http://www.steelypips.org/weblog/2006/04/davis_01silver.php Comments on Davis, Lindsey: (01) Silver Pigs en Copyright 2008 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:47:43 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.36 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Jean wrote on April 4, 2006 at 8:35 PM: <p>If I wasn't one of the people who was recommending Falco to you, it was only a matter of time, so I'm glad you ended up enjoying him!</p> <p>I think the thing you had problems with (the historical setting filtered through a Chandleresque narrative) is not a mistake but a feature: it's deliberate, and if you don't enjoy it, then Lindsey Davis is not for you...</p> <p>To take your specific example, cooking bread / cakes on a griddle must be pretty ancient - I'd guess that it's legitimate, and that it's the terminology that's disconcerting.</p> <p>I have heard Lindsey Davis speak, and she maintains that the books are historically accurate - her website suggests that she inserts one anachronism per book, so you can have fun looking for it.</p> <p>Anyway, I hope you contune to enjoy the series: I think it gets tired eventually, but you've a way to go before you reach that point!</p> <p>[admin note: originally posted Apr 2, 2006 5:41 AM; reposted after server crash]</p> http://www.steelypips.org/weblog/2006/04/davis_01silver.php#c4317 David Tate wrote on April 4, 2006 at 8:35 PM: <p>I also enjoyed those Marcus Didius Falco books that I read, before running out of momentum. I seem to recall that the first one was better, so you have something to look forward to.</p> <p>I've also read several books in at least one of the other "Roman PI" series: Stephen Saylor's "Gordianus the Finder" books. From what I know of your preferences, you might very well enjoy those more -- more subtle characterizations, more ambiguity, more authentic (or at least authentic-feeling) historical detail. I'm not sure they're better-crafted mysteries, though. I believe <i>Roman Blood</i> is the first one. The reviewer on MysteryGuide.com had this to say about it (to begin with):</p> <p>"Gordianus the Finder is a Roman private eye circa 80 BC, who makes a living gathering evidence for the lengthy court cases so beloved of his era. One hot day, he is called to aid a neophyte advocate named Cicero, who is defending a man charged with that most serious of ancient crimes, parricide. The accused will say little in his own defence and hired killers dog the footsteps of all potential witnesses to the crime. The further Gordianus digs into this complex case, the more layers of "truth" are uncovered -- and the more danger threatens his own household.<br /> The plot is well-planned and reasonably fair to those who are familiar with the milieu. The author is plainly fascinated with the era and has done a lot of homework; but this book is uneasily balanced between the genres of historical fiction and crime fiction. I hesitate to mention genre boundaries because in general I don't believe in them; but in this case the reader should be aware that the book is extremely slow-paced for a mystery, and rather clumsy for a historical novel. "</p> <p>[admin note: originally posted Apr 2, 2006 5:08 PM; reposted after server crash]</p> http://www.steelypips.org/weblog/2006/04/davis_01silver.php#c4318