In this sequel to A Dream of Kings (LJ 7/66) Matsoukas has returned to Chicago from Greece, where his young son had died, and he had been jailed by the Junta for five years. Tortured in prison by the evil Farmakis, Matsoukas dreamed only of revenge and his wife and daughters. Now he learns that his wife has remarried. Because his feet and legs have been wrecked by torture, he finds himself in the hospital. (There's a wonderful scene where Matsoukas seeks clarity from three pompous neurosurgeons.) He meets with his ex-wife and her husband, and also rescues a young girl with an infant and cares for them. When he finally confronts Farmakis, his past and present determine his actions. The vitality, humor, and Greek passion that infused the earlier book are very much evident here. The thread of pride runs through the marvelous adventures and observations of the hero; and the result is a most satisfying novel that can be read independently of its predecessor. Recommended.
