|
-
News
- Features
- Events
Calendar
- Editorials
- Monthly
Zine
- Offworld
Report
- Our Daily
RSS Feed
- Movie/TV
Reviews
> Recent movies
> Movies by year
> Movies by title
- Book
Reviews
> Recent books
> Books by year
> Books by title
- Home
- Worlds
- Biography
- Bibliography
- Appearances
- Reviews
- Blog
- Community
- Press
- Links
Become
an Advertiser
- Web
Site Directory
- Search
the Net
- StephenHunt.net
- WoodenRocket.com
- Check
your E-mail
- Non Sci-Fi
News
|
Grendel by John Gardner (Fantasy Masterworks # 41)
01/09/2005 . Source: Phil Jones 
pub: Gollancz. 123 page enlarged paperback. Price: £ 6.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-575-07582-1. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.orionbooks.co.uk
Grendel is a monster. Animal-like, living in a cave with his foul mother who is mad, he is lonely and confused by the world outside. He slips out at night to watch Hrothgar's meadhall and others. Occasionally bursting in and eating the human inside or just smashing down the door for effect. What is it all for though? He ponders life and studies the human fascination with gods, love, song and beauty.
He seeks answers from not only humans but a dragon. In the dragon's lair with gold and treasure, the dragon presents him with his own transcendental metaphysical world view but all this does is confuse Grendel. He realises that the dragon too is a monster guarding its horde with a cynical corrupt view. Grendel tries to resolve his own violence and whether scaring humans serves any purpose. With the advent of strangers (Beowulf), he becomes aware of the idea of fear.
Anyone who is familiar with the story of Beowulf and the poem will recall that this is set in Denmark around 800 AD. This book tells the story though from Grendel's point of view and his difficulty in coming to terms with who he is. He tries to resolve this by watching humans and occasionally trying to interact with them unsuccessfully. He also seeks advice from a dragon, but this just confuses him further. It is not till the end of the book that Grendel finally realises his purpose.
This book though only really uses the story of Beowulf as a framework. I personally found it a little strange. Mixing ancient story with poems, songs, theatrical script, philosophy and a social comment. There are strange sections of almost Monty Pythonesque humour. For example, when the supposed hero Unferth is first thwarted by a barrage of apples and later on finding Grendel's cave, presents himself and says he will slay Grendel and thus be a hero. A long dialogue unfolds and eventually Unferth falls asleep and Grendel returns him to the village. It is almost like something out of the Holy Grail or 'The Jabberwocky'.
There are long sections of Grendel introspectively analysing himself. The book sometimes feels like it's just trying to make a comment or just include a reference that only those in the know will understand. Parts are very entertaining, but for me it just didn't seem to work. It didn't feel whole. I think it is clever and as a reflection on Beowulf is interesting. As a story though taken in isolation, it works as a comment on humans but not really as a complete story. I suppose more as a character study.
This is a reprint, originally published in the 70s, I think it's worth a read especially if you enjoy Beowulf but I feel some may find sections boring and the language a bit too verbose. It is multi-layered, but I don't think it will hold every reader's attention.
Phil Jones
|
|
