The Mongoliad is a fictional narrative set in the Foreworld Saga, a secret history transmedia franchise developed by the Subutai Corporation. The Mongoliad was originally released in a serialized format online, and via a series of iOS and Android apps, but was restructured and re-edited for a definitive edition released via the Amazon Publishing imprint 47North, both in print and in Kindle format. Fan-submitted Foreworld stories were published via Amazon's Kindle Worlds imprint.
Review of 'The Mongoliad: Book One' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
It took me forever to read this book. I've had a lot going on, which didn't help. But also, it just didn't call to me. The number of great writers involved is crazy! It made me hope for a really fascinating read. It was...okay. I feel very wrong saying this, but I'm not sure I'll read the rest. It's very hard on my compulsions, but I'm just not sure. I didn't have much affection for any of the characters... :/
Review of 'The Mongoliad Book Three' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This is a loooong trilogy, and that's coming from someone who quite enjoyed Stephenson's Quicksilver trilogy. The Mongoliad makes the Quicksilver trilogy look simple and concisely written. There are interesting characters and stories being told, but even so it gets really slow going and felt like an epic achievement to make it through to the end. And the end itself is highly disappointing too, just fizzles out. So although some of the characters were interesting and I liked the way both sides were sympathetic instead of having cookie-cutter baddies and goodies, I really don't think the effort to get through the trilogy was worth it.
Review of 'The Mongoliad: Book Two' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
The tale slows down quite a bit here. A major subplot is added in Rome, without any apparent connection to the rest of the story. This subplot is full of ecclesiastic intrigue, with scenes that bring the story to a screeching halt. The Shield-Brethren's journey across Eurasia, and the plight of the Korean and Japanese fighters in the Khan's arena, are still page-turners. I enjoyed the first volume quite a bit, but after this one it's up in the air whether I'll pick up the finale in April.
Review of 'The Mongoliad: Book One' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I picked this book up solely on the basis of Stephenson's name on the cover; without it, I'm sure I would've walked on by a sword epic with too many writers on the cover. That would have been a mistake, and I would've missed out on an engaging history lesson on something glossed over in my schooling; the Mongol takeover of Asia and Europe.
The Mongol Empire, by land area, was the largest empire in human history. Since we tend now to think of the time between Rome and the Renaissance as an unchanging Dark Age, we forget that once all of Europe was either under the thumb of, or in fear of, the Great Khan. This story drops the reader right in the middle of that period, as Eastern Europe begins to suffer terribly under the attacks of the Horde.
A group of Christian (but secretly pagan) knights is …
I picked this book up solely on the basis of Stephenson's name on the cover; without it, I'm sure I would've walked on by a sword epic with too many writers on the cover. That would have been a mistake, and I would've missed out on an engaging history lesson on something glossed over in my schooling; the Mongol takeover of Asia and Europe.
The Mongol Empire, by land area, was the largest empire in human history. Since we tend now to think of the time between Rome and the Renaissance as an unchanging Dark Age, we forget that once all of Europe was either under the thumb of, or in fear of, the Great Khan. This story drops the reader right in the middle of that period, as Eastern Europe begins to suffer terribly under the attacks of the Horde.
A group of Christian (but secretly pagan) knights is looking for a way to save the people of Europe from more suffering. A rumor of a fine point of Mongol law gives the knight's leader an idea...
At the same time, a young fighter in Mongolia is torn from the steppes and installed in the court of the Great Khan, and must learn diplomacy quickly if he's to live.
I've been reading experimental novels and comics all year. It's nice to sit down with a novel with a familiar structure, with a good story and solid history behind it. This was a quick, fun read.
