Product Description

The war of Troy is looming, and all the kings of the Great Green are gathering, friends and enemies, each with their own dark plans of conquest and plunder. Into this maelstrom of treachery and deceit come three travellers; Piria, a runaway priestess nursing a terrible secret, Kalliades, a warrior with a legendary sword, and Banokles who will carve his own legend in the battles to come. "Shield of Thunder" takes the reader back into the glories and tragedies of Bronze Age Greece, reuniting the characters from Lord of the Silver Bow; the dread Helikaon and his great love, the fiery Andromache, the mighty Hektor and the fabled storyteller, Odysseus.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #169948 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 449 pages

Review
Praise for "Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow":
" A powerful, page-turning series encompassing the Trojan war . . . packed with high adventure, vivid characters and fascinating historical detail."
- "Birmingham Independent"

From the Publisher
The second novel in David Gemmell’s bestselling TROY trilogy. Interlacing myth and history, and high adventure, this is epic storytelling at its very best.

About the Author
David A. Gemmell's first novel, Legend, was first published in 1984 and went on to become a classic. His most recent Drenai and Rigante novels are available as Corgi paperbacks; all are Sunday Times bestsellers. Widely regarded as the finest writer of heroic fantasy, David Gemmell lived in Sussex until his tragic death in July 2006.

Customer Reviews

A brilliant novel
This book has the same humour and 'grit' typical of all Gemmell novels.
It continues from Troy - Lord of the Silver Bow. Although the main characters in this book feature only briefly in the first novel, it does have many of the same characters such as Helikaon, Andromache and Oddyeus. The main characters in this book are Banokles and Kalliades.

This book, which is sadly Gemmells last, is in my opinion not one of Gemmells very best but is never the less a gripping read.
I have read 22 of Gemmells 30 novels and not one has been a 'bad' book. Some i'll admit are better than others, but it is an amazing feat to write such a wealth of novels, and at the such high standard. He was very ill when he was writing it, so its amazing that he managed to write it at all.
David Gemmell wrote many gripping novels and was undoubtedly the best in his field. His books had humour, great characters, and that made him the best known heroic fantasy author.
I'm sure his novels will be read by future generations.

A definate middle book
I agree with those who expressed sorrow on hearing that David Gemmell had passed away, and like many others I am an avid reader of all his books, but this a review so. The first book was a fast paced book that seemed to rush up to the start of war (in a good way), this one begins three years later with the war started and the two sides trying to out manover each other, and take as much of the Great Green as possible. This is a well written book and I have to admit I love some of the characters Kallides and Banokles especially, and these two are often the main characters in this one as well as the last. The main problem though is it is a middle book and feels like one, slow in places as it builds up to the last book (I hope david's wife is going to finish it a fitting tribute). A few parts feel rushed, but all in all it keeps you hooked and continues the story well, although i admit to finding it difficult to feel anything for Achillies, Hektor or the rest as we already know what is going to happen in the end, but it is fun reading a fantasy author's idea of it.

One last time, old friend...
In David Gemmell's first novel, Legend, Druss the mighty warrior spoke the above words as he decided to head off to battle for one last time. The following story, of warriors facing impossible odds and going through great personal change, captured the imaginations of many readers. And his following books were just the same.

So you come to this knowing what you'll get. History is taking it's course, and war between troy and it's enemies is looming. But the book is about the people involved in this struggle. Some we saw in the first book, such as noble king heliakon, who cannot be with the woman he loves more than anything. Famed sailor and teller of tales Odysseus, who nonetheless can be a fearsome opponent when pushed too far. Mighty trojan warrior Hektor. And we meet new characters, the mercenaries banokles and kalliades who discover they have a sense of honour. Piria, a lady with secrets. And we also meet Achilles, the mightiest warrior of his time.

Fans will know what to expect from what follows. As history takes it's course around them, these characters will struggle and find their destinies. There will be battles, there will be death, people will do their duty, and some will find romance. All in gemmell's typically splendid prose and superb characterisation. And your heart will be in your mouth during a stunning final chapter when motherly love leads one character to take an astonishing leap of faith.

We know what will happen to troy. Or do we? The end hints at many possibilities.

But we will find out for sure? I don't know how far he'd gotten with the third volume, so seemingly this is the last book he wrote. And I was acutely conscious throughout that once it was over, there would be no more. Goodbye david, and thanks for the great stories.