Customer Reviews

Acalan

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been interested in the Maya and fascinated by the Crystal Skull for more than 12 years and this book brings the ancient world and magic of the Maya dramatically to life. Then it overlays the true story of Austin Mitchell-Hedges and Pancho Villa to give a fascinating insight into the pre World War One manoeuvrings in Mexico of the Germans, Americans and British, (very reminiscent of Riddle of the Sands in atmosphere). I enjoyed the balance between the cold political reality of prewar espionage and its counterpart in ancient Maya times which was infused with a real sense of magic that never came across as airy-fairy or spooky, just everyday spiritual power. Having worked with the Maya in Belize I understand how matter-of-fact they are about what we call magic and felt the book really captured this. On top of it all, this is a really pacey and suspenseful read. At 780 pages I was glad that I was on vacation when I read it so that I could power through it and not have to wait too long to get back between its covers. Looking forward to the next part of the trilogy.

I found this book compelling as to it's historical content. I agree with a previous report that it is in need of serious editing. There are many duplications I found unnecessary.
Despite the need of editing I found the intertwining plots refreshing and broke up the course the book takes into the history of different periods.
I especially enjoyed the factual information about the characters and locations many of which I have visited.
I recommend the book for anyone interested in historical fiction for this region on the world.
I do hope the author uses a good editor for the following books.

Acalan is the meticulously researched historical novel of the 20th century British explorer F.A. Mitchell-Hedges, who made noteworthy discoveries about the Maya culture in Central America. Since Mitchell-Hedges was the prototype for the fictional Indiana Jones character, devotees of the Indiana Jones silver screen mythos will find this glimpse behind the framework of their favorite stories particularly fascinating. Acalan also features the story of the most famous ancient Native American writers, Mac Chaanal, who was the great scribe of the Mayan city of Copan. In striving to answer the mysteries of why the Maya abandoned their civilization, and the nature of 2012 as a Mayan figure that signifies the end of one age and the beginning of a new age, author Anthony Conforti did so much hands-on research that he made an archaeological discovery - he unearthed a site called Plan Grande on an island off the coast of Honduras! As a finely detailed blend of history and art, or an epic novel of compelling prose, Acalan is highly recommended.

Great epic novel! I can't wait for the second volume.
Colorful and filled with adventures based on historic facts, Acalan gives a realistic view of the evil men can do with knowledge, power, technology and......sexual drive ! A subtle mysogyny however permeates the book. Too bad that Anthony Conforti, despite of his spiritual quest, still has a teenager's look at women : all his main women's characters are young, beautiful and dependent on a man for their success.

Other readers here have adequately described the narrative and educational historical aspects of Conforti's novel. Those excellent qualities aren't the irritating aspects of this 780-page tome. The constant grating owes to something else: absurdly anachronistic description and especially conversation style, coming across in too many instances as if these ancient Mayans were protagonists of LA Law, or perhaps ancient counterparts of George and Kramer on episodes of Seinfeld. An example: Mac Chaanal, a Mayan speaker of 800 AD, says, "The hunting trip is just the cover story." Another ancient Mayan speaks: "The bean counters outdid themselves on that one." [Cover story?! Bean counters?!]

Conforti's writing is often just clumsy: "The heady scent went right to [his] head." Also, picture this: Conforti has two adult male Mayan priest-trainees saying to a young girl, "Don't tell us you can read that, girl. We're almost priests and we can hardly read it ourselves." Is the reader to believe that a young Mayan girl reads at all, let alone better than two men sufficiently literate to be temple priests?! Other Conforti Mayans use modern cliché phrases such as, "the end of life as we know it," and "the power behind the throne." And all of the above language and concept gaffes occur in just the first few pages of this 780-page novel!

You will pick up lots of fascinating Mayan history here, but the US soap-opera dialogue placed in the mouths of ancient Mayans is unsettlingly anachronistic and unintentionally comical, if not flat-out ludicrous.

I've been interested in the Maya and fascinated by the Crystal Skull for more than 12 years and this book brings the ancient world and magic of the Maya dramatically to life. Then it overlays the true story of Austin Mitchell-Hedges and Pancho Villa to give a fascinating insight into the pre World War One manoeuvrings in Mexico of the Germans, Americans and British, (very reminiscent of Riddle of the Sands in atmosphere). I enjoyed the balance between the cold political reality of prewar espionage and its counterpart in ancient Maya times which was infused with a real sense of magic that never came across as airy-fairy or spooky, just everyday spiritual power. Having worked with the Maya in Belize I understand how matter-of-fact they are about what we call magic and felt the book really captured this. On top of it all, this is a really pacey and suspenseful read. At 780 pages I was glad that I was on vacation when I read it so that I could power through it and not have to wait too long to get back between its covers. Looking forward to the next part of the trilogy.

Parts of this book were very interesting, but over all it was way too broad. The author tried to cover too much; there were too many story lines. Alternating story lines every few pages became confusing. Using italics for every remotely Spanish word was ridiculous. The book needed a good editor.