| Byzantium (Harper Fiction) | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 117 reviews)
Sales Rank: 76723
Category: Book
Author: Stephen R. Lawhead
Publisher: Eos
Studio: Eos
Manufacturer: Eos
Label: Eos
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 880
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7 x 4.3 x 1.4
ISBN: 0061057541
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780061057540
ASIN: 0061057541
Publication Date: August 1, 1997
Release Date: June 14, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A master storyteller weaves a tale of adventure and the coming of age of a young soul in this epic novel of the early centuries of the first millennium.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 112 more reviews...
 Truly epic August 7, 2008
This is by far the best historical fiction book I have ever read. The author created characters who you actually grow to care about as you read, which is something rare in books today. None of the majore characters in the book are black and white. While the Vikings are bloodthirsty marauders motivated by greed and belief that death in battle will grant them access to a warrior's paradise, they also have deep convictions about honor, and once Aidan, the main character gains their respect, they would give their lives to defend him, even though he was their slave not long before. Aidan is a monk, but like all men, he is not perfect. He experiences a crisis of faith and has to search his soul to find out what his life truly means.
The book starts rather slow, which made me shelf it for a couple of years, but once I got past the beginning, I couldn't stop reading. This story will take you to all points from Ireland to Asia Minor, and introduce you to all the various peoples who inhabited those regions at the time. You'll see the devoted religious life of an Irish monastery, the raucous environment of a Viking longship and the workings of Viking government (such as there was), Primitive Russia along the Dnieper River, the glory that was the Eastern Roman Empire and Constantinople, and the intrigue and religion of the newly Islamic Middle East. The adventure that the characters embark upon is equal to the Odyssey.
Some people have complained that this book is not historically accurate because the Book of Kells didn't exist yet, etc. This is historical fiction, the author is allowed to take some liberties in the interest of entertainment, as long as they're minor, and the liberties taken in this book ARE minor. Overall, this book is an accurate portrayal of the world or Dark Age Europe, and it's highly entertaining as well. You won't find that in many other books. "Byzantium," by Stephen R. Lawhead has definitely not recieved the publicity it deserves.
A magnificent adventure tale July 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This novel tells the story of Aidan, a tenth-century Irish monk who takes part in an expedition to bring the Book of Kells to the emperor in Byzantium. Before his small group of traveling companions reach the coast of France, however, they are attacked by Vikings and Aidan is carried off alone. The remainder of the book chronicles his adventures. Aidan is by turns a slave, interpreter to a king, ambassador of the emperor, suitor to an Arab lady, and again a slave. His journey brings him to distant lands and then back home, and along the way Aidan loses - and then rediscovers - his faith. This novel is truly wonderful.
 Galloping Adventure - Shaky Theology June 30, 2008
This book reminded me a lot of Noah Gordon's "The Physician" which uses a similar plot device, namely, the adventures of a European into the exotic East during the Dark Ages. Likewise, both novels deal with the protagonist's spiritual pilgrimage which unfolds together with the action sequences. To my mind, Gordon's book succeeds better in this.
As to plot, you can't get much more "rousing" than the epic journey from a tiny monastery in Erie (Ireland)to Constantinople and beyond. The author has done his homework, and the book is chock full of interesting historical details and atmosphere. The action is very fast paced and Lawhead is a master of the "cliff hanger" chapter endings which keep you reading page after page. We get to meet maurauding Sea Wolves, crooked tradesmen, devious courtiers, Arab amirs and even the Emperor Basil himself - generally believeable portrayals overall.
Less successful, however, are Lawhead's forays into his protagonist's soul as he struggles with the loss of his faith as he sees cruelty and injustice at every turn, despite his urgent pleas for Divine intervention in human affairs. When it is not forthcoming, and the suffering of his friends continues, he wanders off into a spiritual wilderness. His crisis of faith becomes a central theme as the novel unfolds. I have no problem with this theme per se, but our monk's crisis of faith is resolved in the space of two pages - a bit precipitous for this reader, and not in the slightest believeable or convincing.
Also problematic is our monk's abortive betrothal to the exotic Arab princess. Thankfully, the reader is not subjected to melodramatic scenes of honeyed moonlight kisses as he falls in love, but neither is there ever any sense of real passion or true emotional connection between the two. Initially, the bride-to-be says "Allah has decreed" that she and the monk are to be wed. What happens to this divine decree when the princess announces that all bets are off? Did Allah slip up here? Bottom line - I am not sure why the romance was even included in the narrative, except that any best seller demands a bit of sexual tension to spice it up. A failure in this case.
Overall, I read through this thick adventure at a galloping clip, wanting to see "how it turned out." Most loose ends are satisfactorily tied up, but I was left partially unsatisfied by the unconvincing "return to faith" of the protagonist and felt a bit cheated by the seemingly artificial "happy ending." Nonetheless, this is a quick, entertaining read for a summer day. Don't expect more and you won't be disappointed.
 Cheesy fantasy posing as historical fiction June 24, 2008
This book was readable but fairly unintelligent. Many others have already discussed the abounding historical inaccuracies so I will just skip that information. It was a lot like a poorly written fantasy book. There were cool warrior barbarians, sophisticated Eastern peoples, and dilluted, greedy, all-powerful bad guys. The uber-pansy, ultra smart, yet naive main character somehow survives countless hazardous situations and traverses most of the known world at the time starting as a simple monk in Ireland. There is even a contrived love story with an exotic woman. It was amazing how everyone somehow allowed the main character to live. The plot was unbelievable and there was really no character development. The changes in the main character were sudden and inexplicable. Aidan, the monk, also did not behave or think like a 10th century monk. Many of the characters did not seem to fit their roles and the religions used to advance the plot were misinforming. It was slightly interesting and not a bore to read, hence the two stars.
Will keep you on the edge of your seat! April 8, 2008
This is an excellent novel. So many twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. The book starts off a little slow but it doesn't take very long and you are hooked into the suspense of dramatic events. Written so well with descriptions that you feel you are experiencing history in the making.
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