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Russian author Boris Akunin clearly delights in literary experimentation. The Winter Queen, his first novel to win U.S. release, was a police procedural, introducing a young but brilliant detective named Erast Petrovich Fandorin, serving in 1876 Moscow. However, Murder on the Leviathan (actually the third entry in the Fandorin series, but published second in the States) was quite different--an homage to formulaic Golden Age whodunits, taking place on a luxurious steamship. Now comes The Turkish Gambit, which is more a combination of war novel and romance, rather than crime fiction, with the majority of its mysteries so transparent as to barely merit the label.
The action here takes place in 1877 and 1878, on the Balkan front of a military conflict pitting tsarist Russia against the Ottoman Empire. Into this realm of posturing commanders and the foreign journalists whose florid prose makes those officers look better (or worse) than they really are ride Fandorin, now with the diplomatic corps, and Varya Suvorova, a strong-willed 22-year-old telegraphist hoping to reunite on the battlefield with her "future fiancé," an army volunteer. But Varya's efforts are frustrated when her intended is accused of espionage. His release can only be won by identifying the real informant-cum-saboteur, in which task Varya is willing to cooperate with Fandorin, despite her dislike of the stuttering and apparently "cold, disagreeable" former policeman. Amid profuse digressions concerning Turkish politics, female suffrage, and the harem system ("without it many women would quite simply starve to death"), Varya--trailed by lustful correspondents--investigates a suspicious colonel in Bucharest, only to become party to a deadly duel. A pair of officers are subsequently murdered, a guilt-ridden soldier hangs himself, and a British plot against Russia is alleged.
Akunin (the pseudonym of Grigory Chkhartishvili) nimbly portrays the tumultuous atmosphere of 19th-century combat, complete with ear-splitting cannon blasts and hard-charging cossacks. His dialogue is frequently clever, and in Varya he has created a woman fully capable of steering yarns and stopping hearts. Yet The Turkish Gambit is so laden with expendable exchanges, trivial players, and hieings off to hither and yon, that the reader's interest may wane well short of this story's dramatic climax. --J. Kingston Pierce
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It is 1877, and war has broken out between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The Bulgarian front resounds with the thunder of cavalry charges, the roar of artillery, and the clash of steel on steel during the world’s last great horse–and–cannon conflict. Amid the treacherous atmosphere of a nineteenth–century Russian field army, former diplomat and detective extraordinaire Erast Fandorin finds his most confounding case.
It’s difficulties are only compounded by the presence of Varya Suvorova, a deadly serious (and seriously beautiful) woman with revolutionary ideals who has disguised herself as a boy in order to find her respected comrade– and fiancé–Pyotr Yablokov, an army cryptographer. Even after Fandorin saves her life, Varya can hardly bear to thank such a “lackey of the throne” for his efforts.
But when Yablokov is accused of espionage and faces imprisonment and execution, Varya must turn to Fandorin to find the real culprit… a mission that forces her to reconsider his courage, deductive mind, and piercing gaze.
Filled with the same delicious detail, ingenious plotting, and subtle satire as The Winter Queen and Murder on the Leviathan, The Turkish Gambit confirms Boris Akunin’s status as a master of the historical thriller–and Erast Fandorin as a detective for the ages.
Customer Reviews:
Rollicking Story of Spies and Betrayal.......2007-09-03
Even though this is the third "Erast Fandorin Mystery" to be published in English translation, it was the second written by "Akunin". Because of the way the series is written, the occurances in "Murder on the Leviathan" do not in anyway suffer from this out of chronology publication. Nothing that happens in 'Gambit' change the way you would read 'Leviathan'.
Once again our intrepid young (twenty-one) adventurer is working for the 'third section' (diplomatic intelligence) during the Russo-Turkish War in 1878 helping to liberate Romania and Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. The war had been going well until the army arrived in front of Plevna where for some reason the 'Turks' seemed to know exactly what the Russians planned to do (sometimes even before the Russians did).
Erast has been ordered to find out if there is a traitor in the Army and if not, how the Turks are getting their information and from who. Our young man has been saddled with a young 'modern' Russian woman (Varvara or Varya) who had traveled to Bulgaria to be with her 'future fiance'. Erast doesn't lack for suspects and is led a merry chase by the actual culprit who constantly is able to remain one step ahead of him. But as in all great stories good triumphs and the bad guy is caught and brought to justice. Erast then goes off to Japan (where his sea voyage is the scene of "Murder on the Leviathan").
This series is in many ways a parallel to George MacDonald Fraser's "Flashman" series. They both occur around the same time (mid- to late- nineteenth century) and use the "Great Game" in Asia between Russia and Britain for their background. The difference between the two series is that Fandorin is truly an intelligent man. He is articulate and well read, whereas Flashman is a comedic figure who is always finding the diamond in the manure pile he has fallen into.
Unlike Flashman, Fandorin is more historically tied into the period and much less broad in satire. Flashman is much more polemic in the way that both the main character and the British as a whole are treated, more of the Moliere type farce. Fandorin on the other hand is more of a Pinter or GB Shaw, tongue-in-cheek (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean) and is more subtle in it's skewering of the other characters. At this time only five of the eleven books have been translated, but it's worth looking out for each new volume as it comes out.
Turetskiy gambit (DVD 2005)...Turkish Gambit.......2007-05-06
Turkish Gambit directed by Dzhanik Faiziyev is an vivid film protrayal of this wonderful Russian noevl. The acting is great and the stars, Yegor Beroyev (as Erast Fandorin) and Olga Krasko (as Varvara Suvorova) play their roles flawlessly. I enjoyed the novel and was overjoyed to find this DVD which is in Russian language but has Chinese subtitles. I highly recommend watching this film. You will not be disappointed.
Akunin's Usual Delicious Twists and Turns.......2007-05-05
'The Turkish Gambit' continues the career of erstwhile Russian police detective Erast Fandorin in this the third in Boris Akunin's distinctive mystery series (which is wildly popular in Russia). The book is set during the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War (the Russian and Ottoman Empires fought some 11 wars altogether and this was the last one, excepting WWI).
Fandorin, now in the Russian Army, but still stunned from his tragic loss in 'The Winter Queen' (the first book in the series), takes a back seat for most of the book to the primary narrative voice of the young radical Varya Suvorova. As usual Akunin's tale twists and turns with delightfully chameleon-like characters. The book's denouement centers on the Siege of Pleven - was a traitor providing information to the Turks? Or perhaps a murderous spy was afoot? Or was it just bad strategy implemented with poor tactics by the Russians?
Actual historical characters such as the 'White General' Mikhail Sobelev mix with Akunin's inconstant inventions in a complex web of international warfare and intrigue. Highly recommended.
Fandorin and the Russo-Turkish War.......2007-04-16
The Turkish Gambit is the third Fandorin story published in English, but chronologically it is the second tale following on from the events of the Winter Queen and proceeding the voyage to Japan as detailed in Levithan.
One of the reasons that I enjoy the Fandorin series is that in each of the stories Akhunin seems to write in the style a well known mystery writer. Where the Winter Queen was for a me a homage to Ian Fleming and the James Bond series, and Levithan was drawn from Agatha Christie, for me the Turkish Gambit owes its style to Baroness Orczy and the Scarlet Pimpernel.
The story chronicles Fandorin's participation in the Russo-Turkish war of 1878-79 as an unofficial intelligence officer, assigned to capture a Turkish say operating within the Russian headquarters. The narrator/ view point character of the Turkish Gambit is not Fandorin but rather Varya Suvorov. A rather innocent and idea idealistic young woman ho has travelled to the front disguised as a man to be with her fiance and who is enlisted to act as Fandorin's secretary. As the story progresses Varya finds herself surrounded by active heroic men who are vying for her affection but is slowly drawn to the quiet unassuming and obviously emotionally damaged Fandorin a seemingly humble man who is governed by logic but who proves himself again and again to be the most perceptive and aware of the stories participants.
Great story, but flawed history.......2007-04-14
I picked up 'Turkish Gambit' while my stay in Paris. I have to admit, that it was a rather good book written on a subject (Russo-Turkish War) that I possessed a wealth of information about.
However, I was disappointed about the lack of historical accuracy this book demonstrated. The author, Akunin, underestimates the Turkish defence of Plevna by suggesting that it was because of the work of a spy that the Turks held out for so long. Any military historian would know that this was not true. Instead of developing an intrigue story with real facts around it, Akunin changes reality in order to adapt it to his plot.
The truth is, the Turkish defence held out due to: 1) better tactics on behalf of Osman Nuri Pasha 2) Better weaponry 3) Russian mistakes and 4) foreign support. Moreover, as Akunin suggests, the Turkish garrison DID NOT try to break out via the way it was stated in the book (attacking Russian besiegers with the deception of 'giving up).
So, if you want to read a good mystery novel, than go ahead and read 'Turkish Gambit'. However, keep in mind that there are many historical flaws and counter-historical bits to the novel. But I simply ask you to not take this novel as reality!
Average customer rating:
- Light & fluffy can be fun!
- Cute title, Nothing else to recommend (D Grade)
- What do you say???
- Entertaining mix of high fantasy, romance and comedy
- ewww...
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What Do You Say To A Naked Elf?
Cheryl Sterling
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Gothic | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0505526190 |
Customer Reviews:
Light & fluffy can be fun!.......2007-09-05
I had a happy ride with this little vehicle. I came for
the fantasy Elf Elements and was not disappointed with the
easy reading action and humorous characterizations. We're
not talking complex literature here, but the protagonists
*do* evolve and the conflict resolution is satisfying.
I'd like to see this author continue to play with fantasy
adventure, she has a light touch and is quite entertaining!
Cheers & pointy blessings :-) Ana
Cute title, Nothing else to recommend (D Grade).......2007-05-05
Other than the title being catchy, this story which starts out with a bang becomes very annoying quick. The heroine Jane is the reason the story is so tedious. Jane is one that is so outspoken to the point that you want to tape her mouth up. I suppose it was meant to be funny and cute but after awhile you wish some wizard would make her vanish.
Our annoying heroine accidentally runs over a rabbit, which in actuality is a shift changing elf. A band of elves kidnap her, including the hero Charlie and take her to their land of Sylthia for the crime of running over the little bunny.
Charlie is half elf, sprite, a kitchen sink? He is Jane's lawyer and basic guide to help her become accustomed to her new home. Hopefully Jane will be innocent of the crime so she can help the people of elf land and find some love with stuffy Charlie, who is the only redeemable character in this whole mess.
Again, Jane is beyond annoying. Along with throwing sex parties on Earth, she does the same with the simple elves to help them have children. She is overall brassy and whiney. Why would Charlie want her anyway?
Again, the story is a conviluted mess with sub-plot after mystery unfolding to the point you scratch your head.
Rent or read Lord of the Rings instead.
Katiebabs
What do you say???.......2006-10-29
Totally different from anything else I've ever read. Cute story but not for me. I don't want to read about another elf or fairy or dwarf. Maybe I'd enjoy another book by C. Sterling? Happy reading.
Entertaining mix of high fantasy, romance and comedy.......2006-08-26
This book is a light-hearted and entertaining mix of light romance and magical fantasy.
At the start of the book, the heroine, Jane Drysdale, has a very ordinary life in Michigan with a dead-end job, supplementing her income by organising the local equivalent of Ann Summers parties. She's driving home when a rabbit runs onto the road and into her car.
Next thing she knows, a group of elves arrest her on a charge of murder, claiming that the rabbit was an elf in disguise. Naturally at first she thinks she's been kidnapped by lunatics wearing Spock ears. But in fact she is has been taken to Sylthia in the magical world of Lowth, and soon finds herself on trial for her life. The only bright spot is her seriously attractive defence lawyer. This is only the start of a series of insane adventures.
There is a lot of very amusing humour, particularly the fact that Jane has a tendancy to outrageous frankness and cannot resist putting into her conversation references to earth films and books which completely confuse the elves, faries etc she is speaking to.
"What do you say to a naked elf" appears to be written more for a female than male audience but if I'm anything of a sample it is funny enough that at least some men would also enjoy it.
I was rather reminded of Linnea Sinclair's books which mix romance and science fiction in a similar way to the mix here of romance and fantasy, except that Sterling's book is several degrees raunchier. Anyone who enjoyed Sinclair's books such as "An accidental goddess" or "Finders Keepers" might quite possibly also like "What do you say to a naked elf", and vice versa.
ewww..........2006-06-02
I'm giving this book a 1 star, cause I can't give it no stars...I bought this book cause I read some of the reviews....I'll never buy from this author again.
Average customer rating:
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Altered Carbon
Richard Morgan
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States
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| Science Fiction
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ASIN: 0345457684
Release Date: 2003-03-04 |
Book Description
In the twenty-fifth century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself. Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person’s consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or “sleeve”) making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.
Ex-U.N. envoy Takeshi Kovacs has been killed before, but his last death was particularly painful. Dispatched one hundred eighty light-years from home, re-sleeved into a body in Bay City (formerly San Francisco, now with a rusted, dilapidated Golden Gate Bridge), Kovacs is thrown into the dark heart of a shady, far-reaching conspiracy that is vicious even by the standards of a society that treats “existence” as something that can be bought and sold. For Kovacs, the shell that blew a hole in his chest was only the beginning. . . .
Download Description
In the twenty-fifth century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself.
Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person's consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or "sleeve") making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.
Ex-U.N. envoy Takeshi Kovacs has been killed before, but his last death was particularly painful. Dispatched one hundred eighty light-years from home, re-sleeved into a body in Bay City (formerly San Francisco, now with a rusted, dilapidated Golden Gate Bridge), Kovacs is thrown into the dark heart of a shady, far-reaching conspiracy that is vicious even by the standards of a society that treats "existence" as something that can be bought and sold.
For Kovacs, the shell that blew a hole in his chest was only the beginning....
"AN ASTONISHING PIECE OF WORK... A wonderful SF idea... Altered Carbon hits the floor running and then starts to accelerate. Intriguing and inventive in equal proportions and refuses to let go until the last page."
PETER HAMILTON
"AN EXCITING SF/CRIME HYBRID, with an intricate (but always plausible) plot, a powerful noir atmosphere, and enough explosive action to satisfy the most die-hard thriller fan."
SF SITE
"AN EXHILARATING AND GLOSSY ADVENTURE... What makes Altered Carbon a winner is the quality of Morgan's prose. For every piece of John Woo action there is a stunning piece of reflective description, a compelling sense of place, and abundant 24-karat witticisms."
SFX MAGAZINE
Product Description
Six individual comics comprise the complete miniseries written by the Philip K. Dick Award-winning author of "Altered Carbon".
Amazon.com
Biblical studies have historically been consigned to theological schools and church groups. In The Good Book, Peter Gomes, pastor of Harvard University's Memorial Church and a professor of theology, has written a vivid, common sense and wise analysis of what the Bible means for us today. As an African American gay man, Gomes is interested in re-viewing the biblical passages on sexuality and race, but The Good Book is much more than a revisionist look at controversial biblical passages. Gomes is interested in rediscovering how the Bible can find a place in our emotional and political lives, as well as in our religious beliefs.
Book Description
Why is the Bible so often used as a tool for division and exclusion? And why are so many intelligent and compassionate people embarrassed to say they find wisdom and comfort in the Bible? In this groundbreaking book, the man Time magazine called one of the seven best preachers in America provides answers to these questions and shows what the Bible says about topics that concern Lis all, including joy, suffering, evil, and goodness. With compassion, humor, and insight, lie gives readers the tools and understanding they need to make the ancient wisdom of the Bible a dynamic part of their modern lives.
Download Description
Why is the Bible so often used as a tool for division and exclusion? And why are so many intelligent and compassionate people embarrassed to say they find wisdom and comfort in the Bible? In this groundbreaking book, the man Time magazine called one of the seven best preachers in America provides answers to these questions and shows what the Bible says about topics that concern Lis all, including joy, suffering, evil, and goodness. With compassion, humor, and insight, lie gives readers the tools and understanding they need to make the ancient wisdom of the Bible a dynamic part of their modern lives.
Customer Reviews:
This book is very well written................2007-09-06
....and I'm sure that Dr. Gomes is a decent man, who loves God, and The Bible. Still, I think he misses the mark. He holds that The Bible is a great book, worthy of study, but not necessarily the infallible Word of God; some of us disagree.
The main controversy centers around Dr. Gomes' defense of homosexuality, asserting that The Bible is merely condemning non-consensual sex; numerous denominations, including Dr. Gomes' own, hold homosexual conduct to be a mortal sin, with the sinner in need of Christ's forgiveness. The Bible speaks against some forms of consensual heterosexual sex, too [Exodus 20:14]. Of course, EVERYBODY is against rape; Dr. Gomes is setting up a straw man. A good friend and co-worker is a Christian Conservative Republican lesbian [life is filled with contradictions]; she holds that a close reading of The Bible only condemns male homosexuality.
I gave this book two stars, instead of one; as I said, it is very well written, and well organized. Also, Dr Gomes is quite right about some things; people in this country are possessed of Biblical ignorance to an absolutely appalling degree...in some of my other reviews, I've spoken about historical ignorance; this is FAR worse. In fact, there will be hell to pay someday. The main good point is Dr. Gomes frequent encouragement to read The Bible, and learn for ourselves; to that, I can but say AMEN.
Great insight!.......2007-07-14
Being a person who is very much bothered by the idea that the Bible should be read literally, with no attention paid to the time, place, and culture in which it was written and in which it is being read, this book gave me hope. The author really encourages us to pay attention to the spirit (and the Spirit) and not necessarily "the letter". It was not exactly a breeze for me to read because there was so much I wanted to note and remember. I plan to reread the book with a highlighter pen in hand. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is interested in understanding what the Bible really has to say. The Bible is not static. In fact, if it is not a "living" word for us today, in our culture, there's not much point in reading it more than once. But if you're looking for the spirit in which it was written, you may wish to continue studying the Bible, as well as "The Good Book: Reading...".
The Bible and Homosexuality.......2007-05-21
If you want to understand what the Bible says about homosexuality, this reference book will explain it in the context of today's society.
A Bible reference for intelligent people.......2007-02-14
Dubbed by Times magazine as one of America's seven best preache's, Harvard professor of Christian Morals and pastor of the school's University's Memorial Church, Rev. Gomes' latest work, The Good Book, is a bestseller selection of the Book of the Month and Quality Paperback Book Clubs. This well-written, compassionate and thoughtful book is written for the general public to entice them back to reading the Bible through new eyes, paying more attention to its moral principles than the social practices.
Rev. Gomes asserts that Biblical literacy in this country is extremely rare. Among a thousand people polled in the US by the Barna Research Group 10 percent said that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife, 16 percent were convinced that the New Testament contained the Gospel of Thomas, and 38 percent believed the Old and New Testaments were written a few years after Jesus' death. Gomes observed humorously that, "These replies are worthy of the old Sunday school howler in which the epistles are defined as the wives of the apostles." (p. 5)
The Good Book is divided into three sections: "Opening the Bible" wherein Gomes warns against three dangerous and common temptations on Biblical interpretation: (1) bibliolatry, "the worship of the Bible, making it an object of veneration and ascribing to it the glory belonging to God," (2) literalism, "the worship of the text, in which the letter is given inappropriate superiority over the spirit, and (3) culturalism, "the worship of the culture in which the Bible is forced to conform to the norms of the prevailing culture." Section two, "The Use and Abuse of the Bible" is a historical account of how the Bible has been used to oppress certain groups: Jews, women, homosexuals, and minorities. Section three, "The True and Lively Word" explores what the Bible has to say about the good life, evil, suffering, temptation, wealth, science, mystery and joy."
In an interview about the book with the Harvard University Gazette, Gomes commented "I would say, one, the Bible is accessible. Two, it takes work. The Bible is not a Reader's Digest sort of enterprise, and you can't simply open it up, as 90 percent of religious people do, and just hope that inspiration oozes out of the page or that you can just figure it out because you're a reasonably intelligent person. But, three, the work pays off because the Bible has to do with issues, both great and small, that are as relevant as tomorrow's headlines."
The Good Book is filled with scholarship and imagination, with wit and wisdom sufficient to serve as a road map back to and through the Bible. I join with the former Archbishop of Canterbury, The Right Reverend Lord Runcie, who hailed The Book as "easily the best contemporary book on the Bible for thoughtful people."
Homosexuality and other issues clarified with integrity. .......2006-11-06
A book that should be read by anyone wanting to understand how to read the Bible with an understanding of it in both the context of the time it was put together by various scholars, and in the context of today's society. The author is a notable scholar himself and yet writes in a style that is asscesible. The whole book is splendidly presented but the best chapter, and one that whould be mandatory reading, is his chapter on homosexuality. He carefully, respectfully and profoundly lays to rest the many misconceptions and misinterpretaions about this issue. If you don't read anything else in this book, read this chapter and share it with everyone you know.
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