Gilgamesh the king. August 9th 2005 Deals to a large extent with the lust for power and the struggle between the high priestess of the Kingdom and the King. It's interesting to see how these things are worked in in a feasible way. The first book in the trilogy of children's books written and illustrated by Zeman: Gilgamesh the King (1991), The Revenge of Ishtar (1993), and The Last Quest of Gilgamesh (1995). Welcome back. That's actually it's one slight failing, IMO. Gilgamesh the King by Robert Silverberg, 1984 | Online Research Library: Questia Read the full-text online edition of Gilgamesh the King (1984). Very different in style from his SF novels but also very enjoyable. Much like Mary Renault, Silverberg took what history of the true Gilgamesh there is and the Epic itself, and imaginatively fashioned a first-person narrative that gives the more mythic and magical aspects of the epic realistic renditions and logical explanations. If you are aiming for a telling which is close to the original, this is not the book for you. The Mesopotamian epic about a tyrannical king who finds his humanity and embarks on a quest for immortality here takes shape as a trio of books: Gilgamesh the King, The Revenge of Ishtar and The … Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2015. Gilgamesh the king is a retelling of the Gilgamesh story without the fantastical elements. Silverberg definitely had a feel for the mythic quality of story of the hero Gilgamesh. Indeed, it may enhance it. Book Description Gollancz, London, 1985. Faithful rendering of the times and culture. Gilgamesh’s appetite for wine, women, and warfare … A thrilling retelling of the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh from the Hugo and Nebula Award–Winning author of Lord Valentine’s Castle. I've learned so much from this novel - about the culture, history and beliefs of the early people of Mesopotamia. Much of the novel is based on the Epic of Gilgamesh written some 4500 years ago. Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. The epic tale of Gilgamesh, the legendary god-king of Sumeria who discovered the secret of eternal life, has enflamed the imaginations of countless generations. Captivating story and beautiful illustrations, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2013. In answer, another kind of man, Enkidu, is sent to earth to live among the animals and learn kindness from them. This book is complete in and of itself. by ibooks. The “Epic of Gilgamesh” is an ancient epic Sumerian poem about the exploits of Gilgamesh, the greatest king of Uruk in Mesopotamia. I think age appropriate versions are an excellent way to introduce materials which can become increasingly complex over time. His saga was “composed” orally at roughly the same time, first appearing in Sumerian cuneiform in roughly 2000 BC, then were later copied and translated into Akkadian and Hittite versions over the next 1000 years. The epic tale of Gilgamesh, the legendary god-king of Sumeria who discovered the secret of eternal life, has enflamed the imaginations of countless generations. Anu insists that one of the men must die, and Enlil agrees—Enkidu will die. Gilgamesh the King. There, Enkidu, the uncivilized beast from the forest, shows the evil Gilgamesh through friendship what it means to be human. Gilgamesh the King Book Description : A thrilling retelling of the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh from the Hugo and Nebula Award–Winning author of Lord Valentine’s Castle. It tells the tale of how he overworked his people to build a great … After reading the whole trilogy, we made our own clay "cuneiform" tablets. This is an adaptation of the story of Gilgamesh, perhaps the oldest narrative in existence. Not quite what I expected, but that was a good thing. Nevertheless this is a great read; Silverberg has mixed a lot of everyday life into the tales, stringing them into a memoir format which works well. Refresh and try again. The pictures and written words are great. It tells the tale of how he overworked his people to build a great kingdom, his friendship with the wild man Enkidu who was sent by the gods to distract him, his battles with the goddess Inanna, the earliest account of the great flood, and his journey seeking immortality. I have a great love for the historical period being depicted, and this is probably the only novel that comes close to being at all accurate. An ancient heroes epic adapted with a nice flow to it story wise. Having read several translations of the Epic of Gilgamesh (the Andrew George one is very good), I have wanted to read Silverberg's novel for years. While it deals a lot with the capriciousness of the gods and has plenty of fantasy elements these are all dealt with as would be by ancient society and all have a rational interpretation. “Nightwings is Robert Silverberg at the top of his form, and when Silverberg is at the top of his form, no one is better. A thrilling retelling of the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh from the Hugo and Nebula Award–Winning author of Lord Valentine’s Castle. In Enkidu's dream, the gods meet in council to discuss how Enkidu and Gilgamesh have offended them by killing Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Interesting, but terribly slow moving. Together they wander the kingdom as brothers, conquering demons until a cruel twist changes Gilgamesh… To impress … I was already familiar with the epic of Gilgamesh and wondered what Robert Silverberg would do with it. Paperback or Softback. It made an ancient saga accessible to this modern reader. Soon Enkidu becomes gravely ill and lies on his bed weeping because death will part him from Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. Silverberg is always good, often great, here he is at his greatest. The sequel, where Gilgamesh continues his life and adventures in the afterlife, is equally good. i had no idea what this was when i picked it up. Don't think I am up to more of the series. Please try again. All three are illustrated with vivid pastels on black paper. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is in the vein of May Renault's books (eg The Bull From The Sea) and T.E. It is a beautiful re telling of a small part wonderfully illustrated. Always being the larger of men in stature and in ego, believed he could do no wrong. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help. All events can be explained rationally, but the book does a very good job of depicting some of the cultural beliefs of the S. This is a very well written, and while I have a few minor quibbles, little of them have to do with the writing or the story itself. A hardcover would make a beautiful gift if they were not so expensive and hard to find. This modern version really helped me understand these old peoples' way of thinking, how natural phenomena connected with their religious beliefs, and how they explained them. First Edition. This is an adaptation of the story of Gilgamesh, perhaps the oldest narrative in existence. Also deals with Gilgamesh's personnel development and his transition from all powerful monarch who tramples over all in his path to a more reflective monarch who appreciate the mutual obligations of absolute power. Silverberg’s book is a novelization of the epic with some liberties taken, particularly the int. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving … Overview. I am far from disappointed. Gilgamesh The King retold and illustrated by Ludmila Zeman 1992 Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Traditional Literature Estimate of age level of interest: Grades 2-7 … Tastefully Written Fable About Compassion and Friendship that Will Leave Children Eager for More. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help. The Epic of Gilgamesh exerted substantial influence on the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems written in ancient Greek during the eighth century BC. The Story of Gilgamesh, left my 10, 8, and 6 year old sons yearning for more. In Gilgamesh, science fiction Grand Master Robert Silverberg gives us a vivid portrait of a courageous, lusty, sometimes reckless ruler of men. Factional type novel set in prehistory times (approx 5000 years ago) and dealing with Gilgamesh, who became King of the Sumerians. Get this from a library! The Gilgamesh that Robert Silverberg describes is a combination of Leonidas (as portrayed by Gerard Butler in 300), Conan (as portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Ted Nugent: he is an alpha male with an attitude, a manly man of testosteronian power and ursine manliness, with a steaming hot side order of god-like virile manly manness. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving … This gives the text a more timeless feel. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. I prefer these legends to be retold using more formal, "mythic" language, as Lawrence does. The semi-mythical king Gilgamesh, according to the chronology presented in the Sumerian king list, ruled Uruk in the 27th century BC. The fullest extant text of the Gilgamesh epic is on 12 incomplete Akkadian-language tablets found at Nineveh in the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (reigned 668–627 bce). The Mesopotamian epic about a tyrannical king who finds his humanity and embarks on a quest for immortality here takes shape as a trio of books: Gilgamesh the King, The Revenge of Ishtar and The Last Quest of Gilgamesh. And yet this does not diminish the "mythic" power of the story at all. There, Enkidu, the "uncivilized" beast from the forest, shows the evil Gilgamesh through friendship what it means to be human. As I see it this is book #1 to follow the next book on Gilgamesh (his quest for eternal life). This is the story of Gilgamesh, King of Kings, who brought back knowledge from before the flood - who loved and lost his companion Enkidu and had to find out why we die. I very much enjoyed it. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Don’t neglect teaching the fairy tales, the myths, the fantasies...within these tales lie worthy lessons and here your children can meet and conquer some of life’s biggest conundrums. I didn't realize that this was the beginning of a series. But the explicitly worded and illustrated description of Enkidu and Shamat's releationship is completely unnecessary for this audience, and ruins the whole book. Condition: Very Good. After we finished reading this story, we immediately decided to order the two other books in the series. It's well illustrated as well. A story taking place in Ancient Mesopotamia, unblemished with the Holier than thou attitude of men named Daniel being condescending to Assyrians for not having the right religion. This gives the text. I prefer these legends to be retold using more formal, "mythic" language, as Lawrence does. I've learned so much from this novel - about the culture, history and beliefs of the early people of Mesopotamia. For this earliest known literary epic presents the, obviously, age-old and universal truths of the need for and joy companionship, the responsibilities of duty, the pain of loss, and the shock of mortality. The focus is more on the character of the protagonist. More personal that either the Iliad or the Odyssey, yet it expresses similar values. ), Everything I expected - epic, mythic, historic! She did a great job retelling the story in an interesting yet child-appropriate way. It is the majestic tale of a man haunted by gods, tormented by his pas. That's actually it's one slight failing, IMO. Gilgamesh’s appetite for wine, women, and warfare is insatiable. This modern version really helped me understand these old peoples' way of thinking, how natural phenomena connected with their religious beliefs, and how they explained them. Gilgamesh’s appetite for wine, women, and warfare is insatiable. Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2015. Book Description Tundra Books (NY) 4/25/1998, 1998. Book. The kids loved this trilogy and appreciated the message of friendship that it presents. True to the ancient epic. Buy a cheap copy of Gilgamesh the King book by Ludmila Zeman. It certainly has some appeal but Silverberg takes the most interesting conflict of the book, the kings struggle with his cities' … Much like Mary Renault, Silverberg took what history of the true Gilgamesh there is and the Epic itself, and imaginatively fashioned a first-person narrative that gives the more mythic and magical aspe. Somehow, though, I always thought I would be disappointed. Read this book on Questia. His journey takes him on a quest to find immortality, because he has always feared death. He is a flawed hero, but a very interesting one. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. To temper his excesses, the gods create Enkidu, Gilgamesh's equal, who becomes his greatest friend. In Gilgamesh, science fiction Grand Master Robert Silverberg gives us a vivid portrait of a courageous, lusty, sometimes reckless ruler of men. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. … Overview. This tale of Gilgamesh who was one third mortal and two thirds god. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. It also attempts to de-mythologize the events of the epic, and place it firmly in a realistic milieu. The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient epic Sumerian poem about the exploits of Gilgamesh, the greatest king of Uruk in Mesopotamia. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. I have long been familiar with the classic. Lawrance's version of Homer's Odyssey, although with more modern prose than the latter. It also attempts to de-mythologize the events of the epic, and place it firmly in a realistic milieu. I find this both to be a strength and a weakness. THIS volume succeeds in reaching listeners who can tolerate a couple paragraphs of text per page with an uplifting message and visual imagry consistent w the art of the region. Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. Condition: New. Gilgamesh the King Yet it often happens that that which is held forth to one as utterly impossible turns out to be no more than extremely difficult, or even merely inconvenient, in the actuality. That was the … Gilgamesh the king by Ludmila Zeman, Apr 25, 1998, San Val, Perfection Learning edition, library binding A truly amazing re-telling of the oldest saga on record. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. She loves the illustrations which are charming and not dark. I finally, due to the glories that is Kindle, got around to it. Inscribed on stone tablets a thousand years before the Iliad and the Bible and found in fragments, Gilgamesh describes the journey of the king of the city of Uruk in what is now Iraq. I know now that we need not fear death, if we have done our tasks. There, Enkidu, the “uncivilized” beast from the forest, shows the evil Gilgamesh through friendship what it means to be human. The artwork was lovely. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Unable to add item to List. And when we cease to fear death, there is no death. In answer, another kind of man, Enkidu, is sent to earth to live among the animals and learn kindness from them. Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. Gilgamesh the King (The Gilgamesh Trilogy), Teen & Young Adult African Historical Fiction, Tundra Books; Reprint edition (April 25, 1998), Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2019. Re "Gilgamesh the King": My long attention span 3 year old is smitten with this book and has requested it twice a day for a week. The literary history of Gilgamesh begins with five Sumerian poems about Bilgamesh (Sumerian for "Gilgamesh"), king of Uruk, dating from the Third Dynasty of Ur (c. 2100 BCE). Quite an accomplishment! Summary. An engaging retelling of the story/myth of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. Is this bronzepunk? He falls in love with Shamhat, a singer from the temple, and he follows her back to Uruk. Silverberg researched the subject well, and managed to bring to life the old myths of Gilgamesh, who went looking for eternal life. All events can be explained rationally, but the book does a very good job of depicting some of the cultural beliefs of the Sumerians, with very few anachronisms. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. This is a very well written, and while I have a few minor quibbles, little of them have to do with the writing or the story itself. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. We’d love your help. I don't know, but I liked it. 'The epic tale of Gilgamesh, the legendary god-king of Sumeria who discovered the … A thrilling retelling of the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh from the Hugo and Nebula Award–Winning author of Lord Valentine’s Castle. This is the Gilgamesh myth broken down into it's most banal true-to-life version. I was quite impressed. An epic story retold in modern format. All in all, he provided us with the opportunity to read this ancient story in an enriching and enlightening way. I enjoyed it a lot, seeing how interesting this adaptation was. The pictures are detailed and well drawn. Please try again. I will re-read someday! Silverberg is good writer and does a very readable adaptation, although I admit I'm not familiar with the source material. Re "Gilgamesh the King": My long attention span 3 year old is smitten with this book and has requested it twice a day for a week. She loves the illustrations which are charming and not dark. All in beautifully written prose. To impress them forever he … This is a novelization/memoir style telling of the Epic of Gilgamesh that's totally NOT GAY. The language was good. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. We got all three books in the series and read them all on evening. My boys are fascinated by the story of Gilgamesh and this story led us down the deepest of rabbit holes which all great books do! It is a modern retelling of the Gilgamesh story and not, in my opinion, especially insightful as regards the milieux of the original. (To give fur, Gilgamesh lived approximately 5000 years ago, in the Tigris-Euphrates valley of what is now Iraq, in 2800 BC. Tablets whose dates ranged from 1700 BC to 700 BC have been found throughout Mesopotamia and even beyond, indication of the durability and the extent of this saga. It tells the tale of how he overworked his people to build a great kingdom, his friendship with the wild man Enkidu who was sent by the gods to distract him, his battles with the goddess Inanna, the earliest account of the great flood, and his journey seeking immortality. The gaps that occur in … An adult might be unmoved, but for anyone who understands child psych, this is too much for children. Fantastic rendition of the masterpiece. Nicely illustrated and simply told tale of humankind's oldest story, Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2019. At the … Silverberg surprised me with how good his writing is, and how well he has made everything believeable and understandable, even when things are much different than in our world. A beautiful interpretation of PART of the epic of Gilgamesh. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Walter Burkert, a German classicist, observes tha… Beware, this is not the full story. Please try your request again later. Start by marking “Gilgamesh the King (Gilgamesh, #1)” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. As the King of Uruk, he oppresses his people and burdens his city. Silverberg abandons genre elements in this novel, but the bronze age world of Gilgamesh is as alien as any Majipoor novel. Of, Published August 9th 2005 by ibooks was already familiar with the for! Beautiful illustrations, reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2018 many universal things in this in... 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