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Steven Pressfield will be on the History Channel on a show called "Decisive Battles" (about Alexander's victory at Gaugemala) on Friday July 30 (9 PM Eastern and Pacific); Sunday Aug 1 (11 pm) and Thursday August 5 (11.30 pm)

Well, it seems that he (or his publisher) has a very good PR. I'd hardly say that he's properly qualified to be on such a show, much as he might have read the sources and written a good description of the battle.Perhaps that's being unfair - but to me it's like asking Jilly Cooper to front a programme on the state of the modern orchestra, simply because she wrote a blockbuster book set in the 'world' of an orchestra.All the bestMarcus

Do you think GÇÿruthakiGÇÖ became a little star struck after she received that message reply from Pressfield ? I look forward to the program and I assure you he will not be receiving any benefit of any doubt in this forum!All the bestAndrew

As most of you are likely not historical fiction writers I doubt some of you can understand what it means to have an established writer like Steven Pressfield take the time to answer an email from an emerging writer like me. "Star-struck"? Frankly, I found it quite inspiring and I value these contacts more than you will probably ever know. I respect the man for taking the time. And I am very impressed with his writing and his book. Any further contacts, I will keep to myself.

You'll get over it, especially when your own book makes the best seller list.

Hi Ruthaki,I admire you! Good for you! It is nice when a published author writes to you, and I like your attitude. I have read all of Steve's books, and I like each and every one in a different way. My favorite is Gates of Fire. I am a Spartan (Michigan State University), and my student number includes the number 300 so I have a direct kinship to the 300Spartans. I didn't even know of it until I read GoF, and that book made me so proud! I am very touched when Steve writes to me too! So like you, I am starstruck also! He brought me good luck! I look forward to seeing him on t.v, and will enjoy whatever discussion ensues. Hope Andrew is watching closely now so it is a good debate.

HI Andrew, Well, Steve sure is good looking enough for any one to be starstruck! Read Tides of War, and you will understand why I think he is using a tactic of Alcibiades in his being a great author. I like that in him. I enjoy all his responses to my queries, especially the kind comments he has made to me. He is most encouraging.

Hi Janet, well it isn't so much 'star struck' as appreciative. It means a lot to an unknown writer like me to be recognized by someone who has 'made it' already. I was fortunate a couple of years ago to have communication with another author I admire, Jack Dempsey ("Ariadne's Brother", Kalendis press Greece). He was so very kind and encouraging and read some of my novel which he did a very good critique of (which is on my website). He also put me in direct touch with his publisher in Athens. We still communicate from time to time. These contacts are invaluable to a writer like me, especially when they are with people with like interests and writing about the same historical time periods. I feel pleased and grateful that Steve has taken the time to be so encouraging. I have certainly never had any kind of encouragement like this from any of the Canadian classical scholars or well-known writers and as I'm not writing Canadian history I can't expect any help forthcoming from Canada Council either. So any little scrap of encouragment goes a long way with me. Writing a novel like this is a long, difficult journey, not to be taken lightly. I've put a lot of time and effort into "Shadow of the Lion", so get the occasional pat on the back really means a lot to me. ruthaki

Hello Ruth,I must admit this post reminds me of when John Maxwell O'Brien, the author of The Invisible Enemy- suddenly out of the blue answered one of the my posts on the forum. I felt extremely honoured! Also I think that it is perfectly acceptable for a historical fiction writer to appear on such a channel to discuss the topic. I think that academics as much as non-academics are free to talk about Alexander just as we are here on this great forum! Also I think that it is important to bear in mind that just ordinary people who have a great passion for the subject can often make more precise observations than some of the more famous academics- I go no further than to mention Mary Renault.I will look out for Steven's forthcoming book.Best Regards,
Dean.

Hello,I must admit that this thread made me recall the time when the highly esteemed Mr Maxwell O'Brien popped up out of the blue to answer one of my posts. I felt really honoured!Also I think that academics as much as non-academics are more than welcome to discuss the topic on any channel that they feel- I mean even academics can make mistakes and sometimes a non academic with just a simple passion for the subject can make the most impressive observations- I go no further than to mention Mary Renault.I look forward to seeing his book in the shops soon as I thought that Gates of fire was very good.Best regards,
Dean.

Hi Dean,I guess we'll have to agree to disagree as to whether Pressfield should appear on the programme. Of course, we know neither the intended audience, nor the style of the programme; however, in my own experience, I prefer to listen to academics who may not always get everything right in my own opinion (you're correct there); I would have to be very convinced of a novelist's credentials to feel he/she was qualified to appear on TV expounding on a historical subject.All the bestMarcus

Marcus, I'm sure that even if he's no academic, Pressfield must have accumulated enough knowledge during his research, to allow him to participate in this TV show. Moreover he could introduce a more friendly approach than an academic would. I do believe that you have some kind of prejudice against him. However the reason for it eludes me...

Hi Yiannis,I assure you, I have nothing against Pressfield. What you say about his qualification to appear might well be true - my issue is with novelists appearing on such shows in general. Perhaps it's just my natural snobbishness. :-)All the bestMarcus

The TV show is also tied-in with a video game!"Secrets of Ancient Battle Strategies Come to Life in DECISIVE BATTLES
Utilizing Rome: Total War Technology
Premieres on The History Channel Friday, July 23 at 9pm ET/PT NEW YORK, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- It's hard to imagine that the tranquil fields of present day Italy, Greece and other Mediterranean lands were once the site of some of the most historic battles of ancient times. But now, The History Channel goes on location to the actual battlefields and integrates cutting-edge videogame technology to bring history and imagination together in the new series DECISIVE BATTLES. The half-hour series DECISIVE BATTLES premieres Friday, July 23 at 9-9:30pm ET/PT on The History Channel. The series is hosted by Matthew Settle (Band of Brothers) on location at the ancient battlefields and features expert commentary from the world's foremost historians."The rest of the press release can be found at:http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040719/nym135_1.htmlLinda Ann

World's foremost historians? I don't recall reading that in Pressfield's resume :-)Renault may have had a very favorable opinion of Alexander, but she was more than qualified to comment on Ancient Greece and in fact had published a few non-fiction books on same. One wonders if she wasn't female, if she would have faced the kind of critique she often gets on this Forum and elsewhere among historians. Having a favorable opinion of Alexander does not negate her scholarship, nor for that matter does a negative opinion automatically make one's scholarship correct, i.e. Bosworth. One can cut holes in his work just as easily as many claim to be able to find in Renault's.