The Raid - (Ulster Cycle) by Randy Lee Eickhoff (Paperback)

About the Book

An Irish boy begins a reign of terror upon the warriors that are attacking his province to take possession of a valuable brown bull for their king. This story of heroism, part of "The Ulster Cycle" series, illustrates the determination of the Irish people and their will to stand alone against oppression.

Book Synopsis

Queen Maeve has declared war upon the province of Ulster in an effort to take possession of the Brown Bull of Cooley. Ultimately, this is an attempt to match the wealth of her husband, King Ailill of Connacht, who owns a magnificent white bull. Only Cuchulainn, a boy warrior, stands between Ulster and certain annihilation. Supported by the Morrigan, the goddess of war, he begins a reign of terror upon the Connacht warriors. In his heroic stand, the reader discovers the genesis of the determination of the Irish people, their will to stand alone against oppression.

Review Quotes

"An amazing piece of work. This version has a marvelous ring of authenticity. This is what those wild pagans were really like-before the priests got to them! It's a really magical narrative-a turn-on in every sense of the word." --Thomas Fleming, author of The Officers' Wives

"A tremendous achievement. You don't have to be Irish to be entranced by Eickhoff's earthy magical rendering of one of the world's most ancient epics." --Jeanne Williams, Spur Award-winning author of Home Again

About the Author

Randy Lee Eickhoff writes novels, plays, poetry and translations in several languages. His translation of Ireland's national epic, the Ulster Cycle, is now used in schools around the world. His western novel And Not to Yield was a National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Best Novel. His nonfiction work on the Tigua Indians, Exiled, won the Southwest Book Award. He other novels include Return to Ithaca, Then Came Christmas and The Quick and the Dead.