Rome Fiction

Welcome to 263 B.C. Between clashes of the Qart Hadasht Empire and the upstart Republic, men died. Whether from sharp blades held by strong arms or stones and bolts launched by ancient artillery, the hand of death grabbed souls from both sides of the battle line. Alerio Sisera will need more than an iron constitution, sharp steel, and a sturdy shield. To survive, he'll need his wits, luck, and infinite courage.

AD 381. Five years have gone by since a Roman governor ordered the deaths of a Gothic king and his attendants at a feast in their honor. This disastrous act led to warfare in the Roman Empire and the death of the Emperor Valens. The Empire is now at peace, but the powerful brother of the murdered king has sworn revenge on the regicides, and will not rest until they are hunted down. For the eight legionaries who carried out the killings, the bloodshed is only just beginning.

Welcome to January 263 B.C. Attacking a pair of long spears with his short dagger was going to hurt and add to Alerio's collection of combat scars. And only leave him injured, if Fortuna smiled on him. If not? That's why he prayed to the other Goddess. This should have been the easiest, most luxurious duty a heavy infantryman could ever imagine. It didn't turn out that way and, at the moment, he regretted throwing the spear. These are the adventures of Alerio Sisera, Corporal of the Republic's Legions, Weapons Instructor, experienced Raider, Combat Rower, and protege of a Roman Senator.

Rome, 1965: Aspiring actress Silvia Whitford arrives at Rome's famed Cinecittà Studios from Los Angeles, ready for her big break and a taste of la dolce vita. Instead, she learns that the movie in which she was cast has been canceled. Desperate for money, Silvia has only one choice: seek out the Italian aunt she has never met. Gabriella Conti lives in a crumbling castello on the edge of a volcanic lake. Silvia's mother refuses to explain the rift that drove the sisters apart, but Silvia is fascinated by Gabriella.

As Rome prepares for its Carnivale, the new leader of the city's vampire hunters, Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy, must prove herself as never before. For, in order to gain access to the secrets of a legendary alchemist, Rome's vampires have allied themselves with creatures as evil and bloodthirsty as they are. Reluctantly, Victoria must turn to the enigmatic Sebastian Vioget for help—just as Max Pesaro arrives to help his fellow slayers, no matter what the price.

In the crippling heat of August in Rome, a flat goes up in flames, the doors sealed from the outside. Five illegal immigrants are trapped and burnt alive—their charred bodies barely distinguishable amidst the debris. When Detective Inspectors Rossi and Carrara begin to investigate, a terror organisation shakes the city to its foundations. Then a priest is found murdered and mutilated post-mortem—his injuries almost satanic in their ferocity.

It's AD 37. In this story of secrecy and betrayal, Caligula Caesar has just become Rome's new master. Senator Titus Carinna, who helped him succeed to the throne, knows the inexperienced young ruler needs a companion he can trust. It's a shame the Senator's older son - Caligula's closest friend - committed suicide after being charged with treason. But that still leaves Marcus, his second son. Headstrong and hot-tempered, Marcus would rather prove his courage by leading legions against Rome's enemies.

Hraban the Marcomanni has been cast out of his tribe by his treacherous father Maroboodus. He has lost his tribe, his mother and both grandfathers, and his fame and honor with the ones he loved. He has been lied to, he has been used to further his father's plots and in the end discarded, and his lot was to linger in slavery to Odo, a priest to Lok until he would die, having fulfilled the needs of a deadly prophecy.

Enjoy this lesser-known story by the great Russian master of the short story Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852). "Rome", a departure from Gogol's typical satiric style, is not included in most collections of his short fiction. It isn't easy to find in print, but you can listen to it here.

“New York, Paris, London—every grand metropolis—has its own irresistible attraction but Rome so swirls with stories of saints and sinners…lovers and fighters, that she compels you towards her, like gravity…. No one leaves her unaltered. Part of you always loves her. This is the place...

Estamos en el año 576 y Roma acaba de caer, pero hay un grupo de hombres que están dispuestos a intentar recuperar el poder del Imperio. Basilisco, funcionario imperial viaja hacia el norte de Hispania con la caballería pesada al mando de Mayorio en busca del apoyo de los terratenientes de la zona. Ambos sueñan con la restauración de Roma.

It was with her stories that Mary Morris first won attention and acclaim: her first collection, Vanishing Animals, received the prestigious Rome Prize, and her second, The Bus of Dreams, was widely hailed. In this new collection, Mary Morris once again shows her great sensitivity to men and women at moments of turbulence, uncertainty and crisis in their lives—and how they can reach for the unexpected and the spiritual at such times.

Amor y traicion en la antigua Cartago. Mientras las hordas romanas asedian y esperan el momento de invadir Cartago, la sacerdotisa del templo de la diosa Tanit, Salambo, ama y es amada. Ella es la hija de Amilcar, el gran general cartagines y para recobrar el perdido velo que ha caido en manos del adversario, tiene que entregarse al general enemigo, que por Salambo olvida patria y honor.

Returning to Rome from a forced sabbatical, a newly appointed Jesuit cardinal discovers a dark force that has ruled a single family for over 700 years has been unleashed against the world. With the clock ticking, he joins with a dedicated group of Israeli and Spanish scientists who are thrust into an endgame scenario as they race across the globe in an effort to stop the greatest threat mankind has ever faced, only to discover that they may already be too late.

AD 273. Obsessed by the solar religions of the east, the emperor Aurelian sets out to obtain every sacred object within his realm. But one - a mysterious rock said to channel the power of the sun god - lies beyond his reach. Warrior-priest Ilaha has captured the legendary stone and is using it to raise an army against Rome. For imperial agent Cassius Corbulo and ex-gladiator bodyguard Indavara, stopping him constitutes their greatest challenge yet.

Drückende Hitze lastet auf ganz Rom–und doch hat der Polizist Nic Costa das Gefühl, sein Blut müsse gefrieren: In einer Kirche ist die Leiche eines Mannes gefunden worden, gehäutet wie der Märtyrer Bartholomäus. Der vermeintliche Täter ist mit seiner blutigen Trophäe in die Vatikanbibliothek geflohen und wird dort erschossen–vor den Augen seiner ehemaligen Freundin. War dies eine zufällige Begegnung, oder ist die Dozentin Sara Farnese tiefer in den Fall verwickelt?

454 AD. Northern Italy. Dux Ambrosius Aurelianus has served the Roman Empire with distinction. His bucellarii, a small band of irregular soldiers, have helped to bring a fragile peace to the beleaguered empire in the west. But, with the empire now at peace, his master, Flavius Aetius, decides to chain up his dogs of war. Ambrosius and his men are left to idle away their days in a rural backwater, but Ambrosius’ boredom is brutally swept aside when old rivals seize the opportunity to destroy him.

Villa Médicis, Rome. Un cadavre avec les yeux énucléés est découvert un matin dans l'une des fontaines du jardin. C'est le choc au sein de l'institution, d'autant que la victime est le fils du directeur. Dépêché sur place, le commissaire Castelli conclut rapidement à un homicide et ne tarde pas à découvrir que la victime entretenait des liens ambigus avec les résidents. Dans ce huis-clos où chacun devient un suspect potentiel, un jeu psychologique et macabre s'instaure avec le tueur qui, particulièrement retors et manipulateur, sème le trouble parmi les pensionnaires.

Alvie Knightly flees Sicily for a suite at the Ritz after her not-so-playful sibling rivalry ends in murder. Beautiful, spoiled Beth may be gone, but Alvie's discovering what happens when you steal your twin's identity. Especially now that Beth's body has been found. The police aren't the only ones Alvie has to worry about. Her hot new boyfriend has vanished, along with all of their stolen riches. But Alvie has never shied away from a challenge. She pursues the traitor to Rome in a life-or-death game of cat and mouse. Can she get revenge before her own crimes catch up with her?

Summoned to Rome by an old friend, a Jesuit scholar finds himself using a code discovered in the Bible to unearth an ancient, hidden chapel in the catacombs under the city. When a rogue force of Vatican security officials are alerted to his discovery, the priest flees to the Holy Land with a clue...a clue that will lead him and a team of Israeli Christians to a much larger secret in the middle of the barren Negev Desert.