Votan and Other Novels

I’ve only read the first few pages. I bought it entirely because Neil Gaimen recommends it, and I love Neil Gaimen. It’s good so far.It did arrive damaged though. Front cover has several creases, it looks like a fat guy sat on it. It’s from shipping, not the manufacturer, Amazon sent it in a plastic bag. Not the most protective packaging. I think they’re trying to cut down on cardboard boxes, but their paper bags or a box would have done more to prevent damage. Bags are better for stuff that can’t be damaged or that come in very strong, rigid packaging (clothes, kids toys), books, especially paperbacks, really need a bit more structureI’m glad I didn’t go for a hardcover, as the book is long and pretty hefty. Each novel isn’t too long, but there are 3 of them in the book. I think the paperback will be more comfortable to sit and read, big hardcovers can be bulky. But if buying for a gift, the hardcover might hold up better in transit. Hopefully Amazon reassesses their shipping procedures to reduce this kind of damage

God, how long I had to wait for this! Still, never mind, well worth the wait. I have been looking for John James books for some time, having first come across him in the early 1970's. I nearly managed to get hold of them too, from various sources (although I never managed to find 'For All The Gold In Ireland'. Been a long time since I read him and I felt a urge to do so. Thanks to this new edition I have been able to revisit his genius. Deeper and more complex than I recalled, James writes with dash and daring, drawing on the mythology of the ancient world. He takes risks with his humour but I feel he carries it off with élan. These utterly brilliant stories take me (personally) back to my teens and even further, to his blood soaked, cruel world. Reading on he addresses the Spear of Destiny mythology, the Holy Grail and sets up the Arthurian legends all in one chapter. Daring stuff and done brilliantly.A great read. Thanks to Neil Gaiman for facilitating the wonderful book. Buy it. Now.

just my taste, I guess, but I didn't find this book enjoyable

rather prompt delivery; however the spine was a little damaged.

Such wonderful stories! Votan is enthralling, humorous, exciting and flirts with real mysticism. All these elements swirl round each other and coalesce in the person of Photinus, the son of a Greek merchant magnate in the late Roman empire. Photinus is young, brash, cunning and clever. He manages to get himself in trouble by fooling around with other men's wives, so slips over the border into the troubled lands of the barbaric German tribes. Beautifully written, every character feels real and the world of early barbarism is realised in every detail.The second novel, All the Gold in Ireland, takes Photinus on a longer journey, through the lands of the Celts. Adventures in Roman Britain lead to Ireland, Pirates and beautiful women who may or may not be goddesses. Just wonderful, twists and turns and mad characters who you will believe fit perfectly into the tribes of the ancient world.