Paneb the Ardent (Stone of Light) [Import] [Paperback]

Christian Jacq (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; New Ed edition (January 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671773755
• ISBN-13: 978-0671773755
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,705,212 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent work in this great series, March 2, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paneb the Ardent (The Stone of Light, Volume III) (Paperback)

A secret community of artisans and their families living in the mythical Place of Truth design and build the royal tombs of the pharaohs. Life and death meet here to create special artistic designs that eventually become the resting-places of Egypt's rulers. The magical Stone of Light can turn anything into gold and make matter translucent. It is place of harmony, but one member of the community has allied himself with the group's enemy, General Mehy.

This traitor and the General plot to steal the Stone of Light and destroy the village. With Seth II about to be ordained pharaoh unless his own son's challenge defeats him, the timing is perfect to devastate the Place of Truth. General Mehy plays father against son planning to become the first Egyptian ruler in many years to rule without the Place of Truth on his side in victory.

The third volume in this fascinating ancient historical fiction series brings back all the key characters we either root for or against from the previous epic tales. Christian Jacq provides his usual visual and colorful story that makes an ancient civilization seem alive. Readers see a political intrigue thriller wrapped inside the golden age of Egypt and that leaves the audience appreciating an author who enhances a powerful plot with interesting details of a once thriving culture.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A HUMANISTIC-THEOCRATIC EPIC, May 6, 2001

By 

Timothy Wingate - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paneb the Ardent (The Stone of Light, Volume III) (Paperback)

Following fast on the heels of "Nefer the Silent" and "The Wise Woman", this third instalment in Jacq's "Stone of Light" quartet keeps up the suspense and intrigue and involves most of the same characters. One can tell that he is an accredited Egyptologist by the knowledgeable details and fascinating insights he imparts in his telling of how royal and aristocratic tombs were labouriously hewn out of rock, how they were prepared for painting and decorating, and the incredible skill and artistry that went into these "homes for eternity". The author also gives enthralling medicinal insights (especially the special role of honey in healing) and information about what the ordinary Egyptian ate, drank, wore, thought. He has really cloaked himself with the time and place of pharaonic Egypt and has a cliff-hanging narrative to tell at the same time. I can hardly wait for the final chapter of this epic and sincerely hope that the author has plans for another series of novels as well-written and as erudite as the "Ramses" series and this "Stone of Light" series."Paneb the Ardent" has conniving temptresses, lusty tomb-painters, impotent pharaohs, a mystery villain, high intrigue, low comedy, arcane ritual, and grand epic. It is satisfying to see all the dry academic material that many of us have plodded through for years come to life in such an entertaining and elegantly-written way. His novels far surpass those of Pauline Gedge whose narrative skills are sometimes plodding and unconvincing. I suppose you have to really study the culture in an advanced way before you can craft tales from it. I look forward to re-reading all of Christian Jacq's novels some few years hence and trust they will be as "page-turning" then as they are now. All Egyptological readers deserve to treat themselvs to these convincing dramas of an era far behind in the mists of time but ever-present in human pan-consciousness for some inscrutable and mysterious reason.Tim Wingate from Ottawa, CANADA

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my review, March 30, 2001

By 

Ana Maria Barrenechea - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paneb the Ardent (The Stone of Light, Volume III) (Paperback)

In this volume of the series, the Master of the Place of Truth trains and initiates Paneb in the mysteries of the Brotherhood. Paneb grows into a master in his own right and becomes the leader of one of the two crews. At the same time, Egypt is undergoing major changes due to the differences between Seti II and his son Amenmessu. All this upheavals also affect the Place of Truth.

The enemy of this sacred place tries to take advantage of the difficulties and destroy it but the protection of the goddess always wins.

This book is so full of wonderful descriptions, it makes you live and actually feel the people, the places, the serenity of the sacred valley.

Once again the author brings to life the way people lived in those days and how profound was their beliefs in their gods and their influence in everyday life.

Wonderful book and a real joy to read.