God Of The Golden Fleece - Fred Saberhagen Book Review

Enter a review
of your own!

Other books by
author Fred Saberhagen

"God Of The Golden Fleece"
Message Board

Fred Saberhagen Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR: Daniella Arena

SCHOLARS:

Would you like to be a scholar and make five dollars per review? Click here to submit a review!

Click here for free online dating advice!

Review Summary

TOR, Aug 2001, 24.95, 384 pp.
ISBN: 031287037X

    Following a deadly battle between the Gods and the Giants, a shipwrecked Proteus barely manages to reach a nearby beach but has lost his memory. Already on the shore are Jason and the Argonauts preparing to continue sailing in order to take the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes. Proteus decides to join the quest and performs feats beyond that of the heroes of the Argo.

    As Proteus begins to regains pieces of his memory, he concludes that King Pelias hired him to kill Jason. However, his time amidst the Argonauts, especially the brave leader makes him realize he cannot do this task and instead becomes an intrepid and loyal member of the crew. After fleecing Aeetes and other adventures, the Argonauts land on the enchantress Circe's island where Proteus not only learns more about himself and the truth, but plans to do something about it, that is if he lives long enough to do so.

    This retelling of the Greek epic Jason and the Argonauts is a well-written fantasy tale that keeps reader attention throughout the book. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action though much is seen through the eyes of the mysterious and bewildered Proteus as opposed to Jason, Hercules, and some of the other mythical heroes. Highly regarded Fred Saberhagen, in his fourth “BOOK OF THE GODS” novel, is not quite on the level of the mythological classic or the Ray Harryhausen animated enhanced movie, but will provide the author's myriad of fans with an entertaining story.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of God Of The Golden Fleece

Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
New movie search (click here) New book search (click here)

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - surviving natural elements on planet
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - finding an assassin (political) - unraveling a conspiracy
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - magical artifact - money/gems/treasure
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - fire/lightning/weather cntrl - super strength - can cast many different spells - is very quick - can read emotions - healing
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog

Most similar books to God Of The Golden Fleece
Paragon Lost: A Chronicle of the King's Blades by David Duncan
Krondor: The Betrayal by Raymond E. Feist
The Gilded Chain: A Tale of the King's Blades by David Duncan
The Beasts of Barakhai - Books of Barakhai 1 by Mickey Zucker Reichert
Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

Try our new Star Wars & Star Trek puzzle pictures! Click here

Advertise with us
Feedback
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith plot spoilers
Hobbits
The politics game
The lawyer game

3 Movie search options!
1) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
2) Detailed movie search
(click here) or

3) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion

Games:
Trivia Masters!

Rescue your favorite
scifi characters from
slavery!

Talk to your favorite
scifi characters!

Eating New Yorkers
Computer Game

Pomeranians

Most recent TV & Movie discussions:

Doctor Who: Who was the best Doctor? 7/5/2008 4:23:13 AM

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 7/5/2008 2:40:59 AM

Doctor Who: Who was the best companion? 6/30/2008 7:37:52 AM

A Boy and His Dog: A Boy and His Dog 6/30/2008 12:55:48 AM

Lost in Space (TV): What kind of a name is Guy for a guy? 6/26/2008 10:21:30 AM

Lost in Space (TV): Wasn't it obvious that Major West was never going to get any? 6/26/2008 10:17:45 AM

Charmed: Is Piper really a Halliwell? 6/26/2008 7:20:13 AM

Alien Series: Was Vasquez a lesbian? 6/26/2008 6:57:27 AM

Charmed: What's wrong with Rose McGowan's chin? 6/26/2008 1:39:23 AM

Battlestar Galactica: Do Vipers fly past the speed of light? 6/26/2008 1:27:52 AM

Newest slaves:
Shannon Elizabeth 9:14:08 AM
Jenny Garth (Beverly Hills 90210) 9:03:25 AM
Traci Lords 9:01:49 AM
Jennifer Aniston (Friends) 8:57:25 AM
Jennifer Loves Todoitt (Love Hewitt) 8:54:30 AM
Princess Leia 8:52:58 AM
Piper Halliwell (Holly Marie Combs) 6:03:13 AM
T-1000 5:50:45 AM
Noxima Earth II Girl 4:01:26 AM
Kai 4:01:05 AM
All slaves
(click here)

Celebrity interviews:
President George W. Bush 6:32:00 PM
Jan-Michael Vincent 2:16:51 PM
Captain Kathryn Janeway 3:47:46 PM
Jack ONeill (Richard Dean Anderson) 1:39:22 PM
Jennifer Aniston (Friends) 5:01:07 PM
All celebrities
(click here)