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Colossus
What if Alexander the Great had not died young?
Colossus is an epic tale of alternative history, set against the brutal, ancient worlds of Babylon, Carthage and Sicily.
323 BC and Alexander has survived every effort to kill him. Restless, ruthless, he wonders which world to conquer next. He has a powerful new weapon � the war elephants he brought back with him from India. The largest and fiercest is Colossus.
As captain of the elephants, Gajendra is deeply loyal to Alexander, the great soldier who plucked him from obscurity. He begins a meteoric rise through the ranks of the Macedonian army, protected by the fiercely devoted Colossus. But the elephant is far more than a brute weapon of war, and the bond he forms with Gajendra ultimately threatens the ambition of the world’s greatest general.
Just as all he has dreamed of is within his grasp, Gajendra faces a terrible choice. Betray his beloved general or sell his soul.
Colossus is an epic tale of alternative history, set against the brutal, ancient worlds of Babylon, Carthage and Sicily.
323 BC and Alexander has survived every effort to kill him. Restless, ruthless, he wonders which world to conquer next. He has a powerful new weapon � the war elephants he brought back with him from India. The largest and fiercest is Colossus.
As captain of the elephants, Gajendra is deeply loyal to Alexander, the great soldier who plucked him from obscurity. He begins a meteoric rise through the ranks of the Macedonian army, protected by the fiercely devoted Colossus. But the elephant is far more than a brute weapon of war, and the bond he forms with Gajendra ultimately threatens the ambition of the world’s greatest general.
Just as all he has dreamed of is within his grasp, Gajendra faces a terrible choice. Betray his beloved general or sell his soul.
Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2014
446 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Colin Falconer
73Ìýbooks675ÌýfollowersI have been a writer all my life. It’s all I ever wanted to do, except for a brief dream of being a pro footballer. I started out in advertising as a copywriter, then worked as a journalist, a magazine columnist and a script writer for radio and television before becoming a full-time novelist.
I love adventure and travel and that has shaped the kind of books I write. Early in my career I developed a passion for Wilbur Smith novels. I also love Cornwell and Follett. When I publish a book, I’m hoping to share it with other readers like me, who crave adventure, and stories with action and twists, but also love something else � exotic locations, long ago times and unforgettable characters. The kind of stories that stay with you long after you finish the last page. It’s what I read and it’s what inspires me to write.
I was born and raised in London, but these days I live in Fremantle, Australia, with my wife and spaniels.
Thanks for reading my books and sharing my adventures.
I love adventure and travel and that has shaped the kind of books I write. Early in my career I developed a passion for Wilbur Smith novels. I also love Cornwell and Follett. When I publish a book, I’m hoping to share it with other readers like me, who crave adventure, and stories with action and twists, but also love something else � exotic locations, long ago times and unforgettable characters. The kind of stories that stay with you long after you finish the last page. It’s what I read and it’s what inspires me to write.
I was born and raised in London, but these days I live in Fremantle, Australia, with my wife and spaniels.
Thanks for reading my books and sharing my adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 18, 2015
Gajendra is just a poor slave boy serving in Alexander's army, but he has great plans for himself. Through a series of events, he quickly rises up through the ranks to become the general of the elephants that lead the charge against Alexander's war on Carthage.
He looks up to Alexander who seems undefeatable and immortal. He is at the top of the world and part of Alexander's inner circle. But when Alexander threatens someone he cares about, will Gajendra stay loyal?
This novel, although historical, speculates on what might have happened had Alexander not died in Babylon in 623B.C. Apparently, he had plans to go on a campaign and invade Carthage and Sicily before he died, so this book does that. The use of elephants to strike fear in the opposing army was fascinating. This was my favorite part of the book even though the thought of training and using these gentle giants that way was heart-breaking to read.
This book was all about war, it was at times bloody and gory. Although there was the small romance on the side, it was a very small part of the book. It shows Alexander as an arrogant, drunken and sometimes sadistic person albeit military genius that he was.
Recommended for historical fiction fans.
He looks up to Alexander who seems undefeatable and immortal. He is at the top of the world and part of Alexander's inner circle. But when Alexander threatens someone he cares about, will Gajendra stay loyal?
This novel, although historical, speculates on what might have happened had Alexander not died in Babylon in 623B.C. Apparently, he had plans to go on a campaign and invade Carthage and Sicily before he died, so this book does that. The use of elephants to strike fear in the opposing army was fascinating. This was my favorite part of the book even though the thought of training and using these gentle giants that way was heart-breaking to read.
This book was all about war, it was at times bloody and gory. Although there was the small romance on the side, it was a very small part of the book. It shows Alexander as an arrogant, drunken and sometimes sadistic person albeit military genius that he was.
Recommended for historical fiction fans.
April 24, 2025
I like the idea of a book being based on an alternate history in a way that doesn’t center around the concept of the world being totally backwards because of the historical changes. This book is just about what hypothetically could have happened had Alexander the Great lived just a little while longer.
As far as the narrative goes, it was a fairly easy-to-read and fun book. I was not bored by it by any means. But I have two main issues with the book.
1.
It doesn’t seem to commit to anything plot-wise. POV jumping I think is an awesome strategy for storytelling when done well but in this book it made it seem like it was jumping around for no reason.
Also, the book is CALLED Colossus. Colossus is an enormous elephant that is an extreme force on the battlefield. The book’s setup lead me to believe it would be about this elephant and Gajendra’s relationship with him. But then it just abandons that to chase after a deeply uncomfortable love story while making me borderline forget that Colossus even exists. Which leads me to my second issue.
2.
The romance between Gajendra and Mara is weird and unnatural. And about 1/4 of the way through the book, the plot latches onto it almost exclusively. Mara dresses up as a boy and joins Gajendra to take care of the elephants which causes a lot of men to stare. The fixation on raping her becomes tedious after a while because the author will not leave it alone.
The concept of military men in an Ancient Greek army wanting to rape who they think is a child, I’m sure, is historically accurate. But it is the subtext of every interaction and conversation for a good third of the book and it feels drawn out and tiresome.
However, good guy Gajendra never wants to rape Mara. Wow, what a great guy he’s so different. Therefore, he gets the girl and her devotion. Never mind the physical and emotional abuse he causes or the fact that he doesn’t really do anything to stop any sexual harassment.
The whole thing seems very unjustified and if the author just left the romance for another story it wouldn’t have been a huge deal to me. But it’s hard to root for the good guy when he isn’t all the good at all.
Eventually the story moves past it a little bit and the final act of the book was a lot of fun.
As far as the narrative goes, it was a fairly easy-to-read and fun book. I was not bored by it by any means. But I have two main issues with the book.
1.
It doesn’t seem to commit to anything plot-wise. POV jumping I think is an awesome strategy for storytelling when done well but in this book it made it seem like it was jumping around for no reason.
Also, the book is CALLED Colossus. Colossus is an enormous elephant that is an extreme force on the battlefield. The book’s setup lead me to believe it would be about this elephant and Gajendra’s relationship with him. But then it just abandons that to chase after a deeply uncomfortable love story while making me borderline forget that Colossus even exists. Which leads me to my second issue.
2.
The romance between Gajendra and Mara is weird and unnatural. And about 1/4 of the way through the book, the plot latches onto it almost exclusively. Mara dresses up as a boy and joins Gajendra to take care of the elephants which causes a lot of men to stare. The fixation on raping her becomes tedious after a while because the author will not leave it alone.
The concept of military men in an Ancient Greek army wanting to rape who they think is a child, I’m sure, is historically accurate. But it is the subtext of every interaction and conversation for a good third of the book and it feels drawn out and tiresome.
However, good guy Gajendra never wants to rape Mara. Wow, what a great guy he’s so different. Therefore, he gets the girl and her devotion. Never mind the physical and emotional abuse he causes or the fact that he doesn’t really do anything to stop any sexual harassment.
The whole thing seems very unjustified and if the author just left the romance for another story it wouldn’t have been a huge deal to me. But it’s hard to root for the good guy when he isn’t all the good at all.
Eventually the story moves past it a little bit and the final act of the book was a lot of fun.
November 18, 2015
The story is set in the age of Alexander the Great, following his expedition to India and beyond the time when history records his death in Babylon. This story speculates what might have happened if Alexander had lived and fulfilled his plans to conquer Carthage?
He now has war elephants from India in his army, and Gajendra is in charge of the biggest one of all � Colossus. But Gajendra has a secret. He is in love with a woman destined for one of Alexander’s generals.
When Alexander conquers Carthage, the surviving non-combatant Carthaginians are taken as slaves. One of them is Mara, a young widow who is disguised as a boy to keep her safe. Her father, lost in the fighting, has charged a tattooed dwarf, Catharo, with the job of protecting his daughter at all costs.
Gajendra and Mara are drawn together by the mighty beast they both love, but Gajendra cannot see the truth in front of him for the longing in his heart for a woman he cannot have.
There are battles and deaths and disaster, and through it all strides Alexander. But the mighty warrior takes a supporting role to Colossus in this tale, and that perhaps is the best way for writers to deal with him. We thus see Alexander through the eyes of those who serve him; in particular the mahouts and servants, some of whom love him while others hate him.
There are one or two curious errors among the minor details in the story � like the references to Hercules (the later, Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles) in place of Achilles. It is the latter who Alexander considered his forebear, and the reason why he slept with a copy of the Iliad under his pillow. A small, but obvious, error to any scholar of the Age of Alexander.
But never mind the minor details � Colossus is a rip-snorter of a novel, a tale of ancient battles and hopeless love, a king who conquered the world, and an elephant who towers over them all. It thunders to a thrilling climax that I wouldn’t want to have missed.
Review by Kerry Hennigan
18 November 2015
He now has war elephants from India in his army, and Gajendra is in charge of the biggest one of all � Colossus. But Gajendra has a secret. He is in love with a woman destined for one of Alexander’s generals.
When Alexander conquers Carthage, the surviving non-combatant Carthaginians are taken as slaves. One of them is Mara, a young widow who is disguised as a boy to keep her safe. Her father, lost in the fighting, has charged a tattooed dwarf, Catharo, with the job of protecting his daughter at all costs.
Gajendra and Mara are drawn together by the mighty beast they both love, but Gajendra cannot see the truth in front of him for the longing in his heart for a woman he cannot have.
There are battles and deaths and disaster, and through it all strides Alexander. But the mighty warrior takes a supporting role to Colossus in this tale, and that perhaps is the best way for writers to deal with him. We thus see Alexander through the eyes of those who serve him; in particular the mahouts and servants, some of whom love him while others hate him.
There are one or two curious errors among the minor details in the story � like the references to Hercules (the later, Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles) in place of Achilles. It is the latter who Alexander considered his forebear, and the reason why he slept with a copy of the Iliad under his pillow. A small, but obvious, error to any scholar of the Age of Alexander.
But never mind the minor details � Colossus is a rip-snorter of a novel, a tale of ancient battles and hopeless love, a king who conquered the world, and an elephant who towers over them all. It thunders to a thrilling climax that I wouldn’t want to have missed.
Review by Kerry Hennigan
18 November 2015
February 28, 2021
Wonderful book
This book is about Alexander and some of his supposed battles and is seen through the eyes of one of the mahavat of his elephant groups. The characters are well defined and I will be getting more of the author’s books.
This book is about Alexander and some of his supposed battles and is seen through the eyes of one of the mahavat of his elephant groups. The characters are well defined and I will be getting more of the author’s books.
September 26, 2015
This is an alternate history that features Alexander the Great. The main heroes of the story are Gajendra and Mara. Gajendra rises swiftly in Alexander’s army, going from an elephant boy to general of the elephant forces. Gajendra’s personal elephant is Colossus who is the largest bull elephant in the army. Mara starts off as a grieving window who has lost her children as well and becomes an elephant boy herself (hiding her gender). Colossus is an important force in the army but also an important side character in this story, often being the reminder of more gentle things for both Mara and Gajendra.
I have long been fascinated by Alexander the Great, having read several fiction and nonfiction works about him. So when I saw this alternate history featuring him I had to give it a read. I was not disappointed. In fact, if you didn’t know much about Alexander, you could read this book and believe every bit of it; the story so masterfully intertwines fiction and facts.
Gajendra is a very interesting character. His Uncle Ravi took him in when he was a small boy and taught him the secret language of elephants. Right from the start of the story, Gajendra has mighty aspirations. He fell in love, or lust, the instant he spotted a certain noble woman, Zahara. Since then, he knows he must rise high in the army if there is to be any chance of winning her. But he knows he must treat the elephants well, not just because he cares for them as deeply as his uncle does, but because he knows they are the key to his success. As Gajendra rises in the ranks, he comes to the attention of Alexander himself. Throughout the tale, these two share some very intense conversations. Indeed, just remembering a few specific ones makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Now Ravi and Gajendra march together in Alexander’s army and they march upon Carthage. Many of Alexander’s foes have never faced elephants in battle and their mere presence unnerves both soldiers and horses. Of course, they take a lot of care when the army isn’t battling anyone and a disgruntled elephant can do quite a bit of damage to Alexander’s army as well. Indeed, I feel I learned some important things about elephants in reading this book. They were definitely an integral part of the plot and not just scenery.
It took longer for me to like Mara. We meet her at the depth of her grief, having lost all her family except her father, a general of Carthage. When the city is attacked by Alexander’s army, her father orders the loyal family servant to protect her at all costs. Lucky for both of them, Gajendra is the one to find them in the aftermath of the attack and take them in as the lowest of elephant boys, mucking dung and fetching water. Eventually Mara’s grief crystallizes and she puts it to good use. Colossus is key in her return to life. By the end of the book, I was very glad I had made the journey with Mara as I came to admire her efforts.
There are very few female characters in this book. Zahara is essentially a love interest and has very few lines. There are perhaps 2 priestesses mentioned and I seem to recall one of them having a few lines. Mara has the greatest presence in the book for the ladies. She is written well and has full depth of character as well as a character arc. My one little quibble is that I would have liked a few more female characters that had a bit of depth.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher (via Audiobook Jukebox) in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: Neil Shah did a great job. His voice for Alexander was excellent and I can imagine it was a bit difficult to maintain. Alexander’s voice is described in the text as having a kind of high pitched grating to it. Shah did a great job of getting this across to the listener while also keeping Alexander’s voice commanding and intense. His voice for Gajendra was also excellent having a light Indian accent. His female character voices were believable.
Just as a note, Alexander Cole is a penname for the author Colin Falconer.
I have long been fascinated by Alexander the Great, having read several fiction and nonfiction works about him. So when I saw this alternate history featuring him I had to give it a read. I was not disappointed. In fact, if you didn’t know much about Alexander, you could read this book and believe every bit of it; the story so masterfully intertwines fiction and facts.
Gajendra is a very interesting character. His Uncle Ravi took him in when he was a small boy and taught him the secret language of elephants. Right from the start of the story, Gajendra has mighty aspirations. He fell in love, or lust, the instant he spotted a certain noble woman, Zahara. Since then, he knows he must rise high in the army if there is to be any chance of winning her. But he knows he must treat the elephants well, not just because he cares for them as deeply as his uncle does, but because he knows they are the key to his success. As Gajendra rises in the ranks, he comes to the attention of Alexander himself. Throughout the tale, these two share some very intense conversations. Indeed, just remembering a few specific ones makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Now Ravi and Gajendra march together in Alexander’s army and they march upon Carthage. Many of Alexander’s foes have never faced elephants in battle and their mere presence unnerves both soldiers and horses. Of course, they take a lot of care when the army isn’t battling anyone and a disgruntled elephant can do quite a bit of damage to Alexander’s army as well. Indeed, I feel I learned some important things about elephants in reading this book. They were definitely an integral part of the plot and not just scenery.
It took longer for me to like Mara. We meet her at the depth of her grief, having lost all her family except her father, a general of Carthage. When the city is attacked by Alexander’s army, her father orders the loyal family servant to protect her at all costs. Lucky for both of them, Gajendra is the one to find them in the aftermath of the attack and take them in as the lowest of elephant boys, mucking dung and fetching water. Eventually Mara’s grief crystallizes and she puts it to good use. Colossus is key in her return to life. By the end of the book, I was very glad I had made the journey with Mara as I came to admire her efforts.
There are very few female characters in this book. Zahara is essentially a love interest and has very few lines. There are perhaps 2 priestesses mentioned and I seem to recall one of them having a few lines. Mara has the greatest presence in the book for the ladies. She is written well and has full depth of character as well as a character arc. My one little quibble is that I would have liked a few more female characters that had a bit of depth.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher (via Audiobook Jukebox) in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: Neil Shah did a great job. His voice for Alexander was excellent and I can imagine it was a bit difficult to maintain. Alexander’s voice is described in the text as having a kind of high pitched grating to it. Shah did a great job of getting this across to the listener while also keeping Alexander’s voice commanding and intense. His voice for Gajendra was also excellent having a light Indian accent. His female character voices were believable.
Just as a note, Alexander Cole is a penname for the author Colin Falconer.
May 27, 2015
Gajendra was a young boy from India. With a couple strokes of good luck and a whole lot of ambition he became a general in the army of Alexander the Great, leading his elephants head first into battle. I enjoyed following his adventures from Babylon to his instrumental help in the sack of Carthage and beyond.
When I picked up Colossus I was expecting to read about a massive beast crashing through masses of infantry, and I certainly got this. But I got so much more. I never expected Colossus to be a love story. Colin Falconer wove a wonderful relationship into this story filled with death and destruction. It was not your typical relationship, more of a, “You can’t always get what you want…� a la Rolling Stones. It was well paced and not forced at all. Gajendra and his love interest’s relationship developed slowly and unexpectedly, you might say that “they get what the need.�
What I enjoyed most about Colossus was of course the elephants. The details that Falconer gets into regarding their characteristics, their habits and their mucus was essential to the story. I imagine he spent many hours researching these gentle animals, who made for incredible weapons of war.
It was nice to finally find an author willing to tackle Alexander. He was probably the greatest general of antiquity and there are too few works of fiction drawing from his life and times. By reading Colossus, I got a real feeling for what it was like to fight under such a great leader.
4 Stars
I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
When I picked up Colossus I was expecting to read about a massive beast crashing through masses of infantry, and I certainly got this. But I got so much more. I never expected Colossus to be a love story. Colin Falconer wove a wonderful relationship into this story filled with death and destruction. It was not your typical relationship, more of a, “You can’t always get what you want…� a la Rolling Stones. It was well paced and not forced at all. Gajendra and his love interest’s relationship developed slowly and unexpectedly, you might say that “they get what the need.�
What I enjoyed most about Colossus was of course the elephants. The details that Falconer gets into regarding their characteristics, their habits and their mucus was essential to the story. I imagine he spent many hours researching these gentle animals, who made for incredible weapons of war.
It was nice to finally find an author willing to tackle Alexander. He was probably the greatest general of antiquity and there are too few works of fiction drawing from his life and times. By reading Colossus, I got a real feeling for what it was like to fight under such a great leader.
4 Stars
I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2019
Colossus is the name given to a war elephant in Alexander the Great’s army and as much much of the book centres a lot on elephant warfare and during the book, it is through elephants that Alexander gains his victories. The book itself is decent enough that is filled with large scale battle scenes, yet it lacked depth that historical novels do have. It is not a long book by any means and focusing on campaigning, it loses a lot of the sense of beauty that is Antiquity.
I also don’t really know how I feel about this whole alternate history thing where Alexander lives beyond his time at Babylon. There also does not seem to have been a lot of research into this book. The soldiers of Alexander had refused to enter India and then mutinied at Opis, and yet they still march thousands of kilometres to take Carthage and invade Sicily? The author also greatly Alexander and it takes several hits, falls and stabs from a bloody elephant to kill him. I get the idea that he thought of himself as a God and that many believed that he was the Son of Zeus, yet in the end he was still a normal human who took over from the foundations that his father established.
Lacks depth and historical research, but manages to provide a fast paced novel. 4.5/10
I also don’t really know how I feel about this whole alternate history thing where Alexander lives beyond his time at Babylon. There also does not seem to have been a lot of research into this book. The soldiers of Alexander had refused to enter India and then mutinied at Opis, and yet they still march thousands of kilometres to take Carthage and invade Sicily? The author also greatly Alexander and it takes several hits, falls and stabs from a bloody elephant to kill him. I get the idea that he thought of himself as a God and that many believed that he was the Son of Zeus, yet in the end he was still a normal human who took over from the foundations that his father established.
Lacks depth and historical research, but manages to provide a fast paced novel. 4.5/10
April 21, 2022
I JUST finished this book and think I held my breath for the last 10 pages.
I wont spoil it for others but I will say that I love this book so much. What an amazing adventure. This "WHAT IF" story is filled with sorrow, heroism , adventure, love and greed. There are several great lessons to be learned in this book. The main character ( Gajendra) goes from being a water boy all the way to being a general for Alexander the Great. He learns a lot about greed, ambition and true love. I admire this character yet at other times was so angry with him. He felt so real. the character Mara is a feisty, intelligent woman with a kind heart. Not afraid to risk her life for those she loves . I also have to say I fell in love with the elephant Colossus!
Colin Falconer is a MASTER at mixing fact and fiction. This is a MUST read.
I wont spoil it for others but I will say that I love this book so much. What an amazing adventure. This "WHAT IF" story is filled with sorrow, heroism , adventure, love and greed. There are several great lessons to be learned in this book. The main character ( Gajendra) goes from being a water boy all the way to being a general for Alexander the Great. He learns a lot about greed, ambition and true love. I admire this character yet at other times was so angry with him. He felt so real. the character Mara is a feisty, intelligent woman with a kind heart. Not afraid to risk her life for those she loves . I also have to say I fell in love with the elephant Colossus!
Colin Falconer is a MASTER at mixing fact and fiction. This is a MUST read.
March 17, 2022
Fascinating take on an Alexander the Great storyline. I enjoyed the characters, learning about elephant warfare, and gaining a better understanding of the sheer numbers of people involved in Alexander's army.
May 24, 2015
So zadovolstvo bi gi procitala site knigi na Kolin!
March 16, 2021
Usually a big fan of his, but this novel was not in the slightest bit interesting or written well. I didn't finish it.
September 12, 2022
Another excellent book from Colin falconer
This is my favourite author by far, I have almost got to the end of all his books. I hope there are plenty more in the future!
This is my favourite author by far, I have almost got to the end of all his books. I hope there are plenty more in the future!
March 18, 2024
I found this to be an interesting story that assumes that Alexander the Great did not die as recorded in Babylon, but survived and decided to return to Macedonia by way of Carthage and Sicily.
With the returning armies is a new squadron composed of Elephants, one of whom is Colossus, and Gajendra, a Water boy who catches Alexander's attention when he stops Colossus from rampaging out of control.
The characters and events, both fictional and real, are nicely combined to give an exciting and believable alternative history that didn't disappoint in it's assumptions and conclusion.
The only minor negative aspect of this book was the righting style, which to me came across as a bit stillted until I had gotten used to it.
Overall, this is a fascinating story that has peaked my interest in reading the other books in this series.
With the returning armies is a new squadron composed of Elephants, one of whom is Colossus, and Gajendra, a Water boy who catches Alexander's attention when he stops Colossus from rampaging out of control.
The characters and events, both fictional and real, are nicely combined to give an exciting and believable alternative history that didn't disappoint in it's assumptions and conclusion.
The only minor negative aspect of this book was the righting style, which to me came across as a bit stillted until I had gotten used to it.
Overall, this is a fascinating story that has peaked my interest in reading the other books in this series.
August 11, 2024
A book centered on a war elephant and his mahavat, Gajendra during the reign of Alexander the Great. This is an interesting angle, considering how many fiction books about Alexander have been written. Unfortunately, the storyline is rather weak and the characters are underdeveloped. But given it is written like a YA book, it is a fairly quick read for anyone who wants to get through it.
None of the characters are developed enough for readers to care about, and Colossus-whom the book is named after-is also underrepresented. This is the type of book that could have explored the unique bond between animals and humans. Many authors have successfully inserted animal companions in books, and even those individuals who make brief appearances can still impact the reader. Not here. Colossus just exists as a one-dimensional character like all the rest. That was disappointing.
Indeed, three-quarters through the book Colossus disappears. He isn't mentioned again until the conclusion. Then he just makes a random entrance. And the story ends.
There is a very contrived love story between Gajendra and Mara, the daughter of a Carthaginian general. There is no chemistry between the two, but somehow the "romance" is pushed through and there are many awkward and ridiculous passages. Awful.
This is an alternate history book. Some like the genre and some do not. I'm not a big fan, but that's a side note when compared to the larger flaws of the book, mainly the plot and lack of character development.
This is my third Falconer book, and each one seems to fair worse than the previous one.
None of the characters are developed enough for readers to care about, and Colossus-whom the book is named after-is also underrepresented. This is the type of book that could have explored the unique bond between animals and humans. Many authors have successfully inserted animal companions in books, and even those individuals who make brief appearances can still impact the reader. Not here. Colossus just exists as a one-dimensional character like all the rest. That was disappointing.
Indeed, three-quarters through the book Colossus disappears. He isn't mentioned again until the conclusion. Then he just makes a random entrance. And the story ends.
There is a very contrived love story between Gajendra and Mara, the daughter of a Carthaginian general. There is no chemistry between the two, but somehow the "romance" is pushed through and there are many awkward and ridiculous passages. Awful.
This is an alternate history book. Some like the genre and some do not. I'm not a big fan, but that's a side note when compared to the larger flaws of the book, mainly the plot and lack of character development.
This is my third Falconer book, and each one seems to fair worse than the previous one.
December 16, 2021
Make believe and wonderful
A work of speculation of what Alexander's future would have been had he lived a few years longer.It is fascinating that while the title might stand for Alexander the Great himself in this book it is the name of a war elephant, and while we never see the story from Collosus' point of view, there are hints.
The look at Aexander's.personality and battle tactics is very interesting.
And if believed, this story gives the background of how Carriage had war elephants.
A work of speculation of what Alexander's future would have been had he lived a few years longer.It is fascinating that while the title might stand for Alexander the Great himself in this book it is the name of a war elephant, and while we never see the story from Collosus' point of view, there are hints.
The look at Aexander's.personality and battle tactics is very interesting.
And if believed, this story gives the background of how Carriage had war elephants.
January 8, 2024
Best of series so far
Was a fantastic read, a real page turner that is hard to put down. It gives a fantastic insight of the war elephants and how they might have been used. Some alternatives history books can be a bit distracting to read as they take away from the actual stories that are just as epic but this just seemed to tick all the boxes and had me hooked right from the word go.
Was a fantastic read, a real page turner that is hard to put down. It gives a fantastic insight of the war elephants and how they might have been used. Some alternatives history books can be a bit distracting to read as they take away from the actual stories that are just as epic but this just seemed to tick all the boxes and had me hooked right from the word go.
March 8, 2022
I have read several of Colin Falconer's historical fiction novels and like his flair for action. This novel would appeal more to a juvenile reader and was overly romantic. A speculative pairing of Alexander the Great and Carthage several hundred years before Rome and Carthage battle for domination of the Mediterranean.
March 18, 2020
Muy entretenido este libro y la verdad no me importo que no tuvieras el rigor de una novela histórica; lo recomiendo para descansar de un riguroso tratado de historia o una novela histórica pesada o voluminosa
April 7, 2023
Alternative History - Very good
I was worried when I started this book, but knowing the real history helps with perspective. Good read. This is the third book I’ve read of Colin Falconer and I really like the work. On to book four!
I was worried when I started this book, but knowing the real history helps with perspective. Good read. This is the third book I’ve read of Colin Falconer and I really like the work. On to book four!
September 29, 2023
Colossus
Excellent read, how an elephant boy & his elephant outwitted & killed the greatest tactician & general the world has ever seen. Gives you vivid scenes of the true savagery & barbarity of war.
Excellent read, how an elephant boy & his elephant outwitted & killed the greatest tactician & general the world has ever seen. Gives you vivid scenes of the true savagery & barbarity of war.
January 29, 2024
great story
Excellent alternative history that is believable and interesting. The characters are well developed, and the pace of the storyline keeps you wanting more. I look forward to reading the next installment.
Excellent alternative history that is believable and interesting. The characters are well developed, and the pace of the storyline keeps you wanting more. I look forward to reading the next installment.
March 20, 2024
Imtriguing alternate history premise, but ultimately the author didn't really do enough with it to make it worthwhile. Characters and plot lacked depth, with the consequence that I didn't care about either.
September 4, 2024
Interesting alternative
Quick easy read with interesting characters and and an alternative ending to what we actually know whilst still telling the real character of Alexander . The real hero is Colossus .
Quick easy read with interesting characters and and an alternative ending to what we actually know whilst still telling the real character of Alexander . The real hero is Colossus .
April 12, 2025
I love historic novels
For a great fan of Wilbur Smith I was looking for something similar
This novel did deliver.it wasn’t Wilbur Smith but this one of Colin Falcons reads comes a good second
The fight scenes and there were many , were gripping and believable
For a great fan of Wilbur Smith I was looking for something similar
This novel did deliver.it wasn’t Wilbur Smith but this one of Colin Falcons reads comes a good second
The fight scenes and there were many , were gripping and believable
August 29, 2017
3.5 stars
November 20, 2017
Sadly a book without much depth or serious historical perspective. With so much to work with historically, it wouldn’t have taken much to up the ante and make this in to a ripping yarn.
April 26, 2019
I could not get into this one. Alexander the Great through the eyes of an elephant handler sounded interesting but the style is not working for me and the story is too simplistic.
July 28, 2019
* Read for the '2019 Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge' task: A book featuring an historical figure
February 6, 2023
“Fortune favors the bold!�
Alexander’s captain of elephants takes us behind the scenes in a riveting story of conquest and betrayal.
Alexander’s captain of elephants takes us behind the scenes in a riveting story of conquest and betrayal.
March 15, 2023
Fun read
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