A Death Of Kings [Paperback]

M.A.R. Barker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2003

This novel continues the story of Hársan, as he voyages out to the Far Eastern coast of Salarvyá. The country is in chaos as various factions fight for power after the death of the '"Mad King," Griggatsétsa. Hársan and his companions struggle through the riot-torn streets of the capital, Tsatsayágga, and then on to distant Jækanta. On their voyage, they obtain new insights into the mysterious College at the End of Time, the Undying Wizards, and the Unstraightened City.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in 1929. M.A.R. Barker is a retired professor of Urdu and South Asian Studies. In his youth, he created the world of Tekumel, a fantasy world based on Ancient India, the Middle East, the Aztecs and Mayans, and other non-European sources. Tekumel has spawned three professionally-published roleplaying games over the course of the years ("Empire of the Petal Throne", "Swords & Glory" and "Gardasiyal: Adventures in Tekumel"), as well as fan-produced rules ("Tirikelu" and others). A brand-new roleplaying game set in Tekumel is due to be published in the summer of 2004 by Guardians of Order, currently titled "Tekumel: Empire of the Petal Throne". Currently resides in Minneapolis, MN, USA..

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Zottola Publishing (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972588043
• ISBN-13: 978-0972588041
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,333,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars M.A.R. Barkers continues his vivid Tekemul series, April 14, 2008

By 

H. L. Marcus - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Death Of Kings (Paperback)

This is one of three trade paperback sequels to the previously published DAW books from the 1980s. I again was struck by both the detailed fantasy world lovingly populated by Professor Barker and his ability to still intrigue me 20 years later with his story lines and obvious love of language.

Not a novel for casual readers though. While I found it hard to put down I almost needed a score card to keep track of the characters present! I welcome this and the other two novels in his continued series.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Weak and meandering, August 2, 2005

By 

John Donegan "john_leeds" (Leeds, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Death Of Kings (Paperback)

I wanted to like this book more, but it's not great, even for the Tekumel enthusiast.

The story involves the old characters Harsan, Trinesh and Naru, on a diplomatic mission to Salarvya following the death of that country's king. Harsan is written woodenly, and his two companions might as well not be there. The plot doesn't really go anywhere, and the key element that you think the story is going to address peters out unresolved before the book's conclusion.

I hope the (eagerly anticipated) new books MARB is planning on writing will be more like the rather fine Man of Gold and Lords of Tsamra, and less like this (though I'll probably read them all anyway.)