Customer Reviews

The Shattered Horse

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had always been fascinated by tales in ancient times. I also find rewrites of these tales quite entertaining, quite explorative. "The Shattered Horse" has this, and more. Astyanax, who should have been thrown down from the walls of Troy as a babe, is still around and he grows to start a new Trojan war, which he does by stealing Helen again. But on the way, he sees the terrible effects of a recent war: deprived states, chaotic governments, rampant crime and death, tragic fates, all of which happened to the Greeks as well as the Trojan after their great war. He probably thought when he returned, maybe I should jump from the walls of Troy anyhow. But it's a great adventure. The events are amazing, the telling gripping, the magical element awe-inspiring (especially Memnon, the Ethiopian god-king). I can't believe such a gem as this was missed by the fantasy-reading public.

Loved reading about the adventures of Astyanax. An excellent retelling of the legand. I recommend it to all that have an interest in the Trojan war. The book is not perfect it does get a little confusing towards the end.

This has been out of print for so long - the reviews below from the earlier edition on amazon will hopefully demonstrate why this book should be back in print!

****
Good author, good story , October 7, 2005
Reviewer: "General Pete" (SC)
Loved reading about the adventures of Astyanax. An excellent retelling of the legand. I recommend it to all that have an interest in the Trojan war. The book is not perfect it does get a little confusing towards the end.
*****
Excellent adventure set in ancient times, August 28, 2001
Reviewer: "techtor" (Quezon CIty, Philippines)
I had always been fascinated by tales in ancient times. I also find rewrites of these tales quite entertaining, quite explorative. "The Shattered Horse" has this, and more. Astyanax, who should have been thrown down from the walls of Troy as a babe, is still around and he grows to start a new Trojan war, which he does by stealing Helen again. But on the way, he sees the terrible effects of a recent war: deprived states, chaotic governments, rampant crime and death, tragic fates, all of which happened to the Greeks as well as the Trojan after their great war. He probably thought when he returned, maybe I should jump from the walls of Troy anyhow. But it's a great adventure. The events are amazing, the telling gripping, the magical element awe-inspiring (especially Memnon, the Ethiopian god-king). I can't believe such a gem as this was missed by the fantasy-reading public.
*****
Filled with moonlight and old magic, October 21, 1999
Reviewer: A reader
I'like to thank the author for the book... And now I'm go to catch an oppoturnity of buying it.

Prolific and underrated fantasy/scifi author Somtow Sucharitkul, a.k.a. S. P. Somtow, here turns his hand to the world of ancient Greek mythology. Astyanax, son of slain Hector, is the hero who embarks on an impossible quest to rebuild fallen Troy. The familiar mythological elements are spiced up with the addition of zombies, Amazons, Egyptian sorcerers and more. Somtow's larger theme is the fall from the ancient world into modernity, the transition from the magical and heroic age of Bronze to the utilitarian age of Iron. The ancient matriarchal culture is seen in the figure of Snakemother, who has turned dark and "evil" in reaction to the emerging patriarchal culture and depredations of Skyfather. All in all a rich if sometimes uneven riff through the world of ancient mythology. It reads as if produced in one prolonged burst of inspiration, with passages of inspired, poetical language coexisting with stretches of functional fantasy-novel prose. An agreeable air of originality and mystery hangs over it all. If you like a good fantasy novel, and appreciate the ancient world, you can't go wrong with this one.

I'like to thank the author for the book... And now I'm go to catch an oppoturnity of buying it.