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		These reviews and comments are from many sources over the years, and I humbly thank all those who’ve said good things about *Dawn of Empire* and *Empire Rising. Hopefully Conflict of Empires* will add to that list. Most of all, I thank all those who have taken the time to read my stories. I hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as I have. Sam Barone Scottsdale, AZ

	*Dawn Of Empire* - First Place winner of the Arizona Authors Association 2006 Literary Contest Sam Barone - Arizona Republic, May 1, 2007. Voted ‘Best Breakout Author’ for *Dawn of Empire* John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of *The Hunt Club. (On Dawn of Empire)* “A wonderful book! Big, passionate, powerful, epic in scope, and brimming with casual erudition about a little-explored and fascinating moment in human history, this novel of conflict and the triumph of civilization over barbarism in the early Bronze Age is a mesmerizing marvel of sheer storytelling prowess. I couldn’t put it down.” Diana Gabaldon, New York Times bestselling author of *The Outlander Series, including A Breath of Snow and Ashes.* "DAWN OF EMPIRE reminds me a lot of Wilbur Smith at his best. Beautifully imagined and researched adventure, with terrific action!"

	Kirkus Reviews (June 15, 2006) “Barone's lusty debut recreates the valiant defense of a proto-Mesopotamian city against barbarian invaders. By the fourth century b.c., the marauding northern-steppes clan of Alur Meriki periodically raids the cities of so-called dirt-eaters along the Tigris to obtain slaves and supplies for its warriors. One such city, Orak, grown prosperous on the eastern bank of the Tigris and alarmed by reports that the Alur Meriki are preparing to return, decides to take its defense into its own hands. Village leader Nicar appoints Eskkar, a capable though unproven migrant warrior, to condition the men for war and come up with a defense plan. He concocts the brilliant idea of constructing a wall around the village made of fireproof mud and bricks, as well as enlisting all men and women into training and preparation. In his new role as captain of the guard, Eskkar is given a teenaged slave girl as companion. Trella proves canny, loyal and invaluable in strategic planning and diplomacy. Her master grows to love her as an equal, and Trella's ambition of raising her stature in the village is fulfilled when Eskkar makes her his wife. In six months, the mighty wall is completed, the weapons hammered from bronze (a material more reliable than flint), the warriors trained to fight and an assassination attempt foiled. The townspeople have entrusted themselves entirely to Eskkar and Trella, who reign like king and queen and plan to form a new dynasty when -- or rather if -- the barbarians are driven away. For the duration of this well-crafted work, Barone contains the action within the preparations for battle and dwells on the bedroom diplomacy of the two protagonists. The imminent raid by the barbarians creates an inherent, delicious sense of tension throughout, until the final unleashing of pure, bloody slaughter. A Bronze Age historical romance with brains as well as brawn, ripe for a sequel.” Publishers Weekly (May 22, 2006) “... entertaining debut novel ... the action is fast-paced... The combat scenes, gritty and bloody, are especially vivid. Equal parts history lesson, love story, and war saga, Barone’s first historical novel will have readers turning pages.” Library Journal (July, 2006) “In the fertile land of Mesopotamia circa 3000 B.C.E., the first cities arose, threatening the existence of nomads who depended on raiding small, defenseless farmsteads and villages for food and slaves. When news reaches the people of one of these cities that the barbaric Alur Meriki have targeted them for their next raid, Eskkar, a nomadic warrior exiled from his clan, assumes the role of war leader and devises a plan to save Orak and its people. With the assistance of his wife, who was a former slave and daughter of a noble, Eskkar unites the people of Orak, builds an enormous wall around the city, and, with a few hundred archers and warriors, defeats a horde of thousands. Barone has written a compelling first novel of the dawning of an age that saw the rise of the great walled cities of Akkad and Sumeria. Readers will find it hard to put down this dramatic tale of conflict between cultures, bloody warfare, and early diplomacy and statehood as seen through the eyes of a man born to conquer and rule. Recommended for public and university libraries where there is an interest in ancient civilizations.” Politics & Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC. “I stayed up late last night finishing your novel... it just grabbed me from the first page. And I am one of those people who love it when the "good guys" win... so that made it even better. Historical fiction, for me at least, is always fascinating reading, because it always brings up such interesting ideas that I have never thought of.... as you did with the first walled city... such an exciting concept. I plan on having this book as a staff pick when it arrives in the store.” (John Ray, Ordering Manager) Raymond Strait, a prolific biographer, is celebrating his 15th year on the faculty of the Southern California Writers Conferences in San Diego and Palm Springs. “Occasionally a first published writer breaks new ground. Sam Barone definitely qualifies as one of those writers. DAWN OF EMPIRE, a rare specimen among novels, seriously delves into the far past and brings forth crisp dialog graced with understandable narrative. I first saw this work at a writer's conference and encouraged Sam to make a few changes and seek an agent. I knew from the beginning that he would find a publisher. What I didn't know at the time, was just how great a novel he had written (not too far from Jean Auel). The finished product is brilliant. He has done a magnificent job of researching a time and place 5000 years ago. That, alone, is no easy task. Kudos to a fantastic first novel.” Booksense - (www.BookSense.com) has just chosen DAWN OF EMPIRE as a Notable Pick for September. Arizona Republic - Arts Section - Sunday, August 27th, 2006 “If Bernard Cornwell and Diana Gabaldon decided to collaborate on a novel, the result would be something like this. Barone’s characters are a bit stiff (Gabaldon would have fixed that), but they serve the story well and bring it to an irresistible combination: battle, torture, intrigue and sex . . . . . . It’s David and Goliath all over again, as arrows fly, blood spurts and Eskkar fight his way toward a sequel. Barone, a retired software designer, lives in Scottsdale, AZ.”

	John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of *The Suspect. (On Empire Rising)* “Sam Barone has done it again. After the masterful Dawn of Empire, he dazzles again with *Empire Rising. For those who fell in love, as I did, with the characters and settings in the first book, you'll love the next chapter in the Akkadian saga of Eskkar and Trella. For new readers, prepare to be transported body and soul into the early Bronze Age and the true dawn of civilization. Barone knows his stuff and writes fluently of life, love, and war. Empire Rising* is a winner from the first page to the last. Highly recommended.” Publishers Weekly - *Empire Rising* (October 2007) “Barone returns to the cradle of civilization in his sanguinary sequel to *Dawn of Empire. Lord Eskkar, a former barbarian who earlier saved the city of Akkad from almost-certain defeat, and Lady Trella, an erstwhile slave and his wife, now rule the "biggest city on the Tigris." Hoping to crush the bandits marauding in the countryside and extend Akkadian rule, Eskkar dispatches one band of soldiers south from Akkad and leads another north. In Eskkar's absence, Korthac, a newly arrived Egyptian warrior posing as a trader, schemes to infiltrate the city with his followers and seize power. Korthac sends assassins to track down Eskkar, and bandits south to ambush the returning Akkadian soldiers. Inside the city, his followers attack the soldiers left behind to keep order and take a pregnant Lady Trella prisoner. The ruthless Korthac plans to kill Trella once his rule is established, but, unknown to him, Eskkar survives and is preparing to retake the city. The frenetic action might be predictable, but it's never boring. The setting is convincingly rendered, and the characters-heroes and villains-are sharply drawn. Fans of ancient historical fiction will enjoy this instructive journey to the dawn of civilization.(Oct.)” Booksense* - (www.BookSense.com) has just chosen *Empire Rising* as a Notable Pick for October 2007.