expanding out some and just cursory attention to others.

If you end up liking this book, the biggest problem may be that there are no sequels. In this future history of Pournelle's, he and his co-authors have done little in recent years. Perhaps it is because it posits as its starting point the CoDominium - an alliance between the US and the USSR. Since the latter imploded, this future history has become alternate future history. Maybe that is perceived by Pournelle or the publisher to have negative impact on future sales?

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little better, August 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Prince of Sparta (Paperback)

Compared to the previous volume in this series ('Go_tell_the_Spartans') this one has more life in it. It does not confine itself to mechanically putting the Falkenberg characters through their paces and expounding US military dogma. This extra readability comes at the cost of continuity of the storyline and military credibility, but would seem to be worth it.

Any fan of the 42nd that persevered through 'Go_tell_the_Spartans' will wholeheartily welcome this one.