Gilgamesh

I got this book because it is by Stephan Grundy, and having read his two previous books 'Atilla's Treasure' and 'Rhinegold' I knew I would have a great book to read. I wasn't dissapointed, but was a bit surprised at parts of it. As the other reviws say, a main part of the plot is his relationship with Enkidu. I felt totally drawn into the world of ancient Sumeria....the rich detailed descriptions of temples, cerimonies, sexuality, people interacting with each other are all so well done. The Ensi's journey from rash, impulsive youth in love with his power, to the man who has been through trials and peril is so thoroughly enchanting. If you're not squeamish about sexuality, and homosexuality, then you will likely love this book.

Appears to be a love it or hate it book. I loved it. Hard to put down and a fantastic view of another culture. Keep up the good work Stephan.

Being new to the writings of Stephan Grundy, I was initially somewhat daunted by the sheer scale of this book. At 550+ words, and with no previous knowledge of the Gilgamesh saga whatsoever, I figured that this might not be a book for the fainthearted or, indeed, the uninitiated. I need not have worried. Quite simply, Grundy's 'Gilgamesh' is a breathtaking read. His vision of early Sumeria, and its elaborate (and to us, somewhat alien) rituals and culture is brought vividly to life by an author of consummate skill to the extent that I, a reader with no prior knowledge, might almost have found myself living there. Greater still is Grundy's gift for characterisation. His book is crammed not with the usual main players and plot enabling secondary props, but by living breathing characters, superbly drawn by the author with a passion for life and a depth of compassion and humanity which defies description. This is a richly woven tapestry which can be read on any number of levels, from that of straight forward adventure to deeply moving treatise on the folly of pride, the futility of regret and the individual's powerlessness in the face of the inevitable. I have no idea how true to the 'original' Grundy's version of Gilgamesh is, but his research looks to have been impressive indeed if the book's afterword is anything to go by, and I will certainly be reading Maureen Gallery Kovaks translation, as cited, not to mention Grundy's other works. In short, buy 'Gilgamesh' - this is an awesome read and a handsome retelling of an epic tale; it has a breadth of passion and a scale of grandeur which - if you have the slightest shred of humanity, will surely take your breath away.

Stephan Grundy's Gilgamesh is a magnificent piece of art. Brilliantly written and intensively researched, it translates the ancient Mesopotamian epic into a superbly readable novel without altering the essence of the original. The theme of an arrogant and powerful young man who must discover that no human heroism can overcome mortality is one that speaks as clearly to the modern age as to the era when the epic was composed; by fleshing out the lines of the poem with a wealth of physical and emotional detail, Grundy expands this fundamental theme to a veritable Wagnerian opera, producing a book which not only overwhelms in the reading, but provokes thoughts and feelings that will last long after the covers have been closed. Intense meditations upon mortality and the worth of human life are layered into an exciting plot that includes war (not invented to pad out the plot-line, but derived directly from another Mesopotamian poem, 'Gilgamesh and Agga'), hunting scenes worthy of Wilbur Smith at his best, and high intrigue within the temple walls, as well as the ongoing emotional combat between Gilgamesh and his city's patron goddess Inanna. This combination of thought and action shows an unusually skillful handling of timing and plot, while the characters, though many of their attitudes are foreign to the modern viewpoint, still manage to be highly sympathetic and interesting - particularly the young priestess who has the thankless task of trying to get the headstrong Gilgamesh to do his long-feared and potentially fatal duty to the goddess Inanna. The one caution readers should have is that the author's insistence on detailed historical accuracy includes a willingness to present a complete and unexpurgated view of the sexual emphasis of Sumerian religion and culture (and of the diverse forms of sexuality practiced and celebrated by the Sumerians) which may prove to be controversial among those who are familiar only with the more watered-down translations and interpretations of Gilgamesh. In particular, Grundy's straightforward acceptance of the repeated phrase in Gilgamesh's dreams about Enkidu, 'To me its (the meteor symbolizing Enkidu in the dream) attraction was like the love of woman...you were drawn to it as though to a woman...you will love him as a woman', etc. (the same phrase is also translated as 'I hugged him like a wife...You loved him and hugged him like a wife') may unsettle or even offend those who assume that ancient Sumerians lived by the same moral standards as fundamentalist Baptists - though conversely, readers looking for a gay love story (or political statement) may be unsettled by Enkidu's happy, if open, marriage, Gilgamesh's many experiences with priestesses and new brides, and the suggestion that the two heroes go out cruising for women together, among other things. However, those who appreciate historical authors who are willing to accurately portray the attitudes of the cultures in which their works are set will be gratefu

From the first few pages, I was transported to ancient Erech, involved in the lives of the characters, and hooked on this most ancient of epic stories. Grundy has a way of bringing larger-than-life characters forth in ways that make them immediately important to the reader as people, not merely as archetypes. Whether he is writing about fighting or love-making, he does it with an appreciation of the skills involved that make you pity his enemies and envy his lovers. He has the rare combination of excellent research and creative story-telling ability that marks the best keepers of legend. I recommend this book not just because the Gilgamesh story is culturally important, but because it is a GOOD story, and even better when told by a master.