Memnon

Memnon of Rhodes (375-333 BCE) walked in the footsteps of giants. As a soldier, sailor, statesman, and general, he was, in the words of Diodorus of Sicily, “outstanding in courage and strategic grasp.” A contemporary of Demosthenes and Aristotle, Memnon rose from humble origins to command the whole of western Asia in a time of strife and slaughter. To his own people, he was a traitor, to his rivals, a mercenary. But, to the King of Kings, his majesty Darius III of Persia, Memnon was the one man capable of defending Asia Minor from the rising power of the barbaric Macedonians. In a war pitting Greek against Greek, Memnon proved his quality beyond measure. His enemies fought for glory and gold; Memnon fought for something more, for loyalty, for honor, and for duty. He fought for the love of Barsine, a woman of remarkable beauty and grace. Most of all, he fought for the promise of peace. Through the deathbed recollections of a mysterious woman, the life of Memnon unfolds with brilliant clarity. It is a record of his triumphs and tragedies, his loves and losses, and of the determination that drove him to stand against the most renowned figure of the ancient world—the ambitious young conqueror called Alexander the Great.

... because I was at a lost there for a little while trying to find a good historical-fiction novel to read. I read 'Men of Bronze' and really enjoyed it. Enough time had passed between me reading his first work, and I NEEDED something good to read.

I was in a reading funk and needed to get back to my favorite genre with one heck of a read! Insert 'Memnon'. Memnon is soldier in the Great Kings army who fights, bleeds, kills, and destroys his way up the ranks. Through the course of his life he fights a lot of leaders and kings, but his greatest adversary is the great Alexander.

History knows the havoc that Alexander the Great wrought on the world so you wonder how Memnon will fare and you have mixed feelings on who you "root" for. Alexander was a military genius but you grow to love and respect Memnon. This is a read that has what it should have in it. Brutality, honor, bloody, with a moving plot that really moves. There are a few but very small slow parts.

Recommended highly for fans of this genre and for those interested in this genre.

Nice book, but it needs a map! Especially since some names are archaic and not found in a modern atlas.

Scott Oden was born in 1967 in Columbus, Indiana, and raised in rural North Alabama where he still lives. He has had a fascination with Egypt and the ancient world since boyhood. He studied history and English at the University of Alabama before pursuing a number of jobs. His first novel was the acclaimed Men of Bronze.

Memnon of Rhodes was born in 375 BC and rose from humble beginning to become one of the most feared and respected men in the known world. Many kings bowed before him and those that didn't feared what he might do. He was both a soldier and a sailor. He was a great general and his grasp of strategy was second to none.

To Darius III of Persian he was the one man capable of defending Asia Minor from the rising threat of the Macedonians Over many battles Memnon proved his worth over and over again. No gold and plunder for him. Everything he did was from a sense of loyalty and duty.

The life of Memnon is told through the eyes of a mysterious woman, confined to her death bed. It is a story of a man's triumphs, his loves and the tragedies in his life. It is about the determination that drove him to stand against the most famous figure of the ancient world, the young conqueror Alexander later called Alexander the Great.

It is obvious that the author has researched his subject well and the love of his subject comes through in his writing. I love books on ancient history, either fact or fiction and to use an old Yorkshire term, this one was right up my street.

After reading Scott Oden's "Men of Bronze", I was very impressed with his characters and writing style. "Memnon" did not disappoint me. The book was very pleasurable to read, holding interest, and followed a good historic, but fictional, line. I felt as I was transformed into an identity of that time and was participating in the story, seeing the battles first hand. "Memnon" is great reading for those of us who like ancient world studies and wish to settle back and enjoy reading a book that makes the camera roll in your mind!

After reading MEN OF BRONZE, I could not wait for Scott Oden's next novel. I was intrigued by his tackling the saga of Alexander the Great from the opposing side through the eyes of MEMNON. The book is well told, although the affectation of the scribe was unnecessary. I wish more time had been spent exploring the few happy years Memnon enjoyed with Barzine instead of skipping them entirely...

Oden DOES like unhappy endings, and it could only be that way with MEMNON. Still, this one did not have the hauntingly heartbreaking ending that did MEN OF BRONZE. I would hate to think this author peaked with his first novel (although it does happen -- reference David Guterson since SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS) but MEMNON does not live up to the high standard he set in MEN OF BRONZE.

Having given that qualification, MEMNON is still a worthwhile read in an ancient historical setting, soaring loftily above such recent drivel as the works of Sprott, George, Elyot, Speller, Manfredi and others.

Oden strives to fly with the likes of Saylor, McCullough, Renault and Pressfield -- and he ranks with these authors rather than the lessers.