Rating: 
Summary: Quit Comparing
Review: While I know that it must be hard not to compare this with Pressfield's first wor those of us that haven't yet read Gate's of Fire,(but I have ordered it), this novel stands on it's own. It takes on a broad time period that involves a whole lot of history. Alcibiades is a fascinating character as is Pommo. These mens lives that are intertwined so remarkably that it takes two narrators to tell this story. I highly recommend this book to anyone that reads historical fiction. If Gates of Fire it that much better than this one I can't wait to read it. Maybe I'll just give it 5 stars now and not bother with a review. I think that Tides of War was a great read and enjoyed it, maybe more so because I haven't read Gates of Fire first.
Rating: 
Summary: If You're Up To It, This One Can Be Memorable
Review: Yes, yes, we know Pressfield's great at battle detail and historically accurate story lines. More important in this work is the brilliant choice of character (Alcibiades) and the narrative technique of using two narrators (Jason & Polemides). Then the plot thickens.....Socrates shares the jail with Polemides and enters the script as well......Jason & Polemides have their own tangled web to unweave......this is a great novel that rises far above the thunder of the battle to enter the realm of a psychological analysis of democracy, theocracy, and a slew of both the finest and basest of human motivations.This one wins on all levels.....Pressfield is cementing a beautiful reputation on these works.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: Good book, but not as great as his Gates Of Fire. You pity Pomo for all the pains trials he goes through and you also get fed up with and tired with Alcibiades's rhetoric and side shifting that one wishes for his death. The mixture of fiction and history was very good. I'm glad to have read it, but its not a book that I would read again. For that I might as well read Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War. The book reminds me of Odysseus.
Rating:
Summary: a different focus
Review: Unlike Gates of Fire,this novel fouses more on the political intrigue angle of the war that is covered in the novel instead of the battlefield. Alcabiades was a controversialman wth many enemies and his status in Athens was never stable. This novel doesa strong job of showing this and makes it a success.I do not have the option of giving this novel 3 and one half stars so I GAVE IT 4 INSTEAD OF 3.
Rating:
Summary: The ruin of Athens
Review: For the past few weeks, I have been listening to the soft tones of Chopin's NOCTURNES while being transported back to the Golden Age of Athens. The catalyst for this expedition has been Stephen Pressfield, and I am indebted to him for the journey. Alcibiades is frequently dismissed in collegiate history classrooms as being nothing more than an Alexander the Great wannabe. After reading this book, I can see just how un-fair an assessment that is. Pressfield's presentation of Alcibiades is nothing short of magnificent. The novel gives the reader a genuine sense of just how bigger-than-life a character he must have been to the Athenians. TIDES OF WAR is his (a bit fictionalized) story. Some reviewers have noted that the presentation of the narrative is a bit tedious. While this may be true, I think it adds to the aura of the story. The tale is handed down from the (supposed) assasin of Alcibiades, down to a boy's grandfather, then down to the boy himself. While this approach is a bit burdensome, we need to remember the epoch in which the story is told; somewhere between the death of Socrates (399BC) and the end of the Classical age (338BC, with the defeat of Athens by Philip of Macedon). Hence, the method of narration chosen by Pressfield puts all of this into a sort of "portrait" upon which we can look back on. This was the era in which the denizens of Athens asked themselves over & over again how in the world they managed to lose the Peloponnesian War. The hand-me-down method of story-telling also reminds me somewhat of Plato's dialogues, particularly the PHAEDO and the SYMPOSIUM. The first half of this book, for the most part, is almost entirely factual. Pressfield's handling of the Sicilian expedition is truly extraordinary. In the tradition of Thucydides, the author captures the eloquent and fervent rhetoric of the debate between Nicias and Alcibiades. With trenchant attention to detail, he sets before us the horror of battle, as well as the egregious demise of the Athenians unlucky enough to die in the Syracusian quarries. The 2nd half of the book, however, is highly fictional. I am quite certain that The THIRTY did not have a hand in his assasination. That said, there is nothing wrong with fudging history a bit; historical novels are not meant to be 100% accurate. A nice feature of the book is its nexus with the dialogues of Plato that cover the trial, conviction and death of Socrates. For this reason, I would recommend that people read Plato's EUTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRITO and PHAEDO prior to reading this novel. Also, Thucydides' PELOPONNESIAN WAR also makes for pre-requisite reading. The novel will make a lot more sense once you've read these. All in all, another fine effort and rousing novel by an author who is quickly emerging as the greatest historical-novelist of the present age. All admirers and aficionados of classical history will be pleased with what they find within these pages. Therefore, I implore you to pop in your CD of Chopin and indulge yourself in the life of one of Socrates' favorite students!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent portrayal of the Peloponnesian War
Review: Coming on the heels of the brilliant 'Gates of Fire', 'Tides of War' is another epic novel centred around ancient Greece, this time focusing on the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. To put this review into perspective, let me just say that I rate Pressfield's previous novel 'Gates of Fire' as one of the finest works in its genre and certainly one of my all time favourite books. So, for me, 'Tides of War' held high expectations, yet I knew it was going to have a hard job if it were to be anywhere near as good as 'Gates of Fire'. As in the first novel, 'Tides of War' tests the reader ability to grapple with Pressfield's interpretation of the ancient Greek language. I found it a little disconcerting in the first novel, but wholly acceptable in the context of the story. In 'Tides of War' I have to admit, Pressfields presentation of the ancient Greek way of speaking is beautiful, yet it did test my ability to stay focussed on what the characters were meaning to say. As in 'Gates of Fire' his description of the battles is first class, albiet many are naval in this book. I found the story quite long, which is probably perfectly applicable given the length of the Peloponnesian Wars. It didn't excite me as much as 'Gates of Fire' and I reluctantly admit I struggled through a couple of chapters where things slowed down a little too much for my liking. This book however is a very worthwhile read, but I would expect many readers will find it's style very difficult and consequently the book may be hard going. It is not as easy to read, nor as utterly gripping as 'Gates of Fire' is. In some respects had Pressfield not written that novel then this would have been a sure winner with me. As it is 'Gates of Fire' has set such a lofty standard that any novel of the same genre, will in the future be judged in comparison to it. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Detail is Signifigant
Review: In this attempt to describe the Greek way of living, fighting, scheming and dying, Mr. Pressfield has done an excellent job. He projects the advantages and disadvantages the majesty and the misery of the Greek society of then, now and probably tomorrow. Scheming, ambition, vanity and self-destruction have always been the key features of the Greek nation's leaders throughout history. Each of these great men that have stamped human history with their genius, warrior's spirit and -unfortunately- libido, have their own little tale that makes their successful efforts amazing. Keep up the good work Mr. Pressfield
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, but overextended.
Review: As a classicist, I first must say that I am impressed with Pressfield's ability to write in the Greek idiom. His texts are expressed in a way that is *intrinsically* Greek, and the word-choice and texture of the language is beautiful and enchanting.
Beyond one minor grammar nitpick--"must" is not a past tense, nor is "may"--the book is as well-crafted in terms of wordsmithing as any I have read. However, as a narrative, it is perhaps less (or rather more) than one might have wanted. Admittedly the Peloponnesian War itself dragged on for 27 years, but this does not mean that the book must; something slightly less ambitious in scope might have suited the needs of the audience better, as the book does tend to drag after the Sicilian expedition. The characters are convincingly drawn, and especially Polemides, who is evoked with a care and pathos and brutal honesty that is unequaled in most other fiction I have read; truly, this man is a soldier. Not a warrior, like the Spartans in Pressfield's other--and inferior, in my opinion--work, but a soldier, in a new kind of war. The chapters on Sicily in particular should be required reading for students of Thucydides; the book as a whole is an example of beautiful prose and writing, and is of interest to students of Greek culture. Though _Gates of Fire_ is probably a more approachable text to the general reader, _Tides of War_ is still worth the time spent.
Rating:
Summary: Thucydide's Peloponnesian War brought to life.
Review: Makes you feel, taste, and smell ancient naval and hoplite warfare. I have never felt more immersed in a story's landscape.
It is deeper and more complex than Gates of Fire, though it still shares Gates of Fire's visceral intensity. At the core of both of his books is a celebration of the hero, derived straight from the Illiad and the Odyssey. Similies are presented in a style similar to the epics. The telling of the tale is somewhat hampered by the fact that it is told by a grandson hearing his grandfather recount happenings told by another. A different font style and the name of the speaker in parentheses is used to indicate who is presently narrating. This can be a bit confusing. Also the writing style is somewhat confusing, consisting of long sentences with many commas. During battle scenes though this problem is less noticeable as the pace of battle pares off unnecessary words. It is only occasionally confusing if your concentration lapses. The complex plot, philosophy, and the intricate details of classical Greece more than make up for the occasionally slightly confusing presentation. It is a masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: Save Your Money!
Review: I forced myself to finish this book. I hate it when I read a book just to finish it, it's like I'm back in school. Well, that is just what I did with "Tides of War". Pressfield's stilted language is often times hard to understand. You really have to wade through the words to get to the point of what is going on. Which is disappointing because Alcibiades is one of the most fascinating characters in history. One bright spot of the whole book is the Sicilian expedition chapter. Here Pressfield's writing flows evenly and the story begins to take-off. Unfortunately only to have it crash land again with Pressfield's slow story line. After "Gates of Fire" this is a large disappointment.
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