Goddesses and Mythic Transmission
An article about a book called Goddesses of Myth and Cultural Memory has me thinking more about the blending and borrowing across the ancient Mediterranean, European, and Near Eastern world.
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Judith Starkston
Judith Starkston has spent too much time exploring the remains of the ancient worlds of the Greeks and Hittites. Their myths and clashes inspire her fiction and open gates to magical realms. She has degrees in Classics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cornell. She loves myths and telling stories, and her novels imbue fantasy with the richness of ancient worlds. The first book in her Trojan Threads Series, Hand of Fire was a semi-finalist for the M.M. Bennett’s Award for Historical Fiction. Priestess of Ishana, the first in her historical fantasy Tesha series, won the San Diego State University Conference Choice Award. Judith is represented by Richard Curtis.
Schliemann, the Discoverer & Destroyer of Troy
In the annals of archaeology one man stands out as a particularly egregious villain. Like various contemporary “visionary” businessmen today, Heinrich Schliemann used his abundant cash to do whatever he wanted and ignored the scientific, expert advice of his day. That didn’t work out well for the archaeological remains of Troy.
Review of The Raven Spell
Today I’m sharing a review of a book by Luanne G. Smith that I really enjoyed reading. With page-turning effect, The Raven Spell combines vividly portrayed Victorian London, a serial murder mystery, a detective with amnesia, and witches.
The Bow of Odysseus: Ancient vs Modern Weapons
Odysseus was the clever Greek hero, even devious. He was a man of mind power over brute force. However, he was no slouch as a warrior, especially with his bow. Smithsonian and Bettany Hughes compare the ancient Greek composite bow to a “hyper-modern” one. How does one of my favorite legendary heroes hold up?
Guest Post: The Chinese Passion for Tea
This week I’m welcoming M.K. Tod to my blog. Enjoy her guest post about the Chinese Tea ceremony in honor of her new novel The Admiral’s Wife.
Review of The Admiral’s Wife
I recommend M.K. Tod’s latest historical fiction, set in Hong Kong in a dual timeline of 1912 and 2016. My review of an engaging deep dive into family dynamics, cultural heritage, and romance.
Best Books Set in the Trojan War
I was recently asked to put together an annotated list of my personal favorites among Trojan War books. I had fun putting it together, although limiting myself to five was challenging.
Çatalhöyük’s skeletons, Painted and Celebrated
The World Heritage Site of Çatalhöyük in southern Anatolia contains the ruins of one of the oldest “cities.” Recent study of Çatalhöyük’s “colorful” skeletons adds a fascinating layer to what we can discern about their communal practices, including relations between the sexes.
Magical stones and Sumerian Lyricism
During a trip down a research rabbit hole, I first found an article about Mesopotamian magic stones and then a translation of Sumerian poetry that feels tragically appropriate for this contemporary moment when so many must abandon their homes and flee for their lives.
Historical Fantasy Review: Everything That Burns
My book review of the highly enjoyable historical fantasy, Everything That Burns, set in the French Revolution–with magic.