A thrilling retelling of the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh from the Hugo and Nebula Award-Winning author of Lord Valentine's Castle.   Gilgamesh's appetite for wine, women, and warfare is insatiable. As the King of Uruk, he oppresses his people and burdens his city. To temper his excesses, the gods create Enkidu, Gilgamesh's equal, who becomes his greatest friend. Together they wander the kingdom as brothers, conquering demons until a cruel twist changes Gilgamesh's path forever. Two parts god and one part man, Gilgamesh is mortal--a fate he now resolves to overcome, no matter what the price. And so he embarks on another journey, in pursuit of vengeance and the ultimate prize for a mortal king: eternal life.   This ebook features an illustrated biography of Robert Silverberg including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection.