The Face of Apollo (Book of the Gods, Volume 1)

Ancient Greece has many heroes. Young Jeremy Redthorn, seemingly doomed to virtual slavery as a farm laborer, doesn't think of himself as one. But when he risks his life for a beautiful, wounded stranger, he soon finds himself on a perilous mission. What he doesn't realize is that the mask he must deliver can confer upon its wearer the powers of a god. And, unfortunately for Jeremy, that god wants it back. From Library Journal In a post-technology world in which the Olympian deities are distant memories, Jeremy Redthorn discovers a divine artifact that transforms his life and heralds the return of the gods. Equally at home with both sf and fantasy, Saberhagen (Beserker Fury, LJ 8/97) here shows off his skill at revitalizing old mythologies in this rousing series opener. Combining the epic quest with a story of one young man's rite of passage, this title should appeal to YA readers as well as to the author's many fans. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist In fine form, Saberhagen turns to a world that recalls (and may actually be) that of his Swords series. The ancient classical gods have returned but are at war among themselves, and this yarn opens with a battle to the death between Apollo and Hades. Although Hades appears the victor, the face of Apollo is carried off by one of the sun god's human votaries. It ends up entering the body of 15-year-old Jeremy Redthorn, turning him into an avatar of Apollo who possesses many attributes of the god. That noticeably improves his sex life and gives him the power to summon swarms of bees against his enemies, but it also imposes responsibilities equal to the new powers and thrusts him forcibly into the front lines of the cosmic battle of good and evil. Saberhagen offers classical scholarship, wit, and brisk pacing in an admirable coming-of-age story that should appeal even to readers unfamiliar with the Swords books and attract Swords-familiar readers in swarms. Roland Green Enter Series Index : 01 of 05 Test Search : Face of Apollo / Fred Saberhagen Record Notes : Cover Checked 07 21, Perm IE IC 09 01 14 ES Group : Serified_E All Identifiers : isbn:9780812571899 Calc Series A (group): Book of the Gods ISBN : 9780812571899 Test Compare Series to Entered: eq Formats : EPUB ES Cover Quality : ICBF ES Suffix : _ Quick Search : Fred Saberhagen Book of the Gods ABook : E_Only Has Cover : Yes Test Text Series Index: 1 Single Author : Fred Saberhagen Raw Title : Face of Apollo Calc ESI Part 2 : of Sorted Author by LN, FN: Saberhagen, Fred EBook : Have Calc Series Group : Book of the Gods Title Length : 14 Calc Force Series : .Book of the Gods Title Parm A : Face of Apollo Record ID : 2412 Enter New Series (Calced): Serified_E.Book of the Gods.Scifan.01 of 05._.ICBF ES Name : Book of the Gods Custom Series : SIPY.Book of the Gods.Scifan.1 of 5._.ICBF Series A : Book of the Gods Uncomma Author : Fred Saberhagen Number of Words in Auth: 2 ES Genre : Scifan Calc New Series : Book of the Gods.... Calc ESI Part 3 : 05 Compare Author : eq Calc ESI Part 1 : 01 Calc ESI Combined : 01 of 190 Num of Aut : 1 Young Jeremy Redthorn, seemingly doomed to virtual slavery as a farm laborer for his uncle, has little to lose. So he is willing to risk his life when the beautiful, wounded stranger pleads with him to complete her perilous mission. Jeremy doesn't understand at first that the strange mask - or is it a face? - that he's pledged to deliver can confer upon its wearer all the powers, and the problems, of one of the mightiest gods. But he soon realizes the awesome potential - thrilling yet dangerous - that he holds in his possession. When the soldiers who are hunting for the Mask of Apollo arrive, Jeremy has vanished, and the great prize with him. Centuries ago, it seemed that the gods had deserted humanity. But, now, suddenly they are back. Not only the sun god Apollo, but his unrelenting enemy - dark Hades, Lord of the Underworld, greedy for human bodies and souls to gather into his domain. Centuries ago, it seemed that the gods had deserted humanity. But, now, suddenly they are back. Not only the sun god Apollo, but his unrelenting enemy-dark Hades, Lord of the Underworld, greedy for human bodies and sould to gather into his domain. And others, including Thanatos, the personification of Death the enigmatic Trickster; and Hephaestus the Smith, the wonderworker of magical technology. The past meets the present in a struggle of wills, and neither Jeremy nor the world he inhabits will ever be the same A mythological fantasy in which a woman gives the hero, Jeremy Redthorn, the mask of Apollo, the god of light slain by Hades, the ruler of the underworld. Jeremy puts it on and in a flash is transformed into Apollo himself, whereupon he sets off for Mount Olympus to settle scores with Hades. By the author of On Merlin's Bones A best-selling fantasy author draws on ancient mythology to weave the first saga in his new Book of the Gods series, which pits the sun god Apollo against his very opposite, Hades, the god of the Underworld. Simultaneous. 50,000 first printing. Jeremy Redthorn agrees to help a beautiful stranger by putting on the Mask of Apollo, and now he must face Hades, the Lord of the Underworld; Thanatos, the embodiment of death; and Hephaestus, the smith who creates the gods' magical technology After a battle to the death between the gods Apollo and Hades, the face of Apollo is carried off by one of the sun god's human votaries and enters the body of a 15-year-old boy, turning him into the incarnation of Apollo