Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Superb continuation of the trilogy. March 29, 2008
Shield of Thunder continues the epic Troy Trilogy begun in Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow. Shield of Thunder was the last book completed by David Gemmell before his premature death in 2006, and was published posthumously.
Rather than picking up the narrative immediately after Lord of the Silver Bow, Gemmell starts Shield of Thunder by focusing on Banokles and Kalliades, two of the Mykene soldiers sent to Troy by Agamemnon to murder King Priam. However, Priam spared their lives as an act of mercy in return for them slaying their treacherous commander. Agamemnon does not look well on failure and now the two Mykene soldiers are on the run. Their paths cross with Piria, a runaway priestess, and mighty Odysseus, whose path leads back to Troy. Back in the Golden City, we are soon reacquainted with the central characters from the first book, such as Andromache and Helikaon, and soon meet important new characters, most notably Achilles, the great hero of Thessaly, who burns to pit his skills of war against Hektor, Prince of Troy.
Shield of Thunder undercuts reader expectations nicely. We may be nearly two hundred pages in before the major characters from the first book reassert themselves, but Odysseus, Banokles and Kalliades are such great characters you barely notice. The writing is as tight as ever and there's much greater humour in the book, particularly the opening sections revolving around the mighty boar Ganny, whilst Banokles' refreshing lack of moral complexity makes him a particularly engaging character: someone who just works out what has to be done and does it whilst everyone else agonises with moral quandaries around him. However, this is the story of the tensions building to war. Gemmell undercuts reader expectations again and again. Paris and Helen are married quite legally and happily at the start of the book but Agamemnon exploits a legalistic loophole to allow him to challenge the might of Troy for her 'capture'. Menelaus, usually depicted as a fearsome warrior, is here a passive man much more at home on his farm than on the front lines. And Achilles and Hektor meeting in the arena prior to their infamous duel on the battlefield may strike some as sacrilege, but it builds up their distant rivalry and thirst to clash in battle all the more effectively.
Shield of Thunder is an excellent continuation of the story and sets things up nicely for the finale in Troy: Fall of Kings.
Epic March 2, 2008
As I first began reading this book I wasn't all that sure about it, the narrative style seemed a little too ambitious and as it followed many different characters in the third person, and it became a little confusing at some points.
I carried on and gradually it really hooked me. The presentation of the characters is immense, for instance the fight between Hektor and Achilles is described with such emotion and awe you'd think that David Gemmell had actually been there.
Every character seems like a real person, and the tragedy and heartbreak that occurs so frequently throughout the novel is truly touching. In the latter chapters of the novel, when war has broken out, the battles and the slaughter that takes place is utterly epic. I was also amazed how many of the more separate stories came together to a magnificent climax at the end. Unbelievable.
A definite must read!
A fine tale January 21, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I finished this book this morning (2am), feeling very sad. Not because of the events in the book - which were, as usual, beautifully told in the effortless Gemmell style - but because I had just read that the author had passed away. For me there has never been another writer who could captivate me so completely, or hold my attention in the way that Gemmell could.
I will buy the final book in the trilogy of course. Because I've grown to love, despise or sympathise with numerous characters in the first two books. Then I will go back to the very beginning, and re-read everything he's ever written, because the man was, quite simply, a story-telling genius.
This was a wonderful book November 29, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As I knew it would be... It was sad to read knowing that this is the very last book Mr. Gemmell will every complete. As usual he delivered a book with wonderful characters, vivid battles and ordinary flawed people who become heroes. Even though a third book is in the works (I have heard that he finished most of it, and that his wife is completing it based off of his outlines) the book finishes well and does not leave you hanging. I will miss David Gemmell's writing. Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.
 Okay - but should be copyright law involved here July 26, 2007
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
You know the story - hero , ugly one, swordmaster & lady/whore/princess
Stick to the earlier ones - legend, Lion of Macedon and Knights of Dark Renown
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