Sputnik- A new novel that recently hit the bookshelves in Iran is meant to prove that the story of 300 Spartans is far from the only time when a small band of brave warriors challenged a vastly superior enemy force.

The publisher�s introduction openly states that the novel, based on�an ancient Persian epic, is a response to�the �rather biased movie 300� � a 2007 film directed by�Zach Snyder which is a fictionalized retelling of�the Battle of�Thermopylae.

Padram Babakhani, the novel�s author, told Sputnik Persian that rather than�trying to�challenge the story of�300 Spartans he wanted his book to�be more historically accurate than�Snyder�s movie. "No one denies the historicity of�the Battle of�Thermopylae where 300 Spartan warriors led by�King Leonidas faced the many thousand strong army of�King Xerxes. The problem is, that movie is basically a fantasy.

My novel however is based on�reliable historical sources, and despite�some fictional elements it remains within�the scope of�historical truth," he said. Babakhani�s novel is based on�a story dating back to�the 6th century. The ruler of�Yemen attacks a small border, forcing its king to�flee and seek help from�Khosrow Anushiruwan, Shahanshah (King of�Kings) of�the Sasanian Empire.

Per Anushiruwan�s order, 600 men who were previously sentenced to�death are instead sent off�to fight the invading Yemeni army. The protagonist is one of�these men, sent on�a suicidal quest to�battle the invaders who number in�the thousands. Meanwhile, Afshin Shahne Tabar, head of�the Tehran-based publishing house Sam� o Meh, told Sputnik that they are already working on�translating the novel into�foreign languages. "We intend to�translate the novel into�other languages.

English and German are currently a priority, but�we don�t intend to�stop there. We�ve already made arrangements at�the Vienna book fair and have already selected translators for�the job. I hope that the translated versions of�the novel will be published soon," he explained.