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Nero and Sporus #3
Damnatio: From Empress to the Arena in Nero's Rome
It is A.D. 69 and the Emperor Nero has been declared "Damnatio Memoriae" — his memory is to be erased from the world. But what will happen to Sporus, once a slave boy, then the emasculated Empress of the mad Caesar? In the turbulent "Year of the Four Emperors" Sporus must play a different role with each of the men who are seizing the throne before being sentenced to play out the most spectacular role of all — the Goddess of the Underworld.
The third volume of the award-nominated trilogy by S.P. Somtow, this work completes a tale of magnificence, corruption and decadence seen from a unique worm's eye view of a character who is usually relegated to a footnote in history.
The third volume of the award-nominated trilogy by S.P. Somtow, this work completes a tale of magnificence, corruption and decadence seen from a unique worm's eye view of a character who is usually relegated to a footnote in history.
- GenresHistorical FictionLGBT
111 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2024
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
S.P. Somtow
180 books156 followersCalled by the Bangkok Post "the Thai person known by name to most people in the world," S.P. Somtow is an author, composer, filmmaker, and international media personality whose dazzling talents and acerbic wit have entertained and enlightened fans the world over.
He was Somtow Papinian Sucharitkul in Bangkok. His grandfather's sister was a Queen of Siam, his father is a well known international lawyer and vice-president of the International Academy of Human Rights. Somtow was educated at Eton and Cambridge, and his first career was in music. In the 1970s (while he was still in college) his works were being performed on four continents and he was named representative of Thailand to the Asian Composer's League and to the International Music Commission of UNESCO. His avant-garde compositions caused controversy and scandal in his native country, and a severe case of musical burnout in the late 1970s precipitated his entry into a second career - that of author.
He began writing science fiction, but soon started to invade other fields of writing, with some 40 books out now, including the clasic horror novel Vampire Junction, which defined the "rock and roll vampire" concept for the 80s, the Riverrun Trilogy ("the finest new series of the 90's" - Locus) and the semi-autobiographical memoir Jasmine Nights. He has won or been nominated for dozens of major awards including the Bram Stoker Award, the John W. Campbell Award, the Hugo Award, and the World Fantasy Award.
Somtow has also made some incursions into filmmaking, directing the cult classic The Laughing Dead and the award winning art film Ill Met by Moonlight.
He was Somtow Papinian Sucharitkul in Bangkok. His grandfather's sister was a Queen of Siam, his father is a well known international lawyer and vice-president of the International Academy of Human Rights. Somtow was educated at Eton and Cambridge, and his first career was in music. In the 1970s (while he was still in college) his works were being performed on four continents and he was named representative of Thailand to the Asian Composer's League and to the International Music Commission of UNESCO. His avant-garde compositions caused controversy and scandal in his native country, and a severe case of musical burnout in the late 1970s precipitated his entry into a second career - that of author.
He began writing science fiction, but soon started to invade other fields of writing, with some 40 books out now, including the clasic horror novel Vampire Junction, which defined the "rock and roll vampire" concept for the 80s, the Riverrun Trilogy ("the finest new series of the 90's" - Locus) and the semi-autobiographical memoir Jasmine Nights. He has won or been nominated for dozens of major awards including the Bram Stoker Award, the John W. Campbell Award, the Hugo Award, and the World Fantasy Award.
Somtow has also made some incursions into filmmaking, directing the cult classic The Laughing Dead and the award winning art film Ill Met by Moonlight.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 8, 2024
the FUCKING ROMANS man
October 30, 2024
Have you ever been drugged, castrated and put on a ship to Greece? That’s one hell of a honeymoon! Personally, I’d rather one of those all inclusive resorts, but to each their own.
Sporus is back and can you believe it? His life still sucks. Yikes… a lot of crazy shit happens in 100 pages. My heart goes out to the boy empress and I can’t help but wonder if his inevitable death might not be the best thing that could happen to him. 🥺
Sporus is back and can you believe it? His life still sucks. Yikes… a lot of crazy shit happens in 100 pages. My heart goes out to the boy empress and I can’t help but wonder if his inevitable death might not be the best thing that could happen to him. 🥺
November 15, 2024
Sporus has been ‘moved to a superior accommodation’ at the Circus Maximus due to his ‘divine status’. From thence he tells his life story and the tale of his service to ‘Himself’.
He, Nero’s ‘Empress’ accompanies ‘Himself’ to Corinth, staying at the home of Gallio, Seneca’s brother, who has committed suicide. Dressed incognito as the boy he no longer was, he and his body slave Hylas attend the party of a hetaira where he know Nero has gone. He gives Nero a ‘wedding present’, a carnelian ring depicting the rape of Persephone. They attend together the mystery rites at Eleusis.
Nero has ordered that the calendar of the Games be changed to fit his itinerary. His mania is challenged to the hilt when another artist wins the audience’s acclaim, and his revenge is vicious.
Sporus hears rumours of conspiracy. His ‘husband’s days are numbered, and his demise will result in the Year of the Four Emperors in Rome. All four of them loved this beautiful boy.
Sporus has two identities—Poppaea and eromenos—in neither one is he free, ‘never allowed to stop acting’. His relationship with a man who was clearly one of history’s greatest lunatics is brilliant. The insight into the psychology of love and abuse is remarkable, and it is expressed so understatedly as to be poignant and artful.
Nero’s eromenos is the perfect narrator for ancient Rome at the height of its decadence. This novel is gorgeously written and includes beautiful colour illustrations.
Book 3 of the Nero and Sporus series.
He, Nero’s ‘Empress’ accompanies ‘Himself’ to Corinth, staying at the home of Gallio, Seneca’s brother, who has committed suicide. Dressed incognito as the boy he no longer was, he and his body slave Hylas attend the party of a hetaira where he know Nero has gone. He gives Nero a ‘wedding present’, a carnelian ring depicting the rape of Persephone. They attend together the mystery rites at Eleusis.
Nero has ordered that the calendar of the Games be changed to fit his itinerary. His mania is challenged to the hilt when another artist wins the audience’s acclaim, and his revenge is vicious.
Sporus hears rumours of conspiracy. His ‘husband’s days are numbered, and his demise will result in the Year of the Four Emperors in Rome. All four of them loved this beautiful boy.
Sporus has two identities—Poppaea and eromenos—in neither one is he free, ‘never allowed to stop acting’. His relationship with a man who was clearly one of history’s greatest lunatics is brilliant. The insight into the psychology of love and abuse is remarkable, and it is expressed so understatedly as to be poignant and artful.
Nero’s eromenos is the perfect narrator for ancient Rome at the height of its decadence. This novel is gorgeously written and includes beautiful colour illustrations.
Book 3 of the Nero and Sporus series.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews