Rating: 
Summary: Transcends the genre
Review: An extraordinarily long-lived and static Roman Empire has entered the machine age but with another erratic Julian Emperor and facing revolts around its edges. In the East we follow a procurator, Germanicus Julius (weren't Roman provincial governors like Germanicus called proconsuls instead?), struggling against fanatical Muslim-like terrorists with a psychic killing power. In the course of the novel Mitchell adds a fascinating religious layer to his military focus to develop an ultimately compelling and deep story.The initial atmosphere of the novel is gray, bleak, mechanized, and military. Some scenes are pretty horrifying. Yet Germanicus is involved in a crucial love triangle with his assistants, although the author did not first lead me to care much for those three. (The lady's motivation never did come clear: this book could use a prequel). But the dynamics of the novel require that eventually the three must make tragic choices. As we learn more of the rebels and their ideology this story remarkably rises into a gripping theological fantasy of transcendent change based on Jesus sayings forgotten in this alternative timeline. Mitchell's writing style is merely competent and the characters didn't evoke my sympathies until late in the story as the plot moved from the military onto a theological and dreamlike plane. In one of several wrenching dream scenes Germanicus even slips momentarily into our parallel world of 1944. Except for the sheen of a few titles and Latinized names, I don't see what is particularly "Roman" about this story. And surely more evolution of the terms, offices, and organizations mentioned would have been expected. Historical issues of slavery and technology, succession, and the internal east-west split aren't addressed, while Eastern religions, barbarians, and boundaries are significant here. A new fantastical element is introduced: psychic telemagic, that skips around in a convenient but unexplained fashion and may bleed over along family lines. Gurney's cover art doesn't match the technology I think is described in the text. Then again, description and atmosphere are not Mitchell's strong points (while plot development, incident, ethnic differentiation, and intellectual interest are). The publisher provides no clue whatsoever that this is actually the first of three books (followed by New Barbarians and Cry Republic). Perhaps this omission deliberately increases the suspense as to who survives this story. The Sibyl's oracular "hooks" left loose on the final pages seemed too explicitly revealing (quite un-Sibyl-like, in fact) to permit a sequel, until I was alerted by other Amazon reviewers.
Rating:
Summary: Why Use Magic?
Review: I can only add a little to the previous reviews as they are pretty accurate and complete as to the story and its virtues and flaws. After ensuring a reasonable, historically based explanation is used to justify the on-going existence of the Roman Empire, the author bases the story on a 'magical', psychic ability called 'massing.' WHY? There are so many possibilities for conflict and interaction, yet 'massing' becomes a critical part of the storyline. Really detracted from the quality and was largely pointless anyway. On the other hand, the subtleties of the evolution of the Roman Empire were handled very well although it was very hard to tell what the equivalent year in our reality line would have been.
Rating:
Summary: A colorful medley of fantasy and alternate history
Review: In this fast, easy-to-read tale, Kirk Mitchell tells the story of an exotic- and very different- present day. In 9 BC, the Romans won a smashing victory at Teutoburg Forest, putting an end to the barbarian menace. Some 40 years later, Pilate pardoned Joshua Bar Joseph (Jesus Christ). Without a martyr figure, Christianity never leaves the ground. Without the external menace of Germanic invaders and the internal menace of religious controversy, the Roman Empire continues to grow and prosper. Now, in the present day, Roma presides over an enormous realm, stretching from the rugged land of Anatolia to the Novo Provinces across the Atlantic ocean. Germanicus Agricola rules as Procurator in the Province of Anatolia (Turkey). The job, although glorious, is far from easy. Although Roman subjects in name, the fanatically religious natives remain fiercely independent in spirit. And they are determined to drive the infidels from their country by any means necessary. When physical violence fails, they turn to a deadly magical weapon: massing. Using this deadly psychic power, they are capable of assassinating enemies from a great distance. Even in the face of this deadly menace, Germanicus is determined to stand firm. Backed by the firearms, automobiles, and wireless communications of the Roman military, and by his own diplomatic ability, he moves to prevent a savage holy war. But the stakes are far higher than he could ever imagine. For behind the savage belligerence of the Anatolians lies a far more sinister conspiracy, aimed straight at the heart of the Roman Empire. Before Germanicus knows it, he is over his head in a complex web of unspeakable violence, powerful sorcery, and ancient theological secrets. Mitchell's prose is somewhat inelegant, but his plot is highly compelling. He makes liberal -and successful- use of both the fantastic and the alternate historical, creating a delightfully unique piece of speculative fiction.
Rating:
Summary: A colorful medley of fantasy and alternate history
Review: In this fast, easy-to-read tale, Kirk Mitchell tells the story of an exotic- and very different- present day. In 9 BC, the Romans won a smashing victory at Teutoburg Forest, putting an end to the barbarian menace. Some 40 years later, Pilate pardoned Joshua Bar Joseph (Jesus Christ). Without a martyr figure, Christianity never leaves the ground. Without the external menace of Germanic invaders and the internal menace of religious controversy, the Roman Empire continues to grow and prosper. Now, in the present day, Roma presides over an enormous realm, stretching from the rugged land of Anatolia to the Novo Provinces across the Atlantic ocean. Germanicus Agricola rules as Procurator in the Province of Anatolia (Turkey). The job, although glorious, is far from easy. Although Roman subjects in name, the fanatically religious natives remain fiercely independent in spirit. And they are determined to drive the infidels from their country by any means necessary. When physical violence fails, they turn to a deadly magical weapon: massing. Using this deadly psychic power, they are capable of assassinating enemies from a great distance. Even in the face of this deadly menace, Germanicus is determined to stand firm. Backed by the firearms, automobiles, and wireless communications of the Roman military, and by his own diplomatic ability, he moves to prevent a savage holy war. But the stakes are far higher than he could ever imagine. For behind the savage belligerence of the Anatolians lies a far more sinister conspiracy, aimed straight at the heart of the Roman Empire. Before Germanicus knows it, he is over his head in a complex web of unspeakable violence, powerful sorcery, and ancient theological secrets. Mitchell's prose is somewhat inelegant, but his plot is highly compelling. He makes liberal -and successful- use of both the fantastic and the alternate historical, creating a delightfully unique piece of speculative fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: The Semi-Glory of Rome
Review: Kirk Mitchell writes a great alternate history book. The Roman Empire is still about, but not armed with lazer guns and hover-craft like in most sci-fi books on the subject. No, the Roman Empire and the rest of the world seems to be trapped in a mixture of 19th and early 20th century technology. The characters are interesting and realistic. The plot keeps flowing and has lots of action. I would also suggest reading the other two books in the series if you liked this one, as in some ways it gets better!
Rating:
Summary: The Semi-Glory of Rome
Review: Kirk Mitchell writes a great alternate history book. The Roman Empire is still about, but not armed with lazer guns and hover-craft like in most sci-fi books on the subject. No, the Roman Empire and the rest of the world seems to be trapped in a mixture of 19th and early 20th century technology. The characters are interesting and realistic. The plot keeps flowing and has lots of action. I would also suggest reading the other two books in the series if you liked this one, as in some ways it gets better!
Rating: 
Summary: Procurator
Review: No doubt about it...there are definitely some four-star things about this book. It's a strong opener for a trilogy. But it gets three stars from me, not four. My recollection is that Procurator, and the rest of Kirk Mitchell's alternate-Rome trilogy, got re-released when the film Gladiator took off. This makes more sense than just some tenuous "let's dig out the ancient Rome backlist" thinking. The stories bear some resemblance to each other. In Procurator, as in the movie Gladiator, it's not about figuring out who has amassed against you, who is plotting your downfall; no, by Jupiter!--the question is, what do you do about it! Procurator is a book of intrigue and conspiracy, but the reader is in on the scheming. There is not much mystery here...a few scenes after characters are introduced, gladhanding our hero Germanicus, we see them off in a corner, figuring out how to get rid of him, and the Emperor. Meanwhile, the "new barbarians" also threaten the sanctity of this Rome. Germanicus, then, has a very big problem, especially when it looks like some backstabbing friends are in league with the most powerful of the hostile "barbarians". The forces working to eliminate Procurator Germanicus do end up reminding me of the underdog position of the Russell Crowe character from Gladiator--although Germanicus is supposed to be on top! The plot, then, must satisfy when it comes to showing how Germanicus uses strength and cunning, plus a few loyal allies like the wonderful character Rolf, to outwit or outfight his various opponents. And generally it does. I was also surprised at how much I became emotionally involved in what was happening to Germanicus, given the fast pace, and the short shrift given to the emotional reactions of the characters themselves (ie. "Germanicus wept."). So what's not to like? Well, the clipped style does, I feel, take away from the overall effect. Could the writer not have caused even more of an emotional reaction, with more focus on mood, or character's inner thoughts and feelings? The opening of the book is of the "Hammer's Slammers" variety--big war-machines trundling about, spewing forth soldiers or missiles. And the reader, in these initial battle sequences, is trapped with the Romans' point-of-view here, so you don't really get to see what happens where the missiles land. The literary equivalent of riding around in a tank. A narrow focus to the start which did not bode well, but of course the plot opened up nicely, as I indicated already. As for the theatre scene, which is full of irony because the play put on for Germanicus's enemies mirrors our own world, where Pontius Pilate made the opposite decision, it was slightly derivative of, well, A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare and, uh, The Man in The High Castle by Philip K. Dick. A clever plot twist, but not totally new. This book has sections, the farther it goes along, which rate four stars--but overall I give it a three-star review. I do look forward to the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Portents for things to come.
Review: This book wasn't written, It was channeled from an alternative reality. Great introduction to greater series. More please?
Rating:
Summary: Portents for things to come.
Review: This book wasn't written, It was channeled from an alternative reality. Great introduction to greater series. More please?
Rating:
Summary: High quality alternate history
Review: This is one of the few Roman alternate histories I've read where Rome survives without being assisted by magic or aliens - and the way Mitchell presents it seems like it could have happened. Germanicus is a sympathetic character, and the supporting characters are also fleshed out very well. The changing points -Pilate pardoning Jesus and a victory in the Teutonoberg forest are intriguing. The story itself is great, so good I immediately rushed out and bought the other two books. There are only 3 flaws with it. All the modern technology in the book is never adequately detailed (I assume a sand-galley is a tank but I'm still not totally sure). ALL of the modern tech is invented by two guys - the emperor Fabius and a Greek named Ptolemaeus - which doesn't seem quite believable to me. I guess the new technology can only be endorsed by an emperor. And finally Mitchell says that the Julian line has lasted for 2000 years - meaning that without a German frontier or a messiah in the east that Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero don't kill off all prospective heirs. But these are minor points. If you are interested in Roman history or are in the mood for a very good alternate history I would heartily recommend it to you.
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