The Hittite by Ben Bova

The Hittite is a historical novel by the prolific Ben Bova, a retelling of the siege of Troy. It doesn't claim to be the historical truth; it's a sweeping adventure, and once I was on board for an exciting tale, it didn't disappoint.

Lukka, a Hittite soldier leading a band of fighting men, returns to find the city of Hattusas ruined from an attack. His father is dying, and his wife and two sons have been taken as slaves by King Agamemnon to Troy. With nothing left, they make their way to Troy to rescue his family. Once at the plains of Ilios, they find the classic battle continuing between the walled city of Troy and the beachhead of the Achaians. A recap: the beautiful Helen was stolen away from her husband Menelaos, and his brother King Agamemnon has joined with Odysseus and Achilles to rally their armies against Troy. Prince Hector of Troy leads the Trojans at the wall of the city, along with vain Prince Paris, who has stolen Helen and taken her as his wife. Of course, the whole gang is present, including Ajax, Antiklos, and King Priam. As a Hittite, Lukka has many new fighting skills to show the Achaians and works with Odysseus as an intermediary with Hector. Here, Lukka befriends Prince Hector, meets the beautiful Helen, passes messages between camps, and finds his children and wife, now a slave to King Agamemnon himself.

Lukka is brave and smart; however, being the central linchpin of the entire siege of Troy is a heavy load for one character. Helen knows she is just a prize in the game of war, her husband's property, and must work within that to direct her own future. Achilles refuses to join the fighting and withdraws to his camp with his lover, fellow soldier Patroclus. It's only when Patroclus is killed in action that Achilles retaliates in revenge with his Myrmidon army. Later, Lukka has the idea to build a large wooden scaffold, covered in horse hides—a new approach to the Trojan Horse.

We already know how it ends, but Bova twists the setting to offer a different view of the characters. Who survives, who dies, and who does Helen end up with?

The Hittite is an exciting read, both historical and adventurous. If you are looking for an entertaining read and don't want to start with Homer's Iliad, I'd recommend it!

2010 / Hardcover / 317 pages