First Heroes New Tales Of The Bronze Age

The Bronze Age. The era of Troy, of Gilgamesh, of the dawning of human mastery over the earth. For decades, fantasists have set tales of heroism and adventure in imagined worlds based on the real Bronze Age, from the "Hyborean Age" of the Conan stories to the Third Age of Middle-earth.

Now bestselling SF and fantasy author Harry Turtledove, a noted expert on the ancient world, teams up with author and Egyptologist Noreen Doyle to present fourteen new tales of the real Bronze Age from some of the best writers in SF.

Here is Gene Wolfe's mock-journal of a man from the future who travels with figures out of history and mythology; Judith Tarr's tale of a a town that sends its resident goddess to try to learn the secrets of the morose God of Chariots; Harry Turtledove's story about mythological beings witnessing the devastating effect of the first humans on the Earth's natural order; and a poignant new story from the late Poul Anderson, in which a modern scholar is sent to the late Bronze Age to witness the end of an era, emerging with memories from the past as vibrant and intact as those from his accustomed life.

"Some tales are more curious or erudite than gripping, but not one is less than readable. Kudos to a book to which lovers of historical fiction, fantastic and not, should be directed."

--Booklist

"One of the best new anthologies to appear so far this century."

--Amazing Stories

"Plentiful barbaric splendor, the excitement of conceptual breakthrough, and the death of civilizations on a copious scale-ideal material for ambitious science fantasy, whether colorful or somber . . . . a strong collection . . . . "

--Locus

"Readers will find some of these stories... amount to beautiful and durable artifacts."

--Publishers Weekly

"All the stories are well above average, and there are several standouts.... Ancient history buffs and alternate history fans will love this collection, which offers a unique opportunity to view the past as it might have been."

--Romantic Times, 4 stars

"One of the best new anthologies to appear so far this century." Amazing Stories

"Ideal material for ambitious science fantasy, whether colorful or somber." Locus

"Readers will find some of these stories... amount to beautiful and durable artifacts." Publishers Weekly

"Kudos to a book to which lovers of historical fiction, fantastic and not, should be directed." Booklist

"Ancient history buffs and alternate history fans will love this collection." Romantic Times

Bestselling author Harry Turtledove, a noted expert on the ancient world, teams up with author and Egyptologist Noreen Doyle to present 14 new tales of the real Bronze Age from some of the best writers in science fiction.

An original anthology of fantasy tales set in the real age of heroes: the Bronze Age

The author of many SF and fantasy novels, including The Guns of the South, the "World War" series, and The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump, Harry Turtledove lives in Los Angeles with his wife, novelist Laura Frankos, and their four daughters.

Lecturer, fiction writer, archaeologist, and Egyptologist, Noreen Doyle lives in Maine.