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duriangray's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
peapod_boston's review against another edition
4.0
Thomas Burnett Swann was another writer recommended in a panel of "lost" writers. "Day of the Minotaur" tells a story of man's ancient past, when a half-dryad prince and princess flee into the darkest forest from the men who would pillage their country. There they discover the darker half of their heritage in the form of centaurs, fauns, dryads, talking bears, and the titular Minotaur. Of course, their enemies follow them, bringing trouble to the idyllic life of these semi-mythical beasts.
Told largely from the Minotaur's point of view, it is a beauty and the beast story of fantastical romance that could sit neatly on the shelf beside any teen fantasy these days (there are even a few slightly racy, if not explicit scenes and some nods to alternative sexual lifestyles). It's a short novel (as so many of the older ones are) and a quick and fun read.
I'm not sure if it's public domain yet, but if it is, someone should snatch up this and Swann's other novels in this setting and put out a tween/young adult series.
Told largely from the Minotaur's point of view, it is a beauty and the beast story of fantastical romance that could sit neatly on the shelf beside any teen fantasy these days (there are even a few slightly racy, if not explicit scenes and some nods to alternative sexual lifestyles). It's a short novel (as so many of the older ones are) and a quick and fun read.
I'm not sure if it's public domain yet, but if it is, someone should snatch up this and Swann's other novels in this setting and put out a tween/young adult series.
oleksandr's review against another edition
2.0
This is an early fantasy novel, which uses Greek mythology that was nominated for Hugo Award in 1967. I read as a part of Author’s birthday challenmge reads in Hugo & Nebula Awards: Best Novels group.
This is the earliest example I am aware of, where fantasy and Greek mythology were intertwined. Unlike modern long fantasy books, this one is quite short and while it later grew up to a trilogy, initially it was intended as a standalone.
Minos, king of Cretans has two children – a girl Thea and a boy Icarus. He brought them from the forest of Beasts and they are half-Man half-Beasts (which can be seen in their greenish hair and pointy ears. This clearly ‘elvish’ reference doesn’t bode well with either Greek or Minoan myth I know and more a nod to contemporary European fantasy). The kids are forbidden to go near the forest and when Ajax and the Achaeans bring war to the isle, the children (teenagers actually), prefer to be captured that to flight to Beasts. After Ajax thwarted rape attempt they are sent to the forest anyway. Enter the Minotaur.
The rest of the story goes from POV of the minotaur. The Beasts turn out not to be all the ‘bestial’ but peaceful farmers and crafters. But Achaeans bring the war to the forest.
The book is nothing special, it is a quick and sometimes funny read, with a bit of ‘flower power’ attitude of the times and the idea that the Man rules or is ruled, but never in a harmony with the nature.
This is the earliest example I am aware of, where fantasy and Greek mythology were intertwined. Unlike modern long fantasy books, this one is quite short and while it later grew up to a trilogy, initially it was intended as a standalone.
Minos, king of Cretans has two children – a girl Thea and a boy Icarus. He brought them from the forest of Beasts and they are half-Man half-Beasts (which can be seen in their greenish hair and pointy ears. This clearly ‘elvish’ reference doesn’t bode well with either Greek or Minoan myth I know and more a nod to contemporary European fantasy). The kids are forbidden to go near the forest and when Ajax and the Achaeans bring war to the isle, the children (teenagers actually), prefer to be captured that to flight to Beasts. After Ajax thwarted rape attempt they are sent to the forest anyway. Enter the Minotaur.
The rest of the story goes from POV of the minotaur. The Beasts turn out not to be all the ‘bestial’ but peaceful farmers and crafters. But Achaeans bring the war to the forest.
The book is nothing special, it is a quick and sometimes funny read, with a bit of ‘flower power’ attitude of the times and the idea that the Man rules or is ruled, but never in a harmony with the nature.
ianbanks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I read this in the original serialised version as published in Science Fantasy Magazine in the 60s.
It’s just superb. The narrator is a Minotaur (who describes himself as a poet) who has set up house in the forests of ancient Crete along with a heap of other mythical creatures. Then, one day, two half-human children seek shelter from Achaean invaders and he becomes their protector and friend.
This is just lovely. There is not a word out of place and it describes an idyllic land, hidden from human eyes, on the verge of war. I couldn’t bear the fact that it was such a short novel yet peopled with such wonderful characters and settings. I have to read the other books in this series.
It’s just superb. The narrator is a Minotaur (who describes himself as a poet) who has set up house in the forests of ancient Crete along with a heap of other mythical creatures. Then, one day, two half-human children seek shelter from Achaean invaders and he becomes their protector and friend.
This is just lovely. There is not a word out of place and it describes an idyllic land, hidden from human eyes, on the verge of war. I couldn’t bear the fact that it was such a short novel yet peopled with such wonderful characters and settings. I have to read the other books in this series.
indrabar's review
4.0
Except for some discrepancies between this book and The Forest of Forever, which Swann admitted to in the introduction to FoF, this was excellent.
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