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I finished reading L. Sprague de Camp's The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate yesterday. When I picked it up at the library I thought it was a fantasy novel, but it turned out to be a historical novel. As far as I can see the only difference between the two is that there was no actual magic done in this book, although everybody in it believed in magic, gods, demons, etc. The story encompasses the latter part of the reign of Xerxes the Persian, who ruled at a time when the Persian empire covered a lot of territory. For instance, it included Egypt and the entire Middle East. The story begins when a military hero is caught up in a blood feud. His only way out of it is to mount an expedition in search of the source of the Nile, where a possibly mythical dragon supposedly lives. He takes with him a couple of companions, and picks up a few more along the way. Besides the Middle East and Egypt, they travel through Kush, which is known to Persia, and points south, which are not. They meet pygmies and cannibals, and eventually arrive at a lake which, they are told, is the source of the Nile. Just getting their occupies most of the book, and it is a fascinating and personal immersion in that ancient world. What they find at their goal is stunning, and their journey back to civilization, although it doesn't take as many pages as the outward journey, involves a lot of hair raising the surprises as well. They return home to find the value of a king's promise.

I freely admit that I do not know what is known about this period, not that history is 100% accurate anyway, but the book is thrilling. I read Hercules My Shipmate by Robert Graves years ago. This is more detailed, grittier, and just as good a read. You may find The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate at a library like I did, or possibly at an online used bookseller. Look for it. You won't regret it.