Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Work By Mr. Ford
Review: I picked up this book after I read the author's previous work "The Ten Thousand". I wouldn't say that this book is as strong as his previous, however it is still a great read judged on it's own. In an era when the Crichton's and Grisham's seem to be writing airplane reading with the idea that the books will become screenplays and in turn movies, I am very pleased to have authors like Mr. Ford.Just like in "The Ten Thousand", the story is told to us through the eyes of an assistant, this time through the point of view of Julian the Apostate's physician Caeasarius. Basically, the book follows Julian's rise and the decline of his sanity. In my humble opinion, the book is at its best describing Julian's accomplishments in Gaul. The description of the action is lucid and entertaining. Julian grows into an accomplished General and a more well rounded person. His ability to embarass the forces of his Uncle the Emperor is also makes you really root for him. The conflict in the book really becomes Julian's descent into Paganism and Caesarius' ensuing disagreement with his boss over his conversion. My main critique of this work is that, unlike "The Ten Thousand" I never developed the feeling for Caesarius, like I did for Xenophon's Theo. The plight of Caesarius, just didn't stike me as hard as Theo's. Other than that, this book would be an interesting and very entertaining book for anyone who likes historical novels.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic historical fiction!
Review: I read this book in four days. I could not tear myself away. Never once did I tire fo reading it. The characters were real, the battle scenes intense and every aspect of the story was palpably real. I only wish there was a more detailed author's note at the end of the book regarding what happened to the characters and parties of the story.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: I read this book in four days. I could not tear myself away. Never once did I tire fo reading it. The characters were real, the battle scenes intense and every aspect of the story was palpably real. I only wish there was a more detailed author's note at the end of the book regarding what happened to the characters and parties of the story.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic historical fiction!
Review: I truly enjoyed reading this book. On the surface, it's a great action/war book with several great battle scenes. These battle scenes were written wonderfully, and many of the descriptions would make excellent shots in a movie (my fingers remain crossed for this to happen). Beneath the surface this book is much more than just action. I especially enjoyed the development of the Julian character. The philosophical discussions between Julian and Caesarius and others was interesting and thought-provoking. I know I've read a good book when I feel sad when I've finished reading it. "Gods and Legions" is a good book. I'll definately be reading more books in this genre, as well as the other books my Michael Curtis Ford.
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Summary: This book was incredible!!!!!!
Review: In Gods and Legions, it tells of Julian's rise and fall, through his personal physician Caesarius, who acts as a friend and as a conscience. As Julian is threatened with ultimatum, he resolves to put himself and his faithful Gallic army to the test and marches to seize Constantinople itself. Julian and Caesarius ultimately clash over the issue of religion as Julian's views are revealed to be other than her had professed during the reign of the previous Christian emperor.
This is a competent historical fiction that gets the details right. This tale has plenty of thrills and spills along the way, with set-piece battles, gladiatorial fights and mystical visits. There is good depth to the characters, and some recourse to poetry and philosophy.
Having a physician as a narrator is a useful device. It offers the opportunity to provide detailed analysis of the central figure. Everybody will love this book, especially is you love the field of history. I also recommend reading Michael Curtis Ford's other literary works.
Rating:
Summary: Gods and Legions
Review: Michael Curtis Ford relies on two things to write this book; good research and his talent as a writer. Neither let him down. Ford tells a wonderfully human story, every character is understandable, respectable in their own way, yet all are detestable at times. There is no way he could have conveyed the chaos, tumults and complexities of the times without the self-interests, beliefs, customs, and morals of all parties accounted for without that rearch or talent. Julian who will later become Emperor is virtually sentenced to death in Gaul only to emerge triumphant as his namesake did hundreds of years earlier. Emerging from his success in Gaul a respected commander, administrator and seen as a friend to all faiths (Christians are happy with him because he is a Christian, Pagans like him because he is willing to join in their rituals). Unfortunately, Julian has been a closet Pagan for some years, his hatred for the Church, his exposure to court life, and other factors cause this man who has always feared for his life to become the ultimate target. The story ends with Julian's invasion of Persia. Ford manages to take these groups that hate each other and in the process get you to understand their position, if he had not been able to do that this book for all his talent as a storyteller would not have been worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: -Superlative historical fiction
Review: Mike Ford has done it again -- better, if that is possible than his first book The Ten Thousand.
Using Caesarius as the narrator of the story we trace Julian's rise to power and subsequent fall. Again the author brings to life histories long gone or forgotten. The battle scenes are superb and G&L draws heavily on ancient sources. Kudos to the author for his superior research. An epic novel about one of the most important time periods of imperial Rome. The relationship between Caesarius and Julian are fleshed out very well and the struggle between Christians and Pagans is beautifully crafted. Gods and Legions is actually an important book examining absolute power with philosophy and morals eerily reminiscent of today's socio-political climate. At times shocking, at times profound, the book does not disappoint in any capacity. A must read for anyone interested in politics, religion and military affairs, not to mention fans of historical fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: Questionable, inaccurate, and biased . . .
Review: Mind you, I wanted to like this book a great deal. Yet I found myself awfully glad when it was over, and in general disgusted by the treatment of certain ideas by the author. I can't disagree all that much with Publisher's Weekly review. This book is dogmatic in favor of Christianity, is tedius during most of the last half, is unrealistic, and has characters that are so two-dimensional that you think a stiff breeze would knock them over. Julian is portrayed as an erratic, and perhaps mad, diseased patron of 'demonic' (not my word, by the way) Deities, whereas the Christians in the book hold a holier-than-thou stance, full of enlightenment and pius rightness right down to the last Christian miracle of the story. Having read the blurb about the author having his children homeschooled makes me wonder if this isn't just another anti-Pagan diatribe thinly disguised as fiction. If you want to read a good book about Julian, pick up a copy of the Gore Vidal novel of the same name. That, at least, appears unbiased and impartial. If you want an exciting book about ancient warriors that is riveting and will keep you turning pages, read Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae by Steven Pressfield. This book by Michael Curtis Ford has nothing new to recommend it, and was just plain uncomfortable to read. And the anachronisms are real howlers. One last thought about this book and the scholarship that went into it (not that this is a surprize, there are others pointing out the flaws here for a historical novel), I can take so much wading through passages where Pagan Deities are proclaimed false, demonic, etc., because that has long been the stance of Christian authors and anymore it has all the intellectual clout of "yadda yadda yadda." But when someone fails to do their research on the very Deities they appear to be decrying, yet seem to be lauded for their historical background, it makes me itch. I'm referring to the death of a character in the book who has a name that comes from the word Jove, which the author explains is the current (i.e., Roman, as he's a Roman, get it?) word for the Greek God Jupiter. I'm just a layman, but even I know that the original Greek God we were referring to was called Zeus, or Father Zeus (Zeus Pater, which became Jupiter -- sound it out), which became Romanized into the Roman God Jupiter. Perhaps its a small thing, but accuracy is important in a 'historical' (as opposed to a hysterical) novel. Getting the cart in front of the horse slightly wilts one's erudition. Now if this had been the only problem with it, I might have liked it more ...
Rating: 
Summary: Emperor in the attack
Review: Mr Ford has penned an excellent book about one of the great men of ancient Rome. Although I am not very familiar with this period in Roman history and can not comment on the historical accuracy of the story, I can say that it is enjoyable reading. Mr Ford does and excellent job of describing the characters and the intrigue that surrounds the Emperor and his court. He also does a great job of showing the importance of the legions in determining just who will sit on the throne in this era. Overall, the book flows along and keeps the reader absorbed in the characters and the plot and is an enjoyable read. I recommend the book to anyone interested in this period of history or just wants an enjoyable novel for the summer vacation.
Rating: 
Summary: Pagan vs. Christian
Review: Novels about ancient Rome have a subgenre invoking the rise of Christianity. The most famous of these is 'Ben Hur', written by Lew Wallace in the 1880s. It and many of its ilk have an overt theme of the inevitable and laudatory rise of Christianity, against the myriad superstitious, pagan beliefs. These reflected the attitudes of the authors and that of most of the audience. For those of us non-Christians, such propaganda, and it is that, does not do a heck of a lot. Nevertheless, a few such novels, like 'Ben Hur', do rise above a polemical religiousity by being great adventure stories. Which is why I found this novel curious. Written in the first person, from the point of view of the Emperor Justin's doctor, who is a devout Christian. Usually, first person narratives are hard to write; they can be confining and tunnel visioned, but can also emphasise a worldview. As done here. The doctor writes about his friend Justin's irredeemably pagan beliefs. Yet the stridency of the doctor's musings gives a sympathetic air to Justin. Often, the doctor comes off as dogmatic, while Justin appears more reasonable and worldly. An unusual depiction of Christianity versus other religions. Worth reading for this alone. But as a military novel, this is mediocre. The disadvantage about writing fiction around a historic figure is that severe constraints are placed upon you. Unlike Tolkien, you cannot make it all up. The battle scenes are not as well written as Jeff Shaara's novels on the American Civil War or Revolution, or those of Patrick O'Brien. The author's expertise is more in describing ancient Roman society than in relating the battles by which it grew.
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