Price of glory

Last time I wrote about the use of historical figures in modern day action writing. The Knights Templars are frequently used, but so is Alexander the Great. Of course his life and achievements are amazing. He conquered more than the known world, discovered new places, won numerous battles and died at a young age. His legacy was quickly divided among his generals, his wife and son (born after his death) dead, the only thing remained his deeds.

‘Toil and risk are the price of glory, but it is a lovely thing to live with courage and die leaving an everlasting fame.’ Arrian wrote these famous lines, as they were supposedly said by Alexander himself.

This week, I finished “The Venetial betrayal” by Steve Berry. This book concentrates on two things: Alexander’s grave and a strange draught the Scythians gave him. This draught cured him from a fatal illness, but later failed to cure his friend (and lover?) Hephaestion due to a lack of it by the physician. Who of course paid for this indiscretion with his life.

Cotton Malone is dragged into the whole thing by his old friend Thorvaldsen, when the latter informs him that Cassiopeia needs his help. Cotton always is a gentleman, so he comes to the rescue. And gets sucked into an amazing adventure for Alexander’s tombe. But more important than Alexander’s tomb is this strange draught. It supposedly cures everything. There is some greedy businessman who found the draught. It entails Archaea bacteria, which preys on other bacteria and viruses. It can even cure aids. In short, it is the cure the whole world has been waiting for. But our slimy business man has been waiting for 20 years, to build up a market as he says himself. To make more money.

In the mix is also a very ambitious Supreme Minister from a non-existing Central Asian county. She wants to take over the whole Middle East, like Alexander used to do, only then East concurring West (and not vice versa as Alexander did). Her weapon: biological warfare. Her companion: the slimy business man.

Luckily for us, Cotton does not agree with these plans. And after action in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Venice, we end up in the mountains in our non-existing Central Asian country. In these mountains the slimy businessman found the draught, not knowing Alexander’s tomb is nearby. Of course Cotton finds both the cure and the tomb. And after some difficulty, Cassiopeia and he succeed. The slimy businessman and the ambitious Supreme Minister are not the only ones who die, but our hero and his friends go unharmed. The world is saved. Aids can be cured, Alexander’s tomb to be excavated. All is well that ends well.

A long while ago I read “The Alexander cipher” by Will Adams. Hugely entertaining. But this book has the same problem as the books concerning the Templars. Even now I can’t remember anything about the plot, the kind of action, even the name of the hero (at least, not without peeking). I assume it will be the same for Berry’s book about Alexander. These books are fantastic for a holiday, a train ride, just for entertainment. But they won’t have an everlasting fame.