The Druid King
Written by Norman Spinrad
Published by Little, Brown & Company
Review by Michael Lohr
Receives: 
Norman Spinrad is better known for his prolific science
fiction novels such as The Solarians, Greenhouse Summer, Deus X, Journal of the Plague Years, or The Iron Dream, but with his most recent novel, The Druid King, he delves deep into the realm
of historical fiction.
This novel is purely historic in nature, except for a few artistic interpretations of rather vague facts. In 54 B.C.E., the Roman military led by the flamboyant, but wise leader, Julius Caesar plunges his army across the Alps and deep into Gaul. The Druids looked to one man to unite the tribes and save their way of life, Vercingetorix.
Vercingetorix was an Arvernian prince and the son of Celtillus, who was put to death by his fellow Celtic tribesmen for attempting to reinstate kingship in Gaul (He, of course, wanted to be King of Gaul). Ironically, Vercingetorix had served in Caesar's armies as a youth, as part of the Gallic contingent sent there to show loyalty of the tribes. Vercingetorix served his time in Rome's army then returned to take over the rulership of his tribe. He proved that he learned much from Rome. He had become a well-known, respected leader and warrior. While unrest simmered in Rome, Caesar attempted to conquer Britannia. With Caesar occupied, the various Celtic tribes on the mainland led by the Carnutes, rebelled. The Druids gathered and declared Vercingetorix as the King of the united Gaul tribes. This did not sit well with Caesar so he abandoned Britannia and focused his sights on Gaul. He returned to the mainland with the might of Rome to crush the rebellion and capture the King of Gaul.
In The Druid King, Spinrad captured the intensity and struggle of a people desperate to hold on to a fading way of life. He effectively demonstrates the very complex Celtic social structure and the role of the Druid within Celtic society. He also successfully captures the tragedy and pain of the failure of Vercingetorix to stop Rome, which signals the subsequent demise of Celtic Europe. One of the more interesting and little known aspects of this time period that Spinrad delves into is the involvement of Germanic tribe, the Teutons, in the eventual fall of Celtic Europe. If it were not for Caesar bribing the Teutons to assist in the attack on the Gauls, things may have turned out differently.
This is a marvelous historical novel for anyone fascinated by ancient European, Celtic and/or Roman history. There are elements of romance, intrigue and betrayal throughout. Spinrad paints such a vivid portrait of this time period that you do not need to be a student of ancient European history to understand and enjoy this novel.
The Druid King was recently made into a feature film entitled Druids (originally entitled Vercingétorix, la Légende du Druide Roi in France) starring Christopher Lambert. Norman Spinrad co-wrote the screenplay.
Michael Lohr is a writer, university researcher and folklorist. He has published articles, short stories and poems in over 25 countries and in 20 languages. He is currently working on the nonfiction book, Maori Tribal Masks of New Zealand, with representatives from the Maori tribe. The book will focus on the exquisite artwork of Maori Shamanic, death and tribal ritual masks and the legacy of their tribal Shamanic culture. His writing has appeared in such diverse magazines as The New York Review; Vermont Living; Vermont Life; Southern Living; the Rocky Mountain Reader; the Virginia Horse Journal; the Virginia Wine Gazette; Rolling Stone.com; Earth Island Journal; Magical Blend Magazine; Mandolin Café; Mandolin Quarterly; Outside Magazine; Blue Ridge Traditions; Blue Ridge Outdoors, and Blue Ridge Country.
He was a co-editor and project leader of the Beyond Borders Press/Lorenzo Press anthologies The Book of Hope and The World Healing Book; global anthologies of dialogue among nations. This collection contains poetry, essays and artwork from many diverse international artists and spiritual leaders including, His Holiness The Dalai Lama; Rabbi Michael Lerner; Sufi Master Muhammad Zuhri; former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove; poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti; members of the Poetry House of Morocco and Icelandic musical group Sigur Rós (http://this.is/poems/hope). He is also a contributor to the UNESCO Political Babel Peace and Tolerance anthology and the Voyages anthology in India. His webpage can be found at: http://www.simnet.is/osko/michael_lohr.htm.