Saturnalia: A Marcus Didius Falco Novel (Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries)

Book Description

It's 76 A.D. during the reign of Vespasian and the Roman holiday of Saturnalia has begun. The days are short; the nights are for wild parties. But not for Marcus Didius Falco. Falco is an informer by trade - his job is to uncover unwelcome truths and deal with sensitive situations, frequently at the behest of the imperial government. And just such a case has arisen. A general has captured a famous enemy of Rome, and brings her home to adorn his eventual Triumph as a ritual sacrifice. But everything goes wrong from there - first she acquires a mysterious illness, then a young man is horrendously murdered and she escapes from house arrest.
Marcus Didius Falco, hired to find her and return her to custody before Saturnalia is over, is pitted against his old rival, the Chief Spy Anacrites. The two of them are in a race against time to find the fugitive before the public learns of the situation, making the government look stupid. Falco, however, has other priorities. Helena’s brother Justinus has also vanished, perhaps fatally involved once more with the great lost love of his youth.
Against the riotous backdrop of the season of misrule, the search seems impossible and only Falco seems to notice that some dark agency is bringing death to the city streets…

Customer Reviews:

Another Enjoyable Falco Case.......2007-09-13

I have read every book in the series, and while there are a few that don't quite measure up, this one is right on target. It contains the history and atmosphere that make the stories unique, along with the family and political scheming that give us all something to which we can relate. I consider this one less of a mystery and more of true private eye novel, but no matter how you see it, Ms. Davis has created some terrific characters, and I look forward to meeting up with them again each time a new book comes out.

Saturnalia.......2007-07-04

This is the best in the series!
The mystery is fairly intriguing, but the book gets its vibrancy from the glimpses we get of Falco's extended family during Saturnalia. I can't wait for the next installment!

Elegant, Incisive and So Roman.......2007-06-26

Marcus Didius Falco, somewhat incongruously, makes all the nuttiness work in Ancient Rome, with the help of his Charming Wife.

Who Knew!?

one of her best.......2007-06-14

Lindsey Davis's Falco books are among my favorites. I love the way she characterizes his crazy and amusing family and friends, and in this one she features them throughout, so it was a special treat. The Vigiles' Saturnalia party is hilarious. I also prefer when her stories take place in the city of Rome, as this one does, rather than around the empire.

Lindsey Davis's Best Falco Novel Yet.......2007-06-08

Saturnalia is Lindsey Davis's single best Falco novel yet written. In this work, in A.D. 76, Roman Emperor Vespasian orders Marcus Didius Falco to investigate a nobleman's murder. The emperor is worried that this murder was really an act of terrorism related to a Germanic tribal leader's struggle against Rome.

Specifically, a barbarian woman named Veleda is the lead suspect. However, both Falco and his wife Helena have their doubts about this. Everything seems a little bit too convenient about the idea that a barbarian was responsible for the murder.

Saturnalia is a thrilling historical detective novel that will hold your interest from page one. It is most heartily recommended.

Average customer rating:

Fifth in a Sparkling Series
Murder, Mayhem, and Scandal in Ancient Rome
Another great book from Roberts
great comic mystery
Interesting and different series

Saturnalia (SPQR V)
John Maddox Roberts
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Nobody Loves a Centurion (SPQR VI)
The Temple of the Muses (SPQR IV)
The Tribune's Curse (SPQR VII)
The Sacrilege (SPQR III)
The Catiline Conspiracy (SPQR II)

ASIN: 0312320183

Book Description

Although not everyone can define 'Saturnalia' precisely, for almost everyone the Roman holiday conjures a picture of wild abandon- celebrations where all bets are off and everyone does-or tries to do-exactly what he or she wants. (And you can often guess correctly what that is likely to be.) Our playboy detective, Decius Caecilius Metellus is ready to join in the fun, until he is obliged to look into a sinister cult of witchcraft and murder whose membership list includes some very surprising names. But neither Decius nor his author neglect to paint the brilliantly colorful picture of those few days in Rome where all ordinary things stop and only the bizarre and the unbridled hold sway.

Customer Reviews:

Fifth in a Sparkling Series.......2007-02-26

Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger has been sampling what he regards as the good life on the beautiful island of Rhodes, but that was never the intention of his family who exiled him there because of knack of causing trouble wherever he goes. Now he has been called back to Rome where his powers of deduction and mystery solving are sorely needed.

The head of a politically powerful family has been poisoned and as usual in these cases the number one suspect is his wife Clodia. It happens everyday, someone or other is murdered, but it is usually a stabbing or strangulation. Poison is different. Poisoning involves the laws against witchcraft. A trial of Clodia for poisoning could embarrass some of the richest and most important families in Rome.

Apart from that Decius thinks that Clodia is innocent. Our young sleuth has ever been a sucker for a pretty face, but to his credit he never lets it cloud his judgement, well until now anyway . . .

Murder, Mayhem, and Scandal in Ancient Rome.......2002-09-11

... I had just read the Steven Saylor "Roma Sub Rosa" series, featuring the lovably human Gordianus the Finder, so I felt a bit disloyal even picking up a Maddox Roberts book, but, WOW! am I glad I did. Roberts writes with effortless skill, a keen understanding of complex Roman politics and social hierarchies, and, best of all, a delicious sense of mystery. SATURNALIA, is a wicked tale of murder and adultery, set against the twilight of Rome's Republic. The scandalous Clodia is accused of poisoning her husband (all of this is based on historical events), and Maddox Roberts takes the opportunity to explore some of Rome's darker sides in the process. Roberts' hero - a Junior Senator with the unwieldy name of Decius Caecilius Metellus - is a wonder: patrician by birth, he is able to walk with equal confidence in marble halls, and the stinkiest streets of the Subura. I highly recommend not only SATURNALIA, but all the other novels in the SPQR series. You'll fall in love with Decius, and discover sides to ancient Rome you never knew existed.

Another great book from Roberts.......2001-05-28

The fifth nover of the SPQR series is as good as all the others. Roberts using the same technique and the same elements that made all the other books of the series so popular. And guess what Decius is back to Rome.

great comic mystery.......2001-01-27

I have read all of the books in this series, and they are really great. The interpretations of historical characters are entertaining, the hero is very funny, the plots are interesting. Please write more!

Interesting and different series.......2000-12-06

Both JM Roberts and Steve Saylor are writing a series of historical mysteries set in the same late republican era of Rome. While Roberts is not as good a writer as Saylor, either in his prose or in his individuation of the characters, in my opinion he has a more interesting perspective. By this I mean, firstly, that he takes the mores of this period on its own terms and does not bring in spurious late-20th-century sensibility as Saylor does; and secondly, that as he has become more confident in the genre his stories have diverged more and more from traditional mysteries/adventures into stories which place the protagonist into situations which explore the underlying stresses of the society in which he operates. An example is a later book in the series (currently only in German), "Revenge of the River Gods," where the hero must investigate a case of corruption in the building industry. As the story unfolds, the hero discovers that the theatre in which he is about to stage the annual games is a death trap, and the persons responsible include his own family. This is quite a different type of story from anything any of the other Roman detectives currently on the bookshelves might be given by their authors. While the earlier books in the series contain some errors, Roberts has evidently continued not just to research but also to think about this period of history and (unlike Saylor) he wears his learning lightly.

Average customer rating:

Boy am I glad that there's another Falco mystery!
Well Worth Waiting For!
From the UK pre-publication synopsis:

Saturnalia (Falco 18)
Lindsey Davis
Manufacturer: Century
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

It is the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. Marcus Didius Falco and Helena have returned from Greece only to find that Helena’s brother Justinus’s marital problems have exploded. Justinus’s first love, Veleda, a tribal leader and prophetess from Germania, has been brought to Rome and put under house arrest pending a ritual sacrifice at her capturer’s Triumph.

Justinus is love-struck once more and his wife, the temperamental Claudia, is enraged. Then Veleda escapes leaving behind a corpse. Justinus disappears too and it is up to Falco and the Chief Spy Anacrites to try to find the missing couple all against the backdrop of the orgiastic holiday period when literally anything goes . . .

Customer Reviews:

Boy am I glad that there's another Falco mystery!.......2007-04-09

We've had to wait a bit for this one, but it was worth the wait! Lindsey Davis is at her best here with fast-talking, fast-thinking Falco and his hilarious entourage. The best part about these books are the characters, and it's like they're old friends when you read about their hilarious adventures again. Falco's domestic bliss and its inherent problems make for very funny reading. And the mystery is always fun too. This book is set in Rome, and it is set around the Saturnalia holiday (around the end of December) in the first century A.D. Falco seems to be the only one in Rome during this holiday time that realizes that people are dying in large numbers on the city streets. And when he uncovers the reason behind these deaths, it is a chilling solution. At the same time he is trying to find an escaped political prisoner. He gets up to more highjinks than you can shake a stick at. This is a truly funny book, and Lindsey Davis is my favourite author.

Well Worth Waiting For!.......2007-01-10

Lindsey Davis was born in Birmingham but now lives in Greenwich. After an English degree at Oxford she joined the Civil Service but now writes full time. In 1999 she received the Sherlock Award for Best Comic Detective for her creation, Marcus Didius Falco. Lindsey Davis's books are eagerly awaited by the large following of readers she has gathered together with her Falco books and I am not ashamed to say that I am one of them. There are several authors that write similar books and I enjoy reading their books too, but the Falco books just seem to have that little bit extra that I cannot put my finger on.

Saturnalia, as anyone with an interest in Roman history is a holiday. The daytime is just something that comes before the night and the wild parties that the city of Rome has always been famous for. It is the ideal time for a returning Roman general to be given his `Triumph' something very rarely accorded to a victorious leader of Rome's mighty legions. The general has a famous enemy of Rome as his captive and wishes to use her as a ritual sacrifice at his Triumph. But things go horribly wrong, she acquires a mysterious illness and then a young man is brutal murdered and she escapes from house arrest.

Falco has to pit his wits against his old rival and enemy Anacrites a man Falco's mother once admired, but she was in a majority of one. Can either of them find the fugitive before she becomes an embarrassment to the government. With all the mayhem that comes with the holiday season the search seems impossible and only Falco seems to notice that death is stalking the streets of the city.

From the UK pre-publication synopsis:.......2006-11-05

It is the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. The days are short, the nights are for wild parties. A general has captured a famous enemy of Rome, and brings her home to adorn his Triumph as a ritual sacrifice. The logistics go wrong; she acquires a mystery illness - then a young man is horrendously murdered and she escapes from house arrest. Marcus Didius Falco is pitted against his old rival, the Chief Spy Anacrites, in a race to find the fugitive before her presence angers the public and makes the government look stupid. Falco has other priorities, for Helena's brother Justinus has also vanished, perhaps fatally involved once more with the great lost love of his youth. Against the riotous backdrop of the season of misrule, the search seems impossible and only Falco seems to notice that some dark agency is bringing death to the city streets...

Getorix The Eagle and The Bull: A Celtic Adventure in Ancient Rome

Average customer rating:

Getorix: The Eagle and The Bull
A Perfect Novel. I could not put it down!
An interesting story about pre-Caesarian Rome.
A thoroughly captivating and intimate story of a young man's struggle with identity and pride

Getorix The Eagle and The Bull: A Celtic Adventure in Ancient Rome
Judith Geary
Manufacturer: Ingalls Pub/High Country
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 193215874X

Book Description

Getorix (15) has one last opportunity to earn his father's regard and welcome into the Otherworld He must face death with courage at the end of the Roman triumph. Instead the gods throw him a different challenge Can Getorix accept friendship from t

Customer Reviews:

Getorix: The Eagle and The Bull.......2006-09-19

Getorix: The Eagle and the Bull is a story of a young boy's adventures in Rome that is comperable to the Harry Potter novels in that the concept is equally as fascinating. Geary's attention to historical detail paints a vivid image of Rome during a time period that is educational as well as entertaining. Getorix's incessant stubborness in fufilling his promise to his father emphasizes the cultural difference between the Celts and Romans and is the foundation of an unlikely friendship in the end. This book leaves the reader awaiting a young adult adventure series that has the potential to be brilliant.

A Perfect Novel. I could not put it down!.......2006-09-13

This is a beautifully written, riveting tale of a Celtic boy on the cusp of manhood, who along with his father, was captured in battle by the Romans. The boy, Getorix, is determined to honor a vow to his father made just before the father is executed. He is spared by General Catulus and given to his son, Lucius, as a slave. However, Getorix will be no one's slave, especially not a slave to a Roman enemy. His growing friendship to a boy who would be his master, and his desperate need to become a man his father would have been proud of sends him on a journey of pain and self-discovery which will ultimately chart his course in life. I see this book as a young adult book only in that there are no scenes of sexuality or obscene language. It is a wealth of insight into the life and politics of Rome before Julius Caesar and has been meticulously researched. The author, Judith Geary, speaks to an intelligent reader with language that propels the reader to another time and commands the reader to experience a slice of history along side her richly developed characters. I was hooked from the first page to the last and can not wait to read it's sequel.

An interesting story about pre-Caesarian Rome........2006-08-18

Getorix is a teenage son of a Cimbri ruler who is captured, along with his father, and taken to Rome for a triumph and eventual execution. His father is killed, but he is spared and becomes a slave in the household of Quintus Lutatius Catulus, a Roman general and official. The story concerns the developing relationship between Getorix, Catulus' son, Lucius, and Keltus, a Celtic slave of the household. The author gives us a taste of what the life of a Roman household slave would be like, plus a description of some of the politics existing in the time before Julius Caesar becomes absolute ruler. An excellent appendix gives the neophyte reader a list of Latin and 'barbarian' words and what they mean. This book may be boring to adults, but is quite good for pre-teens and teenagers. It is fortunate that the activities and perversions of Sulla are not discussed fully, or it would not be suitable for young readers. The story ends without a satisfactory ending, leading me to believe there will be a sequel as Getorix deals with his status as a slave and his vow to make his father proud of him.

A thoroughly captivating and intimate story of a young man's struggle with identity and pride.......2006-08-13

Judith Geary's debut novel, Getorix: The Eagle And The Bull is set in the days of the Roman Republic (rather than the later Roman Empire) and is the story of a young Celt named Getorix. Following the adventurous life of Getorix which includes the depressing defeat of his father in a battle with the Romans, Getorix: The Eagle And The Bull deftly carries readers through a Celtic family struggles and Getorix befriending a Roman soldier who has spared his life. A superbly written novel whose author has taken great pains to be as historically accurate as possible in the little details so important to background settings and plot developments, Getorix: The Eagle And The Bull is very strongly recommended as a thoroughly captivating and intimate story of a young man's struggle with identity and pride. Written for a young adult readership, Getoix: The Eagle And The Bull is the first installment of a three volume trilogy and will leave the reader looking eagerly toward the next two titles in this superbly crafted and original series.

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Saturnalia
Saturnalia Review
Saturnalia Review
Saturnalia book review 11-27-02
Saturnalia

Saturnalia
Paul Fleischman
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Tituba of Salem Village
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ASIN: 006447089X

Book Description

"I Want You To Know That My Eye Is Upon You"

It is December 1681, and the words of Mr. Baggot, the tithingman, terrify young William. William is living a strange double life. By day he is a printer's apprentice living in a white man's house. By night, he is Weetasket of the Narraganset tribe who must risk Baggot's wrath to search for his lost brother. Then comes the winter celebration of the Saturnalia -- the ancient Roman holiday on which masters and slaves trade roles. Will William's secret be revealed? And what dark deed of others will be brought to light on this fateful night?

Customer Reviews:

Saturnalia.......2003-02-25

Saturnalia

This book is about the Saturnalia, or December 22, the day when the roles of slaves and masters are switched. William, a slave sent to Boston from his indian tribe, is the main character.Throughout the book, he tries to find his long, lost brother and stumbles along two slaves who are in fact members of his tribe.
The day of the Saturnalia comes and a shocking event takes place. Will the people find out William's secret? You won't know until you read the book.
I found this book interesting even though I don't usually read books like that. It keeps you waiting at the end of every chapter and it's very detailed and explains the characters and their actions well.
I would reccommend this book to anyone who likes history because it takes place back in the 1800's. I would also reccommend it to anyone who likes a little mystery because it's kind of mysterious.
Some important parts of the story are:William finds the two slaves who were from his tribe, and the Saturnalia comes and slaves and their masters switch places.

Saturnalia Review.......2003-02-25

I disliked the story Saturnalia for a few reasons, I think that it was written very confusing, the beginning was very boring and that is the most important part, the beginning is supposed to introduce the characters and it didn't really do that, also because I really didn't get into the story so I really did not enjoy the book.
The book takes place in Boston and its about a boy named William who lives a double life, by day he is Mr. Currie's printing apprentice, by night he is an Indian from the tribe Narraganset and his name is Weetasket. Mr. Baggot (the Tithing man) is very unsure about William and he doesn't trust him. With the winter holiday Saturnalia, which is when master and servant change places for one full day, he thinks that Williams secret life will be reviled. I don't want to ruin the story so wont tell you.
I would recommend this book to people that like the author Paul Flieshman and to people that like books that have characters that are mysterious, also to people that like books that have some history in them.The reason I would is because in the story there is some history and you don't really know much about the main characters.

Saturnalia Review.......2003-02-25

Saturnalia book review 11-27-02.......2002-11-28

Saturnalia is a good book. I think Saturnalia is a good book because it is fictional but could happen making it historical or historical fiction. Though the main character is a Narragansett Indian named William there is another character that my class thought was funnier. The character's name is Malcolm. This book is confusing though because it's like three stories in one book but it's really only one story. The stories jump back and forth between each other telling the story but when you finish and think about it you can see easily the different "parts" or "stories". One of the "stories within the story" is about the main character William, the family he's with, and the tithingman, Mr. Baggot. The second "story within the story" is about Malcolm, the character my class thought was funnier than William, his master Mr. Hogwood, and Madam Phipp, the person Mr. Hogwood is after for love. Finally, the third "story within the story" is about a man named Mr. Speke, an Indian girl, and a feeling he is desperately trying to get rid of.

Saturnalia.......2002-11-28

I think that Saturnalia is an interesting book about a Narraganset boy. The style of the book is good because it is well written because when it changes from character to another it changes it well enough for someone to understand when it is talking about another character and there also are a lot of words that are hard to read or understand. The story is not just about a Narraganset boy but also about a lot of other characters. The characters of Saturnalia are well described so I'd say that the characters and the style are its biggest strength. The plot of the story is interesting because there are three different stories about different characters going on the same time. Like William trying to keep up with his present and at the same time he is trying to remember more about his past, there's also a story about Malcolm, Mr. Hogwood, and Madam Phipp, which is mostly about Mr. Hogwood, and last but not least there is a story about Mr. Speke, who is trying to fight his past. The setting is o.k. Because it is always described in the story. I recommend this book to people who are able to read and understand tough words.

Lucian: How to Write History. The Dipsads. Saturnalia. Herodotus or Aetion. Zeuxis or Antiochus. A Slip of the Tongue in Greeting. Apology for the "Salaried Posts in...(Loeb Classical Library No. 430)

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Addendum
This is not "A True Story"
Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax...

Lucian: How to Write History. The Dipsads. Saturnalia. Herodotus or Aetion. Zeuxis or Antiochus. A Slip of the Tongue in Greeting. Apology for the "Salaried Posts in...(Loeb Classical Library No. 430)
Lucian
Manufacturer: Loeb Classical Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Medieval | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Greek & Roman | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Lucian: Soloecista. Lucius or The Ass. Amores. Halcyon. Demosthenes. Podagra. Ocypus. Cyniscus. Philopatris. Charidemus. Nero (Loeb Classical Library No. 432)
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ASIN: 0674994744

Book Description

Lucian (ca. 120-190 CE), the satirist from Samosata on the Euphrates, started as an apprentice sculptor, turned to rhetoric and visited Italy and Gaul as a successful travelling lecturer, before settling in Athens and developing his original brand of satire. Late in life he fell on hard times and accepted an official post in Egypt.

Although notable for the Attic purity and elegance of his Greek and his literary versatility, Lucian is chiefly famed for the lively, cynical wit of the humorous dialogues in which he satirises human folly, superstition and hypocrisy. His aim was to amuse rather than to instruct. Among his best works are A True Story (the tallest of tall stories about a voyage to the moon), Dialogues of the Gods (a 'reductio ad absurdum' of traditional mythology), Dialogues of the Dead (on the vanity of human wishes), Philosophies for Sale (great philosophers of the past are auctioned off as slaves), The Fisherman (the degeneracy of modern philosophers), The Carousal or Symposium (philosophers misbehave at a party), Timon (the problems of being rich), Twice Accused (Lucian's defence of his literary career) and (if by Lucian) The Ass (the amusing adventures of a man who is turned into an ass).

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Lucian is in eight volumes.

Customer Reviews:

Addendum.......2002-03-17

Actually, Lucian's True Story is in volume number 14, contrary to what I said in my review.

This is not "A True Story".......2002-02-08

Contrary to what another reviewer said, this volume does not contain Lucian's most famous work, "A True Story." For that, you will have to order Loeb Classical Library no. 162.

However, this is a good and useful volume for seeing what Lucian's style was like. In particular, "Toxaris, or Friendship" is fascinating, though one may or may not agree with the portrayals of friendship contained therein.

Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax..........2000-06-30

First of all, don't you just love these Loeb editions. In my opinion, they are the most aesthetically appealing collection of books ever. Perfect size , nice shade of green, half in Greek so they make you look real smart-everything you could ever ask for in the book-as-object department. So, that said, on to Lucian. Ever read Gulliver's Travels (I know what you're thinking: "She said she was gonna talk about Lucian!" I am , I am, I promise) and wondered "Where in bloody blazes did he come up with all this philisophically abundant, politically biting, incredible nonsense?" Well friends, look no further, Lucian is the deposed king of philisophically abundant, politically biting, incredible nonsense. A True Story I and II is possibly the most delightfully bizarre piece of literature that has ever passed before these eyes, and I have a decided propensity for that sort of thing. Lucian, however, is not limited to that realm. Every now and then he saunters away from the race of men using their generative organs as mainmasts for sailing excursions to give us his pity commentary on subjects as diverse as the nature of slander and octegenarians, but wherever he goes, it's a brilliant trip. Though the parallel between Lucian and Swift definitely exists I don't want to lead anyone astry by pushing it too much. Swift's main impetus was political commentary, wheras Lucian is a rhetoritician. He plays with a lighter touch, so to speak. You can almost see the wry smile emerging cheshire-like from the page. Though Amazon lists Lucian as one volume, beware, there are eight. Don't panic though, the first one is such a treat that you can either make a meal of it alone or flit gaily on to the feast of the other seven. Bon Apetite.

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Hidden "hard science" gem reminiscent of Niven
Classic unknown
Classic -- to me, anyway :)
This is an incredible book, similar to Heinlein.
Great Hard Sci-Fi

Saturnalia
Grant Callin
Manufacturer: baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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A Lion on Tharthee

ASIN: 0671655469

Customer Reviews:

Hidden "hard science" gem reminiscent of Niven.......2006-08-27

The book revolves around an unlikely hero who, with a great deal of help, works to recover alien artifacts.

I've just finished re-reading it again and I'm so impressed with it and confused as to why the book is not more widely known. The over-arching story is a common one. But I think what makes this book such a good read for me is that Callin successfully intertwines several excellent stories.

He writes ripping good hard science fiction full of tense action set against interesting and imaginative insights into the Saturn system. He also writes a substory about econo-political strife in a future where sizable off-planet communities exist. There is also a sensitive and engaging story about relationships. And finally, IMHO the archeological treatment of the alien artifacts is top-notch. The author is paricularly talented at blending these distinct elements in a seamless, engaging whole in a style that reminds me very much of Larry Niven's best work.

No book is perfect but this one is really, really good. I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you also like this book, Callin wrote one other book with the same characters, as well as a few short stories for magazines like Analog. One website claims that he also published under the pen name "Flash Richardson".

Classic unknown.......2005-10-19

The plot of this novel deals with the discovery and subsequent race to recover a series of alien artifacts placed throughout the saturnian system.

The backdrop is the economic and political competition between Earth and a series of orbiting colonial habitats operated by a corporation in the late 21st century.

The science is interesting and seems solid enough to a non-tech type like myself. The controlled reactor fusion drive(CRF) that the author posits as mankind's key to solar system travel gets more attention than many of the main characters. The description of Spacehome, the orbiting colonies, is wonderfully detailed and developed. The author's comfort level with subjects such as Saturnian astrography and engineering details is refreshing.

All that said, the real beauty of this story is the two main characters, and the friendship between them. Professor Kurious Whitedimple (who always has a joke about his name), the archaeologist who makes the initial discoveries and helps lead the team that recovers the final clues that the aliens have left. Junior Badille (who never loses a bet), the hypergenuis with the ability to design the tools needed to find the the aliens clues and eventually interpret them.

The humor and interplay between these two and the rest of the cast of characters is what really takes this into the realm of a great book. Callin does an excellent job of creating characters who grow and who you grow to love.

I first picked up this book in high school and have read it about 15 times since. It has a few groaner lines it in, but it remains one of my favorite pieces of fun fiction to this day.

A quick note, there is a sequel to this novel titled "A Lion on Tharthee" which deals with the the first contact between Humans and the aliens from this novel. Both of the main characters are reprised in the second novel.

Classic -- to me, anyway :).......2001-02-23

I love this book. I've worn it to the nub reading it since 1986. Grant just created a universe I enjoyed visiting, and I hope he writes the third book.

This is an incredible book, similar to Heinlein........1999-03-07

This is one of the best SF books I've ever read. I just finished reading it for the third time, and it got me again with its great characters and gripping plot. The transformation of Dr. Kurious Whitedimple from mild-mannered professor of Archeology to hairy-chested space hero is gradual and highly enjoyable. I don't like the sequel, _A Lion on Tharthee_, quite as well, but it's also a very good book. I wish Grant Callin had been more successful/written more books.

Great Hard Sci-Fi.......1998-11-20

This book has some great engineering and solar system geography. Mr. Callin's incredible descriptions of Saturn and her moons is breathtakingly rich and intense . The plot is great, the science is magnificent. This book has some of the best spaceflight passages I have read. It's a must have, and I am sorry to see it out of print.

Average customer rating:

Bachelor Magazine - Saturnalia 1963
Bob [Ed.] [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.] Browne
Manufacturer: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VONQ7O

Bachelor Magazine - Saturnalia 1964 - Vol. XI, No. 2

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Bachelor Magazine - Saturnalia 1964 - Vol. XI, No. 2
Ed [Ed.] [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.] Grood
Manufacturer: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VOM22Y

The Black Saturnalia: Conflict and Its Ritual Expression on British West Indian Slave Plantations (University of Florida monographs)

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The Black Saturnalia: Conflict and Its Ritual Expression on British West Indian Slave Plantations (University of Florida monographs)
Robert Dirks
Manufacturer: Univ Pr of Florida
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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