The Hittite is a historical novel by the prolific Ben Bova, a retelling of the siege of Troy. I thought it would be closer to the classic Greek story, which I love, maybe updating some inaccuracies, but this doesn't claim to be the historical truth. It's a sweeping adventure, and once I was on board for an exciting tale, it didn't disappoint.
Lukka, a Hittite soldier leading a band of eleven fighting men, returns to find the Hatti city of Hattusas ruined from an attack. He arrives at his family home to find his father dying and learns that his wife and two sons have been taken slaves by the armies of King Agemenmon on their way to Troy. With nothing left, they make their way to Troy and hopefully rescue his family. Once at the plains of Ilios, they find the classic battle continuing between the walled city of Troy and the beachhead of the Achaians. A recap of the scene: the beautiful Helen was stolen away from her husband Menalaos, and his brother King Agamemnon has joined with Odysseos - the King of Ithaca, and Achilles to rally their armies against Troy. Prince Hector of Troy leads the Trojans at the wall of the city, along with vain Prince Paris who has stolen Helen and taken her as his wife. Of course, the whole gang of characters is present including Ajax, Antiklos and King Priam.
As a Hittite, Lukka has many new fighting skills to show the Achaians and works with Odysseos as an intermediary with Hector. Here, Lukka befriends Prince Hector, meets the beautiful Helen, passes messages between camps, and finds his children and wife, now a slave to King Agememnon himself.
It's an exciting tale and very well told. My only complaint would be the single hero aspect, but I guess that's what makes an adventure story great. Lukka is brave and smart, however, he is the only one after years of fighting to bridge the gap between the camps, and meet privately with the leaders. He alone learns of the motives of Paris and Helen, meeting with her in her secret chambers. He befriends Hector and is admired by Odysseos. It is his idea to change the battle plan and secretly build and erect a scaffold against the great wall, and once the battle within the city of Troy begins, he is the one to fight Paris. I see it's a good way to have the character at the peak of the action, but it's a heavy load for one character.
It was good to see some additions to the story, reflecting how relationships were at the time, between men and women and men with men. Helen knows she is just a prize in the game of war, her husbands property, and must work within that to direct her own future. Achilles refuses to join the fighting to spite Agememnon, and withdraws to his camp with his lover, fellow soldier Patrokles. It's only when Patrokles is killed in action that Achilles retaliates in revenge against Troy with his Myrmidone army. Later, Lukka has the idea to build a large wooden scaffold, which could be rolled horizontally to the base of the wall in the night. To prevent flaming arrows from destroying it as it is raised, it's covered in horse hides - a new approach to the Trojan Horse.
It's an historic event, and classic tale so we already know how it ends up, but Ben Bova twists the setting slightly, so there is a new and different view of the characters. Who survives, who dies, and who does Helen end up with?
The Hittite is an exciting read, historical and adventurous. If you are looking for an entertaining read, and don't want to start with Homer's Illiad, I'd recommend it!
2010 / Hardcover / 317 pages
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