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* AxCrazy: Idomeneus, the "mad Cretan bastard" in Arimnestos' own words, loves fighting and killing to the extent that makes even other battle-hardened characters uncomfortable, and his first, last, and usually only suggestion for solving problems involves killing everyone involved and letting the gods sort them out. Despite this, he remains one of Arimnestos' closest friends.
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* WarIsGlorious: In a balancing act worthy of Cirque du Soleil Cameron somehow manages to convey that Greek-Persian Wars were both horrible, ''and'' Greece's finest hour at the same time.
* WarIsHell: The devastation and loss of life in the Greek-Persian Wars are described in vivid detail, and named, established characters are liable [[AnyoneCanDie to get offed]] [[DroppedABridgeOnHim unceremoniously]] at a moment's notice. [[WarIsGlorious And yet...]]
* WarIsHell: The devastation and loss of life in the Greek-Persian Wars are described in vivid detail, and named, established characters are liable [[AnyoneCanDie to get offed]] [[DroppedABridgeOnHim unceremoniously]] at a moment's notice. [[WarIsGlorious And yet...]]
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Cameron himself says it's Herodotus in the foreword to each book.
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** One of the wedding guests listening to Arimnestos' account - a "young gentleman from Halicarnassus" - is almost certainly [[Literature/TheHistories Herodotus himself]].
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** One of the wedding guests listening to Arimnestos' account - a "young gentleman from Halicarnassus" - is almost certainly explicitly [[Literature/TheHistories Herodotus himself]].
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* BoringButPractical: The Plataeans revere Leitos a Greek hero from the Trojan war, who once stopped a rampaging Hector by having his fellow Greeks form a shield wall and let Hector attack it until he wore himself out.
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* BoringButPractical: BoringButPractical:
** The Plataeans revere Leitos a Greek hero from the Trojan war, who once stopped a rampaging Hector by having his fellow Greeks form a shield wall and let Hector attack it until he wore himselfout. out.
** When Arimnestos is first taught swordsmanship, he's told that if he's facing armored opponents it's better to strike at the same spot repeatedly if one can, rather than at any opening that presents itself, as this makes it easier to get past the armor. Basically, go for a CriticalHit over a DeathOfAThousandCuts.
** The Plataeans revere Leitos a Greek hero from the Trojan war, who once stopped a rampaging Hector by having his fellow Greeks form a shield wall and let Hector attack it until he wore himself
** When Arimnestos is first taught swordsmanship, he's told that if he's facing armored opponents it's better to strike at the same spot repeatedly if one can, rather than at any opening that presents itself, as this makes it easier to get past the armor. Basically, go for a CriticalHit over a DeathOfAThousandCuts.
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** Idomeneus, Arimnestos hypaspist[[note]]basically a squire[[/note]] and later friend and ally, is also one and, unlike Arimnestos, never grows out of it. [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness The only time]] he gets fed up with fighting and killing is in the aftermath of [[BigBadassBattleSequence Marathon]].
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* WillNotTellALie: the Persian nobles are famously taught to ride a horse, shoot a bow, and tell the truth, and they dilligently practice all three, even when lying [[HonorBeforeReasone would've been the prudent thing to do]].
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* WillNotTellALie: the Persian nobles are famously taught to ride a horse, shoot a bow, and tell the truth, and they dilligently practice all three, even when lying [[HonorBeforeReasone [[HonorBeforeReason would've been the prudent thing to do]].
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* AndTheAdventureContinues/SequelHook: Arminestos concludes ''Rage of Ares'' by hinting at other crazy adventures he had in the aftermath of the Greco-Persian wars. [[WordOfGod Cameron himself]] says in the afterword that he'd be more than happy to write about them.
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* AndTheAdventureContinues/SequelHook: AndTheAdventureContinues: Arminestos concludes ''Rage of Ares'' by hinting at other crazy adventures he had in the aftermath of the Greco-Persian wars. [[WordOfGod Cameron himself]] says in the afterword that he'd be more than happy to write about them.
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* AndTheAdventureContinues/SequelHook: Arminestos concludes ''Rage of Ares'' by hinting at other crazy adventures he had in the aftermath of the Greco-Persian wars. [[WordOfGod Cameron himself]] says in the afterword that he'd be more than happy to write about them.
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* BoringButPractical: The Plataeans revere Leitos a Greek hero from the Trojan war, who once stopped a rampaging Hector by having his fellow Greeks form a shield wall and let Hector attack it until he wore himself out.
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* WillNotTellALie: the Persian nobles are famously taught to ride a horse, shoot a bow, and tell the truth, and they dilligently practice all three, even when lying [[HonorBeforeReasone would've been the prudent thing to do]].
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* ArcWords: "I never promised you a happy story." And it isn't although, fortunately it isn't [[TooBleakStoppedCaring excessively depressing]] either.
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Long War is a series of historical novels written by US-born Canadian Christian Cameron. It's the 5th century BC and the old warrior Arimnestos of Plataea is telling his daughter about his improbable youthful exploits at the time of the Persian Wars.
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The Long War is a series of historical novels written by US-born Canadian Christian Cameron. It's The stories are the 5th century BC and the first-person recollections of an old warrior warrior, Arimnestos of Plataea is telling Plataea, regaling the guests at his daughter about daughter's wedding feast with his improbable youthful exploits at life and experiences during the time of the Persian Wars.
UsefulNotes/GrecoPersianWars.
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* Epigraph : excerpts from Ancient Greek texts preceed parts of some of the books.
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* Epigraph : {{Epigraph}}: excerpts from Ancient Greek texts preceed parts of some of the books.
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* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Numerous famous figures from Persia, Athens, Sparta, and other parts of the Greek world appear, as one would expect given the setting. Arimnestos himself is one, albeit everything we know about him could fit on an A5 page.
** One of the wedding guests listening to Arimnestos' account - a "young gentleman from Halicarnassus" - is almost certainly [[Literature/TheHistories Herodotus himself]].
** One of the wedding guests listening to Arimnestos' account - a "young gentleman from Halicarnassus" - is almost certainly [[Literature/TheHistories Herodotus himself]].
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None
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Installments in the series thus far are:
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Additionally one more novel is expected to finish the series.
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* GoalInLife: Arimnestos's goals naturally change as he ages. Early on they usually involve glory and/or [[FemmeFatale Briseis]]. In Poseidon's Spear revenge and enrichment. Later in life protecting his family and saving Greece.
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* GoalInLife: Arimnestos's goals naturally change as he ages. Early on they usually involve glory and/or [[FemmeFatale Briseis]]. In Poseidon's Spear ''Poseidon's Spear'' he seeks revenge for his enslavement and then enrichment. Later in life his focus is on protecting his family and saving Greece.
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* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for him in matters of war.
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* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for to him in matters of war.
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* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
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* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.custom.
* WorthyOpponent: Sees the Persians as this, when he is not actively working with his Persian friends. In fact Arimnestos generally views all cultures and most people as having good and bad points. The one exception he makes (due to his mistreatment as their slave) is for Carthaginians, finding them loathsome.
* WorthyOpponent: Sees the Persians as this, when he is not actively working with his Persian friends. In fact Arimnestos generally views all cultures and most people as having good and bad points. The one exception he makes (due to his mistreatment as their slave) is for Carthaginians, finding them loathsome.
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Dewicked trope
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* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The protagonist tends to make many friends and enemies. There is an index at the start of every novel but it tends not to get updated rarely and many of the myriad characters in the novels are not in it. Sometimes it can be hard to remember who's who.
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* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
* SocietyMarchesOn: The role of women in Athens is noticably different at the time of the Persian War and when the protagonist is telling his tale.
* SocietyMarchesOn: The role of women in Athens is noticably different at the time of the Persian War and when the protagonist is telling his tale.
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* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
* SocietyMarchesOn: The role of women in Athens is noticably different at the time of the Persian War and when the protagonist is telling his tale.custom.
* SocietyMarchesOn: The role of women in Athens is noticably different at the time of the Persian War and when the protagonist is telling his tale.
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None
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* NeverLiveItDown: Since Arimnestos was enslaved twice in his life the members of high society in Syracuse want nothing to do with him. Tends to vary from culture to culture, where some don't care about his former enslavement and others consider it highly shameful.
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* NeverLiveItDown: OnceDoneNeverForgotten: Since Arimnestos was enslaved twice in his life the members of high society in Syracuse want nothing to do with him. Tends to vary from culture to culture, where some don't care about his former enslavement and others consider it highly shameful.
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* ProBonoBarter: In some places, like Crete and parts of Gaul, trading is considered low and demeaning. Therefore one is expected to offer ''gifts'' and the receiver is then honour-bound to offer a reciprocal ''gift''. The protagonist sneers at this but plays along. Also in-universe compared to the customs in TheIliad.
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* ProBonoBarter: In some places, like Crete and parts of Gaul, trading is considered low and demeaning. Therefore one is expected to offer ''gifts'' and the receiver is then honour-bound to offer a reciprocal ''gift''. The protagonist sneers at this but plays along. Also in-universe compared to the customs in TheIliad.Literature/TheIliad.
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* BadassBookworm: the hero is one, having learned to read at an early age and studied under the philosopher Heraclitus.
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* Epigraph : excerpts from Ancient Greek texts preceed parts of some of the books.
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None
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* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The protagonist tends to make many friends and enemies. There is an index at the start of every novel but it tends not to get updated rarely and many of the myriad characters in the novels are not in it. Sometimes it can be hard to remember who's who.
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None
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* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
to:
* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.custom.
*SocietyMarchesOn: The role of women in Athens is noticably different at the time of the Persian War and when the protagonist is telling his tale.
*SocietyMarchesOn: The role of women in Athens is noticably different at the time of the Persian War and when the protagonist is telling his tale.
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* HypocrisyNod: Aging Arimnestos as a narrator acknowledges that although he hates slavery, he keeps many slaves. Justifies it by claiming that he frees them after a certain time.
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* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Of course, the hero practices slavery and has few qualms about killing his enemies just like everyone else. However, Arimnestos has perhaps the most "modern" mentalities in the stories, especially when slavery is concerned. Explained as being because of his own experiences as a slave.
* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for him in matters of war.
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* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for him in matters of war.
* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for him in matters of war.
to:
* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for him in matters of war.custom.
* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for him in matters of war.
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None
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* NeverLiveItDown: Since Arimnestos was enslaved twice in his life the members of high society in Syracuse want nothing to do with him. Tends to vary from culture to culture, where some don't care about his former enslavement and others consider it highly shameful.
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* AtLeastIAdmitIt Arimnestos with some of his less savoury exploits. "Let's not mince words" is the phrase commonly used.
* BloodKnight: Arimnetos of Plataea struggles with this in his youth and his reputation as a violent and piratical Killer of Men lingers on.
* BloodKnight: Arimnetos of Plataea struggles with this in his youth and his reputation as a violent and piratical Killer of Men lingers on.
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* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
to:
* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.custom.
* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for him in matters of war.
* TheLeader: Arimnestos, all his life. He may not always be the one in charge but people tend to look for him in matters of war.
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None
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Killer of Men (2010)
Marathon (2011)
Poseidon's Spear (2013)
The Great King (2014)
Salamis (2015)
Marathon (2011)
Poseidon's Spear (2013)
The Great King (2014)
Salamis (2015)
to:
* Killer of Men (2010)
* Marathon (2011)
* Poseidon's Spear (2013)
* The Great King (2014)
* Salamis (2015)
* Marathon (2011)
* Poseidon's Spear (2013)
* The Great King (2014)
* Salamis (2015)
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None
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* ProBonoBarter: In some places, like Crete and parts of Gaul, trading is considered low and demeaning. Therefore
to:
* GoalInLife: Arimnestos's goals naturally change as he ages. Early on they usually involve glory and/or [[FemmeFatale Briseis]]. In Poseidon's Spear revenge and enrichment. Later in life protecting his family and saving Greece.
* ProBonoBarter: In some places, like Crete and parts of Gaul, trading is considered low and demeaning. Therefore one is expected to offer ''gifts'' and the receiver is then honour-bound to offer a reciprocal ''gift''. The protagonist sneers at this but plays along. Also in-universe compared to the customs in TheIliad.
* ProBonoBarter: In some places, like Crete and parts of Gaul, trading is considered low and demeaning. Therefore one is expected to offer ''gifts'' and the receiver is then honour-bound to offer a reciprocal ''gift''. The protagonist sneers at this but plays along. Also in-universe compared to the customs in TheIliad.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
Long War is a series of historical novels written by US-born Canadian Christian Cameron. It's the 5th century BC and the old warrior Arimnestos of Plataea is telling his daughter about his improbable youthful exploits at the time of the Persian Wars.
Installments in the series thus far are:
Killer of Men (2010)
Marathon (2011)
Poseidon's Spear (2013)
The Great King (2014)
Salamis (2015)
Additionally one more novel is expected to finish the series.
----
!!The ''Long War'' series contains examples of:
* CrazyEnoughToWork: Some of Arimnestos's naval tactics qualify for this. However, he claims to know just what his crews are capable of pulling off.
* ProBonoBarter: In some places, like Crete and parts of Gaul, trading is considered low and demeaning. Therefore
* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
Installments in the series thus far are:
Killer of Men (2010)
Marathon (2011)
Poseidon's Spear (2013)
The Great King (2014)
Salamis (2015)
Additionally one more novel is expected to finish the series.
----
!!The ''Long War'' series contains examples of:
* CrazyEnoughToWork: Some of Arimnestos's naval tactics qualify for this. However, he claims to know just what his crews are capable of pulling off.
* ProBonoBarter: In some places, like Crete and parts of Gaul, trading is considered low and demeaning. Therefore
* SacredHospitality: Sometimes invoked, and the hero certainly takes this very seriously. Both Greeks and Persians will go to great lengths to honour this custom.
