The Scorpion God: With an introduction by Craig Raine

Being an historian, I find the conventional historical novel almost impossible to read because, while the material culture may be most thoroughly researched, the unavoidable anachronisms in the way people think or their values tend to grate. But Golding deals with the remote past, about which often less is known, so there is more room for an imaginative sideways glance. The Scorpion God is set in ancient Egypt before it became one country, and deals with a kinglet whose powers are waning and who must therefore die - something he seems quite to look forward to - accompanied in death by his favourite servants. One of these does not want to go, and manages to create a new way of thinking. Clonk Clonk is set in the prehistoric era, envisioning a society where men, the hunters, display the qualities routinely associated with (silly) women, while the women of the tribe manage all else with wisdom. Envoy Extraordinary was quite fun but the theme is a bit like Kipling's The Eye of Allah - only humorous, not serious. The ideas are interesting and intelligent. The writing is economical, atmospheric and lucid. Can I also put in a word for Golding's The Inheritors? Also set in prehistory, it has a twist at the end which flips the whole meaning of the story on its head, and which gave me furiously to think. Interestingly, it foreshadows recent research findings/interpretations.

I am gradually working my way through the books of William Golding in between others and this is a typical Golding

Fascinating and thought provoking but not an easy read. I liked the Envoy Extraordinary the best though Scorpion god was interesting

As always, beautiful, precise, prose, a sense of humor, touches of eroticism, a sense of the magic and poetry of the historical condition of humankind! Entertaining, cerebral, thought-provoking.