This column has already been used to comment on one of the titles published by Montvert, the Achaemenid Persian Army, and now another title is featured. First, the series is somewhat of a departure from the competition published by Osprey in that none of the three titles (Justinian's Wars being the third) has the same format. Each is unique in textual format, although each does have the standard text and colour plates layout.

The latest offering, The Seleucid Army, was eagerly awaited as this is one the an interesting topic for this scribe. The first miniature army was modelled on the army of Antiochus the Great and that was many years ago when 25mm was the only scale and WRG was still unchallenged (but still criticised). Back in those days information on the army was scarce as neither history courses nor books covered the period in detail as it was not as well known as the Classical Greek and Roman subjects. The arrival of Bar-Kochva's "The Seleucid Army" in the college library provided to first in-depth information to flesh out the WRG list. This title was coveted as it gave access to all the other bnoks which covered the Seleucid period to justify personalising the army list. Eventually when the budget permitted, the major sources were added to the private library.

With this in mind, hopefully the reader can appreciate the enthusiasm inspired by the first advertisement of this new book. It was somewhat dampened when publication was delayed (the title was originally Seleucid and Ptolemaic Armies). Then finally the book was available and quickly purchased from the local source.

And then the real disappointment began as each page was read.

The introduction was the first indication that this book was less than expected. The publisher starts the text with a note that this book and the second volume, which will cover the Ptolemaic army, are ABRIDGEMENTS of a larger work to be published later. This is the reverse of a American deal, folks. Normally, we get a few extras like buy one and get the second at half price. Montvert has not seen many infomercials or the shopping channels on the television. Instead it has tried to exploit one book by publishing two smaller versions and then the full version will be forthcoming. I may be too negative as the objective is to make a profit to finance more publications, but wait for it.

Consider the whole published work at a glance. There are eighty pages in this book, which is more than the standard Osprey. The artwork is by Angus McBride and with the author, Nick Sekunda, has contributed in the production several other Osprey books. The fault is not with their input which is up to par. The publisher is the main culprit as the final contributor to the layout. Of the eighty pages, 32 are diagrams and photographs. This in its self is not a detractor because they do complement the text and artwork; however, was it necessary to have such large pictures of coins and closeups of statues? This was approved by the editorial staff while two pages of text were produced with very small print, which is full of abridgements. The reader has to wait until the complete work is produced to fill in the missing text.

This is considered detrimental to the author's work. He has laboured to give a detailed picture of a specific period in the history of this military organization by covering only the years 168-145 B.C. And then further confining himself to the reforms which altered the Seleucid and Ptolemaic armies from the successors of the Macedonian armies of Philip and Alexander to imitators of the armies of Scipio Africanus and Aemilius Paulus. The change is significant because it was an indication of the dramatic changes occurring among the states of the Mediterranean as Rome eclipsed Greece as the major cultural centre.

The book is an example of the whole being less than its parts. The publisher would have been better off to reduce the pages of "fluff" or filler and concentrated on the meat as represented by Mr. Sekunda's written portions.

The text is well laid out and differs from the usual Osprey text, in that it has references to the sources listed in the bibliography. Any student, who has had to write an essay following strict academic standards, will appreciate the layout as the sources can then be quickly checked (as required). This column has already commented on the advantage of footnotes, bibliographies and identification of source material to benefit those readers who want to follow-up with their own research. Mr. Sekunda has given his readers this opportunity. He includes both English and other sources (for those of us who have access to them a concept also mentioned in an earlier column), which indicates the depth of his research.

The aim of the author has been achieved in that he has provided insight into the evolution of the Seleucid army during the early to mid second century B.C. It is unfortunate that it is spoiled by the presentation form and decision to divide the unabridged work. Admittedly, the division allows buyers to be more selective in that they need only purchase one book for each army; however, given the similarity between these two Successor armies, the unabridged version may have been a preferred option.

The descriptions of the various troop types are complemented by the photographs and artwork. The photographs provide further of the organization and equipment used by the army. While the artwork provides a clear visual representation of the contemporary sources. Mr. Sekunda adds to his own concepts of the army by quoting from the records of this period as represented in the writings of Asclepiodotus, Aelian and Arrian, resulting in a good mixture of modern interpretation with contemporary opinion.

For the wargamer, this means that the tabletop troops can be painted and organized to represent the reformed army. An ideal way to approach the historical aspects of the hobby.

In summary, if a new source for either army is wanted, then buy this one book for the text on the Seleucid army of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.) and the second volume for the Ptolemaic army of Ptolemy VI Philometor. The author has produced a worthwhile addition to any reference library. For this scribe's money, the unabridged work is the preferred choice to place next to Bar-Kochva on the bookshelf next to the Hellenistic wargames armies that the books inspired.