Shauna Roberts

I received a free copy of this book from GoodReads for review.

This is a really good book. The only comparison I can come up with is the Darkover books by Marion Zimmer Bradley though the fantasy element is stronger in Dr Roberts' book Ice Magic, Fire Magic. It's probably the strong characterizations of the women in this book that brings Bradley to mind. In any case, this is a very interesting and unusual addition to the fantasy genre. I certainly hope that Dr Roberts continues to write fantasy books since she's very talented.

The story revolves around 2 pairs of siblings, cousins of one another, and the havoc they cause growing up. There's magic involved--each gender going about it very differently--and horses, swords, puppies, knitting, and all sorts of other fun stuff. And love, and sacrifice, and unbridled ambition and murder too. It's very exciting and innovative as well. Did I mention dragons and hounds from Hell? It's all in there!… (altro)

The “Epic of Gilgamesh” comes alive with the vivid descriptions, characters, and crisp writing talent of Shauna Roberts! Although it is a retelling of an ancient myth, one that perhaps not all of us are as familiar with as, say, King Arthur, Like Mayflies in a Stream is written in such a way that it gives a fresh voice to an otherwise ordinary tale.

If you enjoy a good historical novel, or if you are already interested in anything related to mythology, then this is the book for you! No matter the age, from teens to adults, this makes a quick, fascinating read. Roberts provides a look into the past, during a time long ago, but connects the characters to the reader in such a way that you almost forget this is taking place centuries ago-- it feels real, and it's believable. As they say, human nature doesn't change much, even over thousands of years, but the strong connection to the characters is mostly because of Roberts' skills at weaving a story together.

My only criticism, if you can call if that, is the descriptions were a bit much at times. Not necessarily a bad thing, but due to my personal preference, there were times when Roberts' almost painted the scene too vividly-- such as during the battles or gory scenes. Again, this is more of personal preference, since I'm not one for gory movies/books and the scenes I talk about from Like Mayflies in a Stream are actually pretty tame compared to many stories out there.

4 STARS! After covering the “Epic of Gilgamesh” in my mythology class last semester, this was an interesting retelling of the story. I enjoyed the story Roberts created around the epic tale while still allowing the reader to glimpse the original “myth” beneath the story. Very well written, entertaining, and quick-- this is not like most historical novels, which cover 700 plus pages and seem to drag on instead of flow smoothly. A good recommendation for anyone, history fans or not, as a refreshing break from the normal paranormal and fantasy novels out there.… (altro)

Like Mayflies in a Stream is far from the first modern retelling of the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh. Since the rediscovery of his tale in 1849, the legendary king of Uruk has appeared in novels, plays, operas, even comic books and videogames. This new version is of interest, because it focuses less on the semi-supernatural hero and more on ordinary men and women who live, not very comfortably, in his vicinity.

The book covers the first part of the epic, through the death of Gilgamesh's dearest friend, Enkidu. In form, it is an historical novel, sedulous about the details of time and place, not too heavy-handed in presenting them. Particularly worthy of note is the portrayal of the Mesopotamian landscape, with its stark dichotomy of city and wilderness. One has a sense of how isolated and imperiled the early centers of civilization were, and how mightily they could impress nomads who had never seen a wall, a temple or a palace.

The plot follows the original fairly closely. The author fills it out with characters, incidents and motivations, and makes changes to avoid slipping into fantasy. When the heroes slay a demon, they do it off-stage, and the divine bull sent to punish Gilgamesh's sacrileges is rationalized as a revolt by the pious people of his city.

The central character is Shamhat, the priestess who lures wild Enkidu into the bonds of civilization. She is an intelligent and independent-minded protagonist, but also a woman of ancient Sumer - neither a romantic heroine nor a proto-feminist. She accepts the divine order and persists in trying to persuade Gilgamesh to act as the "shepherd" of his people rather than their master. His preference for following his own will - first tyrannizing over Uruk, then neglecting the responsibilities of kingship in order to indulge his infatuation with Enkidu - contrasts sharply with her devotion to duty and the gods.

In the end, she fails to reform the king. Distraught at the loss of Enkidu, he departs Uruk on a quest for the secret of immortality. Shamhat, meanwhile, must reassemble the pieces of her life. In that she succeeds, discovering, like Candide, the satisfactions of tending one's own garden.

While not free of imperfections, Like Mayflies in a Stream is a well-wrought,agreeable story, as well as a fine introduction to a monument of ancient literature.… (altro)