The Epic of Gilgamesh - N.K. Sandars Book Review

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"The Epic of Gilgamesh"
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Review Summaries

"Although science fiction/fantasy is still to this day looked down upon by those who consider themselves to be 'literary', this collection of fantasy tales formed a coherent story around the main character of Gilgamesh, the great king of Uruk over four thousand years ago. Gilgamesh, known from archeology to have actually existed, was a rough equivalent of the Greek Hercules. He was part god, part man. He both amused and upset the gods, he was their son, their puppet, their plaything. The gods send a monster Enkidu to humiliate Gilgamesh: they fight, they declare a truce, they become good friends. They take on the evil giant Humbaba together and destroy him. Enkidu, like Gilgamesh, is mortal and he dies. Gilgamesh is overwhelmed with grief and goes questing for the secret of immortality. Gilgamesh meets 'Noah' (called Utnapishtim here) who has become immortal himself, and he tells him how he survived the great flood, which historically occurred a couple of thousand years before. Gilgamesh obtains the magic plant but it is eaten by a sneaky snake (sounds familiar?). The story is a millenia-old tragedy yet I still felt the grief of Gilgamesh at Enkidu's death. As the archeologists found that some of the clay tablets were a bit chipped, the story is not perfect, but N. K. Sandars excellent 60 page essay and introduction explains all that, if in a rather academic style. A great read, 4300 years on. Enjoy!"
Michael JR Jose, Resident N.K. Sandars Scholar

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Overall Review

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - ruler - great warrior - guardian of justice
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena
Romance Yes
Spying & Investigations Yes
Mental/magical powers focus Yes
Kind of alteration: - exotic/alien torture for major character
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Human/magical couple? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Age: - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - super strength - is very quick
How sensitive is this character? - soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - magical being
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - servant
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can talk to animals - super strength - can cast all sorts of spells - is very quick
Eccentric: Yes - wild
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - bulging muscles

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

Style
Person? - rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to deaths
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - description of breasts
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog

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

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