A Rooster for Asklepios
(A Slave's Story Trilogy, Book 1)
By Christopher D. Stanley
Marcus, a slave in the household of Lucius Coelius Felix, enjoys a better life than most slaves (and many free citizens) as the secretary and accountant of a wealthy aristocrat. His master is rising in the civic life of the Roman colony of Antioch-near-Pisidia (central Turkey), and his responsibilities and income are growing as well. If this continues, he could soon earn enough to buy his freedom, set up a small business, and even marry.
Then misfortune strikes, and his master falls into a deep depression that is exacerbated by a nagging illness that his physician is unable to cure. The future looks bleak until the physician receives a dream from the healing god Asklepios calling Lucius to travel hundreds of miles across western Asia Minor to his sanctuary at Pergamon for treatment and, he hopes, a cure.
Accompanied by Marcus and his new wife Selena, Lucius embarks on a long and eventful journey in which both master and slave encounter people and ideas that challenge long-held beliefs about themselves, their society, and the world around them. Values are questioned, loyalties tested, and identities transformed in a story that brings to life a corner of the Roman empire that has been neglected by previous storytellers.
Name of Book: A Rooster for Asklepios
Series: A Slave's Story Trilogy (Book 1)
Author: Christopher D. Stanley
Publication Date: May 23rd 2020
Publisher: Amelia Books
Page Length: 522 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
A Bull For Pluto
(A Slave's Story Trilogy, Book 2)
By Christopher D. Stanley
After a lengthy and eventful stay at the sanctuary of Asklepios in Pergamon, the time has come for Lucius and Marcus to return to Antioch. Selena had been sent home earlier when Lucius learned that she was pregnant, and the impending arrival of the winter snows could soon make it impossible for them to reach their destination before the child is born.
To Marcus’s surprise, Lucius announces that he plans to stop for a while in Hierapolis to bask in the healing waters of the city’s renowned hot springs. Here Marcus meets a young woman named Miriam who challenges him to embrace his long-hidden Jewish ancestry. Marcus is torn between his budding love for Miriam and the cost of heeding her advice.
A tragic decision by Lucius seals their fate, as their full attention must now be devoted to preserving Lucius’s life. They reach Antioch in time to learn that Lucius’s son Gaius has failed miserably in his management of the household while his father was away. If Lucius should die, Marcus, Selena, and her unborn child will be at the mercy of this tyrant. To fend off this danger, Lucius must tell Marcus the full truth about his past, a truth that will ensure Marcus's future at the cost of his master's honor. Can he bring himself to act before his inevitable end?
Name of Book: A Bull for Pluto
Series: A Slave's Story Trilogy (Book 2)
Author: Christopher D. Stanley
Publication Date: June 17th 2020
Publisher: Amelia Books
Page Length: 325 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Praise for A Rooster for Asklepios and A Bull For Pluto
This compelling and enjoyable story offers the reader a superb 'insider' view of life in the first-century Greco-Roman world. I enjoyed traipsing around Anatolia with Lucius and Marcus!"
-Dr. Terence Donaldson, Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament, Wycliffe College, Canada
"The realism of this story reflects the author's deep first-hand knowledge of the landscape and culture where the narrative takes place."
-Dr. Mark Wilson, Director, Asia Minor Research Center, Antalya, Turkey
"This well-researched book really brings the Roman world to life!"
-Dr. Alanna Nobbs, Professor of Ancient History, Macquarie University, Australia
"The amount of research, imagination, and effort involved in crafting this story earned my admiration, and stirred my curiosity, too."
Dr. Mark Nanos, Lecturer, University of Kansas, USA
MY THOUGHTS ON A ROOSTER FOR ASKLEPOIS!
I don’t think I have ever read a book that was so meticulously researched. I really got a sense of what life must have been like during this era. It is very obvious, from the very beginning of this novel, that the author, Christopher D. Stanley, has a clear understanding of the history - I guess being a professor at St. Bonaventure University who studies the social and religious history of the Greco-Roman world must help! The story itself was utterly engrossing. This is one of those books where I seemed to forget I was actually reading. Instead, it felt as if I was witnessing the events - watching as the plot plays out. It really is quite an extraordinary book.
Marcus was a character that really intrigued me. He is a slave, but he holds a significant position in his master’s household—and he is undoubtedly more dependable than his master’s heir. The complicated dynamics between master and slave during this era is portrayed with a great deal of skill and knowledge. The author has also taken great pains to demonstrate the different social structure in this era, and I was surprised to learn that the stigma of being a slave did not leave once the said slave was free. They were still regarded as second-class citizens.
I thought the depiction of Lucius Coelius Felix was fabulous. Lucious has a mysterious illness, in which the physicians can seemingly find no cure for. It is his seek for a cure that really drives this story forward. His illness also demonstrates that superstition and the belief in the Gods were an extremely important part of the culture and how they really did dictate the lives of not only those who believed, but their neighbours as well.
I was also interested in reading about the treatment of the Jewish community during this era. I thought the insight into this community was fascinating.
A Rooster for Asklepios (A Slave’s Story Trilogy, Book 1) is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. If you like your stories to be set in the Ancient World, then I think this is a book that you will enjoy.
CHRISTOPHER D. STANLEY
CHRISTOPHER D. STANLEY is a professor at St. Bonaventure University who studies the social and religious history of the Greco-Roman world, with special attention to early Christianity and Judaism. He has written or edited six books and dozens of professional articles on the subject and presents papers regularly at conferences around the world. The trilogy A Slave’s Story, which grew out of his historical research on first-century Asia Minor, is his first work of fiction. He is currently working on an academic book that explores healing practices in the Greco-Roman world, a subject that plays a vital role in this series. Connect with Christopher:
Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Goodreads
I am so glad you enjoyed A Rooster for Asklepio. And a huge thank you for hosting today's tour stop.
ReplyDelete