A Goddess Arrives

Gardner's first novel came about as the result of a dream, or rather a series of dreams, in which he seemed to be in charge of constructing a defensive wall in order to repel invaders. He suspected that it may have been a memory from a previous lifetime somewhere in the Mediterranean or Middle East. The dreams were so vivid that Gardner was inspired to write 'A Goddess Arrives'. The novel is based on the historical invasion of Cyprus by the Egyptians in 1450 BCE and tells of how they were ultimately repulsed. The heroine of the story, Dayonis, is described as a witch, but she seems to need animal and in some cases human sacrifices in her rituals. The legend of Venus emerging from the waves is dramatically incorporated into the story.