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Title: The Shattered Horse

Author: S. P. Somtow

Narrator: Napoleon Ryan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

S.P. Somtow's classic sequel to The Iliad

Firmly rooted in modern archaeological discoveries about Bronze Age cultures, The Shattered Horse paints a vivid picture of a decaying golden age seen through the eyes of the survivors of Trojan War. At the center of the story is Prince Astyanax: heir to the Trojan kingdom, marked for death as a child by the Greek conquerors, escaping, perhaps by divine intervention, and doomed, perhaps, to repeat history.

An astonishing panoply of mythic characters come to life in this book, called by Gene Wolfe "in the true sense, a work of genius."

Members Reviews:

The End of Troy VIIA

I bought this novel when it first came out and I've loved it ever since. It's based on an obscure classical reference that states that Astyanax, son of Hektor was not slain at the fall of Troy, but rather it was a scapegoat who was given up to the Akkhaians as a sacrifice. Astyanax survives in much the way his uncle Paris did before he came back to Troy. The novel explains the fates of both Troy VI and Troy VIIA and the climax of the rule of the Atreides. Some reviewers don't like the sexuality or the blood sacrifices in the book. There is nothing perverse and Bronze Age people hdid have sex and did have blood sacrifices. I personally like the way Somtow brings in the conflict between the old religion of the Great Goddess and the new religion of Dayeus Pitar. If you love Homer, buy this book.

Five Stars

A keeper

Alternate History/Mythology Romp

Prolific and underrated fantasy/scifi author Somtow Sucharitkul, a.k.a. S. P. Somtow, here turns his hand to the world of ancient Greek mythology. Astyanax, son of slain Hector, is the hero who embarks on an impossible quest to rebuild fallen Troy. The familiar mythological elements are spiced up with the addition of zombies, Amazons, Egyptian sorcerers and more. Somtow's larger theme is the fall from the ancient world into modernity, the transition from the magical and heroic age of Bronze to the utilitarian age of Iron. The ancient matriarchal culture is seen in the figure of Snakemother, who has turned dark and "evil" in reaction to the emerging patriarchal culture and depredations of Skyfather. All in all a rich if sometimes uneven riff through the world of ancient mythology. It reads as if produced in one prolonged burst of inspiration, with passages of inspired, poetical language coexisting with stretches of functional fantasy-novel prose. An agreeable air of originality and mystery hangs over it all. If you like a good fantasy novel, and appreciate the ancient world, you can't go wrong with this one.

Quoting reviews from previous edition ISBN 0747230927

This has been out of print for so long - the reviews below from the earlier edition on amazon will hopefully demonstrate why this book should be back in print!

****

Good author, good story , October 7, 2005

Reviewer: "General Pete" (SC)

Loved reading about the adventures of Astyanax. An excellent retelling of the legand. I recommend it to all that have an interest in the Trojan war. The book is not perfect it does get a little confusing towards the end.

*****

Excellent adventure set in ancient times, August 28, 2001

Reviewer: "techtor" (Quezon CIty, Philippines)

I had always been fascinated by tales in ancient times. I also find rewrites of these tales quite entertaining, quite explorative. "The Shattered Horse" has this, and more.