About the Author

James Duffy is an Emmy award-winning television writer and producer and the owner of his own production company. He lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Reviews

"Duffy recreates in gory detail the world of Roman gladiators, complete with larger-than-life characters and plenty of fast-paced, sanguinary action... [an] entertaining read." -- Publishers Weekly "Duffy combines a sure sense of character and narrative with an intimate knowledge of the world of the Roman arena... an exciting and satisfying novel." --John Maddox Roberts, author of the SPQR series "Well researched and exciting." -- Library Journal

For this first entry in a new series, debut novelist Duffy recreates in gory detail the world of Roman gladiators, complete with larger-than-life characters and plenty of fast-paced, sanguinary action. When the hero, Quintus Honorius Romanus, loses his parents and is injured during a storm at sea, a resentful and resourceful slave, Lucius, steals his identity. The real Quintus-renamed Taurus-works to rebuild his life as a gladiator, with the help of new friends Lindani, an African hunter, and Amazonia, a rare female gladiator who seems lifted straight from the overheated world of professional wrestling. Meanwhile, Lucius-masquerading as the patrician Quintus-rises to a position of power in Rome. Beginning in Britannia on the frontier of the Empire, Taurus fights his way to notoriety, a match in Rome and the inevitable showdown with his nemesis. From training regimen to weapons and fighting tactics, Duffy renders the technical elements of the "sport" in layman's terms. He also corrects some common misconceptions about gladiatorial combat-e.g., the losing fighter was more likely to be spared than killed. Despite its made-for-TV-movie plotting and characterizations, this entertaining read may find a receptive audience among fans of historical fiction. Agents, Loretta Barrett and Nick Mullendore. (Nov.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.