On the Verge of Lunacy

This is not exactly a collection of stories and can instead be treated as an introduction to Babylonian and Assyrian history, culture, and religion. Several important subjects are covered which the student or casual reader might find useful in understanding the myths of the people sustained by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. In summary, the book discussed the following: the peoples and movements in the area collectively called Mesopotamia, these include emphasis on the Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, Kassites, Egyptians, and the Hebrews; possible origins and ancestry of the different peoples and their customs and laws with emphasis on Hammurabi's laws; summary of the wars and succession of kings in different regions; evolution of the pantheon from "monsters" to anthropomorphic deities and their parallels in other myths; nature of ghosts, fairies, and other minor creatures; and the development of astrology and astronomy. There are separate chapters as well for t...

Two versions of the Deluge Legend is given in this book. One is taken from Berosus' account in which the name of the survivor is Xisuthrus. The other version is related to Gilgamesh by Utnapishtim and was included in the tablets of Epic of Gilgamish. The circumstances do not differ much but the details vary. The Utnapishtim version, for example, gives the number of days it took for the water to recede. The introduction given by Budge is sufficient for casual readers and students alike. He gives an account of the discovery of the tablets; description of the palaces of Nineveh and the library; physical description of the tablets; and a brief introduction of Ashur-bani-pal, to whom the famed library was credited. Budge's writing is easy to understand. The Gilgamish epic is also retold here in the last part of the book. He does not give a transliteration of the tablets but divides the story by tablet and informs the reader which parts of the narrative are undecipherable...

Miharu Rokujo's normal and seemingly boring life was messed up when one day a group of ninjas tried to kill him and another tried to protect him from the attack. Apparently, the apathetic Miharu possessed the Shinra Banshou, a powerful ninja art that can grant the possessor's wishes. He doesn't remember or know anything about it at all and he has no choice but to immerse himself in the world of the Nabari trying to understand why it's all happening to him. Miharu was introduced to Banten, his protectors, and to the other groups: Fuuma, Grey Wolves, and Togakushi. Each group had different reasons for wanting to either protect or kill him. At first Miharu wanted to get rid of the Shinra Banshou, but when he met Yoite, a Kira user, he decided to grant the latter's wishes so he can save the others. Yoite told Miharu that if he dies because of his constant use of kira, the people he attacked will also disappear and that included Miharu's friends. Yoite ask...

Ebbin thinks he's onto something. Finally he has the proof that Darujhistan's mythical past is true. But something went wrong. Not only was he able to dig up history but he'll probably be involved in the making of a historic, terrifying episode of the famed city. Meanwhile Kiska's search for Tayschrenn continues. The seemingly pointless journey takes her to the strange realm of the Maker and they're about to discover something surprising. While a veteran is on an expedition to Moon's Spawn. He finds himself in the company of an unusual collection of treasure hunters, mages (and necromancers), and travelers. The fourth installation of the Novels of the Malazan Empir e is set in Darujhistan. Most of the characters will be familiar to the readers of the Malazan books. There will be no shortage of surprises (this I guarantee) and fans will finally get to know the Seguleh firsthand. The Moranth will also be on the spotlight as well as two unlikely Bridgeburn...

This book provides a translation and analysis of a fragment of the South Babylonian version of the epic on a six-column tablet. The tablet was among Ashur-bani-pal's collection. I don't recommend this as a replacement for the complete and enhanced versions of the epic as this only includes a few parts of the epic. The transliteration is also incomplete because the author left out undecipherable and missing parts of the tablet. This is great as a supplementary reading material for those who wish to read more or study the epic. Included are the introduction of the epic and the possible origin of its hero, photos of the tablet, and autograph plates.

Full title: The Babylonian Legends of the Creation and the Fight Between Bel and the Dragon Told by Assyrian Tablets from Nineveh This book is a translation of the Seven Tablets found in the library of Ashur-bani-pal at Nineveh and additionally has an analysis by E.A. Wallis Budge. He provides an account of the contents of each tablet and cites possible interpretations of the symbols used. The author also provides the different versions of the legend as told by Berosus and Damascus beforehand. For those who have had readings in mythology as well as those who are still new to this genre, the book is reader-friendly. However, I do not recommend this to those who are looking for an improved narration (where author fills in missing details because the seven tablets have missing inscriptions). The translation provided is a verbatim interpretation of the legend. Nevertheless, readers who are already familiar with the story will have no trouble grasping the content and this can be t...