The Stars
in Their Courses, a novel, by Martha Shelley
(Ebisu Publications 2014), trade paperback, 324 pages.
This is
the second novel in a trilogy by spiritual feminist Martha Shelley. It
continues the story begun in the first of the three novels, The Throne in the Heart of the Sea, and
like that novel is set in the ninth century BCE in the area often known as the
Levant, where most of the Bible takes place. Like the first novel, it’s written
in today’s sometimes colloquial American English while keeping some of the
terms used in the Ancient Near East (ANE). Also like the first novel of the
trilogy, it presents alternative views of biblical characters such as Jezebel and
Elijah and creates additional characters such as Tamar and her mutarajjul, Bez.
(As Shelley explains in the book’s glossary, a mutarajjul refers to a “woman
dressed in male clothing, usually employed as a soldier or harem guard.”)
As the
second novel opens, Tamar has arrived in Egypt, with her guard Bez, to continue
her study of medicine with the blessings of her former lover, Jezebel, who has married
Ahab and become Queen of Israel. Jezebel feels she must produce an heir for
Ahab in order to keep her status. Jezebel achieves motherhood, yet enjoys
flirting with the women of Ahab’s harem. Elijah has become, among other things,
a murderer. Both Tamar and Bez find new women to love in Egypt, and Bez begins
to develop her artistic talent. Shelley weaves into this story the worship of
various ANE goddesses including Asherah, Neith, Anat, and the pre-Islamic
Arabic goddesses Allat, Al-Uzza, and Manat.
Shelley’s
excellent descriptions of details bring this time period and its people to life;
for example, her description of the flooding of the “Great River,” including
its devastation and harm to humans, and Tamar’s learning, in the clinic where
she is receiving training, how to treat accompanying medical conditions. This
includes Tamar’s amputation of a leg.
In
addition to the glossary, the back matter includes the art and information
about the Seal of Jezebel that Max Dashu created from a small photo that
Shelley took of the original in Israel. The front matter includes the seal, as
well as maps of “the ancient world,” including Jerusalem and the Great River,
and the Levant including Israel. In addition, a map of Assyria is placed at the
beginning of chapter 29.
Shelley’s
background includes Goddess religion and Jewish feminism. She also is a poet
and one of the founders of the Gay Liberation Front in New York City.
In a novel
series such as this the reader may wonder if it’s necessary to read the whole
series, or the previous book, to understand each book. In my opinion Shelley
has incorporated enough material in the second book so that you don’t have to
read the first book to understand the second. (But of course you may want to
for enjoyment.) In addition, because of the subtlety with which Shelley
includes the material from the first book, this material will not interfere
with the enjoyment of the second book for people who have already read the
first one.
Yes, the second book in
this trilogy is as good as the first. I look forward to the publication of the
third.
Labels: books, reviews