Rating: 
Summary: I though it was good.
Review: OK, maybe it isn't GofF, but we are talking about a period in Greek history that is far less heroic and a lot more "messed-up". Gone are the days of Leonidas/Themistocles. This is the story of the corrupt years two generations afterwards. I loved the battle-scenes. They were not like the ones in GofF because most of the battles take place from the perspective of the Athenians and therefore they are either naval battles or disorganized affairs on land (let us not forget that Athens was a naval power and land was not her element). But they were described vividly and graphically. Other key interests in the book - the character's of Alcibiades, Socrates, Lysander, all of which I think the author understood well and humanized excellently. The whole Syracuse incident is beautifully portrayed esp. the part about how Sparta liked solving another city-states' military problems not by sending a whole army to oppose Athens, but 1 master military-tactician, in this case Gylippus. It's slower to read than GofF, but it does give you what I believe is an accurate looking-glass into the ancient past when our Hellenic ancestors waged constant war upon each other, their foreign enemies, and when any respite in the action was just time to prepare for war again. Thanks Mr. Pressfield for some time-burning entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: A moving, compelling, and exhausting journey into history
Review: If you couldn't quite get a handle on Thucydides, Pressfield gives you a viable alternative. As in _Gates of Fire_ he conveys a deep understanding of "arms and the man" in ancient Greece. His account of the Athenians' disastrous Syracuse Expedition will bring tears to your eyes.
Rating: 
Summary: Unreadable!
Review: I can not begin to say how disappointed I am in this book. Gates of Fire was one of my favorite books of all time. It was so exciting, so eye-opening. I could not put the book down.And I waited and waited for Pressfield to write his next book. And finally it came. The Tides of War a fictional look at the wars between Sparta and Athens. I could not wait. Pressfield did such a great job novelizing the Persian Wars I could not wait for this book. Maybe my hopes were too high. This book was such a let down. The narrators within narrators made this book unreadable. Gates of Fire is an awesome book. Unfortunately for whatever reason Pressfield could not match it. This book was going to be the book for the summer. And instead, it was the major disappointment of my summer reading. What happened?
Rating: 
Summary: Not Nearly as Good as Gates of Fire
Review: I was really looking forward to this book after reading Gates of Fire. What I got was an author more interested in impressing the reader with all the things he had looked up about Ancient Greek history, rather than concentrating on writing a good novel about a very interesting time. No character is more interesting than Alkibiades - yet I never get the impression the author understood what made the man tick, critical for a novel of this type. I found the narrative voice distracting, and the book did not maintain my interest. Alas, I forced myself to finish it, hoping it would get better, but found out it did not to my regret.
Rating: 
Summary: ambitions of war
Review: The Peloponnesian Wars have an enduring intrigue, framing as they did the rise of the golden age in Greek arts, architecture, philosophy and science. The rivalry of Athens and Sparta lasted roughly 100 years, commencing in 490 BC with Athens's military consolidation in the victory at Marathon and ending in 404 BC with the defeat of its armada at Aegospotami. It has come to symbolize the competing agencies and ideals in warfare between nations to this day. The first wars to emerge from the mists of mythology to objective analysis and record, they were described in written chronicles by Herodotus and Thucydides. This heralded the transition from the oral, mystical tradition of Homer's heroic poetry to the 'modern' era which formed the bedrock of Greco Roman and then Western civilizations. Into this galaxy of events came the pivotal figure of Alcibiades, who anchors Pressfield's book. He was a student and foil of Socrates in Plato's dialogues, a military leader for Athens, Sparta and Persia; respectively playing agent-provocateur against former allegiances. He lived for conquest and to usurp the established order. Blessed with eloquence, bravery, passion and overarching ambition, he stamped his imprint on history, as much for self glorification as political necessity. Pressfield's book is expansive in scope rather than penetrating. The perspective is colloquial and personal, which skirts the labyrinth of Athenian politics of the time. He has, though, effectively used some of the techniques Thucydides employed in presenting rhetorical argument to elucidate the underpinnings and objectives of the wars, with a modern accessibility. The lush, descriptive writing provides a sweep which tends to engulf the characters in the current of events. Like an epic film, the characters are caught up in a vast tide of conflict, at some cost to providing shading and complexity. Pressfield, however, has provided a reliable, gripping account of the saga. The story is told as a retelling of death row confession, by a captain of marines and assassin of Alcibiades. This added degree of separation, leads to some unnecessary, but not overwhelming, confusion in the narration. The author exhaustively presents the events, strategy as well as the experiences & attitudes of common soldiers. The battles of Syracuse and Hellespont are told in tactical, gory detail. This is an entertaining and informative novel, perhaps more in the 'escape' genre than rigorous history or literature, but still providing an illuminating lens on this seminal historical period.
Rating:
Summary: Snore
Review: I'm a 45 year old reader with miliary service, a graduate degree and I love to read philosophy, history, everything I can get my hands on. In my opinion, this book is void of reward. Gates of Fire was saved because Pressfield can write about a battlefield (if little else). Tides of War de-emphasized the battles in favor of I don't know what. Skip it or check it out at the library if you must see for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Several years after the end of the thrice nine year struggleknown as the Pelopennessian War, Socrates was awaiting execution in anAthenian prison. In an adjacent cell one Polimedes, soldier, failed farmer, mercenary, political agent, assassin, awaits his own execution. To Jason, his solicitor, Polimedes thinks back upon his life and the extraordinary character of Alcibiades who was his privilege ,or curse, to know. Polimedes recounts the ravages of the plague that prostrated Athens and just as important, the soul-crushing effects on himself and the polis...Abandoning the city Polimedes takes to the life of the mercenary. He acquaints the reader with the essential humors of the soldiers life (sweat, water, blood , tears and some of the earthier fluids) If you've ever had to hump seventy pounds of gear for 12 hours and then hack a hole in the ground with an entrenching tool this will be familiar...After a series of calamitous engagements the Athenian expedition is annihilated. Polimedes is branded as a slave and consigned to the living hell of the quarries. Rescued by Alcibiades, he begins a life bound to him as an agent...Enmeshed again in internal convulsions Polimedes can only extricate himself with the death of Alcibiades. Although 2500 years old the world of classical Greece is called to life. The battle's are vivid and visceral. The shot from slings puncture unprotected flesh like 18th century musket balls, incendiaries fill the air, triremes predatorily skim the seas, timbers sunder, bowels empty on decks, marines sprint to board. One can only marvel at the complexity of the sea-land operations and the intelligence that guided them. Men don't all die in battle. Tetanus and tooth infections carry off heroes. Underlying all of this is an examination of the life of the mind. Alcibiades is used to explore the nature of representative government in all of its glories and ugliness. The structure of the language and syntax is archaic in the best sense of the word. The debates are compelling ;the speeches stirring. It's truly remarkable that they can speak to us across 2500 years. Its' voice is true to the times while remaining accessible to the modern reader. If you've been flogged through or have a nodding acquaintance with Plato's Dialogues, Thucydides, Homer, the tragedians, it will all come flooding back as this volume puts flesh and bone on those disembodied voices. I've noticed that some of the readers (younger I suspect) are disappointed that this is not as viscerally powerful as "Gates of Fire". The bluff and noble Spartans are replaced by the infuriatingly captious, bumptious, fractious, ever acquisitive and inquisitive Athenians. The advice I like to give is: set the book aside in a safe place. Your money was well spent. After some contact with Plato, Thucydides, several years of military service or some life experience return to "Tides". You'll be surprised how good it got. Probably the best of its' genre.
Rating:
Summary: Another Victory for Pressfield
Review: For those of you looking for a simple way to determine if this book might be for you, reflect on two films: "Braveheart" and "Gladiator." If you enjoyed one or both of these films, you will enjoy "Tides of War." It's a tricky task for any author to follow up a book ("Gates of Fire") that is destined to be a classic. Pressfield was up for the challenge, and make no mistake about it, it was a challenge. The task of covering 27 years in 400 pages, made more difficult by the complexity of the topic and the characters who play the lead roles, was one that most authors would hesitate to accept. Pressfield did not shy away. He gives us a colorful tapestry of 27 years of conflict played out by real characters in real places. Where "Gates of Fire" introduces the reader to ancient land combat, "Tides of War" paints a vivid picture of war on the seas. Pressfield's book gives us a painless and enjoyable way to take an entertaining history lesson. Most intriguing was the main character, Alcibiades. For those of you who've read "Gates of Fire," you owe it to yourself to read this as well. It will be time well spent. For those of you who haven't read either of Pressfield's 'Greek' novels, now's the time to get hooked.
Rating:
Summary: Boring ancient history
Review: Usually Pressfield's books are page turners. This one put me to sleep several times. Reading psuedo ancient Greek rhetoric is not my bag for an historical thriller.
Rating:
Summary: If it weren't true it would be hard to believe
Review: Those who have read Pressfield's previous book, Gates of Fire, will have a hard time recognizing this novel as being the same author's work. Whereas that one was focused on a single battle and thus had a limited time and place imposed on the action, Tides of War deals with the entire Peloponnesian war (all 27 years) and is all over the place in both time and location. One problem, for sure, for many readers will be the 'voice' of the story. It is told by someone who gets it from his grandfather who largly recounts what he remembers being told by a prisoner awaiting trail for murder more than 30 years before. Who is talking - and about what and when - is occasionaly a problem, but not much of one. It is usually clear from context and the story itself is so fascinating that it is hard to imagine not getting caught up in it. This is really the story of Alcibiades, the most complex (and 'modern') figure of the Golden Age of Athens. A man noted for his beauty, eloquence, intelligence, brashness, inventiveness, lawlessness and, above all, ambition, he almost single handedly forced the war between Sparta and Athens to become the grueling feud that ruined both. I will not attempt to recount his deeds and misdeeds. They are so fascinating that it is hard to credit them. He becomes the most loved, hated and feared figure of his day. Most of Tides of War is the story of Palemidas, the man who had been his friend, served him in war and ultimately assasinated him when Alcabiades was an expatriate living in Thrayce. It is a truely great story and Pressfield does it justice. There is no question that it is hard to keep track of changing alliances, reversing fortunes of war and politics and the many characters that cross the stage he sets for the reader, but all of it is interesting and much of it is very moving. This is a powereful and honest book which, by bringing war torn Greece of these days alive, tells us a lot about who we are today and how little we have advanced in understanding and political maturity. The side story of Socrates, who languishes in the same jail as the story's main narrator, serves as the proverbial 'Greek Chorus' to help highlight important aspects of Alcibiades' story. This is a wonder book and I highly recommend it.
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