Customer Reviews

Thessalonica (Baen Fantasy)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoy reading Harry Turtledove's alternative histories, and this one was no exception. It's an enjoyable book, and I strongly recommend it. I must, however, point out one flaw that irked me throughout the book. The scenes with George and his commedian friend John in the town wine shops struck me as contrived. The barkeeper acted more like a modern-day comedy club operator than an ancient wine seller, and John's jokes just didn't fit the time period. This is the type of strained writing one would expect to find in an episode of Xena Warrior Princess, but not a Harry Turtledove novel. Despite those distractions--and they are minor--this is still a great book with which to kill an evening.

In a land where the "old" religions and their Dieties co-exist with the "new", man is caught in the middle. This book exercises the imagination and was an absolute treat for someone like myself who enjoys reading mythology. The author breathed life into the pages of Edith Hamliton and Robert Graves. I am a regular reader Dr. Turtledove's work and, to date, honestly feel this is his best.

I was very pleased with Turtledove's novel "Thessalonica". He did an excellent job of keeping the fantastic elements in with the historical fiction elements.

Turtledove, who has a PhD in Byzantine history, accurately portrays Christian life in the Roman Empire during the 7th century AD. Details buffs such as myself will note that from time to time he makes glaring errors such as messing up the "Trisagion prayer", but if you are not an Eastern Christian this won't bother you a bit. Also, the bishop's prayers are borderline silly at times.

One other negative aspect of the book is Turtledove's obsession with describing the status of the satyrs' sexual organs (in mythology these animals are oversexed, and Turtledove uses vivid descriptions of the satyr's erectile state to determine his mood, which gets annoying.)

The book's action moves quickly, and the author incorporates the main character George's home life quite well into the thread of the action.

I loved this book and would recommend it to those who have an interest in the genre of historical fantasy.

"Thessalonica" by Turtledove is a great work of fantasy. It pits Christianity against the dark gods of the Slavs. A splendid work for those of us with a little crusader inside them!

Not quite science-fiction-fantasy, this is more historical-fiction-fantasy. The book's charm is in the contrast between George's utterly unpredictable fantastic world, and his phlegmatic and resigned attitude toward it. Not sure what to make of the 4some, George and his friends John, Paul and Daktylios!

I wasn't sure what to make of "Thessalonica". For the most part I like Harry, and a book with centaurs makes ya think. But it was a fun read. You'll like George, although I'm not too sure if 6th Century Greece was quite like that. The other bizarre part of this is of course the occasional Beatles intrusion... George, John, Paul and Daktylios (little ring)... with one satyr seeming to have nothing but Beatles song titles as his vocabulary.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed it enough to read it quickly and then even report on it.

Sorry Harry but is just like "Between the Rivers" but with Christians and left overs from the Greek Panthon of mythical creatures.

Now I'm not saying the book isn't enjoyable because it is but there is nothing that you read here that can't be read in any other(much better) Harry Turtledove book

However there was one part I just loved and that is why this book gets 4 stars instead of 3. I am refering to the very funny conflict resolution at the end of the story. Great way to handle that little problem!

If you need something to put yourself to sleep then this book is for you. Three quarters of the book deals with a town under siege and the militia defending it. I might add it deals with it in a very dull manner. A lot of talking between characters, and rather uninteresting conversations they are to boot. Very little in the way of character development, dull plot...blah, blah, blah. This is one you won't regret missing.