Sasha Miller

I obtained a second-hand version of this, having enjoyed a recent re-read of the author's "Priam's Daughter". It is the story of the hero known variously as Bellerophon and Perseus, the man's original name being Hippolochus (who in some legends is the son of Bellerophon but a foreword explains the reasoning behind the scheme followed in the novel). As there are elements in common to both heroes, such as the appearance of the winged horse Pegasus, the author theorised that they were actually stories about the same person, since the names Bellerophon and Perseus are both able to be derived from titles or nicknames.

The frame of the tale is that he is wandering as a despised elderly man, blind and trying to obtain food and occasional lodging by telling his tale as a bard. Knowing his life is near its end, he sets out his life story as it actually happened and not as the exaggerated stories which began to be circulated when he was much younger.

The period is one where the worship of the Hellene gods is taking over and gradually ousting the worship of the old Goddess, although there are still plenty of adherents to the latter which originally had an emphasis on the power of women and the sacrifice of the King. As per the previously read book, the Bronze Age setting is well realised, with no literal appearances of gods: people believe wholeheartedly in them and interpret events in that light, but the only supernatural elements as before are the possession by certain individuals of psychic abilities, mainly a knowledge of the future albeit vague and erratic. Pegasus, for example, is a horse with which Hippolochus forms a bond and is able to jump fences on - as no rider has ever managed this before, the story is exaggerated and Pegasus is talked about as a flying horse, aided by his later depiction on the sail and figurehead of the ship called Pegasus and on the helmets etc of the hero's close companions. The other uncanny elements in the hero's exploits are similar exaggerations of non-supernatural events.

The story is episodic, with the various travels, including a three year sea voyage to Britain known then as Hyperborea, to slay the 'Gorgon' Medusa, in this a formidable rogue Amazon with a group of followers who have been outlawed by the Goddess' priestesses. The nicknames Bellerophon and Perseus are acquired at different points in the character's life and refer to particular events. He is brave but not the brightest person, relying on his good friend Nereus, and other friends acquired along the way including Orpheus, the legendary bard. Eventually, he is undone by hubris and his unlucky closest friends and wife along with him.

I found it a bit of a slog in places, and it does come across as rather a travelogue, so I broke off in the middle of it to read something else. It is interesting in places to see the author's alternative interpretation of the supernatural elements of the original stories, but the treatment of women is problematic. Apart from an Amazon - and even she starts showing signs of going a bit soppy about Perseus as he then is, before departing before she can contravene the Amazon code (sex with men is only to produce more Amazons) - the other women he is involved with are pretty and fairly insipid, and the descriptions of Andromeda descend into mawkishness. The characterisations even of the male characters remain sketchy throughout. The book was rather a disappointment after the author's retelling of Cassandra's story and so I can only give this an OK 2 stars.… (meer)

Quite a decent historical novel from the POV of Cassandra which also deals with the subservient position of women at that time/culture.

***** 2023 update - re-read as part of a 'theme' read of Trojan War and other Greek mythology related novels. The style is more 'old fashioned' in that, although it is Cassandra's first person viewpoint, there is quite a lot of reportage where she recounts things she's been told about - mainly the fighting - by other people. However, the author has an interesting take on things. In a foreword, she was going by some then-current research, which was disputed even at the time, but which lends the story an interesting and more realistic background. For example, the Mycenaeans led by Agamemnon and Menelaus have been raiding cities adjacent to Troy for years while pretending that pirates are doing it. They want to seize its wealth in a rather stupid 'killing the goose that lays the golden eggs' attitude, as it is the success of the city as a trading hub for both West and East that has made it wealthy in the first place, and its destruction can only render both communities poorer. Helen is a self-centred primping woman who comes to Troy through the connivance of her husband and Agamemnon, who use her presence at the pretext for the war, when they are really only after the wealth.

This changed premise means that the actual fighting around Troy occurs over the space of a year, much more realistic for a state of siege warfare. Similarly, the Trojans send a lot of their non-combatants away to a remote stronghold before the Greeks can lay siege, and the bulk of those remaining are fighting men, both Trojans and their allies, with only the royal women and their servants remaining out of the female population. Even so, food is running short by the end. There is a very interesting take on Hektor's supposed cowardice in running away from Achilles, and circling the city three times, where it is revealed on the contrary to be an act of courage. And the downfall of Troy does not involve a wooden horse - that is a story later put around by the Greeks - but instead is tied in with the theories about the excavated site of the city.

Cassandra is an interesting character who is 'touched by Apollo' in the sense that she has premonitions and feelings about things. The gods however do not appear in the story: they are more a construct of their worshippers though there is definitely 'something' divine or supernatural in the background. So it is not Apollo who curses Cassandra's prophetic gift so that most people don't take her warnings seriously, but an abusive priest of his. Similarly, where certain characters are protected by gods on the battlefield in Homer's Iliad, here they are protected by brave heralds who hold the symbol of that god over the person, a protection mostly honoured by the opposition apart from Achilles who is a law unto himself.

The position of women is subservient but female characters, including Cassandra, are nevertheless strong and as far as they can carve out roles for themselves in the spaces they can find in such a patriarchal culture, especially when in captivity.

The story extends beyond the fall of Troy and Agamemnon's return to Mycenae with a lot of material that doesn't appear in the myth, but is an interesting take on things. I don't want to say more to avoid spoilers, but I found the ending very touching. I thoroughly enjoyed the re-read, especially in contrast to some of the other retellings I've encountered lately, and have managed to obtain second-hand copies of a couple of the author's other stories based on Greek mythology on the strength of this one. So I'm actually raising my original four star rating to five stars.… (meer)

"Ladylord" brings something to the world of Fantasy that is rare and truly brilliant. It is nearly impossible to find fantasy books that are based in an Asian-style world alive with a culture vastly different from what may be found in the majority of what is out there.

Javerre is the very image of the strong, willful and motivated female protagonist that is exceedingly popular, but she does not break the mold in which her culture-centered world fixes her in. Her journey is epic enough to satisfy the adventure-junkies out there, and her self reflections and introverted nature will please those who seek a subtle psychological level to their stories. Put together, "Ladylord" is a gem that is denied the credit it is due.

I greatly enjoyed this story both as a female and as a fantasy reader -- not something that happens on a regular basis. My thanks to Sasha Miller.… (meer)