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Flashing Swords
Pitch Black Books
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Hardcover - Aspect Publishers, began 2004
Paperback - ATOM Publishers, began 2005
Reviewed by Dave Hardy
HardcoverPaperback
So just what is Prince of Ayodhya? Is it fantasy or is it mainstream or is it something else. Well, I’d maybe settle for saying it’s good.
Prince of Ayodhya is the first book of a six-part re-telling of the Ramayana, one of India’s (and the world’s) greatest epics and a holy book to 500 million or so Hindus. The tale concerns Prince Rama of Ayodhya, the son of Dasaratha, ruler of Ayodhya, the finest kingdom of the Aryas. It tells of Prince Rama's part in thwarting the hellish plans of Ravana, Lord of Lanka and Big Daddy Boss Demon from Hell.
The land is at peace; decades have passed since the Aryas fought the Asuras, a race of foul demons. But treachery is at work, the king is ill and his royal wives are gripped by terrible rivalry. Rama must take the first steps to learn his role in facing the renewed threat of the Asuras.
Banker has created a rich milieu from the material of Sanskrit epics. While capturing the narrative and social framework of the legendary heroes, Banker is telling the story in a style that will be familiar to modern fantasy readers. Sometimes his modernisms seem a bit too aggressive, but I believe that is part of the strategy. The Aryas of Ayodhya are different but familiar too.
Banker also uses many Hindi and Sanskrit words. For a lover of language this is a treat! Indian English has some unique characteristics and it’s great to see a writer who doesn’t dumb it down. Honestly, I found the Hindi easier to follow than the nautical jargon in Patrick O’Brian.
Banker dipicts a basically good world, that houses pockets of the vilest corruption. Rama prefers a spiritual approach before the use of violence. But when he resorts to force, Rama is Death Incarnate. Banker's depictions of demons and evil sorcerers have true gusto in the S&S style. While the high-mindedness of Rama and the Aryan way is more in tune with high fantasy, there are aspects that should appeal to S&S fans.
Prince of Ayodhya delivers rounded and engaging characters, some truly creepy scenes of magic and battle, and a story about a hero learning that a hero’s path calls for moral courage. I have a feeling that I’ll be coming back for the rest of this series.
HardcoverPaperback
Siege of Mithila is book two of Ashok Banker’s modern retelling of the Ramayana. Rama accompanies his mentor, Vishwamitra, the 5,000 year-old sage, on various mysterious errands. Rama’s smart-aleck brother, Lakshman, and the loyal captain, Bejoo, are also along. Back at home the evil tantrik (a tanrik is a black magic sorcerer, not a sex instructor), Manthara, is using her position as chief lady-in-waiting to undermine Ayodhya from within. In Mithila, the princess Sita is growing alarmed over the growing demon Asura threat. These lines converge when the Asuras invade the Arya nations.
Yes, I said the Arya nations. No, not the whackos up in northern Idaho, these are the REAL Aryas. The Sanskrit writing, Brahma worshipping, city building, chariot driving, people of northern India. Banker likes to remind his readers now and again that the Aryas are remotely related to the Greeks and Vikings, and other European cultures. But this is a thoroughly Indian epic (despite some sly nods to classics of modern SF and fantasy). Banker writes in modern Indian English; if his English is a bit on the order of plain rice, there’s plenty of curry in the Hindi and Sanskrit vocabulary he injects.
Siege of Mithila is book two of a six book series, which is just about enough to do justice to the source material. While the first novel, Prince of Ayodhya, had the leisurely backstory, Mithila pretty much charges ahead.
Perhaps more to the point, while many epic adventures purport to be about saving the world, this really is the story of how the world was saved. Rama isn’t just some cardboard hero Banker cooked up - he is a genuine figure from antiquity. The gods aren’t pretend gods; they are real in the hearts of millions of people.
Banker's work fuses the Virtuous Hero of myth and high fantasy with extravagant villains in the Sword & Sorcery style.
Banker doesn’t try to create a faux Bronze Age - instead, he focuses on the moral and ethical meaning of the Ramayana. Amid the conniving of tantriks and demon slaying, we get mini-tours of the Arya mindset and learn what the epic has meant for 5,000 years to one of the world’s most enduring cultures.
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