The Alexandrian Ring
The Gamester Wars, Book 1
Author: William R Forstchen
Publisher: Del Rey
Published In: New York
Date: 1987
Pgs: 240

REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
Alexander the Great. Long dead, but the future rides on his successes at war. First there was war, then there were wargames, growing more and more realistic until the games themselves surpassed war as mankind’s most popular sport. but with no blood, guts, or glory, boredom began to set in and strategy lost its edge. Something was needed to bring fresh excitement to an old, old game. And so the past was mined for the greatest warriors and generals history had to offer. Napoleon, Alexander, the Forty-seven Ronin, assassins from ancient Persia, all brilliant at either combat or at tactics and strategy. It was just a game, until mock war turned real on an unimaginable scale, and only those legendary warriors could turn the tide.

Genre:
Adventure
Fiction
Military
Science fiction
War

Why this book:
Alexander brought through time for a future war. C’mon. I’m in. This is a re-read for me. Great book.

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Favorite Character:
Alexander the Great is done incredibly here.

And his long suffering guardian, brought forward with him through time, Parmenion.

Least Favorite Character:
The gamblers who are bringing together all these people, Human and Gavarnian, to die for their amusement in “staged” wars that are all too real on the ground.

Character I Most Identified With:
Parmenion and Aldin. Parmenion cause by just doing what he thought was right, he got sucked into a situation far, far beyond his wildest imagining and stood up to the challenge. Aldin because he was constantly getting screwed over. Between the two, it sounds a lot like life.

The Feel:
The story despite its incredible setting feels real. This is one of the reasons that I have kept this book on my shelf all these years whenever a culling was in progress.

Favorite Scene:
When Alexander faces down the Gavarnian patrol soon after arriving on the Kolbard Ringworld.

The first and second Battle of the Ore Carrier...and the climactic battle on the hills between the Ore Carrier and the Gavarnian captial city.

Pacing:
The story is well paced.

Hmm Moments:
Imagine if an event drew 18% of the entire economy into it as bets.

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Last Page Sound:
I love how it leaves things.

Author Assessment:
More.

Editorial Assessment:
Well done.

Knee Jerk Reaction:
real genre classic

Disposition of Book:
Keeper

Would recommend to:
genre fans
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