This isn't just a collection of short stories, it is a thoughtful analysis of what it means to be a hero, what a hero actually is.
All too often the term 'hero' is used inappropriately. A great sportsman is admirable to be sure, but he isn't a hero just for his abilities at his chosen sport however many times someone might talk about sporting heroes. The Introduction talks about the concept of 'the hero' within the literary context, but the stories that follow speak of heroes.
Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things for the purpose of bettering the world for everyone who lives in it. Theirs can be a lonely path, a difficult and dangerous one, and heroes are found in the most unlikely places. Sometimes its about standing firm about what you hold to be true, even when nobody else agrees. Sometimes it is the more conventional image of taking risks to rescue others.
Read these tales. They'll give you more than the mere entertainment of well-crafted stories, they'll give you something to think about.
Oh, and take a moment to examine the cover closely. At a swift glance it looks like Greek pottery art, but you'll find much more there if you take a look - a bit like the stories within.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |