guido_the_nature_guide 's review for:

The Mongoliad: Book One by Greg Bear, Neal Stephenson, Mark Teppo

3.0

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This book was actually much better than I expected it would be. A book with multiple authors, in this case a multitude of authors, is often disjointed and fractured in prose style, theme, and development (the Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle books being notable exceptions). The Mongoliad prose is smooth and consistent, if (sometimes) not especially elegant. It reads quickly and holds interest. It is historically accurate, including the drunkenness of Ogedei Khan, the ritualistic death of his brother Tolui, and the slowing of western Mongol expansion due to the kurultai following the Khagan's death [I had to do some research myself]. In short, a good summer read. Be aware, as the title warns, that this is only book one; the story is not resolved, only set up for book two with a cliffhanger. I look forward to the next installment.