Nicholas Guild
Forum
Tucker, Having partially red Old Acquaintance, I find your character analysis astute. But is there a dichotomy in being a moral man and an assasin? Yes , Guild makes him "introspective" but I detect no internal struggle concerning death. Guinness assignes death and accepts it for himself. German is my first language. Guilds WWII books read authentic in character and setting.I'm working on finding out what happened to him. Do you know where he attended college? Bad weather must be a prerequisit for spy novels. Fog alredy rolled in with Sherlock Holmes.
>>By Mechthild (Saturday, 3 May 2003 09:04)
I think Nicholas Guild is one of the most gifted and exciting writers of our time.
His books, particularly the Assyrian and the Blood Star, are unbelievably fascinating. What a story-teller he is. I simply cannot put the books down. I must say that I cringe when I think of the war that has recently raged over Iraq and the loss of so many priceless antiquities which were the link to mankind's past history and thus to the stories we have loved.
I would so like to learn more about Nicholas Guild. I would love to ask him countless questions and find out just how he researched so tirelessly for his books. His imagination is simply wonderful and he transports us to another world, another time and another dimension. I wish there WAS another book to follow Blood Star! I would stand in line all night to get a copy.
Thank you webmaster for allowing me to have a chance to say something about Nicholas.
Saxon of Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
>>By Saxon de Kock (Saturday, 3 May 2003 16:05)
Mechthild, a moralistic assassin is a divided man. Ray Guinness keeps them separate; he's outside looking in, in whichever he is at the time. That's why you need to read Summer Soldier before too much longer. All is revealed. Guild was born in San Mateo, CA in August 1944. Earned an AB at Occidental College, 1966; MA at UC, Berkeley, 1968; PhD at UC, Berkeley, 1972. Assist. Professor, English, Clemson U, Clemson, SC., 1973-75; Assist. Professor, English, Ohio State U, Columbus, OH, 1975-? [source, Contemporary Authors, Gale Research Company, Detroit, Vol 93-96, p 198]. Lives in Greenwich, CT. His wife, Joan Suzanne [Weil] Guild, also lives in Greenwich (I don't know if they are still married). He used to be with Scott Meredith Literary Agengy, 845 Third Ave, New York, NY, 10022. Guild is now 58.
Welcome to the discussion, Saxon de Kock. I loved the part about standing in line all night. Man, I'd stand out there with you if Guild would write that third book about Tiglath Ashur, or if he would just write a book about anything. He left Angel open at the end. I mean, Angel and Warren Pratt are in the same Florida town. You just know she's gonna try to kill him, eh?
>>By Tucker (Sunday, 4 May 2003 06:24)
Hello in Johannesburg. We'd all stand in line for sequals or a chance to chat with Guild. There must be lots of his former students out there, so the silence about him is strange. Any ideas about getting info?
>>By mechthild (Monday, 5 May 2003 08:46)
Tucker, Thanks for the bio, it should be of interest to all. Have you followed any of these leads? 58 isn't exactly over the hill for an author. These rank among the few novels that make you sad when you've red the final chapter,because the story is over. You say that you have 14 of Guilds books . I can only come up with 11 titles?
>>By Mechthild (Monday, 5 May 2003 09:13)
Mechthild, perhaps I am mistaken. Most of my books are in another location right now. The complete list of Guild's books should be just before or just after the copyright page in Angel.
No, I gave up trying to contact him. Back in the old days (I'm 68) when you wrote a letter to a publisher you received an answer. Not today. It's like you dropped a rock into a bottomless pit. You never hear it hit. Silence. Nada.
I seldom write to an author. But in all these years I have gotten replies from only three: Clyde Edgerton; Len Deighton; Richard Hoyt.
>>By Tucker (Monday, 5 May 2003 09:57)
Tucker, I was born in Mainz Germany 2/8/44. My father was a major in the Whermacht and fell in Russia in August of that year. Others of my family died with Rommel. I have never red WWII books and surprised myself when I red Chain Reaction and this was only because of Guild. I majored in History at Northwestern U and now that I don't have to read texts I like well written historical fiction-preferably about the middle ages. The Assyrian is the best , but there are other great similar novels. Well I just e-mailed the Library of Congress about Guild. I'd like to know, but also get home from work at 11:00PM and reading or the computer is all you can do when the rest of your world is sleeping.
>>By Mechthild (Monday, 5 May 2003 10:49)
I've been searching for more info on Nicholas, but haven't come up with anything other than a list of his books...
LOST AND FOUND MAN .............1975
OLD ACQUAINTANCE .................1978
THE SUMMER SOLDIER .............1978
THE FAVOR ..................................1981
THE PRESIDENT'S MAN ............1982
CHAIN REACTION .......................1983
THE BERLIN WARNING .............1985
THE LINZ TATTOO ....................1985
THE ASSYRIAN ...........................1987
THE BLOOD STAR .....................1989
ANGEL ..........................................1995
>>By Michael (Monday, 5 May 2003 14:09)
Thanks, Michael. Eleven books it is. See my post above for some biographical info on Guild. He presently lives in Greenwich, CT. If I wanted to pay $9.95 I could get his street address (which might or might not be current). You should be able to get a letter to him by writing to his last publisher and asking that it be sent on to him. I wrote to him that way years ago, but did not get a reply.
>>By Tucker (Monday, 5 May 2003 20:58)
What a story teller he is.
>>By Clue (Tuesday, 6 May 2003 10:01)
Tucker
My parents speak the same language as the one Tiglath would have spoken. - and cook the same food.
their story is as full of events as Tiglaths. I have it on tape.
I am Astrolger by trade since i was very young, and only a few years ago did i read that they may have been the first Astrologers.
Thank you for asking -
Marta
>>By Marta (Wednesday, 7 May 2003 00:31)
Marta, I think Assyria and Mesopotamia are the same region. Do you know the legend of Gilgamesh? Enter mesopotamia on the web. Fascinating!
>>By Mechthild (Wednesday, 7 May 2003 06:20)
Tucker, if not for you and Marta this site is dead. I'm legit, and its a first attempt at discussion with faceless people. I'm stone walled.I don't want to write to Guild, just find out about a new novel. The SummerSoldier arrived in mail today.
>>By Mechthild (Wednesday, 7 May 2003 07:54)
Marta, how wonderful you have their stories on tape. Clifton Fadiman, in his book "Lifetime Reading Plan", says that Gilgamesh seems to have been a Sumerian king of the city-state of Uruk, around 2700 B.C.E. and that the earliest version of the epic was written in Sumerian with later versions in Babylonian by a scribe named Sin-Leqi-Unninni and deposited in the library of King Ashurbanipal around 700 B.C.E. Lots of the "material" in the Gilgamesh epic later appears in the Hebrew Bible with only the names changed.
Nicholas Guild brings this era to life in his beautifully written Assyrian and Blood Star. I normally don't read historical fiction, but since I was already a Guild fan I thought, what the heck. Now, I wouldn't trade the experience for money. I re-read these books (as I do all of Guild's writing), from time to time, and get as much enjoyment as I did at first reading.
Mechthild, be sure to tell us what you think of The Summer Soldier.
>>By Tucker (Wednesday, 7 May 2003 16:26)
About THE SUMMER SOLDIER. I still have a problem with a hired gun. Guinness questions this himself. Although the hunt is almost an out of body experience ,he appears to be a tactical observer, until he realizes his own bodily hurts. The assasins have their own code of honor, but draw bystanders into the plot. Voslov is ideologically motivated, Guinness admits he's into it for the money. Both Guinness and Voslov operate in a sphere outside of the norms of accepted society, and pay the price. (In the Assyrian Tiglath Ashur's struggle is with in the frame work of his corrupt society). How many college studetns stranted over seas do you figure would kill someone , anyone for money? Guinness is amoral, not immoral .
>>By Mechthild (Saturday, 10 May 2003 12:16)
Mechthild, you're absolutely right about Guinness being amoral, but part of him is able to look at himself and mourn. Guinness came from a flawed childhood. The mother was especially awful. Guild had always been hard on the parents of his protagonists. Never let them have good ones, except for Tiglath--he has a wonderful mother and a heroic father.
Your critique is first rate. I enjoyed it. Thanks.
>>By Tucker (Saturday, 10 May 2003 23:09)
Tucker, its fun talking about these books. It gets me to verbalize my impression. Katie loves him but can't live with what he is. At one point in OLD ACQUAINTANCE dealing with Duell he contemplates that he could kill Katherine. Not so nice. The weird thing is that I actually like the guy.Not all kids with bad parents grow up to be assasins, but ofcourse once he has started on this path he is trapped in the system and can't escape. A lot about Guinness suggests Guild - his schooling, professional front, the books he reads etc.. On to THE FAVOR.
>>By Mechthild (Sunday, 11 May 2003 08:27)
You notice that Ray's child does not show long term damage from her experience of being kidnapped and with a gun held to her head having her assailant shot out from under her. Suspecting that Ray is her real father, she falls instantly in love with him. There is that hint that she is her father's child, so to speak. I am surprised that Guild didn't, at some later time, pick up that child some 10 years later and write an adventure around her (sorry, I can't remember her name and I don't have access to my books). Anyway, I can see a good plot there but evidently Guild didn't.
Yes, Ray sees everyone as either a threat or non threat. Threats get the Roman thumbs up or down, although in Lost and Found Man the protagonist is heard to say, "Well, you can't kill everybody." Tsk, in one book Ray says he will kill the guy's wife, his children, his dog, and will dump his goldfish out on a hot rock. I hate myself, but I laugh out loud every time I read that.
No, hardly anyone with lousy parents grows up to be an assassin. But Guild so completely limns Ray Guinness, from child to man, that you can see why he is the way he is. World weary, jaded, cynical as all get out, he still takes credit for being very good at what he does. And honest about his limitations, too. In The Favor, standing on the roof above Jannine's balcony, assessing how he will drop down, he admits that he hates heights.
>>By Mechthild (Sunday, 11 May 2003 21:47)
I wouldn't like to plagarize. I have no knowledge of the above posting in my name. Guinnesses daughter is affectionatly Rocky. Janine was just awfully murdered, and I missed something, because I haven't figured out who the Flycatcher really is. Also eh, is that oh a or what?
>>By Mechthild (Monday, 12 May 2003 10:03)
i don't check in everyday, but reading this site is really so interesting. Tucker, do you think there is another Guild book i would like as much as The Assyrian?
About Gilgamesh, Assyrrians don't really identify with that too much - only scholars put them togther. My own perception is that the reason
assyrians have not really advanced in these modern times is bec. they, like all ancient tribes, compete with and disdain the each other.
Unlike Hebrews, for example who band together and help each other all over the world, Assyrians, Armenians, Chaldeans, etc. were always competeing with each other. It's strange.
My father in Connecticut once tried to join a country club, but he was 'blackballed.'' by only one vote, and so was not accepted. Tthat one vote was the only other Assyrian on the board.
To use the 'competition; is putting it mildy. It's thousnands of years of Bad Blood that keeps us from becoming and united and secure people once again..
Tucker and Mechthild, love reading your exchanges!
Schlama-luch means hello and goodbye - !
>>By Marta (Monday, 12 May 2003 15:40)
Mechthild, that was me! In that post I meant to address you, like I'm doing now, but put your handle where mine should have gone. I'm sorry. Fly Catcher was introduced in Old Acquaintance--he was the master mind of the operation to compromise Duell--although he was mostly "off stage".
No, Marta, the two books, Assyrian and Blood Star, are the only two departures that Guild has made (so far) from the spy-intrigue genre he started with. With Angel he bowed to the new reality of "spies" having to find "new missions", when the falling of the Berlin Wall brought the Cold War to an end. And you are correct in your assessment that the ethnic groups in a lot of the Middle East and Asia and eastern Europe have yet to learn that grouping together in "common cause" is the way to go. It's a shame, really.
Of course, everywhere, even here in the States, some will always take a divisive stance (to drive wedges into groups) to further their own agendas.
>>By Tucker (Monday, 12 May 2003 17:21)
Marta, comparable books (but not about Assyria) are THE JOURNEYER (about Marco Polo) and RAPTOR by Garry Jennings, also the wonderful SARUM and THE FOREST by Edward Rutheford. Intrigue plays a part in James Michners Caravans, set in Afghanistan.
Tucker, your right about the theme in ANGEL. With the fall of the Berlin wall the composition of the world has changed , and spy novels have lost their import-also because young people for the most part aren't interested in History. I'm unhappy with the ending of THE FAVOR. Guinness gets his man but I feel left hanging, like something isn't wrapped up.
>>By Mechthild (Monday, 12 May 2003 20:11)
Mechthild, yes, and I do believe Guild meant to make a "series" out of Ray Guinness. He must have changed his mind. The next book out was The President's Man, the plot of which was a stretch--the book was panned by most who reviewed it. Again, the writing was first rate, while I never did believe the plot for one minute. Talk about being "divided". LOL
>>By Tucker (Tuesday, 13 May 2003 03:13)
Tucker, Knowing this was the last in the series of books I expected a flash back to Katherin and Rocky or something redeeming Guiness other than Amelia Browers rescue to California. I don't think Guild is dead,I think he's had amazinly poor distribution of his novels otherwise they should be in publication, and who continues to write and research for the fun of it?Today Steven King, Anne Rice make millions..I leafed through Deightons BERLIN GAME, MEXICO SET, LONDON MATCH, these wont hold my interest. I'm not a James Michner fan but a friend gave me a copy of CARAVAN and I think you would like it, because you like suspense.The absolutely best novel,after THE ASSYRIAN , is Garry Jennings RAPTOR, its on the same lines as the Assyrian but deals with the Ottoman empire and the protagonist is immoral and in no way introspective, but you get out your map.
Marta, It's good to hear from you. I just click on this site after I check my e-mail. I'm so sorry about the middle east,and also about what happened in Bosnia. I am so against war. schlma-luch
>>By Mechthild (Tuesday, 13 May 2003 10:56)
Mechthild, I'm off to read Caravans. Thanks. Yes, all we got was Amelia's rescue. No, I don't think Guild is dead. I think something happened to him, though. Long time from Blood Star to Angel (with the criptic dedication). And, no, the press run for his books is small. But, every book he's written got excellent reviews except for The President's Man, and in an odd review here and there about some others. It might be that he felt he was "genre challenged" and thought to "break out" with The Assyrian and Blood Star--and he DID, the critics RAVED. But the last of the supposed trilogy never appeared and , what?, we don't know.
"What to do? What to do?"
>>By Tucker (Tuesday, 13 May 2003 20:40)
Something can be deduced from dedications: to" Joanie from one who loves her", "To the memory of my friend Douglas, who would have laughed" , "For my mother and father, about time too," "For Mikey and his mom" and then the criptic dedication to Susan Sheridan and the Dante DEVINE COMMEDY quote which translates--"In the middle of the path in my life, I find myself in darkness.".He is a sensetive man who lost his inspiration and unbenounced, cheated his readers out of great books.
Nicholas Guild I wish you peaceful days with someone like Louise.
>>By Mechthild (Thursday, 15 May 2003 02:45)
Thank you, Tucker for your answer, and mechthild. I haven't heard of any of the books you recommended, and i am an avid reader. I'm so looking forward to start Caravan and Raptor. I myself would offer a book worth reading - it has to do with reincarnation. It's called The Star Rover, and is by, of all people, Jack London,. It's a true story, and speaks of the things Tiglath is struggling with. It's available on amazon.com.
You won't believe this, but i wandered into a place called Travelors Books and Restaurant, in Union, Ct. All the walls are lined with books, for anyone to just "take,' as the dine and such, and to keep.
There, was The Blood Star.
I'm making my two girls read both books. they live in NYC and often have a hard time keeping up. I want them to take from these books the messages I have found -
That making Happiness your goal in life nothing more than a foolish 'trap.'
To live life honoring both "Right Action," and "Sedu" will work.
And that living with fear of trouble, or fear of death onle keeps the heart, mind. and soul in bondage.
God bless Tiglath, and his father.
How perfectly does his Esharadon resemble Sadaam Hussein, and his son Yuda -
A question i want to ask Guild is did he actually trace the steps of Tiglath through the empire as it was. He must have. But how did he move into the mind of someone like this soldier.
Does anyone think Tiglath was foolish not to take Esharmat? Or is that really being honorable. Wasn't it made clear to him over and over again that the divination was a sham? shouldn't he have cared more about the future of his people?
What do you think?
>>By marta (Thursday, 15 May 2003 05:17)
Tucker,
did you once meantion you had 'maps'? Were they on the internet, or did you get them from the library? I want to place the ancient places over the modern cities. Thanks
>>By marta (Thursday, 15 May 2003 05:28)
Marta, I have an old Reader's Digest Wide World Atlas. One of those big things that you have to open up on a table. While maps do get out of date, land areas haven't changed. In the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa, much of everything is still like it was, only some boundaries and some names have changed.
I have seen that eating place you mentioned on Food Network on television. The free books were pointed out as a delightful plus. How 'bout that getting a hard to find book just by reaching out and taking it. Way to go!
Yes! I was sorely irritated that Tiglath didn't kill his brother. I mean, it was done all the time in those days, killing your royal rivals, and the brother as ruler was a no brainer, he just wasn't any good. Actually, killing off your rivals is still done in some parts of the world even today. But we tend to view it as criminal behavior. And, usually, it is despots that are doing it.
Moving into the minds of his characters is the thing that Guild does so well. You wonder how he does it. I'm sure he did some research. But Guild knows people, and people haven't changed all that much since the 4th century BCE. Guild can create men and women. He's just brilliant at it. And the characters stay made. I remember the people from all his books.
Mechthild, yes, of the two wives, Louise was the kind of woman Ray Guinness needed. I never was able to translate that quote from Sappho that he used on the dedication page on one of the books (I don't remember which one). But Guild never writes a single word that is not meaningful. He doesn't write filler or fluff. Every word works, and works hard.
>>By Tucker (Thursday, 15 May 2003 08:52)
Marta, congradulations on finding a copy of THE BLOOD STAR>
About Tiglath, he believes in primogeniture and the god of Ashur. Thiglat is unable to interpret the predictions of the blind man which basically denie him power to act and leaves all to the will of the god- all is predetermined. For the most part, Tiglath is on campaigns far away from Nineveh and political intrigue.Esharhamat is ment to be the mother of kings. Her first child possibly Tiglaths dies. Throughout Tiglath never really invisions himself as king, and this puts Esharhamat, the mother of Kings, out of his reach. Tiglath rightly fears civil war, given his standing with the army, he could have won hands down> I was rooting for Esharadons demise.Guild is just great, he never let modern day morals interfere with the believes of that time.
Tucker, you have great recall. The Soppho quote is in the dedication of THE BERLIN WARNING. No way to translate this. I can't even decipher the script. What,s left, THE LOST AND FOUND MAN, THE PRESIDEWNTS MAN, LINZ TATTOO, am I going to be disappointed?
>>By Mechthild (Friday, 16 May 2003 10:01)
The discussion board is currently closed.
|
DISCOVER NEW BOOKS