Green Phoenix

The Latium Trilogy #1

by Thomas Burnett Swann

Thomas Burnett Swann (1928-1976) earned a distinguished reputation among writers of science fiction, one that caused his enthusiastic following to nominate him again and again for awards. Unique in his talent, his novels dealt not with the far future, but with the enigma of the past. Prior to the dawn of human history, the Earth did not belong solely to humanity -- there were other intelligent species still fighting a last-stand battle against extinction. These are the beings remembered today only in legend, creatures of the trees and water, beings that combined beast and man, with strange lore of their own and sciences lost to the human victors. GREEN PHOENIX is a tour-de-force of the final stronghold of the prehumans against the last legion of fallen Troy. "He writes his own golden thing his own way..." --Theodore Sturgeon, The New York Times "Swann's neo-romantic fantasies of the past are unique. He uses the stuff of myth with twists and inventions all his own." --The Village Voice After being unavailable for many years, the complete works of Thomas Burnett Swann are being reprinted by Wildside Press -- all 16 novels and the complete short stories.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Thomas Burnett Swann was best known as the author of numerous fantasies published in the 1960s and ’70s. Many of his bucolic tales were set in the Ancient World and populated by mythic creatures. His best-known works include the novel DAY OF THE MINOTAUR and the shorter works “Where Is the Bird of Fire?” and “The Manor of Roses,” all nominated for Hugo Awards. Swann was also a poet, professor, and literary critic.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

DAW Collectors #27

Cover Artist: George Barr.

12 October 1928 - 5 May 1976

Alternate Names: Thomas B. Swann, T. B. Swann

US poet, author and academic who taught English literature at Florida Atlantic University, turning to full-time writing in the early 1960s.

"Green Phoenix" is Swann's take on Homer, and it is predictably filled to the brim with dryads, centaurs, all the wondrous beasts of ancient myth and legend. It is at the same time one of Swann's more successful novels, featuring both good character development and a narrative that draws you in, rather than keeping you just at arm's length through stylistically self-conscious prose or a too-childlike fascination.

Set in the Wanderwood, a piece of land near the mouth of the Tiber, the story stars Mellonia, a dryad whose tribe is charged with killing the Trojan hero Aeneas, reported to be in the vicinity. Horror stories of Aeneas's rapaciousness and duplicity during the Trojan War have reached the terrified dryads' ears. And since they hate humans anyway, particularly men (I kept thinking how several feminists I know might get a kick out of the book's opening chapters), these rumors only serve to fan the flames of hatred and prejudice so that the normally peaceful dryads decide they're quite willing to do unto Aeneas before he does unto them. Mellonia, however, is the kind of dryad who's so peaceful she feels a flower's pain when she plucks it, and she wants proof of Aeneas's alleged evil. So when she meets him and his son Ascanius on the beach, sure enough, they seem okay. But then Ascanius goes and blows that favorable first impression by mistaking Mellonia's centaur friend for a deer and felling him with an arrow. D'oh.

Mellonia vows revenge, but once she sees Aeneas' true remorse over the killing, her mood changes, and, well, as things happen in stories like this, the two fall in love. This leads to the book's most amusing section, as Aeneas and Ascanius learn the truth about the dryads' sacred tree (in which the dryads go to sleep and wake up pregnant), and Aeneas and Mellonia consummate their love (leading to some hilarious banter from Ascanius about sleeping with virgins). Here the humor flows naturally and seems right in place, unlike the awkward "is this intentional or not?" comedy in Swann's later works. Mostly, though, I find it kind of neat that Swann introduces humor into the story right when the romantic part was kicking in.

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially gave this book two stars but upon a moderate amount of reflection, I'm bumping it up to three. It's still not a resounding three, but it's more than 2.5, so I should round up (according to my math teachers at any rate).

Somehow, I became aware of the existence of Thomas Burnett Swann and what I read about him and his works intrigued me.

Green Phoenix is a tale about Aeneas and what happened when he brought his Trojans to Italy. The chief characters are Aeneas, his son Ascanius and the dryad Mellonia; and the antagonist is the dryad queen Volumna. It's a myth more than a novel so there's not much in the way of character development, and I found the writing style a bit odd (though by the end, I had become accustomed to it). Aeneas is depicted as a heroic warrior who doesn't enjoy war and is tormented by the destiny that forces him to abandon all of the women he loves. Ascanius comes across - in the beginning - as little more than a thug, a child so brutalized by war and the life he's lived for the last 20 years that women are little more than things to be raped and vessels to bear heirs. But he loves his father fiercely and is capable of feeling much more, a quality that becomes evident over the course of the story. Mellonia is an innocent dryad who bridges the gulf between Aeneas, his men and the coming Age of Iron and the remnants of the Golden & Silver Ages, the dryads, satyrs, fauns and other nonhuman inhabitants of Italy.

I'm still intrigued by Swann's work and continue to keep my eye out for the books that initially attracted me to him - Wolfwinter, How Are the Mighty Fallen, and The Gods Abide - but I'm still on the fence with him and can't quite recommend him yet.

On a side note - This is my first Kindle book. Yes, I finally took the plunge and acquired an electronic-book reader. I think I like it; I certainly like the fact that I now have the complete works of Shakespeare and H.P. Lovecraft at my fingertips any time I want (assuming the battery's charged) and I downloaded Andre Norton's Plague Ship for free. I've yet to learn how to bookmark my favorite passages though :-(

So far my experience with the Kindle library is like my experience with Netflix's streaming library: Yes, there are many books (movies) available but there are still far too many books (movies) that I want to read (watch) that aren't.

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming little book set in the mythical landscape of Greek and Roman mythology. Aeneas, survivor of Troy, his son Ascanius and their remaining followers have, after a long and difficult wandering, arrived on the coast of what is later to become Italy. In the woods dwell dryads, fauns and centaurs. The young dryad Mellonia, friend of bees, meets them and falls in love with Aeneas, and he with her, but there is a terrible mishap depicted on the cover of the edition I read, where Ascanius kills a friend of Mellonia's whom he mistakes for a deer.

Meanwhile, the dryad queen Volumna has ordered that Aeneas and his followers must die. Aeneas' enemies have blackened his reputation and he is believed to, among other things, have betrayed Queen Dido of Carthage. Because of this, the relationship between Aeneas and Mellonia is a short but sweet one.

Although there is some conflict in this story, the obvious one that would have been expected - namely a war with the centaurs - never materialises. Ascanius' action is glossed over and no one appears to notice what has happened or wondered where the luckless centaur has gone. There is also conflict with Volumna, but the tension there is rather dissipated also. There are some slightly 'dodgy' views, as in other of Swan's books, where one or two characters trivialise rape, for example, and the woman whom Aeneas later marries to cement an alliance with another human kingdom, although sensible and hardworking, is undervalued because of her lack of looks. So on the whole it balances out as a 3 star read for me.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet sad wisp of a novel. I loved sad stories when I was sixteen, less so now I think.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short fantasy set in the ancient world featuring Aeneas, Lavinia et al - alongside centaurs, dryads and fauns.

Swann has a rich imagination, yet at times this does feel a bit like classical fanfic. I'd be interested to read more of his novels to see if they're all like this or if others have a bit more substance.

A light and enjoyable read nonetheless.

[Hunnapuh Xbal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Burnett Swann, es un escritor en toda regla, sin duda uno de los mejores escritores de fantasía que he leído, sus historias hablan de mundos mágicos en decadencia, mundos que van muriendo lenta e inexorablemente a favor de los nuevos habitantes humanos que terminan de matarlos con su indiferencia.
El Fenix verde es una extensión del periplo de Eneas y sus troyanos en busca de una tierra para refundar su destruída ciudad, habla de ausencias, de dolor, de anhelos, de esperanzas rotas.
Driadas, faunos, centauros y hombres se mezclan en una historia de amores no correspondidos, intrigas, odio, traición, amor filial, lealtad y sueños rotos.
El peso que lleva un Eneas mitificado al extremo a pesar de estar rodeado de fieles amigos, de su hijo, es recibido por una joven dríada que se enamora profundamente de él, en contra de las enseñanzs y reglas impuestas a su raza.
Es una delicia leer a Burnett Swann, sus historias van deslizándose entre lo clásico y moderno, el amor es tratado de forma inteligente y sin los convencionalismos de la época que le tocó vivir.
Si no han leído nada de Thomas Burnett Swann es tiempo de que lo hagan, pues se están perdiendo de un gran escritor.


En el "Bosque Maravilloso" que todavía es mágico, vive Melonia una hermosa dríada que forma parte integral de "su" arbol, junto a una comunidad de dríadas como ellas dirigidas por Volumna una vieja, hermosa y poderosa matriarca que ha mantenido a su pueblo a salvo por medio de reglas inflexibles pero que han resultado efectivas.
Melonia es amiga de Saltarín un centauro que está enamorado de ella y que le coquetea sin esperanza, pues la tribo de Melonia concibe sin machos, al llegar a la edad apropiada, van a un arbol sagrado en donde el Dios Rumino se les acerca y cuando las encuentra dignas, las "bendice" con una cría, que si es macho la dejan en el bosque, pero si es hembra la crían como Driada, además ella tiene otros amigos entre los seres que viven en el bosque.
Volumna las ha reunido para advertirles de que que un grave peligro ha llegado al boque, se trata del Troyano Eneas y su salvaje tripulación de hombres que gustan detruir todo y violar dríadas entre otras abominaciones.
Melonia pasea por el bosque y mira una pareja de hombres que casi parecen hermanos a pesar de que uno es mucho mayor que el otro, platica con ellos, dudando si se trata de Eneas y los deja en el bosque.
Estos hombres efectivamente eran Eneas y su hijo Ascanio que cazaban por el bosque y etaban disfrutando del río, luego de su encuentro con Melonia, deciden seguir cazando y Ascanio divisa lo que parece ser un ciervo y con excelente puntería de acierta, matándolo pero resulta que es el joven centauro amigo de la joven dríada.
Atribulados dejan el cuerpo para regresar a su campamento prometiéndose regresar a darle una correcta sepultura, Melonia es avisada por un Zangano amigo que la lleva donde está el cuerpo de su amigo y decide vengares, matando, si es posible a sus hechores y al mismísimo Eneas si lo encuentra, ella no sabe que había hablado con el propio Jefe Troyano.
Ella llega al campamento y se les presenta cuando ellos están preparándose para salir, Eneas sorprendido le cuenta que han cometido un terrible error y que mataron a un Centauro sin querer y que van a presentarle sus respetos y enterrarlo, ella cree que van a desollarlo para hacerse con su piel y se ofrece para guiarlos a ellos dos, ellos acceden, pero Ascanio sospecha y va vigilante.
Ellos le hacen un funeral muy respetuoso y dolido, que la pone en duda, pero decide actuar todavía con la duda flotando en sus actos y por esta razón Ascanio la logra detener.

Saltó sobre ella, la rodeó con sus brazos, que eran todo salvo delicados, y apretó cruelmente su muñeca hasta que dejó caer la horquilla. La cólera le quemaba como si fuera un fuego al rojo. Sentía deseos de romperle el cuello a la dríada.
«¿A quién ibas a atacar?»
«Primero a Eneas y después a ti si tenía la oportunidad.»
La dríada no suplicó misericordia ni parecía estar encolerizada o asustada.
Hubiera deseado aplastarla entre sus brazos. Qué pequeña era. Aquellos huesos diminutos —y el rápido y liviano latido del corazón— ¿cómo podían sostener a un ser tan pequeño? Su pelo parecía formado por hojas y rayos de sol.
Y no obstante había tenido la intención de matarlos a ambos.
«Pero no lo hiciste», dijo Eneas. «¿Por qué no lo hiciste, Dama de las Abejas?»
«Al principio pensé que habíais matado a Saltarín por diversión, por obtener comida. Pero después vi cómo cavabais la tumba y recogíais violetas, y vuestros ojos eran ventanas de vuestra alma y vi un dolor que me hizo compadecerte.»
«¿Y mi hijo?»
«Te ama. Es parte de ti. No podía hacerle daño.»

La liberan y ella les advierte de la orden de matarlos que dio Volumna, al regresar al campamento, encuentran a un fauno llamado Desastre que entretenie a los hombres, ellos lo interrogan sobre el porqué las driadas no se unen con los machos del bosque, centauros o faunos y este les cuenta que en realidad si lo hacen pero no se dan cuenta, pues cuando llegan al árbol sagrado, Volumna las adormece con una bebida y ya drogadas dentro están faunos escondidos que las violan incluso turnándose, así es como quedan embarazadas, pero todas piensan que es el dios que ha depositado su semilla en ellas. También les dice que Melonia a decidido visitar el árvol sagrado por fin.
Ellos acuden al arbol y logran detener a los faunos antes de que abusen de Melonia y Eneas, cuidado por Ascanio en el exterior, espera a que despierte, contándole toda la verdad, pero Melonia se le entrega a Eneas y este sale del árbol feliz, cuando llega Volumna y la confrontan, Eneas le advierte que no castigue a Melonia, pues la ha tomado como esposa o destruirán el arbol de la Dríada Madre y luego luego la matarán a ella y a cuantas se interpongan.
Melonia concibe un hijo al las otras dríadas llaman Cuco, pero es un hijo de Eneas que va a vivir su propia aventura...


He dejado la segunda parte sin reseñar porque vale la pena leer la novela completa, yo recuerdo que leí la primera parte hace muchos años en una de las selecciones de ciencia ficción de la editorial Bruguera.
Las historias de Burnett Swann son muy agradables de leer, es un narrador excelente y ambienta perfectamente sus tramas, por los que se disfrutan mucho.

[River · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such an oddly cozy read for me; it was like my history teacher took the class out camping and told us stories/myths of long ago. It's a simple tale, with little twists or turns, it plays out the way you think it will, but it does so very satisfyingly.

I can picture this story being made into a play very easily as well. So much drama!

The few pages of art throughout were nice touches, I liked the style and how expressive each was. Between a solid story that left me feeling content by the end, and the interesting art, I've gone and bought the physical copy to go along with my digital one.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swann is an acquired taste and once acquired a menace to the bookshelves. There is numerous combinations of his stories put out by Ace and slightly different versions of the same myth pop up in different books.

[Von · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella forma de escribir aunque la historia y personajes sean poco memorables.

[Gail Mallin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Greek and Roman myths so this kind of fantasy novel automatically appeals to me. It is written in a lyrical style which adds an extra touch of other worldliness to a story about fauns and dryads, centaurs and Trojan warriors. It is also a very short book and the storyline is slight and ultra-romantic so it won't please anyone who is looking for a gritty meaty read, but I enjoyed it.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weak book with plot. Couldn't finish and I won't advice to anyone.

[José Alejandro Vázquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

El fénix verde es un libro que encontré mientras acomodaba mi biblioteca y que me llamó la atención por su nota de portada. En esta, los editores, hablaban sobre Thomas Burnett Swann, como uno de los grandes autores de la fantasía de los años sesenta y setenta. Algo que me picó la curiosidad, porque llevo años esforzándome por conocer el género y no había escuchado mencionar nunca su nombre, en especial, cuando lo ponían al lado de Tolkien.
Así que armado en mano con mi e-reader y la recomendación de Yoss de no leer esta novela, sino Mansión de espinas (la obra maestra del autor) y que no tenía a mi alcance en ese momento, terminé leyendo esta… Y creo que las únicas cosas buenas que pueden decirse de esta historia son que es muy corta y el autor tiene una prosa tan poética y lírica que se imbrica perfectamente con su historia romántica que mezcla realidad y fantasía, ficción e historia.
Por lo demás, El fénix verde es una historia que no aporta nada nuevo a las tragedias románticas, ni tampoco lo hace la segunda mitad del libro, que gira en torno a la venganza. Un libro que hubiera dejado de leer si fuera un poco más largo, pero que terminé por impulso y con una mala impresión del autor. Aunque sí le daré una oportunidad a Mansión de espinas, pero eso será en unos cuantos.
Esta novela no me llamó la atención, pero si eres de los que les gustan los romances fantásticos con tonos de tragedia. Entonces, El fénix verde de Thomas Burnett Swann, es una novela que quizás te guste.

[Patrik Sahlstrøm · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book I really tried to like, but it failed on two counts.

First the portrayal of sexuality is very dated. Though it might be historically correct that greek soldiers around the time of the Trojan war, joked about how women should consider rape as a compliment, this doesn't fly today.

And more seriously, the story is about a romance between a dryad and a trojan hero. The dryad is described to look like a 10-12 years old girl, and acts the age. This will turn most modern readers off this book.

The second fail is the ending. The story is built up like a classic heroic greek tragedy and ends like Disney on Ice.

Interesting book from a historic perspective, but otherwise one can safely skip this one

[Michael Jarrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even after all these decades, Swann's writing is still holding up. This novella was good. My only problem with it lays not in anything Swann did, but what the publishers of this version did. It is rife with typos and issues with the formatting.

[Xabi1990 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Otro que pillé de la colección Ícaro de saldo, que leí y olvidé título y autor (recuerdo que los libros de esta colección no me gustaban, en general)

[Deedee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short novel centering on the dryads of central Italy and their relationships with fauns, centaurs, and Aeneas and his men. Aeneas was a hero of the Trojan War (on the side of Troy); Virgil wrote "The Aeneid" about his exploits. Unique but not as clever as it could have been.

[Katie-Ellen Hazeldine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good entertainment, atmospheric but not epic.

[Marko]

I have the german edition: Der gruene Phoenix