The Far Arena

By: Richard Ben Sapir

Narrated by: Peter Noble

While conducting exploration in the frozen Arctic, Texan Lew McCardle, a geologist working for the Houghton Oil company, discovers something remarkable: a body encased in the ice. More remarkable still, the skills of Russian researcher Semyon Petrovitch bring the man miraculously back to life.

This strange visitor from the distant past has an amazing story to tell. Translated from his native Latin by Nordic nun Olava, Lucius Aurelius Eugenianus reveals that in the era of Domitian he was a champion in the Roman Colosseum, a gladiator known far and wide as the greatest of all time.

An ingenious amalgam of science fiction, fantasy, and history, Richard Ben Sapir's The Far Arena is a breathtaking work of literary invention, at once thrilling, poignant, and thought provoking.

©2016 Richard Ben Sapir (P)2016 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Fabulous story. My first audiobook! Liked it a lot.

This author probably knows more about ancient Rome than a Roman. Great depth to the human relations. Worth hearing!

wonderful characters,story, and performance.

Hard to put down.Harder to end. Excellent narration of a compelling story with an unforgettable main character.

Wonder of a concept!

Every emotion is writ all through this very unusual story of technology, science, death, life, greed, despair, love, friendship & finally understanding, acceptance, and- at last - peace. Scenes & perception of the ancient Roman world flashed thru my mind in full color - in both happiness & horror. A remarkable book that I will remember forever.

WOW!

First of all, this narrator, Peter Noble, is absolutely fantastic. He and author Richard Ben Sapir are the perfect match (or one of them). I took a chance on this book, and am sooo glad that I did. So very interesting what someone from a gladiators time was brought up to think, act, feel, compared to today's ways. Then incorporating the young nun and how her presence influenced herself and the situation. In so many ways I could relate to the gladiators' way of thinking more than to how rediculous we humans currently are, in so many ways. I smiled at the thought that today's so-called tough guys, or those who think themselves tough (or just strong), are really wimps (sp.?) compared to the fighting skills of the only 5 foot tall gladiator. I didn't realize that people then could be quite a bit shorter than many today, etc., etc. I learned a lot, smiled a lot, contemplated, and wondered. Very thought provoking and entertaining. Loved it!
Scotty
Audible addict

Imaginative and fairly well researched

I first read this novel in 1979 when I was at basic training and I truly enjoyed it. While the political climate has changed somewhat it still holds up.