Never Grow Old: The Novel of Gilgamesh [Paperback]

Brian Trent (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Trent is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and author of the acclaimed novel Remembering Hypatia. He lives in Connecticut.

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (May 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595429831
• ISBN-13: 978-0595429837
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,649,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars (4.5 stars) A re-telling of a myth that walks the line between science and mysticism, December 23, 2007

By 

Lilly Flora "by Lilo Drandoff" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Never Grow Old: The Novel of Gilgamesh (Paperback)

To be honest I've never heard all that much about the myth of Gilgamesh. So reading this book, I had no idea what to expect. Fortunately, that made for a pleasant surprise.

So, for other clueless people like myself, Gilgamesh is the God-King of Uruk, one of the city states of the Fertile Crescent. At the age of twenty, he feels his largest contribution as King has been to build a wall encircling the city for defense, and he wants to be remembered forever for great deeds. So when Enkidu, the very last of a tribe of semi-mystical beings (in reality I think he's a Neanderthal) emerges from the forest, Gilgamesh befriends him. Together they accomplish many great things, but Gilgamesh still wants immortality in some form or another. So when sent on a quest by Ishtar, the goddess of Uruk who lives in the city, Gilgamesh jumps at the dangerous task.

Even though this novel is based on a myth, the story within walks a fine line between science and mysticism. There are gods and goddesses who are present-but are they truly gods or are they people representing the gods? There are beasts of strange appearance-are the demons are just animals from another age that are the last of their kind? Is Enkidu really some type of magical being or he just something different? It was nice to see something that is shrouded in so much social history and mysticism, as all myths are, maintain the sort of beyond the real scope while being something that a normal, modern, science drenched person can relate to.

All in all, I really liked this book. I did find it to be somewhat of a slow starter, but after a certain point I just couldn't put it down. I was up late finishing this book. One thing that would have been nice: maps! Diagrams of the cities, of the temples....I'm an anthro major so I know what some of this stuff looks like but it's hard imagining buildings and cities from pre-history. Also a certain map plays a MAJOR role in this story and it would have been nice to see it. Still this is definitely something I would recommend and it's nice for me, as someone who mostly reads books by female authors, to find a male author I can really get into.

Four point five stars.

To the author: you tried to contact me, but I have no way to get back to you, so I'm getting back to you through this review. There is no email address on your Amazon profile and your website, for some reason, will not let me send an email. So, if you want to contact me, please email me at [...] . Thank you very much for your offer (does it refer to this book or another one? Because the moment I finished "Remembering Hypatia" I ordered this and I certainly hope another novel is coming soon) and I'm glad you liked my review.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a timeless story, beautifully written, July 2, 2007

By 

Amy Druckenmiller - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Never Grow Old: The Novel of Gilgamesh (Paperback)

This is a beautifully written and timeless novel of a young man growing into his role as king. Thoroughly absorbed by the lives of the main character, his friends, and his enemies, the reader faces the emotions and experiences common to all humanity, including pride, forgiveness, power, helplessness, rage, love, death, deceit, loyalty, bravery, terror, and humor. I laughed at, loved, feared, loathed, identified with and was shocked by the characters, in turn. The historical details are fascinating and add to one's sense of being drawn into the story. I literally could not put Never Grow Old down, and had it finished the day after I started it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Trent hits the mark again, July 2, 2007

By 

Shane K. York (Woodbury, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Never Grow Old: The Novel of Gilgamesh (Paperback)

After recently finishing this book all I can say is WOW! From page one you get drawn into this tale. By the third chapter I was invested into plot lines that were just barely developing. As the plot lines formed and weaved in and out of one another I could not put this book down. Any fan of Historical Fiction would do themself a great service by snatching up this title.