Pankration: The Ultimate Game [Hardcover]

Dyan Blacklock (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Set in Greece in 430 B.C., Nic, the spoiled son of a wealthy Athenian family, is on the run. If only he can reach Olympia in time for the Games and find his friend Gellius, he thinks he'll be safe. But the Pankration, the supreme event of the original Olympic games, a bare-fisted, no-holds-barred combat sport, awaits Gellius. And in the end it's the Pankration that forces Nic to choose between the truth and a horrible fear.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-This adventure set in 430 B.C.E. follows the exploits of Nicasylus, the son of a well-to-do Athenian family. During a hot, steamy summer, Nic is sent on a voyage to his uncle's home in Argos to escape a rapidly spreading plague. During his trip, he befriends Gellius, the captain of the ship, who tells the boy about his plans to enter the Pankration (a combination of wrestling and bare-fisted boxing) in the next Olympics. Before the end of the voyage, pirates attack the ship, capture Nic, and seriously injure Gellius. The following chapters alternate between Gellius and Nic. The captain is rescued by fishermen, recovers from his wounds, and returns to Athens to train for his event. The boy is sold into slavery, endures hunger and abuse, battles wolves, escapes, is captured again, and finally meets up with Gellius in Olympia. The plot is fantastic and unrealistic, but the author keeps the story moving with exciting episodes and believable descriptions of events. She provides a realistic picture of the crowds, ceremony, and pageantry of the Olympics and the grimy, sweating brutality of the Pankration. The ending is pat and characters are not finely developed but the setting and atmosphere are well done.
Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Australian Blacklock debuts with a gory, rough-hewn tale set in ancient Greece and Italy. Sent from Athens to escape the plague, young Nicasylus is taken by pirates and sold into slavery; he escapes, makes his way to Olympia, and witnesses the vicious Pankration, a no-rules fight that lasts until all but one competitor is too broken up to continue. The author splits the story between Nic and his giant friend Gelliusa sailor who survives the pirate attackwho undergoes the requisite nine months of training and purification required to compete in the games, and is beaten to a pulp but crowned victor when Nic fingers his opponent as the pirate captain. There are some who may enjoy following Nic's blood-and-vomit-splashed trail to Olympia, but neither of the protagonists sees much beyond the climactic bout, even though Blacklock prepares readers for a visit to the ancient games. The rarely used setting, tailor-made for historical fiction book reports, may spark some interest. (Fiction. 11-13) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807563234
• ISBN-13: 978-0807563236
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,617,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pankration: The ultimate book, October 4, 2007

By 

Faky fanatic "Pankration fanatic" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pankration: The Ultimate Game (Paperback)

This book takes place in ancient Greece. It is about the life of a young boy named Nic who faces many dilemmas in life. He is sent away from Athens due to the plauge. He meets Gellius, a sailor who dreams to win the pankration someday. Then Nic is captured and sold as a slave. Gellius was not captured. This story tells about his search for a friend, and his struggle.I think that this was a great book. My friend thinks it was too convenient for Nic sometimes and a little unrealitic, but I loved it.
This book was exciting, and made you think about your life too. This book was a wonder to our class(as we read it aloud in class) I give this book five stars. It was a book of great pain, suffering, and happiness. I hope you all read this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars §§ A Fantastic History of the Greek Olympics! §§, May 20, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Pankration: The Ultimate Game (Hardcover)

excellent! a great book for projects on greek olympics! Five-star book, Blacklock did an absolute thriller adventure ride.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for the 2000 games!, December 9, 1998

By 

Olivia (Melbourne) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pankration: The Ultimate Game (Hardcover)

As I live in Australia, I already have a copy of the book (its original publishing place) and to anyone in the rest of the world I suggest you read it. Full of pirates, slaves, fights and some romance - this book is totally readable by almost anyone.