...AN ADVENTUROUS TALE INSIDE THE GLORY THAT WAS THE AZTEC EMPIRE

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	• Aztec Gary Jennings Forge Books, 2006 - 768 pages average customer review:based on 241 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

...AN ADVENTUROUS TALE INSIDE THE GLORY THAT WAS THE AZTEC EMPIRE

A superior read for those seeking an epic adventure ride, inside a historically accurate novel. This is the life and times of Mixtli, an Aztec citizen, ....one time warrior, merchant, teacher, royal attaché and many others. A picture of what it may have been like inside the magnificent Empire of the Aztec.

You will begin the story with an elaborately written request from the rulers of Spain and Catholic Church; to write down for posterity, a history of the now conquered Aztec Empire and a depiction of its former state..... supposedly to ease the conscience of the powers in Spain (Cortez having been directed to completely obliterate the art, culture, architecture and language of the Aztec people) This is the start of a long and interesting tale.

If you pick up this novel for historical depictions and accuracy, I promise you won't be disappointed. As an educated person of Spanish and Oneida Indian descent, as a North American (in the southwest), and just plain my humble opinion, Gary Jennings did his research for this novel. As you travel with the main character, you will taste, feel, see and hear all the architecture, colors, scents, artistic talents, courage, blood lust, tragedies, loves, engineering feats, people and scenery of a time that once was, through the eyes of someone who was there when it was the center of the universe.

Before Mexico city was Mexico City, into the beginnings of the Aztec peoples then on through to it's glory then ultimate conquer and subjugation to Spain and the Catholic Church. This is a riveting story, woven with colorful threads, through the experiences, memories, and actions of one man.

I cannot imagine anyone attempting to try and develop a film version of Aztec. The many nuances and difficult ideas would be difficult to depict, it is a long book.... But not too long. Don't worry. .... I admit a film version would be something I wouldn't mind seeing in my life time.

The explicit sexual encounters, I thought were unnecessary, and could have done without. Artistic license or something, I suppose the author thought these had to be there, in detail
...I don't know.

There are many tragic characters in this book, the Tapir Woman is the most tragic of all. You will understand, when you read the book. and although for me, that was 27 years ago, I know you also will not forget...... "the sound of small bells ringing" ***** FIVE STARS

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Not for everybody, but ultimately rewarding

Before a day just 2 months ago, I must confess I had never even heard of Gary Jennings. I now must admit I'm sorry he passed away. Aztec proved to be one of the most engrossing books I've ever read, if by no means an easy read.

I happen to be one of these people who totally love historical novels--I'm certainly awaiting the conclusion of Morgan Llywelyn's Irish Century series, and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series captured my heart (as well as bringing me closer to the woman I now call my wife). Perhaps not all of them--I tried Mary Renault as a young teenager and just couldn't get started; I may try her again now I'm a grown-up. Of late, my imagination has been captured by the First North Americans series that Kathleen and Michael Gear have written; reading Aztec, then, seemed a logical move. And while wandering through a local bookstore (which shall remain nameless) one afternoon in late March, I made this discovery and decided to go for it. I'm very glad I did.

Others have commented that Aztec starts out slowly, and I'll not gainsay them; I admit being disturbed and put off by the racism displayed in Bishop Zumarraga's letters to the King of Spain, but they are a fair representation of the white man's mindset of the 16th Century (sad to say). As the story progressed, I came to quite enjoy the moments when Mixtli (our protagonist) would unconsciously tweak the friars writing down his story with some bit of gross indecency. But indeed, once you've gotten through the first 75 pages, the action picks up, and you're thoroughly engrossed in Mixtli's many adventures.

He goes from being a middle-class nonentity to (at first) a pretender to nobility, to finally being honoured as a noble by the Aztec King Montezuma; and he does seem to have a Forrest Gump-like ability of being in the right place at the right time. However, it's not eyeglasses he invents--merely a monocle, strictly from his own need--and he does discover oil at one point. All his sexual adventures seem to end in tragedy--his sister (with whom he has an indecently incestuous relationship) is taken away from him because of their love (to suffer a horrible fate which I won't reveal here); he loses his wife and daughter to floods and sacrifices, and even his closest friends are victims of betrayals (some of them his own for reasons better left to the potential reader to explore). In no way could this book, should it ever be made into a film, work properly with the typical "Hollywood ending." It is a tragedy, and must be viewed as such.

But all of its characters are refreshingly human and not at all difficult to visualise; whoever said that even Hernan Cortes is treated with some dignity (and not painted as an evil daemon) was right on the money. You will unquestionably be sad when it's all over, although I admit I began to hurry a bit towards the end. 1036 pages can be daunting even for the hardiest reader--but it ultimately rewards your dedication.

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Powerful.

One of the things that really stood out in Aztec to me, was the characters. None of the characters were good, or bad. They were just human. Even the "evil" Spanish who have been so demonized in other books dealing with the conquest of the Americas are shown as what they are. People, albeit people motivated by greed, but people nonetheless. This can be said of all the characters in the story. Almost everything that happens through the course of the book can be attributed to people acting on their motivations. Even the most unsavory characters can do good things, and even the good characters can do evil. Do yourself a favor and pick up Aztec. You will not be dissapointed.

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Aztec

I just returned from seeing the Mayan Ruins and this book was recommended by our guide. Hopefully as I get more into the book, it will grab me but right now...it's slow going. The book is interesting enough to make me want to keep reading but now a page turner!

A captivating read

I found "Aztec" to be a very captivating read. The colorful and graphic depictions of certain scenes in the life of the main character are actually a plus, since they add considerable verve to a narrative as long as this one. The only thing I missed were subplots told from a standpoint other than the narrator's first person. Bishop Zumarraga's letters to the Spanish King give the reader some respite, but a few intertwined accounts added to the main plot might have brought more variety to the style.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, page 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

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