Shades Of Memnon: Book 1: The African Hero Of The Trojan War and the Keys to Ancient World Civilization

By Gregory Walker

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0966237404
• ISBN13: 9780966237405
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Seker Nefer Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A great read packed with action and drama

I am an avid reader of novels (sci-fi, horror, adventure, etc.). This one of the best sci-fi adventures I have ever read. This book is non-stop action from start to finish. I will not get into too much detail about the contents of the book for fear of spoiling it for someone, but the protagonist of the book Memnon (or Memna-un in Kemtic) is the son of great warrior whose fame is spread far and wide. Memnon's mother tries to steer Memnon away from a warrior's life by having him learn to be a scribe. Memnon excells while training to be a scribe but is not happy and decides to tell his mother (after graduation) how he wants to become a warrior like his father, and from their the story takes off, leading Memnon across seas doing battle with monsters, magicians, kings, etc.. This first book is primarily concerned with how he starts his legend and some of the exploits along the way. The use of African mythology and history are amazing. When I met the author of this book at an African Cultural Convention, he told me this book was as good anything Steven Barnes (author of Lion's Heart,Zulu Heart,Blood Brothers, etc.) had written. I was skeptical initially, but thought I'd give the book a shot anyway. After reading this book I can say that the book is on par with Lion's Blood and Zulu Heart in terms of non-stop action. I think Barnes book are slightly more imaginative. However, Barnes books are almost completely fictional, while Memnon is based a little more in historical facts. Either way, this a fantastic book, and I look forward to reading the second installment.

Fiction for an African Consciousness! A Must read!

I just fininshed this book today and I am going to reread it again all over again just to feel myself immersed in the world of Memnon once more! I read fiction and fantasy as a young black youth and it has always been a love of mine. At one point I stopped reading fantasy books because I guessed at the time that I outgrew them. Later in life I began rethinking history, the bible and everything fed to my mind from a child onward about myself, my (multidimensional) culture and where I fit into the grand scheme of world developement. Because of this, I now realize that I lost interest in fantasy works, even on TV, because there were NO black men or women or children in leading roles period. I also realize that not too many African Americans on a whole are inclined to read fantasy or fiction and what is read is usually what is pushed in the main market: Books about cheating, the oversexed female, thugs to millionaires and so on, but nothing to really spark the imagination. As I began to study trance, stories and how they can unconsciously structure the personality of the reader or listener, making information easier to process and integrate, I searched all over the net for black fiction writers of fantasy bnecause I have just about had my fill of non-fiction books on just information. I began to feel, thanks to observing my wife and how much she reads and has more spark to her, that I was sacrificing my true portal to the spirit within, my imagination. My wife is a bookaholic when it comes to fiction and I am greasing the old gears to fire up that inner vision again. But the books I have read or try to just don't do it. THIS book does! It could be because of the many authors and writings from other cultures as well as my own dealing with esoteric and spritual knowledge, but the ACTION and image-creating language in this book has awakened that inner vision!! It is my goal now to acquire all books in the series because I KNOW the power of stories and Myths and how they can build and hold together the minds of a family/culture in spirit, in the dream worlds. I am hooked on this book because as a black man, this charachter spoke directly to me for a change! I wasn't just a spectator, I was Memnon! Very empowering! I may even begin to write myself, why not? If you are black especially, but of any culture GET THIS BOOK! Memnon is African yet he experiences many different cultures and evils, evil has no color preference so this book is not about Black over White, but for the black male searching for a hero to identify with this is it!

Must Read !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a 17 teen year old from Chicago but i now live in Columbia,Mo who loves romance novels so much that i would only read black romance that is until my uncle challenged me to read one book a week that ment something to me it only took me two days to read the first book. I liked the book so much that i begged my uncle to let me read the second one,I AM NOW WAITRING ON THE LAST BOOK if you know when it is comming out please let me know.

Wonderful book

Shades of Memnon is a spellbinding, exciting, intriguing,mesmerising first book in a tale of epic proportions. It has all of the elements peculiar to the sword and sorcery genre: a gallant hero, nubile beauties, an evil wizard and benevolent fairies. The author, however, maximizes these elements through superlative storytelling that submerges the reader in a world he captures in stunning detail. The hero is no cardboard cutout with stock muscles and a sword, but a figure whose full humanity is conveyed even as he undergoes a transition from an ordinary youth to a warrior of superhuman strength and endurance. This book is a thrill ride of an adventure from beginning to end.

Fantastic!

I read this book and re-read it and it is great! I love the adventure and the excitement. It is definitely a classic! I also listened to the musical C.D., entitled "Memnon" produced, written, and recorded by local Chicago rap artist BangMasta D, that accompanies the book and it is great! What a fantastic idea! The song brings the characters and the action alive. This book and book II entitled "Ra Force Rising" are classic books, which will survive the literary world for years to come. The historical and mythological themes are comparable to the Odyssey, Sinbad and Jason and the Argonauts. This is an African classic! Memnon is the perfect representation of an African Warrior Hero. I applaud Gregory Walker for his outstanding and dedicated work. I anxiously await this classic work to be brought to film and see ancient history come to life!