The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate
Encyclopedia
The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate is a historical novel
by L. Sprague de Camp
, first published in hardcover by Doubleday in 1961, and in paperback by Lancer Books
in 1968. The first trade paperback edition was issued by Starblaze
in 1982. It is the third of his historical novels in order of writing, and earliest chronologically. It is set in the last years of the reign of King Xerxes I of Persia, and begins in 466 BC.
' regiment, for the ingredients of a potion that the King has been told will give him immortality
; the blood of a dragon and the ear of a king. Unbeknownst to Bessas, the third ingredient is the heart of a hero, and therefore Bessas' own.
Relying on information given him by the priests of Marduk
in Babylon
that a reptile depicted in reliefs on their temple, the sirrush
, is a real dragon and lives at the headwaters of the Nile, Bessas sets out for the source of the Nile, accompanied by his former tutor, Myron of Miletos, who is bored of teaching and wants to make a name for himself in the field of philosophy.
, Pliny
and perhaps Edgar Rice Burroughs
. ... An antiquarian as well as a science-fiction writer, Mr. De Camp seasons this full-bodied adventure novel with masses of ancient lore and an educated zest for exotic geography." Barbara Copeland writes "L. Sprague de Camp uses his talents for writing fantasy and weird fiction to concoct a swashbuckling historical novel. Full of violence and blood, like the cruel age in which it is set, the story leads the reader on a hair-raising expedition." On the down side, she notes that "[i]n his efforts for authenticity, De Camp has so liberally laced the book with tongue-twisting classical names and archaic phrasing that it is actually difficult to read rapidly." The Booklist
rates the story as "[a] colorful, vigorous, and outspoken tale that will appeal to masculine readers of the author's historical and science fiction." Don Adrian Davidson calls it "[a] long, well-written, picaresque novel," that "is excepted from the classification of the straight historical novel only by the Conan-like stature of its hero." Robert Coulson
, commenting on the Starblaze
edition, states that it remains "[g]reat entertainment if you missed it the first time around ... Even if you read it then, the original edition wasn't embellished by Steve Fabian
artwork, so you might want this anyway. ... the characters and the wry humor make it entertaining."
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
by L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
, first published in hardcover by Doubleday in 1961, and in paperback by Lancer Books
Lancer Books
Lancer Books was a series of paperback books published from 1961 through 1973 by Irwin Stein and Walter Zacharius. While it published stories of a number of genres, it was noted most for its science fiction and fantasy, particularly its series of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian tales, the...
in 1968. The first trade paperback edition was issued by Starblaze
The Donning Company
The Donning Company is a specialty book publisher based in Virginia Beach. It was first established in the mid-1970s to publish a pictorial history of the founders' hometown. Its imprints included Starblaze Graphics.In 1985, Donning became a wholly owned subsidiary of Walsworth Publishing Company...
in 1982. It is the third of his historical novels in order of writing, and earliest chronologically. It is set in the last years of the reign of King Xerxes I of Persia, and begins in 466 BC.
Plot summary
The novel concerns the quest of Bessas of Zarispa, a young officer of the 'ImmortalsPersian Immortals
The "Immortals" was the name given by Herodotus to an elite force of soldiers who fought for the Achaemenid Empire. This force performed the dual roles of both Imperial Guard and standing army during the Persian Empire's expansion and during the Greco-Persian Wars...
' regiment, for the ingredients of a potion that the King has been told will give him immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
; the blood of a dragon and the ear of a king. Unbeknownst to Bessas, the third ingredient is the heart of a hero, and therefore Bessas' own.
Relying on information given him by the priests of Marduk
Marduk
Marduk was the Babylonian name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi , started to...
in Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
that a reptile depicted in reliefs on their temple, the sirrush
Sirrush
The mušḫuššu is a creature depicted on the reconstructed Ishtar Gate of the city of Babylon, originally dating to the 6th century B.C. It is a mythological hybrid, a scaly dragon with hind legs like an eagle's talons and feline forelegs...
, is a real dragon and lives at the headwaters of the Nile, Bessas sets out for the source of the Nile, accompanied by his former tutor, Myron of Miletos, who is bored of teaching and wants to make a name for himself in the field of philosophy.
Reception
Harry Cavendish calls the novel "possibly ... the author's most breezily amusing venture into fictionizing classical lore," in which "[c]omic opera attacks and nocturnal ambushes abound ... There obviously is a lot of fictional hocus-pocus in all this, but there's also a shimmering mirthfulness in the writing." Martin Levin characterizes the book as "a gore-spattered delight with a nod to archaeological deduction, HerodotusHerodotus
Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th century BC . He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a...
, Pliny
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
and perhaps Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
. ... An antiquarian as well as a science-fiction writer, Mr. De Camp seasons this full-bodied adventure novel with masses of ancient lore and an educated zest for exotic geography." Barbara Copeland writes "L. Sprague de Camp uses his talents for writing fantasy and weird fiction to concoct a swashbuckling historical novel. Full of violence and blood, like the cruel age in which it is set, the story leads the reader on a hair-raising expedition." On the down side, she notes that "[i]n his efforts for authenticity, De Camp has so liberally laced the book with tongue-twisting classical names and archaic phrasing that it is actually difficult to read rapidly." The Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
rates the story as "[a] colorful, vigorous, and outspoken tale that will appeal to masculine readers of the author's historical and science fiction." Don Adrian Davidson calls it "[a] long, well-written, picaresque novel," that "is excepted from the classification of the straight historical novel only by the Conan-like stature of its hero." Robert Coulson
Robert Coulson
Robert Stratton "Buck" Coulson was an American science fiction writer, well-known fan, filk song writer, fanzine editor and bookseller from Indiana....
, commenting on the Starblaze
The Donning Company
The Donning Company is a specialty book publisher based in Virginia Beach. It was first established in the mid-1970s to publish a pictorial history of the founders' hometown. Its imprints included Starblaze Graphics.In 1985, Donning became a wholly owned subsidiary of Walsworth Publishing Company...
edition, states that it remains "[g]reat entertainment if you missed it the first time around ... Even if you read it then, the original edition wasn't embellished by Steve Fabian
Stephen Fabian
-Career:Fabian specializes in science fiction and fantasy illustration and cover art for books and magazines. Fabian also produced artwork for TSR's Dungeons & Dragons game from 1986 to 1995, particularly on the Ravenloft line. He was self-taught, two of his primary influences being Virgil Finlay...
artwork, so you might want this anyway. ... the characters and the wry humor make it entertaining."