Reviews for Plays of Gods and Men

The average rating for Plays of Gods and Men based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-03-10 00:00:00 Ben Bramley Four short plays by the acknowledged master of fantasy in which the simple language was at variance with the profundity of the themes. This was the first book of any kind which I have read by Dunsany, though long aware of his glowing reputation. I'm not the biggest fan of fantasy fiction so have never been in much of a hurry to give him a go, despite the high regard afforded him by the likes of W. B. Yeats and Gene Wolfe, two writers I hold I high regard myself. I don't know what I expected exactly but it wasn't what I found. Thinking about it I probably had intimations of lofty, elaborate prose and stuffy characterisations. These were plays not prose, but the dialogue was far from ornate, and none the worse for that. 'The Laughter of the Gods' was set in the 'time of the decadence in Babylon' where a general cynicism about the agency of the gods is evidenced at court and answered emphatically. Wives care more about shopping, husband's care more about pleasing their wives, the king cares only to watch the beauty of the sun setting on his orchids. Moral?: 'It is a hateful thing for a prophet to prophesy falsely.' 'The Queen's Enemies' switched scenes to ancient Egypt where a seemingly frightened queen of the sixth dynasty invites all her enemies to a feast in an underwater temple dedicated to the Nile. Conclusion: A watery grave. In 'The Tents of the Arabs' a pair of camel-drivers lament the fact that they have to leave the walls of the city as a king captive to his duties longs for the desert, the 'olden, golden mother of happy men.' Best line: 'Going into the desert is like throwing bone after bone to a dog, some he will catch and some of them he will drop.' The final play, called 'A Night at a Inn,' was a pleasing change in tone. Four thieves lay in wait for the implacable Hindu assassins looking to reclaim the stolen ruby eye of their idol. The smartest of the gang, the Toff, is supremely nonchalant due to his 'knack of foreseeing things,' or so he thinks. Where have I seen relentless Hindu's in search of a stolen gem before?: The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-06-28 00:00:00 Frank Marcopolos Four short plays on the theme of the plans of gods and men. While the plot is a bit on the obvious side, I loved the characterization throughout. It was done simply, yet superbly.