Metal Reviews

Well, I've read two "biographies" of Augustus now in the past two months, and I think I'd reccomend this one over the other (the other was titled "Augustus: Godfather of Europe and it was written by Richard Holland). Holland's book is more detailed and better written when it comes to the time between Julius Caesar adopting Octavius and Philippi, though not by much (Everitt also makes some assumptions in this section that are grating- he for example states definitely that Marc Antony knew about the Ides of March based on one source). The period between Philippi and Actium is covered equally well by both, though I'll give the win to Everitt here because his analysis is simply better. But far and away, whereas Holland's account of Augustus' reforms and principate completely sucks, Everitt's is excellent. He examines the reforms in details, gives plausible reasons for their institution, deduces Augustus' main goals, and you really get a sense of the man (all done with excellent prose). It weakens once again towards the end (and the introduction, which also covers Augustus' death) when he makes a silly conspiracy theory that in order to ensure the succession of Tiberius, Augustus had himself poisoned when he didn't die. But, it was still an excellent read, and I reccomend it over Holland's biography.

Oh yes, and Holland's central thesis (that Augustus is like the Don Corleone of ancient history) is about one of the stupidest things I've ever read. Despite the amount of detail of the Mutina campaign and Octavian and Marc Antony fighting over the Caesarion leadership early on, read Everitt.

However, once you're done reading that, and have a good grasp of the facts and the people, you'll have to read Ronald Syme's The Roman Revolution, which is an astounding piece of scholarship and probably the most influential book on the Augustan Age out there. I say that you should only read it after Everitt because in order to follow the arguments, you will need to know what exactly happened beforehand. A fascinating read.

And, now reading:

Ovid- The Metamorphoses

I just picked up The Portable Nietzche.

It has Twilight of the idols, The antichrist, Nietzche contra Wagner, and Thus spake Zasthura. As well as some selections from Homer's contest and Human all too human. So far a very interesting book. I just read the part in Human all too human where he talks about Jews. Its a little fruity, but its made up for by the rest of the writings.

Can I ask what he wrote about the Jews in Human All Too Human? In Beyond Good and Evil he states that he admires them and that they are amongst the strongest people, which always struck me, since Hitler used Nietzsche to approve of Jew killing. Twilight of the Idols and Thus Spoke Zarathustra are excellent reads, but I do reccomend Beyond Good and Evil to nicely sum up his philosophy. Plus the middle section has some excellent quotes.

Zad- Ya, Tom Gordon fucking sucked, as do most King books from the last 15 years (Green Mile and Dark Tower excluded). Cell was an okay read, but nothing great.

I just picked up The Portable Nietzche.

It has Twilight of the idols, The antichrist, Nietzche contra Wagner, and Thus spake Zasthura. As well as some selections from Homer's contest and Human all too human. So far a very interesting book. I just read the part in Human all too human where he talks about Jews. Its a little fruity, but its made up for by the rest of the writings.

oh oh oh what about Dune, what do you guys think about it?

brilliant

First book is indeed amazing, and next two are pretty good. Everything after that, though, I would classify as shit. Especially when Frank dies... if you see the words "Brian Herbert" or "Kevin J. Anderson" or even worse, both on a Dune book, run.