Historical fiction

[Hegix]

I know this isn't game related and barely history related, so lock the thread if you want.

I was wondering if there is any historical fiction-type books written about the Achaemenid rulers, mainly Cyrus II or Darius I. Pretty much anything really, as long as it isn't written in a Euro-centric "Easterlings eat babies" way (think 300).

I have a rising curiosity about the Persian Empire, but dry history books are too much of a hassle to be enjoyable.

Cheers.

[The Persian Cataphract]

*laughs hysterically*

No, no, I'm not laughing at you. It's just all too hilarious really.

No, no such literature exists to my knowledge. In fact the genre has mainly revolved around the likes of Alexander III The Great, and Julius Caesar, and they have their roots in Shakespearean legends and later Medieval tradition.

The only true semi-mythological collection in the Iranian tradition is however the so-called "Epic of Kings" (Shâhnâmêh) which was written and compiled by the sage Ferdôwsî, on the basis of an elder late Sassanian source, the Xwatây-î-Nâmag.

Though if it is to any help, I have recognized the problem. In fact to such a degree that I am concepting a novelization of Surena's life and the crest of his career, the battle of Carrhaë, which I'm doing with a friend who has proven himself to be quite erudite on general Iranian history. This guy is even crazier than I am, he already speaks in very lofty terms how we should do a "series" together (He mentions Ariobarzanes, of the Persian Gate fame, Vahman Mardanshâh, of the Al-Jisr/Al-Qarqus/Battle of the Bridge, the rise of Arsaces I, and one of Artabanus IV and the rise of Artaxerxes/Ardashîr of Persis). Nonetheless, we are quite far off from the goal.

It's the idea that counts. The future may bear fruit :beam:

[Teleklos Archelaou]

There's a relatively recent novel about Pontos (that Mithridates novel - can't remember the name), but I have no idea if it is any good and even if it was it probably has very little about the actual historical kingdom of Pontos.

[konny]

From the catalouge:

Kirwin, C. J.: Dawn of the Greatest Persian: The Childhood of Cyrus the Great
and
Finding the Persian Way: Cyrus the Great Travels in Ancient Persia

by the same author are classified as novels. No idea what these are.

[Shifty_GMH]

There's a relatively recent novel about Pontos (that Mithridates novel - can't remember the name), but I have no idea if it is any good and even if it was it probably has very little about the actual historical kingdom of Pontos.

Are you talking about "The Last King: Rome's Greatest Enemy" by Michael Curtis Ford?

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/michael-curtis-ford/last-king.htm

[Dutchhoplite]

Alfred Duggan´s ''He died old'' is much better. I don´t know if there´s a recent reprint of that book.

By the way...

I really dislike the cover of Ford´s book!

[Hegix]

Thanks for the tips, I'll check out the ones about Cyrus. When you finish your book, TPC, I will surely buy it :-)

[Krusader]

*laughs hysterically*

No, no, I'm not laughing at you. It's just all too hilarious really.

No, no such literature exists to my knowledge. In fact the genre has mainly revolved around the likes of Alexander III The Great, and Julius Caesar, and they have their roots in Shakespearean legends and later Medieval tradition.

The only true semi-mythological collection in the Iranian tradition is however the so-called "Epic of Kings" (Shâhnâmêh) which was written and compiled by the sage Ferdôwsî, on the basis of an elder late Sassanian source, the Xwatây-î-Nâmag.

Though if it is to any help, I have recognized the problem. In fact to such a degree that I am concepting a novelization of Surena's life and the crest of his career, the battle of Carrhaë, which I'm doing with a friend who has proven himself to be quite erudite on general Iranian history. This guy is even crazier than I am, he already speaks in very lofty terms how we should do a "series" together (He mentions Ariobarzanes, of the Persian Gate fame, Vahman Mardanshâh, of the Al-Jisr/Al-Qarqus/Battle of the Bridge, the rise of Arsaces I, and one of Artabanus IV and the rise of Artaxerxes/Ardashîr of Persis). Nonetheless, we are quite far off from the goal.

It's the idea that counts. The future may bear fruit :beam:

Finish your EB2 tasks first :whip:

And don't downplay the mighty moustache when you write the book :beam: