Customer Reviews

Last of the Amazons

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

When you have white space before you, a magnificent book beside you, there develops a reluctance to begin. What if you cannot do the book justice? But throw that question aside and begin. No faint heart for an Amazon or one who reveres Amazons.

"Last of the Amazons" is a magnificent book worthy of only the most devout reader. Brave, bold, courageous, fierce. Think of every bold word you can. Still they are not enough. The Amazons were a race apart. Did they truly exist? Plutarch says they did. Or, were they part of mythical Greece?

Steven Pressfield offers his take on Amazonia through this novel. If they did not exist as real women, they should have. What he presents is one of the early age-old clashes between the wild and untamed and the civilized and rooted. "Progress is inevitable" whether we want it or not. Greece was seemingly destined for greater things than the Amazons.

This story takes place 1250 BC just before the Trojan War. It is again one of the early stories of a manly, yet intelligent king, Theseus, who meets and falls in love with a womanly, yet wild queen, Antiope. She runs away with him to Athens, setting up an inevitable war. Her lover and co-leader, Eleuthera, declares war on Athens.

Two things stand out in memory from this novel: the description of the tal Kyrte, or race of Amazons. They refer to themselves in the plural because they are a working unit. They grow up on the steppes (the origin of the Amazon homeland was probably southern Russia) with a horse as part of themselves. They learn from a horse. They are part of nature. They are free.

The other thing from memory are the battle scenes which fully take up one-third or more of the novel. Whacking and hacking and thudding and smashing. Blood, blood everywhere, making battle grounds slippery. Hacked off limbs. I wondered how Pressfield knew so much battle goings-on and could write pages and pages and pages. The battle scenes were powerful and gripping and unimaginable. Add to that the fact that men and women were battling and hacking each other makes the fighting even more incredulous.

The final battle when the Amazons had pushed all the way to the very gates of Athens--an unthinkable act!-- was an intensity almost too much. How it all ends is Pressfield's acknowledged imagination, but it explains much about the Amazons that we don't know. How the Amazons scale that impossible stone wall is unbelievable!! Sheer fearlessnes, courage beyond words! A mettle worth Plutarch's words! Perhaps this act is why he insists they existed. How could this battle be made up?

The richness of Pressfield's imagination takes one last turn--in the title--"Last of the Amazons"--and the incredibly creative way this is so. In fact, this is a book so rich in detail, so epic in scope, so mesmerizing in storytelling that it is one to be placed on the shelf of favored books to be read and savored again and again.

There is a blurb on one of the Flashman novels--I forget which and I can't find it now--which makes a comment about the author, George MacDonald Fraser. It says something like, not only is he a great writer, he is also a great storyteller. I thought of this after finishing Pressfield's excellent novel and feeling strangely unfulfilled. He is unquestionably a great writer: his knowledge of that which he writes is impeccable, he has a great and intelligent imagination, and he has a sound and thorough understanding of human nature. But it is as a storyteller, alas, that the novel falls somewhat short.

This novel has to do with the clash of cultures between the burgeoning Greek civilization and the mythical Amazon society and takes place about 1250 B. C. The plot is a little convoluted. It starts as the story of a group of Greeks tracking down an escaped Amazon slave. On the journey, an account is told by a couple of the older fellows of a previous trip to the land of the Amazons, and the subsequent Amazon invasion of Athens. This makes up the meat of the book. But also in there is the story of the very first Greek visit to Amazonia, made by the mythical Heracles. So we have a story within a story within a story, all of which relate essentially the same journey.

But this is not what bothers me. What bothers me is that the story of these journeys and the events which occurred on them is really all there is. Despite the fact that the book is comprised of several first-person narratives, we don't get the inner, personal stories of these people. To go back to Flashman: yes, he was present at the Charge of the Light Brigade, and yes, he was present at Custer's Last Stand. But the difference is, these are not the story. The story is Flashman's life; what he was doing, where he was, how he got into these situations, what he thinks of them, and how he got out of them.

This is what makes good historical fiction. We as readers are far more able to come to a new understanding of events when we are able to view of them through the eyes of a fully fleshed-out human being, one whom we've come to know and empathize with, and one who has an opinion we yearn to hear. This is a lot different from having a cardboard character read a history to us, no matter how interesting the subject matter.

But I am being perhaps a little too harsh, because, no question about it, the subject matter here is very interesting, and, as mentioned earlier, is brought to us by an author who is truly, remarkably knowledgeable about this stuff. We get descriptions of the peoples who inhabited the areas around the Black Sea, we get descriptions of the Amazon way of life, and we get descriptions of the beginnings of Greek civilization. The Amazon way of life is particularly imaginative and detailed, with their groups of three, their mating rituals, their preoccupation with horses, and their splendid prowess with arms.

Also excellent is the description of the siege of Athens, and the various other battles which take place throughout this novel. Again, Mr. Pressfield is extremely knowledgeable about ancient warfare, and there is so much here which was new to me: battle formations, cavalry and siege tactics, the importance of strong leadership, etc. In general, one gets an idea of what the average soldier feels ands experiences as he participates in an ancient, horrific battle.

Also here are the trademark, grand Pressfield speeches. The debates between Theseus and the Amazon queen, Eleuthera, are particularly wonderful. Theseus argues for the benefits of civilization and the ways in which it frees men to pursue their goals beyond simple subsistence. Eleuthera scorns this: "Our Athenian guest claims that cities produce leisure. What rubbish! Who has more free time than the hunter or warrior, whose very work is sport?" There is much more in this vein, all of which is very thought-provoking, and brings to one a vague sense of longing for the wild, untamed, ancient (or maybe not-so-ancient), past.

Pressfield is a great writer, no doubt about it, and this is a great book. But it sure would be nice to find a friend in here somewhere.

For those of you who felt that Pressfield's last book "The Tides of War" was a little slow, you'll be pleased to hear that his newest book, "Last of the Amazons" is more on par with "Gates of Fire". While not quite as engaging as that novel, it is packed with every bit as much historical detail and tons of action.

While still set in Ancient Greece, "Last of the Amazons" strays slightly from the formula of its predecessors. Whereas in his first two books Pressfield wrote novelizations of actual historical events, in "Last of the Amazons", he explores the semi-mythological era of early Athens. As always, this novel is impeccably researched and laid out in a highly plausible way, but even the author admits that his story is speculative, at best. However, that in no way detracts from what is a great historical/military novel.

As anyone who has read his prior novels knows, Pressfield excels in writing the story of the mayhem and brutality of combat. I have not encountered a single other author who can make the sweat, blood and fear of close combat come alive like Pressfield. Furthermore, he has a knack for capturing the language of the time, such that his prose reads like something far older than it actually is. That's not to say he's another Homer, but he does capture the spirit of the epic genre in a highly effective manner.

While I didn't empathize with the characters in "Last of the Amazons" as much as I did in "Gates of Fire", they are perhaps even better written. "In Gates of Fire" Pressfield had real historical figures, in a real battle to work with, one that had a tragic and foregone conclusion. As a result, the reader knew the destiny of all the actors, and therefore developed a level of pathos for them that transcended the writing (which was still excellent). In "Last of the Amazons", however, Pressfield is writing about figures that are more rooted in mythology than history, so he had to flesh them out a great deal more, and succeeded admirably. He has created some genuinely tragic and conflicted figures that are incredibly complex. Moreover, he has proven that he can write believable, strong, female characters, which were noticeably (albeit understandably) absent from his first two novels.

Finally, since Pressfield was able to stray from, and manipulate, the historical record, this novel has a much stronger message than his prior ones. He makes a powerful statement about redemption, and explores at some length what constitutes civilization and civilized behavior.

In conclusion, "Last of the Amazons" is an outstanding read. It has breathtaking battle scenes, but also is very thoughtful. It is a great adventure, but also extremely well written. In short, it is an excellent novel: enjoy!

Let me make it easy for you. If you are an occasional reader looking for a good book ... if you enjoyed the films Gladiator, Braveheart, 13th Warrior, Spartacus, Last of the Mohicans (get it: Last of the Amazons), and others of that genre .... If you are a fan of Arthurian Legend and stories of valor, heroism, courage and commitment, you will love this book.. It packs a wallop like no other book I've read since Gates of Fire, and it can potentially (if someone steps up to the bar) hit you from the big screen like a two-by-four. If those things are of no interest to you, go look for another book and don't waste your time reading the rest of this.

Steven Pressfield has taken himself to new heights with Last of the Amazons. When I learned Mr. Pressfield was following Tides of War with a book about Amazons, I was very skeptical. That skepticism disappeared after my first day of reading. From my perspective, I know of few stories that can capture the soul of courage like the stand of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. Mr. Pressfield told that story like it's never been told in Gates of Fire. It remains my favorite book as much for Pressfield's telling as for the story itself. Nonetheless, he has taken historical references from Plutarch and other archeological suggestions, combined them with legend that has survived millenniums and created a tale that rivals Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

After turning the last page, I pulled out a 1951 translation of Homer's epics, and sensed a similar style and prose. As Diana Gabaldon (Fiery Cross) wrote on the back cover, "Homer would be proud of this guy [Pressfield]." Truer words have been rarely spoken about an author.

This is a story about freedom, the freedom of individuals and the freedom of a nation. As Mr. Pressfield demonstrates through 396 tightly wrapped pages, freedom is a fragile thing. It can be corrupted through internal and external events. Freedom can be maintained or sacrificed by individual choices within any group. This concept is reinforced from start to finish.

Mr. Pressfield introduces us to a number of characters that we are unlikely to forget. All Pressfield novels are narrated. Pressfield alternates between three of several key characters: Selene, an Amazon champion, Damon, an Athenian champion, and Mother Bones (you'll be astonished when you find out who she is). I was amazed at Mr. Pressfield's ability to tell much of the tale through the mind of two women, a risky task, but one that Pressfield accomplishes magnificently. I have read few books in which I identify so strongly with each character whom it was so easy to imagine such a clear picture of. This is a visual achievement: not only could I 'see' each character and unquestionably know the mind of each, but also, I could see, feel and hear each thrust of the sword, each crunch of frozen ground as the Amazons trekked to Athens .... I could feel the ground rumble with the advance of Amazon cavalry .... I could see the 'Wildlands' extend before me .... Correct: I was mesmerized by this book.

I'll not spoil your read to summarize the tale. It is filled, however, with love, hate, compassion, respect, brother and sisterhood, and harmony among living creatures. Like Homer's Iliad, there is enough action to fill several books, and it ranges from individual combat among champions to plains warfare to siege warfare. You will not be disappointed. As a child I remember reading the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur; that event occurs years before this story and is mentioned only in passing. Here is the rest of the tale!

My heavy criticism for this novel comes from its comparison to Pressfield's earlier novel, "Gates of Fire". That novel is an excellent read and I think I had set my expectations too high by the time "Last of the Amazons" was published.

I'm going against the grain by saying "Last of the Amazons" isn't the great historical novel you might be expecting. As reviewer BJ Fraser mentions, the narration is a key problem: we switch back and forth in points-of-view, which is fine style when it's done right (see Colleen McCullough's wonderful retelling of the Trojan War, "Song of Troy"), but we rarely witness the story told from it's key characters. This gets quite frustrating and gives the story a chaotic, choppy feel.

But what first irritated me was Pressfield's inclusion of practically every Amazonian cliche, or rather, stereotype. Within the first few chapters we have an overboard account of the Amazons' lesbian society--which is fine, but Pressfield treats the subject as a fifteen-year-old boy would, more like a fantasy than a description of how this alternate society functions. And of course, Pressfield offers us the old 'ritual severing of the right breast so that it doesn't interfere with the drawing of a bowstring' business (as a side note, ask any female archer about this practice and she'll tell you it is totally unnecessary--the Amazons must have had massive breasts and not discovered the benefits of a strategically placed leather strap). Fortunately, however, Pressfield's Amazons don't keep men as sex slaves for reproduction, nor do they kill the male infants born to them.

But aside from these problems, Pressfield's descriptive quality shines through. The 'adventure' sequences (persuits on horseback, journeys through exremely harsh conditions, brutal battle scenes) are wonderfully written and give us great visuals. Likewise, the characters are intreguing and relatively complex, which adds to the enjoyment of the story.

While it is certainly not among the best in novels set in ancient Greece, this is an enjoyable read if you are not too picky. But if you are looking for originality, excitement, and supreme quality in stories of ancient Greece, might I suggest McCullough's "Song of Troy", Pressfield's own "Gates of Fire", and Manfredi's "Alexander the Great" trilogy.

The point of this novel is not exactly to paint a historically accurate description of the period in which the story is set. This novel narrates the clash of two very different cultures, of two drastically opposed views of life and the world. On the one hand, the Amazons are described as a matriarchal nation, highly conservative and very respectful of the ways of nature, so much so that they see horses as their soul brothers and they hate to live in cities, and they have kept this way of life for centuries. On the other hand, the Greek come from a patriarchal society which is consciously bent on change: in Athens, king Theseus is changing the way kingdoms and states are ruled, making the citizens take part in, and assume responsibility for, the state affairs.

The Greek arrive as strangers and travellers in the land of the Amazons, where they preach about the moral superiority of their new and dynamic urban society to a wary audience who does not want to change their ancestral ways. But in fact, the role of the Greek in history was to bring change, and this is what Theseus and his companions do, even though unwillingly, with their mere presence which sparks an unstoppable chain reaction of disaster and change.

Which of these two civilizations is better? The conservative, respectful of nature Amazons (who, we are shown, can be quite brutal and cruel, in the unconcerned, detached way also of nature)? or the daring, all-for-change, urban Greek(who don't consider their womenfolk as proper citizens and don't allow them the same advantages as men)? The Amazon live among their horses, following the rythms of nature. The Greek live in cities and try to control nature with their agriculture and commerce. We know the result of this culture clash, but we are certainly given food for thought by the author.

This novel reads almost as a Robin Hobb or George R.R.Martin fantasy novel, because of the battle action and the way the clash of cultures and the end of a world are portrayed. And even though the narrative structure (with one narrator who explains the story as it has been told to her by other narrators) makes the reading a bit jumpy, it is very worthwhile and rewarding.

A warrior race who is peace loving? Give me a break!
Are they really living "free"? They seem to have so many rules governing their lives - and virtually certain death if they contravene them - except if you are in charge. All in all, it leads to a not very believable social structure.

The language the author employs leaves me wondering why he is using a 50 cent word (perhaps read the Illiad too much, too often) when a more modest word or phrase would have done.

The book was a gift. I suppose I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. However, I cannot recommend this title.

This is a great book! If you enjoyed Pressfield's other epic historical fiction you will enjoy this new work. While not quite as good as "Gates of Fire" it is as good or even better than "Tides of War."

In the previous two books Pressfield took on historical fact (the battle of Thermapylae & the Peloponnesian War), in this book he deals with the myth of the amazons and their encounter with the Greeks of Athens, two generations before the Trojan War.

The book has a number of narrators and it takes some time to get used to the changing narration, but after about 25-50 pages the story really kicks in and your hooked. And make no doubt about it, the strongest characters both on the battlefield and on the page are the women-the amazons-the "tal Kyrte," the free people. Part adventure story and part love story this book delivers. There are battle scenes that are cinematic in their discription of events. So cinematic in fact that James Cameron of "Titanic" fame has optioned this book to make a movie!

You'll find yourself turning the pages as fast as you can to find out what happens next and then sorry when your done reading this really great book by the master of greek historical fiction, Steven Pressfield!

I'll admit - I was caught up in it and was impressed. Years ago I had read Kleinbaum's THE WAR AGAINST THE AMAZONS, which covered the various depictions of Amazons in the arts: literature and film particularly. In that book she listed all the novels that had been written up to that time and synopsized them. None of them sounded interesting to me because they didn't seem to have come close to even the original myths. This novel though is different. Pressfield did his research and in some ways his depiction of the Amazons is more humane, more centered, and less didactic than previous authors' depictions have been. He is telling an epic story based on classical legends and apparently also on recent archaeological evidence and not forwarding some agenda - women better than men, men better than women, the whole Amazon equals Lesbian blur. I appreciated that aspect of this novel. Pressfield really made an effort to imagine what the 'Amazonian' tribes might have been like.

I've just finished reading "The Last of the Amazons" Phew! That was one really good read. I came across this book by accident in a used bookstore. I've always been interested in the Greek myths, so when I found this book I was immediately drawn to it. I was hooked from the first page on.

For me, even though this is a story about war, battles, violence, and harsh life, it is also a story about love. It isn't only about the love of Theseus and Antiope, but about love for one's people and ideals. It's about the love between sisters and family, between humans and animals. It's also about the love and loyalty between friends, comrades, and warriors. Often the love is ill-fated, painful, dangerous, and
unwise, but irresistible and consuming. Love and hate become inextricably intertwined in this book, sometimes flow into each other, and often are two sides of the same coin.

The story flows easily, although it did take me a minute to adjust to the switching of the action from the escape of Selene to the retelling of the seige of Athens, twenty or so years before, which is the setting for the main story. I was already so into Selene's story, that I hated to be taken from it and refocusd in a different direction. After I adjusted to this new direction, however, I found that this story also immediately drew me in. I don't know how much of the details of Amazon life and culture are "historical" and how much is Mr. Pressfield's own invention, but I was impressed with the attention given to these. The names of places, and various secondary characters, rituals and beliefs, apparel, weapons battles, all rang true for me. The main characters, Selene, Antiope, Eleuthera, Damon, Theseus, and others too numerous to name, I found to be mythic in stature and actions, and yet at crucial times to be all too human. Some reviewers have written that they felt little sympathy for the characters. I found this not to be the case for me. I cared very deeply for each of them, my feelings changing as the story changed, loving and hating them, and loving them again. Their courage, honor, and indeed their heroic proportions inspired me in the way that myths inspire. Heroes are bigger than life, but that doesn't mean that we don't care about them. Often that makes us care about them even more because they embody qualities that we would like to have ourselves. Mr. Pressfield also succeeds in developing his characters to the extent, that by the end of the story, no one character comes off as either all good or all evil, but rather as players caught in the sweep of history. This is illustrated at the end when Theseus is hoping to convince his old enemy, the Scythian king Borges, to allow the remaining Amazons to escape east. These kings are now two elderly veterans who find that their old antagonisms are past and have become irrelevant when held up to the passage of time.

The language, descriptions, and dialog throughout the book were eloquent and intelligent. I sometimes find that authors slip up on the authenticity of their dialog, either using wording that's too modern or else insulting their readers with trite conversations between characters. This is not the case here. For lovers of wording and phrasing, the book is beautifully written.

As the book progresses and it becomes apparent that the Amazon way is approaching its decline I found myself mourning the loss of people and a way of life which for all we know may only be myth. I felt their loss and our loss keenly.

We, as readers, know that the Amazon tribes are doomed. They will pass on into legend, and we will probably never know who they really were. I am glad, however, that Steven Pressfield has "documented" their lives, culture, and heroes for us to enjoy and remember. My only fear is that if Hollywood gets its hands on this book, it could possibly be massacred. I'm afraid that mainstream media may not have the courage or integrity to translate this book into a film that will do it justice. It may be too much of a temptation to cast a bevie of Hollywood beauties and svelt starlets in the roles of these valorous, courageous women. I hope it doesn't turn into another Hollywood copout for the braindead.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a great epic, compelling characters, larger than life action, and an unforgettable love story, all beautifully written, then this is a book for you.