was a really neat take on a classical story; i would have liked to see some of the Biblical references to the Hittites worked in somehow but a good story none the less ( )

Who knew Ben Bova did historical fiction...read perfectly by Stephan Rodnicki. The pacing was fast, the story precise, the characters believable. The story of wandering soldier who gets involved in the Trojan war, helps win it, and becomes disillusioned. The Greeks act like Greeks, the Trojans like the Trojans--both we know from Homer and others. This story is told from the standpoint of a common soldier. A stand-alone book, it would be sullied with a sequel. ( )

After a long, exhausting battle far from home, Hittite commander Lukka returns with his squad only to find his once proud empire in ruins after a civil war. The emperor himself is dead, his palace burned to the ground. The city has been overrun by looters, murderers, rapists, and bandits.

In a desperate search for his wife and toddler sons, Lukka learns from his dying father that they have been taken by slave traders. Lukka fears that his sons will be murdered, as slavers have no use for toddlers.

Regrouping with his men, Lukka leaves his home and sets off for Troy on a hunch that this is where the slave traders would go to sell their captives. After a wearisome journey beset with battles and tragedy, the squad finally reaches Troy only to find the city under siege from the Achaeans led by the barbarian king Agamemnon and the Ithacans led by the more honorable Odysseus.

Agamemnon's brother, Menelaus, had married the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen. Yet Helen was disgusted by the barbarian and her life in Sparta had been misery until the day when Prince Paris from Troy arrived to collect tribute while Menelaus was away. Helen had run away with Paris and was accepted as a princess in the Trojan empire, sparking the war between Troy and Sparta.

Lukka and his men find themselves in the service of Agamemnon and Odysseus, though of the two kings only Odysseus spares Lukka any attention. Eventually, Lukka finds his wife, Aniti, and their sons. As Agamemnon is not known for releasing his slaves, Lukka petitions to Odysseus for their release, but his request is constantly delayed as the time never seems right for approaching the selfish king.

Part of the reason for Agamemnon's dark mood is his ongoing feud with Achilles who has refused to assist the king in his siege of Troy. Agamemnon had given Achilles a female slave as a reward for his bravery but then took her back. As a result, Achilles now holds a grudge.

Later, Lukka is selected by Odysseus to convey a message of peace to King Priam of Troy and there, he meets Prince Hector, Paris, and of course, Helen. The message is simple: return Helen to Menelaus and the siege will end. However, the Trojans reject the message and continue to successfully defend their kingdom from daily attacks by the barbarians.

Desperate to assist Agamemnon, if only for the release of his family, Lukka brings his military prowess to bear against Troy by constructing a "siege tower" that will allow soldiers to scale the lowest wall surrounding the great city. The tower is mistaken for a "giant horse filled with soldiers" and the war begins, but can Lukka save his wife and sons? What will become of Helen of Troy?

Having read two of Ben Bova's Voyager series novels and about six from his Grand Tour series (all science fiction), The Hittite was a departure for me. The pacing was much faster, the story focused on a few characters, and it was written entirely in first person POV of Lukka. I'm accustomed to Bova's stories written in third person POV and laden with characters.

I found his protagonist to be somewhat flat and Helen herself was portrayed by Bova as a selfish, spoiled, and somewhat callow woman yet still tragic at the same time. I enjoyed Poletes, an old "windbag" storyteller who is saved by Lukka and becomes his servant. He was the most entertaining character in the book.

Overall, I recommend The Hittite if just for an easy read and interesting twist on The Iliad. Bova does not spare details of the living conditions and barbaric practices of the time. Just do not expect an epic adventure tale or a story of any emotional depth. ( )