Raptor (book)

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Raptor is a 1993 historical novel written by Gary Jennings.

[edit] Plot

Raptor is a historical novel which takes place between the late 4th century to the early 5th century. It deals with the "memoirs" of an Ostrogoth, Thorn, who has a secret -- he is a hermaphrodite and takes on the name Thorn the Mannamavi - "a being uninhibited by conscience, compassion, remorse- a being as implacably amoral as the juika-bloth and every other raptor on this earth." He discovers his sexuality in a rather unorthodox fashion during his early teens. After he is banished (from both a monastery and later a convent) he travels throughout the dying Roman Empire on a quest to meet his fellow Ostrogoths (even though it was never confirmed he was an Ostrogoth, he simply assumed it by reaching several logical conclusions), where he meets several characters, among them Theodoric and the retired Roman legionary-turned-woodsman, Wyrd, with whom he forms close friendships with. Thorn lives his life mostly as a man, but can easily pass for a woman (he is beardless, has shoulder-length hair, and is relatively small-statured) and uses this ability to his benefit. Throughout his life, he develops affairs with both men and women.
The book covers actual historical events, with the main highlights being the fall of the Western Roman Empire and Theodoric's assassination of Odoacer. The setting takes place throughout most of Europe, with the exception of the British Isles and Spain. The story has an international feel, in a historical way, as several characters are from different cultures and civilizations are represented (Goths, Romans, Celts, Huns, Greeks and Syrians, just to name a few).
As is typical with novels written by Gary Jennings, the story is characterized by historical detail supplanted with graphic violence and bizarre sexual situations. An interesting feature of the novel is the extensive use of Gothic language terms, which the narrator refers to as "The Old Language."

Like other Gary Jenning's novels, a recurring theme occurs through Thorn's journey through life - those who he loves die.

One of the wonderful elements of this book is the great twist ending but that is for you to find out for yourself!

[edit] Major Characters

• Nonnus Clement - the head of the monastery where Thorn was raised. Develops a liking to Thorn and teaches Thorn how to read and write. Reluctantly banishes him from the monastery after a sexual scandal.
• Brother Peter - a Burgund monk. Sexually abuses young Thorn while working with him in the monastery's kitchen.
• Wyrd - a British Celt, from Cornwall. Served in the Roman legions, but after his retirement, makes his living as a woodsman and fur-trader. Encounters Thorn while he is wandering in the forest. Is cynical, foul-mouthed and is highly critical of Christianity. Initially treats Thorn with disdain, but later takes a liking to him and teaches him hunting and survival skills.
• Livia - the young daughter of a Roman miner living in The Place of Echoes (near Salzburg). She seems attracted to Thorn but the feeling is not mutual, due to the age difference (Thorn is around his late teens at the time, she is around ten).
• Thiuda - later Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths. Meets Thorn while both are young adults. Is impressed by Thorn's inventiveness and cunning. He later promotes Thorn as a marshall.
• Amalamena - Theodoric's sister. Is one of the few people in Thorn's life who becomes aware of his secret.
• Veleda - Thorn's female alter ego, which Thorn uses to his advantage.
• Velox - Thorn's trusty horse. Given to him as a reward for rescuing the grandson of a Roman official from a band of Huns. During the course of the book, Thorn retires Velox gracefully, and he then rides on two generations of horses sired by Velox. Thorn also names these offspring Velox.
• Juika Bloth - Thorn's harrier eagle. Thorn teaches it to attack on command by simply whispering the word "slait" (Gothic for "kill"). Thorn never figures out whether his eagle is a male or female, which is a reflection of the main character.
• Gudinand - Thorn's first male lover. Roughly around 18 years of age. Meets him during his travels in Helvetia (modern-day Switzerland).
• Sister Deidamia - a nun. Thorn's first female lover.
• Thor - a hermaphrodite who Thorn encounters midway in his journeys. Except for their faces, both Thorn and Thor look like twins. Thor is a Visigoth who bares a scar on his back for being unfaithful to his first male lover. The two initially create an unsatiable sexual appetite for each other. Then Thorn finds out how unscrupulous Thor is, when he discovers that Thor had hung Thorn's faithful woman servant Swanilda, who loved Thorn. At that point the raptor in Thorn takes over. Ultimately Thorn delivers Thor over to a group of Amazons who sadistically take care of Thor.

[edit] Interesting Ponderables

In Raptor, Jennings, in his wonderul way, writes on items of contraversial interest for his readers to ponder. This is one of the beauties of Jennings' storytelling.

Here were two of noteworthy interest:

1)Status of Women

Prior to Christianity, humans recognized the existence of goddesses as the equals of gods. And back in those times mortal men and women were accounted for as equals. With the advent of Christianity, women became "mere cattle, as lowly as slave-owned slaves."

2)The Crucifixion

Was Christ's death on the cross anything special? Man is told that Jesus suffered unspeakable agonies on the cross to atone for the sins of man. But the fact is Jesus KNEW that on his death he would go straight to heaven and enjoy eternal life. Essentially Jesus "risked nothing" for his actions. Any mother endures no less in giving birth and raising her children but she has no assurance that when she dies her sacrifices have earned her a place in heaven.