When an author of historical fiction chooses to place his characters close to famous events, there are advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, the structure is already there. Some basic facts, leaving the author to hang his or her tale around. There is also the plus that each historical period has its fans; place your tale in ancient Rome, and you have a keen potential readership. But there are downsides as well. The principal one is that the more well known the historic events, the more difficult it is to say anything new.
The Marius Mules series from Simon Turney has been excellent. Telling the story of Marcus Falerius Fronto, a career general – and sometime wine importer. His story is largely interwoven with that of Julius Caesar, although Fronto has never been a slavish follower of the great man. The earlier books have had plenty of scope to allow the focus to be firmly on Fronto, his family and friends. Caesar’s time in Gaul allowed the author to send the general off on many adventures – both real and fictional.
It has been a great series. Fronto is an interesting character. Very believable as a Roman general, but his background is mixed, at best, so he is seen as an outsider by the elite. Caesar himself uses him as a bit of a fixer, sending him on some difficult missions, where his maverick nature tends to get the job done.
Now that the series is getting towards its climax, the aforementioned problem is creeping in. This book is set during the civil war, focussing on the conflict in the east between Caesar and Pompey, leading to the siege of Dyrachium and the battle of Pharsalus. The details of these events are well-documented, and fitting Fronto into them in any meaningful way is increasingly difficult. He is recalled from retirement, along with Galronus, and joins Caesar. We meet old friends, and old enemies; sometimes in the same person – this is a civil war, after all.
Simon Turney tells a good story, as always. Fronto tends to save the day, as always. But with the outcome of events so well known, it can become a little pedestrian. You no longer read eagerly to find out what happens, because you already know. You read only to find out how Fronto is involved, and its not quite the same.
This is a review of the Victrix Books 2018 Kindle edition.
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