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Numinous World #1
Die Seherin von Troja
Mit sieben Jahren kommt Gull, Tochter einer trojanischen Sklavin, in die Obhut der Priesterin Pythia. Diese erkennt die Gabe ihres Schützlings, ihr einst als Orakel nachzufolgen. Von nun an ist Gull dazu ausersehen, Könige zu beraten und der Herrin der Toten zu dienen. Nach dem Tod der Priesterin wird aus Gull, der Seherin mit den außergewöhnlichen Fähigkeiten, die neue Pythia. Als sie neun schwarze Schiffe erblickt, die auf Phylos zuhalten, nimmt ihr Leben eine dramatische Wende: Es ist der trojanische Prinz Aeneas und die letzten überlebenden Männer von Troja, die die entführten Frauen ihres Volkes retten wollen. Phythia schließt sich ihnen an, denn nur sie kann das Schicksal ihres Volkes voraussagen …
560 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
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October 14, 2014
"Arma virumque cano": [I sing of arms and the man]: Virgil states the theme to his epic, The Aeneid
"Multosque per annos errabant acti fatis maria omnia circum.": [And many a year they wandered, driven by the fates o'er all the seas.]
I was drawn to this book by the title and by J.M.W. Turner's classic painting, 'Aeneas and the Sybil, Lake Avernus', http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/t..., illustrating one of the episodes of the epic and of the novel. The picture is one of my favorites. I enjoyed this novel, the author's interpretation of Virgil's original Aeneid. It was told from the point of view of the eponymous Sibyl in the painting.
The Sibyl in the novel is Gull, the daughter of a Greek father and of a Trojan [Troy herein called Wilusa] slave, at the city of Pylos in western Greece. After an unfortunate accident as a youngster, Gull is taken by her mother to live with the local Pythia or Oracle. The Pythia discovers Gull has the gift of prophecy, when the girl describes her horrific vision of black ships, a burning city and the escape of these ships amid enemy attack. The Pythia teaches Gull her rituals. Gull is able to speak with 'The Lady of the Dead', as Persephone is called, and to prophesy. Gull becomes the new Pythia upon the older woman's death. Years after the original vision, the same ships land at Pylos to rescue enslaved Trojans. Gull goes with them and becomes advisor to Prince Aeneas in his search for a new land where his people can begin anew. Most of the novel concerns the adventures and hardships of their journey.
The novel was an imaginative retelling of the The Aeneid, but narrated by a woman. The journey was exciting; along the way are sea battles, vicissitudes, storms at sea. The ships are continually harried by the vindictive son of Achilles and his fleet. The map clearly traced their voyage from Pylos to their final destination: Latium and the Seven Hills [Rome]. I liked the characters, especially the charismatic leader, Aeneas; the stalwart, faithful ship's captain, Xandros; and the strong Gull. Instead of Virgil's Carthage the author gave us Egypt, and instead of Queen Dido, with whom Aeneas dallied, she gave us Princess Basetamon. I liked the description of the Egyptian festival where lights in clay lamps shaped like boats are floated on the river to honor Isis and Gull's explanation to Xandros. This reminded me of the Japanese Floating Lantern Festival. I liked the episode where Gull takes Aeneas and his companions to the Underworld. Gull and the others have found the 'Golden Bough', giving them permission to enter the Underworld when they show it to Charon, the Ferryman.
Written in a simple style and interesting but for some boring patches here and there, I read it in a matter of hours. I also appreciated the extra material in the book: 'Author's Note'; 'People, Places and Things'; and the interview with the author, plus the aforementioned map.
Highly recommended for those interested in retellings of classical literature.
"Multosque per annos errabant acti fatis maria omnia circum.": [And many a year they wandered, driven by the fates o'er all the seas.]
I was drawn to this book by the title and by J.M.W. Turner's classic painting, 'Aeneas and the Sybil, Lake Avernus', http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/t..., illustrating one of the episodes of the epic and of the novel. The picture is one of my favorites. I enjoyed this novel, the author's interpretation of Virgil's original Aeneid. It was told from the point of view of the eponymous Sibyl in the painting.
The Sibyl in the novel is Gull, the daughter of a Greek father and of a Trojan [Troy herein called Wilusa] slave, at the city of Pylos in western Greece. After an unfortunate accident as a youngster, Gull is taken by her mother to live with the local Pythia or Oracle. The Pythia discovers Gull has the gift of prophecy, when the girl describes her horrific vision of black ships, a burning city and the escape of these ships amid enemy attack. The Pythia teaches Gull her rituals. Gull is able to speak with 'The Lady of the Dead', as Persephone is called, and to prophesy. Gull becomes the new Pythia upon the older woman's death. Years after the original vision, the same ships land at Pylos to rescue enslaved Trojans. Gull goes with them and becomes advisor to Prince Aeneas in his search for a new land where his people can begin anew. Most of the novel concerns the adventures and hardships of their journey.
The novel was an imaginative retelling of the The Aeneid, but narrated by a woman. The journey was exciting; along the way are sea battles, vicissitudes, storms at sea. The ships are continually harried by the vindictive son of Achilles and his fleet. The map clearly traced their voyage from Pylos to their final destination: Latium and the Seven Hills [Rome]. I liked the characters, especially the charismatic leader, Aeneas; the stalwart, faithful ship's captain, Xandros; and the strong Gull. Instead of Virgil's Carthage the author gave us Egypt, and instead of Queen Dido, with whom Aeneas dallied, she gave us Princess Basetamon. I liked the description of the Egyptian festival where lights in clay lamps shaped like boats are floated on the river to honor Isis and Gull's explanation to Xandros. This reminded me of the Japanese Floating Lantern Festival. I liked the episode where Gull takes Aeneas and his companions to the Underworld. Gull and the others have found the 'Golden Bough', giving them permission to enter the Underworld when they show it to Charon, the Ferryman.
Written in a simple style and interesting but for some boring patches here and there, I read it in a matter of hours. I also appreciated the extra material in the book: 'Author's Note'; 'People, Places and Things'; and the interview with the author, plus the aforementioned map.
Highly recommended for those interested in retellings of classical literature.
November 6, 2018
I dread having to review books like this: mediocre books. A bad novel? One can let loose with witty criticisms. A good novel? One can gush effusive praise. But when it comes to reviewing a mediocre novel, I struggle to say more than simply: “meh”.
First, I should note that this book wasn’t at all what I expected it would be. From the title, Black Ships, and the mention of Troy standing out prominently in the blurb, I was expecting another Trojan War novel. It is actually set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, and is a retelling of the Aeneid rather than the Iliad. I was rather enjoying it through the first quarter of the book, reading about the protagonist, a girl named Gull, apprenticed to the Pythia and learning all the rituals and secrets of wielding spiritual power. It reminded me of Laura Gill’s Danae and Kerry Greenwood’s Medea. Maybe I just relish a good coming-of-age tale that delves in deep to the most fascinating and esoteric parts of an alien historical culture. The one odd note was that the Pythia here is a prophetess of the goddess Persephone, whereas in ancient Greek myth it was the god Apollo who presided over such priestesses, not Persephone.
It was when Aeneas showed up and Gull joins the wandering Trojans searching for a new home that the book began to lose me. Jo Graham takes a completely different route to the Aeneas of Virgil’s epic, which adds an element of novelty to the tale, with some uncertainty and tension to drive things forward. In fact, I can easily empathise with her author’s note which explains that in order to avoid the small problem of the Carthaginians not existing yet in the late Bronze Age, she moved the action to Egypt instead. But even so, I felt that the novel felt apart. It was no longer a heroic epic, or even an adventure story. It became a family saga.
I was bored by the hints of a love triangle between Gull, Xandros, and Aeneas. I didn’t care about the Trojan community Gull becomes so entwined in. I felt like I hadn’t been given a reason to care beyond the baseline “these unfortunate refugees deserve sympathy”. It was a little too sanitised, like a simple fable or morality tale; asking me to care about decent folk just because they’re decent but not telling me enough about the individual personalities for me to truly invest in their fate. I find that interminably dull. It wanted me to care about Goody McBoring just because the book says they’re decent but without giving me a chance to learn about their winsome quirks or unique sense of humour or their spirit-rousing badassery. Sure, I wish decent folk well – but I don’t really care to find out what happens to them unless they’re more than just a blandly polite façade. Moreover, the language in this section of the book through to the end just came off as incredibly modern and forced. I didn’t get the sense of historical people at all.
It wasn’t by any means terrible, it just took a rather dull, frothy, anachronistic turn after a promising start. In other words: meh.
4 out of 10
First, I should note that this book wasn’t at all what I expected it would be. From the title, Black Ships, and the mention of Troy standing out prominently in the blurb, I was expecting another Trojan War novel. It is actually set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, and is a retelling of the Aeneid rather than the Iliad. I was rather enjoying it through the first quarter of the book, reading about the protagonist, a girl named Gull, apprenticed to the Pythia and learning all the rituals and secrets of wielding spiritual power. It reminded me of Laura Gill’s Danae and Kerry Greenwood’s Medea. Maybe I just relish a good coming-of-age tale that delves in deep to the most fascinating and esoteric parts of an alien historical culture. The one odd note was that the Pythia here is a prophetess of the goddess Persephone, whereas in ancient Greek myth it was the god Apollo who presided over such priestesses, not Persephone.
It was when Aeneas showed up and Gull joins the wandering Trojans searching for a new home that the book began to lose me. Jo Graham takes a completely different route to the Aeneas of Virgil’s epic, which adds an element of novelty to the tale, with some uncertainty and tension to drive things forward. In fact, I can easily empathise with her author’s note which explains that in order to avoid the small problem of the Carthaginians not existing yet in the late Bronze Age, she moved the action to Egypt instead. But even so, I felt that the novel felt apart. It was no longer a heroic epic, or even an adventure story. It became a family saga.
I was bored by the hints of a love triangle between Gull, Xandros, and Aeneas. I didn’t care about the Trojan community Gull becomes so entwined in. I felt like I hadn’t been given a reason to care beyond the baseline “these unfortunate refugees deserve sympathy”. It was a little too sanitised, like a simple fable or morality tale; asking me to care about decent folk just because they’re decent but not telling me enough about the individual personalities for me to truly invest in their fate. I find that interminably dull. It wanted me to care about Goody McBoring just because the book says they’re decent but without giving me a chance to learn about their winsome quirks or unique sense of humour or their spirit-rousing badassery. Sure, I wish decent folk well – but I don’t really care to find out what happens to them unless they’re more than just a blandly polite façade. Moreover, the language in this section of the book through to the end just came off as incredibly modern and forced. I didn’t get the sense of historical people at all.
It wasn’t by any means terrible, it just took a rather dull, frothy, anachronistic turn after a promising start. In other words: meh.
4 out of 10
March 4, 2010
Black Ships, by Jo Graham
In the interview at the end of the book, the author says that one of her favorite books is "Kushiel's Dart," by Jacqueline Carey. I can see a little of the style in "Black Ships;" Gull is a little like Phedre.
I can't write a summary that would quickly explain "Black Ships." The book is beautiful, with simple language and descriptions; I often found myself slowing down to enjoy the book and not simply racing ahead to finish the story. I was totally enthralled with the world Graham created, a world where mortals feel the touch of the gods, and do their bidding while still living their own lives. The main character is Gull, apprenticed at an early age to a goddess, after a childhood accident changed her value as a slave.
"Black Ships" is a re-imagining of the Aeneid, and Graham's research and care is evident. I want to read the original now, which to me is always the mark of an excellent retelling. The author interested me so much in the events and characters, particularly Aeneas, Gull, and Xandros. The descriptions of the different civilizations that the Wilusans travel to as they seek a safe harbor were interesting as well, especially ancient Egypt. I was captivated in Gull's world the whole time I was reading.
As I've said, I find it hard to describe this book, but if you enjoy epic stories, tales of magic mixing with ordinary life, there's a good chance you'll like this book. I'm reading Graham's second novel now (Hand of Isis), and liking it just as much as "Black Ships."
5/5.
In the interview at the end of the book, the author says that one of her favorite books is "Kushiel's Dart," by Jacqueline Carey. I can see a little of the style in "Black Ships;" Gull is a little like Phedre.
I can't write a summary that would quickly explain "Black Ships." The book is beautiful, with simple language and descriptions; I often found myself slowing down to enjoy the book and not simply racing ahead to finish the story. I was totally enthralled with the world Graham created, a world where mortals feel the touch of the gods, and do their bidding while still living their own lives. The main character is Gull, apprenticed at an early age to a goddess, after a childhood accident changed her value as a slave.
"Black Ships" is a re-imagining of the Aeneid, and Graham's research and care is evident. I want to read the original now, which to me is always the mark of an excellent retelling. The author interested me so much in the events and characters, particularly Aeneas, Gull, and Xandros. The descriptions of the different civilizations that the Wilusans travel to as they seek a safe harbor were interesting as well, especially ancient Egypt. I was captivated in Gull's world the whole time I was reading.
As I've said, I find it hard to describe this book, but if you enjoy epic stories, tales of magic mixing with ordinary life, there's a good chance you'll like this book. I'm reading Graham's second novel now (Hand of Isis), and liking it just as much as "Black Ships."
5/5.
May 24, 2008
I was pulled in by the beautiful cover and the promise of this being The Aeneid, but from a woman's perspective. It started off really really good, and actually reminded me a lot of Memoirs of a Geisha, but later it just disappointed me. I think my main issue with it was that there were entirely too many characters at times, and I felt the pacing was done poorly. At times I felt really rushed through major events, and at others bored with dullness.
It wasn't a horrible book, but I can't say I really enjoyed it overall. About halfway through, after continually thinking to myself "Oh, it'll get better!" I realized it just wasn't going to, and so finished the chore of reading the rest of it.
It was an interesting idea, and I'll give Graham's next book a shot and see if it's any better.
It wasn't a horrible book, but I can't say I really enjoyed it overall. About halfway through, after continually thinking to myself "Oh, it'll get better!" I realized it just wasn't going to, and so finished the chore of reading the rest of it.
It was an interesting idea, and I'll give Graham's next book a shot and see if it's any better.
February 11, 2016
The story is a variation of Virgil’s Aeneid, the journey of the displaced people of Troy in search of new lands to settle in and the founding of the city that will become Rome.
Let’s start with the positives:
• The author magically captured the atmosphere of ancient worlds
• The descriptions of the landscapes in this journey across the Mediterranean and Egypt are exotic and very evocative.
What I didn’t like:
• The stories is not quite faithful to traditional mythology. The author use well-known names but changed the myths. In my opinion, it would have been better to choose different character names, because famous names carry with them an expectation from the reader. For me it was hard to ignore the fact that Phytia is the traditional name for Apollo’s priestess and not Demeter’s, Iphigenia’s story has now changed, Aeneas’ travels a different route, etc.
• I much preferred Virgil’s version of the tragic love story between Aeneas and Dido, queen of Carthage. Graham’s version with an Egypt princess lacks emotional depth. It also did not make sense
• I didn’t feel a connection with the protagonist who remains aloof most of the time, but I suppose that distance and remoteness comes with the job of a seer.
Let’s start with the positives:
• The author magically captured the atmosphere of ancient worlds
• The descriptions of the landscapes in this journey across the Mediterranean and Egypt are exotic and very evocative.
What I didn’t like:
• The stories is not quite faithful to traditional mythology. The author use well-known names but changed the myths. In my opinion, it would have been better to choose different character names, because famous names carry with them an expectation from the reader. For me it was hard to ignore the fact that Phytia is the traditional name for Apollo’s priestess and not Demeter’s, Iphigenia’s story has now changed, Aeneas’ travels a different route, etc.
• I much preferred Virgil’s version of the tragic love story between Aeneas and Dido, queen of Carthage. Graham’s version with an Egypt princess lacks emotional depth. It also did not make sense
• I didn’t feel a connection with the protagonist who remains aloof most of the time, but I suppose that distance and remoteness comes with the job of a seer.
August 13, 2011
Black Ships is a retelling of the story of Aeneas' flight from Troy with his people, with aspects of it changed and rearranged to fit better with what we really know of history -- for example, to address the problem of Aeneas visiting Carthage before it is ever founded. Dido is replaced by Basetamon, a princess in Egypt. Basetamon herself isn't a real historical figure, but the role she plays is certainly possible. The relationship between Basetamon and Aeneas, and the impossibilities of it, are well drawn, I think: the conflict between their cultures, and her damaged and destructive personality.
The main character is Gull, or Pythia, who is drawn from the Sybil who guides Aeneas down into the Underworld. She is given a life of her own -- in fact, the women of the world are all given lives of their own, including both Lavinia and the unnamed, unnumbered women the fleeing Trojans took with them. There's a certain preoccupation with reproduction and children, which only makes sense, given that they need to have enough of a population to found a new city.
Everything is well thought out and logical: the reasons for Silvius founding a new city, the reasons for Basetamon's death, etc. It's a quick read, too -- surprisingly so: it only took me a little over two hours. There are even some LGBT characters: one of the major male characters is in love with Aeneas, and is also romantically involved with a young eunuch from a temple. I wasn't sure how I felt about the handling of the latter: the pronouns were erratic, and zie died almost as soon as zie'd been introduced to the plot.
I'm not sure how emotionally attached I was to this story. I felt a little choked up at the end, but until then, not really. I pitied Basetamon and Aeneas' pain at what happened to her, while at the same time being a little infuriated at (or about, I'm not sure) both of them. Which is pretty much how I feel about the original, too.
Anyway, I'm not sure why I ended this with the degree of ambivalence I did, considering how quickly I read it, but... there it is. Still recommended, especially if you're interested in historical retellings of mythology.
The main character is Gull, or Pythia, who is drawn from the Sybil who guides Aeneas down into the Underworld. She is given a life of her own -- in fact, the women of the world are all given lives of their own, including both Lavinia and the unnamed, unnumbered women the fleeing Trojans took with them. There's a certain preoccupation with reproduction and children, which only makes sense, given that they need to have enough of a population to found a new city.
Everything is well thought out and logical: the reasons for Silvius founding a new city, the reasons for Basetamon's death, etc. It's a quick read, too -- surprisingly so: it only took me a little over two hours. There are even some LGBT characters: one of the major male characters is in love with Aeneas, and is also romantically involved with a young eunuch from a temple. I wasn't sure how I felt about the handling of the latter: the pronouns were erratic, and zie died almost as soon as zie'd been introduced to the plot.
I'm not sure how emotionally attached I was to this story. I felt a little choked up at the end, but until then, not really. I pitied Basetamon and Aeneas' pain at what happened to her, while at the same time being a little infuriated at (or about, I'm not sure) both of them. Which is pretty much how I feel about the original, too.
Anyway, I'm not sure why I ended this with the degree of ambivalence I did, considering how quickly I read it, but... there it is. Still recommended, especially if you're interested in historical retellings of mythology.
April 12, 2015
Disclaimer: The publisher of this audio book gave me a free copy in return for a fair and honest review.
I suppose I should note, in all fairness that since the book starts with a quote from Michael Wood’s In Search of the Trojan War I knew I was going to like it. I should also note I was reading the second volume in this series before being given this, the first, volume. It is quite easy to read them out of order and not get confused.
Black Ships is one of those books that are going to set some people’s teeth on edge. If you are a purist when it comes to Virgil’s Aeneid or Homer’s Iliad, the chances of you enjoying this book are low. If you don’t mind changes, not only in perspective but in plot sequence, you should enjoy it.
Graham starts her story with the daughter of one of the Trojan women taken by King Nestor at the end of the Trojan War. Gull starts life as the daughter of newly made slave, eventually becoming a priestess in training. Her life radically changes when what remains of her mother’s people come to rescue their women. From there, the story is that of Aeneas’ and the founding of the Roman race. This journey takes the small group across the Mediterranean.
Graham’s changes to Virgil and Homer make sense in terms of history, though perhaps not the Romans for Carthage does not make an appearance. Graham explains the reason for this in her afterword and her adaptation of Dido and Carthage into an Egyptian sequence does work very well. Graham does seem aware that she is pushing Gull’s role a bit too much to the forefront, and there are varying reactions from male characters to showcase that Gull is different (and Gull is not an early feminist by any means). It would have been nice if one of Gull’s close friends had been another woman, at least in the latter half of the book, for once Gull joins her people, all her equals are men. Still Gull makes for interesting center to the story. Graham’s use of Gull as a Sybil allows her to bring in fantasy elements, but with a light touch. Additionally, these elements allow Graham to explore the different faiths that were swirling around – and it makes for rather interesting and apt references.
A quick word about Gigi Shane as the narrator. At first, I thought she sounded too much like Siri, but as the book went along I realize that her inflection was intentional to try and capture Gull. It actually worked quite well and upon reflection, seems to be close to that of an actual oracle.
I suppose I should note, in all fairness that since the book starts with a quote from Michael Wood’s In Search of the Trojan War I knew I was going to like it. I should also note I was reading the second volume in this series before being given this, the first, volume. It is quite easy to read them out of order and not get confused.
Black Ships is one of those books that are going to set some people’s teeth on edge. If you are a purist when it comes to Virgil’s Aeneid or Homer’s Iliad, the chances of you enjoying this book are low. If you don’t mind changes, not only in perspective but in plot sequence, you should enjoy it.
Graham starts her story with the daughter of one of the Trojan women taken by King Nestor at the end of the Trojan War. Gull starts life as the daughter of newly made slave, eventually becoming a priestess in training. Her life radically changes when what remains of her mother’s people come to rescue their women. From there, the story is that of Aeneas’ and the founding of the Roman race. This journey takes the small group across the Mediterranean.
Graham’s changes to Virgil and Homer make sense in terms of history, though perhaps not the Romans for Carthage does not make an appearance. Graham explains the reason for this in her afterword and her adaptation of Dido and Carthage into an Egyptian sequence does work very well. Graham does seem aware that she is pushing Gull’s role a bit too much to the forefront, and there are varying reactions from male characters to showcase that Gull is different (and Gull is not an early feminist by any means). It would have been nice if one of Gull’s close friends had been another woman, at least in the latter half of the book, for once Gull joins her people, all her equals are men. Still Gull makes for interesting center to the story. Graham’s use of Gull as a Sybil allows her to bring in fantasy elements, but with a light touch. Additionally, these elements allow Graham to explore the different faiths that were swirling around – and it makes for rather interesting and apt references.
A quick word about Gigi Shane as the narrator. At first, I thought she sounded too much like Siri, but as the book went along I realize that her inflection was intentional to try and capture Gull. It actually worked quite well and upon reflection, seems to be close to that of an actual oracle.
January 19, 2025
Wow. The Aeneid paired up with the historicity of the Bronze Age collapse, and characters I loved. Lots of great research went into this. Very, very good.
Read
October 9, 2009"New author Jo Graham enters the realm of historical fantasy with a triumph in her first novel, Black Ships. A retelling of Virgil's Aeneid as a portrayal of the lifetime of a woman oracle and priestess, the book is painstakingly researched and fully evocative of the Bronze Age.[return]Born as Gull, the daughter of a slave captured in the wars on Wilusa (Troy), Pythia finds her destiny as a Sybil of the Lady of Death. Joining the last few hundred survivors of Wilusa on their journey to find their future as a people, she becomes the beloved friend of Prince Aeneas and the lifetime lover of one of his captains. As she gains in insight, maturity, and wisdom, Pythia follows her people across the Mediterranean, where ultimately they discover their future and the embodiement of her dreams.[return]Well-crafted, with full-fleshed characters and an introspective but not self-absorbed protagonist, this first novel brings to life an age and a set of peoples rarely so clearly put in context. I feared at first the novel might be one of personal obsessions or personal biases but instead found it to be an open, imaginative portrayal of lives seeking meaning and purpose in a time of political, religious, and social confusion. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical or fantasy works."
June 10, 2010
Even though this book can be found in the fantasy aisle of the bookstore, there is little fantastical here that couldn't be rationalized, other than a few visions of prophecy. With Vergil's Aeneid as her basis, Graham uses the latest scholarship to recreate the late Bronze Age Mediterranean world. I liked, for instance, bits like how she incorporated theories about how the disaster at Thera might have led into legends of Atlantis and the marvels in the time of Moses in Egypt. (Since Carthage didn't exist in this era, the author moves those events to Egypt and makes the Dido figure into a princess of Egypt.) I liked how she made you feel this was an era where chaos was loose and no one knowing why----making me think of how the Sea Peoples of the late Bronze Age were akin to the Vikings of a different Dark Age.
Graham's clean prose allowed me to sink into her recreated world and her vision of that Ancient world made me want to read more about the real one--just as Mary Renault did once upon a time (And makes me want to reread the Aeneid). The book is a page-turner and Graham created characters it's easy to care about, particularly her first person narrator, Gull, the Sybil. It made for a very entertaining read.
Graham's clean prose allowed me to sink into her recreated world and her vision of that Ancient world made me want to read more about the real one--just as Mary Renault did once upon a time (And makes me want to reread the Aeneid). The book is a page-turner and Graham created characters it's easy to care about, particularly her first person narrator, Gull, the Sybil. It made for a very entertaining read.
May 27, 2017
3.5/5
Solid three and a half stars -- so close to really liking thisr etelling of the Aeneid from the POV of the Sibyl. The author includes some big changes - ones that admittedly, make a lot of sense - but there is a LOT of traveling. There are a few dull spots because of the repetitive nature of some of the book, but this is a strong adaptation.
Solid three and a half stars -- so close to really liking thisr etelling of the Aeneid from the POV of the Sibyl. The author includes some big changes - ones that admittedly, make a lot of sense - but there is a LOT of traveling. There are a few dull spots because of the repetitive nature of some of the book, but this is a strong adaptation.
December 14, 2022
Very enjoyable. The end was a little weaker than the beginning but was well worth reading.
August 18, 2024
There is nothing I like more than a book that takes an ancient tale and just makes it completely their own.
'Black Ships' by Jo Graham, takes place after a great battle, Gull a young slave is born to her mother, a women of Wilusa (Troy) after her mother became a slave in that battle and taken away to live amongst the Greeks. Her life as a half Greek half Wilusan slave takes a huge detour after she is injured and survives with a crippled leg. Knowing that Gull's usefulness as a slave is no more her mother takes her away to a cave where Pythia, the Greek Oracle, lives. Fortune favours Gull because the Oracle agrees to accept her on as her successor after it is shown that Gull has the gift of prophecy.
Thus begins the next chapter of Gull's life, eventually she becomes the Oracle herself, in time for her to see the coming of her people. First comes more captives and slave as there was a second attack of Wilusa, then comes a small fleet of survivors and fishermen who missed the attacked. Through her help the blood shed is little and the Wilusans manage to take off with what remains of their people that were taken captive. That begins their time at sea as they try to find their place in a rapidly changing world.
I don't know how to explain this but Gull was just such a captivating character, seeing the world through her eyes was a joy to read. The detail that Graham put into her research and her descriptions kept me enthralled. She wove a rich and wonderful world. It wasn't just her descriptions either, quickly she had me rooting for all the Wilusans and their Prince most especially. And by the end I was feeling every precious loss of another of the people of sea with them. Usually when you read retellings of the ancient stories I find the 'heroes' are painted in a light more befitting their usually negative actions, a lot of the times theres less hero worship and a light is shone on some of their more unsavoury actions that got glossed over. Graham was able to weave together the character of Neas, who was a true ancient hero, a thoughtful ruler, an intelligent mind. And battles are depicted often with loads of casualties with remorse but not devastation over the loss of life. 'Black Ships' was refreshing, it wasn't a tale of smiting ones enemies or conquering lands, it was simply a people trying to find their way after they knew had been destroyed. It was a beautiful tale of hope.
I will definitely be looking into her books.
'Black Ships' by Jo Graham, takes place after a great battle, Gull a young slave is born to her mother, a women of Wilusa (Troy) after her mother became a slave in that battle and taken away to live amongst the Greeks. Her life as a half Greek half Wilusan slave takes a huge detour after she is injured and survives with a crippled leg. Knowing that Gull's usefulness as a slave is no more her mother takes her away to a cave where Pythia, the Greek Oracle, lives. Fortune favours Gull because the Oracle agrees to accept her on as her successor after it is shown that Gull has the gift of prophecy.
Thus begins the next chapter of Gull's life, eventually she becomes the Oracle herself, in time for her to see the coming of her people. First comes more captives and slave as there was a second attack of Wilusa, then comes a small fleet of survivors and fishermen who missed the attacked. Through her help the blood shed is little and the Wilusans manage to take off with what remains of their people that were taken captive. That begins their time at sea as they try to find their place in a rapidly changing world.
I don't know how to explain this but Gull was just such a captivating character, seeing the world through her eyes was a joy to read. The detail that Graham put into her research and her descriptions kept me enthralled. She wove a rich and wonderful world. It wasn't just her descriptions either, quickly she had me rooting for all the Wilusans and their Prince most especially. And by the end I was feeling every precious loss of another of the people of sea with them. Usually when you read retellings of the ancient stories I find the 'heroes' are painted in a light more befitting their usually negative actions, a lot of the times theres less hero worship and a light is shone on some of their more unsavoury actions that got glossed over. Graham was able to weave together the character of Neas, who was a true ancient hero, a thoughtful ruler, an intelligent mind. And battles are depicted often with loads of casualties with remorse but not devastation over the loss of life. 'Black Ships' was refreshing, it wasn't a tale of smiting ones enemies or conquering lands, it was simply a people trying to find their way after they knew had been destroyed. It was a beautiful tale of hope.
I will definitely be looking into her books.
June 17, 2013
I'd been so looking forward to reading Black Ships - a retelling of The Aeneid, filled with mythology, epic quests, complex characters and raging wars - especially after hearing that Jo Graham was influenced by Kushiel's Dart, perhaps my favourite book of all time.
Hopefully, I settled down to read it. The first page offers war, pillaging and murder. I paused from reading to rub my hands together with glee - this is my kind of book! But unfortunately, the next 400 pages were not quite so exciting. We follow Gull as she is trained as a Priestess of The Lady of the Dead, thanks to her abilities as a seer. It is then that she's pulled into a treacherous sea journey with a company of misplaced individuals desperate to reclaim their homeland.
Graham's characters are ok - I found Gull interesting and enigmatic - perhaps a little too enigmatic, as it took me half the novel to warm to her - but not particularly memorable. Likewise, other characters did not make me want to pull them to my chest murmuring 'my babies, you're going to be ok', which is how I generally mark a sympathetic character.
The biggest problem with Black Ships is the pacing. 100 pages in, I was a little bored. 200, and I was looking for other things to do instead of finish it. After many pages seemingly floating on water, contemplating, I was desperate for something - anything - to happen. I felt a lot of this could have been cut without losing anything of Gull's character, who I believe is complex if not particularly engaging.
Graham’s prose is succinct, which is all well and good, but the breathy, mystical tone of the novel could really have done with some equally breathy and mystical prose. Combined with its yo-yo pacing and enigmatic lead, and despite the well-researched mythos, Black Ships was ultimately an underwhelming read.
Hopefully, I settled down to read it. The first page offers war, pillaging and murder. I paused from reading to rub my hands together with glee - this is my kind of book! But unfortunately, the next 400 pages were not quite so exciting. We follow Gull as she is trained as a Priestess of The Lady of the Dead, thanks to her abilities as a seer. It is then that she's pulled into a treacherous sea journey with a company of misplaced individuals desperate to reclaim their homeland.
Graham's characters are ok - I found Gull interesting and enigmatic - perhaps a little too enigmatic, as it took me half the novel to warm to her - but not particularly memorable. Likewise, other characters did not make me want to pull them to my chest murmuring 'my babies, you're going to be ok', which is how I generally mark a sympathetic character.
The biggest problem with Black Ships is the pacing. 100 pages in, I was a little bored. 200, and I was looking for other things to do instead of finish it. After many pages seemingly floating on water, contemplating, I was desperate for something - anything - to happen. I felt a lot of this could have been cut without losing anything of Gull's character, who I believe is complex if not particularly engaging.
Graham’s prose is succinct, which is all well and good, but the breathy, mystical tone of the novel could really have done with some equally breathy and mystical prose. Combined with its yo-yo pacing and enigmatic lead, and despite the well-researched mythos, Black Ships was ultimately an underwhelming read.
February 20, 2014
Gull is given to Pythia's temple when she is young, and slowly learns the mysteries of the priestesses of death. Eventually she becomes the sibyl, just in time to receive a vision of approaching black ships. Her prophecy compels her to race into the town, where she prevents whole-sale slaughter between her mother's people and the people who took her as a slave. Gull goes with the Wilusans (from the Hittite's word for Trojans) as they search for a new homeland. As they travel they realize that their own tragedy is part of a larger spread of chaos and war throughout the Mediterranean. Eventually, led by their heroic prince Aeneas, they marry into a new land and form the foundations for Rome.
I liked this, but I would have liked this a lot more if A)Graham had used names I recognized from Greek and Roman tales, instead of confusing me with Hittite names and B)magic and the gods weren't clearly at work. With just a few edits, Gull's visions from and discussions with gods could have become enticingly ambiguous. Additionally, after the first few chapters I felt like nothing bad would happen to the company; I was all too sure that Gull and Aeneas would succeed at their every endeavor. Again, I would have loved a little less surety, a little more ambiguity.
I liked this, but I would have liked this a lot more if A)Graham had used names I recognized from Greek and Roman tales, instead of confusing me with Hittite names and B)magic and the gods weren't clearly at work. With just a few edits, Gull's visions from and discussions with gods could have become enticingly ambiguous. Additionally, after the first few chapters I felt like nothing bad would happen to the company; I was all too sure that Gull and Aeneas would succeed at their every endeavor. Again, I would have loved a little less surety, a little more ambiguity.
April 3, 2010
Black Ships is a sort-of retelling of The Aeneid written by the Roman known as Virgil. This is the story of Aeneas, the last prince of Troy who sets out to find a new place to settle the remnants of his people after the great battle that wiped out Troy.
The story is told through the eyes of Gull, a young woman who was born as a slave, crippled as a child and ultimately became the Handmaiden of Death, otherwise known as Sybil.
I knew virtually nothing about this book before I picked it up to read it. I remember seeing it on someone's list and seeing the rating was fairly high on it, on a whim decided to pick it up. I was immediately drawn into the story. Jo Graham writes beautifully and the story never loses momentum. The characters (although the names can get confusing) are fascinating and full of depth and there is a touch of fantasy involved with the visions shown to lead them on.
There is heart-break and love in this book. I don't really know how to describe it other than just to say it was a fascinating story about a time period and people that I knew very little about. I'll definitely be requesting the next books in this series, Hand of Isis and Stealing Fire.
The story is told through the eyes of Gull, a young woman who was born as a slave, crippled as a child and ultimately became the Handmaiden of Death, otherwise known as Sybil.
I knew virtually nothing about this book before I picked it up to read it. I remember seeing it on someone's list and seeing the rating was fairly high on it, on a whim decided to pick it up. I was immediately drawn into the story. Jo Graham writes beautifully and the story never loses momentum. The characters (although the names can get confusing) are fascinating and full of depth and there is a touch of fantasy involved with the visions shown to lead them on.
There is heart-break and love in this book. I don't really know how to describe it other than just to say it was a fascinating story about a time period and people that I knew very little about. I'll definitely be requesting the next books in this series, Hand of Isis and Stealing Fire.
October 1, 2013
A re-imagining of Virgil's Aeneid told from the perspective of Gull, born to a slave-woman taken in the Sack of Troy and destined for the priesthood of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. It's a rich period for historical fiction to mine, familiar and yet hazy enough that things can be warped and changed to fit the story's needs and Graham does it fairly well. The foreboding feeling of a slow apocalypse is evoked very well, and though it may seem strange to us, this being a time that we consider almost the dawn of our own history, it's not unimaginable for people living through these events to wonder if they were seeing the end of the world. In a way they were, for this was the beginning of what historians termed the "Greek Dark Ages". The cycle of life, death and rebirth is a running theme throughout the book.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second. The pacing felt a little off, particularly towards the end, and some key pieces of important characterization weren't really given the space I think was required. As a result the climax feels slightly stilted, bursting almost out of nowhere and then subsiding just as quickly. Despite that, it was a fairly enjoyable read, a nice adventure quest of the ancient world with a strong Mary Renault sensibility.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second. The pacing felt a little off, particularly towards the end, and some key pieces of important characterization weren't really given the space I think was required. As a result the climax feels slightly stilted, bursting almost out of nowhere and then subsiding just as quickly. Despite that, it was a fairly enjoyable read, a nice adventure quest of the ancient world with a strong Mary Renault sensibility.
February 21, 2009
A retelling of The Aeneid, this book tells the story of a daughter of Troy who becomes Pythia in Greece and ends up traveling with the remnants of her people, including Aeneas, to found a new homeland.
What I liked best about this book is Gull's journey as a priestess, and her experiences with the Mysteries. The author has a good understanding of ritual, and of the place of the gods in the lives of ancient people. They're not just myths concocted to explain the world around them, they're real forces that shape the lives of the people and guide them through difficult times.
Of course, it's also a quest story, and the places they go come to life as vividly as the characters do. I felt Gull's longing to stay in Egypt as well as her desire to stay with her people and find a new homeland.
I enjoyed this book very much, and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in ancient history. I look forward to reading the author's new book, Hand of Isis, which takes place in Egypt at the time of Cleopatra.
What I liked best about this book is Gull's journey as a priestess, and her experiences with the Mysteries. The author has a good understanding of ritual, and of the place of the gods in the lives of ancient people. They're not just myths concocted to explain the world around them, they're real forces that shape the lives of the people and guide them through difficult times.
Of course, it's also a quest story, and the places they go come to life as vividly as the characters do. I felt Gull's longing to stay in Egypt as well as her desire to stay with her people and find a new homeland.
I enjoyed this book very much, and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in ancient history. I look forward to reading the author's new book, Hand of Isis, which takes place in Egypt at the time of Cleopatra.
June 5, 2011
A retelling of the Aeneid from the point of view of an oracle accompanying the voyage. I don't recall the main character from the Aeneid at all, though admittedly it's been a long time since I read that. Whether she appears there or not, she fits the story here very well. I liked how the author re-intrepreted the story, using her own imagination, but still grounding it in what's actually known about "historical" Troy. I found myself quite willing to accept what I was reading as a something of an accurate myth rather than a modern day fiction. I'm also a big fan of seeing a protagonist that's not the usual action hero, although that did make the story a bit slower paced at times, lacking in page-turning action scenes.
In the end, I suppose I found myself a bit torn; the fiction reader in me found it to be a good length, but the me interested in myth and history would have liked to have seen it fleshed out a bit more in places. Another book that makes me kind of want a 3 1/2 star rating option.
In the end, I suppose I found myself a bit torn; the fiction reader in me found it to be a good length, but the me interested in myth and history would have liked to have seen it fleshed out a bit more in places. Another book that makes me kind of want a 3 1/2 star rating option.
November 2, 2021
Ich liebe die griechische Mythologie, deshalb habe ich mich schon total auf das Buch gefreut. Ich wollte es eigentlich schon früher beenden und musste mich zwischenzeitlich wirklich zum Lesen zwingen, weil es so langatmig war.
Das Cover sieht richtig schön aus.
Der Schreibstil war okay. Ich fand ihn weder besonders herausragend noch schlecht. Ich hatte das Gefühl, er war gewollt antik, was man jetzt gut finden kann oder nicht.
Den Charakteren fehlt es meiner Meinung nach leider an Tiefgang, sie bleiben blass und oberflächlich beschrieben. Es fehlt auch eindeutig an Emotionen, so dass ich keinen Bezug zu den Charakteren finden konnte.
Das Buch hat es leider überhaupt nicht geschafft für mich Spannung zu erzeugen. Die interessanten Stellen wurden in wenigen Sätzen abgehandelt, die langatmigen Stellen haben eindeutig dominiert.
Ich habe mich leider etwas durch das Buch gequält und kann daher nur 1,5/5 Sternen.
Das Cover sieht richtig schön aus.
Der Schreibstil war okay. Ich fand ihn weder besonders herausragend noch schlecht. Ich hatte das Gefühl, er war gewollt antik, was man jetzt gut finden kann oder nicht.
Den Charakteren fehlt es meiner Meinung nach leider an Tiefgang, sie bleiben blass und oberflächlich beschrieben. Es fehlt auch eindeutig an Emotionen, so dass ich keinen Bezug zu den Charakteren finden konnte.
Das Buch hat es leider überhaupt nicht geschafft für mich Spannung zu erzeugen. Die interessanten Stellen wurden in wenigen Sätzen abgehandelt, die langatmigen Stellen haben eindeutig dominiert.
Ich habe mich leider etwas durch das Buch gequält und kann daher nur 1,5/5 Sternen.
July 23, 2014
In the tradition of Mary Renault's Theseus books (The Bull from the Sea and The King Must Die), Naomi Mitchison' Spring Queen, Corn King and Mika Waltari's The Egyptian and The Etruscan, this one is a lyrical "mythic" historical fiction novel about Aeneas and the survivors of the Trojan War.
I loved it, read it in two sittings and I will read the next boo by Ms. Graham, Hand of Isis, pub. 03/09, asap.
I loved it, read it in two sittings and I will read the next boo by Ms. Graham, Hand of Isis, pub. 03/09, asap.
April 28, 2017
There's always a pile of books in the bedroom that my spouse has read and recommends that I pick up. As her tastes run more toward pulp than mine, every so often that pile gets too big and I have to declare book bankruptcy, off to the bookshelf they go. But she doesn't recommend books lightly, and this was a solid suggestion.
Black Ships is a historic re-imagining of the Aeneid, the tale of how the Trojans emigrated from the ruins of Troy to found what became Rome. I relied on the endpapers for that background, Graham did all the scholarship so I didn't have to. Not that the story is stuffy or scholarly: told from the perspective of the Trojans' oracle, the narrative flows as if you were hearing it orally.
Rather than going for epic sweep, Graham keeps her story at the personal level. Don't look for suspenseful events; the plot instead is driven by the lives of its characters. Graham thoughtfully adds details about culture, religion, and warfare that add color without being pedantic. An engaging, uncomplicated introduction to the ancients. Recommended.
Black Ships is a historic re-imagining of the Aeneid, the tale of how the Trojans emigrated from the ruins of Troy to found what became Rome. I relied on the endpapers for that background, Graham did all the scholarship so I didn't have to. Not that the story is stuffy or scholarly: told from the perspective of the Trojans' oracle, the narrative flows as if you were hearing it orally.
Rather than going for epic sweep, Graham keeps her story at the personal level. Don't look for suspenseful events; the plot instead is driven by the lives of its characters. Graham thoughtfully adds details about culture, religion, and warfare that add color without being pedantic. An engaging, uncomplicated introduction to the ancients. Recommended.
January 26, 2019
4.5 Stars! I'm really sad to see this world go, and a full review will follow tomorrow!
Edit: Took a bit longer than expected, but I finally have time to review this book, and I really enjoyed it. Black Ships is a retelling of the Aeneid, told from the perspective of Gull, the daughter of a Trojan woman enslaved in the first sacking of the city, who grows up to become Pythia, the priestess/handmaiden for the Lady of the Death, aka Persephone. When black ships, lead by Aeneas after the second sacking of Troy, appear on the horizon, Gull follows them and her Lady's wishes, on a journey through the entire Mediterranean, from the destroyed ruins of Santorin through Egypt to the hills of Latium.
It's a fantastic retelling, full of mythology, faith, and characters I enjoyed spending time with. I loved this kind of books, thus kind of writing as a teenager, and Black Ships is right up with my favorite books from this time.
Edit: Took a bit longer than expected, but I finally have time to review this book, and I really enjoyed it. Black Ships is a retelling of the Aeneid, told from the perspective of Gull, the daughter of a Trojan woman enslaved in the first sacking of the city, who grows up to become Pythia, the priestess/handmaiden for the Lady of the Death, aka Persephone. When black ships, lead by Aeneas after the second sacking of Troy, appear on the horizon, Gull follows them and her Lady's wishes, on a journey through the entire Mediterranean, from the destroyed ruins of Santorin through Egypt to the hills of Latium.
It's a fantastic retelling, full of mythology, faith, and characters I enjoyed spending time with. I loved this kind of books, thus kind of writing as a teenager, and Black Ships is right up with my favorite books from this time.
Read
September 26, 2021I did my requisite 50 pages and it didn't hold my interest.
I recently updated my library card and have been knocking out books on my tbr list. Sometimes I don't remember why I wanted to read the book in the first place. Its a good thing I think, that my tastes are growing.
I recently updated my library card and have been knocking out books on my tbr list. Sometimes I don't remember why I wanted to read the book in the first place. Its a good thing I think, that my tastes are growing.
July 1, 2018
Black Ships is a beautiful and enthralling retelling of the Aeneid. Told from the viewpoint of the daughter of one of the women kidnapped from Troy by Agamemnon's Greeks, author Jo Graham preserves the mythical and epic elements of the tale as a woman's experience.
Highly recommend this book for lovers of history, fantasy, and fans of Mary Stewart, Naomi Novik, Susanna Clarke, and similar.
Highly recommend this book for lovers of history, fantasy, and fans of Mary Stewart, Naomi Novik, Susanna Clarke, and similar.
March 3, 2018
The Aeneid retold, made more real, better related to the era.
September 12, 2008
The daughter of a slave taken from fallen Troy, Gull is an oracle, the voice for the Lady of the Dead. When nine black ships appear, captained by Aeneas, the last Trojan prince, Gull joins her mother's people on their flight from Greek enemies and their attempt to find a new land to call home. Black Ships follows the journey of the Aeneid, but revised: with careful historical revisions, a cast of incredibly real characters, and skillfully interwoven religion, it is the personal story about the founding of an empire. There are a few little quibbleswho am I kidding? This novel is brilliantly conceived and executed, bringing history to life with the utmost care and skill. Black Ships is a stunning debut novel, and it deserves an unqualified recommendation.
Not unlike Mary Renault's novels or Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, Graham's Black Ships takes a part historical, part mythological, part religious storyhere, Virgil's Aeneidand brings it to life via realistic characters, historical integration, and religious overtones. Gull, the protagonist and narrator, becomes close adviser to Aeneas and fast friends with one of the ships's captains, and these relationships and charactersas well as the dozens of others that populate the bookfeel real, pulling the story to a local level where every character has meaning. Gull joins Aeneas's fleeing fleet of ships as they journey across the Mediterranean sea, looking for safety and for a place to call home, and here the journey in the Aeneid is revisedahistorical Dido, for example, is replaced by an Egyptian princess. These changes create a story which is all the more meaningful and impressive for its realistic rendering. Gull is also an oracle for the Lady of the Dead, bringing faith and gods to the storyand Graham handles both with aplomb, creating a divinity with real impact but realistic presence and a religion that feels authentic. Local and universal, personal and divine, Graham reaches to both ends of the spectrum. The book is historical fiction, but with careful research, skillful integration, and the author's palpable love for her story and setting, Black Ships feels wholly real.
The book isn't perfect, but the imperfections are no detraction. The climax and conclusion moves at a faster pace than the rest of the book, stripping away desirable detail. Graham's writing style is more than competent but neither is it exceptional, which renders it almost invisibleI remember characters, plot, scenes, but little about the writing style. A longer author's note or more exposition may help explain the historical settingwhich was never confusing but made me wish I knew more about this era. While there are such quibbles and faults, they mean next to nothing. It may not be perfect, but the imperfections don't distract. Black Ships is a triumphintelligently conceived, brilliantly executed, and a true delight to read. Nothing should deter the interested reader from picking up this book. Captivating and impressive, it is a realistic, human story set on a history-altering stage. It is an astounding debut novel, and I look forward to more from Graham. All told, Black Ships is amazing, and I recommend it to all readers. Renault or Bradley fans will find a literary cousin in Graham. Greco-Roman enthusiasts should love it, and even if you're unfamiliar with or uninterested in this time period you may find that at Graham's hands it comes alive.
Not unlike Mary Renault's novels or Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, Graham's Black Ships takes a part historical, part mythological, part religious storyhere, Virgil's Aeneidand brings it to life via realistic characters, historical integration, and religious overtones. Gull, the protagonist and narrator, becomes close adviser to Aeneas and fast friends with one of the ships's captains, and these relationships and charactersas well as the dozens of others that populate the bookfeel real, pulling the story to a local level where every character has meaning. Gull joins Aeneas's fleeing fleet of ships as they journey across the Mediterranean sea, looking for safety and for a place to call home, and here the journey in the Aeneid is revisedahistorical Dido, for example, is replaced by an Egyptian princess. These changes create a story which is all the more meaningful and impressive for its realistic rendering. Gull is also an oracle for the Lady of the Dead, bringing faith and gods to the storyand Graham handles both with aplomb, creating a divinity with real impact but realistic presence and a religion that feels authentic. Local and universal, personal and divine, Graham reaches to both ends of the spectrum. The book is historical fiction, but with careful research, skillful integration, and the author's palpable love for her story and setting, Black Ships feels wholly real.
The book isn't perfect, but the imperfections are no detraction. The climax and conclusion moves at a faster pace than the rest of the book, stripping away desirable detail. Graham's writing style is more than competent but neither is it exceptional, which renders it almost invisibleI remember characters, plot, scenes, but little about the writing style. A longer author's note or more exposition may help explain the historical settingwhich was never confusing but made me wish I knew more about this era. While there are such quibbles and faults, they mean next to nothing. It may not be perfect, but the imperfections don't distract. Black Ships is a triumphintelligently conceived, brilliantly executed, and a true delight to read. Nothing should deter the interested reader from picking up this book. Captivating and impressive, it is a realistic, human story set on a history-altering stage. It is an astounding debut novel, and I look forward to more from Graham. All told, Black Ships is amazing, and I recommend it to all readers. Renault or Bradley fans will find a literary cousin in Graham. Greco-Roman enthusiasts should love it, and even if you're unfamiliar with or uninterested in this time period you may find that at Graham's hands it comes alive.
May 6, 2010
Reading (and translating) the Aeneid was one of the highlights of my high-school Latin classes, but somehow I was never able to warm up to Aeneas, perhaps because of how he treated Dido. Even at that early (and for me, somewhat unenlightened!) age, I was completely sympathetic to Dido’s side of things; she showered love and affection on Aeneas, and he said that he loved her too, and then it was all “nope, have to go found this mystical city off in the wilds of Latium, sorry!” Thanks to that episode, I must confess that I was always secretly cheering for Turnus in the end, even though he was doomed to lose his life and his fiancée, Lavinia, since Aeneas was the mystical great-great-great-something-or-other-granddaddy of Augustus Caesar for whom Virgil was providing this mythopoetic rival to the Iliad and the Odyssey in order to provide Caesar with divine descent.
Jo Graham’s Black Ships is a re-imagining of the Aeneid from the POV of Gull, who apparently is destined to become the Cumaean Sibyl after having many adventures with Aeneas and his gang along the way. Graham actually makes me really like Aeneas, and by substituting a kind of nutty Egyptian princess named Basetamon who wants to keep Aeneas’s corpse around to join her in the afterlife for Dido, this Aeneas is a bit less of a cad to me! I love the simple, yet powerful language that Graham uses, and she won me over right from the beginning by stating that one of her main inspirations was Michael Wood’s marvellous TV series (and accompanying book), In Search of the Trojan War (though given that this was written in 2007-2008, I think she might have used a bit more recent scholarship too!) Gull herself is a fascinating (and not too anachronistic-sounding) character, and I like the glimpses of others whom we meet along the way, as well as Graham’s explanation of the “Sea Peoples” and the Sack of Troy Redux.
I only have two relatively minor quibbles with the book: The first is that, unlike Homer, Virgil was inventing a mythology from whole cloth in many ways, and that’s why, anachronistic or not, the princess whom Aeneas loves and leaves HAD to be Carthaginian, because that’s Virgil’s explanation for the sworn enmity between Rome and Carthage (and it was victory over Carthage in the end that made Rome a great power, not victory of Egypt.) So I find the Egyptian interlude a bit unsettling, though fascinating. Secondly, and this point is REALLY minor, but I wish that she hadn’t decided to make Aeneas tromp around under the rather silly-sounding nickname of “Neas.” No one else (except Xandros, but that one actually sort of makes sense!) has a nickname, and it keeps making me think the character is a little boy. (I know he’s meant to be young, not the patriarch of Virgil’s imaginings, but still …)
Anyway, I think I have a new favorite mythology author! I can’t wait to read her take on Cleopatra in Hand of Isis and on the succession to Alexander the Great in Stealing Fire.
Jo Graham’s Black Ships is a re-imagining of the Aeneid from the POV of Gull, who apparently is destined to become the Cumaean Sibyl after having many adventures with Aeneas and his gang along the way. Graham actually makes me really like Aeneas, and by substituting a kind of nutty Egyptian princess named Basetamon who wants to keep Aeneas’s corpse around to join her in the afterlife for Dido, this Aeneas is a bit less of a cad to me! I love the simple, yet powerful language that Graham uses, and she won me over right from the beginning by stating that one of her main inspirations was Michael Wood’s marvellous TV series (and accompanying book), In Search of the Trojan War (though given that this was written in 2007-2008, I think she might have used a bit more recent scholarship too!) Gull herself is a fascinating (and not too anachronistic-sounding) character, and I like the glimpses of others whom we meet along the way, as well as Graham’s explanation of the “Sea Peoples” and the Sack of Troy Redux.
I only have two relatively minor quibbles with the book: The first is that, unlike Homer, Virgil was inventing a mythology from whole cloth in many ways, and that’s why, anachronistic or not, the princess whom Aeneas loves and leaves HAD to be Carthaginian, because that’s Virgil’s explanation for the sworn enmity between Rome and Carthage (and it was victory over Carthage in the end that made Rome a great power, not victory of Egypt.) So I find the Egyptian interlude a bit unsettling, though fascinating. Secondly, and this point is REALLY minor, but I wish that she hadn’t decided to make Aeneas tromp around under the rather silly-sounding nickname of “Neas.” No one else (except Xandros, but that one actually sort of makes sense!) has a nickname, and it keeps making me think the character is a little boy. (I know he’s meant to be young, not the patriarch of Virgil’s imaginings, but still …)
Anyway, I think I have a new favorite mythology author! I can’t wait to read her take on Cleopatra in Hand of Isis and on the succession to Alexander the Great in Stealing Fire.
September 2, 2010
What a beautifully written book!
My first foray into The Aeneid was when I had to translate it from the Latin in my Advanced Placement Latin class in high school. I still have my edition with notes strewn all over the pages. I think this is the first historical fiction book that I have encountered that deals with Aeneas and his quest to find a new land for his people. And what a great retelling of the story!
No wait. Scratch that. I had read Lavinia when it had first came out. So ok, this book is my second encounter with The Aeneid in historical fiction form.
I had my eye on this book when it first came out but when it got reissued with this beautiful cover by the same artist who has done covers for Charles de Lint books and the Eragon books, well, I had to have it!
At first, when you read Gull’s story you have the feeling that she is too distant of a character because she appears to observe everything and everyone around her, and has no real interaction with any of them. But, in truth, Gull is a young woman who knows that she has to serve the Lady of the Dead and she knows of what is to come when she encounters Aeneas: she knows she has to go with them to help him find the land he is looking for. She bears a great burden, knowing of things to come, knowing that she can never have a husband, knowing that her presence can sometimes frighten others. Despite her not being able to have a husband (for it is forbidden, since she can only belong to the Lady of the Dead), she does love and is able to have children. In the end, I really liked Gull and there was a moment towards the end where I was so moved by what happened to Gull and felt quite sad for her.
If you know the story of Aeneas, you will definitely find familiar people and scenes in this book: Dido, the journey to the Underworld (if you may recall, Aeneas goes down with a Sybil, which in this story is Gull), Anchises, Lavinia and the war with the Rutuli.
One thing I found interesting was that the author set the whole Dido scenario in Egypt. At the end of the book, the author explains why, since historically Carthage could not have existed at the time Aeneas would have been traveling from Troy. I love the attention to detail in that. Kudos to the author then! There is a lot more info about the historical background to the story and the author at the end of the book.
I am definitely going to read the author’s other book which I already have. I would recommend this one even if you are not familiar with the original Aeneid story. It is just that great of a book; I was sad that it had ended.
My first foray into The Aeneid was when I had to translate it from the Latin in my Advanced Placement Latin class in high school. I still have my edition with notes strewn all over the pages. I think this is the first historical fiction book that I have encountered that deals with Aeneas and his quest to find a new land for his people. And what a great retelling of the story!
No wait. Scratch that. I had read Lavinia when it had first came out. So ok, this book is my second encounter with The Aeneid in historical fiction form.
I had my eye on this book when it first came out but when it got reissued with this beautiful cover by the same artist who has done covers for Charles de Lint books and the Eragon books, well, I had to have it!
At first, when you read Gull’s story you have the feeling that she is too distant of a character because she appears to observe everything and everyone around her, and has no real interaction with any of them. But, in truth, Gull is a young woman who knows that she has to serve the Lady of the Dead and she knows of what is to come when she encounters Aeneas: she knows she has to go with them to help him find the land he is looking for. She bears a great burden, knowing of things to come, knowing that she can never have a husband, knowing that her presence can sometimes frighten others. Despite her not being able to have a husband (for it is forbidden, since she can only belong to the Lady of the Dead), she does love and is able to have children. In the end, I really liked Gull and there was a moment towards the end where I was so moved by what happened to Gull and felt quite sad for her.
If you know the story of Aeneas, you will definitely find familiar people and scenes in this book: Dido, the journey to the Underworld (if you may recall, Aeneas goes down with a Sybil, which in this story is Gull), Anchises, Lavinia and the war with the Rutuli.
One thing I found interesting was that the author set the whole Dido scenario in Egypt. At the end of the book, the author explains why, since historically Carthage could not have existed at the time Aeneas would have been traveling from Troy. I love the attention to detail in that. Kudos to the author then! There is a lot more info about the historical background to the story and the author at the end of the book.
I am definitely going to read the author’s other book which I already have. I would recommend this one even if you are not familiar with the original Aeneid story. It is just that great of a book; I was sad that it had ended.
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