I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review
voluntarily.
After reading this author's first novel, Out of Time, I wanted more
from him. I was thrilled when he contacted me, telling me about his new novel, The
Age of Heroes. I was surprised to learn it is a sci-fi tale set in the late
Bronze Age, a time when people explained events they didn't understand through
mythology rather than science.
What I kind of expected was a retelling of the ancient stories of
destruction retold for a more modern audience, i.e., the story from Homer's Iliad.
Although the siege and sacking of Troy is included in the tale, it is not
simply a retelling of Homer's epic. The Age of Heroes is a completely
new story covering the strife in locations all around the Mediterranean.
Constant conflict was the order of the day, including the sacking of cities,
starvation, and the dispersion of large populations reduced to having to be
hunter-gatherers, as in even more ancient times.
Out of this tale, heroes arise, but everyone seems to know that their age is
coming to an end and will give way to a new age, and those not willing to
embrace change will be condemned to oblivion.
I have always been fascinated with mythology and how people reasoned in
ancient times. As stated in the Foreward, this book is not intended to be a
retelling of history, nor is it intended to be an alternative to actual events.
It is intended to be entertaining and thought provoking. It is a speculative
story of imagination and adventure and a fun read.
What the populations of several city-states perceive as their gods is
actually a group of aliens who are on a mission to survey and learn about the
people of the earth. The gods, who are an alien race called Soarers, have made
their presence known in numerous cultures and are worshipped and feared by the
people. When the commander calls the group together to decide how to proceed
with their relationships with Earth's population, an argument breaks out. Some
see the humans as a growing society to be nurtured into the future, while
others see humans as a dangerous race who, if allowed to grow and explore the
stars, would bring death and destruction with them, maybe even causing the
extinction of the Soarers themselves. The council splits and the commander of
the alien crew loses control, and the gods start using their vast technology to
cause even more mayhem among the already constantly warring population.
One aspect that stands out for me is the character development of the major
players in this story.
There are numerous characters to keep track of, with many diverse cultural
roots and beliefs who clash along the way. Some are quite compassionate, while
others set themselves up as oppressors of their people and cause much strife
for others.
The Soarers all have different jobs in the crew and have different ideas
about what to do. Whether to actively interfere or stand back and observe the
lively happenings among the humans. Their leader, known to the Greeks as Zeus,
is a kind of sad figure who wants the mission to succeed. He is powerful, but
so are his fellow crew members. They all have vastly advanced technology at
their command. I felt sad for Commander as he worked to keep his group in
order, but ran into failure at every turn.
The greatest hero of the story was Echelaos, the Achaean Prince of Pylos,
who goes on a quest. He is driven to be reunited with his beloved Helen, who,
while betrothed to him, is also promised to the prince of Troy. It is a journey
he pursues through the entire tale and illustrates how heroism often comes with
a lot of pain and suffering.
My favorite point of plot in The Age of Heroes is the colorful
descriptions of the places we get to visit. I also found the characters
remarkable in how well we get to know them early in the story. They are human
in every way, quite vulnerable, and have to rely on their wits to keep going,
especially Echelaos.
There are numerous scenes of battle that capture the brutality of the age.
Those are also well described and can be disturbing to readers sensitive to
descriptions of battle, destruction, and death.
For me, my takeaway was in the theme of how hubris can play both a positive,
but more often a negative, role in the affairs of humans. Commander is
surrounded by beings who have been manipulating people with great success for
so long, they begin to believe in their human-given roles as gods. Even with
their immense power, they think themselves beyond what they really are and
sometimes overstep their bounds. Many become corrupted by the self-perceived
power leading to the downfall of them all.
This makes The Age of Heroes worth reading if for no other reason.
I give high recommendations for The Age of Heroes. As a fan of
mythology and sci-fi, it is an excellent story that will provide fodder for
thought. It is a fascinating tale of speculation on a period of history we are
still exploring and learning about. There are great characters in a story that
moves along at a good pace and is loaded with vivid descriptions of people,
places, and events that will trigger the imagination.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm a technologist and a science fiction author.
My professional career provides me with a unique perspective on the technologies of the future. I am working at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution, advancing 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Supply Chain, and Energy Transition. You can read my fiction and connect with me at my website, mikhailgladkikh.com.
Join me in my quest to imagine the future world!
Well, there it is...
Qapla!
