The Iron Hand of Mars

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**The Iron Hand of Mars**
Author	Lindsey Davis
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	Marcus Didius Falco
Genre(s)	Crime novel
Publisher	Century, Mysterious Press
Released	1992
Media Type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	352 pp (paperback edition)
ISBN	ISBN 0-09-920091-0
Preceded by	Venus in Copper
Followed by	Poseidon's Gold

The Iron Hand of Mars is a crime novel by Lindsey Davis.

1 Plot introduction
- 1.1 Explanation of the novel's title
2 Plot summary
3 Characters in "The Iron Hand of Mars"
4 Major themes
5 Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
6 Release details
7 Sources, references, external links, quotations

[edit] Plot introduction

Set in Rome and Germania during AD 71, The Iron Hand of Mars stars Marcus Didius Falco, Informer and Imperial Agent. It is the fourth in her Falco series.

[edit] Explanation of the novel's title

The title refers to the standard, shaped like a giant hand made of iron, which Falco is required to deliver to the imperial legions in Germany.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In The Iron Hand of Mars, Falco is sent to Germania Liberi in the aftermath of a rebellion. He is dispatched by Vespasian to deliver a new standard, give a report on the Legio XIV Germania, and to discover what happened to their Legate. He also searches for the rebel leader Julius Civilis.

[edit] Characters in "The Iron Hand of Mars"

[edit] In Rome

Arria Silvia - Wife of Petronius Longus (friend of Falco's)
Balbillus - Ex-legionary
Canidius - A clerk of censored archives
Decimus Camillus Verus - Senatorial father of Helena Justina.
Helena Justina - Daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus Verus
Marcus Didius Falco - Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine.
Titus Caesar - Eldest son of the Emperor.
Xanthus - Barber
Vespasian Augustus - Emperor of Rome.

[edit] In Germany

Arminia - Friend of Augustinilla
Augustinilla - Falco's niece
Dubnus - Pedlar
Julius Mordanticus - Potter
Regina - Barmaid at the Medua

[edit] Belonging to the Fourteenth Legion

A Macrinus - Senior Tribune
Cornicularis - Commissariat Clerk
Florius Gracilis - Legate, missing.
Julia Fortunata - Mistress of Florius.
Maenia Priscilla - Wife of Florius.
Primipilus - Chief Centurion
Rusticus - Slave, missing.
S. Juvenalis - Camp Prefect

[edit] Belonging to the First Legion

Dama - Centurion
Lentullus - Recruit
Q. Camillis Justinus Helveticus - Brother of Helena Justina, Tribune.

[edit] Major themes

Investigation into the disappearance of an imperial legate and the whereabouts of a rebel leader.
Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

Set in Rome and Germania in AD 71, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. The story takes place in the aftermath of a real rebellion by the Batavians and other Germanic tribes in AD 69-70. This is described by Tacitus in his Histories. However, much of this Tacitus' work has been lost and the Histories breaks off in the middle of the Batavian rebellion.

[edit] Release details

1992, UK, Hutchinson, Hardback (out of print)
1993, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-920091-0
1994, US, Crown/Ballantine ISBN 0-345-38024-X
1999, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-7126-8018-7 (as part of single-volume omnibus edition, Falco on his Metal, with Venus in Copper and Poseidon's Gold)