Shield of Thunder (Troy Trilogy, Book 2)

Book Description

The second novel in David Gemmell’s bestselling Troy trilogy. Interlacing myth and history, and high adventure, this is epic storytelling at its very best.

War is looming, and all the kings of the Great Green are gathering, each with their own dark plans of conquest and plunder.

Into this maelstrom of treachery come three travellers: Piria, a runaway priestess nursing a terrible secret; Kalliades, a warrior with high ideals and a legendary sword; and his close friend Banokles, who will carve his own legend in the battles to come.

Together they journey to the fabled city of Troy, where a darkness is falling that will eclipse the triumphs and personal tragedies of ordinary mortals for centuries to come.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

imaginative story, pulp writing.......2007-09-23

Shield of Thunder, like Lord of the Silver Bow, both show great imagination in plot, but pure pulp delivery. If you get a kick out of this period in history, by all means read these books, but I doubt if you'll be moved to reread them.

I am so sorry to hear that David passed........2007-09-09

I have read all of David's novels and loved them all. He shall be missed. Great job David. GOD's speed and blessing be upon you.

Solid adventure.......2007-08-13

Part two of the late David Gemmell's Troy trilogy is begins a few months after the failed attempt at removing King Priam from power in Troy. Princess Andromache is adjusting to life at court, while Hektor is sailing the seas and fighting off pirates; he's filling in while Helikaon (known to us as Aeneas) is sick. King Odysseus, King Agamemnon and several other rulers attend the wedding games of Hektor and Andromache, and trouble is stirred up and brought to the boiling point. The last third of the book is devoted to the series of battles that make up the early years of The Trojan War, which is made out to be something like the ancient world's version of World War II.

Once again David Gemmell creates a real living, breathing world out of something that has been romanticized and usually seems inaccessible to the modern reader. Gemmell has taken a very human approach to the Trojan War story, by eliminating the gods and making the heroes human with real strengths and weaknesses. The action scenes are bloody and seem pretty realistic (though it is never gratuitous). While this is a bridge book, it never felt like it, except that while a major battle is completed by the end, the war is far from over. Also while the gist of the story is the same, many of the details are different. Like the marriage of Paris and Helen are mentioned, but it is hardly the reason for the war.

I really liked this book, and Gemmell's fans will not be disappointed with it. I am eagerly waiting for the last book, due out soon.

Troy remix.......2007-06-14

The Shield of Thunder continues Gemmell's exciting, refreshing Trojan War series. With its action, noble warriors, and gorgeous, heroic women, it is the equivalent of a summer blockbuster (a good one, not a Michael Bay film). I like how Gemmell strays from the classic mythology by reducing Hektor and Achilles to supporting characters, exalting Aeneas and Andromache as primary characters, and creating new characters in Kalliades and Banokles. This isn't Homer's Trojan War: Helen and Paris play a minor role, and the Olympians seem to be sitting this one out. To be fair, the novel displays little complexity; most of the characters can be summarized in one sentence. The good guys are heroes and the bad guys are rapists. Even when the good guys turn bad briefly, they're still good. I also thought that the opening premise about Andromache was not resolved completely; and the outcome of the Kalliope storyline felt a little like a copout. In the next volume, I hope Gemmell (or his designee, RIP) gives us a Mykene as a primary character so we can see the war from the "enemy" perspective. I highly recommend the novel and the series and look forward to the next installment.

Can't wait for the third book.......2007-05-21

David Gemmell has breathed new life into a well-known story and made the Bronze Age come alive. His rich imagination created a host of new heroes and heroines of hitherto secondary characters of Iliad without sacrificing the voice of Homer. I hope we'll get to see the third book published, completing this wonderful trilogy.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Iliad (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Average customer rating:

One of the hard slog classic reads
A great story that anyone would enjoy putting aside all the academic chatter.
A deeply powerful tale told in an equally powerful way by Fagles
Requirement for Western Civilization
Okay translation

The Iliad (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
Homer
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140275363

Amazon.com

This groundbreaking English version by Robert Fagles is the most important recent translation of Homer's great epic poem. The verse translation has been hailed by scholars as the new standard, providing an Iliad that delights modern sensibility and aesthetic without sacrificing the grandeur and particular genius of Homer's own style and language. The Iliad is one of the two great epics of Homer, and is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time, but to say the Iliad is a war story does not begin to describe the emotional sweep of its action and characters: Achilles, Helen, Hector, and other heroes of Greek myth and history in the tenth and final year of the Greek siege of Troy.

Book Description

This timeless poem-more than 2,700 year old-still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amid devastation and destruction as it moves inexorably to its wrenching, tragic conclusion. Readers of this epic poem will be gripped by the finely tuned translation and enlightening introduction.

Translated by Robert Fagles
Introduction and Notes by Bernard

Customer Reviews:

One of the hard slog classic reads.......2007-10-11

No need to review this classic.
Recommendation: If you are buying this to actually read, get a version with larger type. I can barely read this with my reading glasses on. I'm going to have to get another version myself.

A great story that anyone would enjoy putting aside all the academic chatter........2007-08-08

Translation (in my opinion and experience) is not so much about accuracy as it is about hearing or reading something, absorbing it, and telling the same thing in another language in a way that can best be understood or even--we hope in this case--engaging or entertaining to the listener or reader. The Penguin Classic version of the Iliad does this quite well; and the translator has proven himself to be a good teller of the story in English given to us by Homer so long ago.

Don't read the Iliad because it's a classic, or because it's Greek, or because Homer wrote it. Read it for the same reasons and with the same mindset as you would any book written today, because it's good--and in this case outstanding. Put simply, don't analyse it or study it, just read and enjoy.

The Iliad is really that good.

A deeply powerful tale told in an equally powerful way by Fagles.......2007-05-22

The Iliad is certainly a piece of literature that has stood the test of time - and with good reason. War has constantly been a feature of human society and the Iliad tells of all its horrors like few other pieces of literature. But the epic is more than just a war story - it's a story of human limits and mankind's (especially in the West) constant struggle to deal with the realities they create. I suppose one could respond that this epic is more involved with human potential but it is very hard to read either the character of Hector or Achilles as anything but a tragic character - as someone who paid dearly for his role as "hero" of Troy or Greece. This is not a great piece of literature because it projects heroic ideals that should inspire us, though this aspect of the epic has played its own powerfully important role, rather, it is a great piece of literature because just as the epic appears to throw those ideals up for lauding, it problematizes them - it illustrates their often tragic consequences. The heroic individual who can single-handedly make a difference and the ethic of competition the epic oozes have played profoundly important roles in shaping Western history but the Iliad is great because it draws out the ugly consequences these ideals can produce and the price one pays for holding them too close.

Fagles' translation - for all I can tell - is an excellent one. I know no Greek (Sanskrit was my "classical" language) but the power of Fagles' rendering is palpable throughout (especially in the masterful first chapter) and it is difficult, though not impossible, to imagine it being more so in another translator's hands.

Requirement for Western Civilization.......2007-05-12

How can anyone not give The Iliad 5 stars? Not only is it the fountainhead of all Western literature, it's a great story!! READ IT!!

Okay translation.......2007-03-29

I'm not convinced that this translation is an improvement to the Lattimore or Fitzgerald translations. It's readable and slightly more up to date in idiom, but it is somewhat predictable as a translation. It lacks the boldness of the translation by Stanley Lombardo, who has, in my opinion, produced the freshest and most exciting translations of both the Iliad and the Odyssey. The prose renditions of the Odyssey (the updated Rhieu and the Griffin/Hammond) are as readable and more exciting than the translation by Fagles. That said, it is still a fine translation, but if you already have the Lattimore translation (or if you are lucky enough to have the Lombardo translation) there isn't a whole lot to be gained with this translation.

Average customer rating:

Not her best
Great book
Bloated, meandering mess
HOW TO RUIN A GOOD STORY
Not Quite Cleopatra

Helen of Troy
Margaret George
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670037788

Book Description

A lush, seductive novel of the legendary beauty whose face Â“launched a thousand shipsÂ”

Daughter of a god, wife of a king, prize of antiquityÂ's bloodiest war, Helen of Troy has inspired artists for millennia. Now Margaret George, the highly acclaimed bestselling historical novelist, has turned her intelligent, perceptive eye to the myth that is Helen of Troy.

Margaret George breathes new life into the great Homeric tale by having Helen narrate her own story. Through her eyes and in her voice, we experience the young HelenÂ's discovery of her divine origin and her terrifying beauty. While hardly more than a girl, Helen married the remote Spartan king Menelaus and bore him a daughter. By the age of twenty, the worldÂ's most beautiful woman was resigned to a passionless marriageÂ—until she encountered the handsome Trojan prince Paris. And once the lovers flee to Troy, war, murder, and tragedy become inevitable.

In Helen of Troy, Margaret George has captured a timeless legend in a mesmerizing tale of a woman whose life was destined to create strifeÂ—and destroy civilizations.

Customer Reviews:

Not her best.......2007-10-01

I did not care for this book as much as some of the other books Margaret George has written. I had also just seen the movie "Troy" which is much different than this book (some things were similar) so that did not help. There was not much depth to the love story between Helen and Paris.

Great book.......2007-09-30

I felt like I was with Helen every step of the way! I loved this book!

Bloated, meandering mess.......2007-09-04

I really hate it when I get suckered into a novel; especially when I get about halfway through the story, and I figure out that not only is it a bad novel, it's a really bad novel. Usually one of the signs is that I tend to find any excuse to go and do something else than read the book -- even if it is sorting laundry or washing up the dishes from dinner. Couple that with my determination to finish reading whatever book I do start, and one of my chiefest pleasures in life stands to be ruined for several days.

Such was the case with this Margaret George novel that takes the story of Helen of Troy and renders it into a long, cradle-to-the-grave historical novel. Told as a first person narrative, we are treated to the story of Helen and her involvement in the long war between the Greeks and the Trojans.

But even before there is a mention of Troy, the reader is treated to Helen's story, right from the very very beginning. We first meet her as a very young child, living with her parents and her elder siblings in the Greek city of Sparta. Unlike her brothers and sister Clytemnestra, Helen is forbidden to leave the palace, and even to pick up a mirror. Even her beautiful and rather vain mother Leda keeps any reflections from Helen's gaze, and as it is with many young children, Helen is convinced that she is a monster, that something horrible and disfiguring is what keeps her away from others. But one day, her sister takes pity on her, and slips her out into the wide world outside of the palace, with the stern warning that she keep her face and form covered.

And as Helen is to find out, she's not a monster at all. Instead, she is dazzlingly beautiful, but she takes little pleasure in the knowledge. Instead, Helen mopes about, wishing that she could just be like everyone else, and trying to fit in. We follow Helen along, from the courtship of her sister by the King of Mycenae, Agamemnon, and meeting his brother, the much quieter Menelaus. There are also the ugly rumors that surround her mother, and the wild story that Helen herself was born from an egg -- stories she scoffs at until she attends the rites sacred to the goddesses Demeter and Persephone.

It's here that Helen finds out that she's been touched with the divinity of the Olympian gods, and that her father might be Zeus himself, who seems to have a special regard for his only daughter born of a mortal woman. Bit by bit, Helen puts her own story together, and when it comes time for her to marry, there are numerous suitors, all willing to claim the most beautiful woman in the world. Prophecy has decreeded that not only will Helen bring ruin, but also cause the deaths of many Greeks - no matter that, it seems that every man is eager to have her as his alone. When Helen finally makes her choice, her father forces the other suitors to swear a terrible oath, one that is going to have bloody consequences.

Helen's parents turn over the rule of Sparta to Helen and her husband, none other than Menelaus. But there is a problem in this seemingly happy marriage. Helen feels no passion at all for her husband, and she inwardly bewails her fate, wishing for Aphrodite to bless her, and pleading for some fulfillment. Not even the birth of a beloved daughter, Hermione, can ease her unhappiness, and slowly it poisons everything around her. So naturally, when the young prince of Troy, Paris, arrives, Helen falls into a searing state of lust, and makes plans to run off with him.

To say that this makes problems is an understatement. The terrible oath that was forced at Helen's marriage is invoked, and all of Greece rises up to avenge Menelaus' outrage that his wife has run off with a teenage boy nearly a decade younger. And the welcome in Troy isn't that much better for Helen either -- her inlaws, especially her mother in law, Hecuba, dislike her or want her for themselves, and Helen finds her only solace in Paris, and a friendship with Andromache, Hector's wife. War rages around her, and Helen can't do very much but helplessly observe the ruin around her.

To say that this is one of the worst historical novels that I have ever read is an understatement. Margaret George's attempt to rework the legends of ancient Greece is a travesty -- she uses known historical facts to make a realistic world, then ruins it by making the gods and goddesses real, having them step in with miracle working wonders, and confusing the readers. Too, Helen is an extremely passive character, rarely acting on her own behalf, making very stupid choices, and abandoning her only child that she claims to love to go chasing after some young stud -- I wonder if this is where the brainless blonde joke started? Paris isn't that much better, turning sulky, selfish, and unable to think his way beyond the next five minutes.

Indeed, no one in this story is very likeable. Helen is just plain thoughtless and selfish, the men are thinking with their groins, women are nasty and b!tchy towards Helen, and that's just the people involved. It's pretty clear that George knows little of ancient warfare, giving the battles and encounters outside of Troy not much more than a curisitory glance, and then the reader is back to Helen's eternal self-pity and whining.

Sadly, the reader is treated to nearly seven hundred pages of this drivel, and by the end, I was ready to hurl this book through a window in annoyance. No one grows up, changes, and seem to be perfectly happy to be pushed around by mocking, insensitive deities who whisper endlessly in ears. Women are terribly abused in this as well, not much more than either baby-machines, sexual toys, or as princesses being offered up in public, gory sacrifices to indifferent gods. In fact, George saves her most descriptive writings for when things get nasty and gory.

The biggest sin here is that there isn't any of the glorious poetry of Homer in here. Instead, the story is humorless and bleak, and it just trudges along from battle to battle. There isn't any insights or new knowledge about the Greek myths, and it's just a pit of misery and delusion.

I don't recommend this one at all, giving it a sparse two stars, and suggesting that the reader turn to the excellent translations of the Trojan War and Greek myth by Robert Fagles.

Not Recommended.

HOW TO RUIN A GOOD STORY.......2007-08-27

The basic story is fascinating, but George has expanded it beyond belief. Long, useless passages abound. Flowery descriptions of every possibe venue,and adjectival overkill make this basically intriguing tale into a never ending bore. One tolerates pages of unnecessary prose in the hope of coninuing the central theme. I assume that the author is striving for a "big book". but achieves a fatally overwritten tome.

Not Quite Cleopatra.......2007-08-22

I rarely re-read anything fiction but have read Ms. George's Memoirs of Cleopatra twice. I was rather excited about Helen of Troy but found the characters to be a little under-developed. Otherwise, it was an entertaining romp through the annals of time.

Tales from the Odyssey: The Final Battle - Book #6 (Tales from the Odyssey)

Average customer rating:

Son loves it

Tales from the Odyssey: The Final Battle - Book #6 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786809949
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Book Description

After struggling against the gods and his fate for more than twenty years, Odysseus has returned to Ithaca at last.But things have changed: what used to be his island has been overrun by suitors who clamor for his wife's hand in marriage and plague his son, Telemachus.With the help of the gray-eyed goddess, Athena, Odysseus and Telemachus set out to regain control of Ithaca. In the last book of the series based on episodes from Homer's Odyssey, Mary Pope Osborne brings one of the greatest adventures of all time to a dramatic climax.

Customer Reviews:

Son loves it.......2007-01-12

My son absolutely loves this series, he read the whole thing in no time.

The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy

Average customer rating:

Wonderfully retold story of Odysseus
Homer for Children Today!
The Children's Homer
A classic brought to life even for children
Most influential book of my childhood

The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy
Padraic Colum
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths
Black Ships Before Troy
Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)
The Golden Goblet (Newbery Library, Puffin)
The Golden Fleece: And the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles

ASIN: 0689868839

Book Description

Travel back to a mythical time when Achilles, aided by the gods, waged war against the Trojans. And join Odysseus on his journey through murky waters, facing obstacles like the terrifying Scylla and whirring Charybdis, the beautiful enchantress Circe, and the land of the raging Cyclôpes. Using narrative threads from The Iliad and The Odyssey, Padraic Colum weaves a stunning adventure with all the drama and power that Homer intended.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully retold story of Odysseus.......2007-05-10

I read this book to my 7 year old, homeschooled daughter. Her children's choir is singing the story of Odysseus and this book brought the songs to life for her. She never wanted me to put it down. The language is sophisticated but she could follow the story and was entranced by it.

Homer for Children Today!.......2007-03-27

Ho hum--I will never get my 5th grader to read this tome--however moving the story line and imagery. It is too thick to easily add to a history block of Ancient Civilizations around the world. The language is too dated. The narrations dwarfs the action. The standard, for good youth literature today, requires writers to SHOW the meaning and NOT TELL IT.
Thankfully, author Geraldine McCaughrean wrote a wonderfully telling of GILGAMESH, so I turned around and ordered her retelling of Homer's THE ILLIAD and THE ODYSSEY which is titled, ODYSSEUS.

Does anyone want my copy of Padric's version. The cover art is great.

The Children's Homer.......2007-03-22

As a homeschooled child, I read this book when I was eight and thoroughly enjoyed it; now, at fifteen, I have just finished reading the original Iliad and Odyssey for the second time. Reading them made me realize how much The Children's Homer helped me, both in exposing me to the epics and giving me a basic overview of the story. My only complaint was that it lacked the strength and beauty of the original, but that is understandable.
I would also recommend The Greek Way (Edith Hamilton) as an excellent look into ancient Greek philosophy and philosophers. I read this in the same course as The Children's Homer and it has become my favorite history book-children will enjoy it, but parents had best let them read it to themselves; it is unfair for parents to monopolize children's books.
Marion Doak, student

A classic brought to life even for children.......2007-02-27

Three cheers: for Padraic Colum, who was a natural storyteller and interpreter of the ancient myths; for Dover Publications, who offers this reprint and other classics dirt cheap (Dover editions are generally five bucks or less); and for the parent who loves these stories and can read them intelligently to young children.

Parents: there are many, many things in these kinds of stories that will not be self-evident to children if they are not explained: language, relationships, cause and effect, the Greek pantheon, etc. You must, as appropriate, stop and talk things over with your child. It will be a better reading experience for the both of you, and it will do wonders for your child.

My son, knowing that Odysseus was finally going to confront the wooers of this wife Penelope, was besides himself with excitement as the tension mounted. He did not mind at all the side diversions into other stories--by this time he understands that the ancient Greeks told stories within stories within stories (they didn't have TV! or the Internet!). His patience paid off, and Colum's description of the final scene was most satisfying. This, together with Colum's telling of the legend of the Golden Fleece, Jason, and the Argonauts (available in another Dover edition--see my Amazon review), are highly recommended as a superb introduction to these classic tales.

Most influential book of my childhood.......2007-01-29

As a kid, I loved this book.

As a young adult, I've gone to college and become a Classics major. Now I'm reading the Aeneid in Latin, and I've really begun to appreciate what a wonderful book this is!

I have no way of judging this book's suitability for "kids in general." For me, though, this book instilled a love of mythology and history that has stayed with me through my life so far. I strongly suggest it!

Lord of the Silver Bow (Troy Trilogy, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Death really Sucks......................
Not your average Troy
Not Free SF Reader
Another version of the Trojan War
loved it

Lord of the Silver Bow (Troy Trilogy, Book 1)
David Gemmell
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Troy: Shield of Thunder (Trojan War Trilogy 2)
Dark Prince
Lion of Macedon
Knights of Dark Renown
The Hawk Eternal (A Novel of the Hawk Queen)

ASIN: 0345494571
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Book Description

He is a man of many names. Some call him the Golden One; others, the Lord of the Silver Bow. To the Dardanians, he is Prince Aeneas. But to his friends, he is Helikaon. Strong, fast, quick of mind, he is a bold warrior, hated by his enemies, feared even by his Trojan allies. For there is a darkness at the heart of the Golden One, a savagery that, once awakened, can be appeased only with blood.

Argurios the Mykene is a peerless fighter, a man of unbending principles and unbreakable will. Like all of the Mykene warriors, he lives to conquer and to kill. Dispatched by King Agamemnon to scout the defenses of the golden city of Troy, he is Helikaon’s sworn enemy.

Andromache is a priestess of Thera betrothed against her will to Hektor, prince of Troy. Scornful of tradition, skilled in the arts of war, and passionate in the ways of her order, Andromache vows to love whom she pleases and to live as she desires.

Now fate is about to thrust these three together–and, from the sparks of passionate love and hate, ignite a fire that will engulf the world.

Readers who know the works of David Gemmell expect nothing less than excellence from this author, whose taut prose, driving plots, and full-bodied characters have won him legions of fans the world over. Now, with this first masterly volume in an epic reimagining of the Trojan War, Gemmell has written an ageless drama of brave deeds and fierce battles, of honor and treachery, of love won and lost.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Death really Sucks.............................2007-09-25

This first book in the Troy trilogy was great, I gave it to everyone I could think of, and they all loved it. I have to say I can't wait to read the second book, although a part of me hates to read it knowing its the last of his writing.
I just found out he passed away last year, and I am so distraught. He was a writer extraordinaire. I have read and own everything he wrote. Including some books from England that I paid a pretty hefty price for because they weren't available here.

I will have to tell my son, who loves Gemmell, we will both mourn his loss and also mourn all the books he surely would of written had he lived on.

If you are a new fan, dive right in. Some of his earlier stuff is great also. If you have been a fan for awhile, know that we will all miss him.

You will be missed Mr. Gemmell.......

Not your average Troy.......2007-09-20

I would not describe this book as a page turner, but it was still a good read. Before you pick up this book you should be aware that this is far from the story of Troy we are used to. If you are looking for something new in the retelling of this classic story, then this is the book for you. I have yet to read the second book in the series, so we will see if some other characters get introduced, but this book was missing many main characters. Menelaus is non existent, Helen has all of a paragraph, and Paris shows up maybe 2-3 times in the story. Hector also is absent almost the entire novel. I don't want to give specifics on how this story is different from other Troy retellings, but just know it strays from the classic story. I think the story will be more enjoyable if you know that upfront and just enjoy the story that is being told by lesser known characters.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Gemmell delves into some far more overtly historical fiction here. No sorcery, magic weapons, or anything of that nature to be seen, just the odd bit of dreamed prophey by queens and priestesses.

This is more a novel of the necessities of pragmatic leadership, and pathos than heroic adventure, as he tells the story of mostly Aeneas and Andromache.

Another version of the Trojan War.......2007-06-27

The late David Gemmell's final effort, "Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow" is a wonderful retelling of the Trojan War saga, told from the beginning. The novel's primary character is Helikaon, known to the Western World as Aeneas. He is a reluctant prince and a high seas trader. His best friend is Odysseus, also a mighty king and trader. Aeneas meets and falls in love with a local priestess Andromache, who is promised to Hektor, Troy's favorite son. At the end of this first episode in the trilogy Helikaon helps defend the golden city Troy from rebellion.

There is little magic or involvement from the gods in this book, the only supernatural elements are Kassandra's visions (which are ignored) and other prophecies. The characters act more like modern men than ancient world people would have. The only one to act according to tradition is Agamemnon, a greedy tyrant. Basically all these characters act like any other character from a Gemmell novel.

Still, a wonderful book with excellent (and brutally violent) action scenes that will satisfy all fans of the genres; just wish for some more of the gods.

loved it.......2007-06-12

I thought this book was great. It had the perfect blend of fiction plus history without going overboard. I loved the detail, descriptions, everything. The characters and plot were very well developed and I felt for each characters plight..
I will definitely get the second book in this trilogy..

Tales from the Odyssey: The One-Eyed Giant - Book #1 (Tales from the Odyssey)

Average customer rating:

The Amazing One!
"It was great, a liitle scary, a little sad and very exciting" thats what my 6yo dd said about it
Great Way to Introduce Young Kids to the Odyssey/ Greek Mythology
Perfect Intro For Young Readers
Excellent Introduction to the Odyssey

Tales from the Odyssey: The One-Eyed Giant - Book #1 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Tales from the Odyssey: The Land of the Dead - Book #2 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Tales from the Odyssey: Sirens and Sea Monsters - Book #3 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Tales from the Odyssey: The Gray-Eyed Goddess - Book #4 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Tales from the Odyssey: Return to Ithaca - Book #5 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Tales from the Odyssey: The Final Battle - Book #6 (Tales from the Odyssey)

ASIN: 0786809280
Release Date: 2003-08-18

Book Description

When Odysseus must leave his home to fight the Trojan War, he never imagines that he+ll be away from his family for so many years.Now, at long last, he is leading his men home across the seas.But many dangers await them + and none is more terrifying than Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant.

Customer Reviews:

The Amazing One!.......2007-05-17

When i read this book, i thought it would give me a little bit of information about the greek gods but i was wrong!This book is filled with cool information about all the greek gods like Poseidon and Zeus!WOW!The problem is that the greek gods,Zeus and Poseidon are trying to kill Odysseus, the main charecter, and his crew because they went to a island called Troy to battle them.When they were in battle, they accidentely burned a church and made the gods frustrated.When they were on there way home, the gods were blowing and shaking their ship wich made them go to the island of the One Eyed Giant. That's were the giant killed at least 8 of his men and ate them.When they blided the giant, they escaped the island.Now they are on there way home but the wind god made the water calm so they were heading home.

I would recomend this book to Kids and Adults who are learning about all the greek gods and their powers.This book also shows how people in the days invented the trogan hoarse!This is a great book!

"It was great, a liitle scary, a little sad and very exciting" thats what my 6yo dd said about it.......2007-02-14

I started reading this to my 6yo before I went to work this weekend. I had planned to read just a couple of chpaters, but she begged for more. We ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting. After it was done, she asked me "Who wrote that, it was great?" I explained that it was a translation of one of the oldest stories that people still read.

This version is perfect for a first introduction to classics for the elementary crowd. It kept the excitement that you would expect, didn't skip over the scary parts, wasn't too gory, and the sentence structure wasn't overly simplified.

I look forward to reading it again this weekend. In the future when she is ready to read Homer herself, she won't be intimidated.

Great Way to Introduce Young Kids to the Odyssey/ Greek Mythology.......2006-07-06

Young readers, especially those who are already fans of Mary Pope Osborne, will enjoy having this collection of books in their library. The series consists of six beautifully bound books. As with the Magic Tree House series, the imagery is great. The chapters are short and captivating. My son quickly read each book until he completed the series. As a parent, I am especially pleased that this retelling holds true to the original myth and has broadened my son's knowledge of Greek Mythology. Trenton especially enjoyed referencing the map of Odysseus' journey, which is presented in the opening pages of each book, and the sketches of the gods and goddesses, which are presented towards the back of each book. His only negative comments were regarding the editing. He found a couple of mistakes (omitted or misspelled words) while reading this series. Also he was baffled that there was one god - Mars - mentioned in the text who appeared to be omitted from the sketches and other references included in the book. However, explaining that Mars is the Roman name for Ares cleared up the confusion. Additional features of this series are a pronunciation guide (a must for youngsters reading Greek Myths) and a brief description of the main gods and goddesses presented in each book.

Mary Pope Osborne is a wonderful author! She has helped to bring so much information to my son in a way that is easy for him to understand. He started reading The Magic Tree House books when he was six and now at age seven he has read each book many times including the Merlin Missions, and he is excited about reading more. They are entertaining and informative. For those who want to spend more time with Jack and Annie as they learn more about the facts presented in the Magic Tree House series, Mary Pope Osborne and her family have many informative companions to the Magic Tree House series. As a parent, I highly recommend all these books.

Perfect Intro For Young Readers.......2006-05-26

We began this series before the 5th and 6th books were completed. My daughter (then 5) absolutely loved the stories and kept asking when we would get to finish the series. Her little sister was enthralled by the books as well. They were thrilled when our set was completed, and both enjoyed the much anticipated ending. Since then, my now 7 year-old has read through this series probably 3 times on her own. A few months ago, she dedicated a weekend to reading all 6 books -- with occasional Barbie breaks. While the Odyssey books are quick reads and by no means comprehensive, the author stays true to the original storyline in an age-appropriate manner and deepens young readers' interest in the epic. After devouring this series, my daughter will definitely enjoy listening to me read The Children's Homer (which is also a wonderful child-friendly version) to her. I'm sorry, but I have to throw this in for those that may not fully appreciate the author's Magic Tree House series . . .the Odyssey series is well written and not sappy like the Magic Tree House books (which, admittedly, my kids love to listen to OVER and OVER again on audio - and they are educational -- just so saccharine). Part of the charm for my daughter, who admires all things beautiful, was the hardback format of the Odyssey series; they are indeed lovely little books. Maybe Mary Pope Osborne should tackle the Gilgamesh epic??? I appreciate that she clearly loves to write accurate works for children and wants them to enjoy reading while learning something new and important.

Excellent Introduction to the Odyssey.......2006-04-08

We read these books as part of our study of ancient Greece. The kids absolutely loved these stories, and were riveted by the Trojan War and the Cyclops.

The literature loving purist in me was a bit wary of reading "watered-down" classics to my children, but then I read Jessie Wise Bauer's Well-Trained Mind. She advocates giving kids age appropriate versions of classic literature so that they grow to love the stories and are therefore unintimidated by the original texts when they are older. This made so much intuitive sense to me, and so in that spirit, I introduced my children to these great little books.

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of The Iliad

Average customer rating:

no illustrations in my edition
Great book for an 18-year old remedial reader
Familiarity breeds comfort in the classics
Very good retelling--but not the best
Black Ships Before Troy

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of The Iliad
Rosemary Sutcliffe
Manufacturer: Frances Lincoln
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

The Wanderings of Odysseus
Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)
D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths
The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy
The Odyssey (Puffin Classics)

ASIN: 1845073592

Book Description

Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time. Rich with arresting imagery and memorable characters, its powerful metaphors still permeate modern culture. This brilliant retelling offers young readers an exciting introduction to the heroes of ancient Greece while providing the complete story of the battle of Troy. The legendary beauty, Helen, is abducted, leading to a decade-long conflict in which even the gods and goddesses take sides and intervene. This is the Trojan War, where the most valiant heroes of the ancient world are pitted against one another. Here Hector, Ajax, Achilles, and Odysseus meet their most formidable challenges and in some cases, their tragic ends. Rosemary Sutcliff makes such extraordinary stories as those of the Trojan horse, of Aphrodite and the golden apple, and of the fearsome warrior women, the Amazons, accessible to contemporary young people. Superb illustrations enhance the story's dramatic appeal.

Customer Reviews:

no illustrations in my edition.......2007-10-10

I have not yet read this book- so my review is only based on my disappointment that I bought this book after reading about the wonderful illustrations. I have a much longer version of the Iliad, which I am reading to my children. I bought this so I could read it to them also, to give them more of an understanding of the Iliad. I read the wonderful reviews about the illustrations and thought the book sounded perfect. While the cover is beautiful, it is the ONLY illustration in the whole book. The older edition must be the one with the pictures, I will be checking into whether or not it is still available.

Great book for an 18-year old remedial reader.......2007-03-15

I have been tutoring an 18-year old remedial reader in basic phonics. We first read D'Aulaire's Greek Myths, as he wanted to read about heroes. We then graduated to Black Ships Before Troy, as he had seen the movie, Troy. This is a great book. It is well-written, full of intriguing details and actions which are brought to life by Sutcliff. She is one of my favorite authors, anyway, so I knew it would be good, but it is GREAT. We can hardly wait to move on to the Odyssey.

I'm sure it would be good for younger, excellent readers, but it is a great hero book for older students and adults, too.

Familiarity breeds comfort in the classics.......2007-01-04

Rosemary Sutcliff excels at story telling by making the epic story of the Iliad understandable and thrilling to a seven year old. I have read this book to my son at least three times, beginning when he was seven years old. He is now so familiar with the story and characters of the Iliad as a result of Black Ships Before Troy that to read Homer's Iliad will simply mean meeting these familiar characters again. Sutcliff's writing is so engaging that parents as well will enjoy this book. An absolute bonus is the excellent illustrations by Alan Lee.

Very good retelling--but not the best.......2006-12-20

My seven year old and I read this together immediately after finishing the version of the Iliad retold by Ian Strachan and illustrated by Viktor Ambrus. While Sutcliff and Lee's effort is a good one, and I would recommend it highly, Strachan and Ambrus's is superior: the language is tighter and less florid, the artwork more dynamic and compelling. Unfortunately, the Strachan version is out of print and hard to find, but this one is a more than acceptable substitute.

Sutcliff's language is full (to the point of distraction) of similes and other figures of the "wine-dark sea" sort, which like a tongue-tingling seasoning (see what I mean?) is fine in moderation, but she overdoes it. Nevertheless, it's a good introduction to the Iliad. At 113 pages, it's possible to read this at bedtime over a week if you've checked it out from the school library, as my son did.

But do check out my review of the Strachan version.

Black Ships Before Troy.......2006-08-07

Most anyone knows that they are supposed to read Homer's Iliad at some point in their life, but many are intimidated by its complexity. For starters, try Rosemary Sutcliff's Black Ships Before Troy. It is a beautiful and delightful read for all ages. You can easily sort the characters and get a grip on the plot without wading through the epic or the longer narrative. Once you have done this, you may muster the courage to attack the Iliad itself and impress all of your friends, or you can just let them think you are an expert in ancient literature after Black Ships Before Troy.

Tales from the Odyssey: The Land of the Dead - Book #2 (Tales from the Odyssey)

Average customer rating:

Tales from the Odyssey: The Land of the Dead
all of this series
tbreading@warsaw.k12.in.us

Tales from the Odyssey: The Land of the Dead - Book #2 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Tales from the Odyssey: The One-Eyed Giant - Book #1 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Tales from the Odyssey: Sirens and Sea Monsters - Book #3 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Tales from the Odyssey: The Gray-Eyed Goddess - Book #4 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Tales from the Odyssey: Return to Ithaca - Book #5 (Tales from the Odyssey)
Tales from the Odyssey: The Final Battle - Book #6 (Tales from the Odyssey)

ASIN: 0786809299
Release Date: 2003-08-18

Book Description

Odysseus and his men have defeated the one-eyed giant, but its curse follows them at every turn.Cast out to the open seas by the wind god, Odysseus and his fleet continue the difficult journey home.But they cannot return to Ithaca yet.First they must take on giant cannibals and outwit a beautiful witch, who reveals Odysseus+ next challenge + a journey to the mysterious and feared land of the dead.

Customer Reviews:

Tales from the Odyssey: The Land of the Dead.......2007-06-27

I am reading Mary Pope Osborne's Odyssey series with my 10 year old son. He is enjoying the stories and I think it's a great introduction to Greek mythology.

all of this series.......2007-03-25

These books are excellent. My second grade class is obsessed with them. Some of them are even writing a play based on The Land of the Dead. They hang on every word, and discuss Odysseus' flaws on the play ground. It's so cool.

tbreading@warsaw.k12.in.us.......2005-10-21

I use this book for an ESL English class. It's much more comprehensible than reading the poetic version. The kids seem to enjoy it, where I think they would be lost with the poetic translation in our textbook. All of the students in this class are low level English speakers, so this gives them something interesting to read without a huge comprehension challenge. They find it interesting to read about going to the land of the dead and then coming back. Most are Catholic, so it is alittle difficult for them to understand Hades and Persephone. There is no good comparison to what they already know.

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