Jupiter and Gilgamesh: A Novel of Texas and Sumeria by Scott Archer Jones introduces us to Jupiter, who is rather crazy, living at the top of a grain elevator and the fact that he can't be around more than two people at a time. If this is not enough for you to think that Jupiter is crazy, you can factor in that his village is about to evict him because he is dating a woman who could be his daughter, or because a dead king named Gilgamesh gives him advice, poor advice at that. Time to jump into this wild ride and see how you come out on the other side.

This was an interesting book with much going for it. Seeing the ancient hero of Sumeria, Gilgamesh, have a conversation with an aging man who is suffering from agoraphobia made me laugh. There is a lot going on in this book and at times it can be a little busy, but I like busy and it is never too much. The story is unique and full of character; the woman that our main character Jupiter is dating seems a bit off to me but that could just be my usual reaction to what I feel is a gold digger of some sort. The bottom line is: this is a fantastic first effort from author Scott Archer Jones and it shows a great deal of depth and creativity. I look forward to more from this author and I recommend it to anyone who loves something different.

Jupiter and Gilgamesh: A Novel of Texas and Sumeria by Scott Archer Jones is a tale that spans time. Jupiter, otherwise known as Matt Devon, lives on top of a grain elevator in the middle of nowhere. He has his own business, but suffers from agoraphobia and has chosen to live away from anyone and enclosed spaces. Haunted by the spirit of a young boy he killed by accident, he starts to research and write a book about Gilgamesh, an ancient Sumerian hero. Suddenly, his character begins talking to him across the ages through his laptop, and giving him some pretty bad advice about life. To make things worse, the village is about to evict him from the silo but he makes amends by saving the life of a child. Follow Jupiter on his travels through real life and through life in Sumeria and learn the secrets of … well, you’ll need to read it first!

Jupiter and Gilgamesh: A Novel of Texas and Sumeria by Scott Archer Jones was interesting. It’s hard to believe this is a first novel because it has the air of being written by a real professional author who has been doing this all his life. Loved the story; it was different, unique and it’s difficult to find stories like that these days. The characters were real, the setting was kind of authentic and the whole thing was packaged together very strongly. Very enjoyable, and I hope to see more from Mr. Jones in the very near future.

Gilgamesh and Jupiter by Scott Archer Jones begins in a small town where the main protagonist and narrator of the story, an elderly recluse, lives in an abandoned grain storage facility near a seedy little town. The choice to go underground is his alone, and though he is financially well off in his profession as a successful realtor, he chooses to quietly vanish and only communicates with his office people through his computer on the Internet. One day there is a message from an unknown sender when he opens the computer. Despite every effort to delete the message, the message remains. Finally responding, he finds that the sender is one Gilgamesh, an Assyrian demigod, believed to have existed a long time ago, around 2700 BC! Strong and exceedingly different characters enter Jupiter's life. Jupiter himself changes his perception of people and the world around him. Mounting tension leads to an exhilarating finale enacted in the board room of the city administration.

Gilgamesh and Jupiter by Scott Archer Jones cannot be described in ordinary language because it is a story about a demigod and a mortal. To my mind, one day a movie will really give readers the true effects of the extraordinary visualization by the author and his great skill in translating his vision into words. The story is developed with great skill and finesse, and communication with the long dead Gilgamesh becomes a necessity. Alternating past and the present, guiding and being guided, there is a panorama of exquisite descriptive imagery encompassing the entire range of human emotions between the world of Jupiter and Gilgamesh. This is a wonderful book and highly recommended, and it certainly deserves 5 stars!

Jupiter and Gilgamesh by Scott Archer Jones begins with the drab life of Jupiter, an ad-king of Texas, revered and mysterious to others but left alone due his own nonchalance and social anxiety. He’s accomplished but he has run out of steam and is a bit sceptical of his own achievements and his own self worth. There is a seething undercurrent of frustration which alternates with indifference – it’s a fine blend that Jones achieves well. And yet, there is something endearing about Jupiter – it’s a seething creative fire that at times devours him and yet defines his greatest successes in the advertising industry. Jupiter’s world is one where enthusiasm mixes with scepticism and irony – it’s far off from the heroic adventures of Gilgamesh, a king of Sumeria who contacts Jupiter when he begins writing a book on Gilgamesh.

Jupiter is at first highly alarmed but later on he grows to accept the miraculous connection to Gilgamesh and they become friends that speak intermittently. An interesting contrast between Texas and Sumeria ensues and yet there are several things in common. Jones deals with this in a subtle and skilful way. Equally miraculous is his romance with Kate, a pretty girl half his age. He continues to struggle with his own tendency to hide from reality but later on Jupiter achieves a moment of true satisfaction, that is free from worry and self-doubt. Overall, Jupiter and Gilgamesh is a unique book which deals with the age-old questions of humanity and the quest for inner fulfilment in a narrative of surprises and oddities.