"Terra Incognita" by Simon Turney

In 62 AD, Roman Emperor Nero launched an expedition to uncover the source of the Nile, one of the world's longest rivers. This venture aligned with Rome's broader ambitions to expand its knowledge and influence beyond its known borders.

Nero dispatched a contingent of Roman soldiers and explorers, led by two centurions, to navigate the Nile's upper reaches. Their mission was to solve the long-standing mystery of the river's origin, a question that had intrigued Egyptians and Romans for centuries.

The expedition began its journey in Egypt, progressing southward through territories that now comprise modern-day Sudan. They reached Meroë, a prominent city in the Kingdom of Kush, before venturing into lands beyond Roman control. This bold undertaking represented Rome's growing interest in exploring and understanding the world beyond its empire's frontiers.

Simon Turney's historical fiction novel, "Terra Incognita," chronicles that journey. This novel skillfully blends historical fiction with psychological thriller elements, drawing inspiration from works like "Heart of Darkness" and "Apocalypse Now."

The narrative centers on Tribune Curtius Lupus, Centurion Sempronius Densus, and Centurion Claudius Faventinus, each bringing a distinct perspective to the expedition. Turney's approach to historical fiction is noteworthy. He focuses on a lesser-known aspect of Roman exploration while maintaining historical authenticity. His portrayal of Roman military life, including customs and social dynamics, adds depth to the story and immerses readers in the ancient world.

Turney's descriptive writing effectively brings ancient Rome and the Nile region to life. The author's style builds suspense through foreshadowing and vivid depictions of the environment, leading readers to feel the oppressive heat and humidity, which creates a growing sense of unease within the expedition. This attention to detail transports readers to the heart of the Roman Empire and the unexplored territories beyond.

The novel maintains engagement through a well-paced combination of action sequences and psychological tension. As the main characters venture further into unknown territories, their evolving mindsets form a core part of the story. This character development, coupled with exploring cultural clashes between Romans and local tribes, adds complexity to the narrative.

"Terra Incognita" offers readers a unique perspective on Roman history, combining adventure with psychological depth. It may appeal to those interested in historical fiction that explores external challenges and internal conflicts. Turney's work stands out for its ability to balance historical detail with compelling storytelling, creating an informative and engaging novel. The novel highly entertained me.

3.5/5★

Terra Incognita by Simon Turney was a good solid historical fiction adventure set during the time of the early times of the Roman Empire when Nero was ruling it. It was also plenty funny, which is something I hadn't necessarily expected for some reason but I did have a chuckle every now and then when I was reading. There were lots of action scenes, many of them involving the danger of the exotic animals or the army's own people turning against their leaders. I loved the two centurions, Faventinus and Densus that made the two lead characters of the story. I enjoyed reading about their friendship and how they kept each other standing during this grueling expedition. They really were not only the backbone of the the Praetorian Guard that they were leading but also of the story.

My only reason for not giving this book more stars was that eventually the story started dragging a bit. It went on for a while to the point that I just wanted them to find the damn source or just give up and go back. There were also some repetitive scenes and elements that could've been written better or differently. This is not to say that Simin Turney isn't very knowledable about ancient Rome or the Roman army because he really does know his shit about this topic and his writing really shows that. It just went on a little too long for me to fully enjoy all of the story. And even so the end felt a little abrubt all of a sudden, if that makes any sense.

Surprisingly humorous with incredicle settings and persevering characters, Terra Incognita was a riveting adventure into a true unknown land for Rome's Praetorian Guard and the two centurions leading them, along with a tribune who's losing grip on reality the longer they go on. In Simon Turney's latest book Nero, Emperor of the mighty Rome gives the order to find the source of the Nile. It will be a dangerous expedition into the land of Kush which is on the brink of civial war and into the lands of unknown tribes, that are teeming with menancing animals like crocodile, hippo's and packs of lions and hyena's.

There are no set piece battles but the tensions are there all the same.
Two centuries of Romans lead by two Centurions and a Tribune who is trying to bolster his career are sent by Nero to find the source of the Nile.
The group encounter numerous obstacles including hostile natives , fierce fauna and difficulties with heat It is a struggle to survive in the midst of one man's unshakeable authority and vanity.
Great read. At times I felt immersed in the struggle.

When I read the synopsis for Simon Turney's novel, I thought it was a great idea for a story, an expedition of Roman Praetorians sent by Nero deep into Africa to find the source of the River Nile. What I didn't know was that the expedition really happened and there are some details in the writers Seneca and the Elder Pliny. Turney takes the basic facts of the tale and turns it into an adventure into the Heart of Darkness. The Roman soldiers, especially the two Centurions are rounded out and the dangers and difficulties of the journey south are well described. These dangers are both external and within the Roman force itself as it has to withstand the strains of the complete unknown. For those who judge a Roman army novel in terms of battles and sieges, this may not be the book for you. For those who like something a bit different, with the bonus of a factual basis, this is very well done.

'Terra Incognita' sets out, per the author's nicely detailed historical note at the end, to be a 'Roman Heart of Darkness' and it certainly accomplishes that goal. As a student/professor of English literature, I'd venture to say that this accomplishes more than Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness,' with far more complexities and challenges along the characters' route.

What I was most surprised to learn was that the 2 centuries' expedition to find the source of the Nile during the age of Nero is based on accounts recorded by both Seneca and Pliny in the classical record. This fascinated me, as such an undertaking ultimately made no impact on the course of Roman history. The story is told from the perspectives of Faventinus and Densus, the two centurions of the Praetorian Guard in charge of the men tasked with the expedition force. Managing the men, as well as their increasingly deranged tribune heading up the expedition, proves every bit as difficult as staying alive against each new threat the terrain throws their way. The dangers of sub-Saharan Africa are many and varied, throwing up new dangers for the heroes to face in every chapter. The story's pace thus moves, though the journey is deliberately long - the reader understands the length and trouble of the Romans' expedition, as nothing is glossed over. It is truly a descent into hell over the course of the novel, but one that will keep the reader turning the pages to discover what happens to Faventinus and Densus next.

The level of historical detail and research into so many elements of sub-Saharan Africa in the classical era is impressive, and while the author admits to having to take liberties and make educated guesses when it comes to filling in the (understandably) many blanks not provided by such a scant historical record, Turney's inventions ring plausibly. I was likewise impressed with the information relating to how ancient peoples likely treated malaria (the book's 'swamp fever'). The mixing of trades and encountering of different cultures throughout the novel was fascinating, as was the lightly-mentioned tensions surrounding the throne of Kush at this point in history. The fact that this was happening at the same time as Nero's doomed expedition made for an awesome opportunity for rich story lines to pass each other, opening this moment in history up to its broader rich tapestry. The reader cannot help but feel wholly immersed in the world.

Finally, the notions of duty are explored in this book, as is the concept of a foreign force slowly 'going native' over time and the large role superstition and religion play in the lives of such men. These conflicts made for compelling characters and interesting themes to mull over throughout the course of the book.

'Terra Incognita' is a triumph. Any Romanophile simply must read it.