Reviews

The Mongoliad: Book One by Greg Bear, Neal Stephenson, Erik Bear

sticksnstout's review

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5.0

Lots of stories throughout, took a while to get the characters straight. Great fight scene where it switches pov between fighters. Definitely going to read the next one.

laura_trap's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. For one, the historical accuracy is spot on and it made me much more interested in a period of history I knew little about. Second, the wide range of characters is not too cumbersome and each are unique.

phrogmom's review

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3.0

I thought it was an interesting read, and I enjoyed thinking a little bit more about this time period. It didn't feel complete as a novel, it depends on book two to continue the tale.

livewisdom's review

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2.0

Not his best book by a long shot. It's probably very challenging to work with so many different authors. I did enjoy the insight into that period of time, and will probably read the next books when they come out.

richelf's review

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4.0

Surprisingly good for a collaboration.

nighthawk1818's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

lekiare's review

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3.0

I liked it. I honestly think that I did. However, it took forever to get into this book. The beginning was very slow. As in it took nearly half the book for some characters to do something, and frankly I didn't really care much for the Shield Brethren till the end. On the other hand I loved the characters on the Mongol side especially Gansuch.

I will probably keep reading the serious but I think it will take me a while to start book 2

gobblebook's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a good light read, if a little grim and gory in places. The writing is remarkably cohesive for the number of authors involved. Good beach reading. The ending is a total cliffhanger though. Some of the battle scenes were a little annoying because they went on for so long and it's hard to describe swordfighting action in prose.

borislimpopo's review against another edition

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3.0

Greg Bear, Erik Bear, Mark Teppo, Neal Stephenson, Joseph Brassey, Cooper Moo, E.D. deBirmingham (2012). The Mongoliad: Book One (The Foreworld Saga). Las Vegas: 47North. 2012. ISBN 9781612182360. Pagine 443. 4,38 €
The Mongoliad

amazon.com

Non stiamo parlando di un libro serio. Stiamo parlando di una fantasia geek di un gruppo di appassionati di armi marziali soprattutto occidentali (e non è una contraddizione in termini). Capita che questi appassionati siano anche autori di libri di fiction e di computer games (l’unico ben noto a me, e di conseguenza a voi affezionati lettori di questo blog, è Neal Stephenson, di cui abbiamo parlato più volte, ad esempio qui, qui e qui) e che quindi, inevitabilmente direi, costruiscano una storia a partire dai loro giochi a fil di spada.

Ne traggono prima un sito, in cui il romanzo si sviluppa interattivamente o quasi: mongoliad.com. Poi il sito diventa un libro, o meglio una serie, il cui secondo volume è annunciato per fine settembre.

Il che fa sì che questo primo volume resti incompiuto come una sinfonia di Schubert o come l’autostrada Salerno-Reggio Calabria, senza nemmeno la foglia di fico di suggerire una fine provvisoria. Sapremo aspettare.

I paraphernalia offerti dal sito sono abbastanza divertenti (la cosa migliore è l’enciclopedia compilata dai fan) ma del tutto irrilevanti.

Gli stessi autori si prendono in giro, come ben illustra questo finto trailer di Neal Stephenson:

Necessariamente, un romanzo ambientato nel 1241 richiede almeno qualche frase in latino. Ma uno si aspetterebbe che gli errori non siano inevitabili, e che autori tanto perfezionisti da ricreare le scene di combattimento interpellando esperti da tutto il mondo si avvalgano dell’opera di un editor o almeno di un correttore di bozze. E invece no, ed ecco che scappano strafalcioni che ai miei tempi avrebbero meritato un brutto voto:

“Ego audio Domine. Animus humilis igitur sub ptoenti manu Dei est. Mundus sum ego, et absque delicto immaculatus. Verbum vester in me caro et ferrum erit.” [3842]

Ma persino in un romanzo leggero leggero come questo qualche piccola frase memorabile si riesce a trovare:

“Warriors fight, Gansukh; that is their purpose in life. But eventually, there is no one left to fight, and they must learn how to think.” [829]

“There is no justice. Your Christian God looks down on all and sees every sparrow, but cares nothing for the children. He is a god of birds.” [1505]

kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review

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4.0

This alternate history is good, and suddenly you find yourself caring about the characters, many of whom seem to blend for a while.

The book is most quest as some knights travel to save thier world from the Mongol horde. The Mongols have thier own problems. The reader finds herself in the position of rooting for both sides.

The book is more action based than character based, and seems more movie like in this regard. Still enjoyable.