Prince of Ayodhya (Ramayana series) (Paperback)

It's a re-telling of the tale made flesh by Ashok Bankers' lush imagination. Those that have studied the Ramayana will enjoy their favorite characters as they come to life and take on dimensions that the poem could never touch. However, no particular knowledge of Indian history and culture is needed to enjoy this book. Mr. Banker has written this story to be enjoyed with little or no background knowledge of its' history.

The Prince of Ayodhya is fantasy and high adventure set in a world that most westerners have never experienced. If you love fantasy, adventure and historical fiction, you'll love this book.

A new and original voice has stepped into the world of fantasy and adventure! Bravo Mr. Banker, I can hardly wait for the next installment!

Ashok Kumar Banker has done a great thing by rewriting the story in his book Prince of Ayodhya. I think there are some more parts to come because his first book only tells the story of Ram's life upto his fight with demoness Tataka and training under the guru Vishwamitra. It is actually a small and very short part of the early story but mr Banker makes it seem so exciting and vivid. HIs writing is very detailed and tells you all about life in ancient Arya-varta (which later was called Bharat-varsha, not India which is a corruption given by Britishers during their rule). He tells you about the clothes tey wore, way the yspoke, lived, everything. it is exciting to read the story told in so much good detail.

One point about some other reviews I was reading here: Someone said Rajaji's version was the best. I like Rajaji's version very much, but Rajaji wrote in Tamil in weekly parts for a Tamil children's magazine. so his Ramayan is very childish and simple. Even the more advanced versions like Arshia Sattar say clearly it is 'abridged'. I always wanted to read the full version, like the 'director's cut' in movies. But I have never found any such version until now.

Prince of ayodhya is a very good way to read about ancient life in the great land we now call India, and to know the life-story of a very great legend called Ram, who is a god to all of us now but when he lived he was a man who had to suffer many difficulties and problems but still he perseverred and overcome them agasint all odds...that's why he's called by Tulsidas inhis Awadhi version Maryada Purshottum Ram. I recommend this book very much, giving it full 5 stars, and I cannot wait for Mr Banker to publish the second and other parts quickly.

I also like other Indian authors like Jhumpa Lahiri (even though she says she is American not Indian) and Rohinton Mistry and Amitav Ghosh. But Ashok Kumar Banker is the first Indian writer I have read who writes in such an exciting and entertainnig style. I am sure his book will be read happily by every Indian everywhere, and maybe by other readers who love good fantasy also.

If there is a flaw in this book, it is in Mr. Banker's fuzzy translation of slokas but the essence of the text is not lost in translation.

I bought the book at an airport bookshop to read on a plane ride from Mumbai to Delhi during a recent family trip to India. Having finished the book only a couple of days ago, I feel lucky I picked up this book and not another. For one, it added to the whole India experience. My 9-year old daughter, who can't seem to ever finish re-reading the Harry Potter books, is going to enjoy this one when she gets to be a teenager!