arises a new title. The top chaps in Sales at Random House decided that the title Soldier of Carthage wouldn’t appeal to enough people. Sadly, I had been having the same thoughts. Not everyone knows about Carthage, whereas Rome…well, everyone knows about it. It’s a shame, but there you go.
At the heel of the hunt, we decided to go with the new title of Hannibal: Enemy of Rome, which I think is excellent. And while Hannibal is not a major character, he is central to the plot, and appears in many vital scenes. Fingers crossed that the new title does what we want it to!
For those of you in the UK who may be snowed in at home, or enduring the misery of long journeys to and from work, my commiserations. If you’re having a whale of a time, sledging with your kids, or taking some well deserved time off – enjoy! It’s shaping up to be a white Christmas if this continues. Which will be fine by me – I’d rather dry cold with/without snow than the damp, wet misery we get most winters.
Plus: many of you probably know that Eagle of the Ninth will finally be coming out in February 2011. Its release was delayed for some reason, and it’s also been renamed The Eagle. (I’m told it’s so that Americans don’t confuse it with a golfing film. No, I’m not joking.) Anyway, the trailer looks surprisingly good, and Anthony Lawton, Rosemary Sutcliff’s nephew, who runs a blod dedicated to her, reackons it’s very good. Fingers crossed! Watch the trailer here and let me know what you think.
leslieianjones says
Hannibal: Enemy of Rome is much better. Good excuse to have elephant on snow covered mountain pass for front cover…..
leslieianjones says
The ‘Eagle’ looks very atmospheric. Still you cannot pict and choose with the americans…
benkane says
It’s good to know that you think the new title’s better, Les. What does everyone else think?
‘Pict and choose’? 🙂 🙂 And it does look atmospheric, doesn’t it? I also like the fact that I can pick out instances from the book, little details which might have been chopped, in the way that films often do.
Parmenion says
I like the new title…i think that maybe “Hannibal” on its own would stand out more and look more powerful on a cover.
It took a bit of convincing when simon Scarrows books moved away from the titles The eagle and the …. etc.. but i think the new one word titles really work.
I saw the eagle trailer a few weeks back, have to say im really looking forward to this, After Centurion which while enjoyable had many plot holes and issues, The Eagle looks to stay a little closer to reality (as much as you can with a work of fiction)
benkane says
@Parmenion: Unfortunately, Hannibal on its own makes too many people think of Anthony Hopkins and a certain mad doctor…:-(
The Eagle does look good, doesn’t it? I can’t wait!
Parmenion says
Ah…good point, i hadnt thought of that!
How about Barca !…althought thats maybe obscure. did you watch the TV series of the cyclists following the route of Hannibal? I thought it very funny that Barcelona Fans chant Barca at avery game and essentially are chanting his name…. (he still lives on) lol.
benkane says
Barca is too obscure, unfortunately. It’s sad the way the title has to be picked to fit the market, but there you are. I saw the TV mini series, yes – it was great. I am now the proud owner of a set of DVDs of the series, courtesy of the Wood Bros. *smiles proudly* Gave them a thank you in my author’s note at the back of the book too.
It’s nice to think that the Barca chant is for Hannibal, but there’s a lot of argument over whether the name Barcelona has anything to do with him at all. Another one of those wishful things that aren’t really true, methinks. 🙁
Parmenion says
I think i will stick with ignorant bliss that the man’s name lives on. some times it’s better that way.
BTW: RTR…25 pages left. (then i can start my review…better late than never)
Gabriele says
I can see the marketing reasons, but I admit I liked ‘Soldier of Carthage’ better. The new title makes it sound like Hannibal is the actual MC. Makes me wonder if I can keep A LAND UNCONQUERED should I get published. Maybe they’ll want ‘Rome’ in there somewhere.
I default to the historical Hannibal; didn’t even see that movie about the serial killer because it’s not something that interests me. Now, a serial killer in ancient Rome may be another matter. 🙂 I knew about Carthage since I was a kid reading a novel bei Hans Baumann, ‘Ich zog mit Hannibal’, told from the POV of a boy from Sagunt who’s taken captive and ends up with the caretakers of Hannibal’s elephants. Yeah, I got bitten by the Roman bug pretty early. 🙂 (An English translation of the book exists, but it’s out of print.)
benkane says
@Parmenion: sometimes ignorant bliss is FAR better! The poor author in me, however, can’t help trying to avoid emails of complaint in the future. Not that I would have had them about ‘Barca!’ at a soccer match! 🙂
RTR- cool! Look forward to your review *Winces in anticipation*
benkane says
@Gabriele: I know what you mean, but the copy inside the cover will make it clear that Hannibal is not the main character. And, as my editor said, Du Maurier’s (was it?) Rebecca didn’t even feature the woman. And, sorry to say, when your book gets published, they will want Rome in there somewhere. Has to stand out amongst the competition!
I’ve been fascinated by Rome since I was a child too (obviously). Let’s hope that lots of people who are now reading Roman HF will get their kids interested. What would be the English name of that book you mentioned, please? It sounds v. good, and I could look for it on Abebooks or Amazon Marketplace.
Gabriele says
Ben, the title is ‘I Marched with Hannibal’.
Rome is busy moving into YA fiction as well, but for some reason it’s Cleopatra Selene who features prominently in some of those. I’m hunting down books for my niece and I hope some will get translated into German. It would be nice if she caught the Roman bug. 😉
Yeah, I’m realistic about publishers changing titles. In most cases I have to come up with a working title anyway because I suck at titles, but ALU was one of the few stories that came with a title, so I’ll keep if for now.
Parmenion says
To jump in for Gabriele: I think its I Marched with Hannibal (the english version) although i think the translation is i Pulled with Hannibal?? (could be wrong)
the reason i say is one of the things i do is find out of print books….so
http://biblio.co.uk/details.php?dcx=338641711&aid=bkfndr
I Marched with Hannibal by Hans Baumann
Bookseller: Net Treasure (GB)
Bookseller Inventory #: X452896X
Title: I Marched with Hannibal
Author: Hans Baumann
Quantity available: 1
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0192711806
ISBN 13: 9780192711809
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date published: 1961
Keywords: history,modern,history modern,modern history
Price: £ 1.96 (€ 2.31)
£2.10 standard shipping
There are other better examples around…but more expensive.
Hope that helps!
benkane says
@Gabriele: thanks for that. Ordered and paid for already! Some Xmas reading… 🙂
YA…hmmm…methinks there’s some good stuff there to be written…I need some binary fission to divide myself into two writers 🙁
ALU is a good title! It poss. ‘just needs’ a Roman bit before hand. 😉
benkane says
@Parmenion: you gentleman, thank you! I’ve already bought it, though. Quicker off the draw than you for once 😉
Now I must get back to Spartacus. He’s about to hear something that he doesn’t like. The spark of rebellion is about to be lit in his heart. Hurrah!
Gabriele says
Are you juggling Spartacus and the next Carthage book, or will there be a larger gap between ‘Hannibal, Enemy of Rome’ and the sequel?
I can’t write convincing teenage characters and my books get too complex (*looks at her notes and cringes*, not only does the title not have ‘Rome’ in it, this monster is going to be 200+K if I’m not careful 😉 ), else I’d consider some Roman YA. There surely is potential for it.
benkane says
@Gabriele: I’m writing Spartacus first, so there will be a slightly larger gap than normal between Hannibal, Enemy of Rome and Legionary. Not much, though!
200k!! Wow. Hannibal, EoR has come in at 160k, which troubled my editor not at all, but 200+ sounds like two books to me. Would that work?
Gabriele says
Oh, 160K is nice. I like my books big. 🙂
Two books? Maybe. It depends on how big this will really get and if it may be easier to make it two books instead of cutting too much. And if I can manage to get the one possible break I can see right now somewhere in the middle of the mess and make it work, because the climactic event, the Varus battle, would be earlier in the first book. Right now I’m just trying to write the monster and let it have its way.
Moreover, I’m a two project juggler and working on a historical Fantasy novel besides. I’ve realised it’s easier for me to shift between projects, though it doesn’t help writing the things any faster. 😉 Speed, or the lack therof, may turn out to be a problem once I’ll have to cope with deadlines.
benkane says
Two projects?? My gods. Respect. That’s why you asked me about writing two at once. I don’t think I could. I wouldn’t want to – I’d get too confused! Historical fantasy? A la Roman world like S. Turney of Marius’ Mules? Or dwarves/elves/goblins type?
Gabriele says
None of those. My ‘tentacled subplot monster’ is more like the stories Guy Gavriel Kay writes, with a setting that is still recognisable as a cultural and historical period but with a story that deviates too much from history to make it hist fic. Mine is based on late 12th century Europe, mostly Scotland, England, Wales, Scandinavia, northern France, and Germany; with an added element of magic going back to the legends of the Lost Realms (like Kêr Ys, Vineta, Cantre’r Gwaelod), changed place names and a mix of events based on history and my own inventions. It’s a nice change to the research and the restrictions of my Roman historical fiction. And it has castles. 🙂
leslieianjones says
Let’s not forget Harry Turtledove’s ‘Lost Legion’ series. Fantasy and Roman joined together in a fantastic tale. By the way Ben. Further to our chat in another place I will research more about Sertorius….just in case LOL.
benkane says
@Gabriele: Guy Gavriel Kay??!! If you can write like him, Gabriele, I’ll buy ten copies of that book to give to my friends. The man is a master. A magician. An incredible writer. Plus he does castles! 😉
benkane says
@Les: the Videssos cycle, ah me! I borrowed them from the school library many moons ago, and loved them. Thanks re Sertorius. Look forward to any further info…
Gabriele says
Heh, I wish I could write like him. 😉 I used him as example for the sort of Fantasy I write, but I’m not even close to his skill. I try to improve, though.
Gabriele says
And what’s Sertorius doing in here? 😀
benkane says
Who said he was doing anything? 😉
NWikingstad says
So, Canadian here… May be in the wrong place but…
Finally read Road to Rome and ARE YOU JOKING ABOUT THAT ENDING???
The Eagle looks fantastic.
benkane says
@NWikingstad: Welcome to the website. It’s not in the wrong place, no, and errmm, no, I wasn’t joking about the ending, otherwise I wouldn’t have written it like I did. I couldn’t wrap up everyone’s story completely, and I wasn’t prepared to reveal any more of what might be. I take it you didn’t like it then?
leslieianjones says
The end of the ‘Road to Rome’ made me think of what I used to say watching some 80’s movies…”room for another film there!”
I think one day we will see a sequel set in the civil war and beyond….One thing is for certain our hero will not end up at Hadrian’s Wall hiding from the Emperor LOL
Gabriele says
Lol, yeah, even the first campaign that led a Roman army truly into Germania, the one of Drusus 12-9 BC, may be a bit late. 🙂
Though he _could_ hide in the German woods, the Germans did that all the time. 😛
kpmartin says
Just finished Forgotten Legion and the silver Eagle, for the second time! Still love them! Excited to read Road to Rome.
In your note in The Sliver Eagle you say you hope to test your theory that a silk covered scutum would deflect arrows. Have you tried it yet? How would they have attached the silk? Tarquinius never says. Only that it was stretched? I have this image of it going all the way around, but that seems wasteful.
benkane says
@Gabriele and Les: so THAT’S where Romulus goes next! He must have got lost then, to go to Britannia and Germania on his way east 😉
@kpmartin: good for you to be reading the first two books again! I haven’t yet tried the silk on a shield, or more like 9mm of plywood and leather. (I wouldn’t use my own shield, in case it gets damaged. 🙂 ) I must get down to the guys in Croydon, London, who offered to help. The silk would have been tacked onto the inside of the shields with light nails.
leslieianjones says
Ben Kane you are a tease!! So Romulus goes east. Mmmm! East for what?
>To seek out the Eagles lost by Crassus….
>To seek out a lost ‘friend’…..
>To visit India…..
>Or maybe, just maybe to find those who ended up in China…
Like I said….Tease!! LOL
benkane says
@Les: I haven’t said he goes east – I was merely theorising that IF he did, rather than going to hide in Germania, or near where Hadrian’s Wall would be (as it wasn’t built in 44 BC), he would go east. That is what he and Tarquinius say to each other at the end of TRTR after all.
I wasn’t trying to get your hopes up – sorry if I did. I have no plans to write another Romulus book, possibly ever…
However, just think of all the other books I can write that you’ll hopefully enjoy! 🙂
leslieianjones says
That’s the problem delaing with a man-of-words as there are so many meanings. As for Hadrian’s Wall that was my little joke hence the LOL as everyone in most roman books ends up hiding there. Looking forward to future books such as:
>Veterinarians of the V legion.
>Recipes of ancient Rome dinner parties.
>Proscribed authors of the Imperial Age and their fate.
>Knock knock jokes from the Hadrian Wall gates.
benkane says
Veterinarians of the V legion? Arf arf!! 🙂
Parmenion says
One thing i have picked up from a lot of reviews on amazon and other places is soo many people like neat wrapped up endings these days?
I dont get that! Why?
Reading is about imagination, escapism, and a book that concludes a story but leaves an opening or several openings and some untold tales….the hero riding off into the sun (Hi ho Silver…sorry). well it fires the imagination, it allows you the reader to fill in more and more and also to with for other stories…and you might be lucky and get them in the future.
why has everything got to be wrapped up with a pretty bow on top?
Gabriele says
Ben, I’m certainly looking forward to whatever Roman time you want to sink your teeth into. 🙂 It’s the fun about the Romans that they were around so long and had such a vast empire; there are lots of different settings for a writer.
Leslie, I bet they keep hiding at the Hadrian’s Wall because the research can be done in English. 😉 Most essays and books about the Romans in Germany and the German Limes are in German (with some French and Dutch ones thrown in). There are even some novels, but novels rarely get translated into English – much better chance the other way round; German versions of Ben’s novels could well happen.
benkane says
@Gabriele: Thanks for your enthusiasm! I couldn’t agree more about the Roman time period – thank goodness it was so extended. As for translations into foreign languages – I’d love one into German, but there hasn’t been too much interest. I’m not complaining – I’ve had a good number of other foreign sales, most recently Turkey, but not Germany. It’ll be very interesting to see how Hannibal sells abroad. And Spartacus! 🙂
Gabriele says
Amen to that, Parmenion. History never ends with a pretty bow on top, so why should historical fiction? Or other genres, for that matter (except maybe Romance and Mysteries where the HEA / finding the murderer are pretty much part of the genre). Fantasy writer Steven Erikson (Malazan Book of the Fallen, a 10 volume series with the last one out come spring) has said in interviews that he won’t tie up every loose end since book 6 or so, just to prepare readers. He sees his series as a chronicle and those don’t have a definite ending, either.
Parmenion says
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11952322
totally unrelated…but an interesting article.
benkane says
It is, thanks, Parmenion. So them dang pesky Redskins weren’t responsible for Columbus’ sailors carrying syphilis back to Europe. I’d read that somewhere before (probably in Mary Beard’s excellent book Pompeii?!).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pompeii-Life-Roman-Mary-Beard/dp/1861975961/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292342028&sr=1-1
jghawaii says
Whatever you name the book — it’s on my list to buy! Ben Kane, I love your books!!!
leslieianjones says
Being a devil here. Bought a new book, part one of a trilogy. “Tyrant” by Christian Cameron. Story of Kineas who served with Alexander the Great but ends up in exile…..
benkane says
@jghawaii: Thanks a million for the compliment! FYI, it is now officially called Hannibal: Enemy of Rome…
benkane says
@Les: why being a devil? Christian’s books are meant to be excellent. I didn’t buy Tyrant for ages as it’s not roman ficiton (sad, I know, but I can barely keep up with that). However, I’ve finally begun it – and I think it’s very good indeed. Keep us informed on what you think, please.
leslieianjones says
Not being Roman fiction is what I meant about being a devil LOL. Reading slowly for a change. Am loving the Tyrant and keeping a watchful eye on the Spartan…..
legatusaugusti says
The title “Hannibal: Enemy of Rome” has already been used by Leonard Cottrell. See amazon.com
benkane says
Oh well. There are other books called The Road to Rome too. There’s no copyright in book titles, and it’s so hard to come up with catchy ones that there will inevitably be repetition. Fortunately, it’s a textbook.
leslieianjones says
Walking through Kingston’s Waterstones and spy The Forgotten Legion paperback by main door with Top Ten bestseller on it. Then went to library to have read about Vikings. As we left saw the books for sale section so had a look. Forgetten Legion still with Waterstone’s 3 for 2 sticker on it on sale for 30p.
The Rise and Fall….. 🙂