Rating: 
Summary: Amazing Vivid Story of Spartan Warriors
Review: One thing that grips my attention when I came upon this is the synopsis of three hundred Spartan warriors holding off the invincible tide of million Persian soldiers almost to the last man at the narrow pass called Gates of Fire. I was so interested and absorbed that I read through the whole book almost in the one sitting and was almost tearfully upset at any distraction.
The thing that amazes me most of all is how Persian almost had to pay more than twenty thousand men just to slaughter three hundred to the last man. Persian would have spent much more men if three hundred Spartans has the constant supply of more weapons and if Spartans' weapons have not become broken and dull after seven days of furious fighting.
The story of this main character and his friends or comrades proved the Spartans to be the truest warriors ever beheld in the history of Earth, to me at least.
Naturally, I would feel sad at the end of three hundred Peers but these men has lived their lives to fullest and they did it so willingly for their country, which is way worth fighting for. These valors were almost repeated again and again througout the history, like for instance at the battle of Alamo, where 187 defenders, with famous Davy Crockett among them, were killed to a last man.
Steven Pressfield presents a remarkable way of filling the book with dramatic excitement and thrilling experiences while revealing the harsh reality of Spartan soldier's life. It is worth reading for anybody, regardless of reader lacking or having the knowledge of Ancient Greek history. I would say this is the best epical story on Ancient Greek.
Rating: 
Summary: Corage in battle
Review: I found his book by accident while I was searching for information on the Medeo Persian Empire. The heros of this great and pivotal battle have now come alive for me. The writing is evocative without being sappy. I have ordered Steven Pressfields's other books and look forward to reading them. By the end of the book although I knew they would all die I was extremly touched by Mr. Pressfield's portrait of their deaths. No long drawn out overdone heroic behavior. Just simple courage in the face of insurmontable odds. In the end War is hell and we get the picture because of the loss of such men of character.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT HISTORICAL FICTION
Review: Could'nt put it down. Get it. (The rest of reviewers has already said it all). One of the Top Ten ever Historical Novels. Enjoy.
The build up of the plot and the battle itself are masterfully crafted, hoplite combat was a really HOMERIC experience, and you can actually FEEL the blood&sweat&tears of CLOSE COMBAT (no shooting wnen you see the whites of their eyes nonsense there!, or to be really politically incorrect everybody understood what the meaning of "taking care of the wounded" was at that time and believe it POW was probably the sound of a helmet/head been crushed... A nasty/brutal period of warfare (does the term "evolution" really applies to warfare???).
A VERY GOOD ACOUNT OF AN HISTORICAL BATTLE IS A REALLY RARE PIECE OF NARRATIVE.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful
Review: When 300 Spartans stood against the armies of Persia to defend all of Greece and it was thought the story ended with their destruction. One of the soldiers had already survived and he has an intriguing story to tell the king. This book is an excellent representation of the Spartan Culture. It does a wonderful job of weaving the characters together, some fictional some not. It actually becomes a wonderful microchasum of the historical Greece of the time. With parts that will have you both laughing and crying you will be glad that you brought this book. Overall-Probably the most original and hard hitting military fiction I have read in the last five years. I do not have enough words in my vocabulary to explain to you how great this book is.
Rating:
Summary: Best Historical Fiction I've Ever Read...
Review: Steven Pressfield's "Gates of Fire" is by far the best Historical Fiction I've ever read. The dialogue is properly realistic and easy-to-follow, but still sounds archaic enough to fit the story. The action is...gut wrenching--imagine the visuals from "Saving Private Ryan" in prose and you've got the battle scenes in "Gates of Fire." The plot is epic, based on the bold Greek defense of the Hot Gates (Thermopylae) from the invading Persians. I only wish that Mr. Pressfield would write a book on Marathon.
Rating:
Summary: The Best book ever!
Review: When i first picked up this book, I thought it was just going to be another one of those books that you can't get past the first page it is so baddly written. I was truly wrong by all means. I could hardly set it down.
After I finished it I went online to numorous sites to look at the history of the Battle of Thermopylae. I found very few historical mistakes were made. Only one that really made a difference. That was that the General of the Spartan army in the book was crusified by the Persians, and in history he died the day before the battle was finished. Other than this small error there were very few others that even mean anything.
To tell you a little about the book if you plan on buying it, it starts out with a young boy named Xeo. His village gets attacked and his parents die, so he is forced to find new lodgings. At first he is set on going to Athens to become one of their glorious marines. But at the last moment he changes his mind and goes to Sparta, to be a infantry man so to speak. This is not as easy a task as he thought it would be. During his basic training there are some pretty difficult scenes to get over. The drill instructors are very hard on the new recruits.
Well i don't want to tell you to much about the book. I just hope you enjoy, it and finish it.
Rating:
Summary: History brought to life in vivid fashion
Review: Pressfield's recounting of the Battle of Thermopylae was told in an incredible fashion. Pressfield uses a battle squire in captivity to tell the story of the Battle of Thermopylae. From the moment I picked this book up, I had difficulty putting it down. I was instantly captivated by the POW's tale. Pressfield involves us not only in the captives life, but of those around him. He gives background information and a life to his characters. While reading this book you could picture the Spartan King Leonidas, and pull for him to crush the Persians. His battle details were graphic, yet done in a way that made this one of the best battle books ever written. Pressfield get's all the senses involved when describing the horrors of ancient warfare. This book takes you through some brief history of Sparta and the characters, and is well worth the read. My only advice is buy it in hardback, because you will read it again!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great reading
Review: The book was exciting and kept me glue to every page. Now I cant wait to read other books by this author
Rating:
Summary: This Novel Takes You There
Review: Having just finished Mr. Pressfield's Tides of War, I was anxious to start this novel. I have not been disappointed - in fact, Gates of Fire is much better, and Tides was very good. Great characteriztion, great scene description, and thorough historical background literally takes you to circa 490 BC. This book is also extremely suitable for young teens - a fantasy epic as good as anything by Tolkien. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing less than perfect
Review: When I got this book for Christmas I was excited to start it, and once I did I couldn't put it down. Me being a relatively slow reader (it takes me about two to three months to finish a book), it was earth-shaking that I finished it in one week. It might sound a little dry to some people but that couldn't be farther from the truth. The characters are real and inperfect, the narration is fresh and engaging. There's nothing negative I can say about this book at all, it's perfect, enough said.
| 
