Spinrad, Norman. The druid king, a novel.

SPINRAD, Norman. The druid king, a novel. Random House, Vintage. 411p. map. c2003.0-375-72496-6. $14.00. SA

The Druid King tells the story of the Gallic chieftain, Vercingetorix, who united the tribes of Gaul against the Roman invasion led by Julius Caesar. The novel begins as Caesar sets his sights on Gaul, a land governed by separate tribes, each with its own territory. Part of his initial scheme involves co-opting a Druid from one of the tribes and manipulating the downfall of Vercingetorix's father, Keltill, a man who wishes to unite Gaul under one leader. When Keltill is captured and condemned to death, Vercingetorix takes refuge with the Druids until he is ready to emerge and face his destiny.

Spinrad alternates the perspective between Vercingetorix and Caesar, a choice that highlights their differences, their similarities and how they learn from each other. At the same time, the characters are on the shallow side, and it is difficult to feel much for any of them. Spinrad embellishes the straightforward timeline of the narrative with visions, Druid rituals and elements of fantasy as well as meticulous descriptions of the strategies and the battles. After a while, though, the repetition of the gory details has a numbing effect on the reader and the impact is lessened. The plot drags in places, but the final battle scene is extremely gripping. Overall, the book is well written and a good addition to larger collections or where there is a strong interest. Donna Scanlon, Libn., County Lib., Lancaster, PA