Author: Judith Tarr
Cover Artist: Rick Berry
Publisher: TOR
Binding : Hardcover
Publishing Date: June 2008
In her newest novel Bring Down The Sun, Judith Tarr combines worship of the “Goddess” magic, witchcraft and romance with the intrigues of the ancient courts of Macedonia and Greece. She weaves together a fluid picture of the decline of the “Great Goddess” the mother of all things and the burgeoning conflict with the world of great men and their proclivity for war and conquest. Tarr’s masterful use of the written word as well as her ability to weave a story fraught with historical fact enable her readers to put themselves into this distant time and feel frighteningly at home, surrounded by myth and mystery.
The story opens with young Polyxena dreaming of a much different future for herself than the one her Aunt Nikandra has deemed the “Mother’s” will. Nikandra and the other oracles of Dodona have conspired to conceal from Polyxena her true calling to be the mother of greatness. They fear her enormous power and dread the consequences of its misuse. However, Polyxena’s dreams and visions lead her to a much different conclusion, one that ultimately drives her to seek her true destiny. Polyxena’s direction is revealed to her during a pilgrimage to the Isle of Samothrace. While immersing herself in the “Great Mysteries”, she has her first liason with the “Bull Of Minos” who in actuality is her future husband Philip of Macedonia. The grand design for the gods is set in motion. In the company of the witch “Erynna” who has her own diabolical plans, Polyxena travels to Macedonia to wed Philip, and their union leads to the birth of the world’s greatest conquering king, “Alexander The Great”.
In telling her story, Tarr used one of the most familiar mythologies of known human culture. That of the snake and it’s influential relationship between man and woman. Polyxena’s interplay with snakes is ubiquitously used by Tarr, and is reminiscent of the most iconic strories in written history. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Anthony and Cleopatra in Egypt as well as numerous fantasy works of current times. My one problem with Tarr’s snakes, was deciphering their ultimate morality, as pertaining to their influence on Tarr’s heroine. Maybe I was looking for too much, but their inescapable presence seems to make them more than mere compaignons and protectors.
The second half of Tarr’s novel takes place in Philip’s palace and is rife with the intrigues of the Royal Court; all centering around Polyxena’s unborn child. Complications arise because another heir to Philips throne already exists and the typical power struggle will surely ensue. The witch, Erynna, who by this time has misled Polyxena with corruptingly false magic, acts on her own to ensure the succession of Polyxena’s offspring. The interplay between the Queen Polyxena and the witch is highly reminiscent of Bernard Cornwell’s characters Arthur and Merlyn in his “Grail Quest Trilogy”. Like Cornwell, Tarr uses a child as the axis point for the ultimate struggle between good and evil and enmeshes her heroine in the grand battle against the dark forces to bring a pure Alexander into the world, so he can fulfill his grand destiny.
Although Tarr’s novel is concisely written, and there are really no monumental action passages, the reader upon reflection, will undoubtedly enjoy and appreciate the complexities of the work. The growth and development of Queen Polyxena, as well as the other characters will elicit the readers desire to know more about their futures. Since the book basically ends with the birth of Alexander, it seems reasonable to assume Tarr is planning to continue this theme in an upcoming novel. This sequel or perhaps series will fulfill the promise of Tarr’s great storytelling talent and complete the adventure that felt unfinished. If this is not her master plan I, along with her other loyal readers will certainly feel unfulfilled. Even in a fictionalized form of history, knowing how it turns out and where the characters end up is a must to make the journey complete.
