The Face of Apollo (Book of the Gods, Volume 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Fred Saberhagen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Book of the Gods | Publication Date: July 15, 1999

Ancient Greece has many heroes. Young Jeremy Redthorn, seemingly doomed to virtual slavery as a farm laborer, doesn't think of himself as one. But when he risks his life for a beautiful, wounded stranger, he soon finds himself on a perilous mission. What he doesn't realize is that the mask he must deliver can confer upon its wearer the powers of a god. And, unfortunately for Jeremy, that god wants it back.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In a post-technology world in which the Olympian deities are distant memories, Jeremy Redthorn discovers a divine artifact that transforms his life and heralds the return of the gods. Equally at home with both sf and fantasy, Saberhagen (Beserker Fury, LJ 8/97) here shows off his skill at revitalizing old mythologies in this rousing series opener. Combining the epic quest with a story of one young man's rite of passage, this title should appeal to YA readers as well as to the author's many fans.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

In fine form, Saberhagen turns to a world that recalls (and may actually be) that of his Swords series. The ancient classical gods have returned but are at war among themselves, and this yarn opens with a battle to the death between Apollo and Hades. Although Hades appears the victor, the face of Apollo is carried off by one of the sun god's human votaries. It ends up entering the body of 15-year-old Jeremy Redthorn, turning him into an avatar of Apollo who possesses many attributes of the god. That noticeably improves his sex life and gives him the power to summon swarms of bees against his enemies, but it also imposes responsibilities equal to the new powers and thrusts him forcibly into the front lines of the cosmic battle of good and evil. Saberhagen offers classical scholarship, wit, and brisk pacing in an admirable coming-of-age story that should appeal even to readers unfamiliar with the Swords books and attract Swords-familiar readers in swarms. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy; 1st Mass Market Ed edition (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812571894
• ISBN-13: 978-0812571899
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,033,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Physical existence of gods and godesses, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Face of Apollo (Book of the Gods, Volume 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Do (or did) gods such as Apollo and Hades actually exist? The Face of Apollo proposes that each god possesses a human being, and uses him or her in the performance of god-like duties. The story follows the adventures of a teenage boy, Jeremy Redthorn, who is possessed by Apollo. This was my first Saberhagen novel, so I was unprepared for a world that at first appeared to be ancient Greece, but isn't. Names like Jeremy, Kathryn, Carlotta and Arnobius appear. The gods represented include not only Greek gods, but also Roman, Norse and Native American. The characters eat both New World and Old World foods (though eating isn't mentioned often), and there are mutant animals called "cameloids". There are no "modern" weapons; characters fight with spears or bows and arrows. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where this story is set; this and many other inconsistencies (some obviously intentional, others perhaps not) detracted from the story. However, the story was intriguing enough to hold my attention. The ending is disappointing, but Saberhagen has left things open for the sequel or sequels which are coming.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What the--?, May 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Face of Apollo: The First Book of the Gods (Paperback)

Starts off good, then degenerates into an absolute mess. Saberhagen's got goodwill to spare with me, so I'll try the next book. But what a disaster! People pop in and pop out; the plot twists and then goes back to where it was; boots in one chapter become sandals in the next. Don't the people at Tor read these things?

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saberhagen manages to stay fresh using old themes..., September 4, 2000

By 

Michael A. Behr "mabehr" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Face of Apollo (Book of the Gods, Volume 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Authors who write very long and successful series, like the Swords series (all really good, btw!), often start a new series that's only a slight rework of their original (Eddings, Feist, etc). It's understandable - they're under a lot of pressure from publishers to get something out fast, and hey, why ruin a winning formula? At the same time, I prefer to shell out my hard earned bucks for something that I *haven't* read before, and Fred Saberhangen delivers just that!

Saberhagen keeps some of the themes from the Swords, namely that Gods who walk the earth are not actually "gods" but somehow enhanced humans. In addition, there are "items of power" which are often sought out by individuals, but sometimes acquired just by luck. In the other series it was Swords, here it's Masks. Other than sharing that same starting point...NOTHING is the same, which I love! Kudos, Fred!

The topography of the land is totally different, as are the personalities of all the major characters. This storyline is quite unpredictable and engaging too! This looks to be a great new series, and I highly recommend it.