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Over the Wine-Dark Sea (Hellenic Traders #1)
Menedemos was born with enough confidence for three men, and he can switch from threats to charm and back again. But he can also be foolhardy--for instance, risking everything for the chance at another man's wife. Sostratos can perform unheard-of feats with numbers, he knows the old histories and the natural sciences--but he lacks the common touch and, Menedemos would say,...more
Paperback, 480 pages
Published
November 18th 2002
by Tom Doherty Associates
(first published October 16th 2001)
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HN Turtletaub is, of course, Harry Turtledove, of alternate history fame. Under the Turtletaub name he writes historical fiction, principally the adventures of Menedemos and his cousin Sostratos, ship captain and traders on "the wine dark sea." The novels are not exactly plot-free, but they contain a wealth of information about life in the 4th century BCE. I just love them and eat up all the detail on the history of the day. I don't think many others do, but if you like this era, like to read ab...more
I like books set in past or even alternate times and settings. This book easily fit within that realm. There also promised to be a fair amount of opportunity to observe past rites and customs as presented by the author. However, it seemed as though the author felt it necessary to over explain things - resulting in forced dialogue between characters.
Perhaps the book was meant for younger audiences, but I appreciate having some control of discovery or the author writing in way that will reveal for...more
Perhaps the book was meant for younger audiences, but I appreciate having some control of discovery or the author writing in way that will reveal for...more
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This book was loaned by my friend Chris Swanson. A very enjoyable read for me, since it was a highly detailed bit of historical fiction set in the Hellenistic Greek world. The plot rambled a bit, featuring the voyages of traders from Rhodes, but wasn't bad either. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the period . . . also, I love that the author note that the translations of quotations from Greek literature *are his own*. An author that translates his own Greek? Gotta love that!
It is an interesting way of portraying an average man's perspective on life during the time after the death of Alexander The Great, with the generals fighting and scheming, and the little men caught in the middle. Not that life wasn't already a difficult proposition, especially for a tradesman of the sea, before the knowledge of celestial and magnetic navigation had made the notion of aiming for a destination with any hope of accuracy actually possible.
On to the second book....
On to the second book....
enough already with the peacocks--
The book's plot itself was rather boring to me, but I don't think I've read anything else except for Tom Holt's Goatsong: A Novel of Ancient Athens and the rest of his historicals that gave me such 'a feel' for living in the ancient world.
Fun read for ancient history fans. Really gives an interesting look at ancient Mediterritan in an accessible for historically sound context.
Learned a good deal about 4th century b.c. mediterranean life. The read was well worth it for that. Also learned how badly dialogue and character development can be done - or not done.
May 01, 2013
Craig Stackpole
marked it as owned
Apr 12, 2013
William Watts
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
Mar 23, 2013
Cameron McLeod
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
Mar 20, 2013
C.
marked it as to-read
Feb 11, 2013
Pcollinsjr
added it
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Jan 09, 2013 03:32pm