[J1G]⇒ Libro The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate L Sprague De Camp 9780898652284 Books

The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate L Sprague De Camp 9780898652284 Books

Download As PDF : The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate L Sprague De Camp 9780898652284 Books

The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate L Sprague De Camp 9780898652284 Books

L Sprague de Camp was a major force for Conan the Barbarian popularity, and this novel shows why. It reads like a cross between Conan and the MInes of King Salomon, with a greek philosopherthrown around for good measure.

Ste in the times of King Xerxes of Persia, a Conan-like Hero is tasked to go to uncharted regions of Africa to bring back a Dragon. His old teacher, a greek scholar, goes along, and throughthe book they have many and varied adventures, depending on where they are along the road. From revenge plots near the Persian court to unknown demons (animals they didn't know), they go through much.

For what it proposes to be, it's very good. I didn't enjoy it as much because I was expecting more of the humor I'd met in other books (the teeth of the inspector), but that's on me, not the book.

The only objective gripe I have is that some of the plots set in the beginning are set to rest when the distance the heroes travelled laid them to rest. Whern they come back, they are resumed - often lastin a paragraph or so. In short, the ending was rushed, as some plots were given only lip service, and the resolution had a Deus-ex-machina feel.

All in all, it's an excelent pulp adventure set in a real history period with a mildly satisfying ending. If it could be better, it was still very good.


Tags : The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate [L. Sprague De Camp] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers.,L. Sprague De Camp,The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate,Walsworth Pub Co,0898652286,Science Fiction - General,Fiction,Fiction Science Fiction General,Science Fiction

The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate L Sprague De Camp 9780898652284 Books Reviews

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 off 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 '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.}

{Additional Note has since re-separated the reviews; my other review is now found with the Donning (illustrated) edition only.}
It is an interesting story but it has been told before (or after) by others. Does not have new data for the reader.
A highly imaginative and fun to read adventure up the Nile River The Dragon Of The Ishtar Gatein the time of the Persian Empires.
I really enjoyed this 1950s-era boy-fantasy swashbuckling tale. Recommended for lovers of humor and adventure. I am guessing that Terry Pratchett got some of his inspiration for Rincewind and his early Discworld novels from reading this book.
It is to bad that L. Sprague De Camp is not still producing such wonderful books like this.
He describes the history of the Greeks, Persians and other nation states in a wonderful and colorful story.
While much of what he has written is speculation it is speculation based on the best available historical knowledge and research.
His take on the Kingdoms within the Persian Empire and their problems with cohesiness and communications is effectively the core or this adventurous story.
L Sprague de Camp was a major force for Conan the Barbarian popularity, and this novel shows why. It reads like a cross between Conan and the MInes of King Salomon, with a greek philosopherthrown around for good measure.

Ste in the times of King Xerxes of Persia, a Conan-like Hero is tasked to go to uncharted regions of Africa to bring back a Dragon. His old teacher, a greek scholar, goes along, and throughthe book they have many and varied adventures, depending on where they are along the road. From revenge plots near the Persian court to unknown demons (animals they didn't know), they go through much.

For what it proposes to be, it's very good. I didn't enjoy it as much because I was expecting more of the humor I'd met in other books (the teeth of the inspector), but that's on me, not the book.

The only objective gripe I have is that some of the plots set in the beginning are set to rest when the distance the heroes travelled laid them to rest. Whern they come back, they are resumed - often lastin a paragraph or so. In short, the ending was rushed, as some plots were given only lip service, and the resolution had a Deus-ex-machina feel.

All in all, it's an excelent pulp adventure set in a real history period with a mildly satisfying ending. If it could be better, it was still very good.