Nothing against Frank Miller’s 300 (the comic and /or film), which portrays the same events, but this book is a far superior retelling of the story. It’s not really a novel, it’s an event. The story is told through the eyes of non-Spartan Xeones, a squire to Spartan warriors. The novel takes it’s time, drinking up Greek and Spartan culture, explaining the Spartan lifestyle, how they trained and why and when they fought.
The characters are fascinating. There is the stoic Dienekes,
a self-actualized athlete and philosopher who is constantly questioning the meaning
of fear. There is Polynikes, who lives for power and glory and detests any
inferior who doesn’t. Rooster is a young warrior who serves the Spartans, yet
hates them with every fibre of his being. And there is Xeones himself, who
comes to Sparta Thermopylae .
So many universal questions are explored in this book. What does
it mean to be a man? What is a man’s duty to himself and others? Why do men
fight even if they know they will die? What is courage? What is heroism? What
is honor? Who has honor and why is it important? Is it acceptable to be afraid?
To show fear in the face of overwhelming odds? Of course Spartan leader Leonidas is given his due, as are
the clever and intelligent Spartan women. And the twist at the end regarding
which warriors were chosen as the 300 and why is wonderful, and a salute to
Spartan women.
I also have two friends whose reading taste does not have much in common with mine, who also consider this their
favorite novel. Get it.
Rating: ***** Out of 5 stars
Rating: ***** Out of 5 stars
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