- Hardcover: 218 pages
- Publisher: Walsworth Pub Co; Limited edition (August 1982)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0898652286
- ISBN-13: 978-0898652284
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5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ian Myles Slater on L. Sprague de Camp's Antiquity, Sep 18 2003
By Ian M. Slater "aylchanan" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Dragon of Ishtar Gate (Hardcover)
I have discussed this book in a review of the paperback edition, in which I addressed some of the issues raised by previous reviewers. In this review I will point out some other characteristics of interest to possible readers.This is an adventure novel, set during the reign of Xerxes, Originally published in 1961, it was the third written, and earliest in chronological order, of five loosely-related historical novels. The others are: "An Elephant for Aristotle" (1958), in the reign of Alexander the Great, involving a trek across Asia with a rather large gift for the philosopher; "The Bronze God of Rhodes" (1960), in which the background is the struggle among Alexander's successors, with the construction of the Colossus of Rhodes only one of the incidents; "The Arrows of Hercules" (1965), a story of war and military inventions in the time of Plato; and, finally, "The Golden Wind" (1969), concerning sea-borne trade and exploration in Hellenistic times.
"Dragon" is probably closest in mood to de Camp's fantasy novels, while "Bronze God" and "Arrows" are closer to his science fiction, with their description of engineering problems, and personality clashes among researchers and engineers. "Dragon" also reflects de Camp's then-recent acquaintance with the Conan stories and other works of Robert E. Howard. Bessas, the huge Persian nobleman, is not only a close match for Conan in physique, but his mood swings, fixation on his mother, and tendency to toss of verses, seems a reflection of Howard himself. (Fortunately, his poems reflect de Camp's verbal dexterity and wit, not Howard's melancholy.)
Earlier editions include the original Doubleday hardcover, and a paperback edition from long-defunct Lancer Books (which also published most of de Camp's editions of the Conan stories). The illustrated edition is perhaps the most desirable, but readers who love high adventure, exotic locales, authentic detail, and more than a little humor, will enjoy it in any format.
{Please note that Amazon's after-the-fact decision to link editions has left me with two (non-duplicating) reviews for this title; I have decided to leave them in place for the time being, instead of merging them, or deleting both and creating a new version.}
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Romp with Lots of Solid Historical Background, July 7 2011
By Austin Bruce Hallock "Austin Bruce Hallock" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate (Paperback)
A great romp with lots of solid historical background. This is NOT fantasy, though the cover might lead one to think so. There are a couple of wizards and magicians, but their supernatural powers lie only in their own heads. The setting is the Persian Empire of Xerxes after his defeat at the hands of the Greeks, mid-5th century BCE. The action moves from Persia, through Assyria, the Levant, and Egypt, and into darkest Africa. Some of the daring-do is a bit implausible, and the mores of the early 1960s (when the book was written) occasionally poke through the costumes, but on the whole the work is very well researched, and rather fun for anyone who knows more than a little about this era. De Camp was a respected historian, as well as science-fiction and fantasy writer. Unfortunately, his straight historical novels are not so well known; all are currently out of print.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
surprisingly hilarious and fascinating, Feb 26 1998
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate (Paperback)
I read and loved L. Sprague de Camp's "Honorable Barbarian", so when I saw this book cheap at a flea market, I thought I'd buy it. It took me a while to get around to reading it because I enjoy mainly the setting of fantasy and medieval books, and don't like books as much which are set in other times, including the reign of Xerxes. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book - it had the same sort of honorable, getting-into-trouble main character I had grown to love in "Honorable Barbarian" and others, and the same great humor. This book is one of those ones that will have you laughing hysterically while everyone around you stares. It is also one of those ones that you start reading and cannot stop. This is a must-read for de Camp fans and those that just enjoy a good laugh.This is also one of those books that I just happened to pick up at a flea market while others are searching frantically for a copy. I hope others find a copy - although hopefully not a tattered 60's edition! Happy reading.
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