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Lion of Macedon (Greek series #1)
Lion of Macedon (Greek series #1)
David Gemmell | 1990 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The first of David Gemmell's forays into ancient Greece, followed up by Dark Prince, with Gemmell returning to the setting (if not the characters) towards the end of his life with his Troy series (Lord of the Silver Bow, Shield of Thunder and Fall of Kings - the latter being completed by his wife following his death in 2006).

Unlike the Troy books, however, this is set (much) later in the ancient Greek world, even well after the battle of Thermopylae, and follows the life and times of the half-Spartan/half Macedonian Parmenion - the actual Lion of Macedon of the title - of whom little is apparently known, other than that he was an actual Macedonian general in the service of Philip II of Macedon (who doesn't even appear in this until about 2/3rd of the way through the book): the father (or was he?) of the most famous Macedonian of all: Alexander. As in Alexander the Great.

I add the 'or was he' question to the above as this novel provides an alternative patronage. It also, unlike his later Troy series, mixes on some of Gemmell's more 'fantastical' elements (I hesitate to even use that word), with the philosopher Aristotle reimagined and the inclusion of the Stones of Power (aka the Siptrassi Stones - as an aside, I'm not sure where these novels were written in relation to those?), albeit not to the extent of Dark Prince. The themes of redemption, honour, courage and Good (the Source) Vs Evil are as strong as any other in his oeuvre!
  
All-Time Greatest Hits by Harry Nilsson
All-Time Greatest Hits by Harry Nilsson
1978 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"When I was a kid, Midnight Cowboy was one of my favourite films. Especially the end of Midnight Cowboy, when Jon Voight is riding the bus to Miami. It has that thing again, the loneliness and idealism of the American life, the death of the dream, the bleak scenes. Fred Neil wrote the original song but Harry Nilsson’s version just brings it to life. It’s a song I find hard to be objective about, because it’s been my favourite song since I was a kid, ever since seeing the film. Harry Nilsson’s version has more of the bittersweet, longing feeling. It’s a great song in general, but I associate his version with a strong set of visuals, especially watching the film as a kid. The songs that have the most powerful emotional impact are the ones that surprise you. I’m not listening for artistic inspiration to make a record, but for the feeling. When I’m making a record I completely stop listening to music. When I’m gathering ideas, I can’t listen to music because I have too many other things in my head, I can’t listen to other people’s records. Maybe a bit of classical, but that’s really it. So with my favourite music, it’s not necessarily the ones that make you feel excited or hyper, it’s more the ones that get you in your chest or your stomach, the ones that get you in that way and are impossible to ignore. That’s what I would want people to feel with the songs that I’ve written."

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