Review: Lord of the Silver Bow, by David Gemmell
I’ve been a fan of Gemmell for years. I’ve been a fan of the Iliad for years. Having a more prosaic version of the Iliad written by one of my favourite writers sounds like a match made in heaven. Right?
It’s right.
Lord of the Silver Bow tells the story of the Iliad from the perspective of the Trojans (for the most part). Troy is a fantastic city, wealthy and diverse, the pinnacle of Mediterranean culture. It is also rotten to the core. The story for the most part tells the tale of three characters (none of whom are Trojan) trying to navigate the shark-filled Trojan political waters.
Helikaon, also know as Aeneas, is a Dardanian prince, far more at ease sailing the Great Green than dealing with his country’s issues. Gemmell paints him as likeable – noble, brave and beloved by his men. However, a dark past often threatens to overwhelm him, and he flashes moments of cruelty that make him as hated by his enemies as he is loved by his friends.
Andromache is the daughter of a king, whose strong will sees her sent join the priestesses on the Isle of Thera. There she blossoms, learning the bow, how to ride, and other pleasures denied women of that era. When her young sister dies, Andromache finds she is promised to Trojan prince Hektor in her stead. She secures passage to Troy with Helikaon, but circumstances lead them to fall for each other.
Argurius is a stodgy Mykene warrior and enemy of Troy (and pretty much everyone else), but a doughty fighter who follows a strict code of honour that sees him banished by King Aganemnon. After an assassination attempt, he ends up in Troy, where he meets Laodike, a daughter of King Priam. Can he overcome the loss of his homeland, evade assassins and handle his burgeoning relationship with Laodike?
There are other characters who pop up on occasion. Odysseus is a treat, a teller of tall tales and friend to everyone. Priam is sharp-witted and harsh, but he his interaction with Andromache are good. There is also Xander, a boy who lends a sense of innocence amongst all the corruption surrounding him.
It’s David Gemmell, so there’s action aplenty, and the plotting is well done, adding believable depth to the characters of the Iliad. It’s quite lengthy, but very much worth your time.
