The Far Arena

by Richard Ben Sapir

Book Overview

Released from the Arctic ice after two millennia, a Roman gladiator contends with his haunted memories and the modern world. While exploring the polar expanse for an oil company, geologist Lew McCardle discovers something remarkable: a body encased in the ice. Even more remarkable, the skills of a Russian researcher bring the man miraculously back to life. This strange visitor from the distant past has an amazing story to tell. With the help of a Nordic nun who translates from his native Latin, Lucius Aurelius Eugenianus reveals that in the era of Domitian he was a champion in the ancient Roman Coliseum, a gladiator known far and wide as the greatest of all time. But now the warrior Eugeni must readjust to this new world, with its bizarre customs, hidden traps, and geopolitical and moral complexities, as he struggles to come to terms with painful memories of loves and glories lost, and the bloodthirsty imperial politics and heartbreaking betrayals that ultimately led him to this time and place. An ingenious amalgam of science fiction, fantasy, and history, Richard Ben Sapir's The Far Arena is a breathtaking work of literary invention, at once thrilling, poignant, and thought-provoking.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1504051270
• ISBN13: 9781504051279
• Release Date: April 2018
• Publishers: Open Road Media Mystery &amp, Thriller
• Length: 586 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A magnificent saga of ancient Rome from today's perspective.

"The Far Arena" is, quite simply, a magnificent story, which places Richard Sapir among the top ranks of novelist talents. Why this one did not receive greater acclaim is a mystery, because this is a powerful, well-written, even compelling story dealing with ancient Rome. Without spoiling the plot, it is simple enough: by entirely plausible scientific means, a Roman gladiator is revived in the modern age. His flashbacks to life in ancient Rome and his impressions of the modern age are all woven into a compelling plot that moves at lightning speed to a startling and yet wistful conclusion. This is a great story.Sapir's prose is superb. Many authors have trouble switching from first-person narration to a third-person perspective as Sapir does in this novel, but Sapir does it effortlessly. The storyline never drags. The novel has a wonderful sense of authenticity that causes the ancient Roman Empire to become real to the reader. Sapir's characterizations are excellent as well. Eugeni, the Roman gladiator and the other leading characters all become real people about whom the reader will come to care a great deal. Put simply, there is very little about this novel not to like.I own two copies of this one and would never part with either--I consider this to be one of the very best novels I have ever read. The discerning reader will want to read and keep this one in his or her personal library.

Masterpiece from a writer too soon gone...

This is a magnificently well-written book, the work of a real writer. The portions told in first-person by Eugeni read as if Sapir were channeling rather than creating. This is how it must have been in Rome. The characters are all fully-drawn, complex human beings. A mesmerizing, unforgettable book. Find a copy, any way you can. It's a literary crime this was allowed to go out of print!

READ THIS BOOK (if you can find it)

Wonderful book, wonderful protaganist in Eugeni, the pragmatic little Roman gladiator who is brought back to life by modern science. He's like a modern-day Dorothy, in a brand new world, and both appalled and fascinated by what he encounters.I can't believe this book is out of print,...I also have loaned out copies and never got them back (along with The Sunbird), but luckily still have my original hard copy. If you can find this book, do buy it and do read it!

The Far Arena

It is a shame that this book is out of print. I bought and read the book in the early 80's and it is one of the books that I read every so often. It is fascinating in its account of ancient Rome and the gladiators as well as its story of the three individuals involved with Eugeni. I recently saw the movie "Gladiator" and it prompted me to pick up The Far Arena and read it again. I never tire of the story of Eugeni. If you can get your hands on a copy of this book, do so! You can't have mine!

An incredible plot that makes the book hard to put down

Too bad this book is out of print. As a kid, I was always fascinated with the gladiators of ancient Rome. When I encountered this book, the Si-Fi twist and the excellent account of our frozen gladiator's amazing journey was made believable with rich details and writing. This is a fine work that has been copied in many forms and it is sad that credit doesn't go to the original creative mind of Richard Sapir.