[With "The Antagonists"] Mr. Gann has attempted to write a historical novel with contemporary relevance. Masada was the last bastion of Jewish resistance after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D., the place where 960 zealots, led by Eleazar ben Yair defied the Tenth Legion commanded by General Silva and chose suicide to Roman captivity. What took place there is intensely exciting history. Not even Mr. Gann's lifeless portrayals of the main characters in his novel can diminish the intensity of the actual events. Silva is presented as crippled, drunk, in love with a Jewess and Yair as weak and dull. Mr. Gann has more success with his minor characters…. They add color to the story but not enough to make it come as fully alive as Yadin's nonfiction "Masada" did.

"Fiction: 'The Antagonists'," in Publishers Weekly (reprinted from the November 23, 1970 issue of Publishers Weekly, published...