Oath of Empire was inspired, in part, by the costume epics of yore - you know, movies like CLEOPATRA, SPARTACUS, SAMSON AND DELILAH, THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, GLADIATOR...

Movies that required Cinescope and Cinerama to hold all the gory detail, casts of thousands, enormous sets and vast scope. So, what would a book be without a movie to back it up?

So here's your chance to get your vote in! Who should play which part? There are some simple rules - the actor or actress must be alive when you cast your vote. No CGI reanimations allowed either!

To vote, email me a photograph of the person (GIF or JPG, in 100 wide) if I don't have one and why you think your actor/actress should star. You can vote on all the roles if you want.

My first picks, where I have them, are already shown.

There are only a few actors/actresses I refuse to have!

• Uma Thurman (was in the Avengers instead of Mimi Rogers -- bad plan!)
• Gary Oldman (has been too many villains!)
• Michael Douglas (blech!)

Other suggestions:

Reader for the audio version: Frank Muller

 

Dwyrin MacDonald, a young Hibernian magician  Leonardo DiCaprio (2)  Anyone BUT Leonardo DiCaprio (2)

Thyatis Julia Clodia, soldier of the West Sarah Michelle Gellar (1) Gabriella Reese (2) Kristen Johnson (1) Bridgitt Nielsen (1)

Prince Maxian Atreus, Western Roman Empire  Joseph Finnes (2)  Sean Patrick Flannery (1)

Ahmet, an Egyptian school-teacher Arnold Vosloo (1)  Samuel L Jackson (2)

Krista, a slave in the House of de'Orelio  Parker Posey (1)  Kristina Gates (1)    (No Picture)

Dahak, a Perisan sorcerer  Ben Affleck (2)  Christopher Walken (1)

Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra  Salma Hayek (2)  Helena Bonham Carter (1)

Anastasia de'Orelio, Duchess of Parma  Mimi Rogers (1)  Isabella Rosselini (1)  Catherine Zeta-Jones (1)

Nikos, An Illyrian handyman  Jean Reno (2)

Emperor Galen Atreus (WRE) Russell Crowe (1)  Ralph Finnes (3)

Prince Aurelian Atreus (WRE)  Christian Slater (1) George Clooney (1)

Emperor Heraclius (ERE)  Bruce Campbell (1)

Shahar-Baraz, General of the Persian armies Arnold Schwartznegger (1)  Sean Bean (1)

Alais, a stray cat Jennifer Connelly (1) Jennifer Love Hewitt (1) Bridgitte Nielssen (1) Bobbi Phillips (1)

Chrosoes, Emperor of Persia  Dennis Hopper (1)

Princess Shirin of Persia  Jennifer Lopez (2)  Salma Hayek (1)

Jusuf, a Khazar Tony Shalhoub (1)

Sahul, a Khazar Stanley Tucci (1)

Dahvos, a Khazar  Seth Green (1)  Matt Damon (1)

Gaius Julius, an old Roman James Woods (1)

Abdmachus, a Nabatean wizard and Persian spy  Christopher Walken (1)  Ian Holm (1)

Zoe, a young woman of Palmyra  Charisma Carpenter (1)  Eliza Dushku (1)

The Cat-Eyed Queen, Constantinople  Anjelica Houston (1)

Mikele, a teacher on the island of Thira Michelle Yeoh (1) Lucy Liu (1)