The Voyage of Argo - Apollonius of Rhodes Book Review

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Review Summary

The ancient Greek story, 'The Voyage of Argo - the Argonautica', also known as 'Jason and the Argonauts' is generally best known as a classic '60's film. The Apollonius' version was very popular in its day, the middle of the third century BC. The Penguin Classic translation by E.V. Rieu, published in 1959, is still available and reads well.

The story makes a short novel in four substantial 'books' or sections, full of the dangers of a sea voyage from Greece to the far east of the Black Sea, which was the ends of the earth to the Greeks in ages past. The intrepid Jason and his crew are sailors who are part buccaneers, part questing heroes in search of fame, fortune, and adventure. They are set the task of obtaining the famed Golden Fleece by a Greek king who wants to permanently rid himself of the dangerously ambitious Jason and his powerful allies, who include the superhuman Hercules, and the twin sons of Boreas the North Wind, who have the power of flight. With natural cunning, the powerful aid of prophets, the magical music of Orpheus, and the good favour gained by skilful diplomacy they seemingly must succeed.
Michael JR Jose, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of The Voyage of Argo

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - roaming fantasy world, battling hostile monsters
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - money/gems/treasure
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - warrior/knight
Age: - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - super strength
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - very athletic

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 little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - very athletic

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

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Most similar books to The Voyage of Argo
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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