On the Sunny Banks of the Cydnus - Ch. 5

[joyeee]

Fandom: Alexander the Great
Rating: FRT/PG/K+
Genre: Drama/Humor
Summary: Retelling of the anecdote about Alexander's trust in his doctor Philip. Diades, Critodemus, and the usual Companions also appear, but it's an Alexander-and-Hephaestion story at heart.
Chapter 5: The army waits while Alexander lingers in sickness. Some scores are due to be

Comments

[michela72]

Oh, my dear, what published ATG fiction are you referring to? I read 'The persian boy' and 'The virtues of war' by Pressfield. In the second book, Heph is a sensitive, tender man who... hates war! I didn't find it utterly believable, even if the novel seemed good to me for other reasons. Then I have Haefs' two novels about Alexander and the trilogy by Manfredi, but I haven't read them yet. I like reading historical sources AND fan fiction more than published fiction, because fan fiction authors are moved by their passion (and obsessions...) only, and not by commercial reasons. There is not censorship or the tendency to write what the general public wants. In this world of fanfiction, there is only the will to explore whatever haunts our minds, as readers or as authors. That's what I find so fascinating about it. Published fiction isn't so 'pure'... even if can be very well written, and there are some exceptions, of course. For example, it seems to me that Mary Renault was moved by her true beliefs about Alexander, and not by commercial motives. Even if I don't always share her view on some things. Thanks for your work. Hugs. Michela.

[joyeee]

I agree about Hephaestion's incredible level of idealism in Virtues of War - but I like that novel too. Especially because, to me at least, so many of its A/H scenes are just beautiful beyond words! ^_____^

I haven't heard of Haef! (Yay! Fresh meat books!) Actually Manfredi's work was among the stuff I was referring to, though overall I think the novels are all right. Hephaestion's ... ok, in the first novel (for example the passage about when A and H were in exile, just the 2 of them together, was lovely) but as the trilogy progressed he became more consistently...unimpressive. Still, since you like humor, you may like Manfredi's version of how they meet. I'm not completely sure he meant it to be funny, but I found it hilarious! (I'd love to know what others think of the scene.) Also Eumenes' characterization is especially sympathetic, which is nice for a change.

Thank you very much for your comments - as I've said before I don't consider my stuff mainstream "historical fiction," nor mainstream AtG fanfic... so it's especially nice to know others are reading and liking it!