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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Future imperfect,
By FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Emperor of the Galatians: A Novel (Paperback)
This is an intriguing book. It reads almost like an alternate-universe scenario science fiction book. What if Rome had not fallen when it did? But this really isn't science fiction. In some ways, it reads like a gnostic text or the scriptural text of another land or tradition, and relies heavily on some biblical allusions - even the title stands out, being the title of one of the New Testament epistles. But this isn't a religious text, either.
At the heart of the book is a letter from Galatia, a Roman province, that contains a prophecy about a dying emperor and three men who will save him. The key figures of Vicena, Rinaldo and Danilo have stories that intertwine in mysterious ways. One gets the sense that fate or divine force is driving them on at some points, but at others, they seem to be adrift. Rinaldo in prison, Danilo in conditions just as bad in the army, scenarios that seem hopeless yet give way to hope. The emperor is ill. In this modern rendition of the eternal city (which apparently lived up to its name) the emperor is a hallowed figure if still human; the former hopeless characters seek out their fame and fortune in the centre of the empire, the city of Rome, by becoming medical students, hoping to cure ailments that have plagued them and those around them, and somewhat unwittingly become involved in plots beyond their ken. Their drive to cure the emperor is not always a direct, intentional process, nor does it turn out for any of the three men the way they intended for themselves. Another character, Jose Alkorta, is key in setting up the situations that the healers need, but himself falls victim to foul play and a cover-up. One might think that the more things change, the more they stay the same, even in alternate universes. Alkorta is a minister of state, for education (one might not think this an assassination-worthy post, but when in Rome...). However, Alkorta's influence was not over here, as an enigmatic encounter with his painting later in the story will prove. The plot line is intricate and meshed together in intriguing ways, but for the careful reader, there is an interesting development of ideas. Kazic's descriptions are full of detail and clear; the sensory and emotional impact of events, sights and people are readily apparent in the narrative. The ending continues in the same vein as the story - while there is something eternal about Rome and the empire, the same in not true for the people involved, even those fulfilling a prophecy.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderfully profound, intriguing novel,
By Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Emperor of the Galatians: A Novel (Paperback)
Emperor of the Galatians is a disarmingly profound novel that operates on a number of levels. Even after a second reading, I'm not sure I have a perfect understanding of the novel as a whole, with its allegorical treatment of good and evil, but it really is an intriguing novel. The setting is most unusual, in that it takes place in a modern-day Roman Empire, a sort of netherworld with aspects of the long ago existing side-by-side with modern technology. The sociopolitical situation of Rome and its second-class provinces adds complexity to an enlightening story possessed of an almost mythic quality.
The novel largely revolves around four individuals. Jose Alkorta, Minister of Education, comes into possession of some seemingly Galatian papers that indicate three young men will come to Rome and cure the emperor Bonifacio of his recent sickness. Although Alkorta is secretly a Galatian by birth, he is unable to translate any of the papers apart from the accompanying letter found with them. Still, he does his part to pave the way for these young men to make their way to the city, even soliciting the erstwhile help of the stern Security Minister, Vicena. The medium for the strangers' arrival is the new university in Rome, a school that will be Alkorta's primary legacy. The young men do not know each other, although they cross paths in meaningful ways on several occasions. Danilo is a soldier charged with securing an innocent Rinaldo's release from a notorious prison, and both come to enroll in the new medical school in Rome. These two young men are pawns of a dizzying array of forces, including Alkorta, Vicena, and seemingly those of Fate and prophecy themselves. For his part, the suspicious Vicena is determined to find out what these young men are up to. In time, both Danilo and Rinaldo find useful jobs for themselves and begin to converge on a common mission unbeknownst to either of them. Rinaldo finds himself led to a storehouse of information and a scientifically intriguing substance that may well hold the key to Rome's future stability - and Danilo comes to hold the key to Rinaldo's future. There is an extraordinarily human quality to these characters and their situations. Several of them hide their true provincial origins in a metropolitan Rome that welcomes but does not really embrace foreigners. Rinaldo faces a number of human struggles - having lost everything, really, when he was subjected to wrongful imprisonment, his Roman sojourn subjects him to emotional issues such as love and loss, fear, duty, and just a general desire for happiness and fulfillment. Danilo was himself rescued from a potentially dangerous situation in his military unit before embarking on a civilian student life in the big city, and he initially struggles to find a suitable place for himself in this new life he has suddenly been granted. Alkorta, however, is the most intriguing character of all, a leader possessed of a mysterious past and unsuspected secrets that slowly emerge as the story progresses. Emperor of the Galatians was originally published in Germany in 1993 and is the first of author Mihajlo Kazic's three novels to be published in English. This isn't like reading a novel from an American-born writer, particularly in terms of the author's writing style. Characters sometimes make declarations rather than merely speak, the flow of the writing seems a little bit uneven on occasion, and the whole cultural milieu of the story does have a foreign feel to it. I don't mean to say these are weaknesses, however, as they actually piqued my interest even more and made the read a much more distinctive one than it might have been otherwise. Emperor of the Galatians is truly a fascinating book - partly because it is "different" (in a good way) and reflects a cultural outlook that differs somewhat from my own. Kazic's reverence for words and their power is made manifest loudly and clearly, as he possesses the ability to communicate a great deal in only a few words. Emperor of the Galatians isn't just a novel; it's a reading experience that will stay with me for some time.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Emperor of the Galatians,
By
This review is from: Emperor of the Galatians: A Novel (Paperback)
This is indeed a fascinating book. It is very easy to read, however every sentence has a much deeper meaning. Contrary to wide spread belief that "everyone can achieve everything" this book infers that every person has a mission to fulfil in his life. Their personal goals are interrelated with devine providence.
The story of three young men who left their province for the capital, they were to fulfil their destinies that they were not aware of. This book may read like a fairy tale with hidden depths and with new meanings appearing each time. Highly recommended.
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