“Now as tonight’s story will be about war with the Persians, let me take a moment to remind you of the roots of the conflict. Because they are ignoble, and the Greeks were no better than the Persians, and perhaps a great deal worse.”
One of my top three favourite authors in the world, is someone who I’m only getting started at reading his body of work. That’s because Christian/Miles Cameron is an extremely prolific and diverse author, who writes in the sub-genres of historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction space opera, thrillers, and is so talented that he could likely write a grocery list so engaging that would become an international bestseller, should he so choose. And who knows, one day, he just might.
Cameron has written no less than ten series, of varying lengths – some trilogies, and some longer epic fantasy series such as perhaps his magnum opus ‘The Traitor Son Cycle’. Additionally, he’s penned several stand-alone books. Of the totality of his work, I’d only read twelve books thus far, until I read lucky number thirteen this past year.
Once more, forgive my propensity to do things backwards, as this thirteenth novel from Cameron I read, was none other than the sixth book in his seven-book ‘Long War’ historical fiction saga, ‘Rage of Ares’. I have not yet read the other books in this series, but believe me, I plan to.
Cameron is not merely one of my favourite overall authors, but after reading this novel, he’s ascended to the very pinnacle of my overall historical fiction author rankings, in the same rarified air as the illustrious Bernard Cornwell. That’s saying a lot; those who have read my reviews know how highly I regard Cornwell in the realm of hist fic.
Arimnestos of Plataea is the real-life hero who narrates the ‘Long War’ series, including ‘Rage of Ares’. This legendary leader fought during the Greco-Persian Wars occurring between 499 and 449 BC. This conflict features on one side the Persian Achaemenid Empire, and on the other side the Greek City-States such as Aegina, Athens, Corinth, Epidaurus, Megara, and of course the notorious Sparta, to name a few.
Arimnestos is perhaps best known for commanding the Plataeans in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, and later at the Battle of Plataea, and the lesser-known Battle of Mycale, both occurring in 479 BC. And it is this monumental battle of Plataea, which is the focal point of ‘Rage of Ares’. It is a battle where – according to the Greek philosopher and historian Plutarch – Arimnestos was the one who ultimately chose the site for the clash of armies. Plutarch claims that Zeus, King of the Olympian Gods, visited Arimnestos in a dream, counselling him about the location of where to fight. Then, in turn, Arimnestos divulged his dream to General Aristides of Athens. Aristides took Pausanias, Regent of Sparta, and supreme commander of the unified Greek military, to show him the spot told to him by Arimnestos.
In ‘Rage of Ares’, the narration takes the form of Arimnestos relating the events to his beloved daughter. The great Plataean general describes a tense time, fraught with not merely war and devastation, but the fragility of the Peloponnesian League, and the internal political machinations and quarrels among rival Greek states forced together by the common enmity against their Persian foes.
Ultimately, the Greeks do manage to band together to face the Persian existential threat, but very begrudgingly. It is only the defection of powerful city-states who were initially planning to sit out the war – such as Thebes, which can turn the tide of battle in favour of the Greeks. This aspect of “Medism” (essentially siding with the “Medes”, otherwise known as the Persians) where some of the Greek nations were subsumed by the Persians, sympathizing or cooperating with the enemy, was always a threat to break the alliance apart.
Brilliant characterization is a Cameron trademark, and it’s certainly present in ‘Rage of Ares’. There are plenty of worthy warriors of all levels of skill, ability, and prominence, plenty of heroism and camaraderie on full display, but Arimnestos is the undisputed heart of the story.
“When I was still a gangly boy – tall, and well-muscled, as I remember, but too young to fight in the phalanx – Athens called for little Plataea’s aid, and we marched over Cithaeron, the ancient mountain that is also our glowering god, and we rallied to the Athenians at Oinoe. We stood beside them against Sparta and Corinth and all the Peloponnesian cities – and we beat them. Well – Athens beat them. Plataea barely survived…”
Now as noted, I have not read the preceding five books in the series. Yet, picking up ‘Rage of Ares,’ and having read something of Arimnestos’ life, it is clear that he is mature at this point in the series, and one who feels the aches and pains of many battles, the weight of age, no longer as young, fit, and quick with the spear as before. Arimnestos role has changed – he is a strategos, relied more upon now for his brains than his sword. He is painted by Cameron a sympathetic, aging but still proud and fierce warlord (in a time where life expectancies have Arimnestos at middle-age in his late thirties).
“The old wound hurst, but a spring of fighting from ships had not prepared me for this kind of physical exertion. I was not weak, exactly, but I was not strong. I blessed Brasidas, though; we had run all winter, and without that, I would have been humiliated.”
The reader will see in his thoughtful care and concern for his family, his affection for the daughter he is narrating the story to, that he is prone to much reminiscing about past glories, dead war comrades, and worrying about the future should the Greeks lose the war. I loved his fatherly concern, and he is an easy character to root for, as he takes up arms again, hoping it’s for the last time, that the Persian threat can finally be vanquished, and he and his family can live in peace.
“May you never know how black the world can be. Women know that darkness sometimes after the birth of a child, and men after battle. Any peak of spirit has its price, and when a man or woman stands with the god, however briefly, they pay the price ten times.”
Yet, despite his age, Arimnestos is still a great fighter, and in the heat of battle, beware his wrath.
“And now, without a helmet, I fought better; I wasn’t taken by surprise, and I had my wits about me, and my people were in great danger, and I stared to kill.”
Trained and educated as a historian, Cameron brings all the authenticity you’d desire in a tale of murky ancient politics, and epic wars. In terms of the latter, besides his formal education in history, the author is a renown reenactor, who has travelled the world, participating in re-creations of ancient battles, including the Battle of Marathon. The man knows a doru from a kopis, no doubt about it.
Under Cameron’s expert touch, you will feel you’re right beside Arimnestos in the phalanx, feel the weight of his hoplon, his burning legs as he runs to formation, the moments of pure exhilaration and fear, smell the blood and gore, and witness the feats of sacrifice and triumph.
Cameron’s writing is utterly captivating and enthralls the reader from the first page to the last.
Five out of five stars for this wonderful historical fiction novel.
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