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Paperback An Arrow's Flight Book

ISBN: 0312242883

ISBN13: 9780312242886

An Arrow's Flight

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Format: Paperback

Condition: Good

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Book Overview

An Arrow's Flight is a joyous and eccentric tour-de-force by the author of American Studies and Man About Town. The siege of Troy has dragged on for ten years, with no end in sight, when an oracle supplies the Greeks with the recipe for victory. All they need is Pyrrhus, son of the fallen Achilles. But Pyrrhus has been putting his godlike form to profitable use as a go-go dancer in the big city. Why should he leave the party, give up his hard-bought freedom, just because some voice in a jar says he must strap on a suit of hand-me-down armor? Still, he has always known destiny had plans for him, some more glittering future than life as a used-up hustler on a park bench somewhere. So he sails for Troy, hoping to transform himself into the bronzed immortal history requires. Instead, on an unscheduled detour, he stumbles through his first lessons on how to be a man. Magically blending ancient headlines and modern myth, Merlis creates a fabulous new world where legendary heroes declare their endowments in the personal ads and any panhandler just might be a divinity in disguise. Comical, moving, startling in its audacity and range, An Arrow's Flight is a profound meditation on gay identity, straight power, and human liberation. -- Lambda Literary Award, Gay Men's Fiction, 1998 A boldly conceived narrative of uncommon artistry...Merlis's insight into human nature and his ability to find and articulate grace in the ordinary process of human exchange is remarkable. Among the many books written about AIDS and the gay experience, Merlis's novel is a stunning standout. - Publishers Weekly (starred review) Equal parts Iliad and City of Night...Merlis transforms the gimmick into a miraculously wacky, droll, and sometimes tragic story. - Village Voice Top-of-the-line gay fiction, compulsively readable and very, very sexy. - The Advocate Dazzles with its originality, its willingness to take astonishing risks, its triumphant conjuration of a world at once sternly archaic and bracingly contemporary...This is a beautiful, haunting work by one of America's finest novelists. - Paul Russell This description may be from another edition of this product.

Customer Reviews

5 customer ratings | 5 reviews

Rated 5 stars
A True Five Strar Pyrrhic Victory!!!

A great accomplishment. Merlis breaks very fresh literary ground with this imaginative tale of contemporary hustler/stripper/heir Pyrrhus being led by an oracle (and a eunuch) to claim his birthright as the son of Achilles and conquerer of The Trojans in the Trojan War. AN ARROW'S FLIGHT is a brilliant (and tres gay) retelling of THE ODYSSEY as well as an on-target commentary on current gay identity and politics. The narrative...

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Rated 5 stars
BRILLIANT!

"How did he do that!?" That's the thought that kept popping up in my head as I read this wonderful wonderful book. The anachronisms are brilliantly funny & clever; Merlis is a pure genius & has written a perfect piece of literature. I highly recommend anyone to read this novel; particularly if you enjoy Greek mythology as I do... Merlis succeeds in humanizing these bigger-than-life characters... A definite must-read!

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Rated 5 stars
A Classic from a Classic

I was interested in this book as I studied Classical Studies in university and I enjoy gay fiction. This seemed a fascinating combination for a book. I was more impressed than I expected to be. It was a nice spin on the many books that look at the period at the beginning of the AIDS crisis in that the reader does not immediately see the connection. The initial talk of gods and demigods and, god forbid, hemidemigods,...

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Rated 5 stars
Can't I give more stars than 5?

It's rare that I've missed a book so much on finishing it. A great concept ... updating Homer while keeping some of the mystery of the time. Wonderfully, humanely, relishingly gay. No pretension whatsoever in this for me ... just a lovely guy writing beautifully and cleanly, daring his imagination to break the bounds. Well done to St Martin's for publishing it so well ... it's a handsome book. If you're in any doubt at...

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Rated 5 stars
No Summary Will Prepare You for How Truly Wonderful This Is

I haven't been this impressed with a work of fiction in quite some time. Mark Merlis sets himself up to fail, with his idea of semi-updating the Trojan war, and then succeeds so wondrously. He catches the reader quickly with opening chapters that are funny, engaging, swift-moving (any man or woman who was ever young and confused will identify, but gay men in particular will laugh out loud) then deftly begins weaving in...

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