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Summary: waiting for the movie rights
Review: I enjoyed reading the novel but it seemed rather sloppy in some details and read more like a screenplay waiting to picked up for Hollywood. Of course that isn't all bad because a lot more people might go back and read more about ancient times.
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Summary: Gates of Fire : An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae
Review: Terrific story. Lots of interesting details combined with interesting characters made it hard to put down.
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Summary: Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae
Review: Terrific story. Great blend of history and storytelling.
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Summary: Awesome!
Review: I'm not a big military fiction reader, but once I picked this book up, i couldn't put it down. The descriptive detail of the battles and the portrayal of leadership traits of the Spartans was thrilling.
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Summary: Pretty good, good fights
Review: A good military action novel but not a sterling piece of literature. Read it for good battle scenes.
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Summary: Ancient adventure at its best!!!
Review: As an avid reader of both fictional and non fictional history works since I've been 10, I've seen authors come and go. Pressfield really has found his niche with his interpretation of both Spartan military practise and the events that took place before and after the battle at the "Hot Gates". Although he admits taking literary license with some of the details of the training and organization of Spartan units, his depiction of the passion, spirit, and pure determination of the Spartans, and their allies is perfect. REQUIRED reading for anyone who claims they know their history!!
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Summary: Just a History Buff
Review: This is an outstanding study in leadership. Leonidas, King of Sparta, a superb leader, while Xeres, the Persian King, an inaffectual one. Leonidas, bore the harships of his men, in return all had great affection for him. He needed only to remind. Dicipline in the Startan camp was natural because of the example the valiant king set. He was at the front of the battle line, all men followed. On the other hand, poor Xeres had to use whips to send his men into the foray.Being a combat vetran myself, the bonds of comradship were developed with the tenderness and based on mutual trust and there was no question in my mind why the Spartans stayed to the end. Their leader, Leonidas would not leave.
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Summary: Author's Anachronisms
Review: Gates of Fire is full of anachronistic expressions, phrases, and terms. This terminology sometimes takes the form of phrases and expressions that would be used only by a 20th or 21st century speaker. Some examples of this are the use of the words knight and squire. While basic function of these terms may be similr to the Spartan army, these terrms carry connotations of Medieval Europe and Chivalry that sould not be applied. Additionally, the names given to Spatan military units are unit names used for 20th century armises. While the unit sizez might be comparable, the use of 20th century equivalenst destroys the atmosphere and color of the narration. It would be far better to use the original Greek terms, and explain there meaning. Additionally, the is also frequent use of phrases and words that really belong to the 20th century tend to destroy whatever color and atmosphere the author was trying to create. The idea of a historical novel is to create an atmosphere as well as tell a story. The author should provied the reader with developed atmosphere as well as telling a story and delivering a historical perspective. Steven pressfiled fails this misreably. I finally stopped reading the book one third of the way into it because of the anachronisms and other writing blunders. One added problenm is the use a entirely too much metaphor when descibing battles. While metaphrs can enhance any description when used properly, too much metaphor is an indulgence at best. At worst, it's drivel. Over all, I would recommend to readers of historical fiction to avoid Steven Pressfields books.
Rating: 
Summary: A great story and lesson of leadership
Review: This book was very engaging. It takes one in and wants you to keep coming back from more. It is three books in one. Least of all, it is a book about leadership. There quotes in there and passages as well for all men in the charge of others, especially those of us in the military service, to learn from. Furthermore, it is a history book of the Spartans. The Spartans train for war and are the most fierce. Many parralels can be seen between the Spartans and our military. The Spartans train their men in wrestling, boxing, gymnastics and drill, for things that come up frequently in a West Point Cadets time at the Academy. They inflict high casualties and lose few as our military does. They leave no man behind as our military does. Most importantly, it is a great tale of a man who longed to be a Spartan and who finally fought as one at the battle Thermopylae, the Spartans most famous stand were they and their allies number 4000 killed over 100,000 in seven daysmm and then around 400 strong held off over 10,000 troops for several hours in order to allow the Hellenic forces to mount. It is quite a story and I recommend that you read it. The only reason that I did not give it a five is that at times through out the book, Mr Pressfield uses twentieth century terminology and practices in the books which bring down the sense of realisim that is the books truest treasure.
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Summary: a true contemporary classic
Review: Truly one of the most staggering and powerful novels that I have ever read. I cannot recall a book, or for that matter any film, so epic in it's scope and power.
Although grounded in ancient history, there is an astonishing degree of richness and authenticity in the detail together with beautifully balanced characterisation all round, including the portrayal of the Persian king and his forces.
The battle sections genuinely read more rivettingly than watching any section of Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan or Gladiator and are jaw dropping in the sheer brutality and raw power that they evoke.
Despite the blood, guts, and gore, at it's heart this novel touches the heights of humanity, beauty, heroism and poetry that I have rarely ever read.
Were it ever to be made into a film it has the potential to make Gladiator seem like a playground scrap, and not just from the perspective of the battles and spectacle but alsobecause of the resonance of it's emotional richness and the true far reaching historical implications of the actions of those Spartan warriors, even to this day.
This book should be regarded as a literary classic by any standard and will undoubtedly stand the test of time.
A rare treat which I cannot recommend enough.
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