Centurions were the guardians of Rome. At the height of the Roman Republic there were over five thousand qualified Roman Centurions in the Legions. To be a Centurion required that, in a mostly illiterate society, one be able to read and write clearly, to be able to convey and create orders, to be capable of not only performing every skill of a Roman soldier but teach every skill of a Roman soldier.
Becoming a Centurion required intense physical ability, courage beyond the norm, years of sacrifice and a total devotion to the philosophy which was Rome. When Rome fell to barbarian invaders, there were less than five hundred qualified Centurions. Not because Rome had fewer people but because it had fewer willing to make the sacrifices. And the last Centurions left their shields in the heather and took a barbarian bride . . .
We are . . . The Last Centurions.
And this Rome SHALL NOT FALL!
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Product ReviewGOOD book for the entertainment value. GREAT book to get you thinking about possibilities in the "not so far away" future. I rated this as "good" instead of "great" because John still seems to be in a hurry towards the end of the story and leaves the reader dangling. I guess it's leaving an opening for a sequel. (Which I'll most likely buy) Other than the timely political rants, he's becoming as predictable as Heinlein in character and plot development. Still one of my favorite authors. But I find I'm buying them more for the name than the content.
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Product ReviewThe thing I most disagree with, is the commenters who are claiming that it's another "person X saves the world" book. The main character is pretty much an "anti-Kildare". He's acting within the system, works fairly well with those higher in the command chain (has a lot of competent people above him, works well with them), has input and effect, but the world most certainly doesn't revolve around him.
This isn't an "indispensable superhero" story, this is "competent guy makes the world a better place" story.
I loved it. If you're a lefty, and don't want to be exposed to facts that will hurt your world view, you'll hate it. But then, what are you doing reading Ringo?
Yes, it is a story of "tell, not show." It is entirely the perspective of one person, looking backwards.
But it's a rollicking fun read. As well as scary as hell. I certainly take avian flu more seriously now than I did before I started reading the book.Posted on
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Product ReviewI hate several aspects of this book, but overall I'm glad I read it. I've written a longer review on my blog at http://antti-juhani.kaijanaho.fi/newblog/archives/290 .
NB. I am a green party member, and yes, the politics of the book is one of the things I hate about it. Not to mention the fact that I had a hard time suspending disbelief over some of the worldbuilding (you can probably guess which). Still... one commenter below said that liberals should not read the book. I say, liberals especially should read it: if you can't stomach reading about a contrary position, you truly are what Ringo's narrator characterizes as a "tofu-eater" (the term having nothing to do with your diet).Posted on
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Product ReviewI wasn't impressed with the sample chapters, but ended up buying the ARC to see if it would improve. It didn't. It's still the same overly glorified, "Bandit 6 single handedly saves the world" BS. The side characters are non-existant, the main story almost incomprehensible, and it stays a first person narrative. It's almost as if the author wanted to rant about something and used this as his half-hearted vehicle.
In short, I expected something more along the lines of "Caliphate" and was extremely disappointed with "Last Centuriou".
It's not the politics I don't agree with, I expected them reading a Ringo book. There is no new dimension to his writing, except that it's suffered he focuses on his political agenda. John needs to either get back to writing the finely crafted, well thought out books he's written previously and not rely on past hits to sell poorly written material.
I'm also pissed because this had nothing to do with anything Roman or Roman styled. The teaser was just too vague. I was expecting some sort of alternate history, similar to ours, yet more Roman and with tank legions. I'd give it 2 stars, but the lack of tank legions makes it 1 star.Posted on
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Product ReviewHoooAhhh.
With "The Last Centurion" John Ringo cements his position in military SF. The novel is strongly reminiscent of Pournell's "Falkenberg's Legions" and Drake's "Redliners". I've known and worked with a fair number of men like Badit Six, and John portrays them well.
Buy two and give one to a tofu eater of your acquaintence!Posted on
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Product ReviewThis is a great book. Part I is a rant, but it's a rant that's frigteningly close to how governments act in times of crisis. Parts II and III are just plain awesome. Great job as always, Mr. Ringo. Thumbs up and all that.
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Product ReviewThe book really does capture the essence of what could happen in a catastrophe and how government attempts to deal with it can go so very wrong! An awesome read and I definitely could not put the book down!
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Product ReviewIt may be a rant, but it's the kind of rant I can agree with.
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