Book Blurb:
'Mystery, conspiracy and catastrophe combine in this tense evocation of the ancient Middle East.' Steven Veerapen
2700 B.C.
Sumer.
Uruk’s growing supremacy over Sumer is threatened when its main levee collapses and a flood destroys the Ziggurat of Inanna and its intricate system of canals. Uruk’s priest-king, The En, is forced to call on the city’s army to help rebuild the structures before the Euphrates River rises again.
Zag, the chief scribe of Uruk’s military leader, is tasked with organizing the construction effort. But Zag, a widower with a drinking problem, is distracted. Unlike the great mass of the population, Zag does not believe the temple’s claim that the flood was caused by the gods alone. He vows to uncover the truth.
Zag’s suspicions seem to be confirmed when he encounters Shulgi, an unscrupulous character from his past, who claims he was paid to take bricks from the levee by a man who has since disappeared.
In pursuit of this missing person, Zag unearths the secrets of both the temple and the military, landing him in the middle of their growing, dangerous rivalry.
To help him navigate this danger, Zag works in conjunction with other scribes and artisans to determine who stood to gain from the disaster.
Time soon becomes an enemy too as Zag must determine who sabotaged the levee - before the city of Uruk is destroyed in the next flood.
Greg DiBiase is an American lawyer and writer. In his legal practice, he’s focused on the future, developing internet policy for the international domain name system. The rest of the time, he’s focused on the past, with a particular interest in the rise of humanity’s earliest cities.
Praise for Greg DiBiase:
'A smart, gripping debut.' Richard Foreman
'Informed and entertaining.' Aspects of History
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/Cl1wLUB
Editorial Review:
The Flood Editorial Review
“The canals will be fixed in time. It is the will of the gods for Uruk to prosper.” I looked down at the web of bone-dry canals slicing through the barren fields below. From our perch atop the Ziggurat of Anu, we could see the whole bleak pattern. Then I looked at Banda. But he did not look back at me. His large, weathered face was set like stone. I chose my words carefully. “We will need more wood.” Banda turned slightly. A sneer opened one side of his mouth. It held fewer teeth than I remembered. A sign that his ration lacked meat. Then he spoke the words of the temple: “The En will provide everything we need.” When I failed to respond, Banda went on. “Do you doubt the words of His Holiness?”
The Flood (Ancient Blood) by Greg DiBiase transports readers to the vibrant world of ancient Sumer through a brilliant fusion of historical fiction, mystery, and political intrigue. The tale, which is set around 2700 B.C., centers on Zag, the military leader of Uruk's main scribe, as he works to uncover a plot behind the devastating flood that threatens to destroy the city once more. Fans of historical thrillers and those interested in the early civilizations will appreciate The Flood because of its captivating protagonist, extensive historical detail, and captivating plot.
The story begins with an introduction from the author that explains, “Since you do not know the ways of Sumer, I will try to explain our customs the best that I can, but there is also a list of words and their meanings at the end of this tale. I also must warn you that my words are sometimes impure, and I say things about people and gods that may be hard to accept. If you are willing to take on these burdens, let us begin.”
DiBiase captivates the reader with detailed descriptions of Uruk's magnificence and the destruction caused by the flood in the opening paragraph. The novel opens with a striking depiction of devastation, bringing us right into a world where religious convictions and political conflicts clash. As Zag, a flawed but resolute protagonist, negotiates the perilous waters of temple politics, military power battles, and his own personal problems, the reader is kept interested by the expertly constructed pacing.
Far from being the usual hero, Zag is a novel and nuanced lead. He is a widower with a drinking problem who is in a unique position to challenge the official account of the catastrophe because he is both an outsider and an astute observer. His inner conflicts provide the narrative emotional depth and make him a compelling and likeable character. His personal adventure becomes just as fascinating as the greater intrigue taking place around him as he solves the mystery of the levee's sabotage.
One of the novel's strongest points is character development. Richly rendered secondary characters that add layers of interest to the narrative include numerous artisans and scribes, as well as Shulgi, the mysterious figure from Zag's past. Uruk's religious and political groups are vividly portrayed, giving the ancient city's power structures a remarkably contemporary air. Who is really in charge in Uruk - the priest-king, the gods, the army, or the new class of merchants? By delving into this issue, DiBiase transforms The Flood from a straightforward mystery into a provocative analysis of survival and power.
We followed a stone path away from the library and past The En’s personal workshops. The weavers worked feverishly, endlessly pulling from tall piles of white linen. But the metal-shapers sat idle behind their empty crucibles. I caught the eyes of one I knew, a favorite of the En’s Cupbearer. He glared at me as if his lack of tin was my fault and not the fault of Gula. I felt the urge to remind him that his metal came from all over Ki. He had access to copper and gold and silver and lead, more metal than the workshops of other cities and more metal than any workshop of the past. But I did not want to waste my breath. The small brown cask had restored my will to live by the time we reached the gates that led out of the temple-area. One of the gates, the Gate of Nanna, led to the high city, home of the nobles and the palace of The Lugal. A much larger gate, the Gate of Shamash, led to the low city, with its hovels and markets and warehouses. I looked up at the sky. Shamash had long ago reached his highest point. He had started his descent into the western desert. The followers of Ningal and their drink were surely in the low city by now.
The world-building in the book is flawless. From the building of levees and ziggurats to the function of scribes in upholding order, DiBiase's thorough research is apparent in the minute elements of everyday life. Readers will be taken to the center of Mesopotamia by the detailed descriptions of Uruk's marketplaces, temples, and military camps. Even while the book is rich in historical detail, the narrative is nonetheless approachable, making it simple to comprehend even the most intricate social institutions.
Fast-paced storytelling and historical explanation are expertly balanced in this incisive and captivating piece of writing. The conversation flows naturally and connects the sensitivities of the ancient and the modern. DiBiase's style keeps the reader interested from beginning to end, and he has a talent for making history seem real and current. With enough turns and discoveries to keep the tension high without being contrived, the mystery develops at the ideal pace.
The Flood has a distinct and fulfilling plot arc and is well-organized in terms of continuity and organization. There are no superfluous subplots to detract from the main mystery, and the story threads flow together naturally. The denouement is unexpected and incredibly fulfilling, and the climax is especially well-done. The work offers a robust and comprehensive reading experience, even though not all of the questions are addressed - allowing for potential future chapters.
The air in the high city felt lighter, easier to breathe. The bright white plaster of the temple gave way to the soft blues and greens of the houses of the nobles. Rows of date palms in the Rose Courtyard gave shade, and the sweat rolling down my back began to dry. My mouth got back some of its wetness. Set below the temple-area, but above the low city, the high city avoided both the brunt of Shamash and the dust from the fields. Less than a year ago, these places had longer names. The high city of Anuquarter. The low city of Anu-quarter. The temple-area of Anu-quarter. But now that Inanna-quarter had been washed away in the flood, these longer names were not needed.
I felt close to my true self again by the time I reached the Palm Palace, the home of The Lugal, the Keeper of the Peace. His palace was the height of twenty men, with four thick columns holding up a triangle roof. It was not as tall as the White Temple, but tall enough to stir the heart of a commoner. Which was something The Lugal did well. Unlike the White Temple, or even the houses of the nobles, the palace was not covered in plaster or paint. The stone walls were bare. The Lugal claimed it was because he liked the shades of pink in the almost-white rocks more than any plaster or paint. But this was a half-truth. In full-truth, he wanted everyone to know that his home was made out of stone from faraway mountains. That it was not made of mudbrick. It was a display of his new-found strength.
The novel's originality is among its most striking features. While historical fiction frequently centers on well-known eras like ancient Rome or medieval Europe, DiBiase vividly depicts a setting that is rarely explored in literature: the emergence of one of the first big cities in human history. The Flood is unique because of this novel viewpoint, which gives readers a unique look at the social and political intricacies of ancient civilization.
To summarize, The Flood (Ancient Blood) is a superb debut that blends painstaking historical research with an engrossing mystery and a profoundly human tale. Whether you love historical fiction, suspense, or just a good story, this book is excellent. It's the kind of novel that teaches as well as entertains, giving readers a fresh understanding of the tenacity and hardships of those of the time.
4.5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
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