From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-This adventure set in 430 B.C.E. follows the exploits of Nicasylus, the son of a well-to-do Athenian family. During a hot, steamy summer, Nic is sent on a voyage to his uncle's home in Argos to escape a rapidly spreading plague. During his trip, he befriends Gellius, the captain of the ship, who tells the boy about his plans to enter the Pankration (a combination of wrestling and bare-fisted boxing) in the next Olympics. Before the end of the voyage, pirates attack the ship, capture Nic, and seriously injure Gellius. The following chapters alternate between Gellius and Nic. The captain is rescued by fishermen, recovers from his wounds, and returns to Athens to train for his event. The boy is sold into slavery, endures hunger and abuse, battles wolves, escapes, is captured again, and finally meets up with Gellius in Olympia. The plot is fantastic and unrealistic, but the author keeps the story moving with exciting episodes and believable descriptions of events. She provides a realistic picture of the crowds, ceremony, and pageantry of the Olympics and the grimy, sweating brutality of the Pankration. The ending is pat and characters are not finely developed but the setting and atmosphere are well done.
Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
Kirkus Reviews
Australian Blacklock debuts with a gory, rough-hewn tale set in ancient Greece and Italy. Sent from Athens to escape the plague, young Nicasylus is taken by pirates and sold into slavery; he escapes, makes his way to Olympia, and witnesses the vicious Pankration, a no-rules fight that lasts until all but one competitor is too broken up to continue. The author splits the story between Nic and his giant friend Gelliusa sailor who survives the pirate attackwho undergoes the requisite nine months of training and purification required to compete in the games, and is beaten to a pulp but crowned victor when Nic fingers his opponent as the pirate captain. There are some who may enjoy following Nic's blood-and-vomit-splashed trail to Olympia, but neither of the protagonists sees much beyond the climactic bout, even though Blacklock prepares readers for a visit to the ancient games. The rarely used setting, tailor-made for historical fiction book reports, may spark some interest. (Fiction. 11-13) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
