Evangeline Walton - "The Sword is Forged"

Last book I read cover to cover. First book I picked up in 2021. The Sword is Forged by Evangeline Walton. [Pocket Science Fiction, 1984, 339 pages.] 

I'd say this book falls somewhere between Mythical Fiction and Historical Fiction. It has to do with the ancient Amazons and other characters of Greek Legend. Though many of the characters are those of Myth, the world itself seems Historical rather than fantastic. Social or military aspects such as alliances, treaties, marriages, heirships, councils, political betrayals, are all dealt with in detail that can actually be a little grueling early on. 

I like how the Gods were dealt with in this novel. Different Gods may just be the same God in a different guise. The Amazons who worship Artemis, for example, mention that others in the east called her Ishtar. At the same time, it is considered that Aphrodite may just be another facet of Artemis' personality, or even another name for the eldest of the Fates. The Hittites are known to have a Thousand Gods. It is a malleable, complex pantheon that exists here. 

The plot focuses on Theseus and and the Amazon Antiope. (Hippolytus' parents.) The first section focuses on their first meeting as adolescents, before Theseus knew who he was and before Antiope was War Queen. Greeks come to Themiskyra, Amazon city, in one of his tasks, to steal the girdle of the Amazon Queen. She gives one to him freely, when he realizes the actual legendary Girdle does not exist. Theseus and Antiope meet each other during this venture. The two make a youthful vow to be each others' partner, and then are parted when Herakles' force leaves Themiskyra. 

The second section focuses on their second meeting, in which Theseus, fully realizing that he is descended of a God, returns to Themiskyra, when he knew Antiope would be Queen. He poses as a messenger, testing Antiope's loyalty to her vow. (Much like certain scenes of Oddyseus or Orestes' stories.) Their love is affirmed, and Antiope conceives Hippolytus that night. Theseus takes Antiope back to Athens as his Queen- much to the dismay of both the Amazons and the Athenians. Antiope is the last Childbearer of the blood of Lisippe- a proud Amazon lineage. Her departure leaves her aunt, Molpadia, a cruel old woman, as the War Queen. Molpadia is notoriously bitter because she sent her only child, a son, to be killed; she could not keep him by Amazon law, and had no further chances to conceive a daughter.

The last section of the book details a lengthy siege upon Athens. By this time, a few years have passed and Hippolytus is a young child. Antiope and the few Amazons who accompanied her to Athens are not popular among the Athenians. The Amazon force come for Antiope, who they believe was kidnapped and kept against her will. Antiope's love for Theseus and Hippolytus is stronger than ever, which eventually leads to her own Amazons hating and trying to kill her. The Hittite army joins the Amazons in force, and they camp outside Athen's three gates. (The Amazons mate and trade with the Hittites- giving them their sons and keeping the daughters. Antiope herself is the daughter of the Hittite king.) The Amazons start shooting lethal poisoned arrows at their soldiers and flaming arrows over the walls of Athens. Scenes of gritty combat, and mounted chariot battle play out here. The tragic bloody climax ends with the death of the Amazon Queens, their people scattered and leaderless.

The Sword is Forged makes itself a great prequel to Hippolytus (A great Tragedy by Euripides) in the way it characterizes Hippolytus himself, as a celibate worshipper of Artemis. It also foreshadows the stories of Theseus himself. A war with King Minos of Crete is foreshadowed, but not realized within the novel. Many other characters from Greek Myth are mentioned without much detail given on their stories. It's got me wondering if Evangeline Walton wrote any sequels. 

Now, Evangeline Walton is well versed in ancient Greek literature here. In fact, it seems she is an Archaeology buff as well. Homer, Aeschylus, Hesiod, Sophocles, Plutarch, Sappho, Euripides, and Herodotus are either quoted directly or mentioned in the text. All authors I enjoy. (I'm the type of guy who reads Greek Tragedies for entertainment.) The Sword is Forged takes place in the age before such writers and its contents is sometimes made out to be an influence on or precursor to their classic works. 

If Greek Mythology looked at from a Historical perspective is your thing, then try to find this one. 

Til next book!