The Harem Of Aman Akbar [Paperback]

Elizabeth Scarborough (Author), Stephen Hickman (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Books (1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553244418
• ISBN-13: 978-0553244410
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,374,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Altogether I've written and collaborated on 38 novels, 22 solo and 16 in collaboration with the fabulous Anne McCaffrey.
Among my solo novels is THE HEALER'S WAR, the 1989 Nebula Award winner for best novel, loosely based on my experiences as a nurse in Vietnam.
I have also written a traditional, though humorous, 4-book fantasy series, SONGS FROM THE SEASHELL ARCHIVES, a feminist Arabian Nights fantasy, two fantasies set in the Wild West and the Yukon Goldrush respectively, my obligatory science fiction writer's apocalypse book and the sequel, both set in Tibet, and three books about folk music and magic that made a big hit with the Library of Congress Folk Music Archives, which I blew up in the first book. Three of my books are about fairy godmothers, one is about Christmas and computers, one features Sir Walter Scott in a Victorian gothic mystery set in Edinburgh, and two are about Queen Cleopatra as the living "Past life" of two different women.
Just last week I released for the first time anywhere, a new e-book (available soon as Print on Demand as well), SPAM VS THE VAMPIRE. Spam is a cat whose mistress disappears suddenly, leaving him and his 14 feline housemates alone and soon to starve. When someone breaks into the house, Spam takes the opportunity to escape into the outside world, where he's actually never been before, to hunt for his human, or at least some other human to feed and care for him and his friends until their friend Darcy comes back. The more he hunts, the more he becomes sure that she is not going to be coming back on her own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great trio of female heroines, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Harem of Aman Akbar (Mass Market Paperback)

A rough-and-ready shepherdess/princess is swept off by a genii to be the wife of the charming Aman Akbar. The problem is he can't get enough, and is unforturnately turned into an ass while trying to get a fourth wife. The other three wives set off to save the ass and prevent the marriage. This book is full of exciting adventure and surprising twists. Scarborough is at her best here, and, as always, is extremely funny.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Typical Scarborough--light, bright, and not too deep, November 17, 2004

By 

abt1950 "abt1950" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Harem Of Aman Akbar (Paperback)

Although Scarborough has some serious and even troubling fiction under her belt--"The Healer's War," for instance, a harrowing look at the Viet Nam conflict from a nurse's point of view--the majority of her books are lighter, airy confections. "The Harem of Aman Akbar" falls into this latter category. Set in a fantasy version of the Islamic world, it tells the story of Aman Akbar and his multiple wives. When their husband lands in big trouble while going after wife number four, his wives show their mettle by rescuing him. With great humor, Scarborough shreds the stereotype of sultry and submissive harem women. One of the joys of this book is seeing the different personalities of the wives and how they not only get along with each other, but work together to save their husband. There are no deep ideas or complex characters in this book, but Scarborough's wit makes it a quick, fun read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful fantasy adventure in a non-western setting., May 26, 2003

By 

Rajeev D. Majumdar (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Harem Of Aman Akbar (Paperback)

I have just finished reading this. (okay, I have 3 pages left when I put it down last night). I had never heard of it before, and just happened to pick it up for 50 cents in a used bookstore when I was stuck in Idaho, and it had interesting cover art.

It is delicious!!!!!! What a wonderful little piece of fiction. I found it very charming; and I am going to look for more of this author's stuff now just to see if she tries this alternative theme again.

It is a "fantasy" book, set roughly on earth, but in a non-western setting (well the main character is westerner) starting in the "Islamic" world and ending in newly conquered "Sindh" in the Subcontinent. (I use " " because all the names are altered) It has a genie and other magic bits, but it is not common place. I think it is a really great little book and I am just tickled pink that I found such a well put together story.