Creation

A Novel

By: Gore Vidal

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 27 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

A sweeping novel of politics, war, philosophy, and adventure - in a restored edition, featuring never-before-published material from Gore Vidal’s original manuscript - Creation offers a captivating grand tour of the ancient world.

Cyrus Spitama, grandson of the prophet Zoroaster and lifelong friend of Xerxes, spent most of his life as Persian ambassador for the great king Darius. He traveled to India, where he discussed nirvana with Buddha, and to the warring states of Cathay, where he learned of Tao from Master Li and fished on the riverbank with Confucius. Now blind and aged in Athens - the Athens of Pericles, Sophocles, Thucydides, Herodotus, and Socrates - Cyrus recounts his days as he strives to resolve the fundamental questions that have guided his life’s journeys: how the universe was created, and why evil was created with good. In revisiting the fifth century B.C. - one of the most spectacular periods in history - Gore Vidal illuminates the ideas that have shaped civilizations for millennia.

©1981, 2002 Gore Vidal (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Foreword by Anthony Burgess © The Estate of Anthony Burgess; previously published in 99 Novels: The Best in English Since 1939 (Summit Books: 1984).

Masterpiece

Vidal took on an enormous endeavor and along with a likewise brilliant narrator achieved a 5-star audio book.

Beautifully Constructed Historical Novel

A masterful work. Vidal immerses you in the ancient setting of Achaemenid Persia in the 6th-5th century BCE, both within the empire and beyond its far-reaching borders as the protagonist Cyrus Spitama (grandson of the prophet Zoroaster) undergoes a lifelong exploration of the concept of creation, challenging his own beliefs as a priest of the "Wise Lord" as he interacts with a multitude of cultures and characters, including real historical figures such as Herodotus, Confucius, and Xerxes.

If you wish to replace your current reality with another, look no further, and prepare to be swept away as you enter the world as it was over 2,500 years ago.

Sparked an interest in the Achaemenid Empire

A nice story overall. worth a listen. however not as epic as elanticipated. dwelled on some boring material for a while. definitely sparked an interest in ancient Persia though and have researched more since. will read more about this century of great people, 500Bc.

Splendid, Delightful, and Instructive

What a marvelous historical novel! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves fiction based on ancient history and rejoices in Hellenistic philosophical concepts...

Great work

Enjoyed the entire book Gore Vidal has a lot of talent and this is surely one

Unbelievably complex and interesting

The names, the places and the incidents Are mind-boggling. The cruelty, treachery, and Heartlessness of Royalty Are unbelievable. The value of life seems insignificant. This book is a must read.

beautiful journey

This is a wonderful journey to the courts of Persian, Indian and Chinese kings and to monasteries and temples. The protagonist is curious, observant, and sharp witted. He is interested in details, and he gives very rich accounts of his travels and his interactions with the movers and shakers, as well as with the wise men.

Edifying

I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in ancient religiony/philosophy. If, however, one is not so inclined, it may feel a bit dry. Luckily, I am so inclined, so I was thoroughly entertained. The story, while not exactly suspenseful (more historical/biographical in tone), is quite rich and did much to deepen my understanding of the more subtle differences between various ancient schools of thought--greek philosophy, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Confuciunism, Jainism etc...

another wonderful book by Gorr Vidal,

interesting, that an Atheist can research and write the best stories about religions in the ancient world.

first of two Vidal books I'll read/listen to.

This book is PHENOMENAL.
there. That's all that needs to be said. LoL
I CONSUMED this book from the first paragraph!
My literary tastes are VERY eclectic (from "Dune" to the original "three musketeers" series, and back to the history book "becoming Queen Victoria").
Books that are TRULY worth reading (& now worth listening to) are those that leave the page behind. Leave EVERYTHING in distant memory.
Perhaps as a writer I expect "more" from a book/story. If I'm unable to visualize & immerse in the story, the writer has failed.
Vidal opened the ancient world & the reader falls into it. You are submerged. The different societies, conflicts, historical figures, & description leave you blinking & wondering...."what?!? That's the end???"
The narrator is.. perfectly suited! Normally British narrators (NOT readers, folks need to bring the written word to life) are my preference. This talented gentleman draws you deeper into the extraordinary world Vidal created.
¤☆☆☆BEWARE☆☆☆
There are scenes that mention young child exploitation.
There is a graphic sexual beastal science.