''The Gryphon's Skull'' is a

historical fiction Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the Setting (narrative), setting of particular real past events, historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literatur ...

novel written by H.N. Turteltaub (a pseudonym of

Harry Turtledove Harry Norman Turtledove (born June 14, 1949) is an American author who is best known for his work in the genres of alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery fiction. He is a student of history and completed his ...

). It was first published in hardcover by

Tor Books Tor Books is the primary imprint of Tor Publishing Group (previously Tom Doherty Associates), a publishing company based in New York City. It primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy titles. History Tor was founded by Tom Doherty, ...

in December 2002, and in paperback by the same publisher in December 2003. The book was reissued under the author's real name as an ebook by Phoenix Pick in March 2014, and as a trade paperback by the same publisher in April of the same year. It is the second book in the Hellenic Traders series.

Plot summary

The book follows the adventures of Menedemos and his cousin, Sostratos, seafaring traders from Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean in the years after Alexander the Great. The plot centers around their commercial voyages across the

Aegean Sea The Aegean Sea is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It is located between the Balkans and Anatolia, and covers an area of some . In the north, the Aegean is connected to the Marmara Sea, which in turn con ...

in their ship the ''Aphrodite'' during the year 309 BC. Early on, Sostratos acquires what appears to be the skull of a mythical

gryphon The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (; Classical Latin: ''gryps'' or ''grypus''; Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk o ...

(in reality the fossilized skull of a

Protoceratops ''Protoceratops'' (; ) is a genus of small protoceratopsid dinosaurs that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous, around 75 to 71 million years ago. The genus ''Protoceratops'' includes two species: ''P. andrewsi'' and the larger ''P. hellenik ...

dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic Geological period, period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the #Evolutio ...

), which he hopes to transport to scholars in

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

for study. Various other responsibilities and events get in the way, notably a commission from Ptolemaîos, satrap of Egypt, to spirit Polemaîos, disaffected nephew of Antigonos, master of Asia, from

Chalcis Chalcis (; Ancient Greek and Katharevousa: , ), also called Chalkida or Halkida (Modern Greek: , ), is the chief city of the island of Euboea or Evia in Greece, situated on the Euripus Strait at its narrowest point. The name is preserved from ...

to Cos to join him in his campaign against Antigonos. The cousins succeed in their mission, though Polemaîos later betrays Ptolemaîos, and is ordered to drink hemlock. Sostratos witnesses the enforced suicide. The gryphon's skull is later lost in a pirate attack on the ''Aphrodite''.

Reception

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' notes that " the end, readers f the bookwill count themselves satisfied with the journey." The reviewer points out that " he author has spelled names as the Greeks did—Kyklades, Thoukydides, Skythians—and this adds to the fun." ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

'' calls the novel " perlative historical adventure, narrated with plenty of action and a good feel for the era." The two protagonists are characterized as "a somewhat

Patty Duke Anna Marie Duke (December 14, 1946 – March 29, 2016), known professionally as Patty Duke, was an American actress. Over the course of her acting career, she was the recipient of an Academy Awards, Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ...

-ish pair of cousins" who "make a good pair, each complementing the other's weaknesses and strengths." Michele Leber in ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...

'' characterizes the book as "factually-laded historical fiction, although history is sometimes dispensed awkwardly through dialog rather than through narrative; and while a table of weights, measures, and money is provided, a glossary is sorely missing. But there is appealing camaraderie between the cousins, and no lack of action; and plans for a future voyage, plus unresolved issues, pave the way for more to come."Leber, Michele. Review in ''Booklist'', v. 99, iss. 5, Nov. 1, 2002, p. 476. The book was also reviewed by K. V. Bailey in ''Vector'' 227, January 2003, and Peter Heck (2003) in ''Asimov's Science Fiction'', May 2003.

References

2002 American novels Hellenic Traders novels Novels set in ancient Greece Tor Books books Novels set in the 4th century BC {{2000s-hist-novel-stub