Fandom: Alexander the Great
Rating: FRT/PG/K+
Just in case they were missed, the credits, other notes about the story, and prologue are
here.
Author's Note: "Euthymius" means "in good spirits."
Chapter 1: Alexander the Third of Macedon, Tamer of Bucephalus, son of King Philip the Second of Macedon and Queen Olympias of the Molossians of Epirus, Prince
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May I just make a short defence in favour of Pressfield's book? Having read or skimmed just about every ATG novel in English I'd say that while "The Virtues of War" has its faults - yes, it's mainly battles, yes, Pressfield asserts the Sacred Band weren't lovers and yes, he sidesteps the issue of a physical relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion, but the scene where Alexander spies on Hephaestion training with Swift and falls instantly in love (aged 10 or so) remains my favourite in any ATG novel, and it remains quite clear to me that the pair love one another throughout the story. I can probably count the novels which give us a positive Hephaestion on one hand, and there are none besides this one which show a relationship where Alexander is, if anything, more dependent on Hephaestion than the reverse. Pressfield has obviously paid attention to the research that suggests Hephaestion's gifts were more intellectual than strategic and through Alexander he defends his lack of millitary brilliance as a lack of bloodlust, not incompetance. Hephaestion seems to be the conscience that Pressfield's Alexander appears to lack, lamenting the endless and pointless slaughter and daring to reproach him for the sack of Thebes. If you compare this book to recent utter rubbish like Manfredi's books, Nicastro's "Empire of Ashes" and Michael Messmore's truly offensive offerings, or rather dull efforts like "Lion of Macedonia" and "The Lost Chronicles..." Pressfield seems like heaven!
Sorry, my friend, to rant off on your story - feel free to delete me if you wish!!!
M xxxx
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How can anyone not see the love and support between them in Virtues? Especially compared with most other works, including the movie ... when there are lines in this book like "Him awake, I can sleep. Him on my flank, I need look neither right nor left. His worth exceeds warcraft. He has brought over a hundred cities without bloodshed, simply by the excellence of his forward envoyage. Tact and charity, which would be weaknesses in a lesser man, are with him so innate that they disarm even the haughtiest and most ill-disposed of enemy chieftains..." Okay, I won't tediously quote any more. And it's not just that one scene when Alexander sees Hephaestion; all of the scenes in which Hephaestion makes an appearance made me very happy. Just for example, there is that scene that actually demonstrates how his lack of military brilliance was due to lack of bloodlust - and Craterus' reaction to him there really hit that viewpoint home; it's not just Alexander (the narrator)'s opinion. And even though the mention of how his death affected Alexander is pretty short, it's one of the most touching I've come across.
I would never delete comments. ^_____^ I rant lots too!
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