Customer Reviews

The Seven Hills

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Seven Hills is the second book in a Roman semi-historical fiction, what-if novel. It is not HISTORY! That being said, it is an excellent work of story telling with a very strong understanding of historical Rome and the Roman military systems. This book is even more fast-paced than the initial volume, and has the color and life that a master storyteller breathes into his creation.
With so many realistic and complicated characters, you feel as if you are actually in the alternate universe, witnessing the devious politics, the bloody battles and the naval action. The most disappoint part of this book is when you reach the last page, and realize that you don't have the third volume at hand.
Rome against Carthage! Rome against Judea! Rome against Cilician pirates, wily Greeks, and bloodthirsty Celto-Iberians, Illyrians and Spartans! Did I mention that Egypt is a lively nation, where philosophers actually experiment with technology? Perhaps it will be Rome against Egypt and Parthia as well! Roman against Roman is always a given, watch your enemies, and watch your friends closer!
Five Stars for an interesting book that will amuse the history buff, give the war gamer ideas for a semi-historical campaign setting, and entertain the action adventure crowd!

JMR's second installment of his alternative history of the Roman Republic unfortunately tends to wander off into the hot and humid distance with no discernable oasis in sight. Much is given over to Titus Norbanus' anabasis and growing ego-centricity whilst Scipio pouts and postures in Alexandria playing with his new-fangled toys generated by the archimedian school.
This novel is that lull before the third explosive finale as the two main protagonists cross their personal rubicons and build their military and political might using the new empire as a personal plaything. Scipio spends all his time with Selene angling for the Egyptian army and navy to become his personal troops on a march on Carthage. Meanwhile, Titus Norbanus marches up towards Greece conquering all and defeating two Carthaginian armies who are attempting their own alpine crossing (minus elephants). The only real difference between the two is one possesses humility, the other delusions of grandeur. You can see where JMR is heading.
You get the impression that JMR came up with a good `what if' in the first novel and took it on marvelous strides off into an alternative history where Carthage wasn't sown with salt and Rome got sent north into the Germanic forests. Once he'd reestablished the re-emergence of Rome then it was a case of what to do and we end up with a variant of Caesar and Pompey, or Octavius and Anthony as they both head to Egypt to fall in with their own Cleopatra and start the descent towards imperialism whilst an increasingly aging and befuddled Senate protests in the background. The characterization is neither good nor bad, the personalities plausible copies of the reality that was Rome. The plot meanders along as though the author is looking for his milestones and you get the impression this novel is purely filler for his handling of Rome's latent ascendancy in the Mediterranean with the personal battle between Scipio and Norbanus providing a side amusement.
It's not as good as the first and the series definitely needs Decius Quintus Caecilius the Younger.

This is a sequel (and middle book of at least a trilogy) to his "Hannibal's Children." In the first book, Rome was kicked out of, well, Rome and after forming a new nation in the Germanic north, returned to confront Carthage. Through a mixture of guile and sharp pointy things, they managed to take Italy back from almost under Carthage's nose, while sending commanders and legions - ostensibly as "mercenaries" to scout out Carthage itself.

That book ended with Rome openly at war with Carthage, four of their legions "trapped" in Egypt under the extremely ambitious Titus Norbanus and the book's main hero - Marcus Cornelius Scipio - wooing both Egypt's queen and a school of philosophy at the Alexandrian Library that believes they should actually _do_ things (like build and experiment) rather than just think about them.

This book has Titus leading his legions around the entire edge of the Eastern Mediterranean on a trip back to Rome that's more one big pirate raid than simple march home. He plans to come back to Rome with enough money - and loyal enough legions - that he can write his own ticket to power.

Marcus, meanwhile, is busily worrying that all this success (and money) is going to destroy the fabric of Roman culture. He's also busily encouraging his philosophers to come up with (militarily) useful inventions to fight Carthage.

Like submarines...and hang gliders...and armored paddle-wheelers...and steam engines so that those paddle-wheelers won't have to be human-powered for long...and...

...yeah. My disbelief-suspenders went *POING* too.

What's odd about this is most of the rest of the story is good. Titus is obviously trying to head towards a Caesar-like future - and that he can points out the very real problems Rome's structure had. Roberts likes stories set in Roman times (he's got several books in them) and has obviously researched them quite a bit.

So no one else in the story is inventing like crazy, or upending the entire fabric of ancient-world thought, but Roberts has his main character basically jump-starting a couple of thousand years worth of scientific and engineering advancement and I don't know why. Compare this to what I said in my review of "Rivers of War" - read at about the same time - and you'll see why this annoyed me so.

Still, it's a good enough read and I'll probably pick up the third book when it comes out...though I strongly expect airships by the end of that one...

On an alternate earth, Hannibal gave the Romans a chance to surrender and go into exile or he would destroy the city. Most chose exile traveling beyond the Alps to create a new empire, Rome Norricum. They conquered the Gaul, Franks, and Germans; and over a century later they took back Rome.

The Romans control all of mainland Italy and look forward to regaining Sicily from Shofet Hamilcar, a descendent of Hannibal the Great of Carthage. Marcus Scipio has placed Queen Selene in power and formed an alliance with Egypt. However, Titus Norbanus and his four legions make other alliances, conquers new territories that once belonged to Rome, and has earned the loyalty of his troops. He plans to destroy Carthage and use the victory to become the ruler of the neo Roman Empire. Only Marcus and perhaps Carthage stand in the way of this upstart achieving his ambition.

This is a fantastic sequel that returns Rome to the power that she had lost. Readers obtain a lucid picture of what the senators think of the unfolding political and military events and how they regard the two competitors Marcus vs. Titus. John Maddox Roberts, writer of the terrific SPQR Ancient Rome mysteries, with THE SEVEN HILLS and its predecessor (see HANNIBAL'S CHILDREN) is the Harry Turtledove of an alternate Roman Empire.

Harriet Klausner

This author is one of the best if not THE best author of historical fiction set in ancient Rome. His knowledge of Ancient history is exceptional. In addition, as this is an alternative fiction universe, he is not afraid to test the boundaries of "what if"? The Romans came up with some of the greatest engineering ideas of all time. This just takes things a step further.
The novel is enjoyable, entertaining, and engaging. Probably more so for someone who is interested in this era of history. It gives the reader an idea of what life would be like for a Senator in the curia, an ambitious general leading legions in a far off land, and a seasoned soldier who is willing to find new ways to win glory for the Senate and People of Rome.

Defeated by Hannibal, Rome retreated over the Alps, creating a new northern republic. But now, with Carthage distracted by an invasion of Egypt, new Roman legions, consisting of Romans of Italian, German, and Gaulish citizens have reconquered Italy and vow to take their fight to the very walls of Carthage. In Egypt, Marcus Cornelius Scipio cultivates Seline (Cleopatra) and discovers the power of applied philosophy, experimenting with steam power, metal warships, and hang gliders. Meanwhile, with four legions, Titus Norbanus sets off on a march from the deserts of Sinai through Israel, Selucia, Thrace, and Greece--finally setting off toward Spain and a collision with Hamilcar who commands Carthage.

Author John Maddox Roberts creates a fascinating alternate history with his examination of a world where Hannibal won the second Punic war, but failed to completely destroy the Roman Republic. As with the historical Republic, Roman society is transformed by the huge influx of wealth that comes from conquest and contact with the older civilizations of the Helenic and Punic civilizations. Unlike historical Rome, though, the influx of wealth is sudden, happening in years rather than over generations. The old republican virtues remain strong even as generals look to seize the dictatorship.

Roberts uses two Greek philosophers to serve as his 'eyes,' letting them see the recreated Roman Republic with foreign eyes and allowing him to explore the nature of Rome more closely than if he had used only Roman protagonists. And clearly Roberts knows his subject. I think the adoption of Archimedean philosophy is something of a stretch for Roberts, with the attendant development of hang gliders, paddle wheels, steam power, and submarines. Still, perhaps the Romans would have given engineering more attention of Archimedes had defended Syracuse against Carthaginians rather than Romans.

Greek philosophy and Roman law form the structure underlying the entire western world. As such, alternate history analyses of the Roman world hold an inherent interest. John Maddox Roberts brings a strong knowledge of Roman history and admiration for Roman achievements into a fascinating alternate history account.

I was not fond of the first book in this series, "Hannibal's Children". The entire premise upon which it is based is a historical impossibility. This could have been excused if the story that followed had been strong, but it was not.

The second book in what is looking to be a trilogy is better. The story is more engaging, the characters are showing motivation (though Marcus Scipio's seems very un-Roman). And, the scope has expanded.

Sure...the Romans are still supermen. Every enterprise they put their attention to is invariably a success. The rapidity of Italy's reconquest, and of Norbanus' march, both seem to stretch the limits of possibility. Don't even get me started on the inventions coming out of Alexandria...

As a final note, this book will make very little sense if you do not first read "Hannibal's Children". But I wouldn't bother.

I was somewhat disappointed by the first book in this series, "Hannibal's Children." John Maddox Roberts is a fine writer and his knowledge of ancient Rome is unparalleled among contemporary fiction writers, but this alternate history/fantasy was not as satisfying as Roberts's superb SPQR mystery series.

I put off reading the sequel, not expecting it to be that good. I finally decided to give a try, and now I'm sorry I waited.

It doesn't exactly get off to a blazing start. The story is slow to gather steam, and spreads itself thin among several viewpoint characters, some of whom seem superfluous to the plot.

However, the story does build slowly, and eventually reaches a fascinating climax, incorporating into the action Roberts's solid understanding of both Roman politics and its famous military science. I am by no means a fan of military history, and it takes an exceptional writer to interest me in battle scenes; but Roberts's clear, lucid descriptions of warfare are among the highlights of the book.

The book ends on a high note, and is obviously intended to segue into a sequel, which so far has not been published. Whether Roberts lost interest, was discouraged by the lukewarm reader reaction, or simply got distracted by other projects, I can only guess; but he has set things up for a very fascinating third book that could dig deeply into the conflicts that eventually brought down the Roman Republic in our history.

I hope the sequel gets written; and if it does, I won't wait this time.

I'm sort of on a Hannibal high after reading "Pride of Carthage" by David Anthony Durham. It's a great book and it got me interested in other Hannibal stuff, but I also learned there's not a lot out there in terms of fiction. John Maddox Roberts' "The Seven Hills" is certainly interesting. The author knows his stuff and gives great details of Roman and Carthaginian life. I probably entered this thinking it was more about the Carthaginian conflict than it really was, and maybe that's part of why it didn't do as much for me.

The whole alternate history thing is a little strange. I liked Durham's novel because it was a fictional rendering of real history. I could invest in all the details and feel that the whole largeness of it was worth my effort, and that even though it was fiction I was still learning the outline of real events. In this case it's a little hard to invest in the history because it's NOT history, if you know what I mean.

But I guess that's beside the point. This is a fun read and somewhat thought provoking. It's just not literature and not history. I won't necessarily read more of this author's titles, but on the other hand I don't regret buying this one. So I guess you'd call my response mixed.

John Maddox Roberts is the pseudonym of Mark Ramsay, author of numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. He lives in New Mexico with his wife.

This book is a sequel to Hannibal's Children, in which the author asked the hypothetic question as to what would have happened to Rome and its empire, if Hannibal had received the reinforcements he needed to drive home his attack. What if Rome had fallen to the might of Carthage and then rose again?

Although the question posed is purely speculation and of course nobody will ever know what the consequences might have been, the book does make interesting reading, as long as you remember that the author is a writer of fantasy.