Rating: 
Summary: Could have been much better.
Review: I guess I can't say I hated this book, as I did finish it. My main complaints are about the uppers and downers of coming across something I enjoyed, just to be annoyed moments later by a cliche description, a misspelling (not sure if these are Grundy's misspellings or an editor's) i.e. "rainment" was used several times instead of the correct "raiment." I wanted to hear more about Enkidu as a character, less about how he looked like a lion (and made love like one, etc.). Grundy made sure we were very well aware of each character's beard, skin, and hair characteristics... over and over. Did I mention that Enkidu is like a lion? If not, let me mention that metaphor again to the point of nausea. Oh, and the En definitely has a dry, gravelly voice. Let's just say I would have appreciated a little more variety in the descriptive narrative. In particular, description of characteristics beyond the outer bodies throbbing in ecstasy would have been nice.(...)P>As for what I liked - there were quite a few places where the descriptions were original and poignant enough to make me want to continue ploughing through the monotonous stuff. I like Grundy as a writer, and enjoyed his "Attila's Treasure" much more than "Gilgamesh." I liked the potential that several of the characters in Gilgamesh had, and found Enkidu and the Shamhatu particularly intriguing as people that could have been depicted in a much deeper way, but I never really saw them expanded to their full potential. The book did make me want to search out more information on the Gilgamesh epic, although the downside to that is that I'm looking for something that is better written than Grundy's book. (Sorry!)
Rating: 
Summary: This is Gilgamesh?
Review: I picked up this book expecting a great read, since I love the Gilgamesh epic--and was I ever shocked and appalled! Grundy has taken one of literature's greatest epics and warped it into a gay love story! Gilgamesh and Enkidu as eternal lovers! Not in the translations of the epic I read in literature class and on my own. He really missed the boat on this one, or maybe he thought modern readers could not or would not read a more faithful rendition of the tale. Or maybe it is just political correctness run amuck. The classic themes of man versus nature, friendship and loyalty, and human mortality have been sadly eclipsed in this version. Needless to say, I could not finish the book. My advice is to stick to the original versions of Gilgamesh out there, particularly the verse rendition by Danny Jackson.
Rating:
Summary: What?
Review: I'm mystified by this. My understanding is this book has not been published yet and won't be until Spring, 2000.
Rating:
Summary: Rather disappointing version
Review: Reading Grundy's new novel is comparable to visiting a gold-plated outhouse--its fabulous to look at outside but it sure stinks inside. It is certainly a well-written book, but his revision and literary license leave me puzzled and more than a little disturbed. Why the homosexual themes and scenes? Why tinker with story events and characters that were already sublime in the original texts? I guess I am too old to tolerate having gay political agenda shoved down my throat. This should have been a great retelling of a great epic, not a writer's egocentric need to flaunt his new, hip revision. What I find most dismaying is that people who have not read the other translations will read this and think this is a true rendition. Not so.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-done retelling!
Review: Stephan Grundy's Gilgamesh is a magnificent piece of art. Brilliantly written and intensively researched, it translates the ancient Mesopotamian epic into a superbly readable novel without altering the essence of the original. The theme of an arrogant and powerful young man who must discover that no human heroism can overcome mortality is one that speaks as clearly to the modern age as to the era when the epic was composed; by fleshing out the lines of the poem with a wealth of physical and emotional detail, Grundy expands this fundamental theme to a veritable Wagnerian opera, producing a book which not only overwhelms in the reading, but provokes thoughts and feelings that will last long after the covers have been closed. Intense meditations upon mortality and the worth of human life are layered into an exciting plot that includes war (not invented to pad out the plot-line, but derived directly from another Mesopotamian poem, 'Gilgamesh and Agga'), hunting scenes worthy of Wilbur Smith at his best, and high intrigue within the temple walls, as well as the ongoing emotional combat between Gilgamesh and his city's patron goddess Inanna. This combination of thought and action shows an unusually skillful handling of timing and plot, while the characters, though many of their attitudes are foreign to the modern viewpoint, still manage to be highly sympathetic and interesting - particularly the young priestess who has the thankless task of trying to get the headstrong Gilgamesh to do his long-feared and potentially fatal duty to the goddess Inanna. The one caution readers should have is that the author's insistence on detailed historical accuracy includes a willingness to present a complete and unexpurgated view of the sexual emphasis of Sumerian religion and culture (and of the diverse forms of sexuality practiced and celebrated by the Sumerians) which may prove to be controversial among those who are familiar only with the more watered-down translations and interpretations of Gilgamesh. In particular, Grundy's straightforward acceptance of the repeated phrase in Gilgamesh's dreams about Enkidu, 'To me its (the meteor symbolizing Enkidu in the dream) attraction was like the love of woman...you were drawn to it as though to a woman...you will love him as a woman', etc. (the same phrase is also translated as 'I hugged him like a wife...You loved him and hugged him like a wife') may unsettle or even offend those who assume that ancient Sumerians lived by the same moral standards as fundamentalist Baptists - though conversely, readers looking for a gay love story (or political statement) may be unsettled by Enkidu's happy, if open, marriage, Gilgamesh's many experiences with priestesses and new brides, and the suggestion that the two heroes go out cruising for women together, among other things. However, those who appreciate historical authors who are willing to accurately portray the attitudes of the cultures in which their works are set will be grateful that Grundy did not choose to tone down the rich sensuality of the Sumerians (or dilute the intensity of the heroes' emotional union as the poem describes it) in order to avoid controversy. This book is destined to be a true classic among historical novels.
Rating:
Summary: The story is epic, this book is not.
Review: Testament to the power of this most ancient of man's epic stories was my ability to push through a poorly written retelling of the story. I simply wanted to know how it all turned out. Of course, I'll need to read a more traditional version to see if it turns out the same way, because I sense the author took more than a little dramatic license along the way. Like at least one other reviewer, I found the all-too-frequent descents into romance-novel descriptions of sexuality very distracting and amateurish. Also, the emphasis on homo-eroticism was equally distracting. To give credit where due, Grundy does a solid job of describing the world in which the novel exists, and his characters (at least several, but certainly not all) show a lot of potential. Unfortunately, he never really captures any of the characters fully - making it all the more frustrating. The greatest missed opportunities were in characterizing both Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The realizations and enlightening of Gilgamesh are too little too late. As for Enkidu, we miss the great tale of innocence and nature lost, the joy of human discovery and in its place read about Enkidu's rippling and throbbing self. Puh-lease. The good news is that I'm motivated to try another telling, perhaps John Gardner's. Gilgamesh must truly be a powerful epic to have overcome a self-absorbed and uneven retelling.
Rating:
Summary: Grundy's Gilgamesh
Review: The epic saga of Gilgamesh is one of civilization's most enduring tales. Grundy gives us an intimate account of life in ancient Sumeria rich in texture. I was very impressed with the attention to details of everyday life Grundy brings to bear. Indeed we are well into the book by the time Enkidu and Gilgamesh first meet. At this point there is a clear shift in emphasis. The central focus no longer centers around the adventures of the two great heroes but on their personal relationship, the homosexual details of which Grundy never tires of presenting. If not for this one fatal flaw the book would have garnered at least four stars. Grundy is a gifted writer with a bright future. It is disappointing to see the story of Gilgamesh transformed into a vehicle for the advancement of a gay political agenda.
Rating:
Summary: A waste of time.
Review: This reads like a very bad Harlequin Romance set in Sumeria. Bad research, bad writing, bad plot. I could not get past the first 100 pages without gagging so it went into the garbage can --
Rating: 
Summary: Great story
Review: Two-thirds god and one-third man, Gilgamesh rises to become Ensi (ruler) of Erech. But, he is both as powerful as a wild bull, and as impetuous as one. The people cry out for someone to tame Gilgamesh, and the gods respond by making him a comrade, a brother in all things. However, when this comrade doesn't tame Gilgamesh, but merely changes the direction of his fears and desires, then how is Gilgamesh to learn his lessons? This is the story of a hero--the adventures he has and the lessons he learns. In this masterful retelling of the ancient Sumerian Gilgamesh epic, the author spins the story out into a lengthy (565 page) book that both entertains and educates the reader about ancient Sumer. Part of what I liked about this book is that certain parts of the dialog are taken directly from ancient Sumerian sources, which adds greatly to the books realism. The characters are richly defined, and the story is fascinating, while at the same time many details of Sumerian life are woven in. As a small complaint, the author did delight in describing Gilgamesh's sexual escapades, both heterosexual and homosexual, in voyeuristic detail. I thought that that was unnecessary, but that it did not overly diminish the impact of the story, either. Overall, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ancient Sumer or in high quality fantasy literature. [If you are interested in daily life in ancient Sumer as seen from a merchant family's viewpoint, then I would still recommend The Three Brother of Ur by Jenny Grace Fygson.]
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