Customer Reviews

Anabasis: A Journey to the Interior

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I also had to respond to the 1 star review. I have never read a Gilchrist book before, but am a huge fan of Stephen Pressfield's books and was inspired to read Green's and Kagin's accounts of the Greco-Persian and Peloponesian wars. I stumbled on this book by accident and found it to be tremendously entertaining. Yes, the characters might be developed more but I did not find this a serious distraction. I would compare it to Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea - some things are not fleshed out, but there are so many parts that are stunningly good that the book overall is quite worthwhile.

I'm writing this review partly because of the one-star review. My own view of the book is somewhat different. I have read all of Ellen Gilchrist's books and would say this one is not her best work, but still worth a read. As with other of her books, the social milieu and the relationships of the characters are where the interest and focus really lie. I have to believe she did plenty of research before writing this book because it mostly rings true. If you haven't read Gilchrist, you might want to give this one a try later, after you read Net of Jewels, or The Annunciation, or I Cannot Get You Close Enough.

I read about half-way through this book and found that I just did not have the desire to finish it. I feel the author did not work hard enough at interpolating appropriate details to create an atmosphere. She probably put a lot of work in, but not enough for me.

Rather than my own summary, I am fine with this Publishers Weekly excerpt: "During the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.) between Athens and Sparta, Auria, a runaway slave girl, transforms herself into a warrior, healer, lyceum teacher, painter, ceramist, poet, songwriter and fiercely loving adoptive mother of an infant girl whom she rescues from a cave."

I like actual history in historical fiction. This is historical fantasy, shaded by (a subset of) today's mores... if that's your taste, have at it. Otherwise, move on.