John Maddox Roberts

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John Maddox Roberts (born June 25, 1947 in Ohio , USA ) is an American writer .

He left college at the age of 20 and joined the US Army . There he served in the elite Green Berets unit . After returning to civilian life, Roberts decided to become a writer. His first novel was published in 1977.

In Germany, Roberts became known in particular for his series of novels SPQR , which was set in ancient Rome and in which he linked fictional events about the Roman Decius Caecilius Metellus with real events and people. The first of these historical crime novels, SPQR , was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1991 . The series based on this volume follows the political career of Decius.

With the novel Mord in Tarsis and the multi-volume Stormland saga , Roberts has also made a name for himself in the field of fantasy literature.

Works

SPQR

The SPQR novel series got its name from the first novel in the series. The books describe various events from the point of view of the Roman Decius Caecilius Metellus , mostly murders of prominent Romans at the time of the end of the Roman Republic and the civil wars. Some of the criminal cases that Decius has to solve are historical events such as the Catilinarian Conspiracy or the Bona Dea scandal of the year 62 BC. BC or cases such as the death of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer , which were however differently or not cleared up. The central figure of Decius Caecilius Metellus is part of the ruling class of Rome as a (fictional) member of the extensive and very influential family of the Caecilii Metelli . He is entrusted with the solution of the case, albeit not always officially, or investigates on his own because the crime outrages him or because it appeals to him as an unsolved riddle that he can solve with the help of his mind. From the beginning he was supported by the Greek doctor Asklepiodes, from the third volume also by his slave Hermes and later by his later wife Julia, a (also fictional) niece of Gaius Iulius Caesar . His skepticism towards “unearthly” events and his ironic-suspicious attitude towards well-known contemporaries such as Caesar, Crassus or Cato, who are sometimes personally involved in the event, are also important traits.

An adaptation of the series for television is currently being planned.

1. SPQR ( SPQR (The King's Gambit) )

  • First publication: 1990, German 1992, ISBN 3-442-41306-0
  • Year of the fictional story: 684 auc / 70 BC Chr.
  • Synopsis: As the commander of the vigiles, Decius wants to solve the murder of a gladiator and ends up in a swamp of corruption and intrigue in the Roman upper class.

2. The Catiline Conspiracy ( The Catiline Conspiracy )

  • First publication: 1991, German 1992, ISBN 3-442-41307-9
  • Year of the fictional story: 691 auc / 63 BC Chr.
  • Synopsis: When a banker and a building contractor are found murdered, Decius sees a connection between the two crimes and a blown weapons depot in the Temple of Saturn, where as a tax officer he has to keep an eye on the state treasure. He recognizes the ominous signs of a large-scale conspiracy that has its roots in the center of power itself.

3. The iniquity of Clodius ( The Sacrilege )

  • First publication: 1992, German 1993, ISBN 3-442-41450-4
  • Year of the fictional story: 693 auc / 61 BC Chr.
  • Content: A man is discovered during the rite of " Bona Dea ", where only married women are allowed to be present. Is there a connection between the cheeky outrage and a series of murders in which the victims all bear a strange mark on their foreheads? Decius picks up the scent and is soon fighting for his life.

4. The Muse Temple ( The Temple of the Muses )

  • First publication: 1992, German 1994, ISBN 3-442-41451-2
  • Year of the fictional story: 694 auc / 60 BC Chr.
  • Synopsis: On a diplomatic mission in Alexandria , Decius is entrusted with the investigation into the highly curious death of an irascible philosopher . When the body of a well-known courtesan is found in his own bed, Decius finds himself in the midst of a conspiracy that is far more dangerous than he could ever have imagined.

5. Deadly Saturnalia ( Saturnalia )

  • First publication: 1994, German 1994, ISBN 3-442-42551-4
  • Year of the fictional story: 695 auc / 59 BC Chr.
  • Synopsis: When his relative Metellus Celer dies unexpectedly and the whole town believes that Celer was poisoned by his wife Clodia (the sister of Decius' mortal enemy Clodius), Decius starts the investigation on his own initiative. They lead him into the opaque world of witches and fortune tellers who run a lucrative business as poisoners and angel makers.

6. Death of a Centurion ( Nobody loves a Centurion )

  • First publication: 1995, German 1995, ISBN 3-442-42760-6
  • Year of the fictional story: second half of the year 696 auc / 58 BC Chr.
  • Synopsis: When the Centurion Titus Vinius is found dead, only Decius believes in the innocence of his client and is commissioned by Julius Caesar to clarify the murder. But he realizes pretty quickly that his research is not very popular and he keeps putting himself in great danger.

7. Curse of the tribune ( The Tribune's Curse )

  • First publication: 1996. German 1996, ISBN 3-442-43190-5
  • Year of the fictional story: 699 auc / 55 BC Chr.
  • Synopsis: When the tribune of the people, Ateius, who stirs up the plebs against Crassus , a power-hungry member of the triumvirate , is murdered shortly afterwards, Decius is entrusted with solving this explosive case. And soon he finds out that among the suspects are a few unscrupulous politicians who do not shrink from any bloody act.

8. Revenge of the river gods ( The River God's Vengeance )

  • First publication: 1997, ISBN 3-442-43636-2 , engl. 2004
  • Year of the fictional story: 701 auc / 53 BC Chr.
  • Synopsis: Decius, meanwhile as aedile responsible for the organization of public games, notes that there are massive problems of a constructional nature that may affect the whole city of Rome . His investigations are directed against the building lions of the city, and they don't like to see it.

9. The ships of Cleopatra ( The Princess and the Pirates )

  • First publication: 2000, ISBN 3-442-44118-8 , engl. 2005
  • Year of the fictional story: 703 auc / 51 BC Chr.
  • Synopsis: As a senator , Decius is entrusted with the delicate task of freeing the eastern Mediterranean from bold pirates. When he wanted to equip a flotilla in Cyprus , he found that his opponents were well informed and always one step ahead of him. The seventeen-year-old Egyptian princess Cleopatra , who apparently selflessly and full of adventure offers her help to Decius, also plays an opaque role. When the governor Silvanus suffocates from an overdose of incense , Decius sees himself threatened by enemies who would also go over his corpse.

10. In the name of Caesar ( A Point of Law )

  • First publication: 2000, ISBN 3-442-44517-5 , engl. 2006
  • Year of the fictional story: 703/704 auc / 51/50 BC Chr.
  • Content: Decius applies for the office of praetor . But Marcus Fulvius, a Roman citizen from the province, accuses him of corruption and embezzlement. On the day of the public hearing, Marcus Fulvius' body is found on the steps of the courthouse and Decius is under urgent suspicion.

11. Murder on Vesuvius ( Under Vesuvius )

  • First publication: 2001, ISBN 3-442-44773-9 , engl. 2007
  • Year of the fictional story: 704 auc / 50 BC Chr.
  • Content: When the daughter of a Greek priest is found strangled, suspicion immediately falls on the son of the wealthy slave trader Gaeto, because he had sought the favor of the beautiful young woman in vain. But it turns out that the murdered woman was anything but an innocence from the country and that her father is by no means just the harmless Apollo priest he claims to be. Decius soon takes over the investigation as praetor peregrinus .

12. The oracle of death ( Oracle of Death )

  • First publication: 2005, ISBN 3-442-45685-1 , 2008
  • Year of the fictional story: 704 auc / 50 BC Chr.
  • Content: The murder of an Apollo priest is supposed to be the punishment of a god? Decius, who, as in Volume 11, continues to hold the office of praetor peregrinus , believes in more profane motifs.

13. The Emperor's Enemies ( The Year of Confusion )

  • First publication: 2008, ISBN 978-3-442-45686-4 , engl. 2010
  • Year of the fictional story: 708 auc / 46 BC Chr.
  • Content: “ Gaius Julius Caesar has a monumental plan: He wants to reform the calendar throughout the empire and has brought together scientists from all over the known world in Rome. The astronomers go to work with enthusiasm - until one of them is found strangled. When more murder victims follow, the remaining scientists fear for their lives. Decius Caecilius Metellus has to investigate with great sensitivity - because the traces he follows are delicate ... "

Spacer

  • Space Angel , 1979
  • Window of the Mind , 1998

Cingulum

  • The Cingulum , 1985
  • Cloak of Illusion , 1985
  • The Sword, the Jewel and the Warrior , 1985

Act of God

(with Eric Kotani )

  • Act of God , 1985
  • The Island Worlds , 1987
  • Between the Stars , 1988

Conan

see directory of the Conan series

Storm Land Saga

Mysteries (Gabe Treloar series)

The Gabe Treloar series is strongly autobiographical. The first volume plays in a "novel-like version of the city in Ohio where I grew up" and the second deals with "my experiences in Vietnam". However, the author only had one desk post in the American military in Vietnam.

  • A Typical American Town (1994, German day of reckoning )
  • The Ghosts of Saigon (1996, no German edition)
  • Desparate Highways (1997, no German edition)

Other

Historical adventures:

  • The Falcon (1): The Falcon Strikes (1982, no German edition, youth knight novel under the pseudonym Mark Ramsey )
  • The Falcon (2): The Black Pope (1982, no German edition)
  • The Falcon (3): The Bloody Cross (1982, no German edition)
  • The Falcon (4): The King's Treasure (1983, no German edition)

Alternative historical adventure (thesis: "Hannibal wins against Rome")

  • Hannibal's Children (2002, no German edition)
  • The Seven Hills (2005, no German edition)

Dragon Lance Series (Dragon Lance Universe)

Science fiction

  • The Strayed Sheep of Charun , 1977
  • King of the Wood , 1983
  • Cestus Dei , 1983
  • The Enigma Variations , 1989
  • Delta Pavonis , 1990 (with Eric Kotani)
  • Total Recall 2070: Machine Dreams , 2000

literature

  • Albrecht Fritzsche: Crime and destruction have always been topics of science fiction. John Maddox Roberts and the Alien Worlds . In: The Worlds of Science Fiction. 15 approaches to the most successful genre of our time . Corian-Verlag, Meitingen 1988, ISBN 3-89048-313-5 .
  • Markus Schröder: Marlowe in toga? Crime stories about ancient Rome. The historical detective novel as a new genre of trivial literature using the example of the SPQR novels by John Maddox Roberts . IFB-Verlag, Paderborn 2001, ISBN 3-931263-21-5 .
  • Anja Zill: Historical truth and literary freedom in "The Catiline Conspiracy" from the SPQR series by John Maddox Roberts . Grin Verlag, Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3640972425 .

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Zum Goldenen Lamm (production company of the series) .
  2. ↑ Roberts' Facebook post .
  3. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from October 1, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.randomhouse.de
personal data
SURNAME Roberts, John Maddox
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American writer
DATE OF BIRTH June 25, 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH Ohio , USA