Customer Reviews

Arslan

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Arslan (AKA A wind from Bukhara) is not a joyfully pleasant book in the vein of a Tom Clancy thriller, but it is not meant to be. A few other reviewers miss this point and I felt it needed a reply. What it is, is an examination of power, how those who have it abuse it and those how don't fall prey to it. It is also a book of its time (as all books are). It is set in a time before mobile phones, the internet and global terrorism, a time when the cold war was still in full bloom. Complaining that it just wouldn't happen as it is described (an explanation is given, despite what some other reviewers have said) is like complaining that H.G. Well's "War of the Worlds" sucks because there aren't really any Martians.

As for the story, it concerns a small part played out during the conquering of the world by an otherwise insignificant power. The initial story told by the character, Franklin Bond, is set in a Midwestern town, is well done, has solid character development and includes some well done thriller scenes. It also has some brutal, unsettling and disturbing scenes as Arslan's power is established.

The latter parts of the book lack the pacing of the first and are weaker for it. The focus of the book changes to that of Hunt Morgan, Arslan's lover and the target of much of Arslan's abuse. Interestingly Arslan, who is loathsome from the start, is written as a charismatic character as often the worst real life monsters are. And he has a plan, and through Hunt's eyes and latter on again through Franklin Bond's we see Arslan's terrible plan move towards its conclusion.

Overall it a worthwhile book to read. As a story, the first part is undeniably readable but the book loses energy latter on. As an examination of the use (abuse) of power it is skilfully done though I am not totally convinced. 3.5/5

Orson Scott Card introduced me to "Arslan" in one of his books, and he marvelled how Engh was able to create Arslan, a vile character that you get to know and grow to sympathize with.

The story begins with Franklin Bond, a Southern Illinois principal whose town is invaded by Arslan after the surrender of the United States and is made into a new capital. Bond becomes a governor of the county and watches the turmoil of his fellow citizens. In the meantime, he forms a strange friendship with Arslan, who always deals with Bond in a strangely respectful manner. Arslan even gives Bond a chance to kill him, because in Arslan's predatorial philosophy, no victory should be without risk. There is a catch: Arslan's soldiers will annihilate Bond's town if Arslan dies, and Bond would have very little time to evacuate the townsmen before the soldiers would realize what happened and begin the massacre. This was one of the most wrenching scenes, because you cry out to Bond "kill him", but Arslan's threat gives Bond cold feet. This is one of the first of many times where Engh shows how Arslan's cruel genius twists people's wills to his own.

The story's perspective later alternates with Hunt Morgan, an adolescent and student of Bond's who is victimized by Arslan and then turned into a servant--Morgan's relationship with Arslan becomes one of the most complicated in the book, as Arslan both manipulates and befriends(?) the youth.

These two men show us how our civilization could have been ruined by a no-name Third World dictator, and Engh's eye for human weaknesses and strengths makes this a believable tale that leave you wondering.

It is said that given a lever long enough, one can move the world with but a push. Arslan, a militarist from a tumultous backwater kingdom, conquered the world and destroyed civilization as we know it. M.J. Engh's "Arslan" is a true gem of speculative fiction. The central character, Arslan, is perhaps one of the most powerful, moving characters ever created: he is a force of unnerving, logical, yet passionate evil, yet he is incredibly human, even romantic. Arslan's goal is to save the world. From us. And yet he admittedly delights in the very hunt, the battle. He savors pain. He delights in perversion as much as he delights in learning. He shapes people's lives with his presence alone.

Using subtle, quick-moving language Engh paints a brilliant masterpiece that would require less masterful authors to use far more explicit scenes. It's sad that this excuciatingly powerful work of speculative political fiction (it takes place in an Illinois town in our time, and contains very few science fiction or fantasy elements) will not probably live to see a reprint.

Arlsan grips you from the start. Its that simple. It twists you and turns you and makes you want to conspire against General Arslan with the characters.

Arslan is a as cruel as they come. Hes hearltless, shameless,a bisexual rapist, favoring children, and he is a flawless strategist deserving to be with the greatest of military minds.

His sense of humor isnt good, but it makes you laugh nervously anyways.

Engh wrote this as if he were standing there, watching it transpire neutrally. The detail and dialouge is outstanding. This is one for the ages.

Higly Recommended.

I'm tempted to give Arslan another star for the writing in the 'Hunt Morgan' sections alone, but ultimately Engh squanders what starts as a compelling and potentially brilliant treatise on the complexities of power and the relationships between those who possess it and those who do not.

The first half of the book [written from the point of view of the 'Franklin Bond' character] sets up the story, the characters and rolls out the Engh's main arguments and socio-political theories. The writing is clear, penetrating and full of wonderful detail. The characters of Arslan, Bond and Hunt Morgan are very well rounded and complex, each with their own believable paths.

But then a strange thing happens. Engh ends this portion of the book and begins a new section called 'Hunt Morgan.' Hunt's 'voice' is devestatingly lyrical and expressive - some of the best writing of the novel is contained in this section. But even as Engh creates a powerfull, more lyrical voice for Hunt's POV all this beautiful writing hides a hollow narrative center. We re-live some of the scenes first introduced in the 'Franklin Bond' section and then follow Hunt as he travels with Arslan to Bukhara. All of this wonderful writing amounts to very little character or story development; we continue to range around in Hunt's mind as he is subjected to similar events concerning Arslan, none of which deepen our understanding of either character. This continues for over one hundred pages.

Beautiful the writing may be, but structurally the book falls apart. From here on out Engh flies on fumes, coasting until the next 'Franklin Bond' section yet when it finally arrives, it is nothing more than a melodramatic end-cap to the story that [again] does not further her characters, the argument, or the narrative.

Ultimately Arslan fails in spite of its superior effort. The ideas and characters so assuredly introduced spiral out of Ms. Engh's control and by the end of the novel, one gets the feeling that indulgence set her adrift, forcing her into an artificial ending rather than a re-working and re-structuring of the novel. Still, I would recommend this book to anyone frustrated with the lack of well written speculative fiction. As a very interesting failure, it facinates.

I first picked up Arslan in a used bookstore, based on OSC's recommendation on the back cover, as many people have. I was not disappointed; Arslan is engrossing, a character study of the people affected by the upstart dictator and how he uses the effectively limitless power he wrestled to control. Engh does a very credible job of writing from two character's first person viewpoints, one a reluctant school principal-turned-mayor under Arslan's regime, the second a boy rape victim-turned-confidant. It's not a pleasant read all the time, which I understand tuned some reviewers off, but not all books or other art forms are meant to be pleasant. I found it compelling.

The narrative does slow down a little when the narrator changes, and I found that a little disconcerting, but It's also perfectly in keeping with the different, fractured mindset of the second narrator. At least it was different enough in tone and approach to actually put me in the frame of the second narrator, unlike some other multiple points of view books I have read (the otherwise fun Armor by Steakley comes to mind).

I did wonder for a while how that got put into the category of science fiction, as it reads like a political novel (albeit an extreme one) where new technology is not a driving force to the plot. However, it becomes apparent that the entire chain of events stems from technology. It's definitely not hard science fiction a la Niven, but rather soft a la Card, where it's enough to know what the thing is and what it does. It's especially appropriate given that none of the protagonists are scientists; just ordinary people, caught up in rather extraordinary events.

Some of the "shortcomings" I've heard/read in the book I don't think are valid. Firstly, if the narrator is a school principal, it's probably not to be expected that he would provide any sort of information on the weapons presented, as this is not his field of expertise. He's an administrator, and from this perspective he's completely believable in both the things he does describe well (in terms of land productivity, setting up agrarian systems, managing labor) and in the things he is ignorant of. Secondly, rape plays an important part in the development of the story, which is understandably alarming to people. However, what happens in this story is that government and authority is reduced at a stroke to incredibly antiquated standards, under a military occupation. To think that rape was not a common event under these circumstances (e.g. dark ages) is just silly. I'd venture to say that rape is not really the defining force in these episodes; it's power.

I highly recommend Arslan. Just bear in mind that a book need not have likeable characters to be a likeable book.

Arslan is distinguished by some rather extraordinary politics on race and gender. It's a fascinating book, well-written and weirdly plausible. Times being what they are, people do seem to miss the politics of the book, though--Arslan, the general of the book's title, plans to reduce all areas of the world to basic self-sufficiency as a way of getting rid of injustice, sickness, etc. The author seems to present this as a tough but rational contention, just as she presents an Arslan who is both loathesome and heroic. Is the post-Arslan world better off? I'm not really sure what the author intends us to believe. This is a book with troubling race and gender politics--Arslan's Eurasian soldiers range all the way from inscrutable to vicious, with a lot of emphasis on their crude, savage loyalty. And there is a creepy quality to the relentless depiction of sexual violence and coercion--rather as though we the readers are meant to get a semi-conscious kick out of it. This is certainly a fascinating book, as much to analyze and debate as to read.

Before I scribble my own thoughts here, I want to correct one of the previous user reviews, by Duncan Tomas. He says that there is no explanation as to how this extraordinary situation came to be, or why the world's armies allow it to continue. All I can say is, Duncan Tomas obviously didn't read the book very closely. There is a clear explanation for all the supposed plot holes he complains about.

And now my thoughts. This book, like all great books, (and I'm thinking of books like Lord of the Rings here) has something for everyone. A casual reader can be glued to his seat reading about Franklin Graham's struggle against the tyrannical rule of Arslan, and the more serious reader can luxuriate in the beautiful language of Hunt Morgan's narration.

Despite the outragous scenario - a third world dictator conquers the world - the tone is restrained and subtle. There is only one scene of explicit violence. Franklin Bond fights an emotional and physical battle against Arslan, while Hunt Morgan fights a desperate spiritual battle against the advances of Arslan. It's a story about fathers and sons, as the author says. It is profound, beautiful, and sad.

I cannot recommend it more highly.

There have been a lot of SF novels about madmen trying to conquer the world. This is one of the few that was actually about *people*, not just "gosh wow" concepts.

M.J. Engh shows what happens from the point of view of two characters. This is a great example of how to make viewpoints work. The voices of the characters are so distinct you will wonder how the same person could have written them. The charismatic title character is a catalyst and not a viewpoint character. But *all* these people come alive.

You will remember this book long after you have read it.

Consider this... a book that starts very slowly with an almost absurd premise and with the help of a very skillful author, gradually builds to a climax that never lets go. What is at stake? Power, loyalty, and honor. Engh will make you to rethink for weeks to come.

General Arslan, the book's main character, storms through the United States with only a handful of soldiers, virtually conquering not only North America but also a fair slice of the globe. Forcing the President to yield power to him, the unusually young General pays a visit to the small town of Kraftsville, Illinios. It is here that we meet Franklin Bond, the principal of a local school. For the first few pages, the reader experiences everything through his eyes. I won't go further into the book. I suggest you find a copy and read it. Trust the author. The first thing that will gradually dawn on you is that she is an extremely good writer.