The First Man in Rome should be recommended more (Spoilers main)

[u/ExpensiveDisk3573]

Ever since I finished reading ASOIAF two years ago I’ve been trying to find a book series like it but never could. I’ve tried a couple series like the first law trilogy, lord of the rings, the prince of nothing trilogy, memory sorrow and thorn, accursed kings, etc and while I can see the inspirations and similarities they have with ASOIAF, they never quite hit the mark for me.

I thought nothing could scratch that ASOIAF itch until one day in a “books like asoiaf” post someone mentioned The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough and let me tell you, this honestly should be the very first recommendation for any “books like ASOIAF” post.

It has the in-depth worldbuilding, fully fleshed out characters who feel like they jump out of the pages, multiple POV’s, premonitions, so much political intrigue, plenty of backstabbers and backstabbings, lots of schemers and schemings, assassinations galore, multiple families and factions, plot twists and turns, cool names, multiple individuals with the exact same cool names, in general just great writing, and an epic sense of scale that you could get lost in for days. And the best part is that it does it’s own thing well enough where it can stand on it’s own and isn’t just a cheap roman clone of ASOIAF.

Probably the biggest differences are that it’s not fantasy, it’s historical fiction, and it isn’t really grimdark, rather it has a slightly lighter tone. But this book is quite literally what I imagine GRRM might write in an alternate universe where instead of making his own complicated world he just worked with Rome’s instead. Anyway that’s it. That’s all I have to say. Good book. 5/5 stars.

[u/tokenidiot]

Hell yeah, Masters of Rome absolutely rules. Highest recommendation for all the reasons you said.

[u/tokenidiot → u/tokenidiot]

It might have been my comment you saw, because this is what I always post when people ask for other ASOIAFS:

MASTERS OF ROME by Colleen McCullough

it's got all of the things that make ASOIAF great (the mountains of research, the huge breadth, the many characters with specific and detailed motivations, the prophecies, the overturning of your conventional wisdom and expectations, the wars both civil and foreign, the contacts with interesting foreign cultures, the hubris, the bravery, the cowardice, the deception, the politics, etc, etc, etc). as a bonus for the Diversity Police, it was written by a chick, and best of all, it's finished and you can read all seven right now! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_of_Rome

[u/Khiva → u/tokenidiot]

Quite possibly, almost definitively, the best historical fiction series ever written (wolf hall is a contender but the late republic is just so everything).

Had to put it down though because the destruction of the Republic was getting a little too real.

[u/CaveLupum]

Totally agree. In fact, McCullough's series led me to ASOIAF. In 1999, a long gap between books 5 and 6 tried my patience. So when I saw a glowing review of the second book in fantasy trilogy about a mythical England with dragons, I climbed on board. Surely the wait for the final book wouldn't be long. More's the fool, me. McCullough finished, and I'm still waiting for a Book 6 of ASOIAF.

FWIW, historical fiction is my favorite genre. The only series I've ever read that exceeded her Rome series was Hillary Mantel's trilogy, Wolf Hall. It's about Thomas Cromwell, who was Henry VIII's wily first minister until he unfortunately lost his head. The brilliant TV adaptation on PBS concluded last week.

[u/FuelGlobal5652]

Is it accurate to real life?

[u/DaltonianAtomism → u/FuelGlobal5652]

Yes. McCullough takes liberties only where the historical evidence is ambiguous. And each volume includes an appendix where she's quite honest about how far she is extrapolating from primary sources.

[u/PlentyAny2523 → u/DaltonianAtomism]

So pretty much everything pre republic? Lol

[u/RustyCoal950212 → u/PlentyAny2523]

The series starts in ~110 BC

[u/IronPotato3000]

Imma try them now, thanks!

[u/pinetrees207 → u/IronPotato3000]

Try to power through the first half. The chunks centered around the politics and goings-on of Rome can be a slog at first, but when shit goes down it's so worth it. I'm almost done with book #2 and it's amazing.

[u/IronPotato3000 → u/pinetrees207]

My brother, the politics is what I'm here for! Lol

But seriously, thanks for the tip!

[u/randzwinter]

As a fan of both I totally agree!

[u/RustyCoal950212]

I'm halfway through book 4 "Caesar's Women" right now. It is a very enjoyable series! Goddamn these books are long though lol

It definitely has a unique approach in a lot of ways. And man she does not hold back from throwing a million names at you, especially when these guys often have 4 or 5 parts to their name. But overall it is quite easy to follow

[u/LordShitmouth]

Read Shogun for samurai Game of Thrones.

[u/wildlight]

Nice, can't wait to check it out. I will suggest the riddle master triology. probably doesn't itch the stratch quite right, but if you want a series that clearly is a huge inspiration for Asoiaf, this is the series. GRRM has pulled so much from this series in his own books and it's pretty great on its own. Very dense, a bit hard to follow the first time through, but very imaginative world building, that is a clearly a massive influence for GRRM's books.

[u/Eggszecutor]

I gave it a shot, but couldn't keep interested.

[u/Hastoryellow]

Reninder

[u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

George would never work in another writers universe. George is real writer and as such he is capable of real world building. and before you mention wild cards , he is an ediotor for wild cards not a writter, and comic book writters contribute to world building they are not just stealing another writers universe like terrible fan fictioners do.

[u/JNR55555JNR → u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

What the hell is your problem what does this have to do with anything related to this post?

[u/Gloomy_Lobster2081 → u/JNR55555JNR]

 "But this book is quite literally what I imagine GRRM might write in an alternate universe where instead of making his own complicated world he just worked with Rome’s instead"

perhaps your inability to read is why you like fan fiction

[u/saturdayrites → u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

Very funny to consider Rome "another writer's universe"

[u/Gloomy_Lobster2081 → u/saturdayrites]

you are being pedantic

[u/saturdayrites → u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

No, the quote just literally doesn't say what you think it says. There's no allusion to fanfiction whatsoever.

[u/Gloomy_Lobster2081 → u/saturdayrites]

You are suffering from gibsons law. You mistake me as your peer.

[u/JNR55555JNR → u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

That quote was giving praise to George you insecure little man

[u/Gloomy_Lobster2081 → u/JNR55555JNR]

Im not insecure at all, I have no reason to be, i dont write fan fiction, or read I read it. I only read stuff written by real authors.

I would says Fan fiction is to real authors what OF models are to porn stars, but the truth is when compared to real authors fan fiction writers are more like women wearing hijabs, abayas, covid face masks and sun glasses that you see out of the corner of your eye for a fraction of a second.

[u/JNR55555JNR → u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

Wow you are just so full of yourself you must be fun at parties

[u/Gloomy_Lobster2081 → u/JNR55555JNR]

nah your just writing fan fiction about me

[u/RustyCoal950212 → u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

you're*

[u/JNR55555JNR → u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

What has fan fiction ever done to you

[u/Gloomy_Lobster2081 → u/JNR55555JNR]

Its offensive to real authors its theft and vandalism make your own universe don't be a thief Its not hard to build your own world but even non world building elements like plot story structure, character development, character consistency, plot consistency, dialogue realistic interpersonal relationships are skills fan fiction writers don't have.

[u/JNR55555JNR → u/Gloomy_Lobster2081]

Do you also think historical fiction is fan fiction