The Seven Wonders

A Novel of the Ancient World

De: Steven Saylor

Narrado por: Stephen Plunkett

USA Today hails Steven Saylor as a “modern master of historical fiction.” Rich in intrigue and period detail, his novels set in ancient Rome have garnered acclaim the world over.

A prequel to his epic Roma Sub Rosa series, The Seven Wonders follows series star Gordianus the Finder as an 18-year-old traveling the Mediterranean to witness the wonders of that fabled age. At each stop, the young investigator finds a beguiling mystery that pushes his powers of deduction to the limit.

©2012 Steven Saylor (P)2012 Recorded Books

Narrator has the same inflection for nearly every

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very good writer, but why have they hired the worst narrator to read it? This guy can;t let me get to the story; his narration just repeats the same inflection and notes again and again. I am desperate to hear Saylor read by one decent narrator. This one isn't it either. Poop.

Wonderful stories

Would you consider the audio edition of The Seven Wonders to be better than the print version?

I really enjoyed the reader and the stories were great examples of short stories while at the same time being well connected to each other.

Intrigue and travel

Takes you back in time and places. The people in the story feel very real.

Learning about the past

I've always enjoyed the political backdrop of Saylor's Finder books. Like them, "The Seven Wonders" is a not so subtle lesson in history. As our young protagonist, Gordianus, the Finder to be, visits the marvels of his age, he solves a mystery at each location. In addition, the listener is given a lecture about the Wonder in question. It's a fun way to absorb ancient history.

If you enjoyed the series and like history in small, not too dry, doses this listen will entertain you.

A wonderful new direction

I have been a big fan of the Sub Rosa series for years; and like many, have often wondered how it all started. this book is awesome and am still waiting for audible.com to release the sequel "Raiders of the Nile". these stories will bring a by-gone era back to life with all the color of that time.
I is HREAT!!!

Young Gordianus Visits the 7 Wonders of the World

First off, this is NOT the book to introduce you to Steven Saylor's Sub Rosa series starring Gordianus the Finder. For that, I'd suggest Roman Blood or The Arms of Nemesis -- wonderful books.

However, for those us us who are familiar with Gordianus and his adventures during the Roman Revolution, this is a story of his travels through the Greek world as a young man, visiting each of the Seven Wonders and giving colorful details of the local customs as well as the history and description of each of the Wonders.

And of course, there are mysteries to be solved at each site.

Finally, we are introduced to the Mystery of Bethesda, which alone, is worth the price of admission.

I feel like I was there.

The descriptions of the seven wonders along with the dramatic personal story of the time period makes for a great historical read!!

Travel Story

Would you consider the audio edition of The Seven Wonders to be better than the print version?

I enjoyed the audio as I just don't have the time to read like I used to.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It kept me interested, they did a good job of making you feel and see the new places he went to.

Which character – as performed by Stephen Plunkett – was your favorite?

the main Character

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When they entered new cities

Excellent Light Novel

Perfect for listening to as you fall asleep, the roaming adventures of Gordianus the finder in this novel serve as the perfect entry point into the Roma Sub Rosa series.

My only complaint is the narrator's pronunciation of Gordianus, which is focused heavily on the second half of his name in a literal sense. It's jarring to hear GordiANUS repeatedly throughout, but you get used to it.

Maybe it is actually pronounced that way, maybe the narrators of all the other audiobooks in the series got it wrong. Maybe there are a dozen ways to say it and this guy just made an educated guess. God knows.

You can appreciate the late, great, Ralph Cosham, and his wonderful portrayals and pronunciations in many other works by Steven Saylor.

Did you know ancient Romans spoke like surfer dudes?

Other reviewers have found this particular volume of the series to be implausible in that Gordianus, touring the seven wonders of the ancient world, happens upon (and solves) a murder during each stopover. Well that's the suspension of disbelief without which no murder mystery serious could survive...I find the stories clever, interesting and very informative.
Where I must agree with other reviewers is in regards to the narrator. It's always hard somehow to criticize a narrator - one feels one is endangering some perfectly nice person's livelihood - but this narrator is just not up to the task at all. At times he pronounces Roman or Greek names and terms in such a weird way that one has to puzzle out what he could possibly be saying. At other times it's just grating or annoying. Emphasis on wrong syllable, or just total wrong way of saying words...but it's more than that. He will read "xxxxxx, he mumbled," only instead of mumbling, he'll shout. And the voice - Part surfer dude, part yuppie banker, NO part Roman...