The Iliad by Homer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Frankly, if someone claims to know the classics but doesn't know either of Homer's classics of Western Tradition literature, then they've done themselves the greatest of all the great disservices.

That's a long winded way of saying they need to go off into the wine dark sea without a boat and pray that one of the gods will give them mercy--for the rest of us will not.

Rather, this is the definition of a true epic, with casual assumptions that the gods are always among us, cheering or booing in their sport of mankind. The original football game--lasting ten years and so much grief, the sacking of Troy has its heroes doing grand deeds on either side.

I've read this 5 times now. The first, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of names, focusing on just those I could really sink my teeth into, picking up on the major plot advances, heroism, grief, and rage. Every time since, it's just a matter of adding more and more names, more context and, of course, the depth of time and interest.

It's gotten to the point where I can just play it all in my head like the best of all movies. All the blood and guts, all the emotion, and for the gods--this is obviously all just a huge case of sexual frustration spilling over into all the mortal world.

Damn it, Hera and Zeus!

And yet, so enjoyable. Brilliant, as always.

Everyone should devote a bit of time to this foundational piece of literature.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.

Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

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