The best book I've read in years. The characters are rich and well dialoged. A pleasure to read.

There's a didactic subtext to these stories: pay attention and we can learn much about the organization of Roman society and politics, its economic basis and strategic considerations (especially re Egypt in this book), and the origin of modern terms like politics or Muse-um. Roberts does a great job of fusing geography and story here: the exotic city of classical Alexandria and its many extraordinary buildings--not just the Lighthouse or the Library--are ably evoked, and their forms play several crucial roles in the story. Unfortunately, the map and glossary of the city of Rome that again appear in this volume are quite off the mark, helping not at all with the descriptions of Alexandria and the Egyptian mystery religions that are so prominent in the text. The editor also allows Roberts to indicate that this book 4 takes place before book 3, is that right?

The prcedures given are adequate. I just wish this book had more general technical specifications for the car. I guess that's too much to ask from a manual that covers 15 model years.

In this book Conan travels far south to recover mysterious treasure of Python. Less you know about this book, will make the reading more interesting....Very Highly recommended

With this book, Roberts proves himself Howard's equal in action sequences, but there's more to a Conan story than swordplay. Roberts portrays Conan as having his own sense of nobility and honor, and he endows the supporting characters with their own motivations and traits. By the end of the book, you are almost sad to see these characters depart (one way or another). It's an impressive job, and I hope they reprint this novel soon so more people can read it and enjoy the journey.

The two friends join up with Yngva for a time, following her back to her home, where both play important parts in the pagan midsummer celebrations. Hring escapes with the Skraeling (Native American) slave girl Winter-Grass, and has many adventurers as a sailor in the Caribbean, a captive, and later a celebrated member of, the Azteca empire in Mexico, a member of Winter-Grass's Skraeling tribe, a furrier and trader among the Skraeling on the plains, eventually an ally of the Mongol empire, which is now on its way to conquer the American continent(s), before finally returning home.

With an admirable eye for detail, Roberts describes Hring's adventures, and paints a fairly believable/accurate image of Aztec, Norse, and Plains Indian society. This book would be wonderful for boys and men who are young, or young at heart, and want to read about the adventures and triumphs of a mighty warrior in the vein of Conan.

However, the characterization leads a little bit to be desired. The protagonist's feelings about human sacrifice are not difficult to sympathize with, and entirely clear. In this light, it would seem that Hring's behavior in two of the major events of his life (his marriage, and his death) go entirely contrary to the feelings he has been having for years. Without a great epiphany to explain the changes in his character, the ending and epilogue left me feeling a bit hollow and disappointed.

I have recommended Tim Power's The Drawing of the Dark in lieu of this book. Some may also enjoy Morgan Llywelyn's The Druids for another picture of pagan religion, and a main character's struggle with human sacrifice.

This volume was a bit disappointing when I read it for the first time. (Yet, it got much better with the second try.) It's not as good as "SPQR", but, of course, the latter is nearly impossible to beat. But to look at the bright side, I'd like to mention that this time, Decius is not acting as stupidly as in the first volume. Besides, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover some new things about him that you wouldn't have guessed before.

If you loved "SPQR", read this book and the following ones, too.