Byzantium

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Summary: Byzantium, by Stephen Lawhead
Review: This is one of the most moving novels I have ever read. Lawhead matches his usual breathtaking style to one of history's great epics, delivering a wondrous work of despair, intrigue, faith and love. A must read.

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Summary: One of his best but is still lacking.
Review: As a Lawhead fan I loved the book. It was truly hard for me to put the book down once I began. I loved the constant change. You never knew from one page to the next what might happen. BUT, my only complaint is that it took Aiden years to take his journey AND THEN THE WHOLE BOOK ENDS IN THE LAST PAGE!!!!!!! I was very displeased with having read the whole book only to find the ending crammed into one page. I loved the book but hated the ending.

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Summary: This book is one fun escape
Review: This book has some flaws.. it is a little cheesy, and some of the characters seem very alike. But it is one non stop adventure story that will carry you away on an adventure you don't want to stop. It is an awesome book! Read it! I don't recommend many books but this one is a fun thrill ride of adventures, emotions, loyalty and luck. This is the type of book you want to read because it is uplifting and hopeful in the midst of tragedy. Try it out, you won't be sad, read the thing.

The protagonist encounters all sorts of incredible experiences, from the simple to the incredible, and they all are worth seeing through his eyes. At points he is a worthless observer and at other time he critically siezes the events to help others and the whole time he is beating himself up and doing the best he can. Some things go his way and some don't, and the changes in fortune are all the time wrily observed both by the main character and those around him.

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Summary: A great book that is hard to put down.
Review: I think it would make a great movie, and I can picture Tim Roth as Aidan, - I enjoyed reading about the danish Vikings ( my ancestors). The book was well written and the plot is wonderful.

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Summary: Best Lawhead book to date!
Review: Now that I've read The Iron Lance and Avalon, I thought I'd stop in and read the reviews on Byzantium (I previously reviewed this book on July 27, 1997, but since they are now refering to me only as "a reader" I felt entitled to say something else). I was surprised by a few (to say the least). I honestly think Byzantium is Lawhead's best book ever. I loved Avalon, but it still didn't pass Byzantium as my all time favorite. If you like historical fiction or just want an excellent story with extremely well developed characters - this is the book for you. The important thing is to read the book with an open heart for the powerful message that is portrayed. It is a true story of redemption. I think one of the reasons I loved the book so much is I felt a kinship with the main character, Aidan, unlike I have with any other fictional character. After you read this, read the Celtic Crusade books, beginning with The Iron Lance. These continue the story and you'll see what happened to Byzantium a few hundred years later. Happy reading!

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Summary: Deserves to sell more than LORD OF THE RINGS
Review: Don't listen to the rather boring old fart below. BYZANTIUM is one of the greatest books of our time, and should be considered among the top of the list of historical fiction and fantasy. Even just Fiction! You won't be disappointed by this fabulous read. Even if he was the Vice-Gerent and not Vice-Regent. Sheesh! Semantics!

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Summary: Lawhead is an historical name-dropper
Review: For an historical novel, Lawhead's Byzantium shows little research. First, the title - Byzantium - the city was known at the time of the novel's setting as Constantinople, having been named for Constantine the Great (r 306 -337 AD), not the emperor Constans, as Lawhead writes. The characters in the story would have referred to it as Constantinople, not Byzantium. Lawhead also has the emperor in Constantinople being the Holy Roman Emperor. Nope, the Holy Roman Emperor is an entirely different office. He seems to think that Ireland somehow recognized the suzerainity of the Byzantine Emperor - again, entirely fanciful. He has Byzantine officials governing Gaul - again, fanciful. He has Roman coins bearing the likeness of the Emperor Theophilus (d 842), who reigned in Constantinople, not Rome, so Roman coins would not have shown him. He refers to the Byzantine emperor, the Basileus (which he gets correctly), as God's Vice-Regent on Earth. No, he was God's Vice-Gerent on Earth.

The plot may be fun, but let's not pretend that this novel is an accurate historical portrayal.

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Summary: I Read Byzantium In A Dream . . .
Review: . . . and loved it! I have not enjoyed a book like this in years! It had something for everyone - romance, intrigue, humor, a man of God wrestling with his shattered faith and some way cool fights. It may not be the best book ever written but it's going to be in my all time top five after Lonesome Dove, The World According to Garp, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lord of the Rings and The Lords of Discipline. Okay - that makes it number six.

What I want to know most is where can I go to find out more about the history behind this novel? How much of it is true? Any help from the rest of you would be welcome!

Peter Milliron [e-mail]

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Summary: Not a true story!
Review: Okay, I've already reveiwed this book, but I need to inform ddhouser from Columbus that this isn't a true story. I read an interveiw with Lawhead in which he said that although there really is a Saint Aidan, this is not him! Aidan Mac Cainnech is an entirely fictitious character.

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Summary: Yes, that good! The best I've read for a long time!
Review: Don't believe the bad hype! This epic is great! Those who think that this book is hard on the protagonist are right! Those who think that each chapter leaves us hanging are right! And I wouldn't have it any other way! Maybe those that want a more realistic book should start reading non-fiction and leave the fiction to those of us who enjoy it! Who wouldn't want a character to visit interesting people? This book is for anyone who can take it, you'll be on the edge of your seat all the way! I was glad when I finished reading it and I'll be even gladder when I get my hands on his next book, The Iron Lance!