The middle book in Glyn Iliffe's Odysseus trilogy, The Gates of Troy begins 10 years after the conclusion of the preceding volume, King of Ithaca. Odysseus is happily married to Penelope and rejoices in the birth of his son Telemachus. Unfortunately, events were occurring in Sparta which would result in a 20-year separation from his wife and child as well as his beloved Ithaca. Helen of Sparta was abducted (not so unwillingly it would seem) by Paris of Troy, setting the stage for the Trojan War. The reader is absorbed by this classic tale which covers the preparations for war, the tragic sacrifice of Agamemnon's daughter Iphigenia, and finally the landing of the Greek fleet in Troy followed by the first clashes with the Trojans. Once again, the author's superb storytelling skills are to the fore, making a well known epic incredibly exciting and suspenseful. I strongly recommend this book and its two companions to anyone who loves Greek mythology as well as a fantastic story. ( )