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rev_rachel 's review for:
The Mongoliad: Book One
by Greg Bear, Neal Stephenson, Mark Teppo, Joseph Brassey, E.D. deBirmingham, Cooper Moo, Erik Bear
I would say as a caveat that this isn't for the faint of heart. It reads rather slowly and has so much to establish that this entire book is essentially exposition.
That said, it is phenomenally well-researched. The interweaving of Western and Eastern Christian history and culture with Mongol history and culture is rather well done. The characterization of most of the figures in the story is perhaps slightly more mythic and slightly less concretely believable as individuals, but given that the story means to explore a legend, I think this works. I am looking forward to watching the story unfold in the next three books; this first installment has introduced a saga that has a lot of potential.
It is refreshing to see Mongols portrayed in the context of a Western story as something other than sheer barbarians. The cultural differences between the Western knights and the Mongol warriors and court are well written. It is also refreshing to read a work that actually knows what it's talking about when it comes to fighting. For once the battles are described in a believable way, the movements of the warriors are plausible and realistic, and the mental side of fighting among both armies is well established.
I highly recommend this book for SCAdians, especially ones who fight or who have Crusader or Mongol personas. I also recommend it for anyone familiar with broadsword combat or archery, and perhaps also rapier combat. Finally, I recommend it for anyone with an interest in this historical period looking for a fictionalization of known history and a story uniting the medieval West and East.
That said, it is phenomenally well-researched. The interweaving of Western and Eastern Christian history and culture with Mongol history and culture is rather well done. The characterization of most of the figures in the story is perhaps slightly more mythic and slightly less concretely believable as individuals, but given that the story means to explore a legend, I think this works. I am looking forward to watching the story unfold in the next three books; this first installment has introduced a saga that has a lot of potential.
It is refreshing to see Mongols portrayed in the context of a Western story as something other than sheer barbarians. The cultural differences between the Western knights and the Mongol warriors and court are well written. It is also refreshing to read a work that actually knows what it's talking about when it comes to fighting. For once the battles are described in a believable way, the movements of the warriors are plausible and realistic, and the mental side of fighting among both armies is well established.
I highly recommend this book for SCAdians, especially ones who fight or who have Crusader or Mongol personas. I also recommend it for anyone familiar with broadsword combat or archery, and perhaps also rapier combat. Finally, I recommend it for anyone with an interest in this historical period looking for a fictionalization of known history and a story uniting the medieval West and East.