Gates of Fire.

[CTM]

Who has read this?

Awesome book, I would definitley recomend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Its about the Battle of Thermopylae and it is a lot deeper than that cheap comic book spin off of a movie "300".

I really wanted any movie that would tell the story of Thermopylae to be based off this book by Stephen Pressfield.

[RealBronco]

I've wanted to read it for a while.

I wouldn't say 300 was cheap. 300 was very well done, and was almost a mirror image of the graphic novel. Miller's take was not supposed to be anything historically accurate, as obviously it's going to have a comic-esque feel to it. Not to mention Miller's own signature trademark-type of writing and illustrating style. I think Snyder and Co. did the novel justice by keeping it so close. Obviously they added stuff, like the unneccessary plot hindering Queen sequences, although at least she wasn't a lame role.

As for the historical aspect, I think it'd be great to see someone make an epic film out of that battle. It would need to be better than Troy, Kingdom of Heaven or Alexander. Along the lines of Gladiator photography wise and epic-scale wise. It'd depend on who adapted the screenplay and who directed, as well as who they brought on as director of photography. And of course the cast and my main ingredient for what can make or break a film, the score composer.

[SBboundBRONCOS]

I've wanted to read it for a while.

I wouldn't say 300 was cheap. 300 was very well done, and was almost a mirror image of the graphic novel. Miller's take was not supposed to be anything historically accurate, as obviously it's going to have a comic-esque feel to it. Not to mention Miller's own signature trademark-type of writing and illustrating style. I think Snyder and Co. did the novel justice by keeping it so close. Obviously they added stuff, like the unneccessary plot hindering Queen sequences, although at least she wasn't a lame role.

As for the historical aspect, I think it'd be great to see someone make an epic film out of that battle. It would need to be better than Troy, Kingdom of Heaven or Alexander. Along the lines of Gladiator photography wise and epic-scale wise. It'd depend on who adapted the screenplay and who directed, as well as who they brought on as director of photography. And of course the cast and my main ingredient for what can make or break a film, the score composer.

troy wasnt bad but the other too were awful . . . . its a shame because those kind of movies really intrigue me, i loved 300

[Kapaibro]

The graphic novel (not comic) 300 came out long before the movie. The movie was the adaptation.

If you read the preface in the graphic novel, it clearly states that it is not totally accurate, and is BASED on historic events.




That said, I'm glad you have read a book you enjoy.

[Nightwing]

Very good book but this isn't any surprise if you read any of Pressfield's other books. He's one of my favorite authors and in my opinion the best at writing historical fiction.

If you enjoyed Gates of Fire I'd suggest that you pick up The Virtues of War by Pressfield. It's a first person narritive told from Alexander the Great's point of view. I thought it was really interesting and the battle scenes he writes are terrific. I haven't come across a book of his that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed yet.

[RealBronco]

troy wasnt bad but the other too were awful . . . . its a shame because those kind of movies really intrigue me, i loved 300

yeah, i didn't mind Troy, but as far as that genre goes, Gladiator really set the bar, and so far nothing since has reached it.

Alexander is one of the only movies I've ever walked out on.

Very good book but this isn't any surprise if you read any of Pressfield's other books. He's one of my favorite authors and in my opinion the best at writing historical fiction.

If you enjoyed Gates of Fire I'd suggest that you pick up The Virtues of War by Pressfield. It's a first person narritive told from Alexander the Great's point of view. I thought it was really interesting and the battle scenes he writes are terrific. I haven't come across a book of his that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed yet.

Also, Conn Iguldon is a great author. His 4-book series about Julius Caesar is awesome. I'm only on book 3. Also he has a new series about Genghis Kahn that I've not read yet.

[CTM]

Alexander is one of the only movies I've ever walked out on.



Also, Conn Iguldon is a great author. His 4-book series about Julius Caesar is awesome. I'm only on book 3. Also he has a new series about Genghis Kahn that I've not read yet.

Haha really? I never saw Alexander but I heard it was terrible.


I've never heard of Iguldon but I'll have to check that out.

Another author I like is Bernard Cornwell. He has a bunch of series, I've read 3, The one I'm currently on is about Britain during the Dark ages and the Story of Alfred the Great. Very intriguing. The other 2 Ive read have a little less historical significance, one is the retelling of the legend of Arthur, set around 500 AD, and the other was the quest for the Holy Grail, Set during the 100 years war.