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Stephen Swartz
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AFTER ILIUM Kindle Edition

by Stephen Swartz (Author), Ceri Clark (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2 ratings
See all formats and editions
Alex Parris has been fascinated by the Trojan War all his life, but when he meets the seductive Eléna on a cruise to Turkey, he cannot help but see the two of them as a modern Helen and Paris. However, following seduction in Istanbul and their tour to the ruins of Ilium, Alex is forced to fight his way back to his lover—if he can find her, and if the rugged Turkish coast doesn’t kill him first.
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  1. Print length
    283 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    October 15, 2012
  5. File size
    1108 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

After Ilium is an engrossing work of modern literature, delivered with darkly cosmopolitan flair, by indie author Stephen Swartz. As one reviewer said, 'don't read this if you are expecting a sappy romance novel!' There is a deep story here, and while there is a love affair, this book is much more of a thriller, mixing intrigue and politics with the romance.

Set against the backdrop of the modern middle-east, After Ilium contrasts the old against the new in multiple ways throughout the story. Historical Ilium of the Trojan era is viewed through the eyes of the young history buff and tourist, Alex Parris as he tours Turkey and Greece, and we see the modern cities that thrive there now. The contrast of old against new provides a vivid tapestry that holds the reader.
. . .
The way Swartz weaves the complex web of both Alex's dreams of ancient Ilium and his drugged memories of what happened to him after he met Elena is engrossing, and I found it hard to put down. This is not a romance novel in any way. The mystery of what happened to Alex and how his love of the history of Ilium led to his predicament is at times violent and gritty.

I really enjoyed this book. There is no fluff here, just good, solid adventure, well-written and engrossing. After Ilium is a book that I would read again!
Posted by Connie J Jasperson

From the Inside Flap

Alex Parris has been fascinated by the Trojan War all his life, but when he meets the seductive Eléna on a cruise to Turkey, he cannot help but see the two of them as a modern Helen and Paris. However, following seduction in Istanbul and their tour to the ruins of Ilium, Alex is forced to fight his way back to his lover--if he can find her, and if the rugged Turkish coast doesn't kill him first.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009SDW1KC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Myrddin Publishing Group; 2.5 edition (October 15, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 15, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1108 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 283 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1939296218
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2 ratings

About the author

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Stephen Swartz

Stephen Swartz

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Stephen Swartz is the author of literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and contemporary horror novels. While growing up in Kansas City, he dreamed of traveling the world. His novels feature exotic locations, foreign characters, and smatterings of other languages--strangers in strange lands. You get the idea: life imitating art.

After studying music and even composing a symphony, Stephen planned to be a music teacher before turning to fiction writing. Today Stephen teaches writing at a university in Oklahoma. Stephen Swartz has published poetry, stories, essays, and articles for scholarly journals in the U.S. and Japan.

EXCHANGE (May 2020)

SUNSET (conclusion to the Stefan Szekely Trilogy, Book 3) (February 2019)

SUNRISE (sequel to A DRY PATCH OF SKIN, Book 2 of the Stefan Szekely Trilogy) (April 2018)

EPIC FANTASY *WITH DRAGONS (February 2017)

A GIRL CALLED WOLF (December 2015)

AIKO (June 2015)

A DRY PATCH OF SKIN (October 2014)

A BEAUTIFUL CHILL (February 2014))

THE DREAM LAND Book I "Long Distance Voyager" (The Dream Land Trilogy) (December 2013)

THE DREAM LAND Book II "Dreams of Future's Past" (The Dream Land Trilogy) (2013)

THE DREAM LAND Book III "Diaspora" (The Dream Land Trilogy) (2013)

AFTER ILIUM (2012)

Blog: stephenswartz.blogspot.com

Twitter: @StephenSwartz1

Facebook: Author Stephen Swartz

EXCHANGE (2020) In the wake of a mass shooting that killed his wife and daughter, a high school teacher struggles to put his life back together even with on-going crimes and the foreign exchange student who arrives not knowing what has happened.

SUNSET (2019) is the conclusion of the Stefan Szekely Trilogy, Book 3. Now Emperor of Europa, Stefan must avoid multiple assassination attempts while concocting the perfect escape from his unholy duties.

SUNRISE (2018) is the sequel to A DRY PATCH OF SKIN (2014), Book 2 of the Stefan Szekely Trilogy, the story of an innocent man transforming into a vampire against his will. In SUNRISE he realizes his desire to live the vampire playboy life but finds there are serious obstacles.

EPIC FANTASY *WITH DRAGONS (2017) is the brawny tale of a banished dragonslayer's quest through the Valley of Death to find and destroy the dragons' nesting ground, a quest that is not so simple as he imagines.

A GIRL CALLED WOLF (December 2015) is the tale of a poor Inuit orphan girl from Greenland who grows up and saves the world. Inspired by a true life.

AIKO (June 2015) is a mystery/romance set in 1980s Japan, a modern reversed version of 'Madame Butterfly' told from the man's perspective.

A DRY PATCH OF SKIN (October 2014) is the only medically accurate vampire thriller set in Oklahoma City, upstate New York, New Orleans, and Eastern Europe.

A BEAUTIFUL CHILL (February 2014) is a contemporary campus anti-romance where a forbidden relationship is turned inside out - available for Kindle and paperback.

AFTER ILIUM (2012: 2nd edition), a romantic adventure tale of seduction and betrayal set in modern Greece and Turkey with flashbacks to ancient Troy.

THE DREAM LAND Trilogy (2012-2013) is an epic of interdimensional intrigue and world domination by a pair of well-meaning nerds, marbled with twisted humor and steampunk pathos, a patina of psychological thriller, and the quirky conundrum of time and space.

Book I: Long Distance Voyager

Book II: Dreams of Future's Past

Book III: Diaspora

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
2 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

May Water
4.0 out of 5 stars Are all dreamers doomed to an AFTER Ilium?
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2013
Verified Purchase
I will be honest in saying that this book made me THINK much more than I expected to. It left me with more questions of the world than answers. It caused me to take a hard look at myself. This tale stimulated my libido (yes the sex got my juices flowing), heart, spirit, and brain. I applaud the author for accomplishing this feat. It takes a lot to move me.

As a kindred spirit of the hero Alex...I grieve. I feel his pain. As soon as he tried to bring his illusions to life I knew he was done for. He had no idea, as many people don't, that the only true nirvana is the one we create in our minds (in my opinion)

In a perfect world we dreamers would not have to suffer through an AFTER Ilium. We would stay IN Ilium. We would proceed merrily along on planet earth intoxicated with our illusions. But as Alex discovers, you're S.O.L. if you think that this planet owes you anything.

As also a kindred spirit of the heroine (I'll just call her Helen) ...I give a sheepish look. Many women have been THAT girl. Myself included. The one to knowingly break a young man's heart. We try to make up for it by being better in future relationships, but we never forget that tender heart we broke.

As a kindred spirit of the author...who I feel is a romantic dreamer...What's the answer? To never dream, or to keep our dreams secure within our imaginations? Are any of the rewards we humans receive really worth the price? Is it best after being kicked around in life to just retreat to a safe cave, dreams our dreams, and just salute this material world with a big F you? I don't know But I do know that this tale made me stop in my dreamy tracks. There is so much to this tale that I won;t address here. I will instead savor and ponder it at my leisure.
I will be looking forward to more of this author. Of that I AM sure.
4 people found this helpful
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Connie J. Jasperson
5.0 out of 5 stars Darkly Cosmopolitan
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2012
Verified Purchase
After Ilium is an engrossing work of modern literature, delivered with darkly cosmopolitan flair, by indie author Stephen Swartz. As one reviewer said, 'don't read this if you are expecting a sappy romance novel!' There is a deep story here, and while there is a love affair, this book is much more of a thriller, mixing intrigue with the romance.

Set against the backdrop of the modern middle-east, After Ilium contrasts the old against the new in multiple ways throughout the story. Historical Ilium of the Trojan era is viewed through the eyes of the young history buff and tourist, Alex Parris as he tours Turkey and Greece, and we see the modern cities that thrive there now. The contrast of old against new provides a vivid tapestry that holds the reader.

The story begins when Alex Parris, a young American wakes up in a foreign hospital. He is terribly injured and his story is told in both flashbacks and dreams.

He has always been interested in the history of ancient Troy, or Ilium as it was called in ancient times. After finishing college Alex journeys to the ruined city that has fascinated him all his life, and on the way there he meets the mysterious and beautiful Elena.

Elena is older and very cosmopolitan. Rather naive at the outset, Alex is attracted to her foreign mannerisms and her aloofness challenges him. They begin a love affair filled with both passion and unanswered questions.

Rather quickly things begin changing for the the worse in his relationship with the beautiful Elena. Swartz' descriptions of both ancient and modern Ilium are clear and vivid. The conversations and interactions between the characters are natural and unforced, drawing the reader in and immersing them in his tale.

Alex's youth and inexperience lead him into a situation which culminates in a series of terrifying events. Nothing is as Alex believes it to be, and he is dragged into a series of nightmarish events with one comonality - Elena.

The way Swartz weaves the complex web of both Alex's dreams of ancient Ilium and his drugged memories of what happened to him after he met Elena is engrossing, and I found it hard to put down.

This is not a romance novel in any way. The mystery of what happened to Alex and how his love of the history of Ilium led to his predicament is at times violent and gritty.

I really enjoyed this book. There is no fluff here, just good, solid adventure, well-written and engrossing. After Ilium is a book that I would read again!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
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