I just finished reading Peter Katsionis'
well researched and
convincing first novel, Patrida.
Although I admit that I am not much
of a historian and don't posess a great
deal of knowledge of the martial
arts, I was fascinated with this book
and found it difficult to put
down. The story is a competent and
credible depiction of Alexander's
Greece, and paints clear vivid
portraits and brings to the fore the
characters of the main protagonists.
Peter Katsionis does this with majestic
power, and his dialogue seems to
catch each player perfectly. This is a
historical novel on the grand scale,
teeming with colour, life, court
intrigue, treachery and romance,
interwoven with consummate skill into
a colourful story. I look forward to
his next novel with much
anticipation.
Michael Yannacopoulos
Finally a chance to comment on your
wonderful novel "Patrida"! I must
admit that my first impression upon
picking up your book was one of slight
trepidation as I was anticipating being
overwhelmed by a plethora of
historical details - how wrong I was!!
Once I started reading I couldn't put it
down!
You've crafted a book with just the
right mix of history,
characterization, violence and sex to
keep any reader enthralled! I found
the progression
and development of the Pankration
methods as described throughout the
novel fascinating. The characters were
accessible, believable, interesting and
- above all - human! Within the first
few pages I was engrossed and fell in
with the flow of the story. You should
be very proud of what you've achieved
with your book and I congratulate you!
Bruce Stephenson
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A true achievement in historical
fiction as it is a novel that tells
history, without the fluff of excess
fiction, indeed, all the fiction was
inconsequential historically.
Katsionis' strength in teaching us the
history of Ancient Greece, while
telling us the story of Dioxuppus, is a
true achievement. One's senses, as the
book is read, are sharpened.
Macedonia is slowly revealed in the
reader's mind to the point where the
reader feels they have walked the
streets of Pella and witnessed the
murder of the Macedonian king
Philip. The architectural triumphs of
Athens are the background as the
reader sits as a member of the
Athenians’ democracy and listens to
the treacherous speeches of the
Athenian orator Demosthenes'.
Dioxuppus' fighting in the great
Pankration are described to the point
one's heart races as each blow is
received and thrown. The
introduction of a young Hellene who
would change humanity forever is
carefully crafted as Alexander is
about to embark on his conquests and
mark the beginning of the
Hellenization period. A must read for
any student of history and any student
of the martial arts.
George Kanavos
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